illustration of which he had formed such ample collectious." 146 The acceptance of Mr. Petrie's work on the Round Towers by the Royal Irish Academy did not meet with his approval, and was said to be the cause of his withdrawal for many years from that institution. He died at Stradbrook, Blackrock, County of Dublin, 26th October 1853, aged 74. 146 284
Bianconi, Charles, was born 26th September 1785, at Tregolo, in the Duchy of Milan, Italy, where his father is said to have owned a small silk factory. In 1802 he came to Ireland as apprentice to an Italian print-seller, who was in business in Temple-bar, Dublin. In this capacity Bianconi travelled on foot throughout Ireland, peddling his master's stock. In 1806, when out of his time, he found himself in possession of about £50, and established himself as a print-seller, first at Tipperary, then in Waterford, and afterwards in Clonmel. In the prosecution of his business he was led to reflect upon the then difficulties of travelling throughout Ireland, and his practical mind saw an opening for a profitable speculation—the establishment of cars between the principal towns. He commenced in 1815, by a one-horse vehicle between Clonmel and Cahir. This proved remunerative; and the termination of the war enabling him to purchase horses cheaply, it was not many years before he had one hundred cars of various sizes traversing Ireland, performing daily 3,800 miles, at an average charge of 1¼d. per mile for each passenger. When the railway system threw him off the main lines, his enterprise and intelligence opened up new fields; and by 1858 he had even extended his operations. In August 1831, he obtained letters of naturalization in Ireland, filled the office of Mayor of Clonmel, and was appointed a Deputy-Lieutenant. While amassing a large fortune, his "Bianconi cars" conferred inestimable advantages upon Ireland. He died 22nd September 1875, having all but completed his 90th year. He has borne the following testimony to the character of the Irish people: "My conveyances, many of them carrying very important mails, have been travelling during all hours of the day and night, often in lonely and unfrequented places; and during the long period of forty years that my establishment is now in existence, the slightest injury has never been done by the people to my property, or that entrusted to my care." 233
Bickerstaff, Isaac, was born in Ireland about the year 1735. He was one of the pages of Lord Chesterfield when Lord-Lieutenant. He afterwards became an officer in the marines, in which service he continued until forced to quit under very discreditable circumstances. He is known as the author of Love in a Village, Maid of the Mill, and about twenty other light comedies and musical pieces, produced under Garrick's management—of which some yet retain possession of the stage. Charles Dibdin composed the music to many of these pieces. His last was produced in 1787. Bickerstaff died abroad in old age and reduced circumstances. His "pieces present a combination of excellencies seldom found in conjunction." 8(1) 16 116(45)
Binns, John, a distinguished journalist, was born in Dublin, 22nd December 1772. He received a good education, became a United-Irishman, and suffered two years' imprisonment. Soon after his release, in 1801, he emigrated, with his brother Benjamin, to Baltimore. In March 1802, he commenced at Northumberland, Pennsylvania, the Republican Army, which gave him great influence with the Democratic party. From 1807 to 1829 he conducted, at Philadelphia, the Democratic Press—the leading paper in the state, until 1824, when it opposed the election of Jackson. Besides other works, he published in 1854 an autobiography. He died at Philadelphia, 16th June 1860, aged 87. 37*
Black, Joseph, M.D., an eminent chemist and physician, was born, of Belfast parents, at Bordeaux in 1728. He received his preliminary education at Belfast, whence he proceeded to the University of Glasgow, to acquire a knowledge of medicine and the collateral sciences. In 1754 he took the degree of M.D., and delivered as his inaugural thesis an inquiry into the nature and operation of various lithontriptics. This address passed through several editions, and procured for him much reputation. "The researches relating to fixed air and carbonic acid gas may fairly be esteemed as having led to the discoveries of Cavendish, Priestley, Lavoisier, and others of the pneumatic school, the importance of which is now justly admitted." 42 Upon the removal of his distinguished preceptor. Dr. Cullen, to Edinburgh, in 1756, Dr. Black was, at Dr. Cullen's earnest desire, appointed his successor as Professor of Anatomy and Chemistry. As early as 1756 he commenced the investigation into the nature and properties of heat, which occupied him many years. "Black discovered and developed the general law that connects and explains the phenomena of the production of heat and cold, which occur in the combination, liquefaction, and evaporation of bodies, several
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