HUTCHINSON. 329 self by his talents and academical acquirements, as a very promising candidate for the profession of the law, to which he was destined, and of which he became a very splendid ornament. He was called to the Irish bar in Michaelmas term 1748, and afterwards took the additional name of Hutchinson in right of his wife, Christina, daugh ter of Lorenzo Nixon, of Murny, in the county of Wick low, Esq. and niece and heiress of Richard Hutchinson, Esq. of Knocklofty, in the county of Tipperary. With family connexions of high respectability, a learned and accomplished education, and a commanding eloquence, Mr. Hutchinson rapidly made his way to eminence in his profession; and at an early period, obtained a seat in the House of Commons, the great lottery for advancement, to which, even up to the hour of i t s final dissolution o n the Union, the gentlemen o f the Irish bar, looked a s the most lucrative mart o f talents, and the certain road t o power and wealth. His political information, and his powers o f oratory, soon rendered his alliance and support a desirable acquirement with the government o f that day. He speedily acquired the honourable distinction o f a silk gown; and, i n the year 1762, received the appointment o f his majesty's prime serjeant a t law, which office h e retained until 1774, when h e resigned that and a l l the emoluments o f his legal profession, t o embrace the appoint ment o f provost o f Trinity College, Dublin, o n the death o f Francis Andrews, L.L. D.; which office he retained till his death, i n 1795. He represented for many years the city o f Cork, i n parliament, and i n that assembly was long eminent for the splendour o f his talents, and the powers o f his eloquence. I n his personal contests with the celebrated Mr. Flood, (for, i n the earlier part o f their parliamentary career, they were engaged i n many,) Mr. Hutchinson was supposed t o have had the advantage. The respect which h e uniformly observed towards the House, and the style o f h i s elo quence, might have contributed somewhat t o this. His oratory was o f that gayer kind, which captivates a n Irish
