Richard Ryan, Biographia Hibernica: Irish Worthies, Vol.II [of 2] (London & Dublin 1821) - “Rev. James Whitelaw”, pp.629-30.

AN individual eminently distinguished for his philanthropy and perseverance, was born in the county of Leitrim. He held the living of St. James’s, but was soon after promoted to the vicarage of St. Catherine’s, in Dublin, which included a distressed population of twenty thousand individuals. The affairs of the parish, by neglect and litigation, were in the most ruinous condition; through Mr. Whitelaw’s zeal and assiduity, the parish rights were ascertained. Though truly a man of peace, yet his public spirit was such that he sustained five suits in Chancery, at his own expense, which being brought to a favourable issue, raised an imperfect rental of £50 into a regular income of £700. per annum. On every occurrence of epidemic distress, he was always the first to promote a subscription, and apply it judiciously towards the relief of the afflicted. On one occasion, a sudden stagnation of business reduced two thousand six hundred and forty-three families, including nine thousand one hundred and ninety-four individuals, literally to starvation; through Mr. Whitelaw’s perseverance and indefatigable humanity, they were effectually relieved, by establishing committees in the various districts.

His little work, entitled “Parental Solicitude,” is an affectionate appeal on that important topic, and is highly, prized by all those to whom the author distributed it: as likewise was his “System of Geography,” on an entirely new plan, which displayed uncommon ingenuity, perseverance, and application. Not satisfied with the accuracy of the maps which he had given to be engraved, notwithstanding the late period of his life, he acquired such, expertness with the graving tool, that the elegance and precision of the execution was quite astonishing, especially when taking into the account his other various and important pursuits; for he did not, like many of his profession, depute others to the performance of his sacred duties, but was to be found at all hours moving from one miserable {[629] abode to another; at the side of the sick, however contagious the disease. It was by his ceaseless attendance at the hospital, during the prevalence of a most malignant fever, that the infection was communicated to him, which finally terminated a life, which displayed on every occasion the real traits of the religion he professed. Mr. Whitelaw was in his sixty-fifth year at the time of his decease. (End.)