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It was just like the Barber of London, who, about ten years before, had peti tioned his Majefty to cut off his hair, that the fashion of wearing perriwigs might become more univerfal. So that the merchants of Dublin would have the tail and fide locks of the city cut off, and only a little tuft about Effex ftreet kept for their private emolument."

But it did not feem enough to Captain
Jephfon to figure as the foldier, fhine as
an orator, excel as a man of wit and hu-
mour, and please the judicious as a dra-
matic writer: he refolved to attempt the
bufkin. In this defign he met with an
agreeable opportunity. The Right Hon.
Luke Gardiner, member for the County
of Dublin, and Keeper of the Phoenix
Park, had a great love for the flage, and
had erected a most elegant theatre in the
Park. The tragedy of Macbeth and the
farce of the Citizen were thrice perform-
ed there, to a most brilliant audience in
January, 1778. The characters were thus
caft:
Macbeth
Macduff
Duncan

On the other debate, it had been urged that a compact had been made with Government that Ireland should have always 12,000 troops in it, except in cafes of rebellion or invafion in Great Britain, therefore as America was not Great Britain, the fending 4000 of their troops thither was a breach of this contract. To this argument Captain Jephfon anfwered, that "in the cafes of rebellion or invasion, the term of Great Britain muft extend to the British dominions. The Ifle of Man, for example, was neither in England or Scotland; yet if the Mankf men should fortify themselves, proclaim Malcolm Alderman Wilkes their King, by the name of John the Second, in oppofition to George the Third, and beat the foreign troops fent against them, can any man doubt, but English forces could not be Donalbain deemed any infraction of fuch an act."

Lord Townshend having left Ireland,

his fucceffor, Lord Harcourt, had not Rofs that tafte for wit and humour, which diftinguished his predeceffor, and made Cap.

Fleance
Siward
Young Siward
Seyton

tain Jephfon very agreeable to him. The Banquo
Captain, indeed, continued in his office,
but did not feem to have that countenance
fhewn him in the Caftle as before; and on Lenox
the General Election, in 1776, he was not
returned. However, Mr. Hugh Maffey
being made a peer, the Lord Lieutenant
was convinced Captain Jephfon's talents
would be useful, and he was elected in
October, 1776, to fill Lord Maffey's va-
cant feat of Old Leighlin, in the county
of Carlow, a borough at the difpofal of
the Bishop of Leighlin and Ferns.
However Captain Jephfon did not diftin-
guish himself fo much in the House as
formerly, but frequently gave his filent
vote.

Lady Macbeth

Gentlewoman

Hecate

It appears that Captain Jephfon's leifure time has not been ill employed, for it has produced the three tragedies of Braganza, the Law of Lombardy, and the Count of Narbonne. On thefe pieces Witches nothing can be faid, that hath not been urged already. They have had their opponents and defenders like all other dramatic productions, and we doubt not but each of our readers hath already formed an opinion of their merit. However, we will prefume to fay, that few modern tragedies can excel them.

Cc 2

Captain Jephfon.
Rt. Hon. Luke Gardiner.
John Staples, Efq; mem-
ber for Ballyshannon, in
the county of Donne-
gal, and late commif
Gioner of the customs.
Richard Hutchinson, Efq;
member for the bo-
rough of Sligo, and
commiffioner of the
ftamp duties.

Sir Michael Cromie, Bart.
member for Ballyfhan-

non.

Ifaac Corry, Efq; member
for Newry, in the coun-
ty of Down.

Sir Alexander Schomberg,
captain of the Dorfet
yacht.
Thomas Burgh,

Efq;

member for Athy, in
the county of Kildare.
Barry St. Ledger, Efq;
Captain Ormby.
Mr. St. Ledger.

Thomas Burgh, Efq; of
Chapelizod, member for
Athy, treasurer of the
ordnance.

Mrs. Gardiner, filter to
Lady Townshend.
Mrs. Jephfon.
EdwardBellingham Swan,
member for Thomaf-
town, in the county of
Kildare, commiffioner
of the ftamp duties.
Mifs Gardiner; Mifs Nor-
man; John Toler, Efq;
member for Tralee, in
the county of Kerry,
and barrifter; Thomas
Knox, member for Car-
lingford, in the county
of Louth; John Pren-
dergaft, Efq; member

for

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Apparitions
Doctor .'

for the borough of Car- are faid, by his friends, to bear ftrong
low; Robert Waller, marks of genius, tafte, and theatrical
Efq; (Gince Sir Robert knowledge. At fifteen he wrote a come-
Waller, Bart. now dead) dy of five acts, which, though wild, and
member for Dundalk, in many instances puerile, he conducted to
County of Louth, and the denouement with ingenuity.
commiffioner of the
cuftoms.

By the Masters Montgo

meries.

Richard Gardiner, Efq;,
The CITIZEN.

Old Philpot
Richard Gardiner, Efq;
Young Philpot Gervas Parker Buihe,
Efq; member for the
city of Kilkenny.
Sir John Wilding John Prendergast, Efq;
Young Wilding John Knox, Efq;

Beaufort

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Thomas Cobbe, Efq;
member for Swords,
county of Dublin.

Captain Ormsby.

Mifs Gardiner.

Mrs. Gardiner.

The orchestra was filled by the Right Hon. William Brownlow, member for the county of Armagh; Mr. Neale; Mr. Potiers; Mr. Kennedy; Sackville Hamilton, Efq; Attiwell Wood, Efq; King's Serjeant at Law; Charles O'Brien, M. D. Mr. Quin; and Mr. Wall.

Captain Jephfon did not exceed the opinion of his friends; every perfon prefent conceived the higheft opinion of his abilities ; none were disappointed in their expectations.

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Anecdotes of Mr. O'Keeffe.

R. O'Keeffe is a native of Ireland; he gave early proofs of a Arong and verfatile genius, and difcovered a ftrong propenfity to drawing, which inclined his parents to defign_bim for the profeffion of painting, to which end, he was, when very young, placed in what is called the Academy in Dublin, then under the direction of the two moft emiWent men of their time, Meff. Weft and Manning; the firft diftinguished for his perfect knowledge in the anatomy of the human figure, his correctnefs in drawing, and powerful fancy in delineating the thoughts of others upon any fubject or fituation; the other univerfally admired for his exquifite tafte in ornament and flowers.

He made great proficiency, but a defect in his fight, and an early intercourfe with fpouters, joined to a most insatiable thirst for reading, turned him (from the purfuit chalked out by his parents) towards the drama; he wrote many dramatic trifles, which, though never offered to the public,

Filled with thefe inclinations, he now entirely devoted himself to fuch books, and earneftly fought the company of fuch men of all ages, as could help to the attainment of what was become his favourite with, a fituation in the theatre. Accident brought it about. He accompa nied a friend to Mr. Moffop, merely to learn how fuch meetings were managed; he took courage, confeffed the bent of his inclination; Mr. Moffop defired to hear him he attempted Jaffier's speech, fcene the first, pleafed Mr. Moffop, and before parting, was engaged for three years in the Dublin theatre, while his friend was rejected. He played in that city, and the most refpectable towns to which they made fummer excurfions about twelve years.

Though tragedy was his first choice, an accident foon difcovered his forte to be comedy, to which fudy he turned his mind, and became the prime favourite ; finding himself fully poffeffed of the public opinion as an actor, his ambition to figure as an author difcovered itself, and he produced every year fome local trifle at his benefit.

His first piece, a paftoral, "Colin's welcome," replete with a pleafant fituation, was univerfally well received. The fongs were of his own adapting.

He has an excellent tafte for mufic, though no theoretic knowledge, and he chef d'oeuvre in dramatic writing in Irewrote many effays, epigrams, &c. but his land was, a kind of hiftrionic interlocution, called, "Tony Lumpkin's Rambles through Dublin” (himself the original performer there of that character in Goldfmith's comedy).

bounded fcope to that inclination which This piece gave unhe gives manifeft proof of in all his writ ings--broad humour.

Though much flattered by the reception of his fugitive pieces, yet knowing the character of the Irish audience, that they in general eftimate what they poffefs, by the value their neighbours fet upon it, he refolved to fubmit his first regular piece, if this term regular can at all be applied to farce, to Mr. Colman; thus refolved, he fent "Tony Lumpkin in town," to that gentleman, concealing his name. He was encouraged by Mr. Colman's opinion to avow himself, and the piece was played with fuccefs.

He has since, under the auspices of that gentle

gentleman, produced the Son-in-law, Dead Alive, and the Agreeable Surprise. The fuccefs of thofe pieces introduced him to Covent Garden, and though his recep. tion was not equal to what he had before met with, we doubt not, but with the judicious alterations which he propofes to make in it, the Banditti will come forward next feafon with eclat.

A brief biftorical Account of the Inflitution of the most noble Order of Bucks, as it bas been collected from traditional Accounts and Records of Antiquity, nosv remaining in the City of Bagdell, which is the fame as the ancient Babion, the original and once flourishing Seat of the met Noble Order, and tranfmitted from thence by a British Buck refident in thefe Parts.

TIMROD was the great founder of

Now it was, that Nimrod first cftablished this most noble order, and with that the firft and great empire of the world, called the Babylonian empire: This happened according to the best accounts, about the year of the world 1814 or 2190 years before chriftianity. What greatly conduced to establish the order, was a circumftance which tradition relates as follows:

Nimrod having found out the use of the grape, invented the making that noble wine dignified by the antients with the name of nectar, and feigned by them to have been drank by the gods. He happened one day to lead the people a more than ordinary chafe, and they were fatigued with the toils of their sports. Nimrod, to relieve them, introduced his most excellent wine, which they had no fooner taited, than their fpirits became exhilarated, they forgot their former toll, and pafs

was the grandion crearitines

Noah; for Nimrod was the fon of Chus, who was the fon of Cham or Ham, who was the fon of Noah

Now the earth after the flood having been divided between the three fons of Noah, it fell to the lot of Ham to be poffelfed of Egypt, all Afric, a great part of Syria, Arabia, Babylonia and Affyria; likewife divers other countries, the right of which came by defcent to his grandion Nimrod.

The ignorance of those days having fhut up from the people the knowledge of polite arts and the valuable advantages of a focial life, they rather chofe to dwell in caves, and frequent the woods alone (or in fmall parties) where they were frequently devoured by wild beats which abounded in thofe parts, than to form themselves into civil fociety, or enter into mutual honds of friendship for the support and fervice of each other.

This being with regret perceived by Nimrod, who was defirous to civilize and Bake focial that antient people, and make the land flourish which was the feat of his iaheritance, he endeavoured by every art to perfuade them into their own fecurity and happiness, but with little fuccefs, 'till by his application to hunting, and his great excellence in that art, he gained the admiration and efteem of the people, and by a peculiar epithet was called by them, "A mighty hunter before the Lord," and they were frequently prevailed on to accompany bim in his fports, as they found their own fecurity in it, from the vaft number of wild beafts he daily killed, which had before deftroyed many of them. By this means they began to be more fociable, and to shake off, by degrees, their former rufticity.

lity, which gave them an idea of the pleafures of fociety: a pleafure to which 'till then they had been flrangers to.

From hence it is that the antients ftiled Nimrod the god of wine and chearfulness, under the denomination of Bacchus, or more properly Bar Chus. Bar fignifying a fon, and Nimrod was the fon of Chus, and it agrees with the antient account of their Bacchus in other particulars; for they feign Bacchus was defcended from Jupiter, and Nimrod's great grandfather was called Jupiter Ammon. Befides the most ancient name of Bacchus was Zagreus, which fignified a trong hunter, aufwerable to the epithet given to Nimrod. Bacchus was alfo feigned to be born at Nifa in Arabia, and Nimrod is well known to have been an Arabian.

However this be, the people having once tafted the pleasures of a focial life, refolved, under the direction of Nimrod, to form themselves into a fociety, and fet apart times for festivity and merriment.

Therefore Nimrod, to encourage them in their refolution, fet apart to each man a portion of land, and inftructed them in the art of culture and management of the grape, referving to himself a yearly ftipend called a quit rent, as a tellimony of their allegiance to him. This custom of giving the bucks eftates is therefore kept up, though now it is merely nominal.

Nimrod also inftructed them in the more civil arts of architecture and defign. They built that antient and magnificent ftructure the Tower of Babel, as a grand lodge to entertain the order in. But the molt material inftructions he gave them were a few fententious principles as mementos, which he laid down as a foun

dation

dation flone for that political structure he was then erecting, which would make them more lafting and of greater extant than the Tower of Babel: which principles were what are now the ftanding mottos of the order, viz.

Unanimity is the strength of fociety, Be merry and wife, Freedom with innocence, Industry produceth wealth. He caufed thefe mottoes to be infcribed on the principal parts of that great tower, fince the deftruction whereof many ftones have been found, with the inferiptions entire in the ancient Syriac character.

Upon these principles he retted fecure in government, well knowing that while they fubfifted among his people, all the nations of the earth could never prevail against him; and he called them Bar Chus's, or fons of Chus (as they were his adopted brothers) which by the corruption of the word, the common fate of languages, and probably for the fake of brevity, has deviated into the name of Bucks, though fome will have it that Buck was the original name, as it is fignificant of that noble exercise which was the firft oc cafion of the inflitution.

That the above principles fhould be inviolably observed he inftituted officers to each society, from among those which he had before (in confideration of their me rit) diftinguished by certain denominations according to their different employs in the hunting exercise, rangers, foresters, and keepers. One of the fociety he chofe annually to prefide as a Grand or Chief Buck, in each respective company, who was to chufe a fufficient number of deputies to prefide in his abfence, and alfo a number of foresters to be of his council, proportioned to the largenefs of each feciety, and gave them a power to make fuch rules and orders from time to time as they should fee necessary, (confiftent with the above named general principles) and alfo for the better promoting good fellowthip, freedom of converfation, innocent mirth, and every focial virtue as good companions. The people being informed by public proclamation, they all bowed and faid

We obey.

tination, and productive of every blessing that mortals can enjoy.

During the reign of Nimrod and his fucceffors, down to the reign of Tonos Concoleros, by the Greeks and Romans called Sardanapalus, the thirtieth in fucceffion of the Babylonian and Affyrian emperors, the order flourished in its greateft dignity and fplendor, and as the people increased, was transplanted into all the then known parts of the world. Moft of the monarchs and great men that had ever lived, have been of this order; but by the deftruction of that prince (through his degeneracy from Buck principles) and with him, of that noble empire, by Arbaces the governor of Media, and by the progreffive conquefts and government of the Perfians, Grecians, Romans, Parthians, Saracens, Pertian Sophies and Caliphs, the order has been in a fluctuating and itinerant state, and gone hand in hand with the fate of kingdoms, ftates and times; for it is remarkable of the order, that as good sense and good manners, friendship and fidelity, were ever the criterion of Bucks, fo in what kingdom, ftate or time foever they flourished, thofe valuable qualities infused themselves into that people among whom they were.

As to the Bucks first fetting foot in Britain, 'tis said that Julius Cæfar having made conqueft of the eastern parts (as well as Britain) was the firft that tranfplanted them from thence into this kingdom, but others affert that British Bucks were of a much more ancient date, tho' undoubtedly he encreafed their number.

Since Julius Cæfar, though the like fate, that from Sardanapalis, caufed its peregrination into different countries, has at fome times obfcured the fplendor of the order in Britain, yet it has never been totally extinguished, but feems at present to be drawing to its original luftre, as there are now in London the following lodges, Babylonian, Affyrian, Euphrates, Hellefpont, Brunswick, European,

Macedonian, Arthurian, Arabian, Mecklenburgh, Agriculturian,

Of what is called the United Order: They are held on different nights in the week, From thefe civil focieties Nimrod chof by which means the Bucks of one lodge the molt eminent to be of his council in have an opportunity of vifiting the reft. matters political, and they framed the Once a year it is cuftomary for each fociefyftem of government by which the Baty to pay a grand vifit to a fifter lodge, at bylonian, and after that the other great which time the Grand and his officers go empire of the world were governed. So in their regalia and make a splendid apthat the Bucks are not only the moft an- pearance. cient, but the most noble of all focieties, as it was the original foundation of all dif

In each lodge the Grand is affifted by a council of twelve or more, that meet as

often

often as the Grand thinks fit for the welfare of the lodge, and any grievance they have to alledge, or motion to make for the good of the order is prefented to the grand quarterly committee, confifting of the Noble Grands, Noble bucks, and their duputies of every lodge, who hear, redress and determine all matters laid before them, a copy of the proceedings of which committee is figned by the grand fecretary, and fent to all the lodges of the united order.

Befides the lodges above mentioned, there are three very refpectable focieties of bucks (though not of the united order). the one is called the Mother Lodge, and held at the Castle, Moorgate;-the Pewter Platter Lodge held in Crofs-treet, Hatton Garden and the Royal Hanoverian Lodge at the Horn Tavern, Doctors

Commons.

The making of a Buck is 5s. 6d. and when he attends the Lodge he spends 18. 2d. but there is no fine for non-attendance, and only 6d. per annum paid to the fociety as quit rent for the estate of 500l. per year, which the grand Buck makes a prefent of to every new made brother, and of which he is ordered to take poffef fion as foon as he can.

Corrections of the Account of the Life of the Count O'Rourke. Taken from an Englifh Publication.

A

PPLICATION has been made to us to correct fome errors in the history of the Count O'Rourke, which we do with pleasure, as they come to us properly teftified. The Count did not come to London in the 25th year of his age, nor receive the rudiments of his military edu. cation in the Guards. He fays that he entered into the regiment of Royal Scotch, in the fervice of France, in his 20th year, and he continued in that fervice till the year 1758. The Polish ambaffador, the Count tells us, had no lady with whom he could have an intrigue.-The Count's acquaintance was not with a French Marchionefs, but with the Duchefs of D-, a lady of the first family in France, who through the imprudence of her husband had been reduced to very great diftrefs, although the was intitled to an ample eftate fubject to various incumbrances; her husband having been imprisoned for life on account of his mifconduct. The Count, touched with her diftrefs, became furety to fome of her creditors to the amount of 16ool. Some time afterwards when fome of the mortgages affecting her eftate were discharged, her creditors applied for payment of the debt for which the Count was bound, the refufed to

pay, and a law-fuit commenced, to which the Count was made a party, and the Duchefs was caft. It concluded to the honour of the Count as he acted in support of the fair creditor. The Count was not introduced to the King's late minifters by the late Lord Conyngham, but by the Marquis de Noailles; and that his offers to raife a body of three thousand Roman Catholics in Ireland were not treated with difrefpect the following letters from those minifters will testify; which therefore he has given us the permiffion to publish.

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"As I had no commands to transmit ture of your propofals did not fall within to you from his Majefty, and as the namy department, I did not think it neceffary to give an immediate answer to your letter of the 28th January laft, but having delayed acknowledging it at that time, hurry of bufinefs has ever fince hindered me from doing it. I hope, therefore, you fame time you will do me the juftice to will excufe me, flattering myself at the believe, that I should have beep happy to have had it in my power to oblige an officer of your diftinguished merit and reputation, and of having an opportunity of fhewing you that I am with great regard,

Count O'Rourke

Sir, your most obedient, moft humble fevant, Geo. Germain." Lord Amherst prefents his compliments to Count O'Rourke, and has the honour to acquaint him that he this day laid before the King the Count's letter, wherein he propofes to raise four thousand troops in Ireland; his majefty was pleafed to receive the Count's propofal very gracioufly, but faid, he had no intention at prefent to raise any other men in that kingdom than thofe already ordered.

Whitehall, 20th May, 1779.

Sir,

"I am very fenfible of the mark of atteation you are pleased to fhew me, as well as the very candid manner in which you have communicated to me the offer you made of raising men in Ireland, and the letters which have paffed between you and his Majefty's miniiters upon the fubject.

"The department in which I have the honour to ferve the King gives me neither voice nor weight in the councils of this country, and I have therefore nothing but private wishes to exprefs upon fuch occafions, and as fuch, I have always lamented that gentlemen of your birth and abilitice, hould have been obliged to draw

that

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