Before proceeding to remark on the character and powers of B., a very brief notice must be taken of his leading literary efforts connected with his political labors. Little more than a catalogue can here be given of them. Omitting a variety of valuable letters —several on the condition of Ireland—notice must be taken of his Observations on a Pamphlet on the Present State of the Nation, being his first political pamphlet, published in 1769, in answer to one variously ascribed to Fox or Grenville. 1/0770, he published a pamphlet, On the. Cause of the Present Discontents. On the 13th Feb., 1788, he com menced his celebrated speech opening the trial of Warren Hastings (q.v.), the most remarkable trial, perhaps, in the history of the world. This speech lasted over four days, and has been characterized as "a tempest of invective and eloquence." No idea can be conveyed of the effect which it produced. The trial lasted seven years, and closed with another great and splendid oration from 13., lasting over nine days. Has tings, it is well known, was acquitted While this trial was advancing, B. found time to take part in all the current business. In 1790, appeared his Reflections on the Revolu tion of France, which sold in tens of thousands, 'and is said to have produced an effect never produced before nor since by any political essay. Hereafter, the world• showered honors on B., of which space forbids even the enumeration. Having, in 1791, with drawn from the whigs on the French question, he offered for the consideration of gov ernment, OIL French which, however, was not published till after his death. Ikadv for Consideration on the Present State (1 Affairs and Reply to a Noble Lord next followed, the latter being relatiVe to hiinself personally. His last work, Thoughts on a Regicide Peace, showed that lie retained to the end of his life his whole powers unimpaired.
Few men have been the subjects of higher panegyric than B., and, on the whole,
few have better deserved praise. He was noble-minded, pure in his life, and a purist in politics. Intellectually, lie was most richly endowed; with much imagination, rare powers of observation, and indefatigable industry, there was no subject which lie could not master, and none which, having mastered, he could not expound with unparalleled richness of language. But with these virtues and powers were conjoined defects, which, without bating their greatness, largely neutralized their influence. He was, it may be said, too literary to be a philosopher, and too philosophic to be a poatunan. His career would seem to illustrate this position. His oratory astounded by its brilliancy rather than persuaded by its tone and argument; and in the long-run, the eloquence which failed to command the reason, ceased to captivate the ear. The man who at first evoked the enthusiasm of the house by the brilliancy and power of his eloquence, did actually at last empty it by persistence in the monotonous splendors of his speeches. Passionate, and in a great degree !intractable, he was unsuited for party politics, and drifted from all his connections, breaking up slowly all party ties, and even the ties of friendship, till he reached at last a state of almost political isolation. At the same time, it must not be forgotten how great an influence lie, half philosopher, half politician, exercised on the counsels of the state; many of his views on politics and public economy were anticipa tions of science, as many of his previsions of the course of events were prophecies.
B. died on the 7th July, 1797, in his 68th year. A. collected edition of his works in quarto was published in 1827. The latest edition is that of the Clarendon press, begun in 1866. The best biography of B. is Mr. J. Macknight's. See also Morley's Edmund Burke, a Historical Study (1869).