Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/431

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MILLIKIN. 427 and defendant. He was soon distinguished for his inti mate knowledge of the Greek; and, amongst his earliest poetical productions, are several translations from that tongue. The odes of Pindar and Collins seem to have been the idols after which his juvenile efforts were modelled, and in this “wild walk of poesy,” his verses displayed a vivid imagination and much melody of language. We can trace some contributions from Mr. Millikin in a magazine published at Cork, in the year 1795, called the Monthly Miscellany, which, like most Irish periodical publications, appeared but to disappear. The first acknowledged pro duction, we believe, of Mr. Millikin's pen, is a little work, entitled, “The Casket; o r , Hesperian Magazine,” which h e edited jointly with his sister, a lady whose novels are well known i n the literary world. The Casket commenced about the year 1797, and was discontinued, probably o n account o f the rebellion, after the appearance o f twelve o r fourteen numbers. At this period, when the exertions o f every loyal citizen were called for b y intestine commotion, the subject o f this memoir became conspicuous for his zeal and activity i n the formation o f the Cork volunteer corps, which efforts were unceasing until the services o f the yeomanry were n o longer required. Much distress and misery was the natural result o f a state o f civil war fare, and Mr. Millikin, ever feelingly alive t o the voice o f wretchedness, was i n a great measure the founder o f a theatrical association, called the Apollo Society, by means o f which large sums o f money were distributed t o the exhausted funds of various charitable institutions. The powers both o f his pencil and his pen, mainly contributed t o the eminence which those amateur performances at tained; and his personification o f several favourite cha racters will long b e remembered with pleasure. During the distinguished career o f this society, which still lan guidly survives, several little dramatic pieces, written b y him, were represented, particularly one called “Darby i n Arms,” which we understand has been recently printed