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MR. BURKE ON HIS PARTY CONNEXIONS.

1782.

THE original of this letter was purchased by me at a sale of MSS. in March, 1852. It is in Mr. Burke's writing, but has no address. So far as I know, this is the only letter of the time in which he adverts (and how full of dignity his tone in doing so!) to his own most unjust exclusion from the Cabinet.

S.

SIR,

Charles Street, March 25, 1782.

I am this moment honoured with your letter, in which I find nothing to dislike but the pains you have taken and the variety of arguments you have used to prevail upon me to be serviceable to you. I am certainly much inclined to be so. The difficulty lies in showing me that I have the power of doing what I assure you is so very agreeable to my wishes and to my sense merit.

your

You have been misinformed. I make no part of the Ministerial arrangement. Something in the official line may possibly be thought fit for my measure. But what exactly it is, I do not yet know. At a moment like this (whatever I may be able to effect hereafter through

friends in power) I certainly can do nothing whatsoever for you; and this plain declaration is next to doing you service.

You will easily conceive that a person at my time of life, and who has, during seventeen years' opposition, contracted many political and many personal friendships, and been much obliged by various people in various ways, without the possibility of making them the least return, must have claims upon me for a great deal more interest than I have or possibly can have as long as I live. The coming of a vast number of new people, under the very same circumstances, makes this time not over favourable to those who have not claims of an old date. This, Sir, I say, that you may have some little sense of the difficulties I must lie under in an attempt to serve you at this time, even if I were to be in a situation of power and patronage, which will not be the case.

However, though I dare not flatter you with any the least hope, I shall be much pleased with the favour of seeing you at any morning between nine and ten, when the present hurry is a little over, and of becoming acquainted with you. I shall inquire very little concerning talents, of which I see strong proofs in your letters, or of a character which every thing inclines me to think favourably of. I really wish, when circumstances shall permit, to do my little to help you forward, as I am, with real esteem and regard,

Sir,

Your most obedient and obliged humble Servant,
EDM. BURKE.

MR. BURKE ON HIS PUBLIC SERVICES.

1794.

FROM the original in Mr. Burke's writing, as preserved among the Pitt MSS. This is the paper which I showed Lord Macaulay in 1858, and of which in his reply to me he said, "It is interesting, and very characteristic." See the Life of Pitt, vol. i. p. 161.

S.

Memorandum by the Right Hon. E. Burke.

1794.

MR. BURKE understands that Mr. Pitt is so obliging as to think that his humble industry in his thirty years' service may without impropriety be recommended to His Majesty's gracious consideration.

Mr. Burke has never asked for anything, nor suggested any reward. It never did become him, nor does it now become him, to suppose that he has any merit to entitle him to the particular favour of the Crown or of the public. He is sensible that he has done nothing beyond his strict duty.

But if he is permitted to compare his endeavours and rewards, not with the standard of his duty, but with

contemporary examples, he would submit the following matters to judges more impartial than he can be in his

own case.

In the year 1782 Lord Rockingham was Minister. Mr. Burke's connexions with that noble person were of the closest kind. About that time, or a little before, Mr. Burke was deeply concerned in a great variety of affairs, and was supposed to be of some use, both in producing good and in averting evil. At that period this was pretty generally acknowledged by all parties. Mr. Burke believes it to be in the memory of many that a surprise was expressed that a provision for him had not been recommended by his particular friends and oldest connexions, when so much was done by them for absolute strangers.

The fact is, that for the general accommodation in forming what was called an administration upon a broad bottom, Mr. Burke did cheerfully postpone every pretension of his, whether grounded on connexion or service. He privately forwarded, and he publicly defended, a permanent provision for Colonel Barré and Mr. Dunning. Besides Colonel Barré's office in possession (as good as Mr. Burke's), that gentleman obtained a pension of 30007. a-year. Mr. Dunning obtained a peerage with the Duchy for life, made up by a pension to 40007. a-year, although he was possessed of a very ample fortune.

Mr. Burke never did solicit the Pay Office. It was offered to him. He held it in all about a year, under two administrations. It is the only place he ever held. During the time he held it, amongst the multiplicity of

his other occupations, he employed himself with pains, not easily described, to form a new constitution for that office, and to carry a Bill for that purpose through the House of Commons. He flatters himself that, in that Bill, useful regulations were made; and savings of some importance with regard to public money ensued in consequence of them.

Mr. Burke certainly does not mean to compare his abilities with those of the two gentlemen he alludes to. It is allowed to a man to speak of his industry. As for real labour in mind and body, he had even then—that is, so long ago as 1782-worked more in any three months than they had done in their whole lives. Lord Ashburton's professional industry is put out of the question; it was private; it had no relation to the State, and that kind of toil (whatever its value may be) rewards itself very sufficiently.

The arrangement for these two gentlemen was made twelve years ago. During the twelve, Mr. Burke's exertions have continued-in what way, or with what merit in any of the particulars, it is not for him to judge. It is certain that, notwithstanding his very advanced age, his industry has not been relaxed in any course in which such small abilities as his could possibly employ it. During that period his circumstances have not been improved. Many expenses, more easily felt than calculated, are necessarily attendant on such exertions as his. A total neglect of a man's private affairs is likewise the inevitable consequence of occupations that engross the whole man. Mr. Barré came into Parliament in 1763, and had his settlement in 1782.

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