Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/306

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BUTTS 295 Thus died, in his eighty-first year, a brave soldier, and prudent general, whose reward for splendid achievements was a thirty years exile. When we consider the difficult part he had given hin by Queen Anne to act in Flanders, it must be admitted that he was an individual of ,no ordinary powers,sufice it, however, to observe, such was, and such will be the fate of those, on whom the sun of royal favour sheds not his benefic beams. A word or two must, be added to biographers. It is an absolute fact that only one biographical dictionary* can be produced, in which the name of this eminent individual is to be found. And it is to be hoped, that, after this uncon- tradictable declaration, the worthy native of the land of Saints will be ceased to be laughed at, who, compiling a dictionary, omitted the letter S, which he appeared totally to have forgottent. JOHN BUTTS Was a native of Cork, and painted figures and land- scapes. He was accustomed to paint that grotesque assemblage usually to be found in ale-houses, on panel, which he executed with great ingenuity. He was em ployed for several seasons as scene-painter to Crow Street theatre, when that establishment was under the management of Spranger Barry. His distresses at times were so numerous, that he was compelled to paint signs, and coach panels for the present wants of a numerous family. Flloyd's Bibliotheca Biographica, a well written work in 3 vols. Svo. published in the year 1760. t Philip Fitzgibbon, an eminent mathematician.