The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-03
"A Curious History.

or Isaac Butt, who has just been elected
to the British Parliament, from Limerick,
Justin Mccarthy gives the following inter-
esting sketch in his last London letter to tile
New York Euening Maa: Long years ago,
when most OF US were boys, Butt distinguish
ed himself as an opponent OF O'Connelrs.
He was professor OF political economy and
a lawyer. Then he suddenly flashed into a
genuine renown as the defender of Thomas
Francis Meagher, in the irish State trials OF
three-and-twenty years ago. Then, and
since then, I heard him often, and, THINK
allowing for all the defects arising from an
mpulsive and irregular nature, and an ex-
uberant physique, he was one OF the most
eloquent and persuasive speakers ! lave
ever heard. He had magnificent voice,
none the worse for its rich depth OF soDo-
rous Irish accent, and he had flashing
eyes that reminded you Of the descriptions
OF Robert Burns. He was anything but o
handsome man; his face looked like that OF
a negro-blanched; but his eyes, his voice
and his powerful frame lent him dignity and
something like grandeur. l think in his
lest days he must have somewhat resembled
Mirabeau. He was at this time, although
he defended the Irish prisoners, Tory and
a Pretectionist. He was taken up by the
English Protectionists, and became the pet
orator OF their great meetings. Through
this interest he entered the House of Com
mons as the representative OF an English
Tory borough. Gradually he renounced
Toryism and became Liberal. But mean
while he was falling fast into ruin. He lost
his practice at the bar, because no one
could trust him to keep his engagements.
He became renowned in London as gam
bier, o spendthrift, scapegrace OF every
kind. shrink from saying to what depths
OF degradation sank this richly-gifted, gen.
erous man. At last he disappeared from
Parliament and from society. He was past
the prime of life, and every one regarded
him as gone forever. But Ritter some years
he turned up again, resumed the practice OF
his profession in Dublin, and was said to
have put aside wholly the eerrors-not OF his
youth, but OF his well-Eatured years. He
became the most conspicuous advocate OF
the Eenian prisoners, sEd, unlike most very
eloquent pleaders, Brtt is a profound and
a willy lawyer, as wep as a persuasive, pow
erful orator. He soon recovered his for
ieited popularity, srd has, l believe, ~elE
nigh regained his place in society. II he
goes into Parliament again, and becomes
the leader OF the Irish Nationalist party
there he will lenG to that party force and
q subtlety which it now badly wants. Set
ting aside Gladstone and John Bright, oi
course, know o! no man among the Eng
lish Liberals to 'be compared for eloquence
and capacity with big, iervid Isaac Butt j
he really does set out in new career every
one will wish him WE'LL The man never,
think, had an enemy, even among the credi
tors whom he neglected, and the cabmer
whose fares he sometimes would not pay
After all, heSstill has time to make name
for, although he was distinguished mar
five and thirty years ago, he is not sixty
wears old DOW. He began life soon anc
lived many lives. Perhaps he will lind nj:
real career now at last"