M. THE SPEECHES OF CHARLES PHILLIPS, Esq. DELIVERED AT THE BAR, AND ON VARIOUS PUBLIC OCCASIONS, IN IRELAND AND ENGLAND. EDITED BY HIMSELF. NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED BY KIRK & MERCEIN, T. & W. Mercein, Printers, No. 93 Gold-street. THE FOLLOWING SPEECHES ARE, BY PERMISSION, DEDICATED TO WILLIAM ROSCOE, WITH THE MOST SINCERE RESPECT AND AFFECTION OF THEIR AUTHOR, PREFACE. (BY JOHN FINLAY, ESQ.) THE Speeches of PHILLIPS are now, for the first time, offered to the world in an authentie form. So far as his exertions have been hitherto developed, his admirers, and they are innumerable, must admit, that the text of this volume is an acknowledged reference, to which future criticism may fairly resort, and from which his friends must deduce any title which the speaker may have created to the character of an orator. The interests of his reputation impose no necessity of denying many of those imperfections which have been imputed to these productions. The value of all human exertion is comparative; and positive excellence is but a flattering designation, even of the best products of industry and mind. There is, perhaps, but one way by which we could avoid all possible defects, and that is, by avoiding all possible exertion. The very fastidious, |