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minister who ever served the crown for so great a length of time. He gained over very few from the opposition. Without being a genius of the first class, he was an intelligent, prudent, and safe minister. He loved peace; and he helped to communicate the same disposition to nations at least as warlike and restless as that in which he had the chief direction of affairs. Though he served a master who was fond of martial fame, he kept all the establishments very low. The land tax continued at two shillings in the pound for the greater part of his administration. The other impositions were moderate. The profound repose, the equal liberty, the firm protection of just laws during the long period of his power, were the principal causes of that prosperity which afterwards took such rapid strides towards perfection; and which furnished to this nation ability to acquire the military glory which it has since obtained, as well as to bear the burthens, the cause and consequence of that warlike reputation. With many virtues, public and private, he had his faults; but his faults were superficial. A careless, coarse, and over familiar style of discourse, without sufficient regard to persons or occasions, and an almost total want of political decorum, were the errors by which he was most hurt in the public opinion; and those through which his enemies obtained the greatest advantage over him. But justice must be done. The prudence, steadiness, and vigilance of that man, joined to the greatest possible lenity in his character and his politics, preserved the crown to this royal family; and with it, their laws and liberties to this country.

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When I was very young, a general fashion told me I was to admire some of the writings against that minister; a little more maturity taught me as much to despise them. I observed one fault in his general proceeding. He never manfully put forward the entire strength of his cause. He temporised; he managed; and adopting very nearly the sentiments of his adversaries, he opposed their inferences. This, for a political commander, is the choice of a weak post. His adversaries had the better of the argument, as he handled it, not as the reason and justice of his cause enabled him to manage it.

INDEX OF REFERENCE

TO THE

WORKS OF THE RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE.

THAT the reader may be enabled, without trouble, to turn
to the various parts of Mr. BURKE's works, from which
these volumes are selected, the Editor has thought proper
to give an Index of Reference. As the passages in these
volumes are not numbered, the Editor has in the Index
given the initial words of each. The edition referred to
is that of 1803, in eight 8vo. volumes.

INDEX TO VOL. II.

Page

MINISTERS OF STATE.-" Ministers turning their backs,
&c." Thoughts on French Affairs. Vol. vii......... 63
"It is undoubtedly the business, &c." Letters on a
Regicide Peace. Let. iii. Vol. viii...

"It is no excuse at all, &c." Letters on a Regicide
Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii....

324

203

"A minister of this country, &c." Observations on
the Conduct of the Minority. Vol. vii..........
"A man is generally, &c." Observations on a late
State of the Nation. Vol. ii....

Page

285

94.

CHOICE OF MINISTERS." The popular election, &c."
Thoughts on the Cause of the present Discontents.
Vol. ii....

263

"It is a serious affair, &c." Observations on a late
State of the Nation. Vol. ii....

204

"All men who under whatever, &c." Observations
on a late State of the Nation. Vol. ii....
MINISTERIAL MAJORITIES.-" I shall be compelled, &c."
Thoughts on the Cause of the present Discontents.
Vol. ii..........

204

290

326

Thoughts on the Cause of
Vol. ii.......

"I repeat it again, &c."
the present Discontents.
MINORITY." This minority is numerous enough, &c."
Letters on a Regicide Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii................ 142
MONOPOLY." Without question the monopoly, &c."
Thoughts and Details on Scarcity. Vol. vii...
"A greater and more ruinous, &c." Thoughts and
Details on Scarcity. Vol. vii......

397

392

398

191

"The balance between consumption, &c." Thoughts
and Details on Scarcity. Vol. vii.........
NATION." Mere locality does not constitute, &c."
Letter on a Regicide Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii........
NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY." So soon as a nation com-
pels, &c." Thoughts on French Affairs. Vol. vii...... 47
NATIONAL DESPONDENCY.-" Other great states having,
&c." Letters on a Regicide Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii. 84
NATIONAL HAUGHTINESS AND AMBITION." Nothing is
so fatal to a nation, &c." Remarks on the Policy of
the Allies. Vol. vii.....

"Among precautions against, &c." Remarks on the
Policy of the Allies. Vol. vii.......................
"There are critical moments, &c." Speech on Con-
ciliation with America. Vol. iii..............

NATIONAL REPRESENTATION." Nothing is a due and
adequate, &c." Reflections on the Revolution in
France. Vol. v.........

170

183

65

Page

336

Letter to Sir

360

..............

"With us the representative, &c." Reflections on
the Revolution in France. Vol. v..
"Virtual Representation is that, &c."
H. Langrishe. Vol. vi.......

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES." After I had read over,
&c." Reflections on the Revolution in France.
Vol. V.......

90

"You do not imagine that, &c." Reflections on the
Revolution in France. Vol. V..........

106

NATIONAL SPIRIT.-" To a people who have, &c." Let-
ters on a Regicide Peace. Let. i, Vol. viii.......
"I do not deny that in small, &c." Letters on a Re-
gicide Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii.....

77

87

"I think we might have found, &c." Letters on a
Regicide Peace. Let. iii. Vol. viii.......
"I know it is supposed, &c." Letters on a Regicide
Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii............

274

136

NECESSITY." Necessity, as it has no law, &c." Let-
ters on a Regicide Peace. Let. iii. Vol. viii.......... 348
NEGOTIATION." Peace or War are the great, &c."
Letters on a Regicide Peace. Let. ii. Vol. viii......... 328
"The very idea of a negotiation, &c." Letters on a
Regicide Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii..

127

"It is not within the rules, &c." Letters on a Regi-
cide Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii....

111

Letters on a

112

Letters on

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202

"I do not say that a diplomatic, &c."
Regicide Peace. Let. i. Vol. viii...
"Before our opinions are quoted, &c."
a Regicide Peace. Let. i. vol. viii..
NEUTRALS." Men of no decided character, &c."
Remarks on the Policy of the Allies. Vol. vii.... 162

....

NEWSPAPERS.- -"Newspaper circulations infinitely,
&c." Remarks on French Affairs. Vol. vii.......... 24
NOBILITY." All this violent cry against, &c." Reflec-
tions on the Revolution in France. Vol. v............ 254
"Though hereditary wealth, &c." Reflections on the
Revolution in France. Vol. v.......
DEMOCRATIC NOBLES." Turbulent discontented men,
&c." Reflections on the Kevolution in France.
Vol. v.........................

..............

109

100

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