With that heroic heedlessness which distinguished him throughout his career, Charles Lever allowed 'Men of the Time' to state that he was born in 1809. The late W. J. Fitzpatrick, when he was engaged (thirty years ago) upon his biography of Lever, found it difficult to obtain accurate information concerning the birth-date of the Irish novelist. The records of his parish church-St Thomas's, Dublin-were searched unavailingly.