bers, and wrote the charter song of the order, | the day, was threatened with the loss of his under the title of "The Monks of the Screw."1 silk gown by Lord Carleton; but his fearlessIn 1783, when he had been eight years at ness did not abate a whit, and be continued the bar, he was returned to the Irish House his labours to the end. of Commons as member for the borough of Kilbeggan in Westmeath, having for his col- | league Henry Flood, with whom he joined the opposition. In 1787 he paid a visit to France, which he enjoyed greatly. In 1788 he visited Holland, of which he has left graphic sketches in some letters afterwards published. Next year the regency question came to the front, and he was offered to be raised to the bench and ultimately to a peerage if he would take the side of government. But he resolutely refused the offers, and his opposition became if anything more determined than before. In 1794 he began to take a still more active part in the many important questions brought forward in parliament, and boldly espousing the popular side, acted and spoke with the fearless honesty of his character. In May, 1797, he concluded his career in the Irish parliament with a speech on parliamentary reform, and retired hopeless of being able to stem the tide of corruption and ministerial intrigue.

After the rebellion of 1798 Curran conducted the defence of the persons implicated and brought to trial. In this work he displayed the full force of his eloquence and genius, drawing tears from judges by his speeches, covering the informers with infamy, and moving the hearts of all to declare with him that "the evidence was so base that no man's life should be taken upon it." His defence of Hamilton Rowan has been declared by Lord Brougham to be "the greatest speech of an advocate in ancient and modern times." The next political trial in which Curran was engaged was that of the Rev. William Jackson. Though he used all his eloquence and skill the accused was convicted, and before being removed from the dock sank down and died from the effects of poison. In the trial of the brothers John and Henry Sheares he again wound up with a most pathetic and passionate speech, but his clients were convicted and condemned. Shortly afterwards Curran, who had defended almost all the political prisoners of

1 The "Order of St. Patrick," or "Monks of the Screw," was a society partly convivial, but intended also to discover and encourage the wit, humour, and intellectual power of its members. The Convent, as it was called, or place of meeting, was in Saint Kevin Street, Dublin, and it was the custom for the members to assemble every Saturday evening during the law term. They had also another meeting-place near Rathfarnham, Curran's country-seat, which he appropriately called The Priory, he being elected prior. The furniture of the festive apartment in

In 1802 Curran visited Paris, and after the abortive rebellion of 1803 he defended Owen Kirwan in a speech of much philosophic power. On the death of Pitt in 1806 the party to whom he belonged came into power, and he was made master of the rolls and a member of the privy-council. This preferment, instead of being a pleasure to Curran, seemed rather the reverse. It changed the habits and current of his being and labours, and his spirits seemed to lose much of their vigour from the hour he entered upon his new duties. His health also began to show symptoms of decline: the dry business of equity law was distasteful to him; it afforded no opportunity of showing his peculiar powers, and he soon became like one whose public life was ended. During his vacations he travelled for his health, and was well received on his visits to England. In the autumn of 1810 he visited Scotland, and after praising highly the independence, knowledge, and hospitality of the people, he goes on to describe a visit he paid to the birthplace of Robert Burns. At that time it was an ale-house, and the tipsy landlord pointed out the very spot, as he said, where the poet first saw the light. "The genius and the fate of the man were already heavy on my heart," writes Curran, "but the drunken laugh of the landlord gave me such a view of the rock on which he foundered, I could not stand it, but burst into tears." Anxious to aid the efforts of his countrymen in the imperial parliament, he contested the borough of Newry against General Needham in 1812, but was defeated by a majority of two, and never after sought to enter parliament. In 1813, owing to increasing infirmity, he resigned his judicial post, receiving a pension of £3000 a year. At this time his mind was in a very depressed state, and in a retrospect of the past he writes, "I look back at the streaming of blood for so many years, and everything everywhere relapsed into its former degradation. France rechained, Spain again saddled

Dublin was completely monkish, and at the meetings all the members appeared in the habit of the order, a black tabinet domino. The members of the club were nearly all distinguished men, including among their number Lord Mornington (composer of the celebrated glee "Here in Cool Grot"), the Marquis of Townshend (when viceroy), Yelverton (afterwards Lord Avonmore), Dr. O'Leary, Grattan, Flood, George Ogle, Judge Johnson, Hussey Burgh, Lord Kilwarden, and the Earl of Arran. The society lasted till 1795.