to the King's Bench. It could not have been made without involving the question as to the way in which the jury was constituted; and since that matter would not bear sifting, the circumstances were suffered to remain without further investigation.

VOL. I.

M

ENTRANCE INTO PARLIAMENT.

My first entrance into the Irish House of CommonsDinner at Sir John Parnel's-Commencement of my intimacy with public men of celebrity-Maiden speech-I attack Grattan and Curran-Suicide of Mr. ThorotonLord De Blacquiere-His character.

THE day on which I first took my seat in the Irish Parliament for the City of Tuam, I still reflect on as one of the most gratifying of my life. The circumstance, abstractedly, was but of secondary consideration; but its occurrence brought back to my mind the events of past ages, and the high respectability of the race from which I sprang. I almost fancied, as I entered the House, that I could see my forefathers, ranged upon those seats which they had so long and so honourably occupied in the senate of their country, welcoming their descendant to that post which had not for a few years past been filled by any member of the family. In fact, the purer part of my ambition. was hereby gratified. I felt myself an entirely

independent representative of an equally independent nation as a man assuming his proper station in society, not acquiring a new one.

I confess I always had, and still continue to have, and to nourish, the pride which arises from having been born a gentleman. I am aware that wealth, and commerce, and perhaps talent, have, in modern times, occasioned family pride to be classed in the rank of follies, but I feel it, nevertheless, most strongly :—and if it be even a crime, I am culpable; if a folly, I submit to be regarded as imbecile. The sensations I experienced were indeed altogether delightful upon finding myself seated under that grand and solemn dome :-I looked around me, and saw the most dignified men of that day,the ablest orators of the period, many of the best-bred courtiers, and some of the most unsophisticated patriots, in the Empire! These, including a few friends and intimates of my family, were mingled, here and there, in amicable groups, and by turns kindly encouraged a young barrister, of only two years' practice, without patronage or party, as a fair aspirant to rank and eminence.

I was very greatly moved and excited: but it was not excitement of an ephemeral or feverish character; on the contrary, my emotions had their source in a tranquil, deep-seated, per

haps proud, satisfaction, impossible to be clearly described, and almost impossible to be felt by any but such as might be placed in circumstances precisely similar.

There were members present, I have already said, with whom I was personally acquainted. My friend, Sir John Parnel, partly, I am sure, on my account, and partly, no doubt, with a view to the service of government, lost no time in introducing me to many of his own particular friends.

I dined with him on that day he was then Chancellor of the Exchequer. The entire party I do not recollect; but I remember perfectly those individuals of it with whom I subsequently cultivated acquaintance. Amongst them were Major Hobart, (since Lord Buckinghamshire) Isaac Corry, Sir John (since Lord) De Blacquiere, Robert Thoroton, White, Marcus Beresford (Lord Clare's nephew), the present Lord Oriel (then Speaker), Thomas Burgh, of Bert, Sir Hercules Langreish, and James Cuffe, (since Lord Tyrawley). The scene was new to me :hitherto, my society in Dublin had naturally fallen amongst the members of my own profession; we were all barristers, and I felt myself but a barrister and though certainly we formed at that time the second-best society in Ireland, it was inferior to that of which I had now become

a member. I found myself, in fact, associated as an equal in a circle of legislators whose good-breeding, wit, and conviviality were mingled with political and general information. The first steps of the ladder were mounted; and as meanwhile Sir John's champaign was excellent, and quickly passed round, my spirits rose to a pitch far higher than in the morning, and any talent for conversation or anecdote which I might possess involuntarily coming out, Sir John Parnel, shaking his fat sides with laughter, according to his usual custom, said to me, before we broke up, "Barrington, you'll do!" upon which, Sir Hercules Langreish, who had very much the tone of a Methodist preacher, yet was one of the wittiest men in Ireland, immediately said," No-we must have another trial;" and a day was fixed to dine with him.

My acquaintance soon augmented to a degree almost inconvenient. My friendship I limited to such men as I held to possess congeniality of sentiment; and before any long time had elapsed, I was not only the frequent guest of many of the distinguished characters of Ireland, but was considered as an early and favoured candidate for any professional promotion which the shortness of my standing at the Bar would admit of.

Reflecting, soon after I had taken my seat, on the novel nature of my situation, I felt that it