that could appease your well-deserved anger; I confessed my faults: was that flattery? I confessed your kindness, your bounty was that flattery? Was it from selfish motives? No, my lady: I am too little regardless of self, and still gentleman enough to keep free of servility. It is dependance my soul abhors: the love of independance has ruined me once; it cannot be gained, and I must therefore submit to my fate. Good heaven! why have I the name of poetry, or talents, or rather distractions? They only introduce accumulated misfortunes: they make the feelings more sensible of pain.

"To your ladyship's humane disposal I leave my hopes of life; and whether Dublin-college, or Glasgow, or Oxford, is to receive me, is equally indifferent. My last wish is, that you may see I am no flatterer or selfish person, but possessing a soul abhorrent of any thing low or unbecoming. Till Christmas or spring I

shall behave here with all possible diligence and respect to your ladyship; and shall remain,

"Madam, your ladyship's humble, respectful, and grateful servant,

"THOMAS DERMODY."

Killeigh, Sept. 9th, 1790.”

To the Right Honourable the Countess of Moira,

"MADAM,

"BEING conscious of no glaring fault, I cannot well make any apology. Had I been guilty of what you have heard concerning me, I should be very much confused in my application to your ladyship for pardon. I am sorry that the only person in the world whom I can call a real friend and patron, should conceive ideas. so horrid of my disposition. I had some notion of going to Dublin, and trying to assert my innocence before your ladyship;

but on consideration, I desisted from troubling you with so uninteresting a circumstance. My last and most sincere petition is, that you will remove me from Killeigh, as soon as your ladyship or Mr. Berwick can have time; and then perhaps I might clear myself, by immediate proofs and future good behaviour, from the bad opinion you are pleased to entertain of me. As for Mr. Boyd, I am assured he would do nothing prejudicial to my character: if he could be capable of such conduct, he disappoints very much indeed my opinion of his humanity and tenderness. With regard to my talents (if they presume to that name), they are wholly submissive to your ladyship's disposal of them; and as they are the only tribute I can lay before you, I should be glad to have them worthy of your approbation.

"With shame and sorrow I confess my whimsical and reprehensible behaviour to Mr. Austin, but I hope the sins of my

former days have been erased by the frequent tears afterwards caused by a fervent sense of my folly on that melancholy occasion. Heaven alone knows my mind; and if I have been too severely treated, heaven alone can reinstate me in true happiness. One fatal step in my infancy, I fear, has entirely ruined my reputation; and though followed by silent penitence, yet the good-natured world seems inclined to anneal my transgressions to the most lasting monument. I am fully sensible of my own indiscretions (if they deserve an appellation so lenient); and confess that, when pressed down by misfortunes either real or imaginary, being of a melancholy turn, I soon proceed to desperation, and do things which I afterwards view with perfect abhorrence. I therefore conjure your ladyship to remove me as soon as convenient; and if I do not justify my own assertions with regard to propriety of

conduct in future, I shall fully deserve any fate that may follow.

"I have the honour to be your ladyship's obedient and grateful servant,

"THOMAS Dermody."

"Killeigh, Nov. 15th, 1790."

(From the Countess of Moira.)

To Mr. Thomas Dermody, at the Rev. Mr. Boyd's, Killeigh.

"Moira House, January 21, 1791.

"In answer to your inquiries, Dermody, respecting your being placed in England, I have to inform you that lieutenant-colonel Barry, who out of friendship to me has agreed to take the trouble of settling that point, has been and is still delayed in Ireland; and till he has returned to England, no decisive time can be named. This to you is rather advantageous than otherwise. Your leisure for study must be