Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/349

 JUMPER. $45 miserable existence, leaving an example (often set, and too often followed) to those who, treating with utter contempt the maxims of prudence, proceed from profusion to poverty, and terminate an existence, which might otherwise have been happy, in the precincts of a gaol, or in any hovel that casual humanity may have pointed out for their relief. His principal performance, “ The Earl of Essex,” appeared in 1758, and ran twelve nights. He also left a tragedy unfinished, entitled, “The Cave of Idra,” which falling into the hands of Dr. Hiffernan, he enlarged it into five acts, and brought it out under the title of “The Heroine of the Cave.” His last publications were, “Merit;” “The Relief;” and “Vectis; or, the Isle of Wight,” poems: but his poetical worth, though far from being contemptible, was not of the first-rate kind. - SIR WILLIAM JUMPER. “Few men,” says Charnock, “who have not lived to attain the rank of commanders-in-chief, or, at least flag officers, have ever acquired so much renown as this gentle man,” who was born at Bandon, in the county of Cork. His first commission as second lieutenant of the Resolu tion, was given him by Lord Dartmouth, on November 29, 1688. Having served afterwards with distinguished reputation, in various ships, his diligent attention to the duties of his several stations, procured him, in 1694, the command of the Weymouth, a fourth rate, in which he quickly acquired the greatest renown. On the 17th of June, being on a cruise off the coast of Ireland, he pur sued and captured the Invincible, a very large French privateer; on the 31st of the same month, after a very long chase, he took a second, which had done incredible mischief to the commerce of the allied powers; and, on the 31st of August, he took a third, mounting twenty-eight guns. The captain of this vessel, being a man of most daring courage, and having a chosen, as well as a numerous crew to support him, did not surrender till after a desperate