Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/643

 WORTH. 639 scientific characters in church and state: she was at the head of the Beef-steak Club, instituted every Saturday at the manager's expense, and principally composed of peers and members of parliament for many years, where no woman was admitted but herself. Though Mrs. Woffing ton was now only in her thirty-eighth year, a time of life, generally speaking, which may be called meridional in point of constitution and professional talents, her health began visibly to decline: she, however, pursued her public business till the year before her death, when her disorder increasing, she retired from the stage in 1759, and died on the 28th of March, 1760. Many years before her death, perhaps in the gaiety of her heart, she made a kind of verbal engagement with Colonel C–, (a quon dam inamorato of her’s) that the longest liver was to have all: she, however, thought better of this rash resolution, and bequeathed her fortune, which was about 5000l. to her sister; a legacy which, though it greatly disappointed the colonel, (who perhaps might have disappointed her had it been his turn to go first,) was more suitable to the duties she owed to so near and valuable a relation. Her death was considered as a general loss to the stage. - EDWARD WORTH, D.D. Was a native of the county of Cork, and was advanced to the see of Killaloe in 1660. He is inserted in this work on account of having founded an hospital in Cork, called St. Stephen's, or the Blue Coat hospital, for the support and education of poor boys, and endowed it with lands for their maintenance. In the year 1700, the rents of this foundation did not exceed 50l. per annum, and only eight boys were maintained in the house. In the year 1721, the lands yielded 454l. per annum, and forty-six poor boys were wholly supported and provided for in i t. Doctor Worth died a t Hackney, o n the 2nd o f August, 1669, and was buried i n St. Mildred's church.