Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/265

HAM popular. Fond of society, and overflowing with wit and humour, his presence was ever welcome in the social circle. As a writer he was sprightly, terse, and vigorous. His last poetical production was written on the occasion of the gathering at Jones's Wood, to raise funds for the erection of a monument to the Irish soldiers who fell during the war. It is entitled 'Lines for the Day,' and was recited by the author during the gathering."

Hamilton, Court Anthony, was born in Ireland about 1646. In Childhood his family passed over to France as followers of the fortunes of Charles II. He died at St. Germain's, in 1720, aged 74. Rose says: "He was an elegant and accomplished character, and was for many years the delight and ornament of the most splendid circles of society, by his wit, his taste, and above all by his writings." "The Memoirs of Grammont, by Count Hamilton," says Hallam, " scarcely challenge a place as historical; but we are now looking more at the style than the intrinsic importance of books. Every one is aware of the peculiar felicity and fascinating gaiety which they display." The Athenæum says of his fairy tales : " These tales appear to us cumbrous and entangled, their satire insipid, and their meaning rather unmeaning. Measured against Voltaire's philosophical stories, or Dean Swift's bitter caricatures, they are pigmies indeed ; and their popularity with him who loved to quote them [Horace Walpole] is but another proof of the factitious value with which genius can invest that which is essentially mediocre, at once giving to trifles the importance, and turning them to the use, of treasures." 16 42 34

Hamilton, Charles, a captain in the East India Company's service, distinguished for his acquaintance with the laws and literature of the Hindoos, was born at Belfast in 1753. He was one of the first members of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta, and in 1786 wrote an account of the Rohilla Afghans. Subsequently, in 1796, he was employed by the Directors of the East India Company to edit a commentary on the Mussulman law, which Allibone styles "a valuable work." He died 14th March 1792, aged about 39, and was buried in Bunhill Fields, London. 16 349

Hamilton, Elizabeth, an authoress, sister of preceding, was born at Belfast in 1758. Her attention was turned to literature in 1786, by the return of her brother from India. Her Hindoo Rajah and Modern Philosophers were intended as counterfoils to free-thinking. Her writings on education were much in advance of the time, and attracted consi- derable attention. In 1804 a Civil List pension was settled on her. She lived much in Edinburgh, where she took an active part in ameliorating the social condition of the poor. Her Cottagers of Glenbumie, published about 1808, a simple and graphic sketch of Scotch peasant life, is perhaps the most enduring of her works. "Her warm and sincere piety was untinctured by severity, and her natural cheerfulness and lively talents rendered her delightful iu society, and, in old age, a universal favourite with the young." 97 She died at Harrogate, 13th July 1816, aged about 58. Her writings are warmly praised by Jeffrey in the Edinburgh Review. 16 97 196

Hamilton, Gustavns, Visconnt Boyne, was born in 1639, and obtained a commission in the army towards the end of Charles II.'s reign. At the commencement of the War of 1689-91, the Protestants of Coleraine entrusted him with the defence of their town. He was ultimately forced to evacuate it and fall back on Enniskillen, followed by crowds of Protestant refugees from the surrounding country. He was appointed Governor of Enniskillen, and organized those regiments of horse and foot afterwards known as the Enniskilleners — the forerunners of the present Inniskilling regiments. "These Enniskilleners were furious fighters. They were attended by their favourite preachers, . . who encouraged them in their efforts to 'purge the land of idolatry.' They attacked with the utmost impetuosity, and were rarely deterred by inequality of numbers. They had no system of attack, but fell on pell-mell. They rode together in a confused body, each man attended by a mounted servant, bearing his baggage; and they only assumed a hasty and confused line when about to rush into action." 175 He defeated Lord Galmoy in his attack on Crom Castle, and in the spring of 1689 was successful in several engagements with the Catholic forces. In July his army is said to have numbered seventeen troops of light horse, thirty companies of foot, and a few very ill-armed troops of heavy dragoons. Later on, at the head of his Enniskilleners, he defeated General MacCarthy at Newtown butler. He commanded a regiment at the battle of the Boyne, and took a prominent part in the after operations of the war, heading the troops in the successful attack on Athlone in 1691, and being afterwards made governor of the town. When peace was concluded he received an ample share of the forfeited estates, and was made Privy-Councillor and Brigadier-General. For his bravery 241