Berkeley’s works are very numerous.  His Essay towards a New Theory of Vision (1709), which was long regarded in the light of a philosophical romance, in reality contains speculations which have been incorporated in modern scientific optics.  In his Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous (1713) he sets forth his famous demonstration of the immateriality of the external world, of the spiritual nature of the soul, and of the all-ruling and direct providence of God.  His tenets on immateriality have always been rejected by “common-sense” philosophers; but it should be remembered that the whole work was written at a time when the English-speaking world was disturbed by the theories of sceptics and deists, whose doctrines the pious divine sought as best he could to confute.  In 1732 appeared his Alciphron, or the Minute Philosopher, in which, dialogue-wise, he presents nature from a religious point of view and in particular gives many pleasing pictures of American scenery and life.  These dialogues have frequently been compared to the dialogues of Plato.  To Berkeley’s credit be it said that while he ruled in Cloyne he devoted much thought to the amelioration of conditions in his native land.  Many acute suggestions in that direction are found in the Querist (1735-1737).  By some extraordinary ratiocinative process he convinced himself that tar-water was a panacea for human ills, and in 1744 he set forth his views on that subject in the tract called Siris, and returned to the charge in 1752 in his Further Thoughts on Tar-Water.  Whatever may be thought of the value of Berkeley’s philosophical or practical speculations, there is only one opinion of his style.  It is distinguished by lucidity, ease, and charm; it has the saving grace of humor; and it is shot through with imagination.  Taken all in all, this eighteenth century bishop is a notable figure in literary annals.

Charles Macklin (c. 1697-1797), whose real name was MacLaughlin, was a Westmeath man, who took to the stage in early life and remained on the boards with considerable and undiminished reputation for some seventy years, not retiring until 1789 when he was at least 92 years old.  To him we are indebted for what is now the accepted presentation of the character of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.  He wrote a tragedy and many comedies and farces:  those by which he is now best remembered are the farce, Love-a-la-Mode (1760), and his masterpiece, the farcical comedy, The Man of the World (1764).  In Sir Pertinax MacSycophant, Macklin has given us one of the traditional burlesque characters of the English stage.