editions of his work on the Antiquities of Trim. He died 17th July 1862, aged 67, and was interred beside the church where he had ministered for forty-three years. 64*
Butler, Walter, was a scion of the family of Ormond, who, with his brother James, emigrated to Germany early in the 17th century, and entered the Imperial service. Both obtained command of regiments, and served with distinction under Tilly and Wallenstein in many of the actions of the Thirty Years' War. When it became evident to Walter that Wallenstein was turning traitor to the Emperor, and going over to the enemy, he conspired with several other officers, and caused the assassination of that great commander, at Egra, on 25th February 1634. For this crime he was created a Count of the Empire, and large estates in Bohemia, still held by his descendants, were settled on him. Mr. F. Prendergast, who gives an exhaustive account of the transaction, thus apologises for him: "This deed of Walter Butler may have prevented a train of consequences the most momentous; and if the manner of executing it forbids us to call the act, with Carve, heroic, the circumstances, as now stated, will, I trust, go far to relieve Butler's character from the infamy which has hitherto rested upon it, and to exhibit him in the light of an officer impelled by a stern sense of duty, in a critical hour, to use the best and only means remaining to him to protect his sovereign's crown." 10 He died in Wirtemberg shortly after the battle of Nordlingen, at which he distinguished himself, in September 1634, and was buried with great pomp at Prague. He or his brother left a bequest to found a college of Irish Franciscans in that city. 10(1852) 39
Butler, William, a well-known alchemist, the pretended discoverer of the philosopher's stone, and of a powder for bringing the dead to life, was born in Clare about 1534. He died at sea, on his passage to Spain, 29th January 1617. 34
Butler, William Archer, Rev., was born near Clonmel about 1814, of Catholic parents. At the age of sixteen he became a Protestant, and entering Trinity College, obtained a scholarship in 1832, and distinguished himself by his learning, and by his poetic contributions to the Dublin University Magazine. As Professor of Moral Philosophy, his lectures were remarkable for their elegance and profound reasoning. The latter part of his life was devoted principally to the duties of his parish of Raymoghy, in Raphoe. He died after a short illness, 5th July 1848. His Letters on Mr. Newman's Theory of Development attracted considerable attention. Sir W. Hamilton thus writes of his Lectures on Ancient Philosophy: "I have seen enough of them to be convinced of their great scientific value, and am much gratified in finding so important a subject treated with so much learning and acuteness." 16 39 116(19)
Byrne, Myles, Chef-de-Bataillon in the service of France, and officer of the Legion of Honour, was born at Monaseed, County of Wexford, 20th March 1780. But a youth, he entered with ardour into the hopes and plans of the United Irishmen. On 3rd June 1798 he joined the body of insurgents under Rev. John Murphy, encamped at Corrigrua, County of Wexford. Next morning this force, consisting of about 10,000 men, armed chiefly with pikes, without artillery, and with but few muskets, and little ammunition, marched on Gorey. Their passage was opposed by troops under Colonel Walpole. He was killed in a skirmish that ensued, his force routed, and his three pieces of artillery with ammunition were captured. Gorey was then occupied, and insurgent levies flocked in from all directions. The 5th and 6th June were spent in drilling and reconnoitring. On the 7th Carnew was taken and burned, and a hill close by occupied as a camp. Next day Carnew was evacuated, and preparations made for an attack on Arklow. This town was garrisoned in force by the military, and was attacked by the insurgents on the 9th June. Byrne commanded a division of pikemen. The battle was hotly contested for some time, but eventually the insurgents had to withdraw, having suffered fearful losses. The Rev. Michael Murphy, one of their bravest leaders, was killed in this engagement. Several days were spent in aimless marches, the want of an efficient commander-in-chief being greatly felt: provisions and ammunition began to grow scarce, and the insurgent army, attended by crowds of followers, was further encumbered by the numbers of wounded, whose sufferings they were unable properly to alleviate, and whom they dared not leave behind to the mercy of the soldiers and yeomanry. An attack on Newtownbarry failed, and the southern division of the insurgents was defeated with terrible slaughter at New Ross. The scattered bands, weakened by death, disease, and exposure, gradually concentrated on Vinegar Hill, over Enniscorthy. There, on 21st June, they made their last stand, and in it Byrne took a distinguished part. Attacked at early dawn by overwhelming columns of troops under General Lake, they fought with the fury of despair, but were before long defeated, and broke down the hill, through an opening humanely
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