502 THOMSQN. the castle of Dublin, where he died in 1680. His pub lications, for a list of which we must refer the reader to Harris's edition of Ware, are principally on controversial subjects, and in defence of the Jesuits. NAHUM TATE, The far-famed versifier of the Psalms, was the son of Dr. Faithful Tate, a clergyman of the county of Cavan, and was born in Dublin (to which place his father had been compelled to f l y t o save himself from the vengeance o f the rebels, against whom h e had given some informa tion) i n 1652. His father, who was thought t o b e puri tanically inclined, afterwards became preacher o f East Greenwich, i n Kent, and lastly minister o f St. Wer burgh's, Dublin. A t the age o f sixteen, Nahum was admitted o f Trinity college; but h e does not appear t o have attached himself t o any profession. Of the circum stances o f his life we only know that h e was patronised b y the Earl o f Dorset; that he succeeded Shadwell i n the office o f poet laureat; that h e was extremely poor, and died i n the Mint, whither he had fled t o avoid his creditors. He i s characterised b y Warburton a s a cold writer, o f n o invention, but who translated tolerably when befriended b y Dryden, with whom h e sometimes wrote i n conjunc tion. He was the author o f nine dramatic performances, and a great number o f poems; but i s a t present better known for his version o f the Psalms, i n which h e joined with Dr. Brady. He died August 12th, 1715. WILLIAM THOMSON. This artist was a native o f Dublin, but practised portrait painting i n London, where his name appears i n the cata logues o f the Exhibition, from the year 1761 t o 1777. Though h e was not considered a painter o f the first emi nence, his pictures possessed the merit o f a faithful resem blance, and a natural tone o f colouring. He died i n London i n 1800.
