The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-06-20 00:00:00

ARTHUR MURPHY, ESQ.

This venerable ornament of British Literature
closed his eyes on Tuesday afternoon, at his apart-
ments, in Brompton-row, Knightsbridge. Ile was
born in Ireland, and descended horn a very respea-
able family in that country. He was sent very
early in life to the College of St. Omer's, where be
remained till his eighteenth rear, and was at the
head of the Latin Class. whenbe quitted the school.
He was indeed an excellent Latin scholar, and very
well acquainted with the Greek language, when he
returned to his native country. Soon after his re-
turn to Ireland, he was sent into this country, and
placed under the proteilion of a near relation, a per- '
sun high in the mercantile world. It was intended
by this relation, that Mr. Murphy should engage in
commercial pursuits ; but literature and the stage
soon drew his attention, and wholly absorbed his
mind.
He had a brother who went to the 'West Indies
very soon after Mr. Murphy came to England, and
the la:ter became security to the amotint of five hun-
dred pounds for the former, who unfortunately fell
a vi Rim to the climate, just as he had the prospea
of acquiring a considerable fortune. The success of
Mr. Murphy's first Tragedy, The Orphan of China,
enabled him to get rid of the pecuniary obligation
above•mentioned, and he paid the money immedi-
ately from the profits of the Play, with no other re-
gret on the occasion, than what arose from the loss
of an excellent brother.
Mr. Murphy's mother lived to a very advanced
age, and never was there a more dutiful and affec-
tionate son. Indeed he never had fortitude, after
her death, to look over any letters or papeis belong-
ing to her, as they would have reminded him too
sensibly of the loss of so good a parent, as he often
declared that she had uniformly been.
Mr. Murphy was tempted to venture upon thea-
trical boards, and made several attempts to acquire
reputation as an Actor; but though lie always dis•
played judgment, he wanted those splendid powers 4
which are essential to the acquisition of fame and
fortune in that arduous walk of life. Ile was, how-
ever, wholly undeserving of the brutal attack on his
talents as an ikaor, which Churchill direaed
against him, chiefly from motives of party pre-
judice: Mr. Murphy answered the scurrilities of
that energetic, but coarse and furious Bard, in a
very humourous Ode addressed to the Naiads of
Fleet Ditch, and in a very spirited Poem, en-
titled Lepurtsdebett, in which he modestly, hut
firmly, vindicated his literary charaifer against all
the assaults of his various opponents. Mr. Mur-
phy, however, withdrew from the stage, and em-
ployed himself in the study of the law ; he made
two attempts to become a Member of the Temple,
and of Gs,sts's bott, but was rejeaed on the illiberal
plea that he had been upon the Stage. Ha found
more elevated sentiments in the Members of Lin.
coin's Inn, and from thence obtained admission to
the Bar. The Dramatic Muse, however, so much
engaged Hs attention, that the Law was always a
secondary consideration.
In the course of his life he sent twenty Pieces to
the Stage, most of which were successful, and seve-
ral of which will certainly retain au established rank
among what are called Noek-pireer of the Theatre.
It should have been observed that he first started
into the Literary World with a series of Essays in
the manner of The Kprootor, entitled The Grays ben
Youranl, which displayed great observation and
knowledge of life for so young an author, as, ac-
cording to his own account, he was but tweisty•olle,
when, as he used to say " he had the impudence to
write a Periodical Paper during the time that John-
son was publishing his Rambler."
At one period of his life Mr. Murphy came for-
ward as a political wilier, though without putting
his name to his produaions. The works of this kind
which were well known to have been the issue of
his pen, were Tite Test and The Atitiitioe by which
he powerfully supported the operations Of Govern-
ment at that time ; and consequently exposed him-
self to all the virulence of party defamation. He
has shewn his taste and elegance as a scholar, by a
Latin Version of The rempie qf FUINS, and of Gray's
celebrated Elroy. as well as other admired English
Poems, and a masterly translation of the works of
Thettui.
Mr. Murphy had many squabbles with several
contemporary wits ; but though he never quietly
received a blow, he was never the first to give one.
We cannot suns up his charaller better than in the
following words, written by his friend Mr. Jesse
Foote, who prolonged his life by relieving him,
some years ago, from an illness of the most alarm-
ing kind, xvhom he has appointed his executor, and
to whom he leas entrusted all his manuscripts:
" Ile lived in the closest friendship with the most
polkhed authors and greatest lawyers of hit time ;
his knowledge of the Classics was profound ; his
translations of the Roman Historians enlarged his
fame ; his' dramatic prodnainns wet inferior to
none of the time in which he flourished. The pen
of the poet was particularly adorned by the refined
taste of the critic. He was author of The Gimlet,'
Unserbter, All in the Wronp Tie Way to Keep Ilia,
The OspLosq. China, The Citisest, and many other
esteemed dramatic prod:lC-lions."


CORR r/CCnANGE, %Ver.:44404v, JUNI 19.
The quantity of Wheat remaining on hand is very large,
principally foreign of .second and ordinary quality, which has
few buyers, though much cheaper ; fine, from its scarcity, has
ready sale, and is full as dear, but small portion of the quan-
tity by auction on Monday was sold. Barley is dull
sale, and somewhat cheaper. Malt, Pemic, with the two sort:
of Beall.. hay,' little filishiation. Sortie further arrivals o'
Oats, part foreign, and 143 l prices are supported. Flour in
plenty.
ClI3 RENT PRICE OF GRAIN.
Wheat.. 446. As. Sys. Beans 44.. Sl4. 04.
Fined°. .Wils. 994 04. I Tick Beans 40.. 46, o‘.
Rye... 46. 516. Od. (hits .255. Vls 504. 0.1.
Barley 3oz. 3(s. lhl. Poland; ...325. 30.. 0•i.
Malt . 641. 711 a 04. Rape 5eed.......001. 001. Oa.
White Poet 44:. 484. Od Fine Fluor .... 754. od.
Grey Peas 404 455. 011. Seconds 6s. 735. 0.1.

PRICK. OF STOCKS. YESTERDAY.
3 pet C,nt Reduced
4 per Cent
Lung Annuities
Imps .11 .: per Cent - ealli
Hato Annuities
(/annum.
We:. timid- 1.. b. dis.
Consuls t,,r
T. BIM, Sock limker,,
N.. 4, Comlnn, and 9, Charing Croat.

PRICE OF IRISH STOCKS—Juno It
Go•. Deb. b pow Cent

COURSE OF EXCHANGE.ToIIeatt, Lilt 18.
Amsterdam .... 38 3 2 U. Gesell 4li Lis. Pie.
Diu.) at Sight .. 37 7 Venice 594 Ditto.
Rotterdam. l2 1 2 U. Lisbon foul,
Hainbuigh 95 8 2W. Upo:to !..,1
Altona Si 9 till, . Dublin 'l'l
Paris
Ditto
Rounleaux
Cadiz
Ditto
Madrid
Ditto •_',9l. effect. S•lver in Ran.
Billna .53i New 1../Ulli each.... 0 0 .
Legliorr SO I Alio nn the lank of Holland
Maple.
Dithfin on London (June 14) . • 111
Rettaw on London (June 7) .. ....7
Belfast nn Disldin ( [)itter ) .... a 61 days.

i . 0