Speech of Mr. Phillips in the case of Guthrie v. Sterne, delivered in the Court of Common Pleas, Dublin Speech of Mr. Phillips in the case of O'Mullan v. M'Korkill, delivered at the County Court-house, Speech in the case of Connaghton v. Dillon, delivered in the County Court-house of Roscommon Speech of Mr. Phillips in the case of Creighton v. 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 C 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 C 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 grave 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; 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 a selfish, tribute for saving me, by his presence this night, from an impotent attempt at his pane be |