Journal of the Archæological Society for October 1876. "Yet he was no dry and formal writer. His love of the antique past was an enthusiasm, and all that is strange and beautiful in the ancient art and architecture of Ireland touched him deeply. He had, besides, a vivid sensibility to the picturesque in nature, while his intense love for the old customs, the old legends, and the old songs, in the language of the people amongst whom he had passed his boyhood, was almost pathetic in its tenderness, and gave a warm human glow to all he wrote, even about the far-off pagan ages, and the shadowy heroes of the ancient battlegrounds. … Sir William had unusual gifts and facilities for acquiring knowledge on all subjects upon which he wrote, a marvellous memory, that no lapse of years seemed to deaden, and a remarkable power of utilizing all he saw and heard. He had also a wide acquaintance with all classes of the community throughout the country, who were ever ready and courteously willing to give him information he required. By the peasantry he was peculiarly loved and trusted, for he had brought back joy and hope to many households. How gratefully they remembered his professional skill, always so generously given, and how, in the remote country districts, he would often cross moor and mountain at the summons of some poor sufferer, who believed with simple faith that the Docteur mor (the great Doctor, as they called him) would certainly restore the blessed light of heaven to blind-struck eyes. In return, they were ever glad to aid him in his search for antiquities, and to him came many objects from the peasant class for his inspection and opinion—a fragment of a torque or a circlet, an antique ring or coin—and in this way many valuable relics were saved from loss, and given over to the Academy's Museum." In 1851 he married Jane Francesca Elgee (a relative of the late Sir Robert McClure, discoverer of the North-west Passage), well known in Ireland as a poetical writer, under the name of "Speranza." 10(1876) 233
Wilks, Robert, an eminent actor, was born at Rathfarnham, County of Dublin, in 1670. Holding a lucrative clerkship under Secretary Southwell, he developed a taste for the stage, performed in some amateur theatricals in Dublin during rejoicings for the battle of the Boyne, and finally devoted himself unreservedly to the life of an actor, then but a poorly paid profession. After acting in Dublin, in Ashbury's company, he went to London, and took an engagement with Betterton, but was tempted back by an offer of £60 a year. He subsequently returned to London, and soon took his place in the first rank of actors there. In 1709 his name was joined with those of Dogget and Cibber in a patent granted by Queen Anne. His especial forte was comedy, yet he acted "Hamlet" and other Shaksperian parts with credit. Wilks died in London, 27th September 1732, aged 62, and was, by his own directions, interred at midnight, in St. Paul's Church-yard, Covent-garden. The age on his tomb, 67, does not correspond with the dates given for his birth and death. He was twice married—his second wife surviving him. He was munificent in his benefactions to poor actors. Dr. Johnson calls him "a man who, whatever were his abilities or skill as an actor, deserves at least to be remembered for his virtues, which are not often to be found in the world, and perhaps less often in his profession than in others." A theatrical critic says: "Mr. Wilks's excellence in comedy was never once disputed, but the best judges extol him for the different parts in tragedy. … He was not only perfect in every part he acted, but in those that were concerned with him in every scene, which often prevented mistakes." 3 286 349
Willes, Sir James Shaw, Judge of the English Court of Common Pleas, was born in Cork in 1814. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his B.A. degree in 1836. Four years later he was called to the English Bar and commenced practice on the Home Circuit. In 1850 he was appointed on the Common Law Commission, and did useful service in the preparation of the several Law Procedure Acts. When only forty-one years of age he was appointed a puisne judge of the Common Pleas, receiving the honour of knighthood at the same time. "He was esteemed one of the wisest and most learned of English lawyers, displaying in his decisions not only a rare and profound knowledge of principles, but a wonderful power of dealing with complicated facts and evidence. His decisions on questions of mercantile and maritime law were especially lucid and convincing. He took his own life, at his residence near Watford, Herts, while suffering under temporary aberration of mind, the result of suppressed gout, on 2nd October 1872, aged about 58.36
William III. (of Orange), King of England, Ireland, and Scotland, and Stadtholder of Holland, was born at the Hague, 4th November 1650. He was the posthumous son of William II., Stadtholder of Holland; his mother, Mary, was daughter of Charles I. of England. Excluded from
