argue or speak from them — seldom noting them — being able to trust entirely to his unfailing and accurate memory. There is a beautiful bust of Lord Plunket in the Library of Trinity College. Dr. Madden, whilst commenting severely upon his conduct at the trial of Robert Emmet, quotes the following concerning his character: "As time, however, wears on, the stains will vanish in the general brightness, and the student of the political history of Ireland will recognize in Lord Plunket one of those mighty minds that exalt a nation, whose renown is imperishably interwoven with the history and the fortunes of their country. Plunket's eloquence has long gained for itself the highest prize of fame. In a period eminent for intellectual distinction both in Ireland and in England, he vindicated to himself universal admiration. Owing nothing of his celebrity to birth, wealth, or official rank, he required none of these factitious supports to move freely in the loftiest regions of professional and parliamentary effect, dignity, and distinction.
" ^37 331
Ponsonby, George, Lord-Chancellor, was born 5th March 1755. [His father resigned the speakership of the Irish House of Commons in 1771, rather than be the mouthpiece of a resolution passed by the popular party.] He studied at Cambridge, was called to the Irish Bar in 1780, and in 1782 was appointed counsel to the Revenue Commissioners, with a salary of £1,200. This post he lost on the recall of the Duke of Portland. Entering Parliament, he joined the popular party, and with Grattan and his friends struggled against the system of jobbery and corruption then prevailing in the House of Commons. He was the personal friend of Earl Fitzwilliam, and strenuously supported the Emancipation Act of 1793, and the further efforts for the relief of the Catholics. He offered an unflinching opposition to the measure of Union. On the advent to power of the Whigs in 1806 he was appointed Lord-Chancellor of Ireland. He secured for his friend Curran the appointment of Master of the Rolls, with £4,000 per annum; "but, unfortunately, there were some matters in this arrangement which, instead of cementing the existing friendship, had the effect of creating a long and painful separation between the two. . . During his [Mr. Ponsonby's] last illness, Mr. Curran being in London, became reconciled to his old friend, and, after his lamented death, took every opportunity of recalling his great qualities of head and heart, and the long and faithful services by which the name of Ponsonby is endeared to Ireland.
"^*
On change of Ministry in 1807, he entered the House of Commons, where he took a prominent part for several years, directing his attention principally to measures of law reform. He was seized with paralysis in the House of Commons, and died 8th July 1817, aged 62. He was buried at Kensington. Henry Grattan, Jun., says: "He possessed a love of liberty, and of a sort that would not suffer it to overturn the Government. His aristocracy was not a bad one; he was of use in Ireland, and deserved well of her; he had a public mind, and felt for his country; he had a just reserved sense of her injuries, and would not omit any occasion to redress them; he was a good patron and a good father, and had a good understanding. His voice was soft and pleasing; his manner calm and impressive; his temper unruffled and happy; vivacity characterized his mind, and generosity his disposition. He was an able speaker, and possessed an argumentative humour, a cunning shrewdness, and a knowledge of the folly of mankind."
'^* ?*
Popham, Sir Home Riggs, Admiral, was born in Ireland,^^ 12th October 1762. He was educated at Westminster, and having passed a year at Cambridge, entered the navy. In 1782 he attained the rank of lieutenant, and in 1795 was appointed post-captain, and won credit for his services in different parts of the world. He was envoy to Russia in 1799. His opening up the Red Sea to European commerce, in 1803, brought down upon him the displeasure of the House of Commons. On 8th January 1806 he commanded the fleet which contributed to the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope. Thence he proceeded to the Rio de la Plata, where he landed 2,000 troops, and captured the town of Buenos Ayres on the 26th June. The Spaniards retook the place on 12th August, and the British garrison were made prisoners. On the arrival of British reinforcements, Monte Video was carried by storm in February 1807. In May, 8,000 men under General Whitelocke were defeated in an attempt to retake Buenos Ayres, and the British were ultimately obliged to evacuate the country. For the rash and unauthorized inception of the original attack on Buenos Ayres, Captain Popham was brought to a court-martial, and severely reprimanded. After this he served in the Baltic; and during the Peninsular War commanded the Venerable, 74. In 1813 he accompanied Lord Moira to India, in command of the Stirling Castle. In 1814 he attained the rank of rear-admiral,
