Brougham, accepted the chair of Physics and Astronomy. He now conceived the idea of compiling a large popular scientific cyclopaedia. Obtaining the best assistance in the United Kingdom, the first volume of Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopoedia appeared in 1830. It was completed in 135 vols. 12mo. in 1844. The articles on Hydrostatics, Pneumatics, Heat, Arithmetic, and Geometry were written by himself. From 1830 to 1840, he was occasionally employed by railway companies in preparing reports and giving advice at the inception of their several lines. In 1840 he left the country, in consequence, it is stated, of a verdict, with £8,000 damages, having been obtained against him in a suit for seduction. After a visit to France, he removed to the United States, where he was received with great attention as a leading scientific man. He gave courses of lectures in the principal cities of the Union, by which he is said to have made £40,000, besides the profits afterwards arising from their publication in bookform. On his return to Europe in 1845, he settled permanently in Paris. Besides many works and articles on scientific subjects, he projected and carried out his Museum of Science and Art, published in 12 vols, between 1854 and 1856. It has been styled by Sir David Brewster "one of those works the most interesting and the most useful which have been published for the scientific instruction of all classes of the community." Indeed Dr. Lardner may be said to have done more to popularize science amongst English-speaking people than any other writer in modern times. He died in Naples, 29th April 1859, aged 66. 7 40 34 146
Lascelles, Rowley, an English barrister, born in Westminster about 1770, educated at Harrow, called to the Bar in 1797, practised about twenty years in Ireland, and died in London 19th March 1841, aged 70. Besides Letters of Publicola (Dublin, 1816) in defence of the Established Church, and minor works, his literary history is remarkable as connected with a turgid, unindexed book in two large folio volumes. Liber Munerum Publicorum Hibernioe, published at the expense of Government, and compiled chiefly from MSS. left by John Lodge. After he had drawn £4,000 as editor, the work was stopped in the autumn of 1830, and Mr. Lascelles bitterly complained at being put off with £500 in two instalments as a final settlement. The book was suppressed for twenty-two years, on account of the partizan tone of the History of Ireland, or as it is styled, Res Gestoe Anglorum in Hibernia, written or compiled by Mr. Lascelles, and prefixed solely on his own authority. At length, in 1852, the work, incomplete as it is, was given to the public at the price of two guineas. It is now very scarce. Containing much, valuable matter, "it is in the main," says Dr. Cotton, "a great mass of curious information carelessly put together, and disfigured by flippant and impertinent remarks of the compiler, most unbefitting a government employe." For further information regarding this work, see Notes and Queries, 2nd Series, vol. vi., p. 350, and the Gentleman's Magazine, September 1829, September 1841, and September 1854. A partial index to the Liber Munerum is given in the Report of the Deputy-keeper of the Public Records in Ireland, 26th February 1877. 146 254
Latham, James, a portrait painter of some merit, who resided in Trinity-lane, Dublin, in the early part of the 18th century. He was born in Tipperary, and studied at Antwerp. His portraits of Mrs. Woffington and of Geminiani, the composer, procured for him the title of the Irish Vandyke. He died in Dublin about 1750. 110
LaTouche, David Digues, founder of the Irish banking house of the name, was born on the family estate, near Blois, France, in 1671. When but fifteen he was obliged, in consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, to fly to an uncle in Amsterdam, and the family estate was conferred upon his brother Paul, who conformed to the Catholic faith. David entered Caillemotte's Huguenot regiment, and served at the battle of the Boyne in 1690. At the conclusion of the war the regiment was disbanded in Dublin, and he established a silk, poplin, and cambric manufactory in High-street, and married a Dutch lady. A banking trade gradually sprang up; his ability, transparent probity, and unselfish generosity inspired confidence; and in 1735 the banking business had so much increased that it was removed to what were then considered handsome premises in Castle-street, where for generations afterwards it was carried on. David Digues LaTouche died while at prayers in the Castle Chapel, 17th October 1745, aged about 74. The family has become one of the wealthiest and most honoured in Ireland. 209
Lawless, John, an Irish politician, was born about 1772. Educated for the Bar, he was refused admission by Lord Clare, on account of his well-known revolutionary sentiments, and his intimacy with Thomas Addis Emmet. He then became partner with his father in a brewery; but business not suiting his tastes, he edited the Irishman in Belfast, became a leading
