out in lightning and thunderbolts. In his circumstances, he, though very far from being opulent, was, by his intellectual labours, dependent only on his genius. He surpassed most men not only in knowledge and powers, but in readiness of exertion and vigour of persevering industry. His talents, with his habits of exercise, and the terms he could command, from the estimation in which he was held, were sufficient to insure him an independent income. Such was his state in respect of talents, habits, temper, and the means of independence. Such was the stock he carried with him when he betook himself to politics. By the probable effects of his qualifications, if exclusively devoted to literary efforts, compared with their actual effects, principally devoted to public affairs, is his removal from the closet to the senate to be deemed fortunate or unfortunate to himself and to mankind..

To enable us to comprehend the conduct of a political actor, it is necessary to take a view of public affairs at the commencement

of his agency, and to remark their progress and variations during its continuance.

When Burke first entered on the business of the nation, clouds were gathering over the political atmosphere,-clouds which, if they did not portend a certain storm, rendered its approach probable. In the East, indeed, there was sun-shine; over-head the sky was overcasting; in the west it lowered; res in oriente prospere, in occidente minaces. Internally, discontents were prevalent; in the American colonies, disaffection was rapidly spreading.

Soon after the commencement of this reign, a spirit of opposition to Government was rising to disloyalty and turbulence. The resignation of a minister of uncominon talents, vigour, decision, and success, displeased the public. Deprived of his invigorating influence and wise direction, it was apprehended the counsels of Government would become imprudent and feeble. Although the career of success not only con

tinued undiminished, but was increased, victory was imputed to the adoption of his plans by persons unable themselves to frame wise measures. With the fame and popularity of his predecessor, national prejudice concurred in rendering Lord Bute odious to the natives of England. Pitt was a minister of extraordinary abilities; little merit would have been found in a successor even tho' an Englishman. The place of his nativity, independent of the virtues of his predecessor, would have been found sufficient to attach demerit to a Scotchman. The avowed reason for dislike to the Scotch Minister was, that the liberty of the country was in danger, from his principles and conduct.

The Earl of Bute was certainly not indebted to superiority of capacity for his exaltation. His talents, though not contemptible, were by no means great; his attainments were such as moderate parts can easily reach. He was a good classical scholar; he was tolerably well versed in those experimental details in natural history, physics,

chemistry, botany, and astronomy, which frivolous minds dignify with the name of philosophy. But neither in natural, moral, nor political knowledge, were his views enlarged. In his principles of government he was arbitrary; in his disposition proud: he was ambitious far beyond his capacity; and, though of a decent moral character, by no means agreeable in his manners. He was thought tinctured with the dissimulation and artifice by which ordinary minds often attempt to supply the want of great talents. By these means he was supposed to have come into power, and from the manifest earnestness with which he sought to disgust men of distinguished abilities and of popular principles, was believed to have formed a plan of governing the country by mere court favouritism. Far inferior to Pitt in powers, far inferior to the Duke of Newcastle in popular deportment, he was, by the majority of the nation, at once hated and disregarded. His talents were too trifling to enforce veneration; nor did he, by an engaging demeanour, endeavour to win affec

tion. His measures soon increased the odium which his character had excited. A determined resolution was imputed to him to elevate the friends of arbitrary power, and degrade the supporters of freedom.* To his internal measures his external joined in stirring up discontent. A peace, made on much less advantageous terms than believed attainable, in the hour of universal victory, heightened the outcry. To inflame popular dis? · content, leaders are never wanting. Abuse of the Minister extended to abuse of his country, and rose to abuse of the royal family, and of the Sovereign himself. The King was represented as deviating from the principles and conduct of his two predecessors, and likely to imitate the despotic measures of the house of Stuart. He had been educated by an arbitrary tutor, and was ap

* If we examine the particular appointments made under, Lord Bute, we shall find that he neither elevated the friends of liberty nor of despotism-but his own friends. His brother, a very respectable man, was made Lord Privy Seal; his brother-in-law, Sir Robert Menzies, one of the gentlemen of the Police, with 400l. a year; no very great appointment to so near a connection of the Prime Minister.