BURKE COUNTY. 129 



would do well if attention were paid to them. The peaches 

 which we have seen in Burke, would compare with any in 

 Georgia. 



Religious Sects. — Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians 

 are the most numerous. 



Education. — Due attention is paid to education, particu- 

 larly among the wealthier classes. Provision is made for the 

 instruction of poor children, although there is a large number 

 who do not attend school. Some years back there was a 

 library, known as the Burke County Social Library Company. 



Character of the People. — The citizens generally of this 

 county are in good circumstances, many of them wealthy, and 

 are distinguished for benevolence and hospitality. 



Name. — This division of the State was named after Ed- 

 mund Burke, a distinguished champion of American liberty. 

 He was born in Dublin, Ireland, on the 1st of January, 1730. 

 He finished his education at Trinity College, from whence he 

 went to London, and entered himself at the Temple. Whilst 

 here, he wrote several essays on subjects of general literature, 

 which were published in the periodicals of the day ; for it does 

 not appear that he studied law with any intention of making 

 it a profession. His productions gave evidence of uncommon 

 powers of intellect, and drew towards him the most learned men 

 of the day, among whom was the famous Dr. Johnson ; and as 

 proof of the high estimation which the Doctor had for the talents 

 of Burke, it is affirmed that he would not tolerate contradiction 

 from any one but Burke. His essay on the Sublime and 

 Beautiful established his reputation as a writer, and will always 

 stand as a monument of his extraordinary genius. Talents 

 like those of Burke could not fail to pave the way to dis- 

 tinction, and he was chosen member of Parliament under the 

 Rockingham administration. The subject of his first speech 

 was the aflfairs of America, in which he exerted himself to 

 defeat the projects of a misguided ministry. During his par- 

 liamentary career, he embraced every occasion to speak in 

 glowing terms of injured America. He opposed with firm- 

 ness the proposition to appoint in England a commission for 

 the trial of treason beyond seas, the Boston Port Bill, the 

 act for employing the Indians against the colonies, and indeed 



