The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-29
.Hmt9feuanp
FROM THE N YORK PEOPLE. FRIEND.

f"elr Preis ana to their induitry. In order
to give 1t decided fuperorty over the Bri,i edit
on, they have annexed Life of the extraordinary
iri'h Poet Dernc9y, of whom mention is made by Mr.
Carr. Our readers will concur with u. that more
intereting piece OF biography hardly DE conceiv-
ed than the life OF perfon whole talents were 70 pre-
cious that at years Of age he acted as Uiher in
Greek and Latin iehoo-and 20 frong that they con-
tinued vigorous under unexanpled iBtemperance, to
which (aiter having been folder on the continent
and been frequently and feverally wounded there in
battle he died victim in his 27th year, having
Notwithstanding his YOUTH his wants. his wanderngs
and his iniirnities, left behind him in his works
monument, more durable than brais or marble.
lie ran away from his father who taught fchool
at Ennis in the county of Clare, to Dublin, at 10
years ssj. There he was fubfituted by bookseller,
till he was met accidentally by MIR. Raymond who
gives an account of him in letter which will atom
nh our readers, and doubt delight thofe who are
Pleaied when they oberve genius emerging fren, be-
hind the clouds of obcuri,y and adding to the uilre
OF human nature.
We mean occafonaly to enrich our columns, with
extracts from the youthful poetry of this extraordina
ry perfon
1t was to the beff of my recollection in the year
1856, at eleven years of age, that chance brought
me acquainted with young Dermody. Happening
one day to notice little country looking boy mean
ly hablted, ans evidently cot more than ten wears
III
reading Longinus in the Greek text was not a lit
tie iurpriied at the occurrence I entered into con-
veriarion with HIM, and ioon found him an adept in
that language aiked him home to dine with me-
Ete accepted the invitation, informing me that his
asme was Thomas Dern,ody and that his father
was iehooimafer in the county of Clare, whom he
bad abruptly quilted, and begged his way 70 nub
AN, where he had arrived only fhort time iince
During dinner, whatever fubieA wa, fart
cd, found him intelligent. He converted in fuch
nervous language, with fuch meafured pronunca-
ton' Pertnency OF remark, and jultneis Of oblerva-
ton, that could not but contemplate him as an in.
iant phiieioPher, or little being competed entire
~ Oh mind o my greater furprze, he informed
me that he had been ufher in his fathers Latin &
Greek fchool for the lat two years, and had com.
menced that duty at eight years of age. Then
EXCLAIMED !, you douttleis eonverfant with moa
OF the Latin and Greek authors that are generally
read II theie ieminaries He aulwered that he wa,
and that ii had any fuch in the houfe, he would at
tempt TO CONVINCE me Of 1t. Iproduced Horace and
homer, when he fpeedily proved that they were a.
niong his very intimate acquaintance. remarked
q hln, that his application mutt have been immepfe
ffe modeitiy aniwered that he was more ready IN
srite any proficiency he had attained to his fathers
sindaiey 10 iniiruetng him he having put him into
the Latin accIdence at four years of age and unre
fn'ttngiy made him Purfue his learning (even an,idn
the dTudgery OF uelerIhip) from the above early
period, ti the day he left him, The Doaor then in,
Sited him TO make mis- houle his reGdence as he did
not appear TO have any fettled home. He accented
'he offer with gratitude and promiled to return in
the evening, after having acquainted the peron with
whom he had lodged for few nights before Of the
AvIta'lon. lie accordingly appeared at upper time
and Preiented DR. Houlton with bundle of papers
which he requeited him read at his eiire and af
ger having iuPPed, retired to rea On opening this
bundle OF manuscripts, the Doctor was much fur
priced on ei!covering that they poetry written
as he eZpreies hnelf, by this boy of ten wears of
age eeniiting of variety oftranilaons and fonnets
each headed BY Thomas Dermody." The ,ranfla
tions were detached portions from Virgil and Ho
race The veriion was difnguiihed for its
cioie adherence to the original, than for grace or
freedom and which Ito make ufe of this genteman's
words had not the leaf doubt that mere manure
years and practice would have effeGled in him.
But 1t is impoiibie to deicrbe the pleafure re-
telved, when began to perufe his fonnets in which
his mind was unthakled, and his natural genius AZ
full liberty to take its youthful flights into the rei
orsof poety. junnefs of exprefIion and fentimeT,
an appropriate magery, particularly in three or
tour paitofal pieeeS an cafe aad fweetne of verfi
hcation, together with the tlriaeR accuracy of
rhymes, Pervaded the whole of the productions that
were the offfpring OF his own BRAIN
AT breakfaH next morning he afeed me If had
done BIN the favour to nipea ATTY Of his manufcripts
Every one Ofthem, fad l. before went to he'd
Then, Gr,' obferved he, fear kept YOU ND ls,e
Not TO ate, ahured him as wilbed las my only re-
greet was, that, inead oftranGating merely detached
paris OF Virgil and Horace, he had not COMPLETED
e'eorgle, an Ened, an EpiAe, or Satire. He an
twered that he made the verlons as particular paf
fages truck him. and that he meant hereafter to COM
Piete them, particularly Horace's Art of Poetry. T
then informed him, that much delighted with
his ionuets and greatly 70 with the one entitled The
ssniiiiFe Linnet, of which begged him to give
Sse perHllihon to take copy flow to friend or
two. He repliedi welcome to do 70: but h.
would take the liberty to requea that would nor
give copy oft; as perhaps one time or other. he
might venture TO snd fooie Of his Little pieces to
newiparer or magazine"
The htory Of the Sonnet Of the Seniitive .inns.
isas follows Young lady at Ennis had a Linnet
which ihe was much attached to, but lover after
tire Implanted the bird il his miRreis's affections
and the bird lsis attended to by his mrefs aopeareJ
to pine under her negea. The lover at lepgib nro
we'd iaile, whch rendered the young lady melsnrbo-
iy the Linnet, (a5 Dermody fuppofedj from fvm-
pathy became muurnfI fpesdiy died this gave RI.
70 the following lines which are marked vyitb onaI
implicitly and Pathos asd were written by Derg5e a.
on his journey TO Dublin.
THE SENSITIVE LINNzT.
My fond focal Lnnet TO thee
What dear hrning charms did belo,ol
On my hind thea woulda carol with elee.
On my boiom attend 90 my reng.
Sweet bird. IN refu-r TO- -. n