Page:Life of Edmond Malone.djvu/81

Rh speech than his upon the embargo.” In 1779, he retired with Grattan to the village of Bray, about ten miles from Dublin, to concert those measures which, however opposed at the moment, and carried ultimately with difficulty, experience proved to be wise and effectual. They gave content, free trade, and independence of her Parliament to one country, without inflicting the slightest loss of any description upon the other.

To Malone he bore a strong attachment. They were good scholars, fond of books, read them attentively, and collected the best authors and first editions zealously, of which it appears he did not always gain possession after making the purchase. Lord Charlemont tells Malone, about 1779: “You have, I suppose, been informed of the evil destiny of Daly’s books. The ship in which they were embarked foundered off Beachy Head, and all his first editions are gone to the bottom.”

In addition to personal friendship, their families were intimate. Daly’s sister, a very clever person, had selected Henrietta and Catherine Malone as her chosen friends; and through this channel, no doubt, the persuasions of her brother to his friend to return to the land of his property and family became stronger. The mention of unhappiness alludes to his love affair. We have a glance, likewise, at some Irish statesmen; but the scene described at the conclusion we may consider rather as a sally of Irish vivacity than grave matter of fact.

Dublin, February 22nd, 1778. —I wrote to you about a month ago to pardon for my want of punctuality, and to plead guilty to as