His  father  was  parish-clerk  of  St.  Werburgh's  Church,
Dublin,  but  in  what  part  of  Ireland  he  originated,  is  still
uncertain  ;  he  was  educated  in  the  Parish  ScJiool,  and  (as
he  told  the  Author  himself)  was  humourously  christened
Paddy,  having  been  born  on  St.  Patrick's  day.  He  sig-
nalized himself  as  a  scholar  in  the  University  of  Dublin,
of  which  he  was  chosen  a  fellow ;  he  soon  afterwards
quarrelled  with  the  Provost,  Mr.  Hutchinson,  and  every
person  who  did  not  coincide  with  his  humours,  and  wrote
a  number  of  severe  pamphlets,  of  which  "  LachrymcB
AcademiccB^^  and  ^^  Pra?iceriana,^^  are  the  most  notable;
the  first,  personally  against  the  conduct  of  the  Provost
and  Sir  Sohn  Blaquiere ;  the  second,  on  a  proposal  of  the
Provost's  to  establish  a  riding  house  for  the  students.
He  was  always  at  open  war  with  some  person,  during  the
whole  course  of  his  public  life.
He  left  the  University,  retaining  the  office  of  Law  Pro-
fessor ;'  was  shortly  afterwards  appointed  King's  Counsel ;
Judge  of  the  Prerogative  and  Consistory  Courts ;  King's
Advocate  to  the  High  Court  of  Admiralty ;  one  of  Lord
Castloreagh's  Commissioners  for  bribing  Members  of
Parliament ;  (Post;)  and  to  many  other  public  offices,
most  of  which  he  retained  to  his  death.  His  income  was
very  large,  and  he  must  have  privately  done  many  liberal
and  charitable  acts,  because  he  was  not  extravagant,  and
left  no  considerable  fortune  behind  him.
