I THINK of writing a short note from Calais to
Mr. Bentinck. Since I finished the above I re-
ceived your lordship's most welcome letter, and
am extremely obliged to you for it. It is true
that the line of defence settled by the counsel was
turned in the manner your lordship has mentioned.
If they had omitted it, they would have suffered
equally. No abuses stated. The reason of ex-
pense assigned in the preamble would have had
great strength, for small abuses will not justify
expensive arrangements. If the abuses were
RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 421
proved to be great, then they were above their
measure. This I say from a sense of the temper
of the House ; for I had no share in concerting
their plan, further than that on hearing they meant
to examine evidence, I was in hopes that they
might embarrass the ministry in point of time. The
line to which your lordship thinks they ought to
have stuck entirely was strongly marked by them,
but it received the same disadvantageous turn.
Several of the minority 12 gave the company's
having contested the right and propriety of parlia-
mentary interference, as the reason for their vote for
the bill. When any body is doomed to destruction,
all the arguments he alleges for his safety become
new grounds for cutting him off. It was well
observed by the counsel, that in the year 1767,
when the court, by a law of its own, limited its
dividend, and therefore prayed that an act of par-
liament should not pass for that purpose, it was
retorted on them that the act did no more than
confirm what they had done themselves. Now he
found the chief reason urged for passing the bill
was, that they declined themselves to restrain their
supervision, so that whether they declined, or did
not decline the use of their franchises, the reason
was equally cogent for taking them away. Just
in that impertinent 13 , sophistical manner did they
12 By minority is here meant the opposition.
13 In the sense of " irrelevant."
422 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
argue then and now ; every thing is a reason to
people for doing what they choose to do. I think
it not unlikely that Mr. Dowdeswell will tell you
of a visit he has had from Cornewall ] , after a long
absence. The Shelburnes seem to repent of hav-
ing done nothing in this business, and appear
rather disposed to come round. My clear opinion
is, that however I may like, as I do, some indi-
viduals in that body, the corps, as a corps, is
nought; and that no time or occasion can pro-
bably occur,, in which, in the way of consultation
or communication, it would be right to have any
thing to do with them. My great uneasiness is
about our own corps, which appears to me in great
danger of dissolution. Nothing can prevent it in
my opinion, but the speedy and careful application
of your lordship's own peculiar, persuasive, and
conciliatory manner, in talking over public busi-
ness, and leading them into a proper line of con-
duct. I know they flatter themselves that it is
on this only occasion that they shall differ. But
what occasion is there, that in its nature can occur
1 Charles Wolfran Cornewall, a lord of the treasury under
Lord North, from March, 1774, to September, 1780. He
was member for Grampound in the parliament of 1768, for
Winchelsea in that of 1774, and for Rye in 1780 and 1784.
Mr. Burke alludes to him at the commencement of his speech
on American taxation, of April 19, 1774. He was speaker in
the parliaments of 1780 and 1784, and died in 1790, when
he was succeeded in the chair by Lord Grenville.
RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 423
so often, continue so long, or lead into conse-
quences so completely ruinous to public interest
and public virtue ? Is not this the great object
of the court ? If they carry their point in this,
of what advantage is any future contest ? Besides,
the very habit of confiding in the plans of their
old enemies, is dangerous to the existence of a
party in opposition. Never had people less reason
for such confidence, than we have in this ministry,
and in this very business.
Our friends, too, think they do very handsomely,
when they say they will oppose the design of
seizing on the company's patronage, when that
design is openly avowed by the court. It never
will be avowed in its extent, and the plan never
will (for a plain reason, that it never can,) be
executed at one stroke. The business will be
done covertly and piecemeal, and our friends will
help it forward in the detail, and thus completely
finish it, in hopes of some time or other opposing
it in the gross.
I see I run over and over the same ideas.
Your lordship will be so good to excuse this
extreme, and, I rather hope, unusual prolixity.
I think your presence much wanted, and early,
in order to take a review of the troops before the
opening of the next campaign, that, if you should
not find them in readiness for action, you would
persuade them to remain quietly in their quarters.
424 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
EDMUND BURKE, ESQ., TO MR. RICHARD BURKE
JUN., AND MR. T. KING.
Paris, February, 1773.
MY DEAR CHILDREN,
While I wait with some impatience to hear of
your health, and your satisfaction in your new
settlement 2 , I just write to give you the pleasure
of knowing that we got to Paris late at night,
Tuesday, but well as we could wish, without any
troublesome accident whatsoever. I can write but
little now, but I make amends, by sending you
two letters from your mamma. I received others
from Mr. Burke and my brother, but though
2 Mr. Burke, when in Paris, having been introduced by
Colonel Drumgoold to M. de Cice, then bishop of Auxerre,
made an arrangement for placing his son and Mr. King under
that prelate's protection at Auxerre. The bishop, with great
kindness, prevailed on his man of business at that place to
take these gentlemen to board and lodge in his family,
where they met very agreeable society ; and young Burke in a
short time accomplished the principal object of his visit to
France, in obtaining great fluency in speaking and a critical
knowledge of the French language. In the days of the revo-
lution, the bishop, driven from Auxerre, came a poor and
aged emigrant to England, when the Burkes, father and son,
requited, as far as lay in their power, the bishop's former
kindness.
RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 425
they relate to you, and are full of such expressions
of kindness to you both as would be very agree-
able to you, yet as they contain some matters for
my direction, in some particulars here, I must
keep them. I write from Mr. Panchaud's, who
will send Mr. King a bill for twenty-five louis
next Friday, which is the soonest that it can be
remitted to you ; for the rest I shall settle in a
few days : I may stay at Paris ten days or a fort-
night longer. So don't neglect, one or the other
of you, to write to me constantly. My good friends,
while I do most earnestly recommend you to take
care of your health and safety, as things most
precious to us, I would not have that care degene-
rate into an effeminate and over-curious attention,
which is always disgraceful to a man's self, and
often troublesome to others. So you know my
meaning, when I wish you again and again to
take care of yourselves for our sake. So, when I
wish you to avoid superfluous expenses, as giving
the mind loose and bad habits, be aware that I
wish you to avoid every thing that is mean,
sordid, illiberal, and uncharitable, which is much
the worst extreme. Do not spare yourselves nor
me in this point. As you are now a little setting
up for yourselves, suffer me to give you a little
direction about the article of giving. When
others of decent condition are giving along with
you, never give more than they do ; it is rather
426 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
an affront to them, than a service to those that
desire your little bounty. Whatever else you do,
do it separately. But always preserve a habit of
giving (but still with discretion), however little,
as a habit not to be lost. When I speak of this,
the funds of neither of you are large, and perhaps
never may become so. So that the first thing is
justice. Whatever one gives, ought to be from
what one would otherwise spend, not from what
he would otherwise pay. To spend little and
give much, is the highest glory a man can aspire
to. As to studies, I do not wish you, till you
have conquered a little the difficulties of the
French, to apply to any thing else but that and
Greek. More would distract and hurt, so don't
trouble yourselves with geometry and logic, until
you hear from me on the subject. Reading, and
much reading, is good ; but the power of diversify-
ing the matter infinitely in your own mind, and
of applying it to every occasion that arises, is far
better, so don't suppress the vivida vis. May
God grant you every blessing. Remember Him
first, and last, and midst. Keep yourselves con-
stantly in his presence. Again and again, God
bless you.
Your ever affectionate father,
EDM. BURKE.
My most hearty respects to the family you are
with, to Abbe Vaullier, and the very worthy and
RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 427
ingenious gentlemen who are so worthy of his
friendship, to the Count D'Esper, and all friends.
Adieu !
MEMORANDA BY EDMUND BURKE, ESQ.,
ADDRESSED TO GENTLEMEN FORMING THE OPPOSITION IN
PARLIAMENT.
1773.
The plan of the ministerial attempt against the
East India Company is now fully opened, and if,
at the same time, the eyes of the leading people
are not fully opened on all the consequences of
that attempt, if it should succeed, it will be
no purpose to think of any counter-plan for
opposing it.
How far the generality of men are affected,
I am incapable of judging ; but I find no small
number in the House, who discover a dissatisfac-
tion at what is transacting, and that dissatisfac-
tion appears in quarters where I did not so much
expect to find that kind of impression.
To invigorate any design of opposition, the
spirit which begins to appear must be cherished
and extended. This can only be done by writing,
and that not in a desultory and occasional man-
ner, but systematically. It is mortifying to con-
sider that there has been scarce the most trivial
428 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
interest, which has not been better explained and
enforced to the public than this great concern.
This is the great instrument which ought to accom-
pany every other.
The next step which ought to be taken, is
to prepare things for a meeting of the principal
creditors of the company, for whom the ministers
express so much tenderness ; and if they can be
brought to petition, it will be of the greatest
importance. The ground of the petition ought
to be, that they look upon the preservation of the
company's charter-rights to be the great pillar of
the security of their debts; and to call upon
government for that money, the taking away of
which from the company is the cause of its present
difficulties. If this can be done, one of the prin-
cipal ministerial arguments will be disabled.
A meeting ought immediately to be called
of all the peers and members of parliament who
are of our sentiments, in order to a regular oppo-
sition in parliament.
To get a common-council or common-hall, to
whom the company is to apply for its assistance,
in a joint support of charter-rights. Besides
your own friends, the Recorder, Sawbridge, and
Oliver, will unite with you in this business.
To send notice of what is doing to the Dutch
proprietors.
As the House of Commons is more easily
RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 429
approachable by its feelings than its reason, I am
clear that all the proprietors that can be got
together should make a procession from the
India-house to Westminster ; and that they should
stand in all the avenues, and, in the most humble
manner, request the members not to take away
the legal rights of their countrymen. If this
be well done, I would be responsible that it will
produce some effect.
With regard to the Bank, which is the grand
instrument of the court on this occasion, might it
not be proper, (if possible,) that some of you of
the greatest property should resolve to have no-
thing to do with their paper? There are five or
six of you that would frighten them.
Ought not all of you that are proprietors to
attend the general court, as well as the Duke of
Richmond ?
Ought you not to go from the general court to
Guildhall, and there make, in the most respectable
of your persons, your application to the livery?
If the matter be of the importance some of us
think it, it is below none of you to do this ; you
have very little time for deliberation; while you
consult, the act is done. It will then be in vain
to blame, and impossible to repair it. For though
all power were given into your hands, you can
never change the arrangements of this new Indian
system.
430 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
EDMUND BURKE, ESQ., TO THE MARQUIS OF
ROCKINGHAM.
Beconsfield, July 19, 1773.
MY DEAR LORD,
Every thing here is so very dead and uninterest-
ing, that I should hardly have thought of trou-
bling you just now, if America had not furnished
me with matter which England could not supply.
I received a letter from Delancey 3 of the 7th of
last month. He makes a friendly complaint that
he has not heard any thing from your lordship in
answer to his of January. This cause of com-
plaint will shortly cease, if it has not ceased
already. His letter it seems related to some
anecdotes which appeared in a Boston newspaper.
I don't know what these anecdotes were; but it
seems they gave him much uneasiness, lest your
lordship should think he had acted with dissimula-
tion towards you. To this matter, as being
wholly ignorant of it, I can say nothing. There
is another less political, and more clear, which I
must state to you, because I believe his heart is
almost as much set upon it, and I wish to be
3 Jonathan Delancey, Esq., commissary-general of Virginia,
appointed in 1768.
RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 431
able to say something about it in the letter I
propose to write to him the first of next month.
He desires me to exert my interest with your
lordship, to get Mr. Singleton to send him a
clever lad who can ride light weights, as he has
entered into some fresh subscriptions ; and though
he is confident of winning with a good rider, he
must certainly lose them if he cannot get such a
rider from England. The one he has had from
your lordship's stables is grown too heavy to ride,
and he has set him up as a keeper of livery-stables.
He wishes an answer to this request as soon as
possible.
If poor George Grenville was alive, he would
not suffer English jockeys to be entered outwards
without bond and certificate ; or at least he would
have had them stamped, or excised, or circum-
cised, or something should be done to them, to
bear the burdens of this poor oppressed country,
and to relieve the landed interest. I am afraid
his disciples of the present ministry, with the same
politics, have not the same industry and courage ;
and that this jockey-trade will go on without any
benefit to the revenue. As things stand, this boy
ought to be ensured to the weight he is sent out ;
for how, for want of exercise and a gross regimen
of diet, he may grow into bone and fatten upon
the voyage, is more than we know. However,
allowance is to be made for that ; and if one of
432 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
the Singleton school is sent out to civilize Ame-
rica, it will be a good act ; for it is better that
they should be contesting about their horses than
our acts of trade, and importing our jockeys than
turning out our governors.
I see by the papers of this day that Reynolds is
dead 4 . I take it for granted that the necessary
steps have not been omitted, and that we shall
have a fourth Cavendish in parliament. Now I
talk of parliamenteering and racing, I found that
Lord Verney rather wished me to go to Ayles-
bury races, at which I have not attended for these
four years. I went accordingly, and there found
Lord Temple, who also had not been for several
years before. He behaved with all the canvassing
civility of a candidate. His design, I am told, is
to put up his eldest nephew for the county on the
next election. He thinks Lord V. is too low in
cash to contest with him. I found he paid a very
great court to Hampden 5 , who was likewise at
Aylesbury. I suppose this design of Lord Temple's
is one cause of his management in opposition, in
order to conciliate the Tories to give him one
vote, and to secure the support of the treasury.
He brought the younger of the Grenvilles to the
4 Francis Reynolds, member for Lancaster. He was suc-
ceeded by Lord Richard Cavendish.
5 The family of Hampden had large estates in the Chiltern
part of Buckinghamshire.
RIGHT HOX. EDMUND BURKE. 433
races, and made him steward for the next year.
These manoeuvres, though I hope and trust they
will fail of success, add not a little to my anxiety,
and the occasional dejections which, at moments,
I feel in spite of myself.
Murrough O'Bryen 6 behaved exceedingly well.
He desired that we should be together at the
dinner, to show how he would go at the election ;
and he gave besides very obliging assurances to
Lord Verney. This is all I know of the state of
Lord Temple's intentions, of which we seem to
know nothing, and to take no sort of notice.
The treasury is now to have but two meetings
before their recess. Fox has pressed the St. Vin-
cent's business with more activity than was usual
with him. My brother has seen Robinson, who
appears to be very well disposed. But I scarcely
give myself leave to promise him success. How-
ever, there is one advantage, that Sir William
Young, the constant and most dangerous adver-
sary, is absent, and like to be so for some weeks.
Besides, he has little favour at the treasury, except
through Cooper; and with what degree of energy
that is kept up, I know not.
I am no way acquainted, for some time, with
the politics of the East India-house. What I
last heard convinces me that the court gains
6 Murrough, fifth Earl of Inchiquin, afterwards Marquis of
Thomond, then residing at Taplow in Buckinghamshire.
VOL. I. F f
434 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
ground there every instant. You know that Ellis 7 ,
Jenkinson 8 , and several others, have qualified,
and very largely. The Duke of Richmond seems
to have abated much of his activity in that quar-
ter. Perhaps nothing can be done. This weather,
which has caught us in the middle of our harvest,
has made terrible havock. I am, with the best
respects of this house to your lordship and Lady
Rockingham,
My dear lord,
Your lordship's ever obedient and obliged
humble servant,
EDM. BURKE.
EDMUND BURKE, ESQ., TO THE MARQUIS OF
ROCKINGHAM.
Broad Sanctuary, September 29, 1773.
MY DEAR LORD,
Immediately after the arrival of your pacquet, I
set out for Lord Besborough's. I found him at
home, and stayed that night. He was extremely
7 Welbore Ellis, a vice-treasurer of Ireland and a privy-
counsellor, created Lord Mendip in 1794.
8 Charles Jenkinson, afterwards created Lord Hawkesbury,
and subsequently Earl of Liverpool. At this time he was a
vice-treasurer of Ireland, and a supporter of Lord North's
administration.
RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 435
pleased with your letter to him, which he said was
the best he had ever seen upon any subject. I did
not greatly differ with him. We talked over the
business 9 very much at large. Mr. Ponsonby had
given his thoughts upon it, and he showed me the
letters he had got from Lord Milton 10 and Lord
Shelburne, on his communicating to them the
intelligence he had received concerning the inten-
tions of government. They both disapproved of
the scheme, and one of them in very strong and
warm expressions ; but they seemed to entertain
some doubts of its existence.
It is not very usual to your lordship to fall into
a mistake from an over favourable opinion of the
prudence of ministry. In this instance you have
been too indulgent to them. Without all doubt
9 A proposal on the part of the Irish government for a
tax of two shillings in the pound on the net rents of Irish
estates, the owners of which did not reside, for six months of
the year, in Ireland. This measure was advocated in the
Irish House of Commons, by Mr. Henry Flood ; but having
met considerable opposition from the great landed proprietors
possessing estates both in England and Ireland, who addressed
Lord North on the subject, as well as from other quarters, the
project was abandoned by the government. Mr. Burke
wrote a letter against it, addressed to Sir Charles Bingham,
which is published in the ninth volume, octavo edition, of the
works.
10 Joseph Darner, Lord Milton, afterwards created Earl of
Dorchester.
Ff 2
436 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
they have adopted the project of a tax on Irish
absentees. The information is of the most perfect
authenticity. Lord Besboroughwas indeed reserved
in naming his author, having got some caution
about it ; but his description makes it very clear
that he had his intelligence from Lord Hertford,
and had it for the purpose of communication to
those who are most immediately concerned. Lord
Hertford himself was, it seems, the only person who
opposed it in council. The rest were unanimous.
In their answer to the proposal they said, " that
they did not wish this method of raising money.
It was their desire that a less exceptionable mode
should be chosen by the parliament of Ireland; but
if their choice should fix upon this in preference
to any other, and that a bill for that purpose should
be transmitted from Ireland, it would certainly be
returned to them from the council in England."
This proposition, though not as from the Lord-
lieutenant, but in the way of intelligence of what
might be agitated in Ireland, came to the ministry
from Colonel Blaquiere, Lord Harcourt's secretary 11 .
It would be ridiculous to understand it as any
thing else than a measure of administration, not-
withstanding their pretended wishes of a more
agreeable mode of supply. It originated from one
branch of government, and has received a previous
11 Lord Harcourt was at this time Lord-lieutenant of Ireland.
RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. 437
assurance of a final ratification from another
branch. It is probable enough, that it will not
be formally moved in parliament by any of the
managers for the Castle. Some member, apparently
in opposition, will propose it ; and the court party
after a faint struggle, in which they will rather
wish and pray than debate, will suffer the point to
be carried by the patriots. Your lordship judges
with your usual penetration, that the ministers are
desirous of throwing the odious part of standing
against so popular a regulation upon those who
are not well with them. That the gentlemen of
that description have inwardly no good opinion of
the tax, and no sort of inclination to its being
imposed, is most certain. But they are too much
disunited among themselves to risk an opposition
to the designs of government, supported by the
prejudices of the people. Mr. Ponsonby writes
on the subject with great reserve. I am persuaded
from his style, and from his situation, to which his
style corresponds, that he will not think it advis-
able to take a forward part in opposing the tax :
if he should not; indeed, whether he should or
not, I believe the Duke of Leinster will let it
pass, and perhaps even appear to forward it. He
cultivates an interest in the corporation of Dublin,
where a measure of this sort is just the most
agreeable thing that could be imagined. Lord
Shannon has had negotiations with the Castle. If
438 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
these negotiations should terminate to his liking,
he will not set himself to resist the designs of his
new friends. If not, he will take care to preserve
the ground of popularity on which he stands.
These are the most considerable interests. It is
not impossible that Flood will be the mover of
the tax. It will bring him over to administra-
tion with a good grace 12 . He will have one of the
best horses of popularity in Lord Chatham's
stables. He will have the merit of coming over
to a government entirely in an Irish interest, and
he will allege that, in making terms for himself,
he has not neglected the interests of his country.
He has been in London for a good while, and for
some part of the time very privately. I imagine,
at least, this was a part of his errand.
Your lordship has probably heard that adminis-
tration has formally dissolved their newly-created