the case of many men I have known who have dealt too much in books or a profession: they apply their knowledge to objects to which it does not belong, and think it as easy to govern men, when they rise above them, as they found when themselves were lower and led their superiors by flattery. It is perhaps more expedient for a man of mean birth to be humble after his exaltation than before. Insolence is more easily tolerated in an inferior, than in an inferior mounted above his superiors.

It is therefore contended that it was in the debate upon the North-American petition* and not upon the Address, that Pitt must have risen, and pronounced on the new member the encomium, which has erroneously been reported on Jan. 14, by observing, "that the young member had proved a very able advocate; he had himself intended to enter at length into the details, but he had been anticipated, with so much ingenuity and eloquence, that there was little left for him to say; he congratulated him on his success, and his friends on the acquisition they had made."

This was a proud moment for Burke, and congratulations poured in from all quarters. Dr. Johnson, in writing to Mr. Bennet Langton, a few days after, says, in reference to the Literary Club: "We have the loss of Burke's company since he has been engaged in public business, in which he has gained more reputation than perhaps any man at his first appearance ever gained before."-(See Boswell's Johnson, vol. ii.)

William Burke, writing in March of the same year, says: "You have heard that his (Edmund's) success has exceeded our most sanguine hopes; all at once he has darted into fame; I think he is acknowledged one of the first men in the Commons." Again: "Ned (Edmund) is full of real business, intent upon doing solid good to his country as

* Mr. Bancroft, who has seen some American reports of these debates, also rejects the statement that Burke spoke on the Address, and follows Walpole's narrative.-History of the United States, vol. iv., quoted in Macknight's Life of Burke, vol. i.

much as if he was to receive twenty per cent. from the commerce of the whole empire which he labours to improve and extend."

The Duke of Grafton, at the close of the Session, spoke even to Pitt of Burke as the readiest man upon all points perhaps in the whole House; and that in his ministerial. capacity he had had the means of testifying to Burke's scrupulous integrity; for he emphatically declared him to be one. who may be thoroughly trusted wherever he acknowledged an obligation. Somewhat later, Colonel Charles Lee, writing to the Prince of Poland, remarked "that a young Irishman had sprung up, as if by magic, in the House of Commons, and had surprised every one by the power of his eloquence and the extent of his knowledge, comprehending every subject, foreign and domestic, which could employ the mind of a politician."

We have just seen that Johnson, very early in Burke's parliamentary career, recognised his consummate abilities,"vast variety of knowledge, store of imagery, and copiousness of language;" however strong, his adherence to the party Johnson strongly denominated "Whig dogs." How Goldsmith has enshrined him in his "Retaliation :"

Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such,
We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much;
Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.

Though equal to all things, for all things unfit,
Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit;
For a patriot too cool; for a drudge, disobedient,
And too fond of the right, to pursue the expedient.
In short, 'twas his fate, unemploy'd, or in place, sir,
To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.

Cumberland, "the Terence of England," in his Supplement

to "Retaliation," sings:

To Burke a pure libation bring,

Fresh drawn from clear Castalian spring;

With civic oak the goblet bind,

Fit emblems of his patriot mind;

Let Clio at his table sip,

And Hermes hand it to his lip.

Still, Burke had his detractors in Johnson's circle. When Edmund was first elected Member of Parliament, Sir John Hawkins expressed a wonder at his attaining a seat, upon which, Johnson said: "Now, we, who know Mr. Burke, know that he will be one of the first men in the country."

REPEAL OF THE AMERICAN STAMP ACT.

The great question which the Rockingham administration was brought in to settle was that of the American Stamp Act; and the prudent and conciliatory measures by which the rising storm in the colonies was at this time allayed, are understood to have been not only originally suggested and planned by Burke, but to have been mainly indebted to his indefatigable activity, and zealous and persuasive advocacy, for their final adoption.

The great day for the consideration of the repeal of the Stamp Act, Feb. 21, at length arrived. Every seat in the Commons was filled. The merchants crowded the lobby, and awaited the decision. Pitt came down to the House on crutches: cheers from the American agents greeted him in the lobby. Burke passed though the crowd unrecognised and unknown. But his mind was made up for the importance of the occasion: he was resolved to stand by his patron to the last; and he manfully and cheerfully prepared for the coming conflict. General Conway, as ministerial leader, opened the debate. Jenkinson moved that the Bill should be modified, and spoke the sentiments of the King. To him Burke replied, and was much applauded for the novelty of the political philosophy which he introduced into the discussion. Pitt and Grenville both followed; the one with his usual eloquence, the other with his usual obstinacy. At half-past one, the next morning, the House divided; and the Rockingham Administration, weak as it was, carried the motion for the repeal of the Stamp Act by an overpowering majority.

Burke (says Macknight) has left a striking picture of the scene that winter's morning, when he, at the side of Conway,

pressed through the thick rank of merchants who had stood waiting during the long night, until the contest was determined. Three loud cheers were given as the gallant soldier was recognised; and Burke, though the applauding shouts were not intended for himself, sympathized keenly with this enthusiastic outburst. He looked proudly in the face of his leader, whose features reflected all the joyful excitement of the moment, and he hoped that the union then cemented among the generous friends of freedom, by a common struggle and a common victory, might be eternal.

mons.

BURKE AND FREE TRADE.

It was in the Session of 1766 that the doctrines of Free Trade were first introduced by Burke to the House of ComAt many meetings of merchants in colonial commerce, held at the house of the Minister, Burke was a diligent attendant, and he sought for information far and wide. The petitions of the merchants were referred to a committee. Grenville violently opposed them. Burke argued strongly for free ports, suggested by the mercantile body; and one of his economical speeches gave great offence to Pitt, who subsequently said of Burke's commercial doctrines: "Nothing can be more unsound and repugnant to every first principle of manufacture or commerce than the rendering so noble a branch as the cottons dependent for the first material upon the produce of French and Danish isles, instead of British." But Pitt's displeasure was now of little moment. Burke had become politically powerful; among other testimonials to which was a memorial signed by seventy-seven merchants of Lancaster, thanking him for endeavouring to extend to the Colonies the advantages of a free trade.

BURKE AND WILKES.

The natural ascendancy of Burke is allowed to have shown itself most remarkably in the part he sustained in the out-of

doors consultations and movements of his party; and this talent was well exercised by the Secretary, in a little confidential business with Mr. Wilkes, whom a resolution declaring general warrants illegal had drawn from his exile in Paris. He appeared privately in London early in May, 1766, accompanied by Mr. Lachlan Macleane, an old acquaintance of Burke; when Wilkes unscrupulously declared he would either make his fortune from the fears of the new Government, or do all in his power to annoy it. To ward off the confusion and disturbance which Wilkes might have stirred up, the Government found it necessary to submit to the extortion of a bad man. The Marquis of Rockingham, however, would not see him. Mr. Burke, accompanied by Mr. Fitzherbert, was sent as the Minister's deputy, when after five interviews, Wilkes demanded as a compensation for his sufferings-a free pardon, a sum of money, and a pension of 1500l. per annum on the Irish establishment, or equivalents! These demands were peremptorily rejected, and Wilkes was recommended to leave the country. Burke conducted the negotiation with such address and temper as to foil the political profligate, who accepted a douceur of 3007. or 4007. from the private purse of the Minister, and then retraced his steps to Paris. Such is Mr. Prior's version of the affair; but a letter of Mr. Horne, in Junius, vol. ii. magnifies the small douceur from the Rockingham ministry into a pension of 1000l. a year paid out of their own salaries, viz. from the first lord of the treasury 300l.; from the lords of the treasury, 607. each; from the lords of trade, 407. each, &c.

AMERICAN CONCILIATION.

Mr. Burke's views upon this question were that America having become a great and powerful country, it was unwise to irritate her to hostile exertion of this strength by injudicious imposts, when her natural inclination was for peace and trade she might be influenced by mildness and persuasion, but would probably resist anything resembling arbitrary com