at her feet? In such an era of general national revival, the Muse of Ireland, too, may resume her lost niche in the temple of our household gods, and the harp -no longer the voiceless emblem of vanished glory become the resuscitated instrument of perpetual nusical renown.

LECTURE ON JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN.*

HAVE chosen for the subject of this Lecture the life and character of John Philpot Curran, one of the purest patriots, and most eloquent orators that Ireland, nay the world, has ever produced. And why do we lecture on the lives of great men? In the first place, in order that we may excite in the breasts of our hearers those feelings of admiration which human greatness merits ; for there is a tendency in our nature to admire all that is truly great and noble; and, though our voices may not pierce the silent caverns of the dead, we cannot help paying, even to departed genius and worth, the well-deserved tribute of our praise. Again, by studying the lives and the actions of the truly great, we may learn to emulate their virtues or achievements, and thus not only do good for ourselves, but set a model, which others in their turn may copy, according to that of your poet, —

"Lives of great men all remind us

. We should make our lives sublime; And departing leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time."

It would be quite possible for me to propose for your consideration the lives of many greater men than John Philpot Curran; men whose splendor of character did not, like his, radiate from only a few points, such as his unselfish patriotism, his marvellous eloquence, his wit and humor; but men whose whole souls, burning with a Divine fire, of which the fabled flame of Prometheus was but a poetic reflection, illumined the world by the lustre of their virtues, and enkindled a congenial warmth in the breasts of mankind by the

Delivered in New York, February, 1871.

fervor of their zeal. Thus, I could have selected for my panegyric the life of that greatest philanthropist the world ever saw, the illustrious Vincent de Paul, by the magic of whose memory we are assembled here to-night. But characters like these are too sacred, too God-like, to be paraded outside the consecrated walls of His temple whose servants they were; and although the imitation of their sublime virtues is commendable, with a view to man's eternal welfare, we must remember that man has many duties to discharge in the world which are not sacred, but yet important; there are many purely secular virtues and excellencies, of which he should prove himself master, that he may combat successfully with the difficulties of life, and attain that portion of merely temporal happiness which is not denied to good men even upon this earth. Consequently, as I am addressing you, not in my professional, but in my secular character - since I speak to you as man to his fellowmen - I select for your admiration, and, as far as possible, for your imitation, the life of John Philpot Curran; not in all its features, for, alas! in many things he was not a perfect model; but under that manifold aspect which he wears, of an ardent, strongly-tempted, incorruptible patriot; a lover of his country and his country's race, without distinction of class or creed; an able and generous advocate; an orator of surpassing power; a wit and humorist the most enjoyable; a companion the most social, exquisite, and enchanting.

I have thus thought it fit to dwell on the reasons why I place before you the life of a great man; for I am not of those who seem to think that a lecture may be merely a thing to amuse- to pass an idle hour. I always hold that lectures, and similar addresses, should have in them something of a genuine utility. We live in a hard, practical world-life is real-life is earnest. We must not be content with amusement with pleasure; the enjoyment we derive from the lessons of a teacher must be always secondary to the instruction he conveys; and few lessons are so instructive as the lives of great men, such as Curran was; for we shall not only be struck by the prominent characteristics of his genius, but while we admire the sterling integrity of the patriot - while we are swayed by the impassioned vehemence of his oratory while we charmed by the graces of his wit, we shall learn the means by which that integrity was cultivated-by which that vehemence was

are

acquired, by which those graces were imparted. Thus we shall feel an impulse to go and do likewise; and if we cannot rival the majesty of Curran, we shall at least, reach that elevation, for the attain. ment of which an all-wise Providence has befitted us.

John Philpot Curran was born in the year 1750, and died in the year 1817, in the 68th year of his age. His parents were not of high degree; and even if they were, his unprepossessing face and figure would not have betrayed an aristocratic lineage. Physically he could boast only of a pair of black sparkling eyes, lit up with intellectual fire; but all the rest was plain as Nature could have made it. "The only inheritance," he used to say, "that I could boast of from my poor father was, the very scanty one of an unattractive face and person, like his own; and if the world has ever attributed to me something more valuable than face or person, or than earthly wealth, it was that another, and a dearer parent, gave her child a portion from the treasures of her mind." He always spoke with reverence and admiration of his mother-of her wise councils, and pious example. She lived to see him attain the highest pinnacle of his fame; and in his success, and her reward, we behold a beautiful double picture-the blessing of maternal care, and the triumph of filial affection. And here is at once a striking illustration of what I have just been saying-the means, so constantly visible in the lives of great men, by which their greatness is acquired. Curran's first step to greatness was a sacred respect for the admonitions of a prudent, clever, and virtuous mother. His boyhood was spent at Newmarket, in the county of Cork, his native town, where he was taken into the house of the Rev. Nathaniel Boyce, Rector of the parish, who instructed him in the teachings suitable to his age. He was subsequently educated in the Greek and Latin Classics at a Free School at Middleton, in the same county; and, finally, entered Trinity College, Dublin, with a view to preparing himself for entering the Church as a clergyman. Here he changed his mind with regard to choosing a profession, and concluded to study for the Bar. Having obtained his degree at Trinity College, he passed over to England, and became a student of law in the Society of the Middle Temple, London. So little did he seem to be adapted by nature to be a great orator, that, what with timidity of disposi tion, and a natural impediment, he was generally known as "stutter

ing Jack Curran ;" and, on the first trial of his oratorical powers, at a small debating club, formed of his fellow-students, Łe grew so bashful, that he was not even able to stutter, but sank silent and confounded into his chair. To his companions it seemed clear that his aspirations to fame, as an advocate, were worse than vain; but a few evenings after, they had reason to change their minds; for, being nettled to the quick by a contemptuous epithet flung at him, in the course of debate, he rose indignant, and burst forth with an impassioned invective, against the sneerer, couched in eloquent words, which only untutored nature can supply. This rival debater had referred to Curran as "orator Mum ; " but orator Mum observing that his opponent's dress was remarkable for shabbiness and dirt, he assailed him vigorously on this point, and brought down the cheers and plaudits of the house. Curran whispered to a friend near him, "I think my dirty antagonist did not get clean off!" "No;" replied his friend, "I never saw a man get such a dressing.”

Curran was called to the Irish Bar at Michaelmas Term, 1775, and, in his first essay as a lawyer, he evinced the same bashfulness which had characterized him as a student. The first brief he held was in the Court of Chancery; and he read the first sentences of his instructions in so precipitate and inaudible a manner, that the Lord Chancellor called on him to speak up. This so confused Curran, that the brief dropped from his hands, and a brother barrister was obliged to read the necessary passage. Four or five years elapsed before Curran's rare abilities attracted any remarkable attention. It was at the Cork Assizes, and his client was a priest. The circumstances of the case present a good picture of the times. Lord Doneraile had contracted an intimacy with a young woman, whose brother was, no doubt, for good reasons, excommunicated by the parish priest, Father Neale, by the authority of the bishop. The young woman begged of Lord Doneraile to use his influence with the priest for the removal of the ban. His lordship willingly undertook the task. He proceeded in his carriage to the house of the old priest, whom he found engaged at prayer. He demanded a removal of the excommunication from the brother of his paramour. The priest replied, that he could not remove it without the sanction of the bishop, which, however, he promised to apply for. The indignant nobleman, unaccustomed to refusals, especially from one whom he