A MINOR poet, of considerable abilities, and a miscellaneous writer of some note in his day, was a native of Ireland, and was descended from a good family in that kingdom. He was liberally educated by his parents, and was bred to the law, in which profession he seems not to have made any great figure. From some cause or other, he conceived an aversion to Dr. Swift, for his abuse of whom the world has taxed him with ingratitude. Concanen, it is true, had once enjoyed some degree of Swift’s favour (who was not always very happy in his choice of companions); and it is said, he had an opportunity of perusing some of the Doctor’s poems in manuscript, which he unhesitatingly thought fit to appropriate and publish as his own. But this story is by no means authenticated. As affairs did not prosper much with him in Ireland, he came over to London, in company with a Mr. Stirling [n.], a dramatic poet of little celebrity; and deeming nothing so profitable or so likely to recommend him to public notice as political writing, he speedily commenced an advocate {2} for the government. There is an anecdote told of these authors, which we sincerely hope is not true, which is, that in order to render their trade more profitable, they resolved to espouse different interests, one should oppose and the other defend the ministry, and determined the side of the question each was to take by tossing up a halfpenny, when it fell to the side of Concanen (o defend the ministry, which task he performed with as much abilities as ephemeral political writers generally discover. His companion, Stirling, afterwards went into orders, and became a clergyman in Maryland. Concanen was, for some time, concerned in the “British” and “London Journals” and in a paper called “the Speculatist”, which last was published in 1730. These periodical pieces are long since buried in neglect, and, doubtless, would have sunk to utter oblivion, had not Pope, by his satirical writings, given them a kind of disgraceful immortality. In these journals he published many scurrilities against Pope, and in a pamphlet entitled The Supplement to the Profound” used him with great virulence and little candour. He not only imputed to him Brown’s verses (for which he might, indeed, seem in some degree accountable, having corrected what that gentleman did), but those of the Duke of Buckingham and others. To this rare piece somebody humorously persuaded, him to take for his motto “De profundis clamavi”. He afterwards wrote a paper called “The Daily Courtant” wherein he evinced much spleen against Lord Bolingbroke, and many of his friends. All those provocations, excited Mr. Pope to allot him a place in his “Dunciad.” In his second book, line 287 where he represents the dunces diving in the ihud of the Thames for the prize, he speaks thus of Concanen:

“Firm to the bottom, see Concanen creep,
A cold, long-winded native of the deep;
If perserverance gain the diver’s prize,
Not evelasting Blackmore this decries.”

Ftn. on Stirling: He was the author of two plays, entitled The Rival Generals, trag. 8to. 1731, and The Parricide' trag. 8to. 1736.

In 1725, Concanen published an octavo volume of poems consisting chiefly of compositions of his own, and some few of other gentlemen; they are addressed to the Lord Gage’, whom he endeavours artfully to flatter without offending his modesty. .. The gentlemen who assisted our author in his collection, were Dean Swift, Parnell, Dr. Delany, Messrs. Brown, Ward, and Stirling. In this collection there is a poem by Concanen, called “A Match at Foot-ball”, in three cantos, written, it is said, in imitation of Pope’s “Rape of the Lock” . He was also concerned with Mr. Roome and another gentleman, in altering Browne’s “Jovial Crew”, into a ballad opera which was performed about the year 1730; and the profits given entirely to Mr. Concanen. His wit and literary abilities recommended him to the favour of the Duke of Newcastle, through whose interest in 1732, he obtained the lucrative post of attorney-general of the island of Jamaica, which office he filled with the utmost integrity and honour, and to the perfect satisfaction of the inhabitants for more than seventeen years, when, having acquired an ample fortune, (one of his biographers says by marrying a planter’s daughter,) he was desirous of passing the close of his life in his native country, with which intention he quitted Jamaica, and came to London, intending to pass some little time there before he went to settle entirely in Ireland. But the difference of climate between that metropolis and the island he had so long been accustomed to, had so violent an effect on his constitution, that he fell into a consumption, of which he died on the 22nd of January, 1749, a few weeks after his arrival in London.

His original poems, though short, are possessed of considerable merit; but much cannot be said of his play, entitled “Wexford Walls.” Concanen has several songs in “The Musical Miscellany”, published in 6 vols. in 1729. But a memorable letter addressed to him by Dr. Warburton, will perhaps be remembered longer than any writing of his owh pen. This letter, which Mr. Malone first published (in his Supplement to Shakspeare, vol. i. {3} shews that, in 1746, Warburton, then an attorney at Newark, was intimate with Concanen, and an associate in the attacks made oh Pope’s fame and talents. In 1724, Concanen published a volume of “Miscellaneous Poems, original and translated”, by himself and others.

A renowned, and a learned writer, was descended from an ancient Irish family, and born in the county of Kerry, about the year 1666. His family being of the Popish persuasion, he had not the benefit of receiving an education in the established seminaries of that kingdom. Having determined on the study of physic, about 1686 he went for that purpose to France, and resided for some time at the university of Montpelier, from whence he repaired to Paris, where he greatly distinguished himself by his proficiency in anatomy and chemistry. He declared himself desirous of travelling, and as there were two sons of the high chancellor of Poland then on the point of returning to their native country, it was thought expedient that they should undertake that long journey under the care and inspection of Connor. He accordingly conducted them safely to Venice, where he found the honourable William Legge, afterwards Earl of Dartmouth, dangerously ill of a fever; him he recovered, and accompanied to Padua, from whence he went through Tyrol, Bavaria, and Austria, down the Danube to Vienna, and after having made some stay at the court of the Emperor Leopold, passed through Moravia and Silesia to Cracow, and thence, in eight days, to Warsaw, where the king, John Sobieski, kept his court, and where he was well received; and soon afterwards, through the recommendation of the Venetian ambassador, was appointed physician to that monarch. This was accounted an extraordinary preferment for so young a man, and in so short a time, for it happened in the beginning of the year 1694, when Connor had not attained his twenty-ninth year. {5}

But his reputation in the court of Poland was very great, and highly raised by the judgment he passed on the Duchess of Radzevil’s distemper, which the court physicians had pronounced to be an ague, from which she might be easily recovered by bark; but Connor, when consulted, declared and insisted that she had an abscess in her liver, and that her case was desperate. As this lady was the king’s only sister, his prediction created great agitation, more especially when it was justified by the event; for she not only died within a month, but, upon the opening of her body, the opinion he had delivered of her malady was fully verified. Great as Connor’s fame was in Poland, he did not propose to remain longer than was requisite to conclude his inquiries into the natural history and other remarkable curiosities of that kingdom; and as he foresaw the king’s decease, and that he had no prospects of advantage afterwards, he determined to quit that country and visit England, for which a very advantageous opportunity occurred The king had an only daughter, the Princess Teresa Cunigunda, who had espoused the Elector of Bavaria, by proxy, in August 1694; and as she war to make a journey from Warsaw to Brussels, of near one thousand miles, and in the midst of winter, it was thought necessary that she should be attended by a physician; Connor, with much address, procured himself to be nominated to that employment, and, after reaching Brussels, took leave of the princess, set out for Holland, and from thence to England, where he arrived in February 1695. He remained a short time in London, and then went to Oxford, where he read public lectures on the animal economy. In his travels through Italy he had conversed with Malpighi, Bellini, Redi, and other eminent persons, of whose abilities he had availed himself; and he now explained the new discoveries in anatomy, chemistry, and physic in so clear and judicious a manuer that his reputation was soon raised to a considerable height; and it was increased by printing, during his residence at Oxford, some learned and accurate dissertations in Latin, under the - following general title,“Dissertationes Medico-Physicæ”; Many intricate questions are discussed, and several curious facts related in these dissertations, which discover their author to have been a man of deep thought and acute observation, as well as of great reading and general knowledge. In the summer of 1605 he returned to London, where he read lectures as he had done at Oxford, and became soon after a member of the College of Physicians and of the Royal Society. In 1696 he visited Cambridge, and gave a course of public lectures there; and, upon his return to London, was honoured with an epistle from the Bishop of Pleskof, in which was contained the ease-of his old master, the King of Poland. His advice was desired on that important affair; but before he could forward it the news arrived of the monarch’s death. In 1607 he published a work which was the subject of considerable discussion, and threw setae suspicions upon his faith; it was entitled “Evangelium Medici; seu Medicina Mystica de Suspensis Naturae Legibus, sive de Miraculis, reliquisque [Greek] memoratis, quae Medicae indagini subjici possunt.” 8vo. and limo. This is an attempt to account for the production of supernatural effects upoii natural principles; but it does hot seem dear how far he intended to preserve the essential Character1 of a mirade; This little treatise, containing sixteen sections only, was reprinted within the yean The author acquired repw* tation by the ingenuity and learning he had displayed in it; but his orthodoxy and religion were called in question, as he attempts in this work to account for the miracles of the Bible upon natural principles.

The Polish election, upon the death of Sobieski, having a strong influence upon the general system of kflhirs iti Europe, and being a common topic of discussion at that time, induced many considerable persons to seek foe acquaintance of Connor, that they might learh from him foe real state of that kingdom, which being little known he was entreated to publish what he knew relative to ih natural and political state; in compliance with which request he wrote and published a work, entitled, “The History of Poland” in the 'form of letters’; He lived to publish only one volume, the second not appearing till after his death, which latter volume evidently bears many marks of precipitation; but the book was the best that was published on the subject, and was read with great pleasure and avidity. In these volumes may be found an uncommonly curious account of the salt mines, of the dheases peculiar to that country, and a satisfactory account of some young children who were carried away and nurished by bears.

Connor would in all probability, have become an eminent man in his profession; but, in the flower of his age, and just as he began to reap the fruits of his learning, study, and travels, he was attacked by a fever, which, after a short illness, put a period to his existence, in October 1693, when he was little more than thirty-two years of age. He had, as we have observed before, been educated in the Romish religion, but had embraced the Protestant faith upon his first coming over from Holland. It has, nevertheless, been a matter of doubt in what communion he died; but from his funeral sermon, preached by Dr. Hayley, rector of St. Giles in the Fields where he was interred, it seems reasonable to conclude that he died a member of the Protestant church.

AN observantine Frandiscian, justly distinguished for his patriotic exertions in procuring the establishment of the Irish college at Louvain, by Philip III of Spain, was born in Connaught, about the year 1560. He received his education in Spain and the Netherlands, and became very eminent for his great progress in the study of philosophy and divinity. In the latter department of science, he applied himself with peculiar zeal td the works of St. Augustine, in which he succeeded so well, as to be {8} generally considered more conversant in the writings of that Father, than any of his contemporaries. His reputation became at length so fully established, that the Court of Rome thought fit to appoint him to the titular Archbishopric of Tuam, and he was also for some time provincial of his order in Ireland. Philip II of Spain had about the same time dispatched an army into Ireland, in aid of the Catholics, who were engaged in one of those arduous struggles for religious liberty which have so frequently divided that country; and Conry, at the command of Pope Clement VIII returned to his native land to assist them with his counsel. Their invasion, however, was defeated; and his strenuous exertions being but too well known to the English government, Conry was proscribed; in consequence of which he retired into Flanders, where he continued for some time, and afterwards into Spain. He was now supported entirely by the King of Spain, and it was at his request, that Philip III founded at Louvain the Irish college, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. The first stone of the building was laid in 1616, by the Prftces Albert and Isabel!, and it has since been of infinite utility to Ireland, by affording an asylum for the education of many children, whose genius and abilities would without such cultivation have reflected no lustre on the soil which gave them birth.

During his long banishment he devoted himself entirely to the works of St. Augustine, which he studied with so great application as to make himself completely master of the sentiments of that Father, concerning the necessity and efficacy of grace, and the controversies about it with Pitagius and other heretics, and on this subject he wrote several treatises. He died in a convent of his order at Madrid, on the 18th of November, 1629, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, greatly respected and lamented by the Spaniards, among whom he had resided for so many years.

In gratitude for his exertions, the friars of the Irish college at Louvain, erected a monument to his memory {10} in their church, whither in 1654 they translated his bones from their original place of interment at Madrid.

A complete list of his works is to be found in Ware.

WAS a brave and skilful general, who fell while heroically fighting the battles of his country. He was the second and only surviving son of Sir Albert Conyngham who was slain in the tumults of 1705. In the memorable year of 1688 he held a captaincy in Lord Mountjoy’s regiment of foot; and when the unfortunate James desired his army to shift for themselves, Captain Conyngham prevailed on five hundred of his regiment to remain united, and with these offered his services to King William. After the victory at the Boyne, his majesty ordered him to raise a regiment of dragoons, with liberty to nominate his own officers, and his commission beareth date February 1, 169£. He served in Parliament the same year for the borough of Killybeggs, and in 1695 and 1703 for the county of Donegall. On the 1st of January, 1704, he was advanced to the rank of major general, and ordered to Portugal. He was afterwards made governor of Lerida, and lieutenant-general of the King of Spain’s army.

In 1705-6 with a small number of English, he defeated a very large body of French at St. Estevan’s on the frontiers of Arragon; but in the action received a severe wound in the belly, which shortly afterwards proved mortal. He married Mary, daughter of Sir John Willyams of Carmarthenshire, Bart., by whom he left three sons and three daughters.

The following letter, containing an account of the death of General Conyngham, and the action in which he was engaged, is so interesting, that We cannot withhold it from our readers.

[ All of p.10 is missing from the digital copy [html] at Internet Archive and can be
read in Wikisource as djvu, or seen here - as attached [600x800]. —RICORSO Ed. ]

D’Ashfield, who retired with great haste, crossing with boats the river Cinia that divided the quarters of both armies. Whilst General Conyngham (in company with Don Francisco Elias de Falces) was forming the plan of the field of battle, it is recorded that having one leg over the pommel of the saddle, he felt himself wounded by a shot that grazed lb belly, he turned to his friend exclaiming I am wounded;’ and finding that the wound was very considerable, he appointed for his sucessor in the command Don Charles Barton, who also was wounded in the engagement, which lasted upwards of two hours, and was fought with their bayonets. General Conyngham persevered in the command until he gave it up to Burton, notwithstanding his wound; Don Francisco Elias de Falces importuned him to retire, and conveyed him to his house, with special care. To Don Franciso Elias he gave cane, which to this day they preserve in the house; and a most excellent watch, that they also keep in commemoration of so valiant a personage. The dean of the cathedral of Balbastro, is grandson to Don Francisco Elias, who was always by the side of the aforesaid general, until he was carried to the city of Balagues, in the principality of Catalonia, four leagues distant from St Estevan, where in about eight days after, he died of his wounds, and was buried in the very walls of Balagues.

AN experienced farmer and an agriculturist, to whose experimental labours Ireland is indebted, for the propagation of that most useful article to the human species, the black potatoe [sic].

Of the personal history of the present sketch, we know nothingy except that he was fortunate-enough to have been married no less than seven times; and when joined-in “Hymen’s bands”, to the last object of his amative flame, he (wonderful to relate) had attained his ninety-fourth year. By his various wives he was blessed with forty-eight children, two hundred and thirty-six grand children, nine hundred and forty-four great grand-children, and twenty-five great great grand-children. He died it Gloves near Athonry [sic for Athenry], after a short illness, on. the 22nd of November, 1804, at the advanced age of one hundred and seventeen. He retained his faculties to the last; and until two days preceding his decease, he never remembered to have had any eomplaint or sickness whatever, with the exception of the tooth-ache. Three weeks before {12} his death, he walked from his home to Galway and back the same day, which is a distance of twenty-six miles. He could to the last read the smallest print, without the assistance of glasses (which he never accustomed himself to), with as much ease as a boy of sixteen. He was looked upon by the most intelligent statistics of Ireland, as possessing the brightest genius for agricultural improvement.

OF Coote Hill, in the county of Cavan, is eminently entitled to a place amongst the Worthies of Ireland, for his patriotic exertions in improving and encouraging the linen manufacture, the source of so much wealth and prosperity to his country. At the Revolution, the value of the annual export of linen did not exceed £6000; but he had the happiness to live to see it exceed a hundred times that sum.

This gentleman was brought up to the bar, and was admitted counsellor at law in all his Majesty’s courts in Ireland in 1684. In April 1693, he was made one of the justices in the court of King’s Bench. In 1733 he took his seat in Parliament, as member for the county of Monaghan. He died April £4, 1741, at Coote Hili, and was there buried.

AFTERWARDS created Earl of Mountrath, was the eldest son of Sir Charles Coote, who was made a baronet in 1621. The unhappy commotions of the period in which he existed, gave full employment to the military and political talents which he so eminently possessed. In January 1642, he was besieged in Castle Coote by twelve hundred men, under Con O’Rourke, and defended himself so gallantly therein, that his enemies soon found it advisable to withdraw themselves. Not long after he defeated {13} Hugh O’Conor, son of O’Conor of Ballintober, titular prince of Connaught, and on 2nd March, in the same year, he took Con O’Rourke and most of his associates prisoners, as they were engaged in an expedition for the purpose of plundering Roscommon. Soon after this he sallied out with his garrison from Castle Coote, and falling upon a party in their camp at Creggs, gave them a total defeat, taking all their baggage and provisions. He continued to pay the necessary attention towards supplying his garrison with all the needful comforts of life, and for this purpose seized on a valuable booty at Ballynasloe, and struck such terror into the neighbouring country, that he and his men could supply themselves with provisions and drink in abundance. Nor was he unmindful of others; for in Easter-week he relieved Athlone, by throwing into it a valuable store of provisions and other necessaries. On the 16th of February, 1643, he and his brother Richard were appointed by a commission to the office of collector and receiver-general of the King’s composition money, rent, and arrears in Connaught, and in the county of Clare. About the beginning of 1644, he was one of the agents sent over by his party to Charles, at Oxford, with a view to negociate for peace; and thereby put a stop to the miseries of civil war. In this he, unhappily, did not succeed; and the work of destruction continuing, he speedily distinguished himself by his bravery and enterprise. In 1646 he drove off to a distance the forces which, in a manner, kept Dublin besieged. In May 1647, he defeated his enemies, killing several thousands, and had from time to time skirmishes .with them, in which many of their leaders were taken. In the October following, he joined his forces with Colonel Jones and Colonel Monk, and took several castles, and marching into the enemy’s country, he burned a great store of corn, and brought off a valuable booty. For this and other achievements, the Parliament voted their thanks to him, .and sent him a letter expressive of their approbation. In 1649 he had to encounter great difficulties, being besieged {14} in Londonderry. by those who had declared, for Charles II, and who demanded that he should quit the kingdom: he however, resolutely held out, and obtaining relief from England, he sallied forth and took many prisoners, at the same time scourings the country for many miles round. Ladlow informs us that during the siege of Londonderry, a commerce of an extraordinary nature was carried on between, the, besiegers and the besieged; Sir Charles was in want pf provisions, and his enemies of gunpowder, of which he had an abundance. A mutual accommodation was therefore agreed upon between them, and an.exchange made, which enabled both parties to carry on their military operations in a comfortable and soldier-like manner. On a like occasion, the municipality of a Dutch town, when besieged by. the. Spaniards, very deliberately sold to them the same destructive grain, and were highly satisfied with the extraordinary profit the town made by the mercantile speculation. After these affairs, Sir Charles concluded a peace with Owen Row O’Neal, and was thus enabled to maintain in safety his garrison of Londonderry. The Parliament highly approved of his conduct, and sent him provisions, ammunition, and additional forces, which enabled him to clear the country of his enemies for a great way round. In December he engaged with a body of four thousand horse and foot, coming to raise the siege of Carrickfergus, and slew about fourteen hundred; on which the place immediately surrendered to him. In May he took Galway after a siege, and so distressed the Royalists, that they could not continue their combat with the.Parliament any longer. Their chieftains in these skirmishes were the Marquis of Glanricard, together with the Earl of Castlehaven, whom §ir Charles had defeated the preceding summer. After the termination of-the war he was appointed by act of parliament president of the court of justice in the province of ConnaughL Being in England at the time of the deposing of Richard Cromwell, he set out immediately for Ireland to give information to Henry Cromwell, who inherited the courage of his father, {15} in order to concert with him the means of maintaining themselves in their posts. Reflfection, however, soon pointed out to him, the impossibility of the distracted government then in possession of power, being long permanent, except by the restoration of the King; he therefore sent Sir Arthur Forbes to Charles II to assure him of his zealous attachment, and to offer to declare for his Majesty if he would come over to Ireland. To this offer Charles returned his most hearty thanks, but declined coming to Iceland; and he furnished Sir Arthur Forbes with letters and commissions for the friends of loyalty in that country. Sir Charles Coote had, in the meanwhile, much strengthened the royal interest; and had obtained sufficient influence with a council of officers, to induce them to vote not to receive Colonel Lodlow as their commander-in-chief; and they also took possession of Athlone, Drogheda, Limerick, Dublin, and other places, for the service of the King. He then sent over to Monk, to acquaint him with the progress he had made in securing Ireland; who was greatly delighted with the news, and sent back the messenger with letters of thanks, desiring him not so restore the commissioners of the Parliament, (whom they had seized) to the exercise of their authority. Soon after Sir Charles and some others, sent to the Parliament a charge of high treason against Colonel. Ludlow, Colonel John Jones, Colonel Tomlinson; and Miles Corbet: but the opposite party in Ireland resolved to seize Sir Charles-, and his friends. Having notice of their intention, he mounted on horseback,and rode about the streets; attended by a vast concourse of people, and declared for a free parliament. He likewise made himself master of Dublin Castle, and expelled Sir Hardress Waller, from the command of the army. To recommend himself further to the King, he apprehended John Coke; chief justice of Ireland, who had been solicitor-general at the trial of Charles I It is remarkabie that, notwithstanding he had done all this, the Rump Parliament still imagined him at heart attached to their cause; and actually, on the 5th of January, 1660, {16} voted him thanks, and ordered that a letter to that effect should be sent to him, signed by the speaker, and to which was affixed the seal of the House. On the 19th of the same month, they also appointed him one of the commissioners for the management of the affairs of Ireland. All dissembling was quickly at an end. On the 14th of May, old style, King Charles II was proclaimed in Dublin, and immediately after throughout all the great towns, with general acclamations of joy; and on the 25th of that month, Sir Charles Coote was appointed, with others, to wait upon his majesty, to present to him the congratulations of the nation. His eminent services in contributing to the Restoration, were rewarded by the King with several offices of profit and honour; and on the 6th of September, 1660, he was created Baron and Viscount Coote, and Earl of Mountrath, in the Queen’s county, in Ireland; he was also appointed one of the lords justices of that kingdom. His honours, however, he did not long live to enjoy, as he died of the small-pox, December 18, 1661, and was succeeded in his titles and estates by Charles, his second son, from whom is descended the present Earl of Mountrath. Lord Mountrath was undoubtedly a man of extraordinary abilities, and it is to be lamented that he lived in an unhappy period of civil dissension; when the arms and power of one party were directed against another; and the true patriot can only lament over every victory, since whoever was conquered or victorious, the blood of brothers and fellow-citizens was mournfully shed; and what was a joy to one part of the nation, was to others of his countrymen a cause of sorrow and lamentation:

“Bella geri placuit nullua habitura triumphos.”

Whatever may be the opinion which we may be disposed to entertain of the merits of the cause which Sir Charles Coote embraced in the commencement of the troubles, there is reason to believe he was actuated by a conscientious regard to what he conceived was his duty; as the family were most zealous presbyterians in their religious principles. The power which he acquired enabled him at a {} future period to be of great use to the royal cause, and as is too often the case, in other revolutions as well as in that of the British kingdoms in 1660, the old attachment and sufferings of unfortunate adherents were forgotten or unrewarded; and they had the additional mortification of seeing their enemies raised to honours, to which, on the score of gratitude, they had an infinitely greater claim. Such, however, is the course of human events.

A MOST illustrious general, whose warlike enterprise and political wisdom, brought so much glory to the British name, and laid the foundation of our vast East Indian empire, was the son of Chidley Coote, D. D. of Ash Hill, in the county of Limerick, and was born in 1726. At an early age he embraced the military profession, and is supposed to have been in his majesty’s army at the time of the rebellion of 1745. In the beginning of the year 1754 the regiment, under Colonel Aldercorn, to which Sir Eyre belonged, embarked from Ireland for the East Indies. His name occurs in dispatches from Admiral Watson, of date 31st January, 1757, when after a warm bombardment of the forts of Calcutta, the enemy were compelled to retire, and Captain Coote of the King’s troops landed and took possession. Colonel Clive, his superior officer, then took the command in this quarter, and reaped a brilliant harvest of glory. Sir Eyre, in his subordinate station, proved himself an able and brave officer, qualified to act the first part with honour and advantage, when he might have the opportunity. He assisted in taking Hughley, and Chandernagore. At the battle of Plassey, in June, when a mere handful of Europeans defeated a most numerous army of French and natives, Sir Eyre’s services were such as to entitle him to a considerable share of the honour of the important victory. In July, being then a major, he was detached with a party in pursuit of M. Law, who had collected together the dispersed French {18} and the expedition, although it did not succeed in the capture of Law, was of advantage to the Company and country. General Lally threatening the siege of Trichinopoly, Major Coote, now become a colonel, drew together what forces he could, and invested Wandewash, which he took on the 30th of November, 1754, in three days. General Lally, considering the place to be of great importance, attempted to retake it, which brought on an engagement, on the 22nd of January, 1760, in which the French troops were utterly routed, and, with their general, fled in despair to Pondicherry.

Sir Eyre laid siege to Pondicherry on the 26th of November, 1760, and carried it on with unremitting diligence until the middle of January 1761, when the English forces took possession of that important town. The garrison, consisting of 1400 European soldiers, became prisoners of war, and a vast quantity of military stores, and great riches were given up to the victors. This was the final blow to the French power in India.

On the Colonel’s return to England, the next year, he was presented by the Court of Directors with a diamond-hilted sword, which cost £700, as a testimony of gratitude for the important services he had done. At the close of 1769, or very early in 1770, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the East India Company’s forces in India. He reached Madras in 1770, but left that place again in October, to proceed to Bussorah, from whence he prosecuted his journey overland to England. The reason of his quitting Madras, is supposed to have been owing to a dispute with the governor there. On the 31st of August, 1771, he was invested with the order of the Bath; and, in March 1775, became colonel of the 37th regiment of foot, which being stationed in Scotland, he resided at Fort George, near Inverness, as governor. On the death of General Clavering in the East Indies, Sir Eyre Coote was appointed a member of the supreme council of Bengal, and commander of the British troops. In 1780, Hyder Ally having invaded the Carnatic, General Coote was {19} sent with money and a reinforcement of troops, from Bengal to the coast of Coromandel, where he assumed the command of the army.

Affairs at that time wore a very serious aspect in India: the government at Madras had been conducted with little or no judgment or vigour. Lieutenant-colonel Baillie had been dispatched at the head of three hundred European infantry, some artillery, and three battalions of seapoys; but, not being supported, had been attacked by a superior force, under Hyder Ally, and after many hours hard fighting, the whole army was destroyed, most of the Europeans and seapoys being killed, and the rest taken prisoners. Hyder had, after this, taken Arcot, and felt confident of being able to drive the English from the country. The arrival of General Coote revived the courage of the army, and after various affairs of inferior importance, he succeeded in bringing Hyder Ally to a general engagement, July 1st, 1781, near Porto Novo. It lasted eight hours, and was a hard fought day on both sides; the army of Hyder consisted of twenty-five battalions of infantry, 400 Europeans, from 40,000 to 50,000 horse, and above 100,000 match-lock men, Peons and Polygars, with forty-seven pieces of cannon. The British army was exceedingly inferior in strength; but their discipline and firmness, with the skill of their general, overcame all difficulties, and their victory was complete. Meer Saib, Hyder’s favourite general, was mortally wounded in the action, and amongst 4000 killed were the Sultan’s principal officers. On the British side from 300 to 400 were slain. This check gave a decided turn to the war; and the blow was followed up by fresh defeats, which compelled Hyder to submit to the ascendancy of the British power.

In 1783, the public service again requiring the assistance of Sir Eyre, he, although in a dying state, left Calcutta for Madras, in order to assume the command of the army in that quarter. He arrived at Madras on the 24th of April, 1783, and died two days after. His body was sent to England, and landed at the jetty head, on the 2nd of September, 1784, and deposited in the chapel at Plymouth on the 7th, whence it proceeded to West Park, the family seat, in Hampshire, and from thence was removed, on the 14th, for interment, to the parish church of Rochwood.

Sir Eyre married in 1769, a daughter of Charles Hutchinson, Esq. governor of St. Helena, but left no issue. His property, amounting to about £200,000, was inherited by his brother, Dr. Charles Coote, dean of Kilfenora.

A BRAVE and skilful admiral, was descended from an Irish family of some distinction, long settled at Strad- bally Hall, in the Queen’s county. At the commencement of the year 1745, at an early period of life, he entered the navy on board of the Comet bomb, commanded by the late Admiral Sir Richard Spring. On the 12th of February in the same year, he was in a severe engage- {broken text between pp.22 and 23}

desire of that officer, appointed his marine ai[e-de-camp [sic], and in this capacity he served with General Wolfe the year following, at the siege of Quebec, and remained with him nntil September 13,1759, the fatal day of his death. Shortly after that lamented event Mr. Cosby returned to England, and on the 2nd of Jane, 1760, was appointed commander of the Laurel sloop. From this ship, on the 19th of May, 1761, he was promoted to the rank of post-captain in the Hind frigate of twenty guns. In 1767, he was appointed to the Montreal frigate of thirty-two guns, and ordered to the Mediterranean, from which station he returned in the September of that year, by order of Commodore Spring (the then commander-in-chief) on the melancholy occasion of bringing to England the corpse of the Duke of York. Having performed this service, Captain Cosby resumed his station in the Mediterranean, where he continued during the three succeeding years: he then returned to England, and was unemployed until the year 1778, when he was appointed to the Centaur, of seventy-four guns, and was in the action off Brest, with Lord Keppel, on the 27th of July in that year.

Towards the commencement of the year 1779, Captain Cosby changed into the Robust, of seventy-four guns; and in May, sailed under the command of the late Admiral Arbuthnot, for North America. After much skilful manoeuvring on both sides, on the 1 Sth of March, 1781, being about fourteen leagues distant from Cape Henry, the French were discovered steering for the Capes of Virginia; and about two P.M. Captain Cosby had the satisfaction of leading the British squadron into action. “Captain Cosby (as Admiral Arbuthnot expressed himself in his official dispatches) behaved in the most gallant manner in his engagement with the van of the enemy.” The Robust had far more than her proportion of killed and wounded; and, by having at one time three ships upon her, her masts, rigging, sails, and boats, were torn to pieces. But the French commodore and his ships were unable to withstand the animated attack that was made {24} upon them; and, in half an hour after the commencement of the action, they fell into disorder, and broke their line. Unfortunately, however, a thick haze, which bad. prevailed previously to, and during the engagement, together with the disabled situation of some of the British ships, particularly the Robust, Europa, and Prudent, ren-dered it impossible for the English admiral to pursue his advantage; and thus the contest proved indecisive. The exertions of Captain Cosby, which during this engagement were certainly of no common stamp, drew forth the cordial and merited eulogium of the commander-in- chief; and immediately after the action, Admiral Arbuthnot sent him the following letter: -

Royal Oak, off Cape Charles, March 16th, 1781.

Dear Sir,

You have, during the time that we left Gardiner’s Bay, conducted yourself like an experienced and diligent officer, particularly on the 16th inst, in which you have approved yourself a gallant naval commander, that has done honour to yourself and country; and both yourself, officers,and ship’s company, have my warmest thanks for your spirited conduct. I have ordered the America to assist you with twenty men, and so soon as we get to anchor, you shall have every assistance that is in the power of,

Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant,
W. ARBUTHNOT.

Captain Cosby, Robust.

The Robust was so much disabled on this occasion, that she was obliged to be stripped, and undergo the best repair that circumstances would admit of, at New York, in order to make it safe for her even to put to sea; and by great exertion she was got into sailing order in the month of October, when the second fruitless attempt was made for the deliverance of General Cornwallis and his army, and she put to sea. No engagement, however, took place, which was a fortunate circumstance for Captain Cosby, as from the crazy state of his ship, it would not have been possible for him to act with advantage.

The Robust being unfit for farther service in her present state, was ordered to England for the purpose of {25} being repaired. Earl Cornwallis embarked on board her as a passenger; but soon after she got to sea she sprung a leak, and was found to be so extremely crazy as to be incapable of proceeding in safety to Europe: his lordship therefore removed into a merchant-ship, one of the Robust’s convoys, and Captain Cosby bore away for Antigua. In the following summer, 1782, after having been hove down and refitted there, the Robust sailed for England for a convoy, and arrived safely in the month of July. Captain Cosby, we believe, held no farther command till the year 1786, when he obtained the rank of established commodore on the Mediterranean station. Sir John Lindsey at that time retiring on account of the ill state of his health, the commodore succeeded him as commander-in-chief. On his arrival there, he hoisted his broad pendant on board the Trusty, of fifty guns. He remained, in the Mediterranean till the month of September 1790; but, with the exception of his mission (in 1788) to the emperor of Morocco, no event occurred, during that period, that is worthy of record. At that time, some apprehensions were entertained, that the commerce of Britain might sustain a predatory interruption from the Barbary corsairs; and Commodore Cosby was sent to visit the different states, and to arrange such terms with the emperor of Morocco, as might ensure the safety of the English traders. He accomplished the negotiation and treaty with the greatest exactness and precision, and to the entire satisfaction of government.

On the 21st of September, 1790, the commodore was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral of the red squadron, and appointed to a command on the Cork station, in the Fame, of seventy-four guns. In the month of September, 179b he sustained a domestic misfortune, in the loss of his nephew, Lieutenant Cosby, of the army, who was unfortunately drowned at Cork.

In 1792 he was appointed to command at Plymouth, as port admiral, and accordingly hoisted his flag on board {26} the St. George, of ninety-eight guns. He retained this command only for a short time; as, in the spring of 1793, he shifted his flag into the Windsor Castle, of ninety-eight guns; and on the 15th of April, sailed from Spithead, with a squadron under his command: part of which proceeded to the West Indies with a convoy; part returned to Spithead; and the rear-admiral, with the rest of the squadron, proceeded to the Mediterranean, where he acted as third in command under Vice-Admiral Lord Hood. In the month of November, he was detached, with several ships of the fleet, to Leghorn, in order to bring back from thence, live stock, wine, and other supplies of provisions, for the allied troops in garrison at Toulon.

On the 11th of April, 1794, Mr. Cosby was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral of the red squadron, on which occasion he shifted his flag to the Alcides, of seventy-four guns. He was afterwards present at the capture of Corsica, and of Toulon; and, towards the close of the year, he sailed for England. On the 12th of November, he arrived at Spithead with a squadron of ships of war, and a large fleet of merchantmen under convoy from Portugal and the Mediterranean. He also escorted home three French ships, which had been taken at Toulon.

On his arrival in England, the vice-admiral struck his flag. On the 1st of June, 1793, he was made vice-admiral of the red; on the 14th of February, 1799, admiral of the blue; on the 1st of January, 1801, admiral of the white; and on the 9th of November, 1805, admiral of the red squadron; that rank having been restored in the royal navy, immediately after the victory off Trafalgar by the immortal Nelson.

Admiral Cosby commanded the impress service in Ireland, until the peace of 1801.

He died on the 10th of January, 1808, in his 78th year, upwards of sixty of which he had spent in an active and faithful discharge of his duty to his king and country, and highly honourable to himself as an officer of the British navy. On the 16th, his remains were interred in the Abbey church, at Bath, in a handsome but not pompous manner, such being strictly forbidden by the deceased. Rear-admiral Wolseley, the admiral’s nephew, Sir Henry Cosby, and Colonel Stanfield attended as chief mourners; and the pall was borne by Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, and Vice-admirals Christie, M’Dowall, and Brown.

A STATESMAN and wit, was a native of Ireland, and was born about the year 1741. Being possessed of youth and volatility, and imbibing all his ideas from a nation confessedly of a warlike disposition and character, the army became the object, both of his early choice and his ambition. Another direction, however, was speedily given to his talents, in consequence of his acquaintance with a nobleman, whose patronage not only conferred a bright colour on his hopes, but gave a different impulse to his views.

An anonymous defence of the Marquis Townshend, in his vice-regal capacity, is said to have been the occasion of his introduction to that nobleman: and there can be but little doubt, that his convivial talents, not only for a while fascinated, but was the occasion of a permanent friendship between that nobleman and himself.

George, Viscount Townshend, (whose name was synonymous with wit and good living,) was nominated lord-lieutenant of Ireland in 1767, and held that office until 1772, when he was succeeded by Simon, Earl of Harcourt. During this period, Mr. Courtenay, from being first only a visitor, soon became a constant guest, and finally a resident at the castle. His company seemed essential to all the entertainments, nor was there a convivial party formed, in which he did not partake. And during the administration of Lord Townshend, he held an official situation, under his excellency, and on his return, either accompanied or followed him to England.

To this nobleman, shortly after his reeal from Ireland, the important office of master-general of the ordnance was committed; and on this occasion he did not forget {31} his friend and faithful adherent Captain Courtenay, who was immediately appointed his official secretary. He was alto brought into the House of Commons, being nominated to represent the borough of Tamworth, in the fifteenth parliament of Great Britain, which assembled 1st October, 1780. He was re-chosen three yean after, and was made surveyor of the ordnance, a post of some im-portance, on which a new writ was issued April 23d. In the sixteenth and seventeenth parliaments (1784 and 1790) of Great Britain, he sat for the same place; after which, at the general election in 1797, he was appointed a burgess for Appleby. In the first imperial parliament which met February 2, 1801, he was returned in conjunction with Mr. Adair, afterwards minister at Constantinople; and in the second and third, he had his high-gifted countryman, Sir Philip Francis, for his colleague.

He continued in parliament during 1802,3,4, and 6, in which year he formed one of the majority who passed a vote of censure on Lord Melville. On the change of administration in 1806, Mr. Courtenay became a commissioner of the treasury, a place of 16001. per annum, and after enjoying this place only for a few months, retired from public life.

He died on the 24th March, 1816, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and was deeply regretted by all who knew him.

As a statesman, he was the firm and uncompromising friend both of civil and religious liberty; and his speech, delivered Dec. 21, 1798, on the suspension of the habeas corpus act, does infinite honour both to his head and heart.

As a poet, he possessed in an eminent degree, a facility in versifying the incidents of the day; and as a wit, was successful in his replies and sarcastic observations.

Of his bon mots the following may he adduced as a favourable specimen. The celebrated Gibbon happening one afternoon to burst forth into a glowing eulogium on that classical piece, “The Beggar’s Opera”, as tending {32} manifestly to civilize the brutal manners of English robbers, Courtenay replied, “Yes - I agree with you. Gay was the Orpheus of our highwaymen.”

LORD chancellor of Ireland, and an historian of that country, was son to Richard Cox, Esq. captain of a troop of horse, and was born at Bandon, in the county of Cork, on the 25th of March, 1650. He had the misfortune to lose his father before he was three years of age, and was then taken care of by his mother’s father, Walter Bird, Esq. of Cloghnakilty; but his grandfather also dying when he was in his ninth year, he was then taken under the pro-tection of his uncle, John Bird, Esq. who placed him at an ordinary grammar school, at Cloghnakilty, where he soon discovered a strong inclination to learning. In 1668, just as he had entered his eighteenth year, he commenced practising as an attorney in several minor courts where his uncle was seneschal, and continued so to do for about three years, when finding his pecuniary resources in an improving state, he entered himself at Gray’s Inn, in 1671, with an intention of being called to the bar. Here he was greatly distinguished for his assiduity and application to the “weighty study of the law” and in consequence of his great improvement therein, he was made one of the surveyors at Sir Robert Sbaftoe’s reading. He then returned to Ireland, where he soon after married a lady, who had a right to a considerable fortune; but being disappointed in obtaining it, he took a farm near Cloghnakilty, in which he immured himself for a space of nearly seven years. Being, however, roused from the lethargy into which he had fallen, by a great increase of family, he plainly perceived the absolute necessity of exertion; and was, by the interest of Sir Robert Southwell, once more recalled into active life, from gloom and inactivity. He was elected recorder of Kinsale in 1680, and removed to Cork, where he settled and practised his pro{33}fession with great and deserved success. He was a zealous advocate for the protestant cause, on which account foreseeing the storm that was about to fall on the protestants, he quitted both his clients and his estate, (which at that period amounted to about £3001. per annum,) and sought shelter, with his wife and five children, in England. He took up his abode at Bristol, where being well known, he obtained practice sufficient to support his family genteelly; and occupied his leisure hours by compiling the “History of Ireland”, the first part of which he published soon after the revolution in 1689, under the title of “Hibernia Anglicana”; or, the History of Ireland, from the Conquest thereof by the English, to the present time.” And at the Revolution, he distinguished himself by a small publication, to prove the necessity of making the Prince of Orange King, and of sending speedy relief to Ireland. When the prince arrived in London, Mr. Cox quitted Bristol, and repaired to the metropolis, where he was made under-secretary of state; and when King William Went to Ireland, he accompanied him in the quality of secretary to Sir Robert Southwell. Having given great satisfaction to the king in the discharge of his office, he was, immediately after the surrender of Waterford, made recorder of that city. His services and attachment to William’s party were likewise rewarded by the post of second justice of the court of common pleas, to which office he was appointed on the 13th of September, 1690. He was also employed as a commissioner for various purposes; and in April 1691 made military governor of the county and city of Cork. In this situation of judge and military governor, he evinced himself an active and zealous servant of the crown, but treated the individuals who Came under his jurisdiction, with a rigour which has been loudly exclaimed against, but which certainly had a very considerable effect in keeping his government quiet. Indeed so vigilant was he in this situation, that, during the whole time of his sway as military governor, though he had a frortfier of eighty miles to defend, and twenty places to {34} garrison besides Cork and Kinsale, yet he did not lose opejpchof ground; while the neighbourhood was rendered very disagreeable to the enemy by the frequent excursions of his troops, who returned with plunder to an immense amount, and of which he generously refused to receive the share due to his office.

An instance of presence of mind which occurred during his command deserves to be recorded, particularly as it was afterwards highly commended by the distinguished Marlborough. The militia of the city of Cork, by the care and management of the governor, had been so well trained to service, that General Ginkle wrote to him for one thousand of them, to assist at the siege of Limerick, in which he was then engaged. The earlier divisions had marched to the appointed rendezvous, with perfect submission to their orders; but the last, consisting of one hundred and sixty men, absolutely refused to leave their county; and Colonel Rogers, after trying in vain every art of persuasion to induce them to fulfil their duty, rode up in despair to the governor, and informed him of the circumstance. The governor calmly answered, that he would make them march; and riding up to the mutinous division with several gentlemen, who were of opinion that the ringleaders should be severely punished, he put on as much severity as his countenance would admit of, and inquired sternly why they did not march t One of them was preparing to answer, but the governor stopped him short, observing, “that he scorned to use the power assigned to him by the government to punish them, considering that some of them might be cuckolds, and some cowards, whose company he did not desire; but that he was sure, there were some of them who were not afraid to. fight for a king and country which they loved, and that such would follow him; the others might return to their houses.” They all instantly and eagerly pressed forward, and, as if to wipe off the slur which had glanced at them, behaved in the most distinguished manner during the whole of the siege. {35}

So spirited and able a conduct in a person, who from his education and profession, could scarcely have been expected to possess any of the requisites for a military command, excited general admiration. The government of England returned him thanks; those absent individuals whose estates he had protected, expressed their gratitude; and the grand juries of the county and city of Cork, voted him addresses of thanks. In the beginning of 1692, an invasion from France being expected, he had a much more extensive commission assigned him, - to command the whole of the counties Cork, Limerick, Kerry, and Clare. He was also entrusted with the secret and unpleasant commission to disarm the catholics of these counties oil the 20th May, the day appointed for carrying that business into effect throughout the whole of the kingdom; a doty which he performed so as to prevent the government from entertaining any fears from the Catholics of his district, and with so much feeling towards them, as not to leave them unarmed and exposed to the depredations of the Rapparees. A victory, however, obtained over the French at sea, put an end to these fears; and soon after he was restored to a more suitable occupation by the Lord Chief Justice Reynel, who brought down a commission of assize for himself and Mr. Justice Cox, for the summer circuit; after which he returned to Dublin, where, on Nov. 5th, he was knighted by Lord Sidney, then lord-lieutenant.

In 1693, he was admitted a member of the Philosophic cal Society of Dublin, on which occasion, he read a geographical description of the city and county of Derry, and of the county of Antrim, being part of an intended geographical description of the whole of Ireland; and in which he also purposed to include a natural history of Ireland. Soon after this, he went to England, where he was received by the ministry with the most distinguished favour, particularly by the Earl of Godolphio, then at the head of the treasury. Nor was this confined to empty {36} words; he had an order from the treasury given him for an abatement of one moiety of his quit-rent for ever; and he was also appointed, without solicitation, one of the commissioners for forfeitures, with a salary of £400 per annum.

In so responsible and arduous a situation, it was impossible for Sir Richard Cox to escape the attacks which were levelled at him by the parties which were then forming in Ireland, and which have continued increasing till the present day. He still continued to act as he had always done, with probity and justice; and though a friend to religions liberty, he did not allow himself the slightest partiality. This upright conduct incensed the violent of both parties against him, that his downfall was peculiarly aimed at, particularly in the case of the Galway men, in which he insisted with so much eloquence and ability on the duty of preserving the public faith, by adhering to the articles of capitulation, that he brought over the remainder of the commissioners to his opinion, and saved the estates of the claimants. Shortly after this, by the manoeuvres of the violent party at the head of affairs, he was superseded at the council board, with high compliments for his past services, and an apology drawn from the jealousy entertained by the subject, lest by so many judges sitting at the council board, it might at length grow into a court of judicature. To countenance this excuse, another judge, but without his abilities, was superseded at the same time.

An attempt was at the same period made to prejudice the king against Sir Richard, to whom he was much attached, by obtaining a vote, “that the Irish forfeitures were mismanaged.” He was, however, heard before the committee; and Sir Richard Bulkley having produced a long string of charges against the commissioner, was answered on the instant by Sir Richard Cox with so much candour and clearness, that the objections were entirely done away with, and the vote consequently lost. The party, there{37}fore, had no other method of dissolving that commission, but by pretending to an extraordinary degree of frugality in their management of the revenue.

During the ensuing four years, Sir Richard had no public employment, except his duty as a judge; and he devoted his leisure hours to writing and publishing “An Essay for the Conversion of the Irish and, as we are informed by some, &147;Thoughts on the Bill depending before the right hon. the House of Lords, for prohibiting the Exportation of the Woollen Manufactures of Ireland to foreign parts, humbly offered to their Lordships.”

In 1701, being with the Lord Chief Justice Hely on the spring circuit, in Munster, the lord chief justice died; and the friends of Sir Richard Cox and liberality of sentiment, applied to the king to promote him to that situation, as a proof of his approbation of his conduct and principles. This was accordingly done, and on May 16th, he was sworn chief justice of the common pleas, and in a few days after, member of the privy council. In the following year he was invited by the Lord Nottingham, by the queen’s command, to England, where he was consulted on the proper subjects for the consideration of the Parliament which was about to meet for Ireland. So well did his advice satisfy the queen, that in July 1703, Mr. Methuen, the lord chancellor of Ireland, being appointed ambassador to Portugal, Sir Richard Cox was removed to that distinguished situation.

To follow him through the duties of this arduous station, would engage us in a history of the affairs of Ireland, which is inconsistent with the nature of this undertaking. It will be sufficient to mention, that Ireland is indebted solely to him for the bill ° for the recovery of small debts in a summary way”; and for the act which was passed in the English parliament, to allow the exportation of linen from Ireland direct to the plantations. In 1703, he was appointed with Lord Cutts, lord justice; and in October 1706, he was created a baronet. But on the death of the Lord Cutts, in Jan. 1707, he was involved in considerable {38} difficulties. It was the general opinion that the Dake of Ormond would be speedily removed from his situation as lord-lieutenant, and this step was earnestly desired by some of the council. In consequence of this, when Sir Richard Cox applied to the council to know how he should proceed, the commission being vacant by the death of his colleague, they were at first unanimously of opi-nion, that it would be necessary, according to an old statute of Henry VIII, for him to issue writs to the king’s councillors, to elect a governor; and Sir Charles Porter privately intimated to him, that he should be elected sole governor of Ireland. This snare, however tempting it might be to him, he managed to avoid; and by explaining to the council, that the statute in question referred only to the absence of the principal magistrate of Ireland, he induced them to withdraw their resolution. This much irritated such as were desirous that the Duke of Ormond should be removed; they had hoped, that by this means, he might be displaced without any formal parade, and they threatened, in revenge for their disappointment, to impeach the chancellor. In this trying and critical situation he remained firm to his principles; and having consulted the judges and law officers of Ireland, and their opinions coinciding with his own, he resolved upon adhering to it, by which, although the queen and the lawyers of England approved of his conduct, he gave a mortal affront to the statesmen.

At length, on the 10th of April, 1707, the duke was removed from the lord-lieutenancy, and Lord Pembroke appointed in his stead. It was for some time a doubt whether the chancellor was also to be removed: the new lord-lieutenant entertained a great respect for him; and the lord treasurer still remained, who had told him in 1603, that “they were all bound to do as much as they could for him.” The power of the faction was, however, too great for private attachment to withstand, and on June 30th, he delivered the great seal to the lord-lieutenant, who assured him that he would not have received {39} it had he not designed for him an equivalent recom- pence. The behaviour of Sir Richard Cox on this occasion, was such as should have caused shame to his enemies, had they been capable of feeling it; it was, as in the days of his prosperity, firm, manly, and equable. His private concerns required his presence in the country, but he would not retire from Dublin, while the Parliament was sitting, lest it should be construed into a desire of avoiding that investigation into his conduct, which he felt convinced his enemies would undertake. He was not deceived; various and many were the accusations laid against him, merely to enumerate which, without entering into particulars, would far exceed our limits. His integrity of principle, and singleness of heart, with which be answered every charge which was preferred against him, at length defeated all the malevolence, and wearied the pertinacity of his enemies.

A dispute which arose in the city of Dublin, a short time prior to the death of Queen Anne, relative to the election of a lord mayor, gave rise to much debate. The question was brought before the lords justices, of whom Sir Richard was one, and their report was transmitted to England for the royal approbation, which through the illness of the queen could not be obtained. Shortly after this, on the accession of George I, the lords justices were superseded, a circumstance which is supposed to have been occasioned by a suspicion that they were inclined to -forward the interests of the Pretender; a suspicion which, in Sir Richard’s case at least, must be entirely unfounded, as is sufficiently evinced by every action of his earlier as well as of his later life.
Wearied at length with such unceasing disputes for power, he quitted entirely public life, and spent the remainder of his days in a tranquillity which was indeed enviable. He bore hh (adversity with the patience of a philosopher, and divided his tine between study, improvements, and acts of charity. In April I733, he was seized with apo{40}plexy, which terminated in a palsy, under which he languished till the 3d of May, when he expired without pain, at the advanced age of eighty-three years, one month, and some days.

His person was tall and well-proportioned, his features regular, his complexion fair, his countenance pleasant, his eyes full and lively, and his manners easy and genteel; in short, says Harris, he was a very handsome man, with an engaging aspect.

As a judge, he was patient, upright, and compassionate; yet he is said to have been better adapted to preside in the chancery, than in the courts of common law. Indeed, he was always averse to the abuses which had arisen in the laws, from the ignorance and corruption of those who professed them, and seemed constantly to aim at reducing them to their original standard, reason. His charges on his circuits to the grand juries are represented as masterpieces of eloquence, argument, and attention to the com-mon weal; those which he addressed to the grand jury of King’s County in 1698, and to that of Londonderry in 1700, still remain, having been printed at their special request. As a chancellor, his decrees were much respected, and were seldom set aside. In the great cause between Lady Kingsland and Mr. Barn wall, he gave judgment for the defendant; and though the appeal was backed in the house of lords by the whole weight of ministerial power and family connexions, his decree was confirmed in the fullest house ever known on such an occasion. His abilities as an author cannot be doubted; his conceptions were just and quick; had they been less so, his style would probably have been improved. His education too, was not of that liberal nature to qualify him to shine in his productions, otherwise than by the sound sense . which they exhibit. His memory was exceedingly happy, retaining every thing which he read. His studies were principally devoted to history and divinity, in which latter he was so deeply read, that many conceived he designed entering into holy orders. {41}

His private character was free from every vice. Avarice apd ambition, vices which so frequently attend men who make their own fortunes, were not the growth of his constitution. His opportunities of amassing wealth were immense, yet he contented himself with merely a sufficiency to ensure the. independence of his family. He was a most entertaining companion; his conversation was cheerful, diverting, and improving, and so enlivened with anecdotes, that he never failed to infuse fresh spirits into a drooping company. As a husband, he was fond and obliging, a tender father, and a kind master. In his friendships he was firm and faithful; he was affable and courteous to all, and rigidly just in his dealings. Indeed, had he lived in times in which faction bore less sway, his public and private virtues would have ensured him the love of his contemporaries, and the admiration of posterity.

TITULAR Archbishop of Armagh, and author of several works on the language aud antiquities of Ireland, was the son of a merchant in Limerick, where he was born, about the commencement of the sixteenth century. His father, desirous that his son should continue to exercise his business, educated him for that purpose; but, quitting trade, he retired to Louvain, where he devoted himself with so much ardour to his studies, that he soon acquired great reputation for his eminence in learning. After a due course of studies he entered into holy orders, and returned to Limerick, where he opened a school for the instruction of youth. Wearied at length with so harrassing a life, he wAs desirous of becoming a monk, and travelled to Rome to obtain the Pope’s licence. Failing iu the object of his journey, he was, however, promoted to the see of Armagh; .but we cannot ascertain how long he continued in it, as the date of his appointment is unknown. He died in {42} 1585 (as it is reported), in the tower of London, to which place he had been committed as a prisoner of state.

He is the author of a manuscript “De Lingua Hibernica, lib. 1” which is still said to be extant, and some collections from which are among the MSS. of the Bishop of Clogher, in the college library. “An Ecclesiastical History”, part of which, in Sir James Ware’s time, was in the possession of Dr. Thomas Arthur. He is also said to have written "De Controversiis Fidei”, (which possibly may be the same treatise which Stanihurst calls “Responsiones ad Casus Conscientiæ”, as his "Chronicon Hiberniæ” may be the “Topographia Hibernia” of the same author), “Vitæ Sanctorum Hiberniæ”, and “Catechismum Hibernicè.”

AN elegant and ingenious poet, and a very worthy man, was born in Dublin in the year 1729, where his father and mother, both of whom were descended from Scotch parents, then resided. His father was a wine cooper, and becoming enriched by a prise in the lottery, commenced wine merchant, but failed shortly after. He was the youngest son of his father, and early began to exhibit specimens of his poetical genius in several fugitive pieces which he published anonymously in the Dublin newspapers; and by the time he had attained his twelfth year, he had produced several poetic effusions, which are still honoured with the public esteem.

The little education our author received was from a Mr. Clark, who was master of the grammar school of the city of Drogheda; and when his father’s affairs became embarrassed, he was recalled to Dublin. About the age of seventeen, he wrote his only dramatic piece, which was a farce, entitled, “Love in a Mist; or, the Lass of Spirit", which was acted several nights at Dublin in 1747; and to this farce Garrick is said to have been considerably indebted for his fable of “The Lying Valet.” The free access which this little drama gave him to the theatre, was of a very pernicious consequence to him, as it created a dislike to the plodding life of a tradesman, and excited a desire to appear on the stage as a performer, though he scarcely possessed a single requisite for such a profession. His figure was totally against him either for tragedy or genteel comedy. In the petit mailre cast, however, he was tolerable, and he is said to have arrived at excellence in personating the mock French characters. Every attempt to suppress his passion for the stage having become {45} fruitless, without the slightest intimation of his intentions, he secretly left his family, and embarked for England, where he obtained a precarious and unprofitable existence in various companies of strolling knights of the sock and buskin. The frequency of want, however, at length made him sensible of his imprudence; but pride prevented his return to his friends; and ere he had time to form the resolution of obeying the calls of duty, he received intelligence that his father had become insolvent. This unwelcome news was followed by that of his decease in circumstances of distress. Still, an asylum was generously offered to our author in the house of an affectionate brother, Mr. p.Cunningham, one of the best statuaries in Ireland, who repeatedly urged him to return; but the idea of a state of dependence being repugnant to his feelings, he rejected every overture that was made to him, and the profession he had embarked in originally from choice, he now found himself obliged to persist in from necessity. After having experienced the many and various vicissitudes which are the inseparable companions of those votaries of Thespis, known by the title of “would-be actors", we find him in the year 1761, a performer at Edinburgh, at which period and place he began to emerge from obscurity, by giving to the world his “Elegy on a Pile of Ruins”, which, although obviously an imitation of Gray’s elegy, contains many passages conceived in the true spirit of poetry, and obtained for him considerable reputation. During his theatrical engagement at Edinburgh, although insignificant as an actor, he was of much value to the manager by furnishing several prologues, and other occasional addresses, all of which were received with applause.

About this period he received an invitation from several booksellers in London, who proposed to engage him in such works of literature as might procure him a more easy and honourable employment than he had hitherto followed; and willing to avail himself of any opportunity that might arise to extricate him from a profession in which nature {46} had denied him the indispensable qualifications to shine and for which he had.loug lost all relish, he cheerfully adopted the advice of his friends, and repaired accordingly to the metropolis; but was disappointed in the promised undertaking, by the bankruptcy of the principal person concerned in it. He soon discovered that scandal and political altercation had entirely taken up the attention of the public, and that unless he prostituted his abilities to these objects, he was unlikely to meet with success; he therefore quitted the town with precipitation, and once more returned to his friends in the north. This was the only effort Cunningham ever made to emerge from the abject situation in which youthful imprudence had originally placed him, and where natural apathy and contented indolence had contrived to keep him. In a letter to a friend, he describes himself in these strange terms: “You may remember my last expedition to London; I think I may be convinced by it I am not calculated for the business you mention. Though I scribble (but a* little neither) to amuse myself, the moment I considered it as tny duty, it would cease to be an amusement, and I should of consequence be weary of it. I am not enterprising, and am tolerably happy in my present situation.”

This passage may be truly said to mark the man, as it exhibits the most prominent trait in his character drawn* by himself.

In 1762, he published “The Contemplatist”, but with less success than his elegy. This is supposed to be the worst of all his productions, and was censured with much ridicule in the Monthly Review. It contains little else but glittering and absurd ideas; and had it been published at the present day, might have been mistaken for a satire OQ those wretched masses of sickly sensibility with which the press is teeming, and which the author of the Baviad and Mseviad has chastised with both justice and humour. About 1765, he published “Fortune, an Apologue” in which there are many poetical beauties; and in the course of the following year, he collected his poems {47} into a volume, which was honoured by a long list of subscribers.

For some time he remained a performer in Mr. Digges’s company, in Edinburgh, who treated our author with both respect and kindness; and under that gentleman’s management, Mr. Cunningham continued until he quitted Scotland. He then returned to Newcastle upon Tyne, a spot which, as it had been hi? residence for many years, he had originally left with regret, and which to the last moment of his life, he used emphatically to call his home. At this place, and in the neighbouring towns, he earned a scanty, but to him a sufficient subsistence. Although his mod£ of life was not of the most reputable kind, his blameless and obliging conduct procured him many friends among the most respectable characters in the county, who afforded him their support and protection, and in their society he passed his days without any effort to improve his situation. Being passionately fond of retirement, and happy in the society of a little circle of rural friends, he rejected any solicitation to try once more his fortune in the capital, declaring it to be his wish, that as he had lived, so he might die among his friends in Northumberland; nor was that wish long denied him. A few months before that event, a nervous fever rendered him incapable of any exertion, theatrical and poetical. This afflicting stroke afforded his friend Mr. Slack, an opportunity for the display of his humanity and benevolence. He received him into his house, where he was attended with the utmost care, and supplied with every thing which his condition required. After languishing some time under his friend’s hospitable roof, apprehending the approach of his dissolution, he conceived a design of destroying all his papers, which he soon effected by committing them to the flames. Mr. Slack, alarmed at the blaze, hastened to the room in which Cunningham lay, and expressing his surprise at so extraordinary an occurrence, the poor bard, almost breathless, pointing to the fire, whispered, “There, there!”

He testified his grateful sense of the benevolence of his friend Slack, who so liberally supplied his wants, and softened the rigour of his last illness, in the following lines addressed to a particular acquaintance, which strongly indicates the impression of his mind on the melancholy occasion.

The Drama and I have shook hands,
We’ve parted no more to engage,
Submissive I meet her commands,
For nothing can cure me of age.

My sunshine of youth is no more;
My mornings of pleasure are fled;
’Tis painful my fete to endure,
A pension supplies me with bread.

Dependent at length on the man,
Whose fortune I struggled to raise,
I conquer my pride as I can,
His charity merits my praise.

His bounty proceeds from his heart,
’Tis principle prompts the supply,
His friendship exceeds my desert,
And often suppresses a sigh.

He expired at Newcastle, on the 18th of September, 1773, aged forty-four, and was buried in St. John’s churchyard, when, to perpetuate his memory, Mr. Slack, whose friendly offices extended beyond the limits of mortality, caused a tombstone to be erected with the following inscription:

Here lie the remains of
JOHN CUNNINGHAM;
of hb excellence as a Pastoral Poet
hb works will remain a monument for ages,
after thb temporary tribute to esteem
b in dust forgotten.
He died at Newcastle, September 18,177S,
Aged 44.

The following anecdote is related of Cunningham, which gave birth to a humorous impromptu. {49}

Cunningham lodged at the Golden Lion inn, at Scarborough, in the year 1765. The landlord was a; meek, passive husband, and the landlady a perfect termagant. It happened on a certain occasion, that the lady’s temper was ruffled by a trivial incident that occurred, and as no soothing could restrain the impetuosity of her passion, she burst into violent exclamations; nor did either husband, guests, or servant, escape the fury of her clamorous tongue. The poet, whose placid temper ill suited with the vehemence of this virago, left the house, and taking the landlord with him into the street, pointed to the sign, and uttered these words:

Friend W***, if you would get rid of a scold,
And live without trouble and strife,
I’d advise you to take down your lion of gold,
And hang up your brazen-faced wife.

A POET of some ability, but more worthy of being recorded for his classical attainments. He was of that numerous class of individuals termed “self taughtand had little to aid him in his literary pursuits, but that portion of steady application which is usually possessed by those who are determined to emerge from the obscurity in which Providence has placed them.
He was born on the 19th of March, 1781, near Dromore, and was w in daily labours of the loom employed”, during which period he received the first rudiments of education at one of the Bishop of Dromore’s Sunday schools; and had, by reading such books as he could borrow, made so considerable a progress, that in the autumn of 1800, he presented his lordship with a copy of verses, requesting the loan of books. The bishop recognising the indelible marks of genius displayed throughout the poem, deter-mined to rescue him from the miserable drudgery in which he was doomed to toil, which he shortly afterwards did, and placed him at the diocesan school of Dromore, {50} where he sedulously cultivated the flame of learning, which in Hie midst of sordid society he had cherished, and aided by application the most industrious and diligent, in about two years and a half he had read the principal of the Greek and Latin classics.

Being thus qualified to superintend the education of youth, which had been the object of his wishes, he was received, early in 1804, as an assistant teacher in Dr. Bruce’s academy at Belfast, where he was distinguished for the diligence and skill with which he prepared the boys under his care, for their examination prior to the last summer vacation. But by this time such strong symptoms of that disease, “for which medicine hath no cure”, had appeared in his slender frame, that he could not any more return to the praiseworthy pursuit in which he had been engaged. His health continued to decline, and he was confined to the house of his poor mother, near the turnpike-gate between Hillsborough and Dromore, where he continued to experience the kindness of his former patron; and he was most generously attended by Sir George Atkinson, an eminent physician in Hillsborough. Every attempt to afford him any effectual relief was beyond the reach of medicine. Consumption had laid her icy finger on him, and he sunk into the arms of death beneath her withering touch; dying on the 27th of Der cember, 1804, having nearly completed his twenty-fourth year.

Thus died William Cunningham, a young man, who, had he lived, would in all probability have reflected honour on his patrons, his country, and himself. Indefatigable in the acquisition of knowledge, amiable and grateful in his disposition and temper, and scrupulously exact in the performance of every moral duty; he presents to posterity a pleasing, yet unfrequent picture of geniue without pride, humility without affectation, and talent without vice.

A MAN, (says Ware,) of distinguished learning, was born at Kilkenny, but in what year is not known, and was one of the first fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, that is, one of the first elected fellows; for Henry Usher, Duke Chalone), and Lancelot Mognes, masters of arts, were the three first fellows appointed by Queen Elizabeth’s charter, nomine plurium; but William Daniel, together with Henry Lee, and Stephen White, were the three first scholars of the house nominated by the said charter, nomine plurium; and he was either the first or second that commenced doctor of divinity in the said university. In August 1609, he was consecrated by the Archbishop of Tuam, at Dublin, in St. Patrick’s church (of which he was treasurer, an office which he held in commendam,} and the same year was called into the privy council. He was a man highly eminent both for piety and learning, and translated both the Book of Common Prayer out of the English, and the New Testament out of the Greek, into the Irish language; the former of which translations was printed in 1603, and dedicated to the Lord Deputy Sir Arthur Chichester; and the latter was printed in quarto, in 1602, and dedicated to King James the First, the expense of which was defrayed by the province of Con-naught and Sir William Usher, clerk of the council. It was afterwards reprinted in the year 1681, at the expense of the Hon. Robert Boyle. He was celebrated also for his complete knowledge of the Hebrew tongue. He died at Tuam, on the 11th of July, 1628, and lies buried in his own cathedral, under the same monument with his predecessor Daniel.

It is to be regretted, that of a man so celebrated both for learning and piety, so little has been recorded; trifling as is the memorial, it is, however, sufficient to shew, that at that early period, piety was promoted, and the attainment of learning encouraged.

{52}

WAS descended from a noble and ancient Irish family, and was born on September the 18th, 1725, in the county of Galway. His parents who were attached to the exiled house of Stuart, sent him to Paris in 1739, where being put, under the care of M. Clairault, at seventeen years of age, he gave a new solution of the problem of the curve of equal pressure in a resisting medium; and this was followed the year after by a determination of the curve described by a heavy body, sliding by its own weight along a moveable plane, at the same time that the pressure of the body causes an horizontal motion in the plane. This problem had already been solved by John Bernouilli and Clairault; but notwithstanding this circumstance, Chevalier Darcy possessed a method peculiarly his own, and it is easy to discover throughout the work, that degree of striking originality which is the leading character of all his productions.

The commencement of the war, however, in some measure took him off from the prosecution of his studies, as he served as captain of the regiment of Condi, during several campaigns in Germany and Flanders. In 1746, he was appointed to accompany the troops that were to be sent to Scotland to assist the Pretender, and had a narrow escape with his life, as the vessel in which he sailed was captured by the English, and Darcy, (whose life was forfeited by the laws of his country, by being taken in arms against her,) was saved by the humanity of the English commander. During the course of this war, and amidst all its bustles and dangers, he found leisure to contribute two memoirs to the Academy. The first contained a general principle of mechanics, that of the preservation of the rotatory motion. Daniel Bernouilli and Eulerhorm had discovered it in 1745; but it is highly improbable that their productions should have reached Mr. Darcy in the midst of his campaigns; his method is different from theirs, but it is equally original, simple, elegant, and ingenious.

This principle, which he again brought forward in 1750, by the name of “the Principle of the Preservation of Action” in order to oppose it to Maupertuis’ principle of the least action, Darcy made use of in solving the problem of the precession of the equinoxes. In this attempt, however, he unfortunately failed; and in general, it is to be observed, that though all principles of this kind, may be used as a mathematical formulae, two of them at least, must necessarily be employed in the investigation of problems, and even these with great caution; so that the luminous and simple principle given by M. D’Alembert in 1742, is the only one, on account of its being direct, which can be sufficient of itself for the solution of problems.

Having given to the world “An Essay on Artillery”, in 1760, containing many curious experiments on the charges of powder, &c. and several improvements on Robins, who wrote on the same theories, and was not so great a mathematician as the subject of the present memoir.

In 1765, he published his “Memoir on the Duration of the Sensation of Sight”, a work distinguished for ingenuity, and which shews him in the best light, as an accurate and ingenious maker of experiments. The result of these researches was, that a body may sometimes pass by our eyek without being seen, or marking its presence, otherwise than by weakening the brightness of the object it covers; thus, in turning pieces of card painted blue and yellow, you only perceive a continued circle of green; thus the seven prismatic colours rapidly turned produce an obscure white, which is the obscurer as the motion is more rapid. As this duration of the sensation increases with the brightness of the object, it would have been interesting to know the laws according to which the augmentation of the duration follows the intensity of the light of an object, which motion makes continually visible; bht Darcy being now obliged to rely upon the sight of others, he relinquished the pursuit. But being constantlyemployed in comparing mathematical theory and observation, he made a particular use of this principle in his “Memoir on Hydraulic Machines” printed in 1754; and in this work he clearly shews how easy it is to make mistakes in looking by experiment for the laws of such effects as are susceptible of a maximum or minimum; and indicates at the same time, how a system of experiments may be formed wbicb shall lead to a discovery of these laws.

All Darcy’s works bear the character which results front the union of genius and philosophy; but as he measured every thing upon the largest scale, and required infinite accuracy in experiment, neither his time, fortune, nor avocations, allowed him to execute more than a very small part of what he projected. He continued his experiments on gunpowder until the last moment of his life, but has left nothing behind him. He was amiable, spirited, and lively, and a great lover of independence; a passion to which he sacrificed even in the midst of literary society, when perhaps a little aristocracy may not be quite so dangerous.

Darcy, though estranged from his native country by circumstances, yet possessed a true Irish heart, as he not only loved and respected it,but became the friend and protector of every Irishman who visited Paris; nor could he help feeling a secret pride, even in the successes of that enemy, against whom he was so often and so honourably to himself, employed. Of his personal history, it yet remains to be added, that in the seven years’war he served in the regiment of Filz-James; in 1770, he was appointed mareshal de camp; and the same year the Aca-demy of Sciences admitted him to the rank of pensionary. In 1777, he entered into the matrimonial state with a niece who was brought up under his care at Paris, and then took the name of Count Darcy. Death terminated his useful existence in two years after this marriage, dying of a cholera morbus, on the 18th of October, 1779. Condorcet wrote his “Eloge”, published in the History of the Academy, and seems throughout anxious to do justice {55} to his tales to and character; a circumstance which we are told was highly honourable to Condorcet, as he had been most unjustly the continual object of Darcy’s aversion and hatred. Darcy’s Essays, printed in the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences, are various and very ingenious, and are contained in the Volumes for the years 1748, 1747, 174ft 1750, 1, 8, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1760, 1765, and in No. 1. of the “Savant Etrangers.”

A DIVINE of some note, was born at Gilla Abbey, near Cork, in 1649, and received his education at Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his degree of doctor of laws, and was accounted an eminent civilian. Having entered into holy orders, he was shortly after advanced to the deanery of Cork, and was afterwards vicar-general of the diocese, both which preferments he retained until his death, which happened in 1721, in the seventy-second dear of his age.

He Wrote “A Letter to a Friend, concerning his changing his Religion”, Lond. 1649. 4to. The friend here mentioned was a Mr. Turner, recorder of Limerick, who went over to the Catholic persuasion during the reign of King James.

“The truly Catholick and old Religion, shewing that the established Church in Ireland, is more truly a member of the Catholic Church than the Church of Rome, and that all the ancient Christians, especially in Great Britain and Ireland, were of her communion. Dublin, 1716,4to.” This book was in the course of the same year replied to by Dr. Timothy 0‘Brien*, of Toulouse, a native of Cork, {56} and then parish priest of Castlelions, in an anonymous pamphlet printed at Cork, entitled, a “An Answer to a Book, entitled the truly Catholick and Old Religion; by a Divine of the Roman Catholic Church”, Antwerp, 1716; to which our author replied in a quarto pamphlet, printed at Dublin in 1717. O’Brien, however, once more returned to the charge, and produced another pamphlet under the appalling title, “Goliath beheaded with his own Sword; or, an Answer to the Reply, &c.” to which Dr. Davis (not having had enough of the controversy,) replied in a quarto pamphlet, of, “Remarks on a Pamphlet, entitled Goliath, &c. &c.

He also published two occasional sermons, one on the 30th of Jan. 1716, entitled, “Christian Loyalty”; and the other, a charity sermon, published in Dublin, in 8vo. in 1717.

Ftn.: O’Brien (Doctor Timothy) was bom in the county of Cork, bit in what year has not been reoor^ed. He went to France when very yonitg, in the year 1661, the year following the capitulation of Limerick. He pursued his studies with great assiduity in the Irish college at Thoulouse [sic], and there took his degree of doctor of divinity. In 1706, he was elected superior of the college, which office he fitted to the satisfaction of all par{56}ties during the space of nine years. He then retamed to his native country, where he arrived in 1716, and was made parish priest of Castlelions; after which period nothing is known of him.

Besides the controversial pamphlets already mentioned, he was author of a Jubilee Sermon, preached in the year 1721, but not published till the year 1725.

AN authoress of novels, plays, poems, and a Familiar Letters”; was a native of Ireland, and was married to a clergyman whom she survived. After his decease, she kept a coffee-house at Cambridge, where she died. She was a correspondent of the celebrated Dean Swift; and thirty-six letters from him to her and her husband, were a few years ago in the hands of Doctor Ewen, of Cambridge. She wrote two comedies, 1, entitled, The Northern Heiress”; 2, “Self Rival” , and all her various productions are published in two 8vo. volumes, under the title of “The Works of Mrs. Davys”, 1725. {57}

FOURTH Earl of Clanrickarde, commonly known by the name of Richard of Kinsale, from his great services against the rebels at that place, was the second son of Ulick, the third Earl; and received the honour of knighthood in 1584. During the rebellion of O’Neill, earl of Tyrone, he eminently distinguished himself in the service of the crown. In 1599, he was appointed governor of the province of Connaught, by the Earl of Essex, an office which he resigned in the following year, in consequence of some restrictions imposed upon him, which prevented him from serving her majesty as he desired. He soon afterwards went to England, for the purpose of counteracting his father’s proceedings, who had declared in favour of Tyrone; and the lord deputy, in a letter informing the secretary of state of De Burgh’s intention, states, that all his hopes of preserving the province of Connaught in obedience, depended on the Lord Dunkellin’s honesty; “neither”, says Morison, “was the lord deputy deceived in this worthy lord, who, as during his father’s life, so from his death, happening within a few months, to the end of the war, served the queen as nobly, valiantly, and faithfully, as any nobleman or gentleman in the army.” In 160J, he accompanied the lord deputy in his expedition to Kinsale, against Tyrone and the Spaniards, and was knighted in the field of battle for the great services he had performed there, having (as it is reported) killed no less than twenty Kernes with his own hand. In this battle he had many narrow escapes; and the queen, in her letters to the lord deputy, writes, “and let Clan- ricarde know, that we do most thankfully accept his endeavours.”

On the accession of James I to the throne, he was appointed governor of Connaught, and afterwards president of the same province. In 1615, he was appointed president of the council for Munster; but the next year, on account of a long illness, being unable to undergo so
{58} great fatigue as was imposed on him by his new office, he surrendered it to the king; who through* inspect for his long services, gave* him the command of the county anti town of Galway, where his chief dwelling, and most of his estate was situated, together with a small pension for his own life and that of his son. He was afterwards advanced to the dignity of a peer of England, by the title of Baron Somerhill, (a manor which he possessed in Kent,) and Viscount Tunbridge; to which titles, Charles L afterwards added those of Viacount Galway, and Earl of St. Alban’s.

He died at Somerhill on the 12th of November, 1635; and the Lord Deputy Wentworth, in a letter to the king, makes the following observation, which may in some de* gree account for Clanricarde’s want of employment in Ireland for some years previous to his death; This last pacquet advertised the death of the Earl of St. Albany and that it is reported my hard usage broke his heart. God and your majesty know my innocency; they might as well have imputed unto me for a crime, his being three score and ten years old; but these calumnies must not stay me humbly to offer to your majesty’s wisdom this fit opportunity, that as that cantoned government of Galway began, so it may determine in his lordship’s person.”

A pious and active divine and miscellaneous writer, was descended from an ancient and noble family in Ireland. He received his education at Trinity College, Dublin, and was ordained chaplain to Lord Kinsale, to whom he was distantly related. During his residence at the university, he formed an acquaintance with several eminent clergymen, by whom he was induced to leave his native country; and in the year 1770, he accepted the curacy of Shawbury, in Shropshire. In 1774, the lord chancellor presented him to the vicarage of St. Alkmont parish, Shrewsbury, the inhabitants of whieh had conceived an {59} 59 illiberal prejudice against him; and rashly confounding the steady zeal, and uniform piety manifested in his conduct, with the warmth of enthusiasm, and the cant of hypocrisy, he was charged with the sin of methodism, and his presentation became the subject of a satirical poem, entitled, “St. Alkmont’s Ghost” By his talents and course of life, he soon overcame this unfavourable opinion of his parishioners, and continued, during a period of thirty years, to be attended by a numerous congregation, that admired him as a preacher, and esteemed him as their pastor. Possessed of that vivacity and humour, which is the peculiar characteristic of his country, added to a fund of knowledge acquired by study and reflection, his conversation was instructive on every subject. In the performance of his duties as a minister, he was diligent and laborious, preaching twice, and for some time previous to his death, three times every Sunday.. As an orator, he was dignified and perspicuous. In principle, he was sincerely attached td the doctrines of the church of England, and he defended them with great ability.

He was naturally of a strong constitution, but towards the close of his life, his frame was so weakened by repeated attacks of the rheumatic gout, as to oblige him frequently to sit in his pulpit. The vicissitudes of life he bore with patience, and the losses incident to human nature with resignation and fortitude; but the loss of his youngest son, in August 1803, while serving as a midshipman under his kinsman, the Honourable Captain De Courcy, so afflicted him, that at the close of his sermon on the fast- day, he was so affected, as to cause an involuntary flow of tears, and oblige him to conclude his discourse. A slight cold taken the same day, brought on a return of his disorder, from which he had nearly recovered, when a sudden attack in the stomach rendered medical assistance of no avail. Having commended his soul into the hands of his Redeemer, he expired Nov. 4,1803. His remains were interred at Sbawbory; and the funeral procession was voluntarily joined by a great number of his parishioners, {60} anxious to render the last tribute of respect and gratitude to the memory of a pastor so eminently distinguished for his piety and virtues.

His published works are: “Jehu’s Eye-Glass on True and False Zeal “Nathan’s Message to David, a Sermon”; “Two Fast Sermons, 1776”; “A Letter to a Baptist Minister”; “A Reply to Parmenas, 1776”; “The Rejoinder, on Baptism, 1777”; “Hints respecting the Utility of some Parochial Plan for suppressing the Profanation of the Lord’s Day, 1777 “Two Fast Sermons, 1778”; “Seduction; or, the Cause of injured Innocence pleaded, a poem, 1782;&148; “The Seducer convicted on his own Evidence, 1783;’’ “Christ Crucified, 1791, 2 vols.”; and a Sermon preached at Hawkstone Chapel, at the presentation of the standard to the two troops of North Shropshire yeomanry cavalry, in 1798.

AN author of some ingenuity, was the second son of Robert De la Cour, Esq. of the county of Cork, and was born at Killowen, near Blarney, in that county, in the year 1709. He received his education at Dublin university; and being early captivated with the writings of Mr. Pope, (which were then as highly esteemed in Ireland as in England,) he neglected the dull society of the fathers for the more agreeable company of the muses, and dedicated all the hours he could spare from the indispensable duties of the college, to the study and practice of poetry.

His genius supported his inclination, as, before he had attained the age of twenty, he produced a poem, entitled, “Abelard and Eloisa”, in imitation of Pope, and which was thought to possess a considerable portion of the spirit and harmony of that master. From this period he continued to publish minor poems and sonnets, which were all favourably received. In 1733, he gave the world his principal work, “The Prospect of Poetry”, which he {61} dedicated to the Right Hon. the Earl of Cork and Orrery. Being an ingenious publication, it gained him much and deserved applause; and in his list of admirers, might be enumerated some of the best judges in both countries.*

Soon after this he took holy orders, but unfortunately the praise of the poet slackened the zeal of the parson, and De la Cour produced his sermons as matters of ordinary duty. His muse was the mistress which engaged his prin-cipal attention, and as the muses are generally attached to “the gay and busy haunts of men/’ this pursuit was but of little service to his promotion or clerical character. He unluckily too was attached to his bottle as well as his muse, and by the pursuit of such indulgences, lowered himself in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, who declared poetry affected his head, and shortly after gave him the title of “the mad parson”; under which general character the graver kind of people grew cautious of his acquaintance, whilst the young ones solicited his company, for the sake of enjoying his eccentricities. In a short time he fell so much into this last seduction, that he became the volunteer of any party who would engage him for the night. This incessant dissipation (as might be conjectured) soon enfeebled his understanding, and the charge which malice or ignorance at first fastened on him, was now realized. His intellects were at times evidently deranged, and he fancied himself, after the example of Socrates, to be nightly visited by a demon, who enabled him to prophesy all manner of future events.

During the career of this unhappy impression, the following circumstance occurred which is worthy of recording.

* Swift was not, however, among the number, if we may judge from the following epigram in his works: —

“On one Delacoor’s complimenting Carthy, a schoolmaster, on his poetry”

“Carthy, yon say, writes well — his genius true;
You pawn your word for him — he'll vouch for you.
So two poor knaves who find their credit fall
To cheat the world, become each other’s bail.”

{62}

A gentleman one day meeting the doctor in a bookseller’s shop, during the siege of the Havannah, asked him, whether he could tell him when the garrison would surrender? “O yes”, says De la Cour, very confidently, “I’ll tell you the precise day; it will be on the 14th of August next.” “Do you pledge yourself for that day?” So much so”, replied the doctor, “that I will stake my character as a prophet on it, and therefore I beg you will take a memorandum of it.” The gentleman immediately noted it in his pocket-book; and it so happened, that on that very day we had an account of its surrender to the British arms. A public event thus predicted six weeks before it happened, and falling in so accurately according to the prediction, of course made a great noise in a little place. The common people wondered at, and even philosophers could not resist pausing on the coincidence of circumstances; but the doctor was elated beyond measure. He now claimed the diploma of a prophet, and expected to be consulted on the issue of all important circumstances. He continued thus many years, prophesying and poetising; and though in the first he made many mistakes, in the latter he in a great measure preserved the vis poetica; particularly in his satires on individuals, which sometimes exposed and restrained those too cunning for the law, and too callous for the pulpit. He had originally a little estate of about £80 per year left him by his father, which, with the hospitality of his friends, enabled him to live independently. Towards the latter end of his life, he sold this to his brother-in-law, for a certain sum yearly, and his board and lodging; but at the same time restrained himself from staying out after twelve o’clock at night, under the penalty of one shilling. In consequence of this, the doctor’s balance at the end of the year was very inconsiderable.

He died about the year 1781, leaving behind him several specimens of poetical talent, and proving to posterity the uselessness of ability when connected with a course of imprudence, and a contempt for character.

{63}

A CLERGYMAN who arrived at considerable eminence in his day, as an impressive and eloquent preacher, and whose writings on practical moral duties establish a just claim to the respect of posterity. His father had served as a servant in the family of Sir John Rennel, an Irish judge; and afterwards rented a small farm, probably to the end of his life; for when the son had arrived to opulent circumstances, and consulted his friend, the celebrated Dean Swift, how he might promote the happiness of his parents, he received from him the very sound and judicious advice not to remove them from the sphere of life to which they had till so late a period been accustomed, but to contribute whatever could make them comfortable in it. Our author was born in 1686, and received in his youth a good grammatical education, but in what place, and under whom, is not now known. At a proper age he entered Trinity College as a sizer; he went through his academical studies with reputation; took his degrees; was elected first junior fellow, and afterwards senior fellow of his college. He uniformly recommended himself by his diligence, moral conduct, and good sense. He became celebrated as a preacher, and was in such reputation as a tutor, that from his pupils, his senior fellowship, and all its perquisites, he is supposed to have derived an income of about £900. or £1000 a year. At this time he became acquainted with Dean Swift, and ip no small degree gained his favour. {64}

The readiness with which he entered into the dean’s playful humour, cemented the friendship founded on respect* Along with Dr. Sheridan he wrote and answered riddles, and composed light and humorous pieces of poetry. This was only the recreation of his passing moments; and he was careful not to interrupt his more valuable studies. Many of these little pieces may be found in Swift’s works.
In 1724, he unfortunately got involved in a dispute respecting college discipline, which was of considerable injury to his future prospects. Two under-graduates had behaved with great insolence to the provost, and on their refusal to make the proper submissions, were expelled. On this occasion Dr. Delany took part with the young men, and went so far, it is said, as to abuse the provost to his face, in a sermon in the college chapel. He was in consequence obliged to make satisfaction to the provost, by acknowledging his offence; and the displeasure he excited in the Lord Primate Boulter, on a future occasion prevented him receiving a preferment in the church. This was in 1725, when he was presented by the chapter of Christ church, to the parish of St. John, in the city of Dublin; and it was necessary to obtain a royal dispensation in order to be enabled to hold it and retain his fellowship at the same time.

The archbishop interfered, and this dispensation was accordingly refused. In 1727, when Lord Carteret, who was a man of wit, and who courted the society and friendship of Dean Swift, was a second time appointed lord lieutenant, Dr. Delany was strongly recommended to his lordship by the dean, and at the same time also by Archbishop King, and he had accordingly great civilities shewn him, and received frequent invitations to the castle. Unfortunately at that time political faction ran high, and the doctor’s Tory connexions rendered it impossible for the lord lieutenant to gratify his own wishes by conferring any considerable church preferment. He, however, promoted him in 1727, to the chancellorship of {65} Christ church, with about £1000. a year; and about the same time the university of Dublin presented him to a small northern living of about the same value. Three years after this Lord Carteret gave him a prebend of St. Patrick’s cathedral, the revenue of which was not greater than either of his other preferments. Dr. Delany had become wearied with his duties as tutor and fellow, and relinquished their advantages, contenting himself with an income much smaller than what, according to Dr. Swift,he haid been in the habit of squandering away, “in a manner which, although proper enough for a clergyman without a family, will not be for the advantage of his character to discover, either on the exchange or at a banker’s shop.” Dr. Delany contributed his assistance to a periodical publication, entitled, “Hibernicus’s Letters”, which appeared in 1725, 1726, 1727; and m 1729 he published a paper, called the “Tribune”, which, notwithstanding it was of considerable merit, was continued only through twenty numbers.

In 1731, he had got reconciled to Archbishop Boulter, who furnished him with a letter of introduction to Dr. Gibson, Bishop of London, to whom he came to submit to his lordship’s approbation, a theological work, entitled, “Revelation examined with Candour; or, a fair Enquiry into the Sense and Use of the several Revelations expressly declared, or sufficiently implied, to be given to Mankind, from the Creation, as they are to be found in the Bible”, &c. The first volume came out in 1731; and the second in 1734. They were considered at the time as calculated to fender useful service to the cause of revealed religion: they, however, contained a great deal of objectionable and fanciful matter, which much diminished their value; and they are now superseded by much better works on the same subject. During his absence from Ireland to superintend the publication of the first volume, the doctor was not unmindful of his own domestic happiness, which he consulted by marrying a widow lady from Ireland with a very ample fortune. He was now enabled to. indulge {66} his generous disposition, and to express by a donation his regard to the interests of the college of which he had long been a member. A third edition of his theological work appeared in 1735. In the year 1738 he published a very singular production, “Reflections upon Polygamy, and the Encouragement given to that Practice in the Old Testament.” There is much learning and talent evinced in this work; and the disorders and mischiefs which arise from the practice of polygamy, are clearly evinced; but the arguments brought forward in answer to the pleas deduced for it from the practice of it by the worthies of the Old Testament, are not equally conclusive and satisfactory.

In the course of his work he had to consider the case of David, and it is likely, he was hence induced to examine what farther related to the case of that great Jewish monarch. As the result of hie inquiries, he published “An Historical Account of the Life and Reign of David, King of Israel; interspersed with various Conjectures, Digressions, and Disquisitions.” The first volume appeared in 1741, and the second and third in 1748. Considerable critical skill, and much valuable information are displayed in these volumes; and some animadversions of Boyle, in his dictionary, under the head David, are ably confuted. There is, however, the same objection against this work as against his former productions; and be uniformly evinces a disposition to palliate or defend the crimes of David, which ought ever to be held in detestation, and which the sacred writings leave open to censure. There is no necessity to attempt for the honour of religion an excuse for what was blameable; and the Scriptures in this respect, superior to most biographical writings, do uot conceal defects, but exhibit warnings as well as examples.

Dr. Delany, who had lost his first wife Dec. 6th, 1741, sought consolation in 1743, by a marriage with Mrs. Mary Pendarves, widow of Alexander Pendarves, Esq. a very ingenious and excellent lady, with whom he lived for twenty{67}five years in a state of matrimonial happiness. She was a great proficient in painting; one work of her laborious industry more curious than useful, was a Flora of coloured paper, consisting of nine hundred and eighty plants, executed, according to Lord Orford, “with a precision and truth unparalleled.” The Doctor was not so absorbed in domestic enjoyment, as to neglect his studies. On March 13, 1745, he preached an excellent sermon before the Society for the promoting Protestant Working Schools in Ireland. This year he also published a volume of sermons upon social duties, fifteen io number; to which in a second edition in 1747, he added four more, on the opposite vices. Along with these he inserted a 30th of January sermon, preached in 1738, before the Lord-Lieutenant, William Duke of Devonshire. These sermons are entitled to great praise from their style of composition, and they are very valuable, as treating well subjects of important and universal concern. He was soon after this, in May the same year, advanced to the highest preferment he ever attained, the deanery of Down, in the room of Dr. Thomas Fletcher, promoted to the bishopric of Dromore, In 1748, he published a sixpenny tract, entitled, “An Essay towards evidencing the divine Original of Tythes”, and had been at first drawn up, and publicly preached as a sermon. The text selected was, the tenth commandment, which forbids coveting the goods of our neighbour; and the preacher has been censured for attempting to derive the doctrine from that prohibition. A more appropriate passage of scripture might no doubt have been chosen; but it frequently happens, that a text is sought out like the motto for a book, after the subject is either written or planned out; and it by no means follows, that the preacher is to found his arguments on that authority alone.

After an interval of six years, he again appeared before the public in answer to the Earl of Orrery’s remarks on the life and writings of Dr. Swift. The noble lord’s representations had given great pain to many of the Dean’s {68} admirers, and amongst them Dr. Delany, his old friend; and few could have been so well qualified to remove unjust aspersions, as he had long enjoyed his most intimate society, from his coming over to Ireland, and before Lord Orrery could have known any thing of him. The opinion entertained by the public of our author’s work was, that it was the most fair and candid that had ever been offered to the world, and enabled the reader to judge for themselves respecting the real character of the Dean of St. Patrick.

A candid man, however, can never give satisfaction to; the bigotted and unreasonable; and Dean Swift, Esq. in his essay on the life, writings, and character of his relation, treated our author with extreme ill-manners and gross abuse. He felt compelled, therefore, to write an answer, in a letter to Mr. Swift, published in 1755. He there completely justified himself, and at the same time shewed so much candour, ingenuousness, good temper, and politeness, that he could not fail to make the most favourable impression on the minds of the readers, and thereby give his adversary a most decided defeat.

In 1754, he published another excellent volume of sermons, chiefly on practical subjects; and of these, two on the iniquity, folly, and absurdity of duelling, deserve to be particularised.

During this part of his life, he was doomed to suffer much vexation from a perplexing lawsuit of the utmost consequence, as it related to the personal estate of his first wife; and which by the usual course of “the law’s delay”, was protracted more than nine years. The decision in the Irish court of Chancery was against him; but, on an appeal to the House of Lords in England, that judgment was reversed, and the doctor secured in the possession. Nothing, however, could draw him from his studies; and in 1757, he began a periodical work, called the “Humanist”, which was carried on through fifteen numbers, and then dropped. In 1761, he published a tract, called, “An humble Apology for Christian Ortho{69}doxy”; and several sermons. He now arrived at a very great age, almost fourscore, and his mind and body being neceasarily enfeebled, it would have, perhaps, advisable for the sake of his future fame, if he followed the maxim, “solve senescentemm equum&148;, and no longer appeared as an author. However, in 1763, after a lapse of thirty years, he published the third and last volume of his “Revelation examined with Candour”, in which occurred instances more numerous than in the former volumes, of the prevalence of imagination over judgment.

In his preface he indulged in much peevishness against reviewers; but it is seldom that an author benefits himself by remarks of that kind. The feelings of the reader are apt to favour the critics and suspect that their judgment has been just; and unless in particular gross mistakes, where they may clearly be confuted, silence respecting them is the best policy. The last works of the Doctor were, a sermon in 1766, against transubstantiation, and a yolupie containing eighteen discourses, in the same year. He closed his long life at Bath, in May 1768, in the eighty-third year of his age.

Enough has been said in the course of his life to render it unnecessary to enter farther into his literary character. His works in defence of divine revelation have been superseded by other writings, without their defects, and embracing their good qualities, and many additional original arguments and illustrations. His life of Dean Swift is an interesting work; and his valuable practical sermons ought to preserve his name from oblivion. Happily, we are able to say of him, that he practised as well as preached, and taught mankind by the force of example as well as by precept.

His income for the last twenty years of his life, was about £3000 per annum; yet he left little behind him besides books, plate, and furniture, as he took pleasure in spending his ample income from his preferments and his private fortune, in the relief of distress, rewarding merit, and hospitable entertainments; and in so doing, displayed {70} the characteristic virtues for which, above all couatrieaf Ireland has ever been celebrated. We shall take leave of this excellent man with the following anecdote:

In the reign of King George II being desirous of the honour of preaching before his majesty, he obtained, from the lord chamberlain, or the dean of the chapel, the favour of being appointed to that office on the fifth Sunday of some month, being an extra-day, not supplied, ex officio, by the chaplains. As he was not informed of the etiquette, he entered the royal chapel after the prayers began, and, not knowing whither to go, crowded into the desk by the reader. The vesturer soon after was at a loss for the preacher, till seeing a clergyman kneeling by the reader, he concluded him to be the man. Accordingly, he went to him, and pulled him by the sleeve. But Dr. Delany, chagrined at being interrupted in his devotions, resisted and kicked the intruder, who in vain begged him to come out, and said, “There was no text.” The doctor replied, that he had a text; nor could he comprehend the meaning, till the reader acquainted him, that he must go into the vestry, and write down the text (as usual) for the closets. When he came into the vestry, his hand shook so much that he could not write. Mrs. Delany, therefore, was sent for; but no paper was at hand. At last, on the cover of a letter, die text was transcribed by Mrs. Delany, and so carried up to the king and royal family.

A poet of some celebrity, was the only son of Sir John Denham, Knight, of Little Horsley, in Essex, (some time chief baron of the exchequer in Ireland, and one of the lords justices of that kingdom,) by Eleanor, daughter of Sir Garnet More, Knight, Baron of Mellefont, in Ireland, and was born in Dublin in the year 1615; but was brought over from thence, two years afterwards, on his father being {71} made one of the barons of the exchequer in England, and received his education in London. In 1631, he was entered a gentleman commoner of Trinity College, Oxford, being then sixteen years of age; when, as Wood expresses it, “being looked upon as a slow and dreaming young man by his seniors and cotemporaries, and given more to cards and dice than his study, they could never then, in the least imagine, that he could ever enrich the world with his fancy, or issue of his brain, as he after-wards did.” He pursued his studies for three years at the university; and having undergone a public examination for his degree of bachelor of arts, he entered himself at Lincoln’s Inn, with a view of studying the law. But notwithstanding his application to the object of his pursuit, he did not lose his propensity to cards and dice, and consequently became the dupe of the barpies that infest gaming tables. His father being informed of this, severely reproved him for his folly, and threatened to disinherit him if he did not reform. On this declaration he professed himself reclaimed, and, to testify the sincerity of his repentance, he wrote and published “Ah Essay upon Gaming”, which he presented to his father. But no sooner did his father die, than vice re-assumed her empire in his heart, and he returned to the gaming table loaded with several thousand pounds, which he was speedily unencumbered of.

In 1641, he presented to the world his tragedy of the “Sophy”, which was greatly admired, and amongst others, by Waller, who took occasion to say of the author, that “he broke out like the Irish rebellion, threescore thousand strong, when nobody was aware or in the least suspected it.” Soon after he was pricked high sheriff of Surrey, and made governor of Farnham castle for the king; but not being skilled in military affairs, he soon resigned his post, and went to his majesty’s court at Oxford; when, in 1643, he published his most celebrated poem, “Cooper’s Hill”; “a work”, says Dr. Johnson, that confers upon him the, rank and dignity of an origi{}nal author.” Dryden likewise praises Cooper’s Hill very highly, and says, “it is a poem, which for majesty of style, is, and ever will be, the standard of good writing.” Pope has also celebrated this poem in his “Windsor Forestand it is so universally thought so much superior to his other poems, that some have suspected him, (though without any just foundation) not to have been the author of it. And in the “Session of the Poets”, printed in Dryden’s Miscellanies, we have the following insinuation:

Then in came Denham, that limping old bard,
Whose fame on the Sophy and Cooper’s Hill stands;
And brought many stationers, who swore very hard,
That nothing sold better, except ’twere his lands.

But Apollo advis’d him to write something more,
To clear a suspicion which possessed the court,
That Cooper’s Hill, so much bragg’d on before,
Was writ by a vicar, who had forty pounds for’t.”

In 1647; the distresses of the royal family obliged him to relinquish the study of poetry, and engage in a more dangerous employment. He was entrusted by the queen with a message to the king, who was then in the bands of the army, and to whom he got admittance by the assistance of his acquaintance Hugh Peters, “which trust”, says he, in the dedication of his poems to Charles II “I performed with great safety to the persons with whom we corresponded; but, about nine months after, being discovered by their knowledge of Mr. Cowley’s hand, I happily escaped both for myself and them.”

He was, however, engaged in a greater undertaking, as, according to the authority of Wood, he conveyed away James Duke of York into France, in April 1648; but Clarendon declares to the contrary, and assures us, that the duke went off with Colonel Bamfield only, who contrived the means of escape. This year (1648) he published his translation of “Cato Major.”

Not long after, he was sent ambassador from Charles II to the king of Poland, and William, (afterwards) Lord Crofts, was joined in the embassy with him. Among his poems is a ballad, entitled, “On my Lord Crofts’s and my Journey into Poland, from whence we brought £10,000 for his Majesty, by the decimation (or tithing) of his Scottish subjects there.” About 1652, he returned to England, and the remnant pf his estate that the wars and the gamesters had left him, was sold by order of the par* liament, and he was hospitably entertained by Lord Pembroke, at Wilton; but how he employed or supported himself till the Restoration, does not appear. After that event, he obtained the office of surveyor of the king’s buildings; and at the coronation of his majesty, was dig-nified with the order of Knight of the Bath. Wood pretends, that Charles I had granted our poet the reversion of that place after the decease of Inigo Jones, who held it; but Sir John himself, in the dedication of his poems, assures us, King Charles II at his departure from St. Germains to Jersey, was pleased, freely, without his asking it, to confer it upon him. After the Restoration he composed his poem on Prudence and Justice; but shortly after he abandoned the study of poetry, and “made it his business”, he says, “to draw such others as might be more serviceable to his majesty, and, he hoped, more lasting.” It might be reasonably imagined that the favour of his sovereign and the esteem of the public, would now render him happy; but alas! human felicity is short and uncertain. A second marriage brought upon him so much disquiet, that he had the misfortune to be deprived of his reason; and Dr. Johnson asserts, that when our poet was thus afflicted, Butler lampooned him for his lunacy, for which the doctor has inflicted on him a well-merited castigation. This malady was of short continuance, nor does his mind appear to have been impaired by it; as he wrote immediately after his recovery, his fine verses on the death of Cowley;

“But poets themselves must fall like those they sing;”

{74}

and he soon followed to the grave the subject of his panegyric, dying at his office, (which an accurate biographer informs us had been built by himself,) near Whitehall, on the 10th of March, 1688, and was interred in Westminster Abbey, near Chaucer, Spencer, and Cowley, sharing the honours of their sepulchre, if not of their immortality.

His works have been several times printed together in one volume, under the title of “Poems and Translations, with the Sophy, a tragedy&148;.

Most of the occasional serious poems of Denham possess the merit of some ingenious thoughts and emphatical expressions, but cannot be mentioned as first-rate compositions.

SECOND daughter of Thomas, Earl of Kerry, was bom in the year —, and married Arthur Denny, Esq. member for the county of Kerry, in 1727.

This excellent woman will long live in the records of humanity, as the protectoress of helpless infancy, and penitent frailty - disdaining the too common pursuits of fashionable life, in the rounds of dissipated pleasures, which her fortune and rank placed within her reach - and equally disinclined to inactivity, she nobly determined to be useful. An opportunity soon offered; and the kindness, patience, and perseverance, which surmounted obstacles that would have appalled a more ordinary mind, cannot be recollected without admiration.

By an act of Geo. II the governors of the workhouse of the city of Dublin were obliged to take, without exception or limitation, all exposed and deserted children under the age of six years. In time the funds became unequal to its support; not only in consequence of the numerous admissions, but from gross mismanagement and neglect. This, about the year 1768, attracted the notice of Lady Denny, and immediately interested her in its behalf. She promptly stepped forward and proposed, as {75} the most probable means of restoring its original regularity and usefulness, that it should be visited by some ladies of consequence, in rotation, rightly judging, that the wants of young children, the negligence of nurses, and the general management of such an institution fell more within their sphere of observation than of any gentlemen, however wise or discerning they might be. Her offer was accepted; and she soon had many ladies associated with her: but her visits only were punctual and assiduous; she felt the importance of the office she had undertaken, and finding herself gradually deserted by her associates, took the whole charge upon herself, and devoted not only her time and attention to the concern - but supported it by several pecuniary contributions, which from time to time were found wanting. She reproved the offending and encouraged the good; she provided every article that became necessary, and engaged the nnrses to fulfil their duties with greater tenderness and alacrity, (especially to the weak and sickly,) by suitable rewards. These endeavours were attended with the happiest success; the numbers of those that had died since the superintendance of this admirable woman, had decreased in the proportion of ten to one, and bythe economy she had established, many more were provided for than before with the same sum; but the undertaking was too extensive for a private purse, however liberally opened, to answer all its defalcations. She therefore solicited and obtained a benefaction to the charity, from his majesty; commenced the building of a chapel, to which the earl of Northumberland subscribed £100, and which stimulated others to follow his example. She caused, in 1764, the state of the charity to be laid before parliament, stating the debts remaining unpaid, and the necessity of extending the plan, so as fully to answer its original design. A committee was appointed, and in consequence of its report, the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to.

“That for three years past, by the particular and constant attention of the Right Hon. Lady Aiabtfia Danny, whan direction the oficen and servants are ordered to observe, every thing relative to the management of the children and other concerns of the house, hath been conducted, in the most exact and proper manner.”
 “That by the extraordinary care of the nurses, excited by the premiums of the Right Hon. Lady A. D. for retrieving such of the infants as are sent thither weak and sickly, many of their lives have been saved.”
 “That the thanks of the House be given to the Right Hon. A. D. for her extraordinary bounty and charity, in promoting the present salutary regulations in the foundling side of the workhouse of the city of Dublin ) and that Mr. Cranier do acquaint her ladyship therewith.”

We cannot learn the exact time of her ladyship’s decease; but her monument is before us, - may its language be felt, understood, and imitated.

OFTEN have we had to lament the union of talent with vice, but never more, perhaps, than in the present instance; for, if his biographer did not suffer partiality to guide his plume, never was there any individual whose knowledge was so intuitive, or whose profligacy was so precocious. He was the eldest of three sons, and was descended from a respectable family in the south of Ireland. Nicholas Dermody his father, was the sixth son of a substantial farmer, and received his education at Clonmel. At the age of twenty-two he went to Limerick, and from thence went as tutor to John Scott, Esq. a gentleman of large fortune in the county of Clare. In Mr. Scott’s family he remained two years, at the end of which period he married, and settled as a classical teacher at Ennis, in the same county, where his son Thomas, the subject of the present memoir, was born, on the 17th of January, 1775. It is well known, that for some years after fixing his abode at Ennis, he lived in a state of tolerable comfort, but from some unknown cause, he grew uneasy in his mind, and flew for temporary relief to that successful deceiver - wine; and it is not unlikely, that from being exposed to the contagion of had example, his son early {77} imbibed a love for drinking and its concomitant vices. From Ennis he removed to Galway, where he established a seminary; but not being so successful as before, he once more returned to Ennis, where for many years he straggled with great difficulties; but that he was not wholly inattentive to the education of his son, may readily be imagined from the circumstance of placing him as Greek and Latin assistant in his school, when he had only attained his ninth year. A twelvemonth after, he commenced writing poetry, which art he acquired with great facility; and in a monody, entitled, “Corydon,” in which he laments the death of his brother, he fully establishes his claim to rank as a poet of great original genius. On the death of this beloved brother, which happened about the close of the year 1785, he formed the rash determination of quitting his home, which design was frustrated by the death of his mother. To endeavour to efface the recollection of this mournful event, a Mr. Hickman, a gentleman of great liberality, and who esteemed Dermody’s talents as a man of literary attainments and a teacher, gave bim and his son an invitation to his house at Newpark, which they accepted; and in this asylum of hospitality, young Dermody formed the plan, which he soon after executed, of flying from poverty, and viewing that epitome of the world - Dublin. Accordingly, without informing any one of his intention, with only a couple of shillings, the second volume of Tom Jones, (which he has often declared determined him on this adventure,) and a single change of linen in his pocket, he bade adieu to the house for ever, and launched boldly and fearlessly into the ocean of life. He strayed on, he knew not whither, with his senses bewildered in contemplating the various pleasures of the capital he was about to visit, till at length, looking around him, he perceived he had lost his way. This accident, however, far from discouraging him, he looked upon as a favourable interposition of Providence, and after the pause of a few minutes, he decisively took the road that lay before him, and casting a last, though not a {78} lingering look upon the village of his birth, which seemed fast sinking behind the neighbouring trees,a tear of regret stole down his youthful cheek, which was soon dried, and was suffused with smiles of ardent expectation. He had gone a considerable way, and night had cast her shadows round him, ere he thought of looking out for a lodging; but no token of any such retreat could he discover, except the langoid glimmer of a low cottage standing in a dark corner; and to this he bent his weary footsteps, with the utmost speed. As soon as he entered the hut, where all around was wretchedness and misery, he saw before him in the middle of the floor - a corpse in a few unshaped boards, which were intended for its coffin, at the foot of which sat five children sobbing and weepings while a female, pale and emaciated, hung over the head of it in silent grief. Dermody stood during some minutes, amazed and terrified, and was on the point of retiring from a spectacle which to him was alike distressing and mysterious, when the woman lifting up her eye from the deceased and fixing it stedfastly upon him, pointed to a seat near the hearth, where some expiring embers cast a bickering light and illumed faintly. She again sunk into her former melancholy state, and uttered several incoherent speeches in the agony of grief, from which he gathered, that she was grandmother to the little mourners, and that she had seen happy days, though now surrounded by poverty, and misery, and want; and that the deceased was her daughter. This dismal and distressful scene, deeply affected Dermody, who, wiping the tears from his eyes, put his hand into his pocket, and gave one of his shillings (the half of all he had in the world) to the female, and with many sighs, left her; but had not walked far from the door, before he returned with some trivial excuse, for the purpose of gratifying the finest feelings of humanity, by pressing his last shilling into the hands of the unfortunate and aged woman. He then sallied forth once moret and took the road, till he came to the ruins of an old monastery, within whose dilapidated walls he determined

{79}

to await the dawn of day; and here it was he composed some stanzas pregnant with poetic beauties, for which we refer our readers to his life, vol. i. p.14. He had not remained there long when he heard the antiquated air of Lillabullero channted most loudly; his curiosity was roused, and he instantly darted from the monastery and quickly overtook the minstrel, who proved to be the parish clerk returning from a neighbouring fair. Dermody courteously saluted him, and in a short time they became intimate, till on a sudden, in the midst of a copious harangue, he sprung down a narrow lane, wishing his companion a good night, and singing loudly as before. After this whimsical incident, he was once more relieved by the sound of another human voice, which fortunately proved to be a carrier’s with whom he had a slight acquaintance, and who was now pursuing his journey to the metropolis. He candidly told his tale to his friend the carrier, who generously divided his homely morsel with the young adventurer, and by giving him a short ride now and then, enabled him to accomplish a journey of about one hundred and forty English miles. Nothing particular occurred on the road, except his reciting in majestic strains, the transports which be fancied he was to enjoy in his pilgrimage through the world. Arrived now in Dublin, he wandered from one street to another, and having disposed of all his extra wardrobe, he bent his step towards the house of an eminent apothecary in College Green, to whom he had a recommendatory letter from a country acquaintance; but not meeting with the reception that he conceived himself entitled to, he bid adieu to the knight of the pestle, determining in his own mind never to honour him with a second visit. He now amused himself with strolling about the streets, and gratifying his curiosity at the bookstalls, and was observed by the owner of one of them with a book in his band, who immediately ran up from the cellar in which he resided to watch his property, he found him earnestly poring over a Greek author; and upon questioning him as to the substance of {80} the book, and being satisfied that he understood it, he invited him down to dine in his cellar, which invitation Dermody accepted. They dined together with mutual satisfaction, and Dermody acceded to a proposal which his friend made, for teaching his son Latin. He, however, soon grew tired of his academic appointment in the cellar, and was recommended to another dealer in books, who kept a little second-hand shop in Stephen-street, and who took him in the capacity of shop-boy. With this man, whose name was Lynch, he remained but a short time, and soon after acquired the patronage of Doctor Houlton, who observed him in some book-shop in Dublin, reading Longinus, in the original Greek, in whose house he resided about ten weeks, giving astonishing proofs of his knowledge of the Greek and Roman classics, and producing poetical translations ad aperturam libri. This gentleman, when obliged himself to leave Dublin, gave him some money, which he soon spent, and wandered through the streets by day, and begged the meanest shelter during the night. In his morning rambles he often called on a man of the name of Coyle, who resided in Dorset-street, and who was by profession a scene painter; to him he told the whole of his story, and lived with him for a short time, in a state of familiar servitude, going on messages for him, warming his size-pots at the theatre, telling merry tales, and writing verses on the walls with chalk; all of which he did with the greatest good-will and apathy imaginable. By Coyle he was introduced to the players, who laudably made several attempts to place him in a situation where he might prosecute his studies; he was introduced to Dr. Young, afterwards Bishop of Clonfert, and the Rev. Gilbert Austin,* who selected and printed at his own expense, a volume of his poems, and the money produced thereby, together with a small subscription entered into by his friends, enabled them to place him as

* Author of a quarto volume, entitled, “Chironomia; or, a Treatise on Rhetorical Delivery.”

{81}

a boarder in a comfortable and commodious house in Grafton-street; and here it-was the early depravity of his disposition began to evince itself; as he would often relinquish the invitations of his friends and patrons, for the society of depraved and vicious characters; and it was his misfortune at a meeting of this kind to become acquainted with one Martin, a drawing master. This person knowing Dermody’s influence with Mr. Austin, and wishing to get the business of his academy, persuaded him to shew that gentleman the drawing of a flower, which he (Dermody) should say was done by himself, after receiving only three lessons. This he unhesitatingly agreed to, and immediately exhibited the flower, urging at the same time the recommendation as he had been desired. The stratagem thus daringly formed, carried its own failure along with it, for it was utterly impossible the most ready genius could execute a drawing in the same style within the period of instruction that he had specified. Mr. Austin, on seeing the flower, and hearing his story, instantly accused him of duplicity, and Dermody denied the charge; at last, however, he was desired to sit down and make a copy of the drawing, when to his disgrace the deception became evident. He was immediately ordered from the parlour to the kitchen, where, for a considerable time, he was kept in disgrace: to give vent to his feelings, he satirized his benefactors, and the lines were brought by his prying landlord to Mr. Austin, who immediately destroyed the poems he had collected for publication, returned the subscribers the money he had received from them for Dermody’s support, and turned him out once more upon the wdrld, friendless and forsaken. He continued to exist for some time on newspaper drudgery, and, by the interest of a Mr. Berwick, he was noticed, adopted, and patronized by the Dowager Countess of Moira, and at her expense was furnished with all suitable necessaries, and placed under the care of the learned and reverend Mr. Boyd*, at Killeigh. In this situation he remained two years, during which time he greatly im-‘ proved himself in the ancient languages, and acquired a competent knowledge of French and Italian; but neither kindness nor circumstances could efface those habits of imprudence and irregularity which seemed innate, and which to the latest period of his life he sedulously cultivated. At every ale-house in the neighbourhood, where- ever low company was to be found, Dermody was there. He had, however, the art long to satisfy his benefactress; but by a tissue of conduct as infamous as it was ungrateful, he at length offended her, and was once more cast despised and friendless on the world. During his retirement at Killeigh, he wrote odes, epitaphs, and elegies, on himself, all of which contain great poetic merit. He once more returned to Dublin, a journey which he performed with ease and comfort, having had ten guineas given bins by his patroness, as a last donation, when he left Killeigh. He had not been, however, many days in Dublin, before his finances were entirely expended, and he applied to his friend Mr. Owenson, who treated him with his usual hospitality. He likewise wrote to the bishop of Dromore, and to the celebrated Henry Grattan, who so highly estimated the talents of Dermody, that in his seal to serve him, he introduced many passages of a poem (enclosed by Dermody to him) in a celebrated speech in the House of Commons, and strongly recommended its author to the particular notice of persons of taste and fortune; and it was likewise through the kindness of this highly-gifted patriot, to whom Ireland stands so deeply indebted, that Dermody was introduced to the celebrated Henry Flood, who honoured him with his particular friendship while he lived, and who suggested to him a plan for composing a poem on the British constitution.

*The celebrated translator of Dante.

In August 1799, he received a letter from his father, which found him as poor and dissipated as ever; and to such a distressful state was he reduced, that to avoid the importunities of those to whom he owed small sums, he wandered among the fields by day, and sought the meanest {83} shelter by night; surrounded, as he then was, by both poverty and famine, he still retained a great portion of playful vivacity, which he displayed in various poetical compositions, particularly in a letter addressed to the Rev. Mr. Berwick, of Moira-House, in which he requests admittance once more to that mansion of hospitality. He also sent several letters, imploring assistance from the Countess of Moira, all of which were unanswered. He now commenced politician, and published a pamphlet on the subject of the French Revolution, entitled, “The Right of Justice; or, Rational Liberty”; to which was annexed, a well-written poem, called, G The Reform.” At this time his biographer admits, that his state became so desperate, that he would have undertaken to defend or promote any cause which promised to afford the least immediate supply.” His condition now became insupportable, and he reflected on it with a poignancy, which, but for a sudden and unexpected relief, must inevitably have brought him to a speedy dissolution. The attorney-general being informed by his bookseller, that a panegyric possessing great poetic beauties, had been addressed to him, and printed in the “Anthologia Hibernica”, made some inquiries relative to the author, and obtained his address. He determined on paying him an immediate visit, and found him just risen. He heard his artless story, and being convinced that he possessed true genius, insisted on his going in his carriage to dine with him. He did so; and, as might be conjectured, was brought back in4he carriage, not quite so sensible as at his first setting out. To the honour of the attorney-general be it recorded, that he aotually engaged apartments for him in the College, and promised not only to furnish them, but to defray the whole of his expenses there, and allow him £50 a year to enable him to appear in the world with respectability. Yet, incredible at it may appear, Dermody, in a mysterious epistle, rejected all this proffered liberality, and continued to live in a state of wretched obscurity, producing pieces of poetry of every description. In the midst of his distresses, he appealed once more to the liberality of Mr Grattan, - a man who never closed his doors against the unfortunate. He received him with kindness, and treated him with respect, and at his departure, presented him with five guineas; this sum Dermody got rid of before he reached home; got drunk, and created a disturbance at Ranelagh, a village three miles from Dublin, where he was taken into custody, and corded down upon an empty bed. After this event he met with another patron, in the person of Mr. William Smith; and while he was labouring to advance his fortune, Dermody (as usual) abandoned himself to the most depraved society, whose pursuits were as disreputable as they were pernicious; lost to the esteem of the world, and deserted even by many of his low associates, he wandered about perfectly destitute, and without any other means of subsistence,. than the donations which his wretched appearance extorted from the humanity of those to whom he presented petitions. In this state of misery and penury, he, with one Stewart, formed a design of visiting London, and met accordingly at a mean public house in Great George-street, which was the rendezvous of a recruiting party, who fixed on Dermody for their victim. He was easily seduced from propriety; he mixed in their low excesses; became speedily intoxicated, and was the same night carried down the River, and safely lodged in a tender which lay moored in the Bay. When he recovered his senses, his apathy of heart (of which he had a large stock) did not desert him, and he became familiarized to his situation, from which he was released by a Mr. Samuel White; he, however, soon after, got into a similar predicament, from which he was extricated by his active friend Mr. Emerson. A short time after this period, after idling away some weeks in a state of ruinous dissipation, he entered as a private in the 108th regiment, commanded by the Earl of Granard; and behaving with some decency, under the wholesome check ¦of military discipline, he was progressively advanced to the ranks of corporal and sergeant; and on the 17th of {85} September, 1794, in the nineteenth year of his age, embarked with the regiment for England. He accompanied it afterwards abroad in the expedition under the Earl of Moira, and behaved so well, that his lordship promoted him to a second-lieutenancy in the waggon corps, and lie was in almost every considerable action, and received two wounds; one in the face, and the other in the left hand, a bullet having passed directly through it. On the reduction of the army, Dermody was put on the half-pay list.

He now came to London, and followed the impulse of his passions, as heretofore; and the supplies which Lord Moira had generously contributed, were dissipated in the same degraded vices he had indulged in in Ireland. He was at length arrested and lodged in the Fleet prison, from which situation Lord Moira released him, with a threat to withdraw his protection, unless he amended his conduct; but all admonition was vain, for his own sufferings had not taught him prudence. The donation that accompanied the admonitory epistle, he had squandered in the lowest haunts of vice, and in the pursuit of debauchery had spent his last shilling, when his resources being entirely exhausted, he took shelter in a garret in Strutton Ground, Westminster, and applied for assistance to his biographer Mr. Raymond, who relieved him on this occasion, and assisted him in the publication of a volume of poems, teeming with originality of genius, and beauty of description. “The zeal” says Raymond, “of the few friends who were now acquainted with his distresses, soon procured him a number of advocates. His story became extensively known, and among the arbiters of wit, and the admirers of poetical compositions, his talents and situation were frequent subjects of discourse. The force of his genius was universally acknowledged; and from many who interested themselves in his behalf, he reaped more solid advantages than praise and admiration; but neither poverty, experience, nor the contempt of the world, had yet taught him prudence; and he had no sooner excited their compassion, and profited by their generosity, than he neglected their advice.” He now acquired the patronage of Sir James Bland Burges, who interested himself greatly in his behalf, and procured him relief from the Literary Fund. Him, however, he offended, by paying him a visit when in a state of intoxication, and creating a disturbance in his house. From Sir James he was patronised by Mr. Addington, and through his means, produced another volume of poems as beautiful as the former.

At length, after having run from one scene of low depravity to another, until his constitution was undermined, and “reason was beginning to totter on her throne” worn with disease, the inevitable consequences of habitual intemperance, death seized his victim with one hand, and opening the portals of eternity with the other, commanded the soul to escape from the earthly tenement, which had so long disgraced it; dying at a wretched hovel near Sydenham, July 15, 1802, in the twenty-eighth year of his age.

He was one of those unhappy young men, who preferred a life of daring profligacy to the dull and unvariable sameness of virtue; and the time that should have been occupied in the cultivation of his talents, was uselessly spent in their display. He united a depth of poetic intellect, and a great harmony of versification rarely to be met with in the same individual; and could turn with equal facility “from grave to gay, from sullen to serene but if we thus praise his excellence in poetry, how shall we extol his classical attainments ? Horace and Homer he was alike acquainted with, and could unabashed, before a large company, read a passage in either; then put the book in his pocket, and give a fine poetic translation of the passage be had just delivered; and likewise to hit credit he it recorded, that before he had attained his fifteenth year, he had acquired a competent knowledge of the Greek, the Latin, the French, and Italian languages, and knew a little of the Spanish.

We have now filled up the sun-light of the picture, and there remains nothing but the odious task of enumerating the dark and disgusting shades that deformed it. He was an epitome of every variety of vice, and unblushingly avowed it, without even making those excuses that most of her votaries do; such as - “it was against my consent, but I was led into it; - it was unfortunate, but we are aty the victims of circumstances - Excuses, in reality, as frivolous as they are despicable, but which have some weight in the charitable eye of the world. Dermody despised this mental hypocrisy, and setting his arms a-kimbo laid his hand upon his heart, and said fearlessly, “I am vicious, because I like it*.”

* I have read somewhere, of an Individual as remarkable for his premature profligacy, as for his extraordinary attainments, who, on being remonstrated with for having spent a night of intemperance and vice, replied, “that he avowed the fact, but thought it very hard, that after a month’s intense application to his studies, that he could not indulge himself one night in heart-cheering abandonment, without being reproved for it.”

AN individual who united merit with folly, and wit with imprudence, was a native of Ireland, and was born in the year 1724. Being destined by his parents for trade, he was for some time placed with a linen-draper in Dublin; but being possessed of a thorough dislike to business, he quitted it and his country about the year 1751,and arrived in London, where he commenced author. Soon after his arrival in the metropolis, he indulged an inclination which he had imbibed for the stage, and made his appearance in the character of Gloucester, in Rowe’s tragedy of “Jane Shore”, at the Haymarket theatre, but with so little success, that he hade adieu to the buskin for ever. After this attempt, he subsisted chiefly by his writings; but having in his disposition both profusion and profligacy, he indulged himself in all the follies and excesses of gallantry and gaming; and lived during the greater part of his {88} time, the slave of dependence, or the sport of chance. His acquaintance with the people of fashion, on the decease of the celebrated Beau Nash, procured him at length a more permanent subsistence, and he was chosen to succeed that gentleman in his offices of master of the ceremonies at Bath and Tunbridge; a situation he was peculiarly qualified for, having a taste for enjoyment without exertion, and the diffusion of wealth without the trouble of acquiring it. By the profits of these investments, he might have been enabled to place himself with economy in a less precarious state; but the contempt of prudence had been too deeply cherished to be so speedily got rid of, by which means he was, at the time of his decease, (which happened on March 7. 1769,) equally embarrassed as he had been at any period of his life.

He translated one piece from the French, of the King of Prussia’s, entitled, “Sylla”, a dramatic entertainment, 8vo. 1753; “A Voyage to the Moon”, from the French, of Bergerac, 12mo. 1753; “Memoirs of the Count de Beauwal”, from the French of the Marquis D’Argens, 12mo. 1754; "The Third Satire of Juvenal translated into English verse”, 4to. 1755; and he also edited an edition of Dryden’s Poetical Works, with a Life and Notes, in 4 vols. 8vo. 1762, a beautifully printed book, but which was attended with very little success. In 1759, he published “A View of the Stage”, in 8vo. under the name of Wilkes. In 1762, “The Battle of Laura”, a poem; and, in 1763, “A Collection of Voyages”, in 2 vols. 12mo. and some other compilations, with and without his name. The most amusing of his works are his “Letters written from Liverpool, Chester, &c.” in 2 vols. 12mo.

Derrick, it is true, lived infinitely more to amuse than to instruct the public; but it is to be hoped, his life was not altogether useless to mankind.

The following anecdote, illustrative of Derrick’s modesty, was related to me, by a daughter of that celebrated and ingenious man Paterson, the book auctioneer. Paterson had one day a large party of literary men to dine with {89} him, and amongst the rest came Dr. Johnson. Derrick dropt in casually towards the close of the evening, and beholding the doctor, walked up pompously towards him, stretching out his hand, and exclaiming, “Brother author, give us your hand;&148; when the doctor (who had put on his good behaviour for the day) burst into an immoderate laugh, in which he was joined by the whole company, and Derrick became the object of their ridicule and contempt.

A FEMALE endowed with true heroism and decision of character, was descended from the ancient and renowned family of the Fitzgeralds of Kildare. She was created Baroness of Offaley [sic for Offaly] for life; and, on her marriage with Lord Digby, of Coleshill, in the county of Longford, brought into that family the barony, lordship, manor, and territory of Geashill, in the King’s County, with the monastery of Killeigh, the rectory, and prebend of Geashill, and all the hereditaments within the said barony, which were the inheritance of her grandfather, Gerald, Earl of Kildare, the same being confirmed to her and her heirs, by the award of King James I bearing date 11th July, 1619 After which, some persons (under pretence of some concealments, or of nice and strict defects or omissions in the patents granted to her ancestors,) endeavouring to defeat her of divers parcels of the said barony, and to pass patent secretly for the same, the king was pleased (by privy seal from Greenwich, 26th June, 1620,) for prevention thereof, and to the end, that as much as in his majesty lay, he might settle on her and her heirs, a good and indefeasible estate of all the said barony, lordship, manor, and territory of Geashill, and of the said monastery, the advowson, &c. of all the lands whatsoever, as well spiritual as temporal, which were in the possession of Elizabeth, Countess of Kildare, as grantee, lessee, or committee of the lands of Gerald, now Earl of Kildare, at the time of making the said award, or which were reputed the inheritance of any {90} of the ancestors of the said Lady Lettice,) to order a new grant and confirmation, to bold the same for ever, by sueb rents, tenures, and services, as were reserved by the patents of Queen Elizabeth, granted the eleventh and twentieth years of her reign, to the said Gerald, Earl of Kildare, and that the premises should be created into the manor of Geashill, with the privileges of courts, free warren, liberty to make a park, to hold a Tuesday market, and two fairs, on 1st June and 5th October at Killeigh, with the advowson of the church; and she passed patent accordingly, 4th September that year.

Her ladyship living in the time of the Rebellion, the insurgents in that part of the country robbed and despoiled many of their adversaries, committed divers outrages and acts of cruelty; and at several times assaulted and besieged her in her castle of Geashill, which she defended with great resolution. - In the first attempt, Henry Dempsie, brother to the Lord Clanmalien, and others, subscribed and sent her the following summons: -

“We, his majesty’s loyal subjects, at the present employed In his highness’s service for the sacking of this your castle, you are therefore to deliver unto us the free possession of your said castle, promising faithfully that your ladyship, together with the rtst within your said castle reriont, shall have a reasonable composition; otherwise, upon the non-yielding of the castle, we do assure you that we will burn the whole town, kill all the protestants, and spare neither man, woman, or child, upon taking the castle lay compulsion. Consider, madam, of this our offer, and impute not the blame of your own folly unto us; think not that here we brag. Your ladyship, upon submission, shall have a safe convoy to secure you from the hands of your enemies, and to lead you whither you please. A speedy repçy is desired with all expedition, and thus we surcease."

M Henry Dempsie, Charles Dempsie, Andrew Fits Patrick, Conn Dempsie, Phelim Dempsie, Ja. Mac-Dunnell, John Vicars."

To this summons, she returned the following polite answer:

I received your letter, wherein you threaten to sack this my castle, by his majesty’s authority. I have ever been a loyal subject, and a good neighbour among you, and therefore cannot but wonder at such an assault. I thank you for your offer of a convoy, wherein I hold little safety; and, therefore my resolution is, that being free from offending his majesty, or doing wrong to any of you, I will live and die innocently, and will do my {91} best to defend my own, leaving the issue to God; and though I have been, and still am desirous to avoid the shedding of Christian blood, yet being provoked, your threats shall no whit dismay me.”

After two months, the Lord Viscount Clanmalien brought a great piece of ordnance, (to the making of which, as it was credibly reported, there went seven score pots and pans, which was cast three times by an Irishman from Athboy, before they brought it to that perfection, in which it was at Geashill,) and sent another summons to her ladyship, in these words:

“Noble Madam,
“It was never my intention to offer you any injury, before you were pleased to begin with me, for it is well known, if I were so disposed, yon had not been by this time at Geashill; so as I find you are not sensible of the courtesies I always expressed unto you, since the beginning of this commotion; however, I did not thirst after revenge, but out of my loving and wonted respects still towards you, I am pleased and desirous to give you fair quarter, if you please to accept thereof, both for yourself, children and grand-children, and likewise your goods; and I will undertake to send a safe convoy with you and them, either to Dublin, or to any other of the next adjoining garrisons, either of which to be at your own election $ and if you be not pleased to accept of this offer, I hope you will not impute the blame onto me, if yon be not fairly dealt withal, for I expect to have the command of your house before I stir from hence. And if you please to send any of your gentlemen of your house to me, I am desirous to confer thereof at large, and so expecting your speedy answer, I rest, your loving cousin,

“LEWIS GLANMALEROE.”

“P.S. Madam, there are other gentlemen now in this town, whose names are hereunto subscribed, who do join and unite themselves in this mine offer onto you.

“Lewis Gianmaleroe, Ant O*Molley, Henry Dempsie, Edw. Connor, Cha. Connor, Daniel Doyne, John Mac William."

To this letter, Lady Offaley sent the following answer:

“My Lord,
“I little expected such a salute from a kinsman, whom I have ever respected, you being not ignorant of the great damages I have received from your followers of Gianmaleroe, so as you can’t but know in your own conscience, that I am innocent of doing you any injury, unless you count it an injury for my people to bring back a small quantity of mine own goods where they found them, and with them, some others, of such men as have done me all the injury they can devise, as may appear by their own letter. I was offered a convoy by those that formerly besieged me, and I hope you have more honour than to follow their example, by seeking her ruin {92} that never wronged yon. However, I am still of the same mind, and can think no place safer than my own house, wherein if I perish by your means, the guilt will light on you, and I doubt not but I shall receive a crown of martyrdom, dying innocently. God, I trust, will take a poor widow into his protection, from all those which, without cause, are risen up against me.

Your poor kinswoman,

“LETTICE OFFALEY”

“P.S. If the conference you desire do but concern the contents of this letter, I think the answer will give yon full satisfaction; and I hope you will withdraw your hand, and shew your power in more noble actions.”

After his lordship had received this answer, he discharged his piece of ordnance against the castle, which, at the first shot, broke and flew in pieces; but his men continued, with their musquets and other arms, to fire until the evening, when they took away the broken ordnance, and marched off in the night. But prior to their departure his lordship sent the following letter thus directed:

“To my noble cousin, the Lady Lattice, Baroness of Offaley.

“Madam,
“I received your letter, and am still tender of your good and welfare, though you give no credit thereunto. And, whereas, you do understand by relation, that my piece of ordnance did not prosper, I believe you will be sensible of the hazard and loss you are like to sustain thereby, unless you will be better advised to accept the kind offer which I mentioned in my letter unto you in the morning; if not, expect no further favour at my hands, and so I rest, your ladyship’s loving cousin.

“LEWIS GLANMALEROE.”

To which my lady returned answer by one of her own men, who was kept prisoner:

“My Lord,
“Your second summons I have received, and should be glad to find you tender of my good. For your piece of ordnanee, I never disputed how it prospered, presuming you would rather make use of it for your own defence, or against enemies, than to try your strength against a poor widow of your own blood; but since you have bent it against me, let the blood which shall be shed be required at their hands that seek it; for my part, my conscience tells me that I am innocent, and wishing you so too, I rest, your cousin,

“LETTICE OFFALEY.”

She was further menaced by Charles Dempsie, who wrote the following letter, with the design of sending it to her that afternoon; but being beaten out of the town, he was prevented, and it was found in one of the houses.

“Madam,
“I do admire that a lady of your worth and honour, as you conceive yourself to be, should in so regardleu a sort, instead of matters of conscience in your letters, use frivolous and scandalous words, expressly nominating os your enemies, Clanmaleroe Kearnes; and that, in that letter written this very day unto Sir Luke Fitz-Gerald, desiring his assistance to the number of fifty men, which should quash and cashier us hero hence, be being your enemy no leu than we, secluding kindred, not prophaneness of religion. Nay, your ladyship was not formerly abashed to write to William Parsons, naming us in that letter unto him, a mixt multitude. Remember yourself, madam, consisting of more women and boys than men. All these letters before your ladyship shall be produced. Both the messengers we have intercepted, together with your letters, and do detain them as yet prisoners, until such time as thereof we do certify your ladyship, which at the present to do we thought expedient. They are therefore censured to death, and this day is prefixed to their execution. Your ladyship by your letter desires novelties. Hear then, Chidley Coote (correspondently to the intent of your letters to Parsons, coming to your aid), being intercepted in the way, was deadly wounded, ten taken prisoners, his ensigns taken away, one Alman Hammett’s man, if he comes safe with his message, (as I hope he will not,) will confirm this news. Had the character of these letters of yours been either Lloyd’s or Hammetts, that politick engineer, and the deviser of quilletts (by him that bought me), no other satisfaction should be taken but their heads, though, as the case stands, Hammett lives in no small danger for manifold reasons.

“CHARLES DEMPSIE.”

But notwithstanding all these menaces and attacks, she held out with unsubdued courage, until effectually relieved by Sir Richard Grenville, in October 1642, after which she retired to Coleshill; and died the 1st of December, 1658, and lies buried in the cathedral church of St. Patrick. She had the happiness of being the parent of seven sons and three daughters, whose virtues were at once their praise and her consolation.