terials, less recondite, indeed, but more immediately producible; and their object was, not so much to lay the foundation for future researches, as to show themselves competently versed, in that, which was already known. Mr. Phelan could never endure the thought, of becoming the mere carrier of intellectual burthens. His wish was, so far as might lawfully be, to lift the veil from nature; and get an insight into the wondrous principles, both natural and moral, on which all-perfect Wisdom regulates the world. Thus, the very superiority of his mental powers and attainments, often stood in his way. He read more like a master, than a scholar; more as one, whose own mind was to be satisfied, than as a person, whose business it was, to satisfy the minds of others. He looked around. him, with the ken of a philosopher: and he less assiduously cultivated presence of mind, and fertility of resources, than those subtler processes of mind, which have ever formed the chosen exercise of genius. Had the question been, who, of his contemporaries it was, that possessed the seeds of powers, most akin to those of the great Discoverers of Science, or Restorers of Letters, he might, perhaps, have ranked not greatly beneath the first men, of our best days. As it was, .. with a nearly exhausted constitution, broken spirits, and a de

bilitated frame, it is little to be wondered at, that he was unequal to the arduous conflict which, however, he still gallantly sustained.

But, that we may pass to a more grateful topic, it can be readily understood, that, with a mind thus stored, and thus disciplined, he must have been a delightful companion. That, which I have heard from his early associates, was, in the course of no slight, superficial intercourse, abundantly realized to myself. I have rarely met with an individual, who, in conversation, so fairly produced his mind; or, let me add, whose mind, was more worthy of production. At the instant, he could command all the powers of thought, and aids of learning, to bear on any subject, which they might properly illustrate; and, what was more remarkable, they never failed to come at his bidding. Those, with whom he was in the habit of familiar intercourse, will not readily forget the force and animation of his manner, when he wished to express himself pointedly, upon any topic, which had seriously occupied his mind. His sentences followed each other uninterruptedly, and without effort; brief, terse, and emphatic and if, on the spur of occasion, taken down and made use of, they would have been found to possess all the elements, of exact and finished composition. While, there would occasionally burst from him, the liveliest

sallies of wit, and not unfrequently, a vein of playful humour, which rendered his conversation, in its happier hours, (and they were always its quiet ones,) one of the richest intellectual enjoyments. Such intercourse could not fail to delight; for it was ever natural, ever instructive and it is still among my chosen recreations, to recal the days, and nights, which I have passed in the society of William Phelan.

His trial for fellowships was now over: to all appearance, it was interminably closed. But he was not destitute of consolation. He was conscious, that he had done his best; he could not charge himself with any wilful failure of duty, or any want of persevering application; and he viewed disappointment itself, as a mode of providential discipline, which, He who careth for us', ever graciously adapts to our peculiar exigences.

In July, 1814, he proceeded A. M.: and, shortly after, on the kind and seasonable invitation of his friend, and former associate on the fellowship bench, the Rev. J. H. Stubbs, Master of the endowed school of Dundalk, he became, for a short time, the guest of that gentleman. An influential visit, as will afterwards appear: which, eventually, occasioned a great change, in the prospects and circumstances of his after life. In the month of October, on the recommendation of

Dr. Magee, then Dean of Cork, he was appointed second Master of the endowed school of Derry. Here, he entered into holy orders; being ordained deacon, Dec. 4. 1814, and priest, Jan. 4. 1815, by the Lord Bishop of Derry; and, soon after his first ordination, began to officiate, in the chapel of ease of that city. There, he continued for upwards of two years; applying himself diligently, to the duties of his humble calling; and devoting every leisure hour to those sacred studies, which, even then, constituted his resource, and delight.

I cannot help mentioning, that at this school, I was educated, under the Reverend Thomas Marshall, A. M. This kind and generous man, was the delight of his pupils: and I never shall forget the tragic impression made on us all, when, about the autumn of 1790, it pleased God to remove him. How much I am indebted to his fostering care, I shall never, in this world, be fully able to appreciate. One of my earliest efforts, was a boyish, but sincere, tribute to his memory; it was an imitation of the Quis desiderio,' &c. of Horace.

But, to Derry school, and to Horace, I have other, and far higher obligations. They were the means of introducing me to the notice of Alexander Knox, Esquire; who was fond of hearing me repeat my lessons, from that most felicitous of authors; he, afterwards, became my guide, philosopher, and friend. From him, in the course of a long intimacy, I derived principles, which, I trust, will never die. Obiit, eheu! Jun. 18. 1831.-J. L.

+ His appointment, at the salary of £50. a year, is dated Dec. 27. 1814. of which salary, he was never paid a single shilling; though he served the chaplaincy, without intermission, till March, 1817.

VOL. I.

He thus disturbed the repose of a few valuable old volumes, in the diocesan library; though, of the time occupied in this manner, there is, probably, no written record. But his was a mind, which was never idle; and, to such information as he already possessed, there is a moral certainty, that, at this period, he added extensively. In the month of August, 1816, it should be mentioned, he was, with some apparent hopes of success, a candidate for the endowed school, or college, of Kilkenny.

About this period, the writer had the happiness to form an acquaintance with Mr. Phelan, which, at no distant day, ripened into friendship. A valued contemporary of his*, had, some time previously, told me several interesting anecdotes of his early life and put into my hands, at the Rectory of Abington, his prize Essay, On Scientific and Literary Pursuits.' I was, therefore, duly prepared to appreciate a singularly modest, unpretending letter, which he addressed to me from Derry; bearing date the 14th of December, 1816. It now lies open before me and it could not fail to rekindle, were they dormant, which, happily, they never have been, the liveliest feelings of interest, in himself, his mind, and his pursuits. Like every other production of his pen, which it

*The Rev. Richard Ryan.