548 SKELTON. ever, was not entirely effectual: Clayton could not refuse the request, but made several removals on purpose to place Skelton in the living of Pettigo, in the wild part of the county of Donegal, worth about 200l. a year, the people uncultivated, disorderly, fond of drinking and quarrelling, and, in a word, sunk in profound ignorance. He used to say, he was a missionary sent to convert them to Christianity, and that he was banished from a l l civilized society. He often declared that h e was obliged t o ride seven miles before h e could meet with a person o f com mon sense t o converse with. With such difficulties, how ever, Skelton was born t o contend. He always had a conscientious feeling o f the wants o f his flock, with a strong impelling sense o f duty. His biographer has given a very interesting account o f the means, pious and chari table, which he took t o meliorate the condition o f his parish, which, for the sake o f brevity, we must omit; suffice i t t o say, they were effectual; but his situation affected his mind i n some degree, and h e became liable t o occasional fits o f the hypochondriac kind, which recurred more o r less i n the after-part o f his life. I n 1757, a remarkable dearth prevailed i n Ireland, and n o where more than i n Mr. Skelton's parish. The scenes o f distress which h e witnessed would now appear scarcely credible. He immediately set himself t o alleviate the wants o f his flock, b y purchases o f meal, &c. a t other markets, until h e had exhausted a l l his money, and then h e had recourse t o a sacrifice which every man o f learning will duly appreciate. He resolved t o sell his books, almost the only comfort h e had i n this dreary solitude, and relieve his indigent parishioners with the money. Watson, a bookseller i n Dublin, who had advertised them for sale without success, a t last bought them himself for 80l. and immediately paid the money. Soon after they were advertised, two ladies, Lady Barrymore and a Miss Leslie, who guessed a t Skelton's reason for selling his books, sent him 50l. requesting him t o keep h i s books, and relieve his poor with the money; but Skelton, with
