Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/457

 O'CONNOR. 453 early in life at Drury Lane theatre, where his ease, elegance, and good sense rendered him a great favourite with the public. In 1764, he retired from the stage, having mar ried Lady Susan Strangeways, eldest daughter of the first Earl of Ilchester. Mr. O'Brien long held the situation of receiver-general of the county of Dorset. He died at Stinsford-house, near Dorchester, on the 2nd of September, 1815. He was the author of a farce, called “Cross Pur poses;” and a play, entitled “The Duel.” --- JAMES O'BURN, A ventriloquist of extraordinary powers, of whom many curious anecdotes are related, was a native of Ire land; but, having married at Shelford, in Nottinghamshire, he ever afterwards considered that as his home, and died there January 7, 1796. Amongst the many ludicrous pranks played by him, the following is not the least worthy of recording:—Meeting a farmer's servant upon a public highway, driving a wag gon, top-laden with trusses of hay, he so artfully imitated the crying of a child as proceeding from the middle of the hay, that the poor affrighted countryman stood aghast at the noise, which being several times repeated, he was pre vailed on to l e t him assist i n unloading the waggon t o release the supposed sufferer, whose cries became louder and more frequent. O'Burn having thus succeeded i n getting the hay off the waggon, after laughing heartily a t the countryman's simplicity, left him t o replace the same himself i n the best manner he could. - CHARLES O'CONNOR, Was a n antiquary o f some respectability, a member o f the Royal Irish Academy, and a n author o f many different works. He was lineally descended from the last unfortunate native prince who ruled that island. He pos sessed but a small estate, the vast possessions o f his