ing qualities in his nature, that they uniformly considered any exclusion, from his regard not so much in the light of an injustice, as of a personal misfortune.

There was a time when such considerations would have failed to appease his numerous accusers, who, under the vulgar pretext of moral indignation, were relentlessly taking vengeance on his public virtues by assiduous and exaggerated statements of private errors, which, had he been one of the enemies of his country, they would have been the first to screen or justify. But it is hoped, that he was not deceiving himself when he anticipated that the term of their hostility would expire as soon as he should be removed beyond its reach. "The charity of the survivors (to use his own expressions) looks at the failings of the dead through an inverted glass; and slander calls off the pack from a chase in which, when there can be no pain, there can be no sport; nor will memory weigh their merits with a niggard steadiness of hand." But even should this have been a delusive expectation-should the grave which now covers him prove an unrespected barrier against the assaults of political hatred, there will not be wanting many of more generous minds, who loved and admired him, to rally round his memory from the grateful conviction that his titles to his country's esteem stand in defiance of every imperfection, of which his most implacable revilers can accuse him. As long as Ireland retains any sensibility to public worth, it will not be forgotten, that (whatever waywardness he may have shown towards some, and those a very few) she had, in every vicissitude, the unpurchased and most unmeasured benefit of his affections and his virtues. This is his claim and his protection; that having by his talents raised himself from an humble condition to a station of high trust and innumerable temptations, he held himself erect in servile times, and has left an example of political honour, upon which the most scrutinizing malice cannot detect a stain. Nor will it be deemed an inconsiderable merit to have thus, without fortune or connexions, forced his way into a

situation of such responsibility. "He that seeketh to be eminent amongst able men (said the ablest of men) hath a great task." * This task Mr. Curran fulfilled. In the generous struggle for distinction, he was surrounded, not by a race of puny competitors, whom accident or wealth had lifted above their sphere, but by men of surpassing vigour, in whose ranks none but athletic minds could be enrolled. Flood, Yelverton, Daly, Burgh, Perry, Forbes, Ponsonby, and, to crown the list, their leader and solitary survivor, Henry Grattan,f-these, all of them great names, and worthy of their country's lasting pride, were the objects of his honourable emulation, and to have been rewarded by their approbation, and admitted an associate of their labours, is in itself an evidence of his value, which neither praises can increase, nor envy take away.

Bacon's Essays.

Henry Grattan died (soon after the above was written) on June 4, 1820. He was interred in Westminster Abbey, next to Fox.-M.

APPENDIX.

ANECDOTES OF CURRAN AND HIS FRIENDS.

WHEN Mr. Curran was in Trinity College, Dublin, he was summoned by the Board of Senior Fellows (the moral and literary censors of the University) and stood before them in all that may be conceived lachrymose in feature, penitent in exterior, yet internally unmoved. After a long lecture, delivered in Hebrew, and explained into Greek, the accusation amounted in plain English to this, that he "kept idle women in his chambers," and concluded according to the form of the statute and good morals. He saw he had no way to escape but by the exercise of his wit, and solemnly assured them that the accusation was utterly unfounded, as he never in his life kept any woman idle in his rooms.

Bills of indictment had been sent up to a Grand Jury, in the finding of which Mr. Curran was interested. After delay and much hesitation, one of the Grand Jurors came into court to explain to the Judge the grounds and reasons why it was ignored. Mr. Curran, very much vexed by the stupidity of this person, said, "You, Sir, can have no objection to write upon the back of the bill, ignoramus, for self and fellow jurors; it will then be a true bill."

When the habeas corpus suspension act passed, some time before the year 1798, some person arguing for the propriety and necessity of that law, had thrown out doctrines and opinions unfavourable to the freedom of the constitution; he, whose countenance and doctrines were by no means agreeable to his hearers, was opposed by one of them, who said, "Were you incarcerated for six months under this law you so much extol, I should be glad to see how you would look." On which Mr. Curran observed, "Perhaps he would not look a bit the worse."

A member of the last Irish parliament, who had held one of the highest law offices under the crown, all on a sudden came over to that party who opposed the Union, voted against that measure, and lost his office, not without much regret. Some person speaking of his conduct on this occasion, extolled it highly, and observed, that he had made great sacrifices for his country's good, and had proved himself a sincere patriot. "Sincere! no," said Mr. Curran, "he is a sorry patriot."

A learned serjeant, whose promotion to the bench was daily expected, happened to be rather tedious in the statement of a case on trial before one of the chief judges, who, anxious for compression, observed to the serjeant, that when he came to administer justice, he would then know the value of time. A gentleman well known for his humour, and not having much esteem for the judge, in relating the matter, gave quite another turn to it by omitting the word administer; "When you come to justice you will then know the value of time."

Whenever any barrister is promoted, it is a rule on circuit that he shall send to the bar mess, at least a dozen of claret, to drink his health. A gentleman, not very much distinguished for ability, was recently appointed to one of the county chairs, and his claret was announced in these words: "This is Mr. -'s health, and may he live long to administer justice, as I am sure he will, indifferently!"

A barrister whom Mr. Curran very much esteemed for many amiable qualities, among others, for a fine temper and good nature, dining with him, was asked to be helped to green gooseberries and cream; he said he liked them very much, but feared, if he ate of them, he might be called, as Dr. Goldsmith was, a gooseberry fool. Mr. Curran said, "Take the gooseberries, my friend, and the milk of human kindness which so abun dantly flows round your heart, will soon make a fool of them."

During Lord Westmoreland's administration, when a number of new corps were raised in Ireland (and given as jobs and political favours,) it was observed that when inspected there, the establishment of each regiment was nominally reported to be complete at embarkation for England, but when landed at the other side, many of them had not a quarter of their numbers. "No wonder," said Mr. Curran, "for after being mus tered, they are afraid of being peppered, and off they fly, not wishing to pay for the roast."