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lin, in the year 1810, and was early distinguished for talent in lite- 

 rary composition. While an undergraduate he gained several Vice- 

 Chancellor's Prizes, and medals at the Historical Society, for Eng- 

 lish verse. He was ordained in 1816, and appointed soon after to 

 the curacy of Oldcastle, in the diocese of Meath, which he held for 

 nearly twenty years. He was struck with paralysis on the 4th of 

 April, 1850; and, after a painful illness, expired on the 22nd of No- 

 vember, 1850, aged 60. Except a few sermons, and other profes- 

 sional tracts, Mr. Halpin published little; but he has read here from 

 time to time some essays on subjects connected with the dramatic 

 and poetical literature of the Elizabethan period. His principal 

 publications were in connexion with the Shakspearian Society. 

 "Oberon's Vision," a beautiful illustration of a remarkable passage 

 in the " Midsummer Night's Dream," was published in 1843, and 

 attracted considerable attention. " The Bridal Runaway," or an 

 examination of a passage in " Romeo and Juliet," appeared in 1845. 

 Both these tracts are among the Shakspearian Society's publi- 

 cations. 



His last work was entitled"The dramatic Unities of Shakspeare." 

 This was published in 1849, and is an ingenious examination of the 

 way in which Shakspeare managed to preserve the illusion neces- 

 sary for the purposes of the drama, and the artifices by which, in 

 his works, he overcomes the difficulty of exhibiting, within the 

 time which the performance of an hour or two occupies, the inci- 

 dents of a story occupying, in their actual occurrence, a much 

 longer period. The principle by which Mr. Halpin thinks that 

 Shakspeare's management of time is governed, he illustrates by 

 an examination of the story of the "Merchant of Venice." Mr. 

 Halpin was a Member of the Council of the Academy, on the Com- 

 mittee of Polite Literature, for the last two years. 



The following Honorary Members died during the past year: 



1. The Right Hon. the Marquis op Northampton, died 16th 

 January, 1851. 



2. William Wordsworth, died 25th April, 1850. 



3. Thomas Amyot, Esq., died 28th September. 1850. 



