bility for the post of Governor-General was doubted by many. He belied all sinister anticipations, proving one of the ablest administrators that ever ruled India. In the prime of middle life, and possessed of vigorous health, he evinced great activity of body as well as mind, and was constantly on the alert visiting the portions of his vice-royalty that required inspection. In 1872, he went to the penal settlement at the Andaman Islands, concerning which there had been reports of abuses and maladministration. Returning to embark in the dusk of the evening of the 8th February, he was assassinated by a convict named Shere Ali, who declared that "he had no accomplices, that it was his fate, and that he had committed the act by the order of God." He had long threatened that he would take the life of some distinguished European in revenge for having been imprisoned for murdering a man in a "blood-feud." The Viceroy was only able to totter against a truck, and say faintly to his secretary, "They've hit me, Burne," before he expired. The assassin was executed at Calcutta on the 20th of the same month. There v/as something very noble in the message Lady Mayo and her family sent him before execution: "God forgive you, as we do." Lord Mayo's remains were brought back to Ireland, were received in military state in Dublin, and were deposited in the family mausoleum near Naas. Lord Mayo had all but attained his 50th year. A man of genial manners, he was very popular amongst his associates. He was an enthusiastic sportsman, as well in Ireland as in the fiercer and more dangerous sports of India. A public subscription to perpetuate his memory was applied towards the erection of a family mansion. His biography is extremely interesting, and enters fully into his Indian administration. We find the following tribute to his character: "No soldier went over the plan of an expedition or the map of a line of defences with the Viceroy without discovering, as he rode home from Government House, that he had got valuable practical hints. No diplomatist brought him a draft treaty without feeling certain that any fault in scope would be hit, and any deficiency in foresight remedied. Each head of a department found that Lord Mayo had personally weighed his proposals, and had discovered for himself where they were sound and where they were wanting. The whole body of secretaries, men whose function in life it is never to give way to enthusiasm, would have toiled their souls out for him. It was impossible to work near him with28 out loving him: he had a tender considerateness, and a noble trustfulness, and a genial strength, which plucked allegiance from the hearts of men." 238 233
Bowden, John, Rev., a distinguished Protestant divine, was born in Ireland, in January 1751. He settled in America, 1770, studied divinity, was ordained in England, and in 1774 became a minister in Trinity Church, New York. There he officiated some years; afterwards, in other places in the United States, and the West Indies. From 1801 to 1817 he was Professor of Moral Philosophy in Columbia College. He was the author of Portrait of Calvinism, and other theological works. He died at Ballstown, New York, 31st July 1817, aged 66. 73*
Bowles, William, a naturalist, was born in Ireland, and died in Spain in 1780. He was the author of several works on the natural history and productions of that country. Buckle speaks of him as having endeavoured to arouse in Spain an interest in mineralogy. A genus of Peruvian plants has been named after him. 34
Boyd, Henry, Rev., a minor poet and writer, vicar of Rathfriland, and chaplain to the Earl of Charleville. Besides some poems, his best known work is a translation into English verse of Dante's Divina Commedia (3 vols. 1802). He died at Ballintemple, near Newry, 17th September 1832. 7
Boyd, Hugh (or Macaulay), an author, was the son of a gentleman in the County of Antrim, and is said to have been educated at Trinity College for the Bar. His habits were unsteady and extravagant, so that, although he married a rich wife, and obtained an appointment in India under Lord Macartney, he disappointed all expectations. His miscellaneous works were published in 1798-1800, with a view to proving his identity with Junius, a claim indeed almost his only warrant for notice, and one that has long been set aside. He conducted in Ireland, in 1772, a political paper called the Freeholder. He died at Madras in 1794. 16 34 42
Boyle, Richard, Earl of Cork, was born at Canterbury, 3rd October 1566. His family had been settled in Herefordshire for many generations. On leaving Cambridge he entered the Middle Temple; but losing both his parents, his resources were insufficient for his maintenance during the usual course of study, and he was led to offer his services to Sir R. Manwood, Chief-Baron of the Exchequer. Ireland was then a desirable field for young adventurers of push, daring, and ability. Hither he came in his twenty-
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