Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/354

 350 KELLY. the editor of the “Ladies' Museum,” the “Court Maga zine,” and exerted himself greatly in the various branches of periodical literature, being then lately married, and having an increasing family, whose sole dependence was on his industry. He wrote many political pamphlets. In 1767, “The Babbler,” appeared in two pocket volumes; also “Louisa Mildmay,” and “Thespis,” a satire. In 1768, he produced his comedy of “False Delicacy,” the success of which may be judged from the circumstance of i t s being trans lated into Portuguese, French, Italian, and German. After this, h e wrote “A Word t o the Wise;” and a tragedy, entitled “Clementina,” both o f which were unsuccessful. The bad success o f the two pieces above, i s attributed t o a report having been circulated that Kelly was employed t o defend administration, a s a pamphleteer. To prevent condemnation again taking place, i n 1774, Justice Ad dington kindly helped t o conceal the name o f the real author, by lending his own t o the comedy o f “The School for Wives;” by this manoeuvre the critics were deceived, and the play succeeded: however, after the character o f the comedy was fully established, and any further conceal ment became unnecessary, Mr. Addington very genteely, i n a public advertisement, resigned his borrowed plumes. Kelly's next production was the “Romance o f a n Hour,” a farce; then followed his comedy o f “The Man o f Reason,” which was unsuccessful. This was his last attempt; for the sedentary life, t o which his constant labour subjected him, injured his health, and early i n 1777, a n abscess formed i n his side, which, after a few days illness, put a period t o his existence, o n 3rd February. He left behind him a widow and five children, of the last of which she was delivered about a month after his death. Very soon after his decease, his comedy o f “A Word t o the Wise,” was revived for the benefit o f his wife and family, and introduced b y a n elegant and pathetic pro logue, written b y Dr. Johnson. About the same time, a n edition o f his works was published i n quarto, with a life o f the author, from which the above i s taken.