50 



of Boyle." To aid the publication, he told me Lord Lorton contributed 

 £300. 



He was still amassing and arranging, when he was invited to print 

 some record of the families indigenous to, or long naturalized in, Ire- 

 land. He found among his relics " King James the Second's Irish Army 

 List," giving the names of the several other officers of the regiments in 

 his service who were of families of the aristocracy of Ireland at that time. 

 This was the nucleus of two large volumes, intituled, ' 1 Illustrations, 

 Historical and Genealogical, of King James's Irish Army List, 1689," 

 published in 1855. He mentions the very great kindness he received, 

 when compiling this work, from our present Viceroy, the Marquis of 

 Abercorn. It was about this period Her Majesty was pleased to assign 

 him a small pension, as an acknowledgment of his literary merits. 



In 1864 the " History of Dundalk" was published, under the joint 

 names of Mr. D' Alton and myself; and in the preface he states the por- 

 tions contributed by each. 



Mr. D' Alton had great business qualities, as the order and metho- 

 dical arrangement of his numerous works show. Having been as- 

 sociated with him in publication, I can testify to the care with which 

 he revised the proofs, and the watchful attention he bestowed upon mi- 

 nute typographical details. He carried his notions of the naked truth 

 in which history should appear, perhaps, too far. His dry narratives 

 of facts are unrelieved by any picturesque description — not from his 

 want of appreciating a pleasing style, but from his anxiety not to mis- 

 represent, or conceal the course of events. Any attempt at what is 

 termed fine writing, but more especially humour, he considered out of 

 place, and unworthy the dignity of history. Latterly his infirmities 

 confined him to his chair ; but he loved the society of his friends, and 

 was always gay and cheerful. 



Mr. D' Alton was very entertaining — noted in convivial hours for his 

 vocal power, and loved to narrate anecdotes of his youth, which he told 

 with great humour. He never allowed his mind to rest. About a year 

 or two since, our late President, accompanied by Sir Bernard Burke, 

 called on him to examine his manuscripts. Mr. D' Alton showed them 

 to his visitors. As no reference has since been made to him respecting 

 them, I am not able to state whether they are likely to become public 

 property, or not. 



I have little more to add. The severe weather of last month termi- 

 nated, on the 20th January, 1867, a career which counted seventy-four 

 years. For some time lately Mr. D'Alton was diligently employed on 

 his autobiography. Prom my knowledge of his kindness of heart, and 

 happy social temperament, I feel sure his reminiscences of former years 

 will be genial and pleasant. This work, I make bold to predict, will 

 be a becoming termination to a life of labour — of toil not without use — - 

 and of success worthily won. 



