Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-06-13
&aisceItaue0us Denarfrnettf.
From the London New Monthly Magazine for April.
RecoHectioas Of the Life IF John O'Kee6e.
WRITTEN BY ur,tsFrF

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
was norm IN Abbey street. Dublio, on The 2Ith o.
'fune, lItI; my father native the KINGS Countv
and my mother OF the cnunty of Wexford / was de-
signed by my parents and my nclina ton for ma in
Ter, and was not above six wears OF are whom ,v,s
placed ut Mr.. Vests academy SIIoys court n 100
street. Dublin. West was a Waterford man. and tooi,
has painting studies in Paris under Boucher the disc;
PIE OF lie j'run, distinguished for his painted series OF
AieSandetS battles. My drawing gave me an early
taste for the antique, and consequently set me readn
rom the Greek, Latin, and French, acquired under
Father Austnsto whose school, in Cork street Went
my fancy soon srayed to Shakespear, Old Ben Con.
greaVe. CIbber, and Farquhar The first edition of
Farquhar's comedies, with the prints prefixod IN oab
OF the'n set me studying and acting private plars n
Inong my scloolfeo"s and This transition from draw
ing TO poezIug ultimately fas my sioI, boo,,, i,
failat n-and-twcnty very fortunate for rnea
ran compose with his pen il the hand of an
bntthe pencil he must hold in bis own hand
One day passing through Parliament street, Dublin
George auIkuer, the printer, standing al his own
shop door; was induced to in at bust on the
counter tie observed me- and, by the portfolio under
my arm knew was pupil at the Royal Academy
renamed IN liked attention, when he kindly invited me
IL to look at the bust saying as the head of his friend
and patron Dean Swift To display it in all its differ
cnt views, he turned it round and round for me and
then brought me upstairs to the picture OF Swift
George Faulkner was a fat little man with = i,,no
wepowdered wig, and brown clothes; his precision of
SPeechn Using the word opposite instead of Jaciy wa,
the cause OF Swift choosing him for his printer a, t
period OF my boy hood Swifs memory was recent; he
was greatly beloved and Fevered in Dublin There were
many signs of hun in canoujcals they yero coai I
Drapiers Head from the signature of his letters
"ood's halfpenee Amongst multitude of benevolent
actions, he lent small sums radespeope Tn he ronald
ali shilling week, Eve pounds the greatest sum.
which practice laid the foundation OF many fortune
obtained by industry, and the supDort nf
fam lies but neglect of the shilling weeI, nar
ment no more was lent to that person. Whenever the
Dean walked out the people followed him with shouts
OF blessings, and the children held his cassocI Nv
early passion tor the drama made like Swift yery
much, from his having been friend OF Cav
u 1910 the celebrated Mrs Wilmington acted in
the hrst play ever saw-Alicia, in Jane SloreD
remember, years after seeing her mother WHOM,
she comfOr ably snppoIted respectable LOOKING old
lady, in her short black velvet cloak with deem rich
fringe, diamond ring, and small agate snufT-box She
had nothing to mind but going the rounds of t,a ('ah,
jic chapels and chatting with her neighbours Mrs
Wellington, the actress, built and endowed number f
aim bouses at Eeddingon, NIddlesex and there thev
hfs dav. Size is buried in the church. hor ,,, =
on her tombstone.
My first sight of London was from HiehcateEtilj on
The 18th d August 1862 the day the Prince of Wales
was born being at that time about fifteen wears of
age was consigned by my mother to an aunt a sister
OF her 5 ying IN London; and sailed from Dublin to
Parhgate, in The Royal Charlotte, the elder CAPTAIN
anller. Robert Nugent, Lord Clare afterwards Earl
Nugenf' was on board he, a Priyy counsellor was in
hurry to post on 10 London time enough for the
queens delivery His daughter afterwards Marcbio-
ness OF buckingham, with bin.-a fine spriphtly
lttle cid about years Of age. Lord Clare had pur-
CEASED III ireland remarkably fine horses virl,
iow hHn at leisure. My Irish friends thought this q
good opportunity for to have the riding Of one Of
these suPerh horses, with the protection of the servant
Tho two hundred and twelve miles from Parkpate to
London. ~
was happily settled will my aunt her husband Mr.
BarlietL German, al their very handsome house in
Cleveland row. few weeks after my arrival / ,yas
standing IN the court Of st. James's ST. Get there vas
great crowd:-thc Queen came to an open window nm
the lef hand near the passage leading to the Park Nh
the infant Prince Of Wales IN her arms TO dlspIav him
10 the admriog people: the babe frightened At t,eir
loud shouts and loyal huzzas, cried and tue Queen de
hyered bim 70 lady who stood by. can acGuit my
sell OF any share Of voice IN terrifying the infant for
at that time, and for The first year Or 20 in London
was afraid OF opening my j,, lest should be laughed
At Tor my Dublin brOgGc. This vas the first SIGHT
(his poet bad Of my royal and hluslrio1s patron
DlF'hE my two years residence in London | often
saw 1IT'cS; the delight his acting gave me was one
81 The s6cn cords That drew me toward, theatre
IKE nan "esi ~ Lear. His wing m tie bitterness OF
Us anger, ~ VIII do such tngs-whatfl they are xroy
not and his sudden recollection Of his own want o(
power were 50 Pitiabe 10 touch the heart Of every
spectator The simplicity Of his saving "Iye f,ssc
gears wet yes faith" putting bis fpper 10 the cheek
o. Cordea aud then looking at bis finger was x1,,i
sIte' Indeed he dill get his fame Tor nothing ss,y
Hu 20 A"cl Drugger liie night; AMI his appalled,
I'"E OF terror where hc drops thc glass globe fe,g ~
moch applause tom ihc audience rs Is ear had done
SOME years a:.eT, heating Goid Mansfield on ng serr