No. XXXVI. MR. HENRY ANDREWS, THE ASTRONOMER. MR. ANDREWS was born in 1744, in the county of Hertford. His education was very limited; yet, by his own industry, he made great progress in the liberal arts, and was justly esteemed one of the best astronomers of the age. He was for many years engaged as calculator of the Nautical Ephemeris; and on retiring from that situation, obtained the thanks of the Board of Longitude, accompanied by a handsome present by way of reward for his long and arduous services. He was also engaged in Moore's Almanack. Mr. Andrews's profound knowledge of the mathematics was acknowledged by all scientific men; and he might, under more favourable circumstances, have attained considerable fame and fortune. He died January 26th, 1820, at Royston, in Hertfordshire, aged seventy-six. On his death-bed not a murmur escaped his lips; but serenity of mind, patience, and resignation, were constantly depicted in his countenance, until the vital spark flew away for ever. No. XXXVII. LEONARD M'NALLY, Esq. BARRISTER AT LAW. MR. M'NALLY was a native of Ireland, having been born in the city of Dublin, in 1752. His family had suffered greatly for their undeviating attachment to the Catholic faith; and his grandfather, who was a merchant of some opulence in the capital, experienced all the pains and penalties of forfeiture, in respect to his leasehold estates, in consequence of a bill of discovery, introduced under the sanction of laws, which happily have long since ceased to exist, either in the sister-kingdom or any other civilised country in the world. Mr. McNally's father, in consequence of this persecution, having been deprived of his patrimony, and dying while his son was an infant, little or no attention was paid to the education of the subject of this memoir. Indeed, he may be said to have been self-educated, never having been brought up at any seminary, public or private. Young M'Nally, at the age of twenty-one, determined to change the scene of action, and accordingly came to London. Here, scanty as his revenues at first were, they at least enabled him to live; nay, to enter himself a student of the Middle Temple, and to aspire to all the honours of the bar. His means of subsistence entirely arose out of his pen; for, by his various talents, he superintended the publication of several magazines; and, at length, became editor of the Public Ledger, a paper which then, as now, boasted of " being open to all parties, and influenced by none." In addition to these sources of emolument, the subject of this memoir, who possessed much comic humour, began also to write for the stage, and commenced with a small after-piece for one of the to the bar, Mr. M'Nally returned to Ireland, and argued several popular questions, with a considerable degree of reputation. One of these proved of some importance, as it turned on a subject that had been discussed in England in the case of General Gansell; viz. whether a bailiff had a right to break the inner door of a lodger, after a legal entry at the outward door? On this occasion he contended against the power of the sheriff, and finally obtained a verdict for his client. But, notwithstanding this, he soon found that his professional income was insufficient for his maintenance, and he accordingly repaired, once more, to England, in quest of patronage. Although he occasionally pleaded in our courts, yet his chief dependence seems to have been on the press. Yet, after the lapse of a few years, he finally returned a second time to his native country, where he closely applied himself to the duties of the bar; and soon acquired great practice in that department called "crown law." Mr. M'Nally died at his house in Dublin, Feb. 15. 1820, aged 68. He married during his second excursion to this country. In point of size, he was rather diminutive, and was lame in his left knee, while he had lost the thumb of his right hand by amputation. List of the Works of Leonard M 'Nally, Esq. 1. The Apotheosis of Punch, a satyrical Masque, with a Monody on the death of the late Master Punch, acted at the Patagonian Theatre, Exeter Change. 8vo. 1779. This is an attempt to ridicule Mr. Sheridan's monody on Garrick's death, and said to be malignant without merit; after this, it is but fair to add, "that it is not certainly his production." 2. The Ruling Passion; a comic opera, acted at Dublin, 1779, but not printed. 3. Prelude on the opening of Covent Garden Theatre, Sept. 23. 1782, not printed. The author, with a partiality to his own countrymen, which we know not how to censure, has drawn the character of an Irishman as one possessed of qualities which he had rather unfortunately denied to the other per sons of the drama, English, Scotch, Welch, and French. This circumstance gave offence, and, before the conclusion of the piece, the clamour became too great for any thing to be heard; it was, therefore, laid aside. 4. Retaliation; a farce, 8vo. acted at Covent Garden 1782. This farce possesses considerable merit, and was favourably received. The character of Præcipe, the Attorney, is highly drawn, and the dialogue is well seasoned with wit. 5. Coalition; a farce, founded on facts, and lately performed with the approbation, and under the joint inspection of the managers of the Theatre Royal. 8vo. 1779. It relates to the management of the Theatres. 6. Coalition; a musical farce, acted at Covent Garden, May 1783, for a benefit. The audience, though disappointed at not finding it of a political nature, gave it a favourable reception; - not printed. Tristram Shandy, a sentimental Shandean bagatelle, in two acts, acted at Covent Garden, 8vo. 1783. It is only a cento from Sterne's work, and very indifferently executed; it was, however, kindly received, and performed several times. But when acted in Dublin it was condemned the very first night: 7. Robin Hood, or Sherwood Forest; a comic opera, acted at Covent Garden. 8vo. 1784. 8. Fashionable Levities; a comedy, acted at Covent Garden, with success. 8vo. 1785. 9. April Fool, or the Folly of a Night; acted at Covent Garden, April 1. 1786, and tolerably well received; but not printed. 10. Richard Cœur de Lion; opera, acted at Covent Garden; this was opposed to an opera of Burgoyne's, of the same name, now a stock-piece. Mr. M'Nally's soon sunk into oblivion. 11. Critic upon Critic; dramatic medley, 3 acts, performed at Covent Garden. 8vo. 1792. 12. College Festival; an opera, performed at Dublin, 1796. He also wrote "The Rules of Evidence on Pleas of the Crown, illustrated from printed and MSS. Trials." 2 vols. 8vo. 1803; and "The Justice of Peace of Ireland." 2 vols. large No. XXXVIII. JAMES SIMS, M.D. LL. D. M.R.I.A. S.A. LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; LATE PHYSICIAN TO THE ALDERSGATE AND SURREY DISPENSARIES; AND ALSO HONORARY MEMBER OF THE SCIENTIFIC ESTABLISHMENTS OF AVIGNON, LEYDEN, NEW YORK, AND PHILADELPHIA. THIS eminent physician was born in London, in the year 1740. After receiving an excellent education, he attended the hospitals of the metropolis, and then repaired to Edinburgh. On his return, he commenced practice in this capital, where he soon obtained great eminence, partly through the patronage and recommendation of the late Dr. Lettsom. He distinguished himself no less by his professional talents, than by his amiable manners and humane disposition. His practice was divided between midwifery and general diseases. To Dr. James Sims some of the most noble of our charitable institutions are indebted, in part, for their establishment; such as "the Humane" and "Philanthrophic" societies, of which last he was many years president; also, "The Westminster General Infirmary," &c. &c. Nor was he inattentive to the success of his own profession; for he formerly filled the chair of the London Medical Society for nineteen years; and it is to him we are indebted for the organisation and establishment of that excellent institution. He died at Bath, in 1820, in the Thither he had retired, a few years eightieth year of his age. |