and your name was pronounced with so many sig-
nificant shrugs, that I really thought, till the
provost read me bis letter, that you had been sent
to the Tower. Some of the warmest friends of
the present ministry lamented that they had not
been able to get your account of the transaction.
But they sought it, in vain, from every friend of
yours in the room. Now pray would it not be
just worth while for the future, upon such occa-
sions, to scratch out a few lines to some friend,
but one more in the world than I am, to prevent
misrepresentation ? You'll say that it is not worth
the trouble. But you may do it lolling on your
evening chairs, or, what if you gave up a few
minutes of your lolling? And now I have shot
my bolt, so that I should here conclude with ex-
pressing my affection for those I love, in and out
of your house. But you shall not get off so easily
now the pen is in my hand.

Amidst the brawl of English and Irish politics,
I have, with a sovereign contempt of all your
great and our little affairs, lived in the glorious
retirement of a country parson. I think little of
the vices and follies of the present Irish race ; but
I have studied those of their progenitors with
great care ; and my History of the Affairs of



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 223

Ireland from Henry II. is in great forwardness.
Sir George Macartney tells me you could get a
peep into the manuscripts of Lord Hardwicke,
and that they contain some things to my purpose.
I wish I even could learn whether they do or no.
The Irish books 1 which I received (from you I
presume) are before O'Connor, and in a little time
I shall be able to send you a particular account
of their contents, which, it seems, are new and
curious, but all relating to the ancient state of the
kingdom, which I can only treat in a preliminary
discourse. I must tell you my scheme, for you
may do me a little service. I wish to publish
two volumes next winter, containing the history
of Irish affairs from the first invasion to the final
settlement of the kingdom in the reign of James I.;
and if these should take, to publish a continuation
in two vols. more. I should be much obliged to
you, if, in some hour of leisure, you would mention
this matter to your bookseller, and open a treaty
for the two vols. (each of which will be larger
than one of Robertson's Life of Charles, if printed
in the same manner,) but without taking notice of
my intention for a continuation. My reasons for

1 These were two manuscripts from the collection of Mr.
Lloyd the antiquary, which he was unable to translate.
They were afterwards made out by General Vallancey, the
celebrated Irish scholar, and are mentioned by Leland in the
preliminary discourse to his History of Ireland.



224 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

desiring this are, that I have conceived some little
dissatisfaction at Johnston, my old printer ; and
you are a person of great figure and consequence,
and these fellows will think highly of any thing
that Mr. Burke seems to interest himself in. Do,
for Heaven's sake, puff me, as Charlemont and
Flood and Michael Kearney do. But the request
is absurd ; they have read a great part of what
I have written ; you have not. Ten thousand
affectionate services to Mrs. Burke, Messrs. Wil-
liam and Richard, Sir Joshua, Mr. Dyer, &c.
Alas ! what is become of my dear friend Maclean ?
Spes altera at Gregories, I cordially salute ; and
pray, Mrs. Burke, kiss the sweet fellow for me.
My most respectful compliments to good Dr.
Nugent. I am, with all the good wishes of a warm
heart, ever most affectionately yours,

THOS. LELAND.

One thing more : present my respects to Lord
Lyttelton, and say that some little interruptions,
occasioned by the death of my father, prevented
me from having the honour of writing to his lord-
ship. But these are over, and I shall speedily
trouble him with a letter.



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. '225



REV. DR. LELAND TO EDMUND BURKE, ESQ.

June 11, 1770.

MY DEAR NED,

I exceedingly regretted the interruption of this,
our week of examining for fellowships, because I
was impatient to stop the vibrations of your exqui-
site sensibility. If my opinion had reached to any
thing of real consequence, my opinion is of little
value. But the history of my observations will
but explain the trifling pedantry of it. C. O'Hara,
in a conversation in Mount Gallagher, naturally
asked if I had received and read the "Thoughts,"
&c. My answer was accompanied with a criticism
I shall not repeat, qualified, however, with one
remark ; that, in my opinion, the business of a
House of Commons had some little effect on the
style of our friend, for that, in a few places, the
phraseology was not as elegant as usual. I was
directed to ascribe this to the very extensive com-
munication of the work, and the author's admitting
some insertions from other hands ; and it provoked
me, I confess, that when he accepted the thoughts
of other people, he should not take the trouble of
giving them his own colouring. As to the whole
matter, and the general manner, be assured I not
only approved but admired. I speak the freer, for
VOL. i. 0,



226 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

you know I am no flatterer. I love what is ra-
tional, practicable, and efficient. I despise fanati-
cism ; and I detest knavery most of all when it
takes the fanatic guise. But let me whisper in
the squire's ear, that he thinks too meanly both of
my heart and understanding, if he entertains the
least imagination that I could regard him as a
mere conduit for the conveyance of other people's
sentiments or principles. On the contrary, I have
an exquisite gratification in seeing that, ever since
the publication of his thoughts, the herd has
crowded round and lapped at his fountain.

I am in pain for Mrs. Burke; but possibly, by
this time, all is well. It is a matter which occa-
sions real anxiety in this house. Why can't such
accidents happen in a parson's family ? It is but
a fortnight since a chopping boy arrived at Clare-
street ; the mother as well as ever, and the young
dog has no notion of dying.

You are an honest man and a good creature ;
but I hope Zouch has not been sent to town on
purpose, for it was not necessary. Whenever you
are kind enough to advise me, don't mind a pre-
face of fair speeches, for I think I am neither
intractable nor opinionated. But whether I be or
no, your repeated hint is a proof of your regard ;
and, moreover, it is judicious ; and, moreover and
above all, it has awakened me to the recollection
of a very useful and necessary point, where I was



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 227

in real danger of erring 2 . I wish you were this
summer to exchange Gregories, for my cottage in
your favourite country. Now, what a rascally
selfish wish was this ! Is it not possible to hear
that Richard has escaped his dreary voyage ? Is
he torn away by malice or necessity ?

I am on the point of hurrying down to my
parish. Jack Mason goes in a day or two. Lord
Charlemont is already gone to feed his lady with
goat's-whey, so that I have some good souls to
take care of. If you think of appointing us a
new lord lieutenant, let him be sent directly to
Spa; for there he will find our primate, provost,
attorney-general, lord chief-justice, and I know
not how many of our Irish great folks, including
George Faulkner 3 , covered with laurels from his
paper war with Gorges Howard. If I were writ-
ing to Dick Burke, I should tell him the particu-
lars of this war, and it would be worthy the pen
of an historian ; but you statesmen are fastidious.
With my most affectionate compliments to my
dear William, assure him that, last summer, I did
every thing in my power to express my respect
for Mr. Ashfordby, and his own vocations were

2 Dr. Leland here refers to his History of Ireland, about to
be published.

3 George Faulkner, a well-known character in Dublin, and
editor of the Freeman's Journal, published in that city.
Gorges Howard was another political writer of the day.

Q 2



228 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

the cause that I had the pleasure of his dining
with me but once. Salute Mrs. Burke, the doctor,
and every body in and out of the house most
affectionately, and believe me to be

Yours, with a very warm and sincere regard,

THOS. LELAND.



EDMUND BURKE, ESQ., TO RICHARD SHACKLETON.

August 15, 1770.

MY DEAR SHACKLETON,

My wife has had a very long illness ; it was a slow
fever, with frequent appearances of amendment
and frequent relapses. She was confined to her
bed for above two months, and reduced in strength
and in flesh beyond any thing that can be ima-
gined. But, I thank God, she is now up again, in
good spirits, and getting forward in strength as fast
as can be expected from the miserable lowness into
which she was fallen. As to poor Richard, he is,
I hope, by this safe in Grenada. His health was
not very good, and the strength of his broken leg
by no means thoroughly restored at his departure.
But he was to look for no favour or indulgence
from our present rulers, who even attempted to
take his employment from him ; but in this lesser,
as in many greater instances of their malignity,



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 229

they defeated their own purpose by the bungling
method of the execution ; and from shame, they
found themselves obliged to restore him to his
office, but under strict orders for departure, not-
withstanding the testimony of the king's surgeon
concerning the state of his leg. I think we may
hear from him about the end of this month or
early in the next. He goes into a bad climate,
among worthless and disagreeable people; but I
hope the goodness of Providence, in his favour, is
not yet exhausted. However, he may partake of
my own inattention in writing, I do assure you
he never failed to remember you with the sin-
cerest affection. I am glad that you find some
entertainment in the " Thoughts" They have had,
in general, (I flatter myself) the approbation of the
most thinking part of the people, and the courtiers
admit that the hostility has not been illiberal.
The party which is most displeased, is a rotten
subdivision of a faction amongst ourselves, who
have done us infinite mischief by the violence,
rashness, and often wickedness of their measures.
I mean the Bill of Rights people * ; but who have

4 The society styled " Supporters of the Bill of Rights,"
was established in February, 1769, by Wilkes, Sergeant Glynn,
Alderman Sawbridge, and other persons, for the roost part
connected with the city of London. By taking an extreme
course, and urging popular demands to an undue length, the
society prejudiced, rather than served, the cause of the



230 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

thought proper at length to do us, T hope, a ser-
vice, by declaring open war upon all our con-
nexion. Mrs. Macaulay's performance was what I
expected; there are, however, none of that set
who can do better; the Amazon is the greatest
champion among them. Mrs. Shackleton is very
stout in daring to encounter her; but she would
find herself unequal, for no heroine in Billingsgate
can go beyond the patriotic scolding of our repub-
lican virago. You see I have been afraid to
answer her. As to our affairs, they remain as
they have been ; the people, in general, dissatis-
fied ; the government feeble, hated, and insulted :
but a dread of pushing things to a dangerous ex-
treme, while we are seeking for a remedy to dis-
tempers which all confess, brings many to the
support, and most to a sort of ill-humoured ac-
quiescence, in the present court scheme of adminis-
tration. As to our friends, we continue our old
ground ; a good harmony subsists, at least in ap-
pearance, between the capital members of opposi-
tion. Lord Chatham behaved handsomely in re-
jecting the idea of a triennial parliament, which
the jury of London, at the instigation of the
Bill-of-Rights men, thought proper to fasten upon

people. They disgusted moderate men, and discredited the
whigs, who sought to preserve the balance of the constitution,
by opposing the arbitrary measures of ministers.



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 231

him in order to slur us, and to get some name of
consequence to patronize their madness. I sup-
pose you have seen his answer in the papers.
Indeed, the idea of short parliaments is, I confess,
plausible enough ; so is the idea of an election by
ballot ; but I believe neither will stand their ground
when entered into minutely, and with a reference
to actually existing circumstances. If no remedy
can be found in the dispositions of capital people,
in the temper, spirit, (and docility too) of the
lower, and in the thorough union of both, nothing
can be done by any alterations in forms. Indeed,
all that wise men even aim at is to keep things
from coming to, the worst. Those who expect
perfect reformations, either deceive or are deceived
miserably. Adieu, dear Shackleton. Remember
Mrs. Burke, and all of us, with much regard to
your wife and your father ; and believe me,
Most faithfully yours,

EDM. BURKE.



EDMUND BURKE, ESQ., TO THE MARQUIS OF
ROCKINGHAM.

Gregories, September 8, 1770.

MY DEAR LORD,

Yesterday Mr. Bullock was elected, without
opposition, for Wendover. Mr. Collins left the



232 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

place early that morning without standing the
poll ; after having made fruitless efforts for some
days before. By this feeble attempt, I hope the
borough is more and more confirmed to Lord
Verney; and a few common arrangements will,
I trust, be sufficient to keep it so. I wish your
lordship joy of another friend in parliament. The
event of this election has removed no small bur-
then from my mind.

I have been informed by the St. James' Chro-
nicle, that the gentlemen of Yorkshire are deter-
mined upon a meeting 5 . The advertisement is
signed respectably. The circumstance of the
sheriff's refusal to concur, seems rather fortunate.
It gives an opportunity to show how strongly the
sense of the weightiest people of the county in-
clined against the court doctrine of election and
reprobation. I make no doubt that your plan
will be judiciously settled, and spiritedly pursued.
If no step at all had been taken during the



* It appears to have been intended by the Rockingham
party, to have resorted this year, as in the last, to the measure
of petitions to the Crown for redress of grievances, adverting
to the Middlesex election, and other subjects of complaint.
A secession seems also to have been in contemplation, and
not disapproved of by Mr. Burke. Petitions, however, were
but partially renewed, and the secession not carried into effect.
At the beginning of this year, the Duke of Grafton had re-
signed, and Lord North succeeded, as prime minister.



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 233

summer, I should be apprehensive that such a
stagnation would have been little less than fatal
to the cause. The people were very much and
very generally touched with the question on Mid-
dlesex. They feel upon this, but upon no other
ground of our opposition. We never have had,
and we never shall have, a matter every way so
well calculated to engage them, and if the spirit
which was excited upon this occasion were suf-
fered to flatten and evaporate, you would find
it difficult to collect it again, when you might
have the greatest occasion for it. Opposition is
upon narrow and delicate ground, especially that
part of opposition which acts with your lordship ;
you and your friends having exceedingly con-
tracted the field of operation upon principles of
delicacy, which will in the end be found wise, as
well as honourable. However, the scantiness of
the ground makes it the more necessary to cul-
tivate it with vigour and diligence, else the rule
of exiguum colito will neither be good farming, nor
good politics.

I do not take the liberty of throwing out these
hints, from any opinion that it is necessary to use
extraordinary means to keep the spirit alive in
Yorkshire, but from a strong conviction of the
propriety at least of extending it to other places,
and among other interests, who have hitherto
acted with you in this point. People will be



234 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

apt to attribute a want of communication to one
of these two causes ; either that the business was
undertaken in Yorkshire, and carried contrary to
your lordship's wishes, or that your confidence is
entirely alienated from your political confederates.
The former, I take it for granted, cannot be true,
and if it were, cannot in policy be assigned as the
ground of your reserve. The latter, when you
have no complaint to make of the other parts of
opposition, might be considered as a style of pro-
ceeding less fair than, has been usual with your
lordship, and would give them the more colourable
pretence of complaint, as it is known that the
first proposalYor a coalition in this business came
from your lordship through Mr. Dowdeswell ; and
however you might be supposed free to show what
reserve or confidence you pleased upon other
matters, they would think that they had little less
than an actual right to expect communication in
all steps relative to the Middlesex decision. If
it should be thought proper that other parts should
follow the example of Yorkshire, this communi-
cation would become the more necessary, that time
and means might be furnished for proper dispo-
sitions. If your lordship should think it right to
let the matter rest upon the Yorkshire proceeding,
people may be desirous of knowing the grounds
upon which it went so far, and yet was to be
carried no further. I am informed that the idea



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 235

entertained in Yorkshire is, that of an instruction
to the county members. To me it appears that
every objection which lay to that method last year
exists, with at least equal power, in the present.
I say this on a supposition that I have a right idea
of the plan of the instructions. A motion to be
made in parliament for censuring those who
advised the king not to listen to complaints
against that identical parliament itself! What
arguments could be used in support of such a
motion ? It really appears to me with a very un-
parliamentary air. If indeed the members should
be instructed to move a Bill for rescinding that
obnoxious judgment, and providing in future for
the right of election, and if such a bill should
not be carried, to decline a further attendance on
parliament, this would have a more practicable
aspect, in the former part of it, and some appear-
ance of spirit and energy in the latter. The other
plan could only appear intended for the purpose
of a day's angry debate, and that, in my humble
opinion, but upon very indifferent ground. I have
gone further than I intended in a matter, in which
I am but indirectly concerned, and of which I am
but an indifferent judge ; but your lordship has
often, with great goodness, borne the imprudent
officiousness of my zeal. Just as I had written
thus far, your lordship's messenger brought me
your very obliging letter, which gave me some



236 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

insight into matters on which I was a good deal in
the dark. If it were a certain thing, that a con-
currence would be had among gentlemen to retire
from parliament, and to take the sense of their
counties upon the subject of that rash ministerial
boasting, (which your lordship very judiciously
takes it for granted would be used,) to be sure,
your plan would revive, much more effectually than
that of your friends in Yorkshire, the spirit which,
for some time past, seems to have been decaying
in every part of the kingdom. But the doubt is,
whether the precedent languor would not have
communicated itself from the county to the par-
liament, and to every member of it ; I mean to
those county members, or to most of those, who
act in your system. Possibly what is done in
Yorkshire may, when objected to as a partial
movement, be still a method of bringing things
about in a manner agreeable to your lordship's
original ideas.

Lord Temple was not at the races Lady Temple
had been taken ill in Dorsetshire. I did not go
to these races. I saw Aubrey, who very civilly
came to us at our election at Wendover. He
told me that Lord Temple rather thought a meet-
ing unadvisable ; but that he would take a hearty
part in promoting one, provided Lord Verney and
we were of a different opinion. I wished Aubrey
to inform Lord Temple, that in a business of so



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 237

much delicacy, and where such a variety of inte-
rests were concerned, no step ought to be taken
from complaisance to any body, but from a full
and unanimous sense of the prudence and expe-
diency of the measure. Lord Verney agreed to
this, though he is much for stirring something. I
just saw Charles Lowndes at the same place, who
likewise came with the same kind intentions. He
is a right man, and, I make no doubt, much
yours.

I have seen but few people this summer. Among
those few, were some of the courtiers. The court
is fully resolved to adhere to its present system ;
but that if, contrary to their expectation, it should
be found impossible to go on with the present
instruments, they will send to Lord Chatham, not
to your lordship or the Grenvilles. They are well
acquainted with the difference between the Bill
of Rights and your lordship's friends, and they are
very insolently rejoiced at it. They respect and
fear that wretched knot beyond any thing you can
readily imagine, and far more than any part, or than
all the other parts of the opposition. The reason is
plain: there is a vast resemblance of character
between them. They feel that, if they had equal
spirit and industry, they would, in the same situa-
tion, act the very same part. It is their idea of a
perfect opposition. Will. Burke has seen Lord
John Cavendish in town. His lordship is of opin-



238 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ion that some further explanation of the common
sentiments of the party would be advisable.
Perhaps it may ; but I must talk a great deal to
you, as well as to him, before I attempt it. It is
a business of great delicacy of infinite delicacy.
It is not here a matter of account and calculation
not of a custom-house, and treasury, and counting-
house ; but a talk of liberty and popularity, in which
nonsense will always double-distance the utmost
speed of experience and reason. How well these
villains deserve the gallows for their playing the
court-game against us at this season ! I had a short
note from the Duke of Manchester 6 ; Lord Mayor
wishes to see me 7 . I take it for granted, it is to
know whether you would have any thing done in
the city. I must beg some immediate advice from
your lordship. The great difficulty will be, to
prevent tbe traitors from bringing in speculative
questions to supplant our business. I wish, for
the moment, what I never wished before that I
was a freeman of London.

I will write to Dowdeswell ; and, if possible, I
will be with your lordship at the time you men-
tion. Will. Burke has seen Fitzherbert, who tells
him that parliament will not meet in November.

8 George, fourth Duke of Manchester. His grace resigned
his post of lord of the bed-chamber in January of this year.
7 Right Hon. Barlow Trecothick.



RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 239

Charles Fox thinks it will. Which is the best
authority 8 ? I am sorry to hear of the very vari-
able state of Lady Rockingham's health. I hope
the settled autumn which seems coming on will
be of service to her. Mrs. Burke is coming on
tolerably in strength, considering the length and
heaviness of her disorder.

I forgot to mention that Lord Chatham has
been three days at George Grenville's. He went
through Wendover, on his return, the day of elec-
tion. Be so good as to present Mrs. Burke's, and
my humble duty, to Lady Rockingham. Believe
me to be, with the greatest truth and attachment,
my dear lord,

Your lordship's most affectionate and obliged
humble servant,

EDM. BURKE.



EDMUND BURKE, ESQ., TO THE MARQUIS OF
ROCKINGHAM.

Beconsfield, September 23, 1770.

MY DEAR LORD,

I despair of being able to wait upon you this
summer in Yorkshire. I believe that, just now,

* Mr. Fox was, at this time, a lord of the admiralty, having
come into office with Lord North. Mr. Fitzherbert was at
the board of trade.



240 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

the attempt would be to little purpose. I take it
for granted that you will be at Newmarket very
shortly. If, in the interval between the meetings,
your lordship should come to town, or should
wish me to go to Newmarket, or to meet you at
your house in Northamptonshire, the ride to the