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in which the mind of the author, though fully matured in the experience of life, displays a greater variety of just, and oftenappearing characters, than perhaps any of his former works.* The representation of filial affection in The Grecian Daughter' no less pleased Mr. Burke than these three admirable comedies. He was much amused and diverted with the lighter dramatic works of the same author. He could repeat the greater part of the Citizen,' and of the

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Apprentice,' and we doubt not he equally relished the Upholsterer,' and other productions. Mr. Burke learned an anecdote

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respecting the Apprentice,' that he often related with great glee: Mr. Murphy, when he first prepared his coup d'essai for the stage,

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*The Way to Keep Him,' and All in the Wrong," shew a thorough acquaintance with the workings of passion and the inculcations of virtue in any society. Know Your Own Mind' displays not only that knowledge, but also a thorough insight into characters as modified by present manners. The various sources and modes of defamation, for instance, in the characters of Dashwood and Malvil; the insolence of illiberal patronage in Mrs. Bremley, are depicted by the hand of a master.

about the commencement of his acquaintance with the subject of my biography, had composed it without the character of Wingate, the hero's father. He had an uncle, a trader in the city, that had often endeavoured to enrich his mind with economical maxims, and to prove to him the uselessness of literature. Mr. Murphy conceiving himself to be still a favourite with his uncle, notwithstanding his dereliction of the mercantile path he had chalked out for him, expected a handsome legacy at his death; and on the faith of it, with juvenile imprudence, incurred a debt of two hundred pounds. On the decease of the uncle, he found there was not a farthing bequeathed to him. In great anxiety about his embarrassment, he at last reflected on the lessons of old Jeffery and thought he

would make not a bad figure as a character in his farce. He accordingly brought him forward as Old Wingate, recommending Cocker's Arithmetic as the only book worthy of being studied, and keeping very closely to the sentiments and language of his worthy

relation. The added personage tended con siderably to the great success of the performance. So,' said Mr. Murphy, I made old Jeffery at last extricate me from my difficulties.'

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Part of the recess Mr. Burke spent at Beaconsfield: there his taste appeared in various fine improvements of natural beauty. But higher qualities procured him the respect and love of all within the sphere of his action; not those only who knew and could appreciate his talents, and who, perhaps dazzled by the lustre of his genius, might see his conduct imperfectly; but those who knew nothing of him but as a country gentleman. The peasants, who were benefitted by his counsels; the labourers, for whose employment, and the melioration of whose condition, he was daily devising means; the poor, who found him a bountiful benefactor; all joined in praising his wisdom and blessing his goodness. He planned various institutions, some of which I shall, in the sequel, detail, for making the poorer mechanics and

labourers save a little from their wages or profits to assist each other in sickness or poverty, and give to their children the education necessary or useful in their humble stations. He was himself, in country as in town, a man of study and business. That time was given to relaxation which remained from active duties. Otium laborque non temporibus divisa; quod labori supererat otio datum. Mr. Burke was not only fond of reading novels, but of reading them aloud to his company. Ladies were always extremely delighted to have him to read works of that sort. One day, a beautiful young lady of the name of Miss Paine had come over from the charming seat of Paine's Hill, near Cobham, to visit Mrs. Burke, and was a hearer of one of these readings. The phrase Mons Veneris happening to occur, the young lady asked the meaning?'‹ Paine's Hill,' replied the gallant Edmund.

So extremely versatile was his wonderful mind, that he could amuse himself with playing at tee-totum or push-pin with

VOL. I.

children; or with entering into their thoughts and feelings in the histories of Little Thumb and Jack the Giant-killer. Mr. Murphy has frequently seen him at these pastimes, and apparently totally unbent. C Half an hour might pass,' said this

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gentleinan, during which he would keep speaking in such a way that could see no more in him than an ordinary man, goodnaturedly amusing his young auditors, when some observation or suggestion calling his attention, a remark of the most profound wisdom would slip out, and he would return to his tee-totum.'

His objects at his villa and in the senate were the same,-to promote the welfare of that portion of mankind on which his actions might operate. Burke, in every part of his conduct, shewed that the wisdom which he pursued was practical. He was uniformly the enemy of speculative innovations. At Beaconsfield he bestowed much attention on farming. The estate would let at about 600l. a year; three-fourths of it he culti

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