realms a reform of abuses and corruptions, becoming daily more numerous, more extensive, and more destructive. His writings and eloquence were the means of obstructing the improving exertions of unfettered Reason, and of again binding her in the chains of authority, prejudice, priestcraft, and tyranny. He stirred up an abhorrence of the French revolution, an alarm against all principles of freedom, because their abuse or excess, arising from circumstances not necessarily connected with them, had produced disorders. Through his writings, eloquence, and influence, incidental excesses were identified with liberty itself. Emancipation from civil and ecclesiastical slavery was reprobated, because resentment for long suffered and long felt oppression had stimulated violence against the oppressors. Monarchical, aristocratical, and clerical usurpers were defended; and were not only defended, but represented as martyrs in the cause of virtue and religion, when deprived of that power which they had never any right to possess. It was he that broke the WHIG PHALANX, indisposed men of rank

and property to a reform, which, before abuses were arrived at such a height, many of them had deemed absolutely necessary to the salvation of the constitution. Having rendered the majority of his countrymen inimical to the French republic, and to the principles of liberty which had given it being, he prepared them for hostilities against France and Freedom, and for joining the combination of despots. In short, according to the party in opposition to Government, Mr. Burke prevented the reform of abuses, which had increased, were increasing, and unless speedily removed, must ruin the country; and by changing the sentiments of Britons, and exciting a hatred and alarm against the dissemination of freedom, of which he once had been the zealous champion, caused a war, in principle absurd, unjust, and inexpedient; in event disgraceful and disastrous; in its consequences pregnant with destruction.

Such is the opinion the opponents of the present Administration, whether high or low, learned or ignorant, able or weak,—from a

Lauderdale, an Erskine, a Sheridan, and a Fox, down to a Jones, a Thelwall, and a Godwin-entertain of the recent condu&t of Burke and its consequences.*

According to the admirers of Burke's recent conduct-he affords an instance of the greatest energy, employed in effecting the most beneficial purposes. His writings, eloquence, and wisdom, recalled Britain from the deluding errors of visionary theories, to the salutary lessons of experience; from the abstraction of metaphysics and the falsities of fanciful hypothesis, to the contemplation of their actual state of welfare and happiness; demonstrated to them the evils to which rage for innovation was leading its votaries; taught them not to prefer possible, but very improbable, acquirement to certain possession; persuaded them to look to their own history and experience, and not

* In the former edition I here inserted the name of Mr. Mackintosh. From his late publication, I conceive his opinion concerning the French revolution is changed, since its effects have so completely unfolded its nature.

He,

to the mischievous speculations of their neighbours. Seeing the increasing disposition in many individuals to sacrifice the constitution, and consequently the happiness of their country, to revolutionary doctrines, he warned them of the misery which they were ignorantly seeking; he excited the majority of men of talents, influence, and interest in the state, to vigilance and vigour in preserving their country. from the first symptoms, fully comprehended the nature of the disease, and prognosticated its dreadful effects; stopped the infection from spreading in his own country, by prescribing efficacious preventives, and causing all communication to be cut off with the country in which the pestilence was raging. His genius was the agent of wisdom, his wisdom the minister of patriotism. He was the bulwark of the British constitution, of rational liberty, and of property; the champion who drove back the flames of Jacobinism from our battlements and fortresses; the preserver of our church and state in the various orders and gradations of their com

ponent members, the securer of internal tranquillity and happiness; whose energy was the principal source of vigour in external measures necessary to save this country from being over-run by French politics, and even dependent on French power; measures which, though they have failed of complete success, as to continental affairs, yet have saved the constitution, and preserved the independence of Britain.

Such is the opinion entertained of Burke by the approvers of the of the present system and plans of Government.

Those who do not concur in every particular of either the praise or the censure of this personage with the supporters or opponents of Administration, agree with both in ascribing the prevention of change and the continuance of the present system,whether, on the whole, good or bad-the war, whether, on the whole, right or wrong, -chiefly to the powers of Edmund Burke.