478

PONSONB.Y. gibbon, the attorney-general, in reward for the zeal he had shewn in opposing the exercise of independence by the parliament on this occasion, obtained the chancellorship of Ireland soon afterwards, on the decease of Lord Lifford, this being the first time that honour had ever been conferred upon an Irishman. And, secondly, the measure itself, and the arguments by which it was supported, laid a feasible foundation for effecting the subsequent Union, and fur nished the principal reasonings urged by Lord Castlereagh and his partisans, for carrying that measure into effect, by a l l means, good o r bad, and a t a l l risks, a s indis pensable, t o prevent the ultimate separation o f both coun tries. I t i s , however, but justice t o the liberality o f Lord Clare, though a vindictive politician, t o state, that o n his quitting the bar t o mount the chancery bench, h e presented his bag o f briefs t o Mr. Ponsonby a s a very distinguishing mark o f his professional regard, and his approbation o f the legal abilities o f his political opponent; who, notwith standing his parliamentary exertions, which were ardent and indefatigable, pursued his forensic avocations with the most zealous industry and lucrative success. And, although his lordship, who frequently smarted under the satirical lash o f Mr. Curran's wit, and once fought a duel with him, carried even t o the equity bench his hostility, personal a s well a s political, t o that gentleman, insomuch a s t o ruin, b y his marked discountenance, the chancery practice o f Mr. Curran, b y much the most important and lucrative part o f his profession, h e observed a very dif ferent deportment towards Mr. Ponsonby. An incident which occurred t o the latter i n the course o f his legal practice, excited his marked hostility t o the chief judge o f the court o f King's Bench, John Scott, Earl o f Clonmell, and terminated i n something like the ruin of that noble lord. Mr. Scott had elevated himself b y the boldness o f his character, and his services t o the government, from very humble circumstances t o the high office h e then filled. A newspaper war had broken out