tion to the immortal Dunning; a barrister who united to great professional powers, transcendant parliamentary talent, and will be admired by the latest posterity as the reputed author of Junius, and friend of Sir William Jones. The new Chancellor did not imitate his successor, or a few of his predecessors, in attempting to guide the state machinery of this kingdom; such presumption would not be tolerated by the Viceroy, nor leading parliamentary interests; besides. Chancery gave him sufficient employment. That nobleman never practised in an Equity Court, nor received a solid classic education, whence he might extract those literary powers, which render profound legal research a matter of real amusement, and enable barristers to unravel and retain law's subtlest intricacies with electric rapidity and philosophic strength. His ambition was confined to judicial and technical accuracy, which useful attainment, combined with patience, politeness, and honesty, highly entitled him to public esteem.
When the line of particular station was rendered familiar or intelligible. Lord Lifford's skill as a common lawyer, gave strength and lustre to many decisions.
The political movements of state did not originate with Lord Lifford; that wavering and slippery fame rested on different shoulders, whilst his necessary subservience to existing administration was overlooked or forgot in acknowledged purity of judicial character—a blessing truly merited by Irishmen, from the hereditary attachment and reverence which they bear to such quality.
In the year 1784, three judges were added to the common law courts, and as two died in autumn, 1783, five persons mounted the judicial seat—a number only to be equalled in modern time by the arrangement which took place immediately after the union. A symmetry with the exterior forms of English government was speciously held out, and in most instances became a veil for extensive and increased patronage. Twelve judges thus graced annual sessions, and aided by legal accuracy, the active enemies of an Irish peerage. That august body compensated
