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26 fluential a friend in England. His suit proved successful, though the Earl did not become Lord Lieutenant.

His son, in the first of the following letters, dutifully laments some delay which had occurred in the transit to the seat of justice. In the second, we hear of what was no doubt the first feat of his own in the business of law—making a will; and, the late difficulty in promotion being conquered by his father, he is not a little pleased to change the address from “Mr. Serjeant” to “The Honourable Mr. Justice Malone, Stephen's Green, Dublin.”

Avignon, Dec. 29, 1766. I little imagined some time ago that my letter would find you in London in the beginning of January; but by one that I received from my brother yesterday, I find this may possibly overtake you, before your departure for Ireland. I need not tell you how concerned I am at the occasion of your stay. It was, indeed, a great mortification to me, for I had flattered myself that after you once had got my Lord Bristol's absolute promise, and only waited for Judge Marshall's letters, nothing could have prevented you from succeeding. It shall be a lesson to me never to believe in any great man's word, unless coupled with performance, and to aspire by every honest means at the greatest blessing of life, independence.

Possibly, however, your powerful friend may still be able to effect something for you; if that has been the case, I hope you will be so good as to write me a few words before you leave London. I have written to you two or three times since I came to this town; but imagining you would be in Ireland about the middle of last month, addressed all my letters to Stephen's Green. My Lord Southwell, on the same supposition when he answered your letter, directed to the same place. He sent you two advertisements; one of thanks to the county Limerick, and the other for his son,