Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/31

COTTER. 27 Abbey church, at Bath, in a handsome but not pompous manner, such being strictly forbidden by the deceased. Rear-admiral Wolseley, the admiral's nephew, Sir Henry Cosby, and Colonel Stanfield attended as chief mourners; and the pall was borne by Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, and Vice-admirals Christie, M*Dowall, and Brown. PATRICK COTTER, Better known by the name of O'Brien, and usually denominated “The Irish Giant.” He was of obscure pa rentage in Kinsale, and by trade originally a bricklayer: but his uncommon size rendered him a mark for the ava rice of a showman, who, for the payment of 50l. per annum, obtained the liberty of exhibiting him three years in England. Not contented with his bargain, the chap man attempted to underlet the liberty of showing him to another speculator: and poor Cotter, resisting this nefa rious transaction, was saddled with a fictitious debt, and thrown into a spunging-house in Bristol. In this situation he was, happily for him, observed by a gentleman of the city who had some business to transact with the sheriff's officer. His simple demeanour, and extreme distress, in duced Mr. W to make inquiries respecting him, and having reason to think that he was unjustly detained, he very generously became his bail, and ultimately so far investigated the affair, that he not only obtained for him his liberty, but freed him from a l l kind o f obligations t o serve his task-master any longer. He was a t this time eighteen, and retained t o his last breath, a most lively sense o f the obligation conferred upon him, “when a stranger and i n need;” a n obligation which h e manifested also b y very honourable mention i n his will. I t happened t o b e September when h e was liberated; and b y the fur ther assistance o f his benefactor, h e was enabled t o set up for himself, i n the fair then held i n St. James's. Success crowned his undertaking; i n three days, instead o f being