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 The Hall of Four Courts. good-by banished what little prudence his enthusiasm had left him. In the dock he was only too eager to avow his guilt. He was heard without any great interruption, and when his defiance was over, was sentenced and executed next day.

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and questioned him. Rector Boyse was a rough Maecenas, but withal a kindly one. Some sweets easily lured the young Horace to the Rectory. Here he began a more systematic education, and was soon sent to a grammar-school at the expense of his patron. In 1769 he entered Trinity College, Dublin. Several of the past leaders of the bar are As his biographer observes, he passed through worthy of more than the scant allusion which it at once " the glory of the college and its has been made to

shame," — a periphra them in this sketch of •— sis of the fact that, like the Four Courts and Goldsmith, his rela their traditions. Fore tions with his Alma most among this Mater were not of group stands the sub that cordial character ject of the following to be wished for so brief memoir. distinguished a son. The father of John Thence he went to Philpot Curran was London, and entered seneschal of the Manor at the Middle Temple Court at Newmarket. in 1773. Prior to his Every biographer is return to Ireland and wont to descant on the his call to the bar. Curmagnitude of this of ran married his cousin fice (although New MissCreagh,—a union market was but a vil which, if its after re lage, and other village sults were unhappy, seneschals are not ac seems to have made counted great). One is him abandon a pro perforce reminded of jected emigration to Lowell in a like case, America, and so saved and his cynical uproot for Ireland a man ing of the Keats family whom she could ill JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN. tree. Those who, with have spared. In 1775 him, are not accus he was called to the tomed to measure genius by genealogies Irish Bar, and began to haunt the Four will accept Curran's own statement that his Courts and to sigh, like the young Princess, father gave him nothing but " an unattrac for the suitor that never came. The friend tive face and person like his own." Curran ship of such men as Barry Gelverton (after was born on July 24, 1750. He was, ere wards Lord Avonmore) and Arthur Wolfe he was in his teens, known as the young wit (Lord Kilwarden), who saw in the ill-looking of the parish, " serving an apprenticeship little orator talents which wanted pushing to to every kind of idleness and mischief." the front, gave him at last the opening for His chances of education seemed poor until which he had waited. one day, as he was holding a review of his He received briefs in one or two important young army of admirers, ragged as Falstaffs cases, and almost at once sprang from poverty and as dangerous to the peace, the rector of to affluence and from obscurity to fame. Newmarket, attracted by his waggery, stopped Curran defended almost every political pris