183 



0' Curry's Lectures, in which such particulars of Mc Eirbis's life and 

 ■writings as were then ascertainable have been faithfully set down. 

 I may observe, however, in explanation of the manner in which his 

 MS. collections became so widely dispersed, that after the death, in the 

 year 1666, of his patron Sir James Ware, of whose house he had for 

 for some time been an inmate, he appears to have returned to his na- 

 tive place in the county of Sligo, leaving most, if not all, of his MSS. 

 in the hands of Sir James Ware's son and heir. 



It is pretty generally known that all Sir James Ware's MS. collec- 

 tions relating to Ireland were purchased from his son Eobert, in 1686, 

 by Lord Clarendon, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 



After his Lordship's death they passed by sale into the possession of 

 the Duke of Chandos, whom the witty and public-spirited Swift, Dean 

 of St. Patrick's, in vain solicited to deposit them in the Library of Tri- 

 nity College : his letters are given in the recently published correspon- 

 dence of Mrs. Delany (Mary Granville), to whom he thus writes in 

 October, 1734:— 



u Are you acquainted with the Duke of Chandos ? I know your 

 Uncle Lansdowne and he were intimate friends. I have known the 

 Duke long and well, and thought I had a share in his common fa- 

 vour ; but he hath lately given me great cause of complaint. 



" I was pressed by many persons of great learning here to write to his 

 Grace, that having some old records relating to this kingdom, which 

 were taken from hence by the Earl of Clarendon, who was Lieutenant 

 here, and purchased them from private owners, and are now in the 

 Duke's possession, that his Grace would please to bestow them to the 

 University here ; because Irish antiquities are of little value or curiosity 

 to any other nation. 



" I writ with all the civility in my power, and with compliments 

 on the fame of his generosity, and in a style veiy different from what I 

 use to my friends with titles ; but He hath been pleased to be silent for 

 above six weeks, which is the first treatment I ever met with of that 

 kind from any English Person of quality, and what would better become 

 a little Irish Baron than a great English Duke. 



" But whether grandeur or party be the cause I shall not enquire, 

 but leave it to you ; and expect you will employ ' my Brother Lans- 

 downe' (His Lordship will tell you, why I give him that Title), if He 

 still converses with the Duke, to know the reason of His treatment. 

 And you shall be my instrument to find it out, altho' it should cost you 

 two shillings for a Chair. 



" Jn. Swift." 



In the following month of February he writes again to the same 

 correspondent : — 



u I am very much obliged to your care about that Business with 

 the Duke of Chandos. I hear he told a person he would grant my 

 request, but that he had no acquaintance with me," 



"J. S." 



