mouths of the Scotch soldiers of the fort. For the use of his friend Emmet's children he compiled a grammar. He passed the summer and autumn of 1802, after his liberation, in travelling through Switzerland; and next year he joined Emmet in Paris, and entered an Irish Brigade as captain. Deceived and disappointed at the failure of all hopes of an invasion of Ireland, and concerned at the fatal issue of a duel in which he acted as second, he sailed from Bordeaux for the United States in 1805, and landed in New York on the 4th of July. With favourable introductions, and among old friends, he soon felt himself at home, and his rise in the honours and the emoluments of the medical profession was rapid. He occupied several important medical positions in New York, and married in 1810. In 1820 he published an exposition of the Atomic Theory; his other works were an edition of Brande's Chemistry, Argument in opposition to a Union, Rambles in Switzerland, Pieces of Irish History, Nature and Functions of an Army Staff. Mr. MacNevin was an accomplished scholar, and spoke German, French, Italian, and Irish. During his long career in America he continued to take a warm interest in Catholic Emancipation and the different movements which agitated his native country. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Thomas A. Emmet, Jun., near New York, 12th July 1841, aged 78. The most striking features of his character were imperturable coolness and self-possession, combined with remarkable simplicity of mind, and singleness of purpose. 331
McSkimin, Samuel, a writer on the affairs of 1798-1803, was born at Carrickfergus in 1775. He kept a small huxter's shop in a back street of his native town — a little room behind serving him at once for bedroom, parlour, and library. The latter consisted of not more than about fifty volumes; yet in this humble position, and with these poor appliances he made some valuable contributions to Irish literature. Besides a History of Carrickfergus, he contributed papers to the Gentleman's Magazine on extinct birds and the round towers, and to Fraser's Magazine on the emeute of 1803. He died 17th February 1843, aged about 68. Dr. Reeves says: "He possessed a marvellous taste and faculty for archaeological pursuits. His History of Carrickfergus is a book of great merit, and especially rich in family history. When he died, his son, a carpenter, became possessed of all his MS. collections, and instead of selling them as a whole, to be deposited in some public library, they were broken up and scattered. A manuscript containing his experiences of the United Irishmen in the County of Antrim subsequently fell into the hands of the late John Mullen, a bookseller of Belfast, who printed it in a neat 12mo (Belfast, 1849), under the title. Annals of Ulster, or Ireland Fifty Tears Ago." 331 233
Madden, Samuel, D.D., "Premium Madden," a distinguished writer, and one of the founders of the Royal Dublin Society, was born in Dublin, 23rd December 1686. He took the degree of B.A. at Trinity College in 1705, and was collated to Drummully, near Newtownbutler, in 1721. The celebrated Philip Skelton was his curate here, and tutor to his sons. (In his life by Burdy are several interesting particulars concerning Mr. Madden.) In 1723 he took the degree of D.D. He first appeared before the public as an author in 1729, when he published his tragedy of Themistocles, played with considerable success in London. In 1731 he wrote A Proposal for the General Encouragement of Learning in Trinity College, and in 1733 published anonymously in London his Memoir of the Twentieth Century, 527 pp., a cumbrous effort at a jeu d'esprit on current politics, "unrelieved by any merits adequate to counterbalance the serious defect of too great prolixity." Almost the whole edition of 1,000 copies was withdrawn and cancelled by himself a few days after publication. In 1738 he wrote Reflections and Resolutions proper for the Gentleman of Ireland, a suggestive and valuable work, partaking somewhat of the character of Bishop Berkeley's Querist. About this time he promoted a system of quarterly premiums at Trinity College (which obtained for him the appellation of "Premium Madden"), and constantly exerted himself to induce persons of rank and influence to give their support to plans for the amelioration of the country. The Dublin Society was originated at a meeting held in Trinity College on 25th June 1731. While Thomas Prior was most active in founding the Society, Madden was one of those to whom the ultimate success of this great national institution was due. It was mainly through his influence that in April 1749-'50 a charter of incorporation was obtained. Commencing in 1739, he contributed annually £130 in premiums for the encouragement of manufactures and the arts by means of the Society — a sum increased to above £300 per annum a few years later. Having spent a life of exemplary piety and charity, and devoted his talents and liberal fortune to the
