Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/433

 MOLESWORTH. 429 A little tale, called the “Slave of Surinam,” by Mr. Millikin, after the manner of St. Pierre, was published about 1810; but it is evidently written in haste, and with out proper attention. A short time before his death, he projected a poetical work, to be called “Feudal Legends,” in which, assisted by some friends, considerable progress was made; the greater part of the tale of “Dermuid,” and a ballad of considerable length, named “The Geraldine,” being completed by him. In 1815, Mr. Millikin laid the foundation of “The Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Cork,” by an exhibition of his drawings, together with those of a few amateurs and artists. His death was caused by water on the chest, and took place, after a short illness, on the morning of the 16th December, 1815. He was buried with a public funeral at Douglas, near Cork, where a plain tomb has been erected over his remains. Many of his unpublished effusions have made their way to fame by their own merit, amongst which may be men tioned the humorous song of “The Groves of Blarney,” echoed in every convivial assembly throughout the king dom, and known and admired by thousands who are igno rant of the name of i t s highly-gifted and lamented author. ROBERT MOLESWORTH, Wiscount Molesworth, o f Swordes, i n Ireland, an eminent statesman and political writer, was descended from a family anciently seated i n the counties o f North ampton and Bedford, i n England; but his father having served i n the civil wars i n Ireland, settled afterwards i n Dublin, where he became an eminent merchant, and died i n 1656, leaving his wife pregnant with this only child, who raised his family t o the honours they now enjoy. He was born i n December, a t Dublin, and bred i n the college there, and engaged early i n a marriage with the sister o f Richard, Earl o f Bellamont, who brought him a daughter i n 1677. When the Prince o f Orange entered England