Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/474

470 PONSONBY. His younger son, Mr. George Ponsonby, having com pleted his preparatory education under the paternal roof, was transferred to a public school, and thence to the uni versity of Cambridge, where he distinguished himself eminently by his natural talents, and by his acquirements; and as his senior brother, in the order of primogeniture, was fated to enjoy the hereditary fortune, the junior was destined to supply the defect of patrimony, by a profes sional avocation. The law, which had been a source of success and ele vation to his father, naturally suggested itself as the line best suited to the talents and future fortunes of the son ; as it had been to many of the junior branches of great families in Ireland: nor were the father's views disap pointed in the sequel; as a l l the honours attendant on the most successful career, were a t length fairly attained b y him. I n the year 1780, h e was called t o the Irish bar, a t the Four Courts, Dublin; but a considerable time elapsed, before h e evinced that application, industry, and sedulous attendance i n the courts, which are absolutely necessary even t o the moderate success o f a young lawyer. But, whether his hopes were damped b y the difficulties o f com petition with the talents o f numerous seniors, who pre occupied s o much o f eminence and emolument; o r whether his object was t o mature his legal knowledge b y close study, i n order t o start a t a future period with more splendour and effect, i s not easy t o conjecture. Certain, however, i t i s , that h e seemed t o decline the tedium o f a long and sedulous attendance o n the courts, i n his serge robe, the silent observer o f the assiduous exertions o f others. And, although i t was obvious, from subsequent events, that h e b y n o means neglected the legal researches necessary t o his future eminence, his apparent pursuits took a turn incompatible with his forensic interests; fox hunting and politics seemed t o occupy the whole o f his attention; and h e contrived, after a time, t o obtain a seat i n that parliament, where h e afterwards figured a s a dis tinguished leader. I n 1782, when the Duke o f Portland