DERMODY.

Sketched by Rob! Ker Porter from a painting by Mr C. Allingham

THE

LIFE

OF

THOMAS DERMODY:

INTERSPERSED WITH PIECES OF

Original Poetry,

MANY EXHIBITING

UNEXAMPLED PREMATURITY

OF

GENUINE POETICAL TALENT;

AND CONTAINING A SERIES OF

CORRESPONDENCE

WITH

SEVERAL EMINENT CHARACTERS.

BY

JAMES GRANT RAYMOND.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR WILLIAM MILLER, ALBEMARLE STREET;
AND J. ARCHER AND M. MAHON, DUBLIN.

OXFORD

LIBRARY

TO THE

EARL OF MOIRA,

&c. &c. &c.

MY LORD,

THE life of Dermody recals to mind the time when poetical genius was accustomed to rely for support on titled liberality. His Memoirs, therefore, cannot be dedicated more appropriately than to his most munificent patron.

While the poet, almost in infancy, was an adopted orphan, his muse, inspired by gratitude, was taught to repeat Your praises. To the generosity of the amiable and dis

cerning Countess Dowager of Moira, he was indebted for the comforts of his early life; and to Your Lordship, for the greatest portion of those which his unhappy destiny permitted him to enjoy in his more advanced years.

It is on this ground, My Lord, that I presume to prefix Your name to the following pages. On any other, to do so might be thought intrusive. The numerous instances in which talents of every description meet with Your Lordship's ready encouragement and active assistance; the blessings which thousands of unfortunate debtors have bestowed on the name of RAWDON; Your Lordship's military exertions in the service of your country; Your high sense of honour; Your distinguished patriotism; and the