would be so felt, that he might boldly say, 'I would to God that not only you, but all those that hear me this day, were both, almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.' I cannot, sir, in regard to the duty of perfect candor which I owe to your Royal Highness, avoid saying that the wild spirit of aggression which of late time has raved among us, has miserably reduced the respect in which every good government cannot fail to be held. These contests for dignity, without doubt, have been most disastrous. Alas, sir, I much fear that dignity is a robe which he, that will box for it, must lay aside during the conflict, and there is great risk that when he has been soundly threshed, he may find, like Strap, that it has been taken away during the battle by the honest gentleman who undertook to keep it.

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But, sir, the baleful effects of this violence cannot stop here. It is too visible that manners, and morals too, must become ferociated; so that there can be no doubt, that if good sense and feeling shall

not make the edge of authority more blunt, necessity must soon inake it sharper even than it is. If the rider will not sit quietly on his saddle, but will hold his seat by grappling the sides of the animal with his spurs, he cannot avoid changing to a bridle of no ordinary force. No other way can remain for restraining the madness he provokes. This, sir, in my conscience I am convinced is the state of this country: things cannot stay as they are; temporizing palliatives will not avail; it will answer no end to draw upon our great grandsons in favour of the great grandsons of the catholics, for liberty to be granted in the course of the next century,

"Mean time, for I more than feel how much I have passed the limits, I cannot but hope the best effects from the principle of religious freedom, which you are pleased to protect, and of which you will be so powerful a patron, and so bright an example.

"Be pleased, sir, to accept my humble thanks for your condescending wish, that

I should have the honour of being present at the meeting of the friends of such a principle; as I find it is not to be immediate, I do not altogether give up the hope of being present, but, present or absent, it will have my most devout prayers for its success. I have the honour, sir, to be, with the most profound sense of attachment and respect,

"Your Royal Highness's dutiful servant, "J. P. C."

CHAPTER VIII.

Mr. Curran's health declines-Letters to Mr. Hetherington-Resignation of his judicial office-Letters from London to Mr. Lubè-Letters from Paris to the same-His last illness and death.

In the beginning of 1813, the declining condition of Mr. Curran's health obliged him to meditate the resignation of his judicial office. While he was in London in the month of April of that year, he suffered a severe attack of inflammation in his chest. His illness, though by no means dangerous, was a subject of considerable alarm to his mind, in consequence of an old but unfounded opinion that his lungs were naturally weak; a mistake into which he had been led from confounding the temporary hoarseness and exhaustion which usually followed every great exertion in public speaking with a constitutional debility of that organ. There is something

characteristic in his manner of announcing his illness upon this occasion to his friend in Dublin.

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"TO R. HETHERINGTON, ESQ.

DEAR DICK,

"Really I think rather an escape

I have been confined to my bed these ten days; a violent attack on my breastlungs not touched-better now, but very low and weak. I can't say with certainty when I can set out. Will you let Mr. Lockwood (or if he is not there, the Chancellor) know my situation; a wanton premature effort might kill me.

"J. P. C."

"TO THE SAME.

66 DEAR DICK,

"I had hoped a quicker recovery,

but the fit was most severe. I thought to