PREFACE.

IN 1807, a few of Curran's bar speeches were published. Tho edition, three thousand copies, was sold rapidly, and a second edition followed, in which some of his parliamentary speeches were added. In 1811, soon after his judgment in Merry v. Power, Stockdale published a third edition, containing that udgment; but otherwise unimproved from the second.

In 1843, a collection was published with ten speeches, not in any former edition, and a short memoir written by the present editor, but the writer of that memoir did not edit the speeches. They were printed, without correction, or notes, or arrangement, from Stockdale's volume, and the pamphlet reports, and they were struck off without having been ever seen by the writer of the memoir.

The present edition is arranged chronologically, with a single exception. It contains six of Curran's bar speeches, and thirtythree of his parliamentary speeches, not in any former edition, and no pains have been spared to get the best reports.

The illustrative matter may be thought too ample.

With most of the parliamentary speeches, some account is given of the state of politics connected with the question, and of the progress and result of the debate.

Prefixed to, or following, each of the legal speeches will be found, the facts and events of the case, and, in many instances, short biographies of Curran's clients