FITZGIBBON. 133 son, whose return had been annulled by the committee, on the ground of undue influence in the returning officer, the Right Hon. John Hely Hutchinson, Provost of the College. He became in a few years one of the leading characters in the Irish senate, where he invariably and indefatigably supported ministers against what was then termed “the patriotic party,” consisting of Grattan, Curran, &c. &c.; and in 1784, on the opening afforded by the elevation of Mr. Scott to the bench, his lordship was appointed to the very important, and in Ireland confidential law situation, of attorney-general; and in this office, his firmness, energy, and decisive conduct, are well known. A striking instance of this, which we derive from a biographical compilation, rather of a recent date, we cannot refrain from reciting:- At a time when a popular ferment, produced by various causes, strongly prevailed in the metropolis of Ireland, a general meeting of the inhabitants was, at the requisition of several respectable persons, called by the sheriffs; his lordship, then attorney-general, and one of the most un popular men in the kingdom, came to the meeting accom panied only by one or two friends, and forced his way through the mob, who had latterly been in the habit of offering personal insults to those whom they suspected of being adverse to their measures; and getting upon the hustings, interrupted a popular orator in the midst of h i s harangue; h e then told the sheriffs, that they had acted illegally i n convening the meeting, commanded them t o leave the chair, and threatened them with a n information ex-officio, i f they presumed t o continue i t
h e then left the astonished and staring assembly, amidst the hisses o f the mob, and the sheriffs instantly dissolved the meeting. I n June 1789, o n the decease o f Lord Chancellor Lifford, the zeal and fidelity o f the subject o f this memoir was rewarded, a s well a s a full scope t o the exertion o f his professional talents given him, b y h i s appointment t o the very important office o f lord high chancellor o f Ireland,
