impeachment, some idea may be formed from the fact, that for weeks together he was constantly occupied between Wetminster Hall and the House of Commons without quitting them, from nine o'clock in the morning till six or seven in the evening and often to a later hour, at so late a period of the proceedings as 1793. It may be re marked, that the belief in Mr. Hastings's guilt was not more firmly entertained by Mr. Burke than it was by the late Mr. Charles Grant,* whose knowledge of India, and integrity, and abilities, were equally unquestioned, and to whom a statue has just been voted by the Company.

During the busiest sessions of the impeachment, 1786, 1787, and 1788, his attention was of course chiefly, though not solely, occupied by its details. The other measures in which he took part were in opposing," with an almost overwhelming torrent of eloquence," in the language used at the time, the extension of power to the Governor General of India; and the Declaratory Act, which indirectly gave Ministry much of the power more openly assumed by the India bill, of opposition.

He also came forward on the constitution of the governments of Canada; in warmly approving, in the name of Opposition, the plan for the con

* Who died in 1823.

+ What he recommended was a combination of three things —a government by law (not by will)-trial by jury-and publicity in every executive and judicial concern.—Mr. Mill, who injures a good history here and there by peculiar opinions, and hasty conclusions, presumes most inconclusively against Mr. Burke's honesty or wisdom from this opposition; yet, in the same breath, approves his remedies.

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solidation of the Customs; the treaty with the Landgrave of Hesse and the renewal of our continental connexions; the provision for a meritorious public servant Sir John Skynner; in pushing forward the Slave Trade Abolition question now taken up by Mr. Wilberforce; and other less important matters. that pub on, nq 98 to boisq The commercial treaty with France gavel occasion to some bitterly sarcastic sparring between him and the Minister. The aggression being on the part of the former may perhaps be put down to the account of party spirit, for in a subsequent speech on the same topic, which Mr. Pitt notwithstanding their former encounter characterized as displaying a very singular share of ability, Mr. Burke differed from the other Members of Opposition, in admitting that, though he questioned its policy, he had not the slightest fears of its injuring our own manufactures. mich J.

While speaking on this subject, and drawing a masterly comparison of the relative circumstances and capabilities of the two countries, which drew cheers from both sides of the House, he took}occasion to reply ably, but satirically, to some observations made on a former occasion by a Member, who, being one of nine said to be returned by a noble Earl, had thence acquired the ludicrous appellation of nine pins. Mr. Fox, entering the House at the moment of the cheer, inquired of Mr. Sheridan the cause of it. "Oh nothing of consequence," replied the wit, " only Burke knocking down one of the nine pins!".

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The tension of mind produced by these great public labours found occasional relaxation by short summer excursions into different parts of the kingdom, and in frequent correspondence with some old friends and very warm admirers among his countrymen. In 1785 he wrote to Dr. Beaufort, author of an able and well-known Memoir of a Map of Ireland, to procure for him a skeleton of the enormous species of moose deer, sometimes dug up in the bogs of that country, having an inclination, as he said, to see such a stately product of his native country placed in his hall.

In October 1786, induced by "a sudden fireside thought," as he expressed it, he and his son proceeded thither remaining not more than three weeks; he found time however to spend a day and a night at Ballitore, the last opportunity that offered of seeing these early friends on their own soil; and meeting with some of the old domestics of the establishment, remembered them perfectly, and behaved with his characteristic kindness and affability: an anecdote of this kind has been already related.

Part of the time was spent with Lord Charlemont, for whose private character he had so much regard as often to term him "one of the chief ornaments of Dublin." To this Nobleman he was in the habit of giving letters of introduction to all his friends of consideration proceeding thither on business or curiosity, among whom, about this time, were Mr. (afterwards Sir Philip) Francis, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Shippen, an American traveller,

and others. He also transmitted to his Lordship, about this period, a bust of the late Marquis of Rockingham, with whom he had been extremely intimate since 1752, when they became acquainted at Rome, on their travels: it was a present from the Marchioness. Soon afterward Mr. Burke, on being elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, wrote him a letter of thanks, as President.

As specimens of that air of interest and elegance he was accustomed to throw over the common affair of a letter of introduction, two or three of them are subjoined :

"Gerrard-street, June 1, 1787.

“ MY DEAR LORD,

"I have an high respect for your Lordship of old, as I trust you know; and as I have the best wishes for my friend Mr. Francis, I am exceedingly desirous that he should have an opportunity of paying his compliments to the person in Ireland the most worthy the acquaintance of a man of sense and virtue. Mr. Francis has not been in Ireland since the days of his childhood, but he has been employed in a manner that does honour to the country that has given him birth. When he sees your Lordship, he will perceive that ancient morals have not yet deserted at least that part of the world which he revisits, and you will be glad to receive for a while a citizen that has only left his country to be the more extensively serviceable to mankind. May I beg your Lordship to present my most respectful and most affectionate compli

ments, and those of Mrs. Burke and my son, and all that are of our little family, to Lady Charlemont. I hope that Mr. Francis will bring back such an account of the health of your Lordship, and all yours, as may make us happy.”

“Beaconsfield, July 19, 1787.

"MY DEAR LORD, "Mr. Francis called upon me in his way to his own house, charmed, as I expected he would be, with your character and conversation, and infinitely obliged by your reception of him. Give me leave to convey his thanks to you, and to add mine to them.-Every motive induces me to wish your house provided with all the ornaments that are worthy of it: the bust you desire is that which is most essential, and that in which you combine your taste, your friendship, and your principles. When I go to town, I shall see Mr. Nollekens, and hasten him as much as I can: there was no bust taken from Lord Rockingham during his lifetime. This is made from a masque taken from his face after his death, and of course must want that animation which I am afraid can never be given to it, without hazarding the ground-work of the features. Tassic has made a profile in his glass, which is I think the best likeness; I mean, uncoloured likeness, which exists. I will recommend it to Nollekens; perhaps he may make some advantage of it; though I have observed that artists seldom endeavour to profit of each other's works, though not in the exact line which they profess."