the church, which was executed in 1718, from the design of Isaac Wills, one of our most eminent architects, although totally unknown to former authors who undertook to write on the antiquities of Dublin. The lower part of the new church was the same as at present; the upper story consisted of a lofty octagonal tower, adorned with Ionic pilasters, and crowned with a dome and cross. Of the clergymen connected with this church in the last century we may mention the Rev. Patrick Delany (1730-to 1734), the intimate friend of Swift, author of the Treatise on Polygamy, and esteemed the best Dublin preacher of his day. John Blachford (1744–1748), father of Mrs. Tighe, authoress of "Psyche;" Sir Philip Hoby, Bart. (1748-1766); during his ministry, in the year 1754, an accidental fire occurred in the church and burned its roof, galleries, organ, seats, and windows, leaving nothing but the stone work and bells. The church was again rebuilt, and a steeple erected with the funds bequeathed by Hoby, and by a contribution from the Archbishop of Dublin.

Hoby, who was advanced to the Archdeaconry of Ardfert, likewise left a sum of money to purchase an organ, which

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Thomas Carter, organist of St. Werburgh's, was the composer of the air "Oh, Nanny, wilt thou gang with me.' He also composed the celebrated hunting song, "Ye Sportsmen give ear;" and one of the most popular airs in "Love in a Village.' Henry Dodwell, whose "immense learning" has been eulogized by Gibbon, was born in St. Werburgh's parish in 1641. Garrick's rival, Spranger Barry, the great tragedian, was also a native of this parish.

Hoey's Alley or Court, off Werburgh-street, was built early in the seventeenth century on the site of St. Austin's-lane. About the period of the Restoration, this court was the residence of the chief lawyers of Dublin. Jonathan Swift, afterwards the Dean of St. Patrick's, was born on the 30th of November, 1667, at No. 9, in Hoey's court, the residence of his uncle, Counsellor Godwin Swift. Although regarded by his relatives in early life as an incumbrance, this court must have been his chief resort from the period of his return from the Kilkenny school in 1682, to enter Trinity College, until his departure for England in 1688. It is much to be regretted that no inscription or monument exists to indicate the birthplace of the man who possessed "a genius equally suited to politics and to letters, a genius destined to shake great kingdoms, to stir the laughter and the rage of millions, and to leave to posterity memorials which can perish only with the English language." Robert Marshall, third Sergeant of the Exchequer, resided here from 1738 to 1741. In 1753, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. Marshall was the friend of Swift's Vanessa. On her death she bequeathed her entire property to him and George Berkeley, afterwards Bishop of Cloyne, with a request that they would publish the correspondence which had

was built by Millar of College-street, and first publicly performed on in June, 1768, in which year the building of the steeple was completed. Richard Woodward was minister here from 1772 to 1778, when he obtained the See of Cloyne. He acquired considerable notoriety by his pamphlet reflecting on the principles of Roman Catholics, which was vigorously assailed and exposed by the able and facetious Arthur O'Leary. We have shown that a clergyman of St. Werburgh's was the first who introduced Irish types into this kingdom, and endeavoured to instruct the natives in their own language; it was reserved for his successor, Woodward, to advocate the extirpation of the Celtic tongue on the plea that it was not fashionable in England. For this absurd proposition he was held up to merited ridicule by O'Leary, who asked "whether it would not be easier for one parson to study Irish than for a whole parish to learn the English language." The Capuchin had the best of the controversy, and Bishop Woodward was forced to admit that his opponent represented matters strongly and eloquently, and that, "Shakespeare like, he was well acquainted with the avenues of the human heart."

On the 3rd of May, 1787, the annual commemoration of Handel was held in St. Werburgh's church. "A more elegant or brilliant auditory," says a contemporary, "never appeared to honour the memory of that great musical genius"

"The church could with difficulty accommodate the numbers-the pews and galleries were filled in a short time. Seats were fixed on each side of the centre aile-even these were insufficient, and many were obliged to stand during the whole of the performance. The dispositions made were very well conceived. The performers, whose numbers were very great (about 300), but whose execution was still greater, were placed in an orchestra, extremely extensive, projecting before the organ on a temporary gallery built for the purpose, and gradually arising on each side to the roof of the church.

passed between her and the Dean. They did not comply with this request, and Berkeley is said to have destroyed the original letters; copies were, however, preserved by Marshall, and they were first published in 1825. William Ruxton, Surgeon-General, resided in Hoey'sCourt till his death in 1783. The Guild of Glovers or fraternity of blessed Mary the Virgin, founded by Patent of Edward IV. in 1475, and the Corporation of Brewers, or "Guild of St. Andrew's," had their public halls here till late in the last century. On the north side of Hoey's Court, stood Eades's tavern, closed about 1813.

The following were the principal instrumental performers: Conductor, Mr. Doyle. Organist, Mr. Cogan. Principal First Violins, Messrs. Weichsell, Neale, O'Reilly. Principal Second Violins, Messrs. Fitzgerald, Beatty, Rivers. Principal Tenors, Sir Hercules Langrishe, Messrs. Quin, French, Wood. Principal Violincellos, Baron Dillon, Mr. Ashworth, Lord Delvin, Rev. Mr. Quin. Flutes, Messrs. Ash, and Black. Hautboys, Mr. Cook, Rev. Mr. Sandys.

A throne, very superb in its construction, was prepared for the Duke of Rutland, the Lord Lieutenant, opposite the grand entrance door. About one o'clock his Grace entered, attended by his suite, and shortly after the performance began. To particularize any one instrumental performer would be doing injustice to the rest; bewildered amidst such a display of excellence, the judgment is at a loss on which to bestow the wreath, all were perfect in their line, and perhaps all deserve it. In the vocal performance, however, we must be more particular. It was often the subject of regret that the vocal abilities of our fair countrywomen were confined to a sphere rather circumscribed that custom had placed a bar against their exercise in public. The present case, we are happy to find, furnishes an exception to it. Lady Portarlington, Mrs. Stopford, and Miss Margram delighted the audience with their vocal powers. In the first act Mrs. Stopford executed the song, He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd' admirably. Lady Portarlington was equally happy in the second act, song, He was rejected and despised of men,' and Miss Margram was enchanting in the recitative, Thy rebuke hath broken his heart,' and the airs, &c., that followed. In fine, the performance went off with great eclat. It is not enough to say, that it was excellent—an idea of it may be conceived by those who feel the fervor of harmony, but it is absolutely indescribable. The whole presented a scene of resplendence, which was not a little heightened by the beauty and elegance of the ladies, and the general satisfaction that sat on every face, gave an additional zest to the harmony. His Grace the Lord Lieutenant's throne had a perfect command of the orchestra, in the centre of which, exactly under the conductor of the band, was placed a likeness of Handel himself, esteemed a very good one."

In June, 1798, the corpse of the gallant but ill-starred Lord Edward Fitz-Gerald was conveyed from the gaol of Newgate, and entombed in the vaults of this church, immediately under the chancel, where it still lies.

"The dear remains," writes the incomparable Lady Louisa Conolly "were deposited by Mr. Bourne in St. Werburgh's

Rev. Richard Bourne was minister of Werburgh's from 1781 to 1810, when he was advanced to the Deanery of Tuam. The reason for selecting Werburgh's church as the temporary burial place of “Lord Edward" is not very obvious. Tradition states that many of the Fitz.Geralds were buried here in ancient days, which is partially confirmed by the

church, until the times would permit of their being removed to the family vault at Kildare. I ordered every thing upon that occasion that appeared to me to be right, considering all the heart-breaking circumstances belonging to that event; and I was guided by the feelings which I am persuaded our beloved angel would have had upon the same occasion, had he been to direct for me, as it fell to my lot to do for him. I well knew that to run the smallest risk of shedding one drop of blood, by any riot intervening upon that mournful occasion, would be the thing of all others that would vex him most; and knowing also how much. he despised all outward show, I submitted to what I thought prudence required. The impertinence and neglect (in Mr. Cook's office) of orders (not

fact of a large stone monument, apparently of the fifteenth century, having stood in the old church. It represents a knight and his lady in the usual recumbent position: on the knight's shield is a cross in saltire, the arms of the Geraldines. This monument, with some other old pieces of sculpture formerly in the interior of the edifice, is now built into a portion of the south wall of the church.

The original parish school-house, still standing on the North side of the churchyard, at present forms part of the warehouse of Messrs Sykes and Hull, army clothiers. The boys of this school in the last century were clad in an attire exactly similar to that of the "Blue Coat Hospital," whence Blue Boar-alley was sometimes styled Blue Coat-alley. James Southwell, Batchelor, born in the Parish of St. Werburgh's,' who died in 1729, aged 88 years; bequeathed £1250 to purchase £62. 10s. for ever, for certain purposes, among which were the following:-To a Lecturer to read prayers and preach a sermon, every second Wednesday, £20. Bread for the poor, after the sermon, 3s. 6d. each night, £4 6s. 8d. Candles in dark nights at lecture, £1 Os. Od. Coals for poor roomkeepers, £4 3s. 4d. To bind a Parish boy apprentice to a trade, £3. He also bequeathed £45 for a clock, £386 for a ring of bells, and £20 to twenty poor widows. Southwell is said to have been a silk merchant who resided on Cork-hill, near the site of the present Exchange. The Lecture is still regularly preached, and the allowance distributed to the poor. In 1760 Dr. Thomas Leland, author of the History of Ireland, the "Life of Philip Macedon," and of "Sermons on various subjects," 3 vols. 8vo. Dublin, 1768, was Southwell's lecturer in St. Werburgh's Church.

"A new and mournful elegy, on the lamentable death of the famous usurer, James Southwell, who died raving mad, on Sunday, January the 19th, 1728-9," printed by John Durneen, next door to the Waly's head in Patrick's-street," contains several particulars relative to Southwell, and concludes as follows:

"Rejoyce St. Werburgh's, toll your knells,
To you he's left a ring of bells;

A fine new ring, that when your steeple,
Is higher built-to call the people;
Blew-boys, rejoyce! and eke ye poor,
By him ye've got now something more,
And but ye legatees complain,
To whom he left his old jack chain."

withstanding Lord Castlereagh had arranged everything as I wished it) had nearly caused what I had taken such pains to avoid. However, happily, nothing happened." "A guard," says Lord Henry Fitz-Gerald, "was to have attended at Newgate, the night of my poor brother's burial, in order to provide against all interruption from the different guards and patroles in the streets-it never arrived, which caused the funeral to be several times stopped in its way, so that the burial did not take place till near two in the morning, and the people attending obliged to stay in the church until a pass could be procured to enlarge them."

In 1841, the remains of Major Sirr, the assassin of "Lord Edward," were deposited in this churchyard: the spot is marked out in the East corner by a broken flag with a short inscription, and shaded by a melancholy tree. The stone does not explicitly state that the town Major of '98 was buried under it, and appears to have been originally placed over the corpse of his father who preceded him in that office, and was also distinguished by his bad character; a fact unknown to the biographers of Lord Edward Fitz-Gerald. A more infamous tool than Henry Charles Sirr, was probably never employed by any government; the bare relation of his atrocities would far exceed the wildest fiction which ever emanated from the brain of the most morbid romancist.

The horrors of Continental cruelties and secret tortures, depicted in the most terrible pages of Lewis, Radcliffe, or Ainsworth, dwindle into insignificance when contrasted with the perpetrations of Sirr and his blood-stained associates, during the Irish reign of terror. "It was at that sad crisis," says Curran, "that the defendant, from an obscure individual, started into notice and consequence. It is in the hotbed of public calamity, that such portentous and inauspicious products are accelerated without being matured. From being a townmajor, a name scarcely legible in the list of public incumbrances, he became at once invested with all the real powers of the most absolute authority. The life and liberty of every man seemed to be given up to his disposal."

On an upright slab in the middle of St. Werburgh's churchyard is to be seen an epitaph on John Edwin, one of the actors of Crow-street theatre, who died in 1805, from chagrin at the illiberal criticism of the anonymous author of the "Familiar Epistles on the present state of the Irish Stage." The writer