AGRICULTURE AND THE HORSE. 423 



And now, sir, you will allow me, in conclusion, to re- 

 peat an interesting and touching account of the rela- 

 tions which existed between one of the most illustrious 

 of our own race and one of the most fortunate of that 

 race for whose cause I am now speaking. How well I 

 remember it as it fell, not manj years ago, from the 

 eloquent lips of Edward Everett ! After urging for the 

 horse persevering kindness, and asking if this would not 

 also be beneficial and honorable among fellow-men and 

 fellow- Christians, he said, — 



''However this may be, sir, if there is any one who 

 doubts that the horse — the animal that most concerns 

 us on this occasion — is susceptible of the kindest feelings 

 of our nature, I think he would be convinced of his 

 error by a most interesting anecdote of Edmund Burke. 

 In the decline of Mr. Burke's life, when he was living 

 in retirement on his farm at Beaconsfield, the rumor 

 went up to London that he had gone mad ; and the fact 

 that was stated in support of this rumor was, that he 

 went round his park kissing the cows and horses. A 

 friend, a man of rank and influence, hearing this story, 

 and deeming it of too much importance to be left un- 

 corrected, hastened down to Beaconsfield, and sought 

 an interview, with the view of ascertaining the truth 

 of the rumor. He entered into conversation with him. 

 Mr. Burke read to him some chapters from his ' Letters 

 on a Regicide Peace.' His friend immediately saw, 

 that, though his earthly tenement was verging back to 

 its native dust, the lamp of reason and genius shone 



