Refusal Of Office
In 1838, on the morning when O'Connell received from the Government the
offer to be appointed Lord Chief Baron, he walked over to the window,
saying:
This is very kind--very kind, indeed!--but I haven't the least notion
of taking the offer. Ireland could not spare me now; not but that, if
she could, I don't at all deny that the office would have great
attractions for me. Let me see, now--there would not be more than about
eight days' duty in the year; I would take a country house near Dublin,
and walk into town; and during the intervals of judicial labor, I'd go
to Derrynane. I should be idle in the early part of April, just when the
jack-hares leave the most splendid trails upon the mountains. In fact, I
should enjoy the office exceedingly upon every account, if I could but
accept it consistently with the interests of Ireland--But I
Cannot.