Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/650

 edition in 1885. A sequel, 'London under the Last Georges' (2 vols.), appeared in 1883. 'Life and Adventures of Peg Woffington' (2 vols. 1884); 'Royalty Restored, or London under Charles II' (2 vols. 1885); 'Famous Plays' (1886), and 'The Life and Adventures of Edmund Kean' (2 vols. 1888), were works of like calibre. His 'Romance of the Irish Stage' (2 vols. 1897) had a very large sale. Molloy also published serially many novels in leading London and Liverpool papers, as well as in ' Temple Bar,' 'English Illustrated Magazine,' 'Graphic,' and 'Illustrated London News.' Among his separately published novels were: 'Merely Players' (3 vols. 1881); 'It is no Wonder' (2 vols. 1881); 'What hast thou done?' (1883); 'That Villain Romeo' (1886); 'A Modern Magician' (3 vols. 1887); 'An Excellent Knave' (1893); 'His Wife's Soul' (1893; 2nd edit, with the title, 'Sweet is Revenge,' 1895), and 'A Justified Sinner' (1897).

Molloy travelled much on the continent of Europe in search of health, which was never robust, journeying through France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, and Algiers. Despite failing strength he was engaged shortly before his death on 'Victoria Regina,' published posthumously in two volumes. He died unmarried at his residence, 20 Norland Square, Notting Hill, W., on 19 March 1908, and was buried at St. Mary's cemetery, Kensal Green.

Besides the works mentioned above, Molloy wrote: 1. 'The Faiths of the Peoples,' 2 vols. 1892. 2. 'The Most Gorgeous Lady Blessington,' 2 vols. 1896. 3. 'Historical and Biographical Studies,' 1897. 4. 'The Queen's Comrade: the Life and Times of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough,' 2 vols. 1901. 5. 'The Sailor King: William IV, his Court and his Subjects,' 2 vols. 1903. 6. 'Romance of Royalty,' 2 vols. 1904. 7. 'The Russian Court in the Eighteenth Century,' 1905. 8. 'Sir Joshua and his Circle,' 2 vols. 1906. Molloy also edited, with introduction and notes, the 'Memoirs of Mary Robinson' in 1895.

 MOLYNEUX. [See, G.C.B. (1838–1904), admiral.]

MONCREIFF, HENRY JAMES, second (1840–1909), Scottish judge, born at Edinburgh on 24 April 1840, eldest son of James Moncreiff, first Baron Moncreiff [q. v.], by his wife Isabella, daughter of Robert Bell, procurator of the Church of Scotland. After education at Edinburgh Academy and at Harrow School, he went in 1857 to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. and LL.B. in 1861 (with a first class in the law tripos). Having attended law lectures at Edinburgh University, and becoming a member of the Speculative Society, he passed on 14 July 1863 to the Scottish bar, where he acquired a fair practice. A whig in politics according to the tradition of his family, he was appointed advocate-depute in 1865 by his father, who was then lord advocate, but lost that office when the Russell ministry went out in June 1866. He was re-appointed under Gladstone's administrations of 1868 and 1880. In 1881 he became sheriff of Renfrew and Bute. On Gladstone's adoption of his home rule policy Moncreiff joined the liberal unionists. In 1888 he was raised to the bench, with the title of Lord Wellwood. In 1895, on the death of his father, he succeeded to the peerage, and in 1901 was appointed lord-lieutenant of Kincardineshire. He resigned his judgeship owing to failing health in 1905, died at Bournemouth on 3 March 1909, and was buried in the Grange cemetery at Edinburgh.

Moncreiff, who was a versatile writer, with a keen sense of humour, contributed many articles and short stories to 'Blackwood's Magazine,' the 'Cornhill Magazine,' the 'World,' 'Fraser's Magazine,' the 'Badminton Magazine,' and other periodicals, and wrote 'General Remarks on the Game of Golf' for the volume on golf in the 'Badminton Library.' A collection of his articles and stories was printed for private circulation in 1898 and 1907. He was also author of a useful treatise on 'Review in Criminal Cases' (1877).

Moncreiff married (1) in 1866 Susan (d. 1869), daughter of Sir William Dick Cunyngham of Prestonfield, Midlothian; (2) in 1873 Millicent (d. 1881), daughter of Colonel Fryer of Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket. He had no family, and was succeeded in the peerage by his brother, the Hon. and Rev. Robert Chichester Moncreiff (b. 1843). A portrait was painted by Fiddes Watt shortly before Moncreiff's death. 