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JOSEPH ATKINSON

WAS a man who fully merited the epithet" worthy;" and truly sorry are we to inform our readers, that, with almost every particular of his life, we are wholly unacquainted.

He was a native of Ireland, and was treasurer of the Ordnance, under the administration of the Earl of Moira. He was the intimate of Moore, Curran, and the rest of the galaxy of Irish genius; and was, himself, a poet of more than ordinary ability, as the following jeu d'esprit, addressed to his friend Moore, on the birth of his third daughter, will evince:

I'm sorry, dear Moore, there's a damp to your joy,

Nor think my old strain of mythology stupid,
When I say, that your wife had a right to a boy,
For Venus is nothing without a young Cupid.

But since Fate, the boon that you wish'd for, refuses,
By granting three girls to your happy embraces,
She but meant, while you wander'd abroad with the Muses,
Your wife should be circled at home by the Graces!

He died in Dublin, at the age of 75, in October 1818, and was sincerely regretted by all who knew him; being admired by the young for his conviviality, and respected by the aged for his benevolence and numerous good qualities.

The following beautiful lines, from the pen of his intimate, Moore, are intended to be engraved on his se pulchre:

If ever lot was prosperously cast,

If ever life was like the lengthen'd flow

Of some sweet music, sweetness to the last,
"Twas his, who, mourn'd by many, sleeps below.
The sunny temper, bright where all is strife,
The simple heart that mocks at worldly wiles,
Light wit, that plays along the calm of life,
And stirs its languid surface into smiles.

Pure Charity that comes not in a shower,
Sudden and loud, oppressing what it feeds;
But, like the dew, with gradual silent power,
Felt in the bloom it leaves along the meads.

The happy grateful spirit that improves,
And brightens every gift by Fortune given;

That wander where it will, with those it loves,
Makes every place a home, and home a heaven!

All these were his-Oh! thou who read'st this stone,
When for thyself, thy children, to the sky,

Thou humbly prayest, ask this boon alone,
That ye like him may live, like him may die.

JOHN AVERILL,

A PIOUS and exemplary prelate, was born in the county of Antrim, in the year 1713, and received his education in Trinity College, Dublin, of which his nephew, Dr. Andrews, was afterwards provost. On the 9th of January, 1771, he was consecrated Dean of Limerick, in Christ Church, Dublin, by the Archbishop of Dublin; but lived not long to enjoy his elevation, as he died on the 14th of September following, at Innismore, in the county of Kerry, being then on his visitation. He was a divine whose worth exhibited itself more in works than words, for, during the short period he was dean, he gave two hundred guineas to be lent in small sums to poor tradesmen; and likewise discovered strong proofs, that he would have expended the greater part of his income in benevolent actions. The primitive church was not possessed of a more worthy pillar than Bishop Averill, from whose precepts and examples every good consequence might rationally be expected. He was fraught with charity, meekness, and humanity; and laid the foundation for reviving many good institutions in the diocese. He had no ambition but in the service of God; and sought not to possess those luxuries of life which his income would readily have procured for him, but was contented with the bare conveniences of living, and devoted the major part of his affluence to the assistance of the distressed, and the relief of those "that have none to help them."

His remains were interred with great solemnity on the

18th of September, near the communion table, in St. Mary's Church; and the following inscription, on a brass plate, has been fixed over them :—

"Hic jacet rectè Rev. JOHANNES AVERILL, D. D. Episcopus Limericensis, obiit 14mo. Sept. 1771, Ætatis 58.

Cujus si in Deum pietatem,

In regem fidem,

In ecclesiam amorem,

Si in equales liberalitatem,

In omnes spectes benevolentiam,
Vix ætas ulla tulit parem,
Nulla superiorem!"

MATTHEW AYLMER,

FOR his services to his country, created Lord Aylmer, was the second son of Sir Christopher Aylmer, of Balrath, in the county of Meath. He was, at first, employed in raising soldiers for the service of the states of Holland, against Lewis XIV.; and was afterwards sent to sea by the celebrated Duke of Buckingham. In 1678 he was made lieutenant of the Charles galley; and, passing through various promotions, was made captain of the Swallow, in October 1688. He is said to have been zealously attached to the principles which effected the Revolution; yet, when he commanded the Swallow, he took a ship belonging to the fleet of the Prince of Orange, on board of which were four companies of Colonel Babington's regiment. He is praised, on this account, by Charnock, as having sacrificed his own political principles rather than betray his trust; but, if he had considered that he had, for many years, been receiving the pay of his country, and bore his commission for his country's honour and defence, he need not have scrupled to abandon a prince, whose own children forsook him, and whom it was judged necessary to remove from the throne. If every one had acted like Aylmer, his country's chains had been riveted instead of

broken.

The new government, however, promoted him to the command of the Royal Katherine, of 82 guns; in which he had a share in the battle off Beachy Head. In the following year, he commanded a squadron of fourteen ships; when he confirmed the peace with the Barbary States, and brought home in safety the Smyrna fleet. After this, he had a share, under Admiral Russell, in the most glorious sea-fight in the whole reign, one which totally annihilated all the hopes entertained by the French of making an attack upon England. This was the battle off Cape La Hogue, in which he greatly distinguished himself. He was rewarded, by being promoted to be rear-admiral of the red, and hoisted his flag on board the Sovereign, of 100 guns.

The following year he went out, under Admiral Russell, with the fleet to the Mediterranean, as vice-admiral of the blue; and, as Admiral Russell fell sick at Alicant, the chief command devolved upon him. They had, however, done their business too effectually at Cape La Hogue, to have any hope of the enemy coming out to meet them at sea. He was afterwards employed in blockading the enemy in the channel; and, in the end of 1698, was sent out as commander-in-chief of the squadron in the Mediterranean. In this capacity he visited Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli; at all these places he was most honourably treated, and was successful in his negociations. In 1699 he retired from active service; and, in the greater part of Queen Anne's reign, represented in parliament the borough of Dover. In 1701 he was made governor of Deal Castle; on the 12th of November, 1709, on the death of Prince George of Denmark, he was raised to be admiral and commander-in-chief of the fleet. He held the same rank under George I. and in 1716 he had the honour to bring his majesty back from Holland. In reward of his long and faithful services to his country, he was, in 1718, created Baron Aylmer of the kingdom of Ireland; and, in

1720, rear-admiral of Great Britain-which honours he did not long live to enjoy, as he died the same year.

He was a most valuable officer, and if he had not the honour as commander-in-chief to gain any great victory, it arose from the humiliation of the enemy, who dared not encounter the British fleets, after the complete overthrow he had contributed to give them at Cape La Hogue.

GEORGE AYLMER

WAS the third son of Sir Christopher Aylmer, of Balrath, in Ireland. He was successively appointed lieutenant of the Sweepstakes, and the Dunkirk; and promoted to the command of the Dartmouth on the 11th of September, 1680. He was removed into the Ann yacht on the 14th of April; and, on the 8th of February, 1683-4, he was appointed captain of the Foresight. James II. supposing him to be an officer strongly attached to him, appointed him to the command of the Reserve; and afterwards, on the 26th of October, 1688, to the Portland. But James was certainly mistaken respecting the principles of Captain Aylmer, for, though he had too much integrity to quit the service of his former sovereign while he kept possession of his throne, he would not become the supporter of that sovereign's measures, in concert with a foreign power who was the natural enemy of this country, against those whose allegiance James's tyranny had broken. He acknowledged the Prince of Orange his lawful sovereign, by the title of William III. and that monarch continued him in his command-a trust he highly merited. He was soon after killed at the battle of Bantry Bay, after having eminently distinguished himself by his heroic intrepidity.