Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/42

Rh truth of colour, and boldness of manner, in the execution, has not been equalled by any modern painter. He exerted his powers to the utmost in this work, as he entertained the warmest sense of Mr. Locke's great kindness and friendly patronage.

As a man, he was remarkably kind and friendly, and was much respected, not only by his brethren in the art, but by his patrons, who were pleased with the vivacity of his disposition, and the urbanity of his manners. During the last ten years of bis life, he resided (on account of his health) at Paddington, where he painted (in conjunction with Mr. Gilpin, the celebrated animal painter,) some of his best easel-pictures. He died at Paddington, in March 1784, aged fifty-four, and was buried in the church-yard of that parish. He left a widow and nine children. In the latter part of his life he enjoyed the place of master-painter to Chelsea Hospital; an appointment conferred upon him by his friend, Edmund Burke, during his short-lived administration. Barret left some spirited etchings of his performances, the best of which is a view in the Dargles, near Dublin. He also painted in water-colours, in which he greatly excelled.

JAMES BARRETT titular Dean of Killala, and, as we cannot amend the only sketch we have of this truly great and good man, we shall take the liberty to subjoin it:—"He was," says his panegyrist, "a character as near perfection as the lot of humanity admits of. For upwards of half a century he continued to shew to the world what a clergyman ought to be, and how much real good a hearty lover of mankind may do in that station. If domestic disquisition annoyed any of his flock, the demon was subdued by the precepts that he instilled, and the morality which he inculcated. The writhings of disease were mitigated by the balm of his divine counsels, and poverty never applied to him in