Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/503

 ROSSITER. 499 The anecdotes of the honourable baronet's eloquence abound in his own country, where it was considered a standard specimen of the native stile; and of course, many notable tropes are attributed to him which he never uttered. Sir Boyle was created a baronet on the 80th November, 1782. He married Mary, the eldest daughter of Sir T. Frankland, Bart. of Great Thirkelby Hall, county of York. He was tall and famous in his person, and even in his old age he wore the obvious characteristic of early come liness and courteous manners. He was a gentleman of great simplicity and good nature. He died at his house in Eccles-street, Dublin, June 5th, 1807, at a very advanced age; and as he lived esteemed, he died regretted by a very numerous circle of friends. JOHN ROSSITER, This exemplary and enterprising prelate, was born of respectable parents in the county of Wexford, and at an early age felt a strong impulse to embrace a religious life. Yielding to these inclinations, he visited Flanders, and prosecuted his studies with rapidity and success in the Irish college at Louvaine. Being ordained priest a short time after his return, he was appointed pastor of the parish of Enniscorthy, where his piety and zeal were conspi cuous: his original purpose, however, had not forsaken him; he resigned his charge, the endearments of family connexion, and a competency for life, and became a mem ber of the Augustin convent of Ross. In compliance with the wishes of his superiors, in 1790, he went to Rome, but was shortly after obliged to return through indisposition. It was now that he turned his attention to the state of the infant church in America, where a want of ministers deprived great numbers of the Roman Catholics of the necessary aids of their religion. He resolved upon extending his labours to the new world; and that his exertions might not close with his life, he