yo Mr. Burke. 



Mr. Burke surpassed all his contemporaries, 

 and was, perhaps, never exceeded. As a poli- 

 tician and debater, it is much to be lamented 

 that his want of temper destroyed the effect of 

 his brilliant talents ; of which, though splendid 

 and captivating, this unfortunate influence was 

 the bane. The redundance of his imagination 

 led him, by frequently digressing, so wide from 

 his subject, as to be imperfectly understood, 

 though he was never otherwise than interesting 

 and impressive. I had not the pleasure of his 

 acquaintance until his decline in life ; when, 

 according to the opinion of those most intimate 

 with him, his temper had become so very irrita- 

 ble, that he could bear no sort of opposition on 

 subjects in which he was interested. I believe 

 him to have been perfectly sincere in his fears 

 of all the consequences which he anticipated as 

 likely to attend the speculative opinions then 

 pervading various part of Europe ; and that 

 these apprehensions had arisen in his capacious 

 mind, previous to the French revolution. Aver- 

 sion to all popular sway rendered him blind to 

 every abuse in the various monarchical govern- 

 ments on the Continent, which had alienated 

 the affections of their subjects. 



Political connexions had early made him the 

 champion of liberty, and the friend to American 



