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The following epitaph was composed by the Reverend Miles Byrne, a holy priest of the society of Jesus, Born in Francis-street, Dublin, of reputable parents; but unable, through the sanguinary operation of the penal code, to procure a suitable education in his native country, he wen to France, and became a member of the society, at the College of La Fleche, in Anjou. He there commenced and compleated his studies with the greatest applause. On the death of the P. Jouvenci, he stood candidate, with the celebrated P. Porée, for the chair of Professor of rhetoric in the college of Louis le Grand, Paris. But although the judges unanimously decided, that his literary compositions were superior in merit to those of Porée; yet the latter, as being a native of France, was appointed to the professorship. Returning to Ireland, he passed under the borrowed name of F. Milan, on account of the persecution that raged against catholics, bat in particular against priests and religious; for whoever either lodged or entertained them, at that period, were liable to a penalty of rocl. Priests, if convicted, were transported, and religious were sentenced to death. The storm of persecutionhaving somewhat abated, he opened a private school in Cook-street (which was no more than a dreary garret) for the instruction of catholic youth, in the principles of religion and sacred eloquence. in conjuction with the Reverend Mr. Johnson, of the same society, and professor of the Greek and Latin languages. The late Reverend Mr. Austin, whose memory is still in benediction amongst us, had been one of their pupils. Learning, disinterestedness, zeal and the love of God and his neighbour, constitute the character of the Reverend Miles Byrne, and he died as he lived, in the odour of sanctity, agreeable to the testimony of a lady and gentleman now living, who has favoured us with the foregoing account.

C. M.

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Judicious, upright, polished, eloquent;
Excelling,

In the legal and his native dialect,
Not in partial justice,

Not in search of favours,
Not in flattering language,
But in weight of argument,
An innate force of genius,
And a consummate knowledge of the laws.
A man,

Whom eloquence, an unsullied faith, gravi
ty, tempered with much humour and affa-
bility.
Whom a sincere and virtuous course of life,

And a miad, the guardian of virtue, Sagacious to unfold the intricacies of the law, Have raised to the summit of fame; And had also (were it not for his religion) Raised him, no doubt, to that of fortune. He died the 11th of March MDCCXX. Inferior only to death! James his eldest son erected this monument

to his

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Moulders in earth; the fabric of his fame Rests on the pillars of a spotless name!"

Tool of corruption-Spaniel slave of power! Should thy rash steps in some unguarded hour Profane the shrine, deep on thy shrinking heart

Engrave this awful moral, and depart !
That not the jail, not persecuting hate,
Not plundered wealth, nor yet the hour of fate
Can rob the good man of that peerless prize,
Which not pale Mammon's countless treasure
buys

The conscience clear, whence secret pleasures flow,

And love that cheared brave Mahon's deepest woe,

Assiduous love that stayed his vital breath, And honest fame triumphant over death.

O Mahon, may that band by thee inspired, By virtue sanctioned and by freedom fired, Who oft with thee in fair Killiney's bower, Made the bold front of dark oppression cower, Strike with a patriot arm their wondering foes,

Weep o'er their country but avenge its woes; May triumph wave each banner in the field, And frightful horror frown from every shield: And like a storm, that swells the troubled gale,

Rolls down the hill and sweeps along the vale, Clearing in twain the forest's trembling king, While the day darkens and the mountains ring

While the hoarse thunders with re-echoed roar Crack the white cliffs and roll along the shore So may thy band, with firm collected force, Scour the wide plains and conquer in this

course,

By leaders great as thee, their vengeance hurled,

Give tyrants death and freedom to the world.

OB.TUARY.

On the 14th inst. at Killiney, at the seat of Duke Ormsby, Esq. Theobald Mahon, Esq. late of Castle Hill, county Mayo, a man of distinguished family, and eminently worthy to be remembered by posterity. His parts were an honor to his country, his life to his religion and to human nature, the interests of liberty he earnestly supported, from principle and from feeling; he spurned at that servility, which can bow down, before the idol of despotic power or prostrate baseness, and having from his steady adherence to the cause of freedom, incurred a series of persecutions; he sunk in his oid age into poraty, from a state of considerable affluence and distinction.

In domestic fe intelligent, liberal, and ncorrupt his sprightliness and affability; the ease, urbanity, and chearfulness of his conversation, united with firmness of mind,

a vigorous and cultivated understanding, unwarped by prejudice, undisturbed by passion, endeared him to society. Hence his loss has been deeply felt in the circle of his friend, and widely lamented by the numerous parti cipators of his bounty. Yet let humanity, let Ireland exult, that he lived to support their interests so long, that he was mature in virtue and in years; that his hatred of t ranny will sanctify his remembrance to fa ture Worshippers of Liberty in ages yet unborn, and that, in that awful crisis, wher faith shall be lost in sight, and hope absorbed in possession, he will receive for the multitude of his benevolent exertions, the testimony of charity, which never faileth. In addition to this character, it is only necessary to remark that five afflicted orphans are left to lament the loss of a fond parent and a kind and ge nerous protector

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IRISH MAGAZINE,

OR

Monthly Asylum

FOR

NEGLECTED BIOGRAPHY.

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1810.

THE ARREST OF

but was prevented by a prior engage

LORD EDW.FITZGERALD. ment, as he is at prefent fpending a few days at the country feat of Lord Redefdale.

Thofe very diftinguifhed and ef teemed characters, Town-Major Sirr, and his deputy, Swan, after a mifunderstanding which prevented any communication with each other for more than fix years, have been reconciled by the interference of their murual friends. A friendly interview took place a few days ago, and the new alliance was fealed and testified at a fplendid dinner, where every variety that the feafon could furnish, contributed to enliven the fcene and gratify the appetite. The toafts over the cheerful bottle were appropriate, loyal, conftitutional and hillorical; men diftinguished for their zeal, and events that fealed our fecurity in church and ftate, when faction and irreligion applied the pike to overturn the laws, were remembered with due reverence, and honoured with adequate applaufe. Mr. Thomas Reynolds, late of Kilkea Caftle, was expected to form one of the party, VOL. 111, September 1810.

To perpetuate the renewed alliance, the Majors have fat for their pictures which are to be united in one grand hiftorical piece, in which pofterity is to enjoy the remarkable scene, fo confpicuous in the arduous and active lives of the confederates in loyalty, order, and morals:-the arrest of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. We underftand proof impreflions of this interefting fpectacle are to be reserved for particular friends, who have a due esteem for the refpective champions, and their national fervices, fuch as Colonel Littlehales,aptain Foley of the navy, Lady Lecale, Lords Robert and Henry Fitzgerald, Mr. Cope, Widow Hanlon, Widow of Jemmy O'Brien, and feveral other high and diftinguifhed perfonages.

We have been favoured with a fketch from the original, which we prefix to this month's publication. We hope their highneffes the Majors, will not be difpleafed at our impa

3 C

tience

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