Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/347

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

JONES. 343 between Madagascar and the continent of Africa. Captain Mears, with his son, daughter, Mr. Johnston, and some others, were saved, and ultimately reached India. Here he employed his abilities in writing essays for the Bengal newspapers, under the signature of “Oneiropolos;” and at length became a joint proprietor of a paper, and by this and some other speculations acquired property. He died there about 1800. The other works of this author are, “The Reverie,” 2 vols. 12mo.; “The History of Arsaces,” 2 vols. 12mo; “The Pilgrim,” 2 vols. 12mo.; “Juniper Jack,” 2 vols. 12mo. HENRY JONES. That genius is of no country, and that it is not attached to any sphere of life, the subject of the present memoir fully proves. He was a dramatic writer of no mean cele brity, and was born at Drogheda, in the county of Meath. He was bred a bricklayer; but having an innate attachment to the Muses, he pursued his devotions to them even during the labours of his mechanical avocations, and com posing alternately a line of brick and a line of verse, his walls and poems rose in growth together, and that with an equal degree of durability, time has fully determined. His early attempts (as is often the case with bards of humble origin) were panegyrics. These procured him some friends; and, in 1745, when the celebrated Earl of Chesterfield went over to Ireland as lord-lieutenant, the talents of Jones were recommended to the protection of his Lordship, who was not more remarkable for his own shining talents and mental endowments, than for his zealous and liberal patronage of genius wheresoever he might chance to meet i t . His excellency, delighted with the discovery o f this mechanic muse, not only favoured him with his own patronage and generous munificence; but also thought proper t o transplant him t o the more thriving climate o f England. Accordingly, when h e left Ireland, h e