EDMUND BURKE.

EDMUND BURKE, the illustrious subject of this memoir, as a writer and a statesman, was born at Dublin, in 1730. His father was a respectable attorney and a protestant. He received his education from Abraham Shackleton, a quaker, at Ballytore, near Carlow. In 1746 he entered as a scholar at Trinity college, and in 1753 came to London, became a member of the Middle Temple, where he supported himself for a time by writing for the booksellers. In 1756 and 57 he published two works, which gained him considerable reputation; the first was a pamphlet, entitled, "A Vindication of Natural Society; or, a View of the Miseries and Evils arising to Mankind from every species of artificial Society," which, for a time, imposed upon the friends of Lord Bolingbroke as a real production of that writer; the latter, "An Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful," a philosophical piece of criticism, written in a fine and elegant style, which has been frequently reprinted. In 1761 he went to Ireland, as the companion of his friend, Mr. Hamilton, and upon his return was made private secretary to the Marquis of Rockingham, then First Lord of the Treasury, and brought by his interest into parliament for the borough of Wendover. From this moment be devoted himself entirely to public affairs. He was almost always on the side of opposition, in which he distinguished himself by the energy and warmth of his speeches. Through the long and un

successful struggle between Great Britain and the Colonies, Mr. Burke took a considerable part; he afterwards gained great popularity, for his introduction of a bill for Reform in the National Expenditure, on which he spent prodigious labour, but was unsuccessful. The leading particulars of his political life, after this, were his exertions against Mr. Hastings, in which, with peculiar asperity, he used uncommon industry to fasten guilt upon that gentleman; his vigorous opposition to Mr. Pitt's attempt to form a limited regency on the king's illness, in 1788; and above all, his ardour against the actors and defenders of the French revolution. On this latter subject he evinced peculiar sagacity at the outset, and predicted, with remarkable precision, the desolation, bloodshed, anarchy, and misery, which have ensued. His zeal, in this respect, led to a separation from Mr. Fox, and many of his old associates. In 1790 he published his "Reflections on the French Revolution," which attracted wonderful attention, and produced a strong sensation on the public mind. In 1794 Mr. Burke withdrew from parliament, leaving his seat for Malton to his son, an accomplished young man, who died shortly after. This melancholy event hastened his death, which happened July 8, 1797. After the disaster at Quiberon, Mr. Burke founded, in the neighbourhood of his retreat at Beaconsfield, an establishment for the education of French children, whose fathers lost their lives in that fatal expedition. He was very amiable in private life, had a fine taste for the arts, and was fond of gardening and architecture.