already given a sketch, in the course of this volume.* The writings of Lucas, though patriotic in their design, and not without much grounded application in their general statements, were yet pernicious in their tendency: the complaints and accusations which they breathed, in language of the utmost violence, were traced to wrong causes, and fallacious principles, by an intellect keen to observe, but unequal to grapple with remote consequences, and complicated distinctions. Burke, the main force of whose reason lay in the clear comprehension of elementary views, and who, beyond any writer yet known to us, seems to have possessed his knowledge in the compendious form of first principles, was struck by the mischief and absurdity of those misstatements, the effect of which upon the vulgar was then heightened by the utter ignorance of political science which prevailed in the country. He drew up several essays, in which he imitated the style of the Doctor so closely, that the deception was for a time universal. Setting out with the principles of his essays, he followed them out to their legitimate consequences, and thus exposed the absurdity and the danger of those democratic notions which are concealed by the partial statements and inconsequences of their advocates.

Having completed the usual period of the under-graduate course in the university, Burke took the degree of Bachelor, at the commencements in February, 1748; and, shortly after, proceeded to London, to keep his terms at the Middle Temple. His first impressions of London are preserved among fragments of his correspondence, which have been printed by Mr Prior and others. He was struck with the eloquence of the debates,-remarks strongly on the depravation of the stage, and much impressed by Westminster Abbey, in noticing which, he writes:-"I have not the least doubt that the finest poem in the language-I mean Milton's Il Penseroso-was composed in the long resounding aisle of a mouldering cloister, or ruined abbey." The thought is valuable as it presents a transient attitude and frame of the writer's own mind: it was the breathing of solemn meditation -the echo of the races of the past-the changes and vicissitudes of ages-the memory of great and famous names-and all the deep affections of our nature, which such recollections are so likely to awaken among the habitations of the dead of history-that crowded round the mind of Mr Burke, and struck forth tones in harmony with the blind old bard: the tone of spirit which so often finds its place in his writings and speeches, and to which he seems ever raised by the expanding grasp of his thoughts, which seem to wind upward in larger circles, till the subject seems to embrace time and the interests of mankind.

In London, he soon fell in with several of his fellow-students; and many letters are said to be yet extant, in which the high estimation of his talents, entertained by these, is strongly expressed. His health appears to have sustained interruptions, which may in part be attributed to severe study, and partly to the natural tenderness of his constitution.

In 1751, he came over to Dublin, and took his degree as master of

arts.

* Page 144.

He soon began to feel disinclined to legal studies. They are hardly, if at all, to be reconciled with those strong inclinations to literature which grew more and more upon him. His philosophic temper was not easily satisfied with the narrow and, in some degree, factitious range of a purely artificial science; nearly related, it is true, to the nature and tendencies of man, but little bringing into evidence, and little directly regarding, those primary foundations on which all human institutions invariably, though darkly, repose. Of this Mr Burke has left the record of his opinion, in his spirited sketch of Mr Grenville. “He was bred to a profession. He was bred to the law, which is, in my opinion, one of the first and noblest of human sciences—a science which does more to quicken and invigorate the understanding than all the other kinds of learning put together; but it is not apt, except in persons very happily born, to open and to liberalize the mind exactly in the same proportion." Deducting something from the complimentary language, for the circumstances of a speech in the House of Commons, the rest (the purpose of the sentence) expresses the sense of Mr Burke: the clear and broad range of history, politics, poetry, and speculation, could not but reluctantly be resigned for the bounded compass of the special pleader's desk. Accordingly, it appears that Mr Burke was at this time on the look-out for some more appropriate direction of his faculties. The professorship of logic in the university of Glasgow became vacant; and, according to the best authorities, he made up his mind to offer himself as a candidate. His chance of success may be easily estimated as not very high, without any disparagement of his capabilities. Glasgow has produced many able and original professors; but we think it just to say, that original powers, of the very highest order, cannot be of themselves the ordinary ground of election. There is no way in which they can be fairly put into evidence in the case of a young candidate. The known works of an advanced lecturer may be justly appreciated; but the electors of a university matured in old knowledge can, in few instances, be competent to judge of the pretensions founded on original genius. The competition must, therefore, be ever founded upon the mere erudition, and the established reputation, of the candidates. According to Mr Taylor, principal of the Glasgow university, Burke stood candidate for the logical professorship in 1752, or 1753, and failed,—the successful candidate having been a Mr James Clow.* From this excursion, which he extended to France, he soon returned, with fresh alacrity, to his studies in London.

For some following years, his pursuits were desultory. He occupied himself with various and extensive reading, and in the projection of several works. He was in the habit of frequenting the Grecian coffeehouse, where he contracted some agreeable intimacies: as his conversation seldom failed to attract the admiring attention of the persons who resorted to the same place. He also often visited the theatre, then a popular amusement. He had, soon after his first settling in London, formed an acquaintance with Murphy, the actor, who introduced him to Garrick, Macklin, and other chief performers. Macklin had set up a debating society, at which he frequently exercised his oratorical gifts.

* Letter quoted by Mr Prior.

His acquaintance with Garrick soon ripened into an intimacy; and he thus became gradually introduced to the extensive circle of eminent persons whom this great actor was in the habit of entertaining.

In the mean time, he added to his means by literary occupations. He is mentioned by most of his biographers to have written much for the periodicals of the day. Among the first of his essays which have become distinctly known to the public, his vindication of natural society, in imitation of Bolingbroke, may be selected. In this remark

able paper, he exposes the infidel opinions of the day, by carrying them to their extreme consequences. The happy adaptation to his purpose, of the style and manner of that splendid charlatan; the admirable sagacity which, in a narrow compass, selected the most effective considerations, and so exhausted his subject, that the ablest writers who afterwards took it up could do little more than repeat his arguments; and the soundness of the views in religion and politics which he enforced,-have been the admiration of the best of his critics and readers. But it has been observed, and not without reason, that he furnished the armoury of his opponents, the infidels and democrats of the age; and that Godwin and Paine have drawn their main arguments from his powerful ironies. The remark is just: in some measure, it involves these writers in the consequence of absurdity; but, from a full consideration of the influence of fallacy on the crowd, and upon the extravagant lengths to which the most ludicrous conclusions may be received, in the fanaticism of sect and party, it must be admitted that irony is an unsafe weapon in defence of truth and justice, as there are few jests so absurd as not to be accepted as arguments against religion and social order by perverted minds.

The first of his writings which attracted public notice, in any way proportioned to its deserts, was the celebrated Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful. Its publication was at once attended with unbounded applause; while it elicited the most gratifying tributes of admiration from those who were allowed to be the most qualified to estimate its merits. Johnson gave the warmest praise. His father testified his approbation by a large remittance, which, with the sale of the volume, enabled him to extricate himself from some pecuniary embarrassments. On the merit of this essay, it cannot be necessary to enter at length: it has long since experienced the sifting to which all such writings are destined. His hasty theories have been rejected, while his eloquent descriptions, and sagacious and discriminating observations, have been retained. But little in which we can unqualifiedly concur has yet been written on the subject; and it would be impossible to follow his biographers in a more detailed critique, without referring to authorities with whom we have not the good fortune to agree, or stating opinions which would not be more fortunate with our readers. The point of present concern is, that the publication was an event in his life of much and decisive importance. His acquaintance was widely sought, and he became the most distinguished figure in the brilliant circle which Boswell has so strikingly drawn. The sagacious penetration of Johnson is in nothing more displayed than in his prompt and true estimate of Burke, and the depth of the impression is shown by the frequent repetition of the remark of Burke's superiority to all

others; that he was the "first everywhere;"-that "if you were to be driven by a shower of rain to seek shelter under the same gateway with him, you must in a few minutes perceive his superiority over common men." Nor was there any occasion through his life, in which the mention of Burke did not draw some comment to the same effect from one who recognised no other rival in colloquial ability.

Some little time previous to this advance of his reputation, Burke had become the husband of a woman in every way suited to his taste and disposition. Having at one time fallen into a condition of distressing debility, from the continued studies, and severe mental and bodily exertions of literature, he applied to Dr Nugent for advice. The doctor, equally distinguished as a physician and a fine scholar, won by the captivating address of Burke, and having observed that his case was such as to require, not merely rest and continued watchfulness, but also those attentions which can only be found in the bosom of domestic life, invited him to remain under his care in his own family. Burke assented; and thus, while the skill and care of the friendly physician, in a short time restored him to health, he formed an acquaintance with Miss Nugent, which soon matured into attachment, and led to their union for life. As they were both endowed with the warmest affections, and with tastes essential to domestic happiness, this union turned out to be an unfailing resource to Burke through the labours and trials of many years.

pre

We now come to the incidents which first led to his political career. Notwithstanding the eminent reputation which he had attained, he was still for some anxious years left to the embarrassments attendant upon a small allowance of £200 a-year from his father, with the carious additions wrung from literary exertion; and, in despair of success, had frequently turned his mind to America, from which he was only retained by the strong opposition of his father and other friends. He was indeed in a fair way to present one of the numerous illustrations how little celebrity avails for the preferment of its possessor, unless by the intervention of those common incidents and interests by which ordinary men advance in the world. Burke even now occupied a distinguished position among the most eminent persons of the day, for wit, learning, and social taste, and was perhaps fully appreciated by the ablest judges of intellectual worth, when the earl of Charlemont, who had a well-earned influence in Irish affairs, introduced him to Mr William Gerard Hamilton, in 1759. In consequence of this introduction, and of the incessant and unquestionable indications of first-rate ability, presented in his most ordinary conversation, he obtained in 1761, the appointment of private secretary to Mr Hamilton, when this gentleman was sent over to Ireland as secretary under lord Halifax. Such an appointment to one, who, like Mr Burke, could not fail to display powers equal to the utmost necessities of that period of continual emergency, was an essential step to further success. It cannot now on any satisfactory grounds be distinctly ascertained what the services were, in which he was chiefly engaged. But there is enough of indirect circumstance to place it out of doubt, that his labours were considerable and unremitting, and such as to elicit the entire approbation, and even gratitude of the higher members of the Irish administration.

He speaks himself of "a long and laborious attendance;" and Mr Prior states that he had received intimations from persons of very high authority, that Mr Burke was chiefly employed in the management of the Irish house of commons, as deputy to Mr Hamilton. We cannot, without further grounds, rely much on mere opinion; and much incline to doubt whether it were not more likely that Burke's known, peculiar, and to some extent singular power of digesting documents, arranging masses of matter, and advising wherever precise and discriminating insight was to be sought for, was the main part of his service. Much of what was called managing the Irish house, was service not very much adapted to Mr Burke's moral or intellectual temper, and in part also involves a degree of publicity inconsistent with any doubts being left on the question. The main ground, we suspect, for such a conjecture is derived from the pension of £300 a-year, bestowed upon him through the influence of primate Stone, and Hamilton. But the term admits of at least two constructions. There is no doubt of the fact, that he was engaged in all the chief measures of the administration, and that he derived both reputation and experience, such as to awaken rational expectations of further advancement in the field of politics. But the manly conduct which led to the termination of his service, utterly refutes all conjectures which are in the least inconsistent with the proud and high integrity of his reputation. We quite agree with Mr Prior in concluding, that no better proof could be found of the high consideration enjoyed by its object, than the friendship and familiar intimacy of Flood, Langrishe, Monck Mason, Lord Pery, and indeed every individual himself deserving of respect.

Among the habits of Mr Burke at this time of his life, there is one which, while it indicates strongly the elevated character of his intellectual tastes, is otherwise interesting for the light it reflects on the great seat of learning, from which he and so many noble spirits have emanated. It is said to have been his general habit while in Ireland, to pass several evenings of the week in college, among the fellows whom he had formerly known, or with whom he became now acquainted: with these often gifted, and in most instances, learned men, he had the most grateful opportunity to indulge and improve his literary tastes. The niceties and refinements of the chief ancient and modern

writers-the many profound and curious questions in morals and metaphysics, which have exercised the best wits of every age; the questions in history and antiquities to which so much interest could be given by the entertainers and by the guest, may have afforded the main topics of their conversation. Among the proofs of the estimation in which his abilities as a scholar were held, it is mentioned that Dr Wilson, a senior fellow, then highly reputed for his attainments, on some of these occasions urged that Mr Burke should undertake a translation of Livy. Such an effort would have offered many attractions, as a mere literary undertaking, and it must be allowed that Burke was supereminently endowed for it. But his time was then engaged to the full, and his mind had become pledged to politics.

During his continuance in Ireland he made many excursions, among which the most memorable were those visits which he occasionally paid to his friends in Ballitore.