all legitimate improvement. To that very exuberance of imagination, we do not hesitate to ascribe much of his success; whilst, therefore, he consents to control it, let him be careful lest he clips his wings: nor is the strength of this faculty an argument, although it has been made an argument, against the strength of his reasoning powers; for let us strip these speeches of every thing whose derivation could be, by any construction, assigned to his fancy; let us apply this rule to his judicial and political exertions for instance, to the speech on Guthrie and Sterne, and the late one to the gentlemen of Liverpool-let their topics be translated into plain, dull language, and then we would ask, what collection of topics could be more judicious, better arranged, or classed in a more lucid and consecutive order by the most tiresome wisdom of the sagest arguer at the bar? Is there not abundance to satisfy the judgment, even if there were nothing to sway the feelings, or gratify the imagination? How preposterous, then, the futile endeavour to undervalue the solidity of the ground-work, by withdrawing attention to the beauty of the ornament; or to maintain the deficiency of strength in the base, merely because there appears so much splendour in the structure.

Unaided by the advantages of fortune or alliance, under the frown of political power and the interested detraction of professional jealousy, confining the exercise of that talent which he derives from his God to the honour, and succour, and protection of his creatures-this interesting and highly-gifted young man runs his course like a giant, prospering and to prosper;-in the court as a flaming sword, leading and lighting the injured to their own; and in the public assembly exposing

her wrongs-exacting her rights-conquering envy -trampling on corruption-beloved by his country-esteemed by a world-enjoying and deserving an unexampled fame-and actively employing the summer of his life in gathering honours for his name, and garlands for his grave!

A

SPEECH

DELIVERED AT A PUBLIC DINNER GIVEN TO

MR. FINLAY,

BY THE ROMAN CATHOLICS .

OF THE TOWN AND COUNTY OF

SLIGO.

I THINK, sir, you will agree with me, that the most experienced speaker might justly tremble in addressing you after the display you have just witnessed. What, then, must I feel, who never before addressed a public audience? However, it would be but an unworthy affectation in me were I to 'conceal from you the emotions with which I am agitated by this kindness. The exaggerated estimate which other countries have made of the few services so young a man could render, has, I hope, inspired me with the sentiments it ought; but here, I do confess to you, I feel no ordinary sensation-here, where every object springs some new association, and the loveliest objects, mellowed as they are by time, rise painted on the eye of memory-here, where the light of heaven first blessed my infant view, and nature breathed into my infant heart that ardour for my country which nothing but death can chill-here, where the scenes of my

childhood remind me, how innocent I'was, and the graves of my fathers admonish me, how pure I should continue-here, standing as I do amongst my fairest, fondest, earliest sympathies, such a welcome, operating, not merely as an affectionate tribute, but as a moral testimony, does indeed quite oppress and overwhelm me.

Oh! believe me, warm is the heart that feels, and willing is the tongue that speaks; and still, I cannot, by shaping it to my rudely inexpressive phrase, shock the sensibility of a gratitude too full to be suppressed, and yet (how far!) too eloquent for language.

If any circumstance could add to the pleasure of this day, it is that which I feel in introducing to the friends of my youth the friend of my adoption, though perhaps I am committing one of our imputed blunders, when I speak of introducing one whose patriotism has already rendered him familiar to every heart in Ireland; heart in Ireland; a man, who, conquering every disadvantage, and spurning every difficulty, has poured around our misfortunes the splendour of an intellect that at once irradiates and consumes them. For the services he has rendered to his country, from my heart I thank him, and, for myself, I offer him a personal, it may be a selfish, tribute for saving me, by his presence this night, from an impotent attempt at his panegyric. Indeed, gentlemen, you can have little idea of what he has to endure, who, in these times, advocates your cause. Every calumny which the venal and the vulgar, and the vile are lavishing upon you is visited with exaggeration upon us.We are called traitors, because we would rally round the crown an unanimous people. We are called apostates, because we will not persecute