Daniel O'Connell and the revival of national life in Ireland . d to affect his client,from giving full vent to his indignation at the At-torney-Generals attempt to bridle the independentopposition of the Bar. And, indeed, so far as theprosecution rested on political grounds, there canhardly be any question that his attitude was soundin principle. But the violence of his language, theopen sarcasms he levelled at the impartiahty ofthe Bench, were hardly calculated to improve thecase of his client, and Magee, whose courage hadbeen damped by confinement in Kilmainham, with-out consulting him instr
Daniel O'Connell and the revival of national life in Ireland . d to affect his client,from giving full vent to his indignation at the At-torney-Generals attempt to bridle the independentopposition of the Bar. And, indeed, so far as theprosecution rested on political grounds, there canhardly be any question that his attitude was soundin principle. But the violence of his language, theopen sarcasms he levelled at the impartiahty ofthe Bench, were hardly calculated to improve thecase of his client, and Magee, whose courage hadbeen damped by confinement in Kilmainham, with-out consulting him instructed another of his counselto disavow his speech. The Attorney-General, how-ever, refused to dissociate the client from his counsel,and Magee was condemned to pay a fine of ^500, togo to prison for two years, and to find security forhis subsequent good behaviour, himself in £\QOOand two others, each in £^QO. Magees conduct greatly distressed OConnell, notmerely on personal grounds, though it was mortifica-tion enough to have been disowned in public court,. 1813] The Liberty of the Press. 79 but more because of its probable effects on theCatholic cause, as likely to increase * dissensionamongst the few who remain devoted in intentionand design, at least, to the unfortunate land of ourbirth. That the Catholics had suffered a seriousreverse was certain, and the ill-feeling to whichOConnells stubborn opposition to the veto hadgiven rise was intensified by what was openly spokenof as his mismanagement of Magees case. Sostrongly, indeed, did the current run against him,that his friends felt it necessary to rally round him,and in order to show their unabated confidence inhis leadership, to present him with a service of plateof the value of a thousand guineas. In making thepresentation, John Finlay, a Protestant barrister, andan ardent friend of the Catholics, referred in eulo-gistic terms to OConnells unselfish devotion to thecause of his fellow-countrymen, his unwearying ac-tivity
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