The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-04-28
Irish GRAVES IN ENGLAND.
BY MICHAEL MAoDONAGH.
THOMAS PARNELL.

SSA'.S oS"@SSA
Azchdeacon OF Clogher, is necessarily
very slight. Several biographies of the
poet have been written, but the material
10 so soanty and imperfect that ~ each
instance couple Of pages suffice to tell
the few brief facts, which comprise ali
that is brown of the author Of 1.-THE
Hermit, - "a Night Piece on Death, T"
and other popular poems. The sketch
OF the life of The poet written by Sold
smith is the best known; il was the first,
enc is certainly the most reliable; and
III it DR.. johnson (who also wrote Par
nell's life) is reported by Boswell to have
said-"Goldsmith' life OF Parnell is
poor-1,ot that it is poorly written, but
that he had poor materials; fox nobody
eau write the life Of q man but those
who bave eat and drank and lived IN So
cial intelco with him.
But incomplete as are the materials
Tor an extended biography OF Farnell:
they are quite sufficient FOR my purpose,
end before referring TO his grave I will
set ont briefly the few incidents i'll his
career. The poet was born in Dublin IN
1919 His tather was descended from
an ancient EnG]is}, family Long resident
at Congletor, Cheshire, and being q
prominent supporter Of the Common
wealth fafty under Cromwell, be
thought it better on the restoration Of
Charles II, TO retire 10 Ireland, where
he purchased considerable estate, and
though the place is not indicated, it
probably is 4A7ondale, in Wicklow. This
estate and the family property at Congle~
ton were Inherited by the poet on the
death of his father. The poets younger
brother, john Parnell. became a judge
of The Kings Bench in Ireland, and the
;uJga's so11, another John Parnell, who
WAS created 81 harol}et. succeeded to the
family estates in Ireland and England
on tle deat1 Of the poet, whose two sone
ype-dsceased him The second Bsronet
Sir JOHN Parnell-was chancellor OF
the excheguer aud lord Of the treasury
in the Irish Parliament. He gave to the
Union b most determined opposition. in
which he was supported by his son
Henry; and the latter, in q subsequent
career in The British Parliament, sup,
ported Catholic Emancipation. 81,
Henry parnaIl was created Lord Congle-
ton IL 1S41, taking the title from the
family estate i'll Cheshire. The present
leader Of lilo Irish Party is descended!
xE>xa the TsisLl Chancellor OF the E:zche--
quer and patriot in che days Of indie
pent}ence.
Thomas parnell-tle poet---enteretl
Trinity College, Dublin, at the age Of IS
years. which, as Goldsmith remarks, is
a proof Of The early maturity Of bis I'LL
Outstanding. During his college career
lie YVES remarkable for the extent and
solidity Of his classical knowledge and
for an extraordinary qulckness of MEM
<,ry that enabled him to repeaS forty
lines of any book after the first reading
He selected the church rs 8 profession,
It is the rule OF the church that q stu
dent must have completed his 23d year
before he can be made deacon; but
parnell was by special license, ordained
when be was Swenty-one, after three
years he became priest, and when he
was in his 25th year the archdeaeonry Of
Cloghex was conferred upon him.
.ADont this slime also he married Anne
Alinchin, who is described rs a young
lady Of more than usual beauty and
great merit.
parnell was frequent visitor to Lon
don, and mingled in the gay and schol-
arly circles of the period, He appears
10 have been OF very curious dispo-
:sitiol--combining violent and unEe--
strained passions viii. delightful quail
saties as companion. Goldsmith writes
's:Parnel]: BY what 7 have been able to
collect from my father and uncle, who
knew him, was the most capable man in
the world to make the happiness of those
ne conversed with. and the least able to
secure his OWL. He wanted That even
ness Of disposition which bears disap-
pointnent with phleeg,n and joy with in
difference. He was much elated Or de-
pressed. ana his whole life was spent in
agony or rapture. But the turbulence IT
these passions only affected himself, and
never those about him, lie knew The rid
icule Of his own character, and very effect
ually raised the mirth of his companions
as we'll at his vexat1ons as at his triumphs.
How much his company was desired ap-
pears from the extensiveness of his con-
aections and the number Of his friends.
Even before he made any figure in the
literary world his friendship was sought
by persons Of every rank and party"
1T is also said that when seized with one
f+o bo ,1eol 70 In r.,