Soon after he had finished his education at the univerfity, a vacancy happening in the logic chair at Glafgow, Mr. Burke applied for the profeffor fhip. In this application he was difappointed; and disappointment wafted him to a fhore more aufpicious to genius. He arrived in London, and entered himself a member of the honourable fociety of the Middle Temple, with a view of being called to the bar. Fired by the first examples of antiquity, he bent all the powers of his capacious mind to the acquifition of knowledge. But his health could not contend with this intenfe application; and a dangerous illness threatened to deprive himself, his friends, and the world, of the fruits of fuch unparalleled induftry and talents. On being attacked in fo alarming a manner, he fent för Dr. Nugent, a man of great skill, and ftill greater goodness of heart; who, perceiving that the noise and other inconveniences, to which his patient was expofed in chambers at an inn of court, must greatly obftru& his recovery, perfuaded him to accept of apartments at the house of his benevolent phyfician. Here he was treated with all the care which an only fon could experience under the roof of the fondeft parent. His recovery was not a little accelerated by the attentions of Mifs Nugent, the doctor's only daughter, who was conftantly at his bed-fide, relieving, with the tendereft affiduities, the hours of fickness and folitude. Sickness, efpecially in the young, is a fweet and lenient corrector. While it humbles the mind, it intenders the heart. The throbbings of vanity are at reft, and we are only alive to fenfibility and gratitude. Is it then furprising that one, in every refpect worthy of his efteem, and who had now fuch a claim to his regard, fhould be confeffed the mistress of his heart; and that he found in the daughter of his friend, the partner of his future life? He was foon after married to Mifs Nugent; and he has, repeatedly, been heard to say, that he no focher entered entered his house, than the very remembrance of his cares vanished. Returning health reftored him to the profecution of his ftudies; and the firft efforts of his genius were made known in an enquiry into the nature and origin of our ideas refpecting the SUBLIME and BEAUTIFUL. On this work, now univerfally admired, and permanently eftablished, it is unneceffary to defcant. But it is a work that has employed the last experience of its author, and we may hope to review it with confiderable additions and improvements. Before this time, there had been no regular chronicle of events. Mr. Burke contemplated this deficiency; and he alfo contemplated a remedy for it. He propofed the plan of the Annual Regifter, which was immediately adopted by Mr. Dodfley, and which has continued through a ferics of years to experience the best patronage of the public. He now became a member of that literary-club which produced the famous RETALIATION of GOLDSMITH; a poem where, though ludicroudly, the poet fo juftlý defcribes the qualities of his quondam friends. He thus fpeaks of Burke "Here lies our good Edmund, whofe genius was fuch, To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.” The extending reputation of Mr. Burke, and his connections connections with men of letters, introduced him, about this period, to the notice of Mr. Fitzherbert, a Derbythire gentleman, who, having great influence with that nobleman, foon after introduced Mr. Burke to the friendship of the Marquis of Rockingham. (To be continued.) THE REFLECTOR. [No. VI.] Every exertion of despair, if unsuccessful, is confidered as an act of lunacy, but attended with fuccefs, we then acknowledge it the fublime invention of no ordinary genius. VAURIEN, OR SKETCHES OF THE TIMES, Tevery-varying characters of men, few things can O him who contemplates with an even mind, the be more productive of thought, than the readiness with which most people decide on subjects to which they are incompetent. In the common intercourfe, and among the cafual occurrences of life, there are many things to perplex and amaze us. We fee accidents for which no man can account, and emoluments unexpected by all. One friend, who appeared profperous and happy, is overthrown by a fudden guft of adverfity; while another, unfolicitous of greatnefs, becomes eminent beyond fancy or 'conjecture. Thefe are difficulties which frequently arife, and which every one is so active to difcufs, that a perfon, unread in the world, might be curious to know in what manner they are decided. From the immediate decifon which they obtain, he muft either imagine that his fellow-beings are uncommonly wife, or uncommonly prefumptuous. If all the strange experiments of ambition, which have terminated unfuccefsfully to their authors, could be enumerated to our view, and all the difficulties to "there which an unboastful fortitude has been steadily, though vainly oppofed, we should rather wonder that any have been permanently great, than that fo many have been difappointed in their projects. A daring and unconquerable fpirit is certainly requifite to fame; but a daring and unconquerable fpirit may never fucceed. "Proud as the world is," fays Dr. Young, is more fuperiority in it given than affumed." We are ever difpofed to give way to him who is prepared to make way for himfelf, and the inferior is thortly the fuperior. This tranfaction is not without a fimilie, in concerns of lefs importance. I have feen a boy who wifhed to afcend a garden-wall, in order to reach the fruit it enclofed. He tries his ingenuity, and he is thwarted. In this inftant arrive a number of his companions. He reprefents his intention to them; and promifes to divide the fpoil, provided they will affift him to obtain it. Not one of them has strength enough to attempt the task, but they frame, with their backs, a ladder for his afcent. He gains the prize, laughs at their credulity, and eats it himself. This is what we every day meet with. When the triumvirate divided Rome, what was become of the Roman people? and when Cromwell firft entered the house of commons, can it be thought that he afpired to the protectorate? Circumftances were favourable to each, though both Cromwell and the triumvirate were indefatigable and ambitious. Of all defcriptions of men, perhaps the truly honeft and diligent are the leaft calculated to rife. Unincited by the elevation of their neighbours, and concerned only with juftice and propriety, they purfue, in one equal pace, the regular duties of their ftation. Thofe events which alike irritate or overwhelm the adventurous and defigning, are neither ominous or depreffing to thefe. They are notelefs and calm, temperate and at reft. It would be difficult to entice them from the Iphere in which they move, and impoffible to fix them in another. From fuch characters there is little to apprehend. Though fubject to misfortune, misfortune is half fubject to them; and they have the credit of paffing wifely through time, without the follies too often attendant on wifdom. To a class of beings more fanciful and fublime, animadverfion is indebted for her office. And how is that office performed? By what criterion do we judge of human actions? The head that is infolent and affuming, as well as that which is enterprifing and fuccefsful, will bear away the palm of renown, while aftonishment fhall create admiration. When effects are better learnt than caufes, and where actions are more attended to than motives, virtue muft be unfairly appreciated. Imperfect are our beft decifions; our rafh ones are not unfrequently impious, because we judge without reafon and information. And this is the judgment which we hatten to pass on moft things that come under our notice ! cannot Surely, then, forbearance is a virtue. We never know too much on any fubject, and we often know but little-fometimes nothing, of many things that are offered to our confideration. Before we add to the general vote, let us examine the general report. Frequently we fhall find it injudicious; not feldom unfounded. The continual changes of opinion, which juftly be attributed to an inconftancy in the public mind, fhould teach us this falutary caution. Their information is contracted or erroneous, and they tremble with the breath of rumour. They think according to the knowledge they may poffefs, and they change as occafion feems to dictate. Neither bodies, nor individuals of men, are contented to appear ignoIf they have not, they will affect confequence; and that confequence is evinced in a feeming acquaintance with every object that is prefented to their view. And thus an error which is formed by negligence, is rant. VQL. II. B |