Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/634

 630 WILKS. abode to another; at the side of the sick, however conta gious the disease. It was by his ceaseless attendance at the hospital, during the prevalence of a most malignant fever, that the infection was communicated to him, which finally terminated a life, which displayed on every occa sion the real traits of the religion he professed. Mr. Whitelaw was in his sixty-fifth year at the time of his decease. JOHN WILLIAMSON, The author of that popular satirical work, entitled, “Advice to Officers of the British Army,” written in imitation of Dean Swift's Advice to Servants; was born near Lisburn, and at the breaking out of the American war entered into the army, and served several campaigns in North America. He died on the 31st of July, 1801, at Farnham Royal, near Windsor, of a consumption, in the forty-third year of his age. He was also the author of several military tracts, and wrote in many periodical publications. ROBERT WILKS, A celebrated comedian, was descended from an illus trious Irish family, and born at Rathfarnham, near Dublin, in 1670, where he received a genteel education. He wrote a masterly hand, and with such surprising celerity, that his genius recommended him to Secretary Southwell, who received him into his office as a clerk at eighteen years of age: and in this capacity he remained till after the battle of the Boyne, which completed the Revolution. His first inclination for the stage is attributed to the following cir cumstance:—He happened to lodge near Mr. Richards, then an actor on the Dublin stage: and, being intimate with him, used to hold the book while Richards was studying, to observe whether he was perfect in his part. Mr. Wilks used to read the introductory speeches with so