Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/619

 USHER. 615 army, for the purpose of forming the basis of a public collection. Its value and importance may be estimated from i t s containing ten thousand volumes, printed and manuscript; and liberal offers were made for i t b y the King o f Denmark, and b y Cardinal Mazarine. I t now forms a n important portion o f the valuable and extensive library o f Trinity college, Dublin. JAMES USHER, A writer o f some ingenuity, was the son o f a gentle man farmer i n the county o f Dublin, where h e was born about 1720. He received a good classical education, though with n o view t o any o f the learned professions. When grown up, h e became a farmer, i n imitation o f his father; but after some years’ experience, had little success, and having sold his farm, stock, &c. settled for some time a s a linen-draper i n Dublin: for this business, however, h e seems t o have been a s little qualified a s for the other, and was a great loser. I n truth, h e had that secret love o f literature about him, which generally inspires a train o f thought not very compatible with the attention which trade requires: and finding himself, after some years, a widower with a family o f four children, and but little pros pect o f providing for them i n any business, h e took orders i n the church o f Rome, sent his three sons for education t o the college o f Lombard i n Paris, and his daughter t o a monastery, where she soon after died. He then came t o London, and while revolving plans for his support, and the education o f his children, Mr. Molloy, a n Irish gen tleman, who had formerly been a political writer against Sir Robert Walpole, died, and left him a legacy o f three hundred pounds. With this money Mr. Usher thought o f setting u p a school, a s the most likely way o f providing for his sons; and with this view h e communicated his intentions t o the late Mr. John Walker, author o f the Pronouncing Dictionary, and many other approved works o n the construction and elegance o f the English language,