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have been shaken; but a rude blast has snapped it, and they have fallen over a

grave.

"This is no time for affliction. I have had public motives to sustain my mind, and I have not suffered it to sink; but there have been moments in my imprisonment when my mind was so sunk by grief on her account, that death would have been a refuge.

"God bless you, my dearest Richard. I am obliged to leave off immediately.

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This letter was written at twelve o'clock on the day of Mr. Emmet's execution, and the firmness and regularity of the original hand-writing contain a striking and affecting proof of the little influence which the approaching event exerted over his frame. The same enthusiasm which allured him to his destiny, enabled him to support its utmost rigour. He met his fate with unostentatious fortitude; and although few could ever think of justifying his projects

or regretting their failure, yet his youth, his talents, the great respectability of his connexions, and the evident delusion of which he was the victim, have excited more general sympathy for his unfortunate end, and more forbearance towards his memory, than is usually extended to the errors or sufferings of political offenders.

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Curran appointed Master of the Rolls in IrelandHis literary projects—Letter to Mr. M’Nally—Account of a visit to Scotland in a letter to Miss Philpot —Letter to Mr. Leslie-Letters to Mr. Hetherington.

*UPON the death of Mr. Pitt, the political party with whom Mr. Curran had so long been acting having come into office, he was appointed Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and a member of the privy council. With this appointment he was

* In the interval between 1803 and the period of his elevation to the bench (1806), Mr. Curran farther distinguished himself at the bar in the case of Massey against the Marquis of Headfort (July, 1804), and in the case of Mr. Justice Johnson (February, 1805). His speeches upon those occasions are among his most vigorous efforts; but ample specimens of his forensic eloquence having been already introduced, the reader is referred to the published collection.

+ Upon this occasion the Irish bar convened a meeting, and voted the following address to Mr. Curran :

dissatisfied at the time, and he never became entirely reconciled to it. It imposed

"SIR,-In your recent appointment to a high and dignified situation, the first pride of the Irish bar feels itself gratified, that independent spirit, pre-eminent talents, and inflexible integrity have recommended their possessor to the royal favour, and procured his advancement to the bench of justice.

"Yes, Sir, we trust that the lustre which shone upon your distinguished progress as an advocate will beam with a milder but more useful influence from the bench; and that the unbiassed, impartial, and upright judge will be found in the person who exalted the character of the Irish bar, by his eloquence, and uniformly supported the rights and privileges of an honourable profession.”

MR. CURRAN'S ANSWER.

"GENTLEMEN,-I thank you from my heart for this proof of your confidence and affection. The approving opinion of so enlightened and independent a body as the Irish bar would be a most valuable reward of merit much superior to mine, which I am conscious has gone little beyond a disposition, but I trust an honest and ardent disposition, so to act in my public and professional characters, as not to be altogether unworthy of the name of an Irishman of that disposition. I receive your kind commendation with pride. I feel that probity of intention is all that we can be reponsible for.

"I am peculiarly gratified by the flattering attestation you are pleased to bestow on my endeavours to support

VOL. II.

R

upon his mind a necessity of unaccustomed labour and unaccustomed restraint, to which opposite habits of so many years did not allow him easily to submit. Whatever might be its dignity or emolument, it had no political consequence; and therefore, to him, who had acted such a part in the history of his country, it seemed rather like a compensation for former services, than as a means of taking that honourable share to which he felt himself intitled, in an administration that promised such benefits to Ireland. These sentiments of disgust, in which he perhaps indulged to an unreasonable excess, disturbed the friendship which had so long subsisted be

the privileges of our profession. They are vitally and inseparably connected with the enjoyment of constitutional liberty and the effectual administration of justice. The more active part which I may have taken in the defence of these privileges I bequeath to you, but be assured that I bring with me, to the situation where it has been the pleasure of his majesty to place me, the most perfect conviction, that in continuing to maintain them, I shall cooperate with you in the discharge of one of the most important duties that can bind us to our country.

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