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CAULFIELD S98 other eminent persons in the latter country, he visited the celebrated Baron Montesquieu, at his residence near Bourdeaux, by whom he was received with the utmost urbanity, and in whom his lordship was not a little asto- nished to find blended the learning, talents, and profound philosophy of the author of L'Esprit du Loi, witb all the agreeable levity, vivacity, and inexhaustible chit-chal of a refined petit-maître of the Parisian circles, although thea at the age of seventy.His lordship also renewed his ioti- macy with Monsieur de Nivernois, St. Palaye, Helvétius, the Marquis Mirabeau. At the Count D'Argenson's, and the Duke de Biron's, he met many eminent characters both French and English.-In 1755, after an absence of nine years, he returned to his native country, for which, all the attractions of foreign travel and extensive intercourse with the arts, courts, the literature, and manners of the most polished nations of Europe, never abated his affections; nor was his country, during his absence, unmindful of him in whom sbe contemplated one of her future and best friends and ornaments. His return, therefore, was gladly hailed by all ranks; and the Lord Chancellor Jocelyn, eminent for his discernment, spoke of bim as a young nobleman of whom his country had reason to form the highest expectations. The state of society at that day in Ireland had but few inducements to secure the constant residence of a young nobleman just returned from a nine years' intercourse with the most polished nations, splendid courts, and eminent characters of Europe, amongst which he had moved. Much of bis time, therefore, was spent amongst his friends in England. His zeal, however, to promote the freedom and prosperity of Ireland, never slept, and in the course of some years, his love of the natale solum superseded all foreign attachments, and induced him to make the land of his birth that of his constant residence; although at the time of his return, aud long afterwards, it. was the prevail- ing, fasbion with the Irish nobility and prineipal gentry, Lo xeside in France or England: for, it must be adnitted,