Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 13.djvu/446

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Daly
440
Daly

rights in relation to theatrical performances throughout Ireland. In 1788 the Theatre Royal, Crow Street, was opened by Daly after an expenditure of 12,000l. on its rebuilding and decoration. The house had for a short time a profitable career; but its receipts were soon diminished by the establishment of Astley's Amphitheatre, and by frequent disturbances within the theatre itself. These were supposed to be instigated, or at least encouraged, by the severe strictures on Daly which appeared in two Dublin newspapers, the 'Evening Post' and the 'Weekly Packet.' John Magee, an eccentric and energetic man, the proprietor and editor of these journals, continuously published in them diatribes, in prose and verse, against Daly and his associate, Francis Higgins, a wealthy solicitor of obscure origin and low repute, who was believed to be confidentially employed by the chief justice, Lord Clonmel, and English government officials in Ireland. In addition to imputations against Daly in his Private and public capacity, Magee charged him with having improperly obtained a large sum from lottery-offices in Dublin, by having anticipated information from London by means of carrier pigeons. Legal proceedings for libel were in 1789 instituted by Daly against Magee, and the latter was imprisoned, being unable to find bail for 7,800l., the amount of the 'fiats' or warrants issued against him by the chief justice. Questions as to the legality of these 'fiats' were argued in the court of king's bench, Dublin, and discussed in the House of Commons there. Magee's trial took place in June 1790, in the king's bench, before Lord Clonmel and a special jury. On Daly's behalf eleven eminent barristers were engaged, including John Philpot Curran, and 200l. damages were awarded. Daly's theatrical revenue was much diminished by the establishment of a private theatre at Dublin in 1792 by some of the principal nobility and gentry, under the direction of Frederick E. Jones. In that year a series of statements depreciatory of Daly's character and management were published anonymously at London, as a portion of an answer to an attack on the eminent actress, Mrs. Billington. On the ground of the decay of the drama in Ireland under the management of Daly a memorial from persons of importance was in 1796 presented to the viceroy. Earl Camden, in favour of authorising the establishment of a new theatre royal in Dublin, under F. E. Jones. This movement was opposed by Daly, and the subject was referred to the consideration of the law officers of the crown. After a lengthened inquiry and negotiations an agreement was effected in 1797 by which Daly, in consideration of annuities for himself and his children, transferred his interest in the Dublin theatres to Jones. These arrangements were made under the immediate supervision of the lordlieutenant and the law officers of the government. An annual pension of 100l. was in 1798 granted by the crown to Daly. He died at Dublin in September 1813.

[Hibernian Magazine, 1785; Dublin Chronicle, 1788; Trial of John Magee, 1790; Answer to Memoirs of Mrs. Billington, 1792; Anthologia Hibemica, 1794; Dramatic Mirror, 1808; Gent, Mag. 1814; Boaden's Life of J. P. Kemble, 1825; Recollections of J. O'Keeffe. 1826; Boaden's Memoirs of Mrs. Siddons, 1827; Beminiscences of M. Kelly, 1826; manuscripts relative to Dublin theatres; Hist, of City of Dublin, vol. ii. 1859; Life of Sir M. A. Shee, 1860; Prior's Life of E. Malone, 1860.]

J. T. G.

DALY, ROBERT (1783–1872), bishop of Cashel and Waterford, younger son of Denis Daly [q. v.], by Henrietta, only daughter and heiress of Robert Maxwell, first earl of Farnham, was born at Dunsandle, co. Galway, on 8 June 1783. Having entered Trinity College, Dublin, as a fellow-commoner in 1799, he gained the gold medal in 1803, and graduated B.A. in the same year. He proceeded M.A. in 1832 and B.D. and D.D. in 1843. In 1807 he was ordained a deacon, and was admitted to priest's orders in the following year. From 1809 to 1843 he held the prebend of Holy Trinity in the diocese of Cork; from 1814 to 1843 the prebend of Stagonil and the rectory of Powerscourt in the diocese of Dublin, and in 1842 was declared dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, by the court of delegates appointed to try the validity of an election held on 8 Dec. 1840, in which the Rev. James Wilson, D.D. (precentor of St. Patrick's, and soon after bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross), had been the other candidate. Daly was raised to the bishopric of the united dioceses of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore, by patent dated 12 Jan. 1843. For many years, both before and after his elevation to the bench of bishops, his name was a household word throughout the church of Ireland. He was an eminent leader of the evangelical section, and in him the various religious societies connected with the church found at all times a very munificent contributor. He was a preacher of considerable force and energy, maintaining his own principles with great consistency, and ever ready to do battle on their behalf. He died 16 Feb. 1872, and was buried in the cathedral of Waterford.

Daly was the author of several printed ser-