cellence any coeval Catholic feminary in Europe. Mr. O'Brian fhortly after became a member of this college, and having completed a regular courfe of philofophy. rhetoric, and theology, was ordained prieft by the Primare of all Ireland, and henceforth unremittingly applied himself to the laborious duties of his miffion. About this period the board of truftees at Maynooth, confidering the difadvantages arifing from the want of a profeffor of the Irish language in that college, had thought proper to referve out of the general funds of the houfe the fmall gratuitous faJary of 407, for the annual fupport of a profeffor of that language.

Mr. O Brian was accordingly chofen to fill that refpectable department, nor has he fallen fhort of the expectations repofed in him.

This rich and once revered lanquege, is by many of our modern men of talle, only confidered as the rude tongue of unpolished antiquity; nor is it to be expc&ed that in an age in which the empty glofs of imagina ry refinement and modern delicacy, are the chief ftudy of thofe who pretend to learning, and in the fathionable world the foppery of modern languages, and modern wit, are reckoned the chief accomplish ments, that fuch an acquisition should be much relished, nevertheless I am not forry to affert that the taste and knowledge of this ancient tongue is not wholly extinct, notwithstanding the efforts of numberless malign perfons to difcredit its merit, merely from a confciousness that they themfelves do not excel in it; for I aver that there is no example of any man who truly understood this ancient orque, and did not prefer it to every other. But this language, fay they, is now spoken but by individuis confequently uncultivated, isngi fe, and now almoft to tally rejected from fuch critics common leble deliver us! Mr. O'Brian

during his continuance in Maynooth, has readered himself worthy of general notice; affection, tenderness, and humanity, information, and a general knowledge of the human heart, and above all an unexampled tolerance under the fharpeft trials. and an engaging manner of conciliating general affection, are his peculiar characteristics. To pifs any particular remarks on his knowledge as an Irish fcholar, would, I am con fident, be totally unneceffary, and only informing of that which they have long fince known by general rumour; let it fuffice to observe, that his erudition had long fince introduced him to the notice of the Royal Irish Academy, of which fo. ciety he might have become prefident, had not his modefly declined that honorable ftation. He is also a member of the Harp Society: his original copies and tranflations are numerous; his Irish grammar intended principally for the ufe of the col lege, but is now diffeminated over the kingdom, exhibits a decided fuperiority; his poetical works, "the Shipwreck,' the Death of Clitus by Alexander," the Mind embarrassed by Reafon and Paffion,' "The Birth of Genius," Folly and Wif dom Difplayed," the paftoral of "Reo and Amanda," &c. are all excellent; his tranflation of the felet parts of Hefiod, Homer, Lucian, &c. the Satires of orace and Eclogues of Vig into Irish verfe, are admirable. He has it further in contemplation to publish an Irith Dictionary, and other valuable works. It is much to be wished that this happy idea may not remain long without being carried into execution.

For the more ample gratification of your Irish readers, I fhall, Sir, grace the pages of your next with a Memoir of the Rev. Dr. Byrne, the prefent Prefident of Maynooth College. A. Stephen's-Green.