14 The Very Rev. H. R. Dawson on the 



beautiful results of human Ingenuity. He gave an opinion in accordance with 

 the impression produced on his own mind, recommended the purchase of them, 

 but for some reason it was never completed, and eventually he bought them on 

 his own account. From this hour his destiny was fixed ; the flame had been 

 kindled, and every moment he could spare from his other avocations was em- 

 ployed in the study of what was now become an absorbing pursuit. From admiring, 

 he desired to imitate, and persuaded himself that though he might not succeed 

 in the first or second attempt, he would ultimately accomplish something similar. 

 In the year 1782 he produced his medal of Ryder the comedian, his first work, 

 which as a debut in the arts will always be esteemed. When publicly announced, 

 it attracted crowds to inspect and admire it : and yet, after a lapse of several 

 months, but one was sold, and empty praise was for some time his sole reward. 



At this period he executed a medallion, of which, I believe, only very few 

 impressions remain. It represents the busts of the Right Hon. John Beresford 

 and his wife. Miss Montgomery, side by side, and was engraved for a person who 

 passed himself as a Turk, and kept baths in Dublin : he was called Solyman 

 Achmet, but his real name was, I believe, Kerns. Having received some favour 

 from Mr. Beresford, he caused this medal to be engraved, and set in the side of 

 a silver cup, which he presented to him. The work is extremely delicate, and 

 gives a faithful resemblance of his patron and lady. 



Amongst those who were distinguished as encouragers of genius, Mossop 

 found a friend and protector in the late Dr. Henry Quin. The first work he 

 executed after his acquaintance with that gentleman was a head of his patron, 

 and in it the artist had given an expression so true to nature, and had finished 

 the whole with an air so closely resembling the antique, that it met the unquali- 

 fied approbation of the excellent judge whose portrait it gives. The immediate 

 occasion of this medal was as follows. Robert Watson Wade, Esq., first clerk of 

 the treasury under Wm. Burton Conyngham, Esq., was affected with a violent 

 imposthume in his side, which had baffled the skill of the faculty in Dublin, but 

 having fortunately called in Dr. Quin, he obtained almost immediate relief, and as 

 a token of gratitude presented him with this medal in gold, and inscribed on the 

 reverse, ob sanitatem restitutam excudit r w wade. This was followed by 

 orders for medals of Mr. La Touch e^ Mr. Alexander, Mr. Deane, and Viscount 

 Pery. Of this nobleman it may not be unsuitable to record an anecdote, which 



