The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-01 00:00:00

SCOTCHMEN IN IRELAND.

It is with true vexation of spirit that we have of late
noticed the narrow-minded and frivolous objections which
an inconsiderable portion of the Irish bar have raised
against the appointment of Baron Campbell, on the sole
ground that he is of Scotch extraction. Our surprise,
however, would have been far more circumscribed, had

their senseless ululations against the new Chancellor
arisen only from that body of hot-headed and untamed
young barristers, who, like the hounds about the midriff
of John Milton's " Sin," bark never-ceaselessly around
the precincts of the Irish Courts, having no briefs to bark
upon within. This would have been nothing uncom-
mon, nor would it have created in us surprise, for so
long as the moon and sun endure, " cats will mew and
dogs will have their day." But that which struck us
with no less astonishment than regret, which " rather in
sorrow than in anger" grieved us, was the announce-
ment in the Irish urnals that a professional man, who
from his years, respectability, and long practice, had
been honoured with the venerable cognomen of "Father
of the Irish bar," was the ringleader and promoter of
this host of turbulent heroes, who, dignifying their minds
with no generous principles, cry out upon a man of
great and sterling learning, because, not having been
born within sound of their Kilkenny cow-horns, he is
appointed to adjudicate in their Courts, and discharge the
duties of the Chancellorship. Mr. Dickson, upon his in-
vestiture with so patriarchal a title as the above, should
surely have adopted something like benevolent and pa-
triarchal feelings. From his long intercourse with men,
he ought to have got something of that capaciousness of
mind which keeps a man out of the narrow hampers of
sectarian bigotry, and endows him with that large and
philosophical spirit, which abjures as it would Ge-
henna, all villainous, narrow, party spirit. But this
has not been the case, and when old age has once
rooted its principles and prejudices, no power
on earth is likely to effect a conversion, or
succeed in alluring such a mind to stretch an
infinitesimal in favour of a better practice. In such a
case, all that can be done is to meet your adversary with
the weapons he has himself selected, and with a sword
out of his own armoury beat the concession out of him.
Now, one of the hottest cries raised by this gentleman
and his party, is a vociferation that there is no precedent
for a Scotchman having held a seat, or having been
invested with sanction to sit, in the administration of
any office in Ireland ; that from time immemorial, the
Irish have invariably had none but their own fellow-
countrymen in any office in the land, and that the in -
trusion of a stranger is a thing unheard of, and unsanc-
tionable by any former authority.
This we deny; and if the energy which has prompted
them to this issue had prompted them to look over their
books before they had made so absolute an assertion,
they would certainly have abated somewhat of their
rashness. To look over the list of Irish Chancellors with
satisfactory scrutiny, we have not
.yet been able, but have
no doubt, on looking into the origin of some, that they
will afford us and our opponents plenty of precedents
The " Liber Hiberniae " is not at our elbows, but taking
the first volume at hand, viz. " Beatson's Political Index,"
we find instances of almost, we should say, stronger co-
gency than a more direct precedent of the Chancellorship
would supply. Their force arises from the fact, that even
in the religious ranks—ranks where an intolerant spirit
has always been carried to the fiercest extreme, admitting
in no state or country intrusion in any shape or way—
there have been several instances, which we could mul-
tiply on searching, of Scotchmen filling seats, and those
seats of great dignity, in the land of Ireland, proving
that a freer and more liberal order of sentiment existed
in the generally bigoted Church than among the en-
lightened thinkers of the independent Irish Bar.
Without further comment, we shall plainly lay them
before our readers in catalogue shape, as instances upon
which to ponder
BISIIOFS OF IRELAND.
DISHOP6 OF DOWN AND CONNOR.

The thirty-seventh Bishop of Down and Connor was
James Dundas, in 1612. He was Chanter of Moray, in
Scotland.

Robert Echlin, the thirty-eighth Bishop of this See,
in 1613, was a Scotchman.

BISHOPS OF lIAPHOE.

1611. Andrew Know. Translated from Orkney, in
Scotland.
1633. John Lesley. Translated from Orkney, in
Scotland—translated to Clogher.
1681. In this ye: 'r Alexander Cairncros3 was Bishop
of this See, formerly Archbishop of Glasgow, in Scotl md.

• PUBLIC DINNER to MR. DICKENS.
(From the Edinburgh Advertiser.) •
On Friday upwards of 250 gentlemen sat down to
dinner in the Great Waterloo Room, at six o'clock, Pro-
fessor Wilson in the chair. Upon the platform we ob-
served Professor Wilson, who entered with the distin-
guished guest on his arm, and was supported on the
right by the honoured guest, Sir G. Warrender, Bart.,
Sir William Hamilton, Bart., Sir Charles Bell, Professor
Alison, Professors Christison, Trail and Syme, Alex.
Blackwood, Esq., Charles Neaves, Esq., Dr. D. M. Moir
(Delta) ; and on the left by the Lord Provost, Hon. Bou-
verie Primrose, Sir Edward Lees, Captain Archibald
Sinclair, R.N., Mr. Sheriff Cay, William Drysdale, Esq.,
of Pitteuchar, Major Irton, Hon. Mr. Kerr, Angus Flet-
cher, Esq., of Dunans.
In the body of the hall Mr. P. Robertson occupied the
Croupier's chair, supported on the right and left by the
Hon. Horace Walpole, George Williamson Ramsay, Esq.,
Advocate, William Allan, Esq., P.R.S.A., Professor
Si/h.-non, James Miller, Esq., surgeon, Dr. Neill, Coun-
cillor
.Newton, Adam Black, Esq., Robert Blackwood,
Esq., J. T. Gordon, Esq., advocate, R W. Hamilton,
Esq., D. a Pill, Esq., William Tait, Esq., Mark Sprot,
Esq., of Garnk;:k, William M. Craufurd, Esq., of Col-
liston, William Drysdale, Esq., jun., of Pitteuchar, F.
Roland, Esq., D. Buchanan, sq., Alexander Sinclair,
Esq., Horatio M'Culloeb, Esq., Major Nairn, Alexander
Goodsir, Esq., Professor Blackie, Bailie Richardson, &c.
An instrumental band, conducted by Mr. R. B. Stewart,
performed appropriate and popular airs throughout the
evening, with admirable effect.
The cloth having been removed, a number of ladies
entered the galleries, and were received by the company
standing, and testifying their applause.
The CHAIRMAN gave " The Queen"— three times
three. " Prince Albert"—three times three and cheers.
" The Princess Royal"—three times three, and one cheer
more, from Captain Sinclair. " The Queen Dowager,
and the rest of the Royal Family," was received with
three times three, and one cheer more. " The Navy and
Army"—three times three. Rule Britannia and British
Grenadiers.

Major IRTON returned thanks, and rejoiced to assure
every one present that none more highly than the United
Services appreciated the literary character of the dis-
tinguished guest.
Professor WILSON, who, on coming forward, was re-
ceived with long-continued cheering, said—ln rising to
propose the health of our distinguished, our illustrious
guest—(Cheers)—l may remark that, as a people, we
are distingaished for our nationality ; we are supposed
to be proud—indeed we are supposed sometimes to be
too proud of the national character—to be too proud of
the achievements which native genius has wrought. But
I would remark that nothing great or good can ever be
expected to be produced in any land of which the natives
do not rejoice that they were born there—who do not con-
sider their clime and their country as the best of all
climes and countries under the sun—who are not at-
tached to the customs and habits of their country—who
do not reverence the memory of their forefathers, and
who do not trust in Providence that their bones may be
laid in their native soil.—(Great cheering.) But while
I hesitate not to express those sentiments, I am sure that
I may with perfect truth declare that the whole heart of
Scotland beats with love and admiration for the character
of England.—(Cheers.) I know that in our ears it sounds
as the most majestic and magnificent of 'names, which we
rejoice at all times to welcome, as we do to identify our-
selves with her great men, whether statesmen, philoso-
phers, poets, or warriors ; or whether we are delighted
when, on visiting our country, they bring before us the
consummate courtesy and polish of their manners—that
consummate courtesy, elegance, and grace which belongs
more peculiarly to them, and makes them, as it were, the
very chosen people of ie earth.—(Cheers.) It is to do
honour to a son of that illustrious land that we are now
met together.—(Renewed cheers.) This is no ordinary
assemblage—no mere confraternity of literary men or
authors, who are proud to honour one that has outstripped
them all in the race.—(Great cheering.) This meeting
is composed of men of different professional pursuits, of
-different characters, of different degrees and kinds of
mental cultivation and moral culture, but who are all
agreed in admiration of genius, and capable of sympa-
thising with the victory that his genius has given him,
and with the pure and noble sentiments which it has im-
mortalised.—(Continued cheers.) I shall not presume to
say, or to lay claim, or arrogate to ourselves, the character
of being, as it were, the representatives of our country's
opinions and sentiments regarding our distinguished
guest ; but I do not hesitate so say, that wherever he
may show himself over what we somewhat poetically
call broad Scotland, there will be a feeling of enthusiasm
towards him in all ranks. They will hold him as one of those
original geniuses who has struck out a new path for him-
self; and introduced a beauty and lustre over many parts
esteemed before to be barren and desolate, and over
which no flower of genius could be supposed to blow.—
(Great applause.) And, allow me to say, there is some-
thing not inappropriate in the time at which we are now
met. At this time, the whole of the country is justly
and rightly agitated, astir and active with political sen-
timents. I said justly and rightly, for every man who
loves his country as he ought to do will stand up for its
cause, whatever may be his peculiar opinions, inspired
by a genuine patriotism, and desiring nothing shall be
done save for his country's good—(Cheers) —in the
midst of such feelings as are now rapidly about to
spread all over the country—is it not delightful that we
should hold for a certain season—(Cheers)—a sort of
truce, in which we can speak of subjects that are of ever-
lasting interest—in which we can speak of sentiments
and feelings which shall blend themselves in the heart
and bosom of the patriot, and without which he does not
deserve the name of a lover of his country, for he knows
not the power of the genius and soul concentrated in the
understandings of her gifted sons. Yes, Gentlemen, I
will say that the love of liberty and the love of literature,
are kindred and cognate. I will say that the spirit of
literature is a free, bold, and independent spirit,—l will
say that this spirit is sacred to liberty, for it spurns
from it every thing that is low, mean, and vicious; all
servility, and all sycophaucy.—(Cheers.) The man of
genius stands erect, and is not ashamed to show his face
anywhere—he is not ashamed to show his face, whether
in multitudes who may sympathise with him to the very
top of his bent, or in multitudes who, by their frowns,
desire to spurn him from them. No, his bosom is filled with
noble and independent thoughts, that bid defiance to all
such passing things, for lie who prosecutes literature as
it ought to be prosecuted—he to whom Heaven has given
the gift of genius, feels his soul free at all times, rejoices ,
his might, and rejoices to unfold his wings, whether
in the sunshine or in the storm, and ardently desires
that the whole human race should enjoy that "liberty
which is the birthright of all, and by the power of which
he himself works all those miracles which delight and
astonish mankind.—(Cheers.) It would indeed be pre-
sumptuous, and altogether unnecessary in me, were I to
attempt to draw anything like a character or picture of
the endowm:mts with which our distinguished guest is
mentally gift 2d. I shall merely say this, which you all
know, that he is perhaps the most popular writer now
alive—(Cheers)—in popularity at least he is second
to no man of this age.—(Renewed cheering.) Now, in
regard to popularity, there are some who pretend even
to despise it ; perhaps if their opinions could be narrowly
looked into, atd their own characters strictly scanned, it
would be found that they despised it chiefly on the ground
that it was something placed very far beyond their own
reach, and which, nevertheless, they are incessantly han-
kering after.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) You are still
all well aware that there have been always men of tran-
scendent genius who have not been popular. It is easy
to believe, for it is difficult to believe otherwise, that
great philosophers have not been duly estimated during
their own lifetime—it is easy to imagine that some of the
greatest poets were not popular during their lifetime,
from the nature of the subjects chosen by them—they
desired and required a fit audience, and finding it not,
they were driven to trust to an accumulation of ages for
an audience beyond the tomb. It is undeniable, too, that
there are various kinds of beauty which are not im-
mediately apparent. The popular sense which requires
Ion(' years of cultivation to open up the popular
mind to the perception of such beauty, and you can
easily imagine much beauty of a high order, which
perhaps will never be appreciated by all, for it
would scarcely be true to say, that Milton's Paradise
Lost, or the sublime poems of Dante, are, or ever will
be what is termed popular. But is that any reason for
us to look down with scorn on those productions of ge-
nius which are truly popular, and popular on. just and
right grounds, because they appeal to feelings implanted
in human nature, and find a universal response re-
inthtahte
hfierssthpalllace beforean
turned all over the land ?—(Loud cheers.) It is
cer-
tainlydaaieannothenecpeospsuarlL,,
i tenderlye
sympathise "'l-
and deeply with his fellow-men in whatever
situation, or sphere they may be placed ? condition,lt is
ne-
cessary that he should prefer the peculiar and not'
instinctive
sense of mankind to his own peculiar feelings
etivande
that while he does not sacrifice his own feelings totheirs,
but catches fresh light and nature fromth
assurance that as " nature one touch of
makes the whole
world kin," so a hundred touches from
the same
_ustrsource
will spread his fame over the land,
that will not die around his grave and shed
.hata
man
of
ege-
nius in his heart despises popularity ? No one who
has acquired it—gaining, perhaps, without desiring it—
but must be proud of receiving it ; for he then knows
that he has not written in vain ; he takes the praise of
living men as an earnest of the praise that shall be be-
stowed on him in future years ; and he rejoices in his
popularity, though perhaps in moments of sadness and
despondency he may estimate it low. It is not incon-
sistent or mean to strive for the possession of that which
has been gained by the highest minds in arts, in arms,
in philosophy ; nor can it be paltry to seek for posses-
sion of that which, when got, is never despised—which
men hug in their hearts while living, and of which they
are not unwilling that some -hint should be inscribed on
their graves.—(Loud cheers.) We all know, that if we
look back either to the history of literature or to the his-
tory of mankind, we do meet with instances where great
popularity has been achieved with, as we are disposed to
believe, very inadequate powers, and, therefore, very un-
worthily bestowed. Still there had been some power, and,
perhaps, some little genius possessed, and the possessor
had availed himself of some favourable circumstances eshaind
the tone and structure of society of the period—he
endeavoured to profit by some of those popu ardga e
; but the more e ectu-
which were breathing at timetheclly
did he show that he
ally he profited,
the
n' and that his bark had been rig
had some sail to carry, ewer of floats had some pe
ged and was still sea-worth
Yg
other men. But, in this
that distinguished hint above
case, how, I ask
you'a s popularity been
h has our friends s
it been attained ? It has been
attained, in the first place,
attained—l say how
.
during an age more prolific
of great men poetry, and
in all the various walks of
otter which ever illustrated the
fiction, than than in any o
(Hear.) He had formidable com-
nals of thisdcrioti‘nt7.
an
petitors
rivals, not only amongst those now living,
but amongst those
awho have lived for a century back ;
and when we look and consider that it is the mind of
those people he has appealed' to, who are not surely igno-
rant of the immortal efforts of llefoe , -Richardson Field-
ing, and Smollett,—tliat it was the same nation woo had