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ROGER BOYLE,

A PRELATE of great learning and an unblameable life, was a native of Ireland, and received his education at Trinity College, Dublin, where, being elected a fellow, he continued until the commotions broke out in 1641, when he retired into England, and became tutor to Lord Paulet, whom he accompanied in his travels, and remained in that family until the restoration of King Charles II. He then revisited his native country, and was presented to the rectory of Caragiline (alias Beaver), in the diocese of Cork, and from thence was advanced to the deanery of Cork, which he enjoyed until he was promoted to the sees of Down and Connor, (the letters patent of which were dated the 12th of September, 1667). He was consecrated in Christ Church, Dublin, on St. Luke's day following, by James, Archbishop of Armagh, assisted by the Bishops of Kilmore, Ferns, and Leighlin, from whence he was translated to the see of Clogher, on the 21st of September, 1672. He died on the 26th of November, 1687, in the 70th year of his age, and was buried in the church of Clunes. He wrote "Inquisitio in Fidem Christianorum hujus Sæculi," Dublin, 1665, 12mo. "Summa Theologiæ Christianæ," Dublin, 1687, 4to.

His Common-Place Book on various subjects, together with an abstract of Sir Kenelm Digby's Treatise of Bodies, in MS. is deposited in the library of Trinity College.

SAMUEL BOYSE,

It has been asserted with some truth, that the number of individuals to whom no circumstances can teach wisdom is absolutely countless, and amongst that numerous class may be included the subject of the present memoir. He was the only son of his father, who was an eminent dis

senting minister in England, but accepting an invitation to be joint pastor with Dr. Williams, in Dublin, he removed thither; but at what period he died is unknown. He was considered as a learned, pious, and useful divine; assi duous in the exercise of his ministry, and in his conduct generally esteemed. Samuel, who was in every respect the reverse of his father, was born in Dublin in the year 1708; and, after receiving the rudiments of his education at a private school in his native city, he was sent, at the age of eighteen, to the university of Glasgow. His father's intention was, that he might pursue those studies that are preparatory to entering into the ministry; but before he had resided many months in that metropolis, his studies met with rather a serious interruption by a love affair, with a Miss Atcheson, the daughter of a respectable tradesman in that city, who, being possessed of both beauty and thoughtlessness, he married, before he had attained his twentieth year, and probably without the consent of the parents on either side. This unwise connection, in addition to the natural extravagance of his temper, involved him in numerous pecuniary difficulties, which obliged him to quit the university before he had completed his studies, and to seek relief for himself and his wife from his father at Dublin. On this expedition he was accompanied by his wife and her sister; but, notwithstanding this addition of interesting incumbrance, and the general levity of his conduct, his father received him with kindness, and out of the scanty and precarious income which he derived by voluntary subscriptions from his congregation, and from the income of a small estate in Yorkshire, which produced him 801. annually, he endeavoured to maintain his son, and to reclaim him once more to the prosecution of his studies. Tenderness like this, however, the mere mention of which is sufficient to excite gratitude, produced no corresponding effects on the degraded mind and abandoned heart of his son; who, far from attempting to prosecute his studies, gave way to the most unremitting

idleness and dissipation. In this course too (it is said) he was unhappily encouraged by his wife! who, while she imposed upon the good old man, by a shew of decency and even sanctity, became in fact both dissolute and vicious, and at length unblushingly shared her favours with other men, and that not without the knowledge of her husband, who is said either to have wanted resolution. to resent her infidelity, or was reconciled by a share in the profits of his dishonour. We will hope, however, for the sake of human nature that this was not the case, and that the hand of some obscure biographer inserted this anecdote for the purpose of rendering his memorial amusing, and thus sacrificed fact on the altar of fiction.

His father died in the year 1728, and his entire property having been exhausted in the support of his son, the latter repaired to Edinburgh, where his poetical talents procured him numerous friends, amongst whom were some patrons of considerable eminence, particularly the lords Stair, Stormont, and Tweedale. In 1731 he published a volume of poems, which gained him reputation; and to which was subjoined a translation of the Tablature of Cebes, and a Letter upon Liberty, which had been previously published in the Dublin Journal. This volume was addressed to the Countess of Eglinton, a lady of distinguished excellencies, and so much celebrated for her beauty" that it would be difficult," says Cibber, "for the best panegyrist to be too lavish in her praise:" she was the patroness of all men of wit, and greatly distinguished Mr. Boyse while he resided in that country. It is likewise recorded of this damsel, that she was not totally exempt from the lot of humanity, and her conspicuous accomplishments were yet chequered with failings: the chief of which was too high a consciousness of her own. charms, which inspired a vanity that sometimes betrayed her into errors.

The following short anecdote was frequently related by Mr. Boyse. The countess one day came into the bed

chamber of her youngest daughter, then about thirteen years old, while she was dressing at her toilet; the countess observing the assiduity with which the young lady wanted to set off her person to the best advantage, asked her, "What she would give to be as handsome as her mamma?" To which Miss replied, " As much as your ladyship would give to be as young as me." This smart repartee, which was at once pungent and witty, very sensibly affected the countess; who, for the future, was less lavish of her own charms.

Upon the death of the Viscountess Stormont he wrote an elegy, entitled "The Tears of the Muses;" in compliment to her ladyship's taste, as a patroness of poets. Lord Stormont was so highly gratified with this mark of respect to the memory of his deceased lady, that he ordered a handsome present to be made to the author, whom however it was no easy matter to find, as a radical meanness of character, and partiality for low pleasantry, together with an aversion to all decent society, had possessed him so entirely, that Boyse's person was known only among the lower orders; and the generous intention of Lord Stormont would have been frustrated, had not his agent put an advertisement into the papers, requesting the author of "The Tears of the Muses" to call upon him.

These substantial tokens of favour, on the part of his lordship, and of the Countess of Eglinton, served to procure for him the patronage of the Duchess of Gordon, who likewise was a person of literary taste, and cultivated the correspondence of some of the most eminent poets of her time: and so desirous was she of raising Boyse from obscurity, and placing him above necessity, that she employed her interest in procuring for him the promise of a place; and, accordingly, gave him a letter, which he was the next day to deliver to one of the commissioners of the customs at Edinburgh; but it unluckily happened that he was then some miles distant

from the city, and the morning on which he was to have rode to town with her grace's letter, proved to be rainy. This trivial circumstance was sufficient to discourage Boyse, who was never accustomed to look beyond the present moment, and who invariably acted up to the old Spanish proverb of "Never doing that to-day, that can be done to-morrow;" he, therefore, declined going to town on account of the rainy weather; and while he let slip the opportunity, the place was bestowed upon another; and he was consoled by the commissioner's declaration," that he had kept the place vacant for some time in expectation of seeing a person recommended by the Duchess of Gordon."

Such is the story of the disappointment, in which all Boyse's biographers have acquiesced, and which bears strongly the marks of probability. Its consistency has been objected to by some on account of the epithet "some time" being applied by the commissioner; but let it be remembered that Boyse had studied, and was thoroughly acquainted with every chapter of "The Art of Indolence," and that there was no space of time but what he would have got rid of without knowing how.

It is certain that this, as well as every other kind intention of his patrons in Scotland, were defeated by his perverse conduct; and that he remained at Edinburgh until contempt and poverty were succeeded by the dread of incarceration. To escape from a prospect, which, viewed at all points, appeared dreary in the extreme, he determined on visiting London; and had no sooner communicated his design of going to England, than the Duchess of Gordon (who still retained a high opinion of his poetical abilities) gave him a recommendatory letter to Mr. Pope, and obtained another for him to Sir Peter King, then lord chancellor, and procured for him several, to persons of rank, fashion, and influence. Lord Stormont also recommended him to his brother, the solicitor-general, afterwards the celebrated Lord Mansfield. Upon receiving these let