S28 CURRAN. Hobart declined, saying he came there to give, and not to take, satisfaction. Mr. Curran then fired, without effect, and again called on Major Hobart, who had reserved his shot, but declined firing. Mr. Curran said he could not fire until the major took his turn. The major still refused; and said the gentleman might use his own discretion, and fire again if he pleased. This produced a short pause and some conversation between Mr. Curran and his seconds. Major Hobart, after waiting some time, desired to know if the gentleman had any further commands for him? Which being answered in the negative, as he would not fire, he bowed, and walked coolly off the ground to his carriage. The triumph in this affair certainly was not with Mr. Curran. The animosity of Mr. Fitagibbon towards Mr. Curran, by no means terminated in the affair of their duel. Parlia- mentary discussion frequently brought them into contact. Both were men of first-rate talents, equally prone to irrita- tion and keen asperity; constantly opposed on every great subject of debate; and, like two thunder clouds, they rarely approached each other without reciprocally exeiting electrie sparks, which shewed a constant aptitude for mutual explosion. Mr. Fitzgibbon was proud and dis- dainful; and apt to mark, by his manner, a feeling of conscious superiority towards those he considered his inferiors in connection, rank, and authority. Mr. Curran probably felt himself assorted amongst the number, and scorned to succumb; few, if any, occasions were suffered to pass without marking this feeling. But an incident occurred which gave Mr. Fitzgibbon a permanent oppor- tunity of marking bis peculiar hostility to Mr. Curran, infinitely more illustrative of an implacable spirit, than of a mind fitted to the high station to which his political stars had destined him-In short, the old chancellor, Lord Lifford, died about the time of his majesty's first mental malady, and the long and ardent services of Mr. Fitz- gibbon against the opposition phalanx in parliament, and against every symptom of popular spirit out of it, crowned
