Thus replaced in the bosom of a peaceful and pious circle, relieved from anxiety as to his future destination, and grateful for past mercies, his health was soon re-established; and this was accompanied by an exuberant flow of spirits. Indeed the surviving members of his brother's family, who were then but young, still recollect how much it surprised them, to see a "Fellow of the University," in whom they expected gravity itself, disporting in the fields, with the artless gaiety of a boy.

But his cheerfulness, though exuberant, was not selfish or inconsiderate. It never prevented him from attending to the feelings of others; and was exhibited in a way that proved his wish to diffuse his own happiness around. And thus it was always in perfect keeping with the lights and shadows of that domestic group, of which he was so conspicuous and enlivening a figure.

He was no less remarkable for his enthusiastic admiration of the beauties of natural scenery ; a feeling which vented itself now the more freely, from having been so long confined within the monotonous shades of academic seclusion; and which here found ample material for enjoyment. His brother's residence, Sackville, commanded some scenes of gentle beauty, and some of a loftier character. Situated on an eminence, its sloping lawn in front is bounded by the extensive woods of Ardfert Abbey, with its antique monastery, and almost equally antique cathedral. These woods being on rather rising ground, seem to grow upon the side of the noble range of mountains which tower behind them, and which extend in a splendid amphitheatre from the south-east,

with a diversified outline, admitting here and there vistas of others in perspective, till in the south-west the entire range terminates in the steep promontory of Brandon Head, throwing itself boldly into the very depths of the ocean, as if advancing to stem the yet unbroken roll of the American wave. More directly to the west, Ballyheigh Bay, with its glittering sandhills, and the boundless Atlantic beyond, exhibit, under the setting glories of a summer sun, a prospect of peculiar and golden splendour.

In this retirement our author found also an opportunity for exercising that benevolent desire to be useful to others, which was a permanent though unostentatious disposition of his mind. Having discovered, that much hopes were entertained of a young man in humble life in that neighbourhood, who was known to his brother, and who had already contrived to make himself acquainted with some parts of the entrance course, he immediately commenced and continued to instruct him for some hours daily, during his stay in the country; and on his return to Dublin, enabled him to enter the College, and acted gratuitously as his tutor through the course. He had afterwards the satisfaction of seeing this young man comfortably and respectably settled in a literary profession.

Our author now turned his attention to that sacred profession, to which not only his circumstances led, but to which also all his tastes and principles inclined him ; and in the course of 1787, he graduated as Master of Arts, and took deacon's and priest's orders.

In the same year he was married to Elizabeth Mary, daughter of the Rev. James Drought, D. D. Senior Fellow, and Professor of Divinity in the University. By this union he became connected with one of the most respected members of the University.

This excellent man gave, in early life, very promising indications of ability. But the expectations which these naturally produced among his friends, were almost entirely destroyed by an unfortunate accident, which deprived him of one eye completely, and so much injured the other, as to threaten him with the total loss of sight. He was ever afterwards so subject to inflammatory and painful affections of the remaining eye, as to render literary application not only distressing but dangerous. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, he contrived so to economize his sight, and to profit by every favourable interval for study, that he obtained University honours, and also a Fellowship with such credit, as proved how much more he might have done, had he not been thus incapacitated for exertion. It could not, indeed, be easily explained under such circumstances, how he could have achieved so much, except by those, who were not only acquainted with his sound judgment and steady principles, but who also knew him sufficiently, to estimate as they deserved, his equable temper and pious resignation to the Divine will. By these dispositions, he was saved from the recurrence of that disappointment and dejection, which such frequent, dispiriting, and sometimes painful interruptions to his studies, might have otherwise produced he was enabled to bear the attacks themselves

with a submission and composure, which probably tended to diminish their violence and to shorten their duration; and he was ready when they had subsided, to renew his efforts with undisturbed cheerfulness and undiminished hope.

These obstacles to study, combined with a general delicacy of health, and his necessary occupations as a Fellow, prevented him from attempting any thing important as an author. He published, however, a short dissertation on the cure of the blind man, recorded Mark viii. 22-26; in which he attempted to demonstrate the miraculous nature of the cure, from the internal evidence deducible from the peculiar details of the account itself. The ingenuity and acuteness exhibited in this little treatise, prove what the author was capable of producing, had he enjoyed the full use of his faculties.

He was remarkable for a strict love of justice, and a steady impartiality in estimating men and manners; traits so evident in his character, even while a boy, that disputes among his companions were generally referred to him, with the full expectation of a fair decision. These estimable qualities were matured by years and experience; and gave to his opinions and advice a peculiar value and weight among his acquaintances.

But what completed his character as a practical Christian, was his charitable benevolence. This disposition, superficial observers of his other qualities, would have hardly expected from one, who seemed to possess a temper too calm to be compassionate, a judgment too discriminating to be imposed on, and an integrity too

uncompromising to be indulgent. The truth is, that with him charity was a Christian principle, and its exercise a Christian duty. Hence it was no more subject to the ebbs than to the overflowings of feeling; but gently stealing on with a stream as constant as it was unostentatious, it brought up a grateful and abiding verdure along its refreshing course.

Besides his College income, he possessed, though only a younger son, a comfortable private independence. Yet so great were his charities, as compared with his means, that no one could have anticipated the extent of the one, from merely knowing the amount of the other. It was necessary to be acquainted with his mode of life, to understand how he contrived to effect so much. In fact, not content with discarding mere show and luxury from his domestic arrangements, he excluded many things, which are generally considered as indispensable in his rank of life. But his restrictions in these latter points, had reference chiefly to his personal enjoyments; and whatever his affectionate family had any reason to wish altered, had reference only to his self-denials.

Notwithstanding the respect and regard which these qualities attracted to him, he was as remarkable for his unaffected humility of deportment, as for the unbending firmness of his resolves. This combination is rarely to be met with; but in him both qualities could be traced to the same Christian source. A deep sense of human infirmity, while it emptied him of all self-esteem, rendered him the more tenacious of his duty to that Master in whose service alone he looked for any pleasure. To these quali