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FAR tery on an island in the river Blackwater, in the County of Waterford. His school at Ross [Ross Carbery, in the County of Cork] was one of the most celebrated in Ireland, and continued to be so esteemed even after his death, which took place in the forty-sixth year of his age, and towards the close of the 6th century. His festival is the 14th of August. "5

Farquhar, George, actor and dramatist, was born at Londonderry in 1678, and received his education at Trinity College, whence he was expelled for a jest on a sacred exercise. Through the influence of Wilks, the actor, he obtained an engagement at Smock-alley Theatre, at a salary of 20s. a week. After two years, however, he left the stage, in consequence of having, in the course of a performance, accidentally wounded a brother actor. He accompanied Wilks to London, where the Earl of Orrery gave him a commission in his regiment. In 1698 he published Love and a Bottle. It was eminently successful, and other popular plays followed from his pen, such as The Constant Couple, Sir Harry Wildair. About 1700 he served in Holland with his regiment. Ultimately selling out of the army, he was reduced to great misery, notwithstanding the popularity of his plays. He died in April 1707, aged 29, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, London. He left two helpless children to the care of his friend Wilks. "The appearance of his comedies may be regarded as an important epoch in the history of the English drama; . . he was the first to write in an easy flowing style, equally removed from the pedantic stiffness of Congreve,and the formal, courtly viciousness of the Etherege school." 97 Licentious as his plays may now appear, they were purer than many of his contemporaries'. As a player, his merits were of an ordinary stamp. 97 286 339

Farren, Elizabeth, Countess of Derby, an actress, was born in 1759 at Cork, where her father, George Farren, was a surgeon and apothecary. His drinking habits brought on bankruptcy and early death, and his widow returned to her relatives in Liverpool, and went on the stage to support herself and her three children. Elizabeth, when scarcely more than a child, became an actress, and gave so much promise of excellence, and was endowed with such delicacy of mind and refinement of manners, that she soon became a public favourite. After her early novitiate, she never consented to appear in male attire, and thus shut herself out from many characters in which her rival and countrywoman, Mrs. Woffington, shone. After playing in the provinces, in June 1777 she made her appearance in London, at the Haymarket, as "Miss Hardcastle" in She Stoops to Conquer. Her reception, though favourable, was by no means enthusiastic. Next year she played at Drury-lane, and her talents were there fully appreciated : during the summer vacations she filled up her time at the Haymarket and in the provinces. She had not been many seasons on the London stage, when by her purity of life and her professional success she obtained the entree of the fashionable world, and occasionally took part in, and conducted the stage arrangements at the private theatricals of the nobility. It was thus she first became acquainted with the Earl of Derby. Mr. Fox was one of her ardent admirers. The Earl of Derby was at this time married, but separated from his wife — the marriage had been most unhappy. Miss Farren is thus described at this period: "Her figure is considerably above the middle height, and is of that slight texture which requires the use of full and flowing drapery; her face, though not regularly beautiful, is animated and prepossessing; her eye, which is blue and penetrating, is a powerful feature when she chooses to employ it on the public, and either flashes with spirit, or melts with softness; her voice we never thought to possess extreme sweetness, but it is refined and feminine; and her smile fascinates the heart, as her form delights the eye." On 14th March 1797 the Countess of Derby died; a month afterwards Miss Farren took leave of the stage in her favourite character of "Lady Teazle," and on the 8th May she was married to the Earl of Derby. She was received at Court with peculiar favour by Queen Charlotte. She died 29th April 1829, aged 70. Her husband survived her five years. For notes regarding her ancestry, see Notes and Queries, 3rd Series. 3 54 116(65) 286

Faulkner, George, a well-known publisher, was born in Dublin 1699. He settled in Dublin as a printer and publisher soon after 1726, and there made a fortune by his Journal and other publications. He was satirized by Foote, in the character of "Peter Paragraph," and commenced a suit against him, which was dropped on the interference of Lord Townshend. He was well known as Swift's printer, and as having undergone imprisonment on account of the Dean's publications. For the rest, he was an alderman, vain and fussy, though not devoid of taste, who gave brilliant entertainments to literary men and persons of rank. His name is mentioned in many anecdotes relating to Swift. Some