The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-04-03

dence in and friendship for you, which,
though appreciated more highly than you as
young Practitioner can perhaps convenient
ly Afford will, l trust, never fail OF being COM
mensurate with your merits both as a man
and physician. am with sincere respect
and friendship
your obliged, humble servant,
JNo. IRELAND.
"Dr Robert A2cher'
Whatever may have been the circumstances
attending the removal" of Mr.. Ireland from
the associate rectorship of st. PauPs, the fol-
lowing letter now before me shows that he,
soon after that event, left America for his ma
tive land. As it is perhaps the only authen-
tic account we shall ever have of the rever-
end gentleman's subsequent career and more
especially as it presents his social and domes-
tic traits in very favorable light, will give
it almost entire:
LONDON, April Is, 1902.
CDR. ROBERT ARCHER: l received this
morning, with the most sensible pleasure,
your very acceptable and obliging letter of
the 10th of February. 1t is the first that has
reached me from the American shore since l
left it. cordially thank you for your very
friendly communications concerning that
part of my Family left behind. The very
delicate constitution of dear little Elizabeth
has often filled my mind with boding appre-
tensions, and if she should take the measles
in the etate of health which you mention her
to be in, | tremble for the consequences.
However. have the satisfaction to know that
every attention will be exerted on your part
TO promote her welfare and preserve her, if it
please Providence, to my longing arms. 1t
afforded ME, too, great satisfaction to learn
that Mrs. Ireland's health was SO favorable,
and that Isabelle was perfectly well. hope
to see them all in the course of the Summer.
The Boys, after whom you so kindly enquire,
John, William, Jacob and George, are with
my Relatives in the North, three hundred
miles from Town, at school. Edward alone
is with me; he is grown very much and
greatly improved in Constitution, which you
know used to be very weakly, as well as that
of William, which latter you would hardly
know again, so much is he altered for the
better.
II cannot help often casting back upon the
Land and Friends l have left (perhaps for
ever an eye ofthe most feeling interest, blend
ed with a melancholy regret. Man, unac-
countaby Infatuated Man, learns not the val
ue of certain real blessings until he has lost
them in the pursuit of others which are mere
ly ideal and always delusIve in a certain de-
gree. What pleasure did l not anticipate
from visiting the Companions of my vernal
years after 50 long an absence? My heart
glowed within me at the very recollection of
that spot-those scenes in which my Child |
hood was passed. Behold the desire gratifi- |
ed to the utmost-the memory of more recent |
persons and things rushes upon the mind in
simultaneously and usurps an uncontrolled do |
mnion. My waking hours are filled invol- |
UNFAIRLY with the near view of those variegat
ed and multiform scenes in which have |
been 80 principal an Actor in your Quarter OF |
the World and which make America ever |
present TO my thoughts. A group of still |
dear associates and friends rises up before NE |
and say We meier shall see you morer This
reflection saddens the moments of meditation
and wraps the soul in gloom and pensiveness.
Such, my dear Friend, is often my situation,
and it is not certainly situation consistent
with happiness this can only be expected by
me in reunion of my Family, now unfor
tunatey so far separated, in the enjoyment
Of the society and friendship of the wise and
good, wherever and whatever be my future al
lotment.
But 1 beg your pardon-l have been
to you without intending it-and
very unseasonably too, for Capt. Craig waits
for the letter.
81 must defer therefore to- another opportun
ity many particulars relating to myself and
future views, which you would be glad, am
sure, to know. Suffice it to say for the pre-
sent, that l never was so we'll this twenty
years-that make myself as happy as pos
sible-am promised a Living in the Church
by the Bishop of London-and want nothing
but once more to see my Family under the
same roof, with the same prospect of doing
well for them that once enjoyed in Balti
more. My kind remembrance to Mr.. Law
son, Mr.. Weatherburne and families and all
enquiting real Friends"
JNo. IRELAND"
Mr.. Ireland attained some prominence af |
ter his return to England. For example, he
had the honor-such as it was-of a highly |
poem addressed to him by |
Clifford, one of his college-mates, editor of
the famous London Quarterly Re0seU, and a
poet ofconsiderable note-though his reputa-
lion in some respects, it must be owned, was
none of the best. According to Clifford Mr.. |
Ireland was man of fine personal appear
ance, as well as of superior mental endow
mentS.