Ixxxix 



of the first year of George IT. required a public profession of the 

 Protestant faith for two years previously to being called to the 

 Bar ; accordingly, in two years after his conformity, that is, in 1 766, 

 he became a member of the Irish Bar, having commenced his study 

 of the law in London duriug the year 1761. 



Mr. Kirwan has often described the study of the English law 

 as an Herculean labour. He applied himself intensely to it, and, 

 owing to the depth of his researches, his progress was slow, but 

 his retention of principles was stronger than that of his contem- 

 porary students. His earliest acquaintance with the feudal system 

 was derived from the study of the German constitution; and so 

 earnest was he in the pursuit of his object, that he paid a special 

 visit to Germany for the purpose of consulting the original 

 authorities. 



During his legal studies in London, his wife died at Menlo, in 

 1765. Her illness was not at first alarming, and hence his friends 

 did not inform him of her indisposition. He returned to Ireland a 

 week after her death, and then for the first time learned his be- 

 reavement. His regret was poignant, and he ever afterwards spoke 

 of the circumstance with deep regret. She left two daughters, 

 Maria Theresa, afterwards married (1793) to Lord Trimleston, 

 father of the present peer ; and Eliza, to Colonel Hugh Hill, sub- 

 sequently of the Battle-axe Guards (1792). 



While Mr. Kirwan attended the practice of the law Terms, he 

 maintained no domestic establishment ; his winters were spent in 

 Dublin, and his summers in Galway, or on circuit. Being engaged 

 in some difficult cases, and having received in each a fee of but two 

 guineas, he was so dissatisfied with its disproportion to the diffi- 

 culty of the questions, that he determined to quit the profession. 

 Apprehensive that his clients might be injured by the delay if he 

 returned their briefs, he actually gave to other counsel larger fees 

 than he had himself received, in consideration of their taking the 

 business off his hands. On one occasion, a brief was laid before 

 him which occupied three days in the bare operation of noting the 

 margin. He offered this well-noted brief, with the fee which he 

 had received, to Mr., afterwards Sergeant, Palmer, who objected 

 that any sum under £20 would not be remimeration. Mr. Kirwan 



