Seeing no fair hope or prospect arise to snatch him from approaching despair, he, in opposition to the strict commands of lady Moira, once more appealed to her feelings. To the Right Honourable the Countess of Moira. "MY LADY, "In the hour of hopeless distress, my only last plea must intrude on you, to whose goodness I entirely owe the former part of my existence. Spiritless, and overwhelmed by want, I am still labouring to perfect my studies for the college-examination, assured that any permanent happiness can arise from that quarter alone. During an uninterrupted series of almost two years, I have forgot much; the mind is debilitated by misfortunes, and requires some deliberation to recall the traces of ancient acquirements: however, where those acquirements have once been, they leave a more than ordinary impression behind, and may with a little care be collected completely. I remember, your ladyship desired. that any application from me should come through the hands of Mr. Mercier. That gentleman, to whose civility I am under many obligations, will testify to the assertion of my being in extreme distress, as he is particularly acquainted with my situation. I have therefore taken the liberty to contradict your ladyship's commands, innocently in this case. The procrastination of such an affair, would but ill agree with my present disagreeable circumstances. If your ladyship's usual benevolence would extend some slight immediate assistance, which might enable me to pursue my application to books with sufficient ardour, it would add one glory more to your heart, and imprint another prayer on the record of gratitude. "I am, my lady, your grateful servant, "THOMAS DERMODY." To the Right Honourable the Countess of Moira. "MY LADY, "THIS is the second letter I intrude on you unanswered. I entertained every idea of entering Dublin-college, but can find no means of supporting this intention. I therefore can remain in Dublin no longer, except to perish. "I am, madam, your most grateful. servant, THOMAS DERMODY.” To the Right Honourable the Countess of Moira. "MY LADY, "THANKFUL for every former instance. of your noble and truly generous favour, I cannot but wonder at receiving half-acrown from that hand which has bestowed many guineas. I am at the same time more sincerely distressed at lady Moira's uneasiness, than at Dermody's disappoint ment. "I shall ever remain your ladyship's most grateful servant, "THOMAS DERMODY." Thus lost to the esteem of his friends, and cast off from the protection of his benevolent patroness, he had no other expedient to procure immediate relief than that which his genius afforded. The political hemisphere of Ireland being at this time strongly agitated by the early incidents of the revolution in France, Dermody conceived it a fortunate moment to display his talents in the support of those principles and enormities which convulsed almost the whole civilized world. With the view therefore of reaping immediate fame and profit, he commenced politician; and, in direct opposition to the wishes and principles of his former patrons, published his opinions in a pamphlet en titled "The Rights of Justice, or Rational Liberty." The closing periods of this tract shew how strongly he could write on a subject with which, either from speculation or experience, he could then have been but little acquainted. "POESY and painting could never boast such a divine subject as the dilapidation of the Bastille where captivity groaned amid eternal darkness; where man was cast, like a demon, into central horrors; and where every moment lingered out was numbered and indented on the very soul. How glo rious a theme for the pen, how expressive for the pencil, when the light of life and liberty burst on the gloomy dungeon; and affection called the wretched martyr from his trance of woe, with a voice musical as that of Heaven, to participate in the joys of his country, and hail the illustrious years approaching with promise of new felicities! It is impossible on such a topic |