chapter or two of the Bible every Sunday to his people; but they began all to cry out against him, saying, “ Give us something of your ain, we can read the Bible ourselves at hame." Mr. Skelton was obliged then to draw all his sermons out of his own head, which was too much disturbed by his pupils to be in a state fit for composition. It cannot therefore be expected that these sermons were very perfect in their kind; indeed he often declared, that in a year or two after they seemed so very nauseous to him, that it was as good as a vomit for him to read them. It is fortunate for a writer to see the defects of his own offspring, to which so many authors are blind.

At this time he began to perform some of those wonderful acts of charity, for which he was so remarkable during the rest of his life. The salary derived both from the cure and tuition, considering the trouble he had, was very small. Yet he gave at least the half of it away, hardly allowing himself clothes to put on. The following instance of his charity is well worthy of notice. Returning from church one Sunday, he came to a place where a cabin with three children in it had been just consumed by fire. Two of the children were burned to death; the third shewed some signs of life, but was horribly scorched. Seeing the poor people in want of linen, and touched with compassion, he stripped off his clothes, and tearing his shirt piece by piece gave it to them, as he found it necessary, till he scarce left a rag on his back.

Dr. Madden was, if possible, as charitable as he; his wife who knew his disposition, and was of a contrary disposition herself, took care to keep his pocket empty of money, for she ruled him with absolute sway. A poor woman came up to him one day asking for charity; he put his hand in his pocket, and found he had no money. At a loss how to relieve her, he gave her a pair of new gloves which he happened to have, desiring her to go and pledge them for bread.

Mr. Skelton, while he lived here, published an anonymous pamphlet in Dublin, recommending Dr. Madden's scheme for establishing premiums in Trinity College. This production, being probably the first from his pen that appeared in print, was sent immediately to the doctor, who

was highly delighted with the compliments paid him by the author, which he justly deserved, on account of his endeavours to promote the interests of literature and of the poor. When he had slightly looked over it he brought it into the school-room to Skelton, with joy in his face, and said, he had just now received from Dublin one of the finest pamphlets ever written, and must immediately solicit the acquaintance and correspondence of the author. Accordingly, he prepared a very complimentary letter addressed to the unknown author, requesting he would tell his name and honour him with his acquaintance. This letter, being approved of by Skelton, was sent to the printer of the pamphlet who returned an answer in a few days from the author, expressing the high sense he entertained of the great honour intended him by the good doctor, but that he was under the necessity, for some reasons he could not mention, of concealing his name at present. This answer was shewn to Skelton, who seemed in no wise concerned during the whole progress of the business. A second still more pressing letter was sent to Dublin, and an answer, with a civil refusal, returned; as Skelton judged it for his advantage not to discover the secret. Thus the rector and curate, one from the study, and the other from the school-room, in the same house, continued for a time, by the medium of a Dublin printer, this strange sort of correspondence. All this time, the doctor never suspected the person whom he complimented so highly to be his own curate, and the private tutor of his own children. If he had, possibly he might not have been so very respectful in his language, for people are not too apt to be complaisant to those whom they look on as their dependants, however superior they be to them in learning and abilities, which in this country are but little valued, unless dignified by the station or fortune of the pos

sessors.

Dr. Madden, as I understood from Mr. Skelton, was a gentleman highly esteemed in those times. And justly too, if a life spent in the practice of every private and public virtue entitles a man to the esteem of those who reap the benefit of his services. To the exertions of this worthy man we owe the embellishment of the Dublin Society, the advantages of which have been so often experienced. Mr.

Skelton saw a letter of Swift's to him, he said, in which he set forth in his usual querulous strain, the miseries and calamities of this unhappy country, saying, that the Irish were the most lazy, roguish, worthless people on earth, and that he would do no more for them. The doctor, as well as our great countryman, had a real regard for Ireland, and strove, as it appears, according to his abilities, to serve it. It being customary for him to go among the nobility and gentry soliciting subscriptions for useful purposes, he met with an odd reception in Dublin on an errand of this nature (as Mr. Skelton informed us) from a late nobleman, a famous member of the hell-fire club. His lordship, on being told that the doctor was in the parlour, shrewdly guessing at his business, immediately stripped himself stark naked, and in this state, came running into the room with outstretched arms, saying," Worthy Dr. Madden, I am glad to see you, how do you do? shake hands with me doctor, when I heard you were here, I was in such a hurry to see you, that I would not wait to put on my clothes." The doctor shocked at the wild spectacle, leaped up, and was for hastening out of the room; but his lordship stopped him saying," My dear doctor, don't be in a hurry, tell me your business, I would be glad to do any thing to serve you.” The doctor pushed by him, but his lordship accompanied him to the street door, where he stood for some time as an exhibition to the passengers.

Skelton had the good fortune, when he lived at Dr. Madden's, to get acquainted with the Rev. William Leslie, rector of the parish of Ahavea, a man of admirable sense, and complete knowledge of the world, for whose advice and friendship he was grateful ever afterward. His prudent and wise directions served to regulate the tenor of his youthful conduct. He called him his second father, and consulted him on every emergency. He declared he was the most sensible man he ever knew, and owned the many advantages he derived from his friendship. When he was rector of Pettigo, this good clergyman on his death-bed recommended his grand-children to his protection, of whom he took a paternal care during his life.

At that time, his age and condition required good advice. His situation at Dr. Madden's was not at all envia

ble. He was quite weary of his tuition. The lady of the house was proud and parsimonious, and ruled her husband with supreme authority. She wished also, it appears, to extend her dominion over Skelton, and prescribe to him how he should teach her children. To this, it may be supposed, one of his spirit would not tamely submit. Besides, she was highly offended with Skelton for exciting the doctor, by his example, to acts of charity, to which indeed he was sufficiently inclined of himself. She strove therefore to vex him, and make his situation as unpleasant as possible. In this state of penance he continued for two long years, but was at last, for the sake of quiet, forced to resign the cure and tuition, and depend on Providence for his support.

On leaving Dr. Madden's, he repaired to his brother's in Dundalk, where he stayed but a few months, until he got a nomination (in 1732) to the cure of Monaghan in the diocess of Clogher, from the Hon. and Rev. Francis Hamilton the rector. He took his diet and lodging in the town of Monaghan with a Francis Battersby, and in five years after with a George Johnston. In obtaining this cure he succeeded according to his wishes. His active and benevolent mind could not brook being confined to a school-room. He longed for leisure to pursue his favourite study of divinity, and to employ himself as a minister of a parish. His inclinations were all spiritual, and he only desired an opportunity of being more extensively useful; for long ago he had fixed his thoughts on the rewards of a better world than the present.

Yet, at the very beginning, he was in danger of being turned out of his new cure. Dr. Sterne, the bishop, whom Swift succeeded in the deanery of St. Patrick's, being rather an old man, of an odd temper, and a little credulous, was imposed on by some one who told him, that Dr. Madden turned Skelton out of his family, for striving to entice his daughter to marry him. The bishop, believing it to be so, refused to license him for the cure of Monaghan; on which he went to him to justify himself, hoping his lordship was not offended at any part of his conduct. "Ah, you're a sly dog," said the bishop, "you wanted to gain the affections of Dr. Madden's daughter, and get her to marry

you; you are a handsome fine fellow, like your brother, who, you know, enticed a gentleman's daughter." Skelton requested his lordship to apply to Dr. Madden himself, and inquire if he did so. The bishop accordingly asked the doctor, who said the whole was false, and that Mr. Skelton's conduct in his family was most honourable. He then gave him the license desired.

He related most candidly the whole of the affair respecting his brother alluded to by the bishop. His brother Thomas, before he got the small living of Newry, happened to be tutor in the family of Mr. Lucas, of CastleShane, a gentleman of fortune in the county of Monaghan. He was, it seems, a handsome agreeable young man, and the squire's daughter fell in love with him. When he obtained the parish of Newry, he used to go frequently and see the family; but perceiving the young lady's partiality for him, resolved to stay away in future. After an absence of four or five months, at last, on receiving many invitations, he paid them a visit again. The young lady took then an opportunity of openly declaring her passion for him, telling him, he was the most cruel of men. Skelton, who had a real affection for the amiable girl, assured her, he would suffer any thing for her sake; the matter being thus settled, he carried her off and married her. His brother Philip, who knew all the circumstances, said he would have been a bad man if he had not. The squire was highly enraged at his daughter's marrying a person, whom he looked on as an inferior, and would never see either him or her, or give her the smallest fortune. The husband therefore, as he had no other income, was obliged to maintain on his small parish a grand lady accustomed to high life, which embarrassed him not a little. However she continued but a short time with him; she died of her first child, and left behind her a daughter, (who obtained her parent's fortune amounting to 13001.) the present Mrs. Ennis, a lady eminent for her piety.

Thomas Skelton was afterward married to Miss Huston, who, if now alive, would be aunt to the Lord Bishop of Down. By her he had a son, who died of a fever after he arrived at manhood. His third wife, for he had three, was widow Carleton, mother to Sir Guy Carleton, now Lord