Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/362

 358 KIRWAN. they had discovered the strong bent of his mind towards chemistry, when they took away from him a l l books con nected with that science, except those written i n French, and h e was then under the necessity o f learning that lan guage t o enable him t o prosecute his favourite pursuit. Succeeding, o n the death o f his brother, t o the family estate, h e returned t o Ireland, and abandoned a l l thoughts o f a profession; h e devoted himself entirely t o the study o f mineralogy and o f chemistry, i n which latter science his exertions were very great, and soon established for him a reputation i n almost every country i n Europe, though, through some fatality, attempting almost every subject, h e did not thoroughly succeed i n any. Scarcely ever did h e advocate a theory, which was not almost im mediately discovered t o b e unfounded: h e took great pains t o refute authors who have never been read, and evinced his learning more than his judgment, i n quoting others that will never b e believed. He nevertheless deserves the praise, almost singular i n these days, o f being a man o f science, when there was scarcely another man o f science within his reach; and even a t a late period o f his life, few friends could b e found among his countrymen t o assist, and few rivals t o stimulate him. He enjoyed the presidency o f the Royal Irish Academy, and o f the Dub lin Library Society; h e was a fellow o f the Royal Society, and o f almost every literary body throughout Europe. His leisure hours were amused b y the national music o f his country, i n which Kirwan was a n enthusiast. On one occasion, h e made a tour with Mr. Bunting into the most unfrequented parts o f Ireland, for the purpose o f collecting old Irish airs, particularly those o f Caladon and Conador; h e procured very few o f them i n Donegal, but was more successful i n Galway; where a lady, who had invited the travellers t o her house, o n discovering the motive o f their journey, sent a messenger thirty miles across the country i n search o f a harper, whose extensive acquaintance with the national music amply compensated them for much o f the trouble they had undergone.