Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/345

 JEPHSON. 841 having accepted the office of master of the horse to Lord Viscount Townsend, then appointed lord-lieutenant of Ire land. Mr. Hamilton also used his influence to procure Mr. Jephson a permanent provision on the Irish establish ment of 300l. a-year, which the Duke of Rutland, from a personal regard and a high admiration of Mr. Jephson's talents, increased to 600l. per annum, for the joint lives of himself and Mrs. Jephson. In addition to this proof of his kindness and esteem, Mr. Hamilton never ceased to watch over Mr. Jephson's interests with the most lively solicitude, constantly applying in person in his behalf to every new lord-lieutenant, if he were acquainted with him, or, if that were not the case, contriving by some circuitous means to procure Mr. Jephson's re-appointment to the office originally conferred upon him by Lord Townsend; and by these means chiefly, he was continued for a long series of years under twelve successive governors of Ire land, in the same station which had always before been considered a temporary office. In Mr. Jephson's case, this office was accompanied by a seat in the House of Com mons, which he occasionally amused by his wit, though he does not at any time appear to have been a profound politician. His natural inclination was for literary pur suits; and he supported Lord Townsend's government with considerable ability in the “Bachelor,” a set of periodical essays, which he wrote in conjunction with Mr. Courtenay, the Rev. Mr. Burroughs, and others. He died at his house at Blackrock, near Dublin, of a paralytic disorder, May 31st, 1803. As a dramatic writer, his claims seem to be founded chiefly on his tragedies of “Braganza,” and the “Count of Narbonne.” Braganza was very successful on i t s origi nal appearance, but fell into neglect after the first season, 1775. Horace Walpole, whose admiration i s expressed i n the most extravagant terms, addressed t o the author “Thoughts o n a Tragedy,” i n three letters, which a r e included i n his printed works. I n return, Mr. Jephson took the story o f his “Count o f Narbonne,” from Wal