matical part of the author than you have been, not only for the above-mentioned reason, but because you will find it much the easier way of attaining the language. You will be pleased to consider after what manner we learn our mother tongue; first by conversation (to which reading when the language is dead is equivalent) we come to know the signification of all words, and the manner of placing them afterwards." A list of Greek and Latin authors is then given, which he recommends for perusal in order to the complete attainment of these languages, with a variety of remarks too long for insertion here.

In addition to the verses mentioned, he wrote a piece on Ballitore, an ode to Shackleton (1744), a few stanzas to the same friend of later date, two pieces collected by the editors of his Letters, and a few others obscurely alluded to in the Club correspondence, but not sufficiently distinct to trace. In March, 1747, he jocularly describes his studies-" taken up as passions or furors for a time-Natural Philosophy, Logic, Metaphysics, Mathematics, History-but is now entirely absorbed in the furor poeticus, which as skilful physicians assure me is as difficultly cured as a disease nearly akin to it, namely, the itch."

To write and not to print would be severe infliction on any author, more especially of the younger class. He therefore purposed to pursue the usual avenue to publicity, but for a time was deterred by the hopeless state of authorship in Dublin. "Not ten men in the city," he writes, "would read the lines whether good or bad. The people have no sort of curiosity that way-and no wonder- for books either in prose or verse seldom erter into the conversations of people of fortune." Eventually he did print before quitting his native city, but the time or form is not remembered. The fact became known to his friend, Dr. French Laurence, no doubt from himself, by whom it was mentioned to a gentleman who once contemplated as he told me, becoming his biographer.* A letter from Dennis to Shackleton, August, 1747, says, "There is a lady of fine genius in town who is going to publish her works, and Ned's translation will be joined with it." Who this lady was, or whether such publication took place, does not appear.

• The late Mr.-commonly called “Conversation"-Sharp.

One of his favourite poets at this time was Waller—“ 'Tis surprising how so much softness and so much grandeur could dwell in one soul!" But the great masters in the art, Shakespeare, Spenser, Milton, and Young, claimed his chief devotion; and passages marked by grandeur, or vigour of thought and expression, were caught and retained for meditation. The descriptive truth and solemn seriousness of the author of the Night Thoughts made so deep an impres sion that he could repeat long passages from memory; and in a copy of the work which often formed a travelling companion in his youthful days, the following lines, stated to be in his handwriting, have been mentioned as written on one of the fly-leaves :

Jove claim'd the verse old Homer sung,
But God himself inspired Young.

Milton, as already hinted, was a still greater favourite, his daring flights and sublime conceptions on the most awful of all subjects being so much above the track, and perhaps the powers, of any other poet. He always recommended the study of him to his son, and to all his younger friends, as exhibiting the highest possible range of mind in the English language; and to the last, quoted him frequently both in conversation and in writing.

Exercises of his imagination did not, however, supersede close observation and judgment upon the serious facts of life passing before him. One of these was the number and too frequent want of due discrimination in the execution of criminals, which many years afterwards drew forth his humane interposition in England. In December, 1747, he commences a letter to Shackleton: "There was a young fellow hanged here yesterday for robbing his master of a few guineas. A few days before another was pardoned for the murder of five men. Was not that justice ?" Some time afterwards he is said to have first entered on political discussion or ridicule in reference to Mr. Henry Brooke, celebrated as the author of the "Fool of Quality," and the tragedy of "Gustavus Vasa," which from its alleged patriotic sentiments was for a time interdicted representation. Another subject for wit, still more celebrated as a patriot, was Dr. Charles Lucas, a medical practitioner of Dublin, who commencing

reformer in the Corporation, was obliged to fly from Ireland by a foolish vote of the Irish House of Commons, designating him "an enemy of his country." No details of Burke's papers on these local occurrences are now known. The first he satirized as Diabetes; the second as Epaminondas.

When the heats engendered by the French Revolution assailed even his memory, it was said that he had quitted the University without a degree. This is untrue. He commenced A.B. 23rd February, 1748, and proceeded A.M. 1751. No irregularities in college life have been laid to his charge. He joined a large body of students in punishing, or rather in forcing an apology on their knees in the college courts, from certain persons who had abused them for taking the part of Thomas Sheridan in the great theatrical riot in 1747 which drove him for a time from Dublin. Burke's description of the proceedings in one of his letters is minute. It appears that the Lords Justices, who govern the kingdom in the absence of the Lord-Lieutenant, gave the youthful mob, who amounted to more than one hundred, well armed, and had forced open houses in order to find the offenders against their dignity, only a slight reprimand for this breach of the public peace. Shortly before this he had experienced a narrow escape from death or serious injury. "As I sat in a shop under Dick's coffee house, the back house which joined it fell, and buried Pue the coffee house keeper and his wife in the ruins." And duly chronicling more comic misadventures on the same day tells of a long chase through the streets after his hat and wig which had been blown off.

From the first his destination was the Bar. In that day it formed the great aim of the young men of Ireland distinguished for talents and ambition, more perhaps as an introduction to the House of Commons and thence to public dignities, than simply as a profitable profession or for distinction in the science of jurisprudence. To his studies there is allusion in the juvenile correspondence of Shackleton, who says, "Tell Burke if I don't get a letter from him to-morrow he shall plead no cause of mine when he is counsel; from that day Libera nos Domine, for I believe I shall grow very litigious.' On the 23rd April, 1747, his name was enrolled at the Middle Temple. Early in 1750 he reached London in order to keep the customary terms; and in a letter to his Quaker

friend, 20th February, mentions the introduction of the Bill for the alteration of the Calendar by the Earl of Chesterfield. On the 2nd May his name appears again as entering into bond, his sureties being John Burke, Serjeant's Inn, Fleet Street, and Thomas Kelly, of the Middle Temple.

Removal from the paternal roof probably occasioned no serious regret. His father, though a man of character and integrity, possessed an unhappy temper, which the most sensitive in the family necessarily felt the most. Several allusions to it appear in the juvenile correspondence. Dennis writes, November 21, 1747: "My dear friend Burke leads a very unhappy life from his father's temper; and what is worse, there is no prospect of bettering it. He must not stir out at night by any means, and if he stays at home there is some new subject for abuse. There is but one bright spirit in the family, and they'd willingly destroy it. All the little oddities which are found in men of genius and are below their care, are eternal matter for railing with them. Pity him, and wish a change, is all I can do. * * * Care, I believe, wears as many shapes as there are men, but that is the most intolerable which proceeds from want of liberty. This is my friend's case, who told me this morning he wants that jewel of life, Peace of mind;' and his trouble was so great that he often forms desperate resolutions. Garret suffers equally, but is less sensible of it; for the purest spirits feel best."

6

CHAPTER II.

First Impressions of London and England generally-Contemplates an Attempt for the Logic Professorship of Glasgow-Report about St. Omer-Letter to his Father-An Asiatic acquaintance-Idea of a Wife - First Publications.

His first impressions on viewing the English metropolis are vividly expressed in a letter to his school-fellow already mentioned, Mr. Matthew Smith. The allusions to Westminster Abbey and the House of Commons, "the chosen temples of fame," as he said on another occasion, will be

esteemed by those who look to auguries sufficiently remarkable. The whole is in a peculiar degree expressive of character, the reflections, ingenious, just, and even profound like those of most of his future letters, which though written with a flowing pen, were by many believed to be studied compositions.

"You'll expect some short account of my journey to this great city. To tell you the truth, I made very few remarks as I rolled along, for my mind was occupied with many thoughts, and my eyes often filled with tears, when I reflected on all the dear friends I left behind; yet the prospects could not fail to attract the attention of the most indifferent: country seats sprinkled round on every side, some in the modern taste, some in the style of old De Coverley Hall, all smiling on the neat but humble cottage; every village as neat and compact as a bee-hive, resounding with the busy hum of industry; and inns like palaces.

"What a contrast to our poor country, where you'll scarce find a cottage ornamented with a chimney! But what pleased me most of all was the progress of agriculture, my favourite study, and my favourite pursuit, if Providence had blessed me with a few paternal acres.

An

"A description of London and its natives would fill a volume. The buildings are very fine: it may be called the sink of vice: but its hospitals and charitable institutions, whose turrets pierce the skies like so many electrical conductors, avert the wrath of Heaven. The inhabitants may be divided into two classes, the undoers and the undone ; generally so, I say, for I am persuaded there are many men of honesty, and women of virtue in every street. Englishman is cold and distant at first; he is very cautious even in forming an acquaintance; he must know you weil before he enters into friendship with you; but if he does, he is not the first to dissolve that sacred bond: in short, a real Englishman is one that performs more than he promises; in company he is rather silent, extremely prudent in his expressions, even in politics, his favourite topic. The women are not quite so reserved; they consult their glasses to the best advantage; and as nature is very liberal in her gifts to their persons, and even minds, it is not easy for & young man to escape their glances, or to shut his ears to their softly flowing accents.

D