Burke produced a vast number of writings on many subjects. Among the more important are: Observations on a Pamphlet on the Present Slate of the Nation (1769), replying to a paper vari ously ascribed to Fox or Grenville; On thc Cause of the Present Discontents (1770) ; the celebrated speech in 1788 opening the trMI of Warren Hast ings (q.v), and the equally famous speeches on American Taxation (1774) and on Conciliation with .4 merica (1775), which may perhaps he re garded as the most splendid monuments of his eloquence and statesmanship. On the other hand, with strange inconsistency, Burke resisted the movement ror the reform of Parliamentary repre sentation; and lie failed utterly to grasp the true meaning of the French IZevoluticki. In 1790 ap peared his Reflections on the Revolution in France, which had a remarkable success. Eleven editions were issued within the first year, and by 1797 more than 30,000 copies had been sold. It was received with delight by George Ill., and by every enemy of the Revolution; yet, as a contri bution to the literature of social history. the book is worthless. Burke was an ardent lover of order; and, deceived by the violence of the Jaco bins, the man who had stood so bravely for the rights of the English colonists and the Hindus was unable to perceive that the French people were struggling to free themselves from a class despotism far more oppressive. In his Rights of Man, Thomas Paine made a trenchant reply to Burke's book; and it was also answered by intosh in Vindirice Few men have been the subjects of higher panegyric than Burke, and, on the whole, few have better deserved praise. Ile was noble-mind ed, pure in his life, and a purist in politics. In tellectually, he was most richly endowed. Pos sessing imagination, rare powers of observation. and indefatigable industry, there was no subject which he could not master, and none which, hay ing mastered, he could not expound with un paralleled richness of language. But with these virtues and powers were conjoined defects, which, without bating their greatness. largely neutral
i7ed their influence. He was, it may be said, too literary to be a philosopher. and too philosophic to be a politician. His cared' would seem to il lustrate this position. Ilis 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 splen dors 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 almost a state of political isolation. At the same time, it must not be forgotten how great an influence he, half philosopher, half politician. exercised on the counsels of the State; many of his views on politics and public economy were anticipations of science, as many of his previsions of the course of events were prophecies. 11c died on July 7, 1797.
There is an excellent edition of Burke's Works in 12 volumes ( Boston, 1871) ; reprinted in 6 volumes in the Bohn series (London, 1580). His Lett( rs, in 4 volumes, were edited by Earl Fitz williain and Sir R. Bourke ( Loudon, 1844) ; and they are reprinted in the edition of the Works (London, 1852). Consult: A. J. George, editor, Speeches on the :tmerican Wan and Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol (Boston, 1891) ; dames Prior. Life (5th ed.. London. 1854) ; C•oly, Mem oir of the Political Life of Burke (Edinburgh, 1840) ; Macknight, History of the Life and Time of Burke (3 vols., London, 1358) ; Morley, Burke, in the "Men of Letters Series" (New York. 1879), and Historical Study (New York, 1867) ; and Hunt. in Dictionary of National Bi ography, VII. ( New York. 1891).