Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/107

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DODWELL, 103 altogether untouched by his favourite topic—revelation. He was a most active and zealous volunteer officer, and acquired, through that and his excellent character, the notice of the Earl of Charlemont, through whose interest he was brought into the House of Commons. The honest zeal and public principles of Mr. Dobbs injured his indi vidual interests, and, prior to his decease, he experienced difficulties and unmerited neglect. HENRY DODWELL, Is a remarkable instance of the attainments which a man may acquire by unremitted industry and application, and of the figure which he may make in the world, even under the disadvantage of the want of original strong powers of judgment and discernment. He was born in Dublin, towards the latter end of October 1641. His father, who was of English extraction, was possessed of an estate in the province of Connaught, which was seized upon by the insurgents in the unhappy disturbances which then broke out. Thus deprived of his principal means of support, he was compelled to f l y t o England i n 1648, with his wife and child, t o solicit the assistance o f his relations. Having b y their means placed his son i n the free school a t York, he returned t o Ireland t o look after his estate, but unfortunately caught the plague and died, and his widow soon after fell a victim t o a consump tion, a t the house o f her brother Sir Henry Slingsby. Left thus a n helpless orphan, and doomed t o encounter, a t that early age, a l l the miseries o f poverty and dependence, frequently wanting even the necessaries o f life, young Dodwell pursued his studies, under a l l these disadvantages, with unremitting diligence. His maternal uncle was pre vented, b y the sequestration o f his estates, from affording him much assistance; but, after the lapse o f five years, h e was relieved from this forlorn condition b y the kindness o f his uncle, Mr. Henry Dodwell, Rector o f Newbourn and Hemley, i n Suffolk, who took him into his own house, and