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LYS Jefferson President. On one occasion he was imprisoned for four months for libels on President Adams. He became bankrupt in 1812 by engaging in the building of gunboats for the Government. In 1820 he was made a factor among the Cherokee Indians. Mr. Lyon died at Spadra Bluff, Arkansas, 1st August 1822, aged about 76. He was an able debater, though somewhat rough and impetuous in manner. His son, Chittenden Lyon, took a foremost place for many years as a Kentucky politician. 37*

Lysaght, Edward, a poetical writer, was born in the County of Clare, 21st December 1763. He was educated at Cashel and at Trinity College, where he became a B.A. in 1782. In 1784 he took his degree of M.A. at Oxford; and four years afterwards was called both to the English and Irish Bar. Sir Jonah Barrington tells us that he attempted to practice at the English Bar, but after a short experience declared that he had not law enough for the King's Bench; that he was not dull enough for the Court of Chancery; and that before he could succeed at the Old Bailey, he should shoot Garrow, the then leading practitioner. His valuable services were often eagerly sought at elections, and as a diner-out he was unapproachable. In the end he came to live for little beyond "poetry and pistols, wine and women;" and some of the closing years of his life were spent within "the sanctuary" of Trinity College, to avoid arrest for debt. He is best known for his songs, such as "The Sprig of Shillelagh," and "The Man who led the Van of the Irish Volunteers." But if Barrington can be believed, his patriotism was only assumed, as he received £400 from Castlereagh to write up the Union. He must have died shortly before 1811, at which date a small collection of his Remains was published in Dublin. He was once an associate and intimate acquaintance of Dr. Lanigan, the ecclesiastical historian. 208 220

McAllister, George, was born in Dublin in 1786. Having begun life as a jeweller, he turned his attention to painting on glass, and after some years succeeded in bringing the art to greater perfection than it had yet attained in Ireland. He finished a fine window for Lismore Cathedral, and was engaged upon one for Tuam, when his bodily powers failed through excessive anxiety and close application. He died 14th June 1812, aged only 25, leaving three sisters, who, we are told, completed his unfinished works. 146 349

MacArdell, James, said to have been "the most skilful mezzotinto portrait engraver of his day," was born in Dublin about 1710. Early in life he removed to London. The number of his engravings (mostly portraits of distinguished persons from the principal painters of the time) is considerable. He executed plates from paintings by Vandyck, Murillo, and Rembrandt, some of which are declared by Ryan to have been extremely fine. He died in London, 2nd June 1765. 110 349

Macartney, Sir George, Earl Macartney, was born at Lissanoure, in the northern pai-t of the County of Antrim, 14th May 1737. Having passed through Trinity College, he entered the Middle Temple, made an extended tour of Europe (becoming acquainted with Rousseau and other persons of eminence), and shortly after his return home in 1764, was, through an intimacy with Lord Holland, appointed a special envoy to negotiate a commercial treaty with Russia. His biographer says: "His knowledge of European politics alone fitted him for the undertaking; but a graceful person, with great suavity of manners, a conciliating disposition, and winning address, were considered as no slight recommendations at a female court, where such accomplishments, it was fair to conclude, might work their way, when great and unaccommodating talents alone would prove ineffectual. " 221 After long and arduous negotiations, during which he was thwarted not alone by opposing interests at the Russian court, but by the short-sighted policy of ministers at home, he brought the matter to a satisfactory conclusion, and returned to England in June 1767. He was enabled more than once, by his position at St. Petersburgh, to serve King Stanislaus of Poland, and was by him decorated with the order of the white eagle. In February 1768 he married a daughter of the Earl of Bute. In April he entered the British Parliament as member for Cockermouth; and in July changed this seat for one in the Irish Parliament for Armagh. In 1769 he was appointed Chief-Secretary for Ireland, on the nomination of Lord Townshend, Lord-Lieutenant. The position he took in Irish affairs is illustrated as follows by his biographer: "In the early part of the government of Lord Townshend, Sir George had occasion to fight many hard battles for his principal in the Irish House of Commons; and he was among the few members in that house who, by his manly and spirited retorts, could temper the impetuous eloquence of Mr. Flood, or silence the 299