fession, and gave his advice and his praise ungrudgingly wherever they might kindle or direct a generous emulation. As a festive companion he seems to have been utterly unequalled; and has left on record more of the happiest strokes of a fancy at once classic, keen, and brilliant, than the most habitual wit of the age. It may yet be a lesson worth the memory of those who feel themselves neglected by nature, that with all his gifts, Curran’s life was not the one which would satisfy a man desirous of being happy. But let no man imagine that the possession of the most fortunate powers, is an excuse for error, still less an obstruction to the sense of holy obedience; our true emblem is in the Archangel, bending with the deepest homage, as he rises the highest in intellectual glory.”
October 20, 1817.
Sir JAMES CALDWELL,
Was descended from a family which came over from Ayrshire, in Scotland, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, he was settled at Ross Bay, afterwards called Castle Caldwell, in Fermanagh. He was created a baronet June 23, 1683. At the Revolution his services were of the highest importance, as appears by the following case enclosed in a petition to King William.
The State of the Case of Sir James Caldwell, Bart.
That he staid in Ireland in all the late troubles at and near Enniskillin till the end of the year 1689, and raised and maintained a regiment of foot and two troops of horse, at his own charge, and kept the same at the great passes at Belleck and Donegal, between Conaught and the province of Ulster, which was of such consequence, that it hindered communication between the enemies in the said province of Conaught (which were very numerous) from joining or recruiting those besieging Londonderry.
That the said Sir James Caldwell was besieged with a detached party from Colonel Sarsfield, of about the number of two thousand foot, and three troops of dragoons, about the 3rd of May, 1689, and was forced to send to Enniskillin, Castle Hume, and other neighbouring garrisons, for relief which came on the 8th of May, and joined the forces, which Sir James Caldwell had, who then fought the enemy near Sir James’s house, and routed them, killing about a hundred and twenty, took seventy prisoners two cannon, many small arms, and about forty horses, from the enemy.
