disturb the mass of lower classes by progressive severity or restraint.
James found, that in despite of all previous management, there was a very close contest for the situation of Speaker. The rival candidates must appear equally remarkable to posterity Sir John Everard was an Irishman of ancient English descent, extensive landed estate, and who had held a judicial office with integrity and talent; Sir John Davys was an Englishman of lively genius and universal knowledge, but unknown in this country beyond the circle of the Castle or four Courts, and a legal adventurer, whose property consisted of abbey grants, or a portion of confiscated lands. If the Court determined to uphold their favourite by weight of prerogative, or the admission of improper votes, Opposition seemed to forget by a premature act of secession, the parliamentary objection which lay to the admission of an Attorney-General at that time as a private member; for in 1604 it was resolved in England that the Attorney shall in that Parliament remain, but no such member to serve as a member after. In Ireland the preceding indulgent practice had never been adopted by any Parliament and Sir Lucas Dillon, an Irish Attorney-General, did not sit in Sydney's time, but attended as an assistant to the Upper House, and when called upon as an adviser to the Commons, An appeal was made to the King, who precipitately and obstinately adhered to Ministers, though his affected inquiry savours of a doubt as to the greater number of voters.
His second reference is characteristic of James. An examination was to be had whether any and how many of Everard's voters spoke no English, or understood the Bible. Had Nelson lived under such a monarch, the Sound or the Nile would not recommend him to employment more certainly than a mixed portion of courtly and scholastic craft. As the landed settlement of Ireland required an enlightened legal establishment, the judicial character through James's reign corresponded with the Royal engagement at the commencement of his government. The Judges were, without exception, able men, and merited
