an. The Provost of Dublin
University, a Privy Councillor, fought Mr. Doyle, a Master in
Chancery, and several others. His brother, collector of
Customs, fought Lord Mountmorris. Harry Deane Grady, counsel to
the Revenue, fought several duels; and 'all hits,' adds
Barrington, with unction. Curran fought four persons, one of
whom was Egan, Chairman of Kilmainham; afterwards his friend,
with Lord Buckinghamshire. A duel in these days was often a
prelude to intimacy."

In spite, nevertheless, of this rude, nay, almost wild condition of
society,--in spite of a most fantastic affectation attending nearly
every act and thought and word,--yet were Curran and his cotemporaries
men of great and vigorous ability. Grattan, Curran, and Flood, deserve
indeed to take rank among the foremost class of their own age,--among
the men of genius of every age and country. If we speak of them as
orators, and wish to judge of their excellence with relation to the
great orators of our own country, we must bear in mind the character of
the society in which they lived, and of the assemblies they addressed.
It would be unjust to try them by the rules of our fastidious taste and
undemonstrative manners. They addressed Irishmen, and Irishmen just when
most excited, and indulging in all the wild sallies of a dearly-prized
and lately acquired independence. What to us would appear offensive rant
and disgusting affectation, would, in the Irish House of Commons, have
been but the usual manifestation of strong feeling, and was absolutely
required, if the speaker desired to move as well as convince his
auditory.

If, however, we seek to know what was the virtue of these men, more
especially that of Curran, we must probe to the bottom the corruptions
and baseness of that society, which deserves to be branded as among the
most base and the most corrupt that history has hitherto described. The
temptations which England employed, the horrible corruption and
profligacy she fostered, must be fully known, if we desire to do justice
to the men who came out undefiled from that filthy ordeal.

THE LOST LETTER.

From Chambers' Papers for the People.

I.

One night, between twenty and thirty years ago, a party were assembled
in the drawing-rooms of a house situated in one of the most spacious
squares of the great metropolis. The brightly lighted lamps lent an
additional lustre to yet brighter eyes, and the spright