"O'Connell was a great councillor. At that time if there was a Catholic,
no matter how high or great or learned he was, he could not get a place.
But if a Protestant came that was a blockhead and ignorant, the place
would be open to him. There was a revolution rising because of that, and
O'Connell brought it into the House of Commons and got it changed. He
was the greatest man ever was in Ireland. He was a very clever lawyer;
he would win every case, he would put it so strong and clear and clever.
If there were fifteen lawyers against him--five and ten--he would win it
against them all, whether the case was bad or good."