Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/114

 110 DOGHERTY. humorist; and in his political principles he was, in the words of Sir Richard Steele, “a Whig, up to the head and ears:” and so firmly was he attached to the interests of the House of Hanover, that he never l e t pass any op portunity that offered itself, o f demonstrating his senti ments o n that head. One instance among others i s well known. The year after George the First came t o the throne, this performer gave a waterman's coat and silver badge, t o b e rowed for b y six watermen, o n the first day o f August, being the anniversary o f that king's accession t o the throne; and a t his death, (which occurred a t Eltham, i n Kent, September 22, 1721,) bequeathed a certain sum o f money, the interest o f which was t o b e appro priated annually for ever, t o the purchase o f a similar coat and badge, t o b e rowed for i n honour o f the day. This ceremony still continues t o b e performed every year o n the first o f August. The competitors, according t o the rules o f the match, starting o n a given signal a t that time o f the tide when the current i s strongest against them, and rowing from the Old Swan near London Bridge, t o the White Swan a t Chelsea. As a writer, Dogget has left behind him only one comedy, which has not been performed i n i t s original state for many years, entitled, “The Country Wake,” 4to. 1696. I t has, however, been altered into a ballad farce, which frequently makes i t s appearance under the tile o f “Flora; or, Hob i n the Well.” Dogget lies buried i n the church-yard o f the place where he died. THOMAS DOGHERTY, An eminent special pleader, a n author, and editor o f several valuable works o n the criminal law, was a native o f Ireland, and received a slender education a t a country school. A t a n early period o f his life h e went t o Eng land without any direct prospect o f employment, o r choice o f profession; and some years after his arrival, h e became clerk t o the late Mr. Bower, a very profound and scien