jects than the categories of Aristotle, perceived the noxious tendency of levelling doctrines. He wrote several essays in the style of Lucas, imitating it so completely as to deceive the public-pursuing Lucas's principles to consequences obviously resulting from them, and at the same time shewing their absurdity and danger. The first literary effort of his mind was an exposure of the absurdity of democratical innovations. This was the Ticinus of our political Scipio.

1

It has been often said that he was bred a Catholic, and studied at St. Omers. To his supposed education many of his political measures have been ascribed: particularly to his popish institution were imputed his opposition to the Protestant associations in 1780 and his endeavour to effect Catholic emancipation in Ireland. But the fact ascertained and admitted is, that he never studied at St. Omers, nor at any popish or even foreign seminary. He was bred a Protestant, and always continued a member of the Episcopal church, although he entertained a very high opinion of the Dissenters, and a particular esteem for the Catholics.

Among the various literary studies to which his genius was directed, pneumatology, as we have said, was one. Philosophers, indeed, have generally considered man in his individual powers, before they have followed these powers through their operation in the various relations

and engagements of social life. They have analysed the mind before they ascertained what affections or actions of it were useful or hurtful. Anatomy preceded preventives, regimen, and medicine. This has been the case both with philosophy and philosophers. Pneumatics have been studied before ethics: Xenophanes went before Socrates; Hutchinson's Analysis of the Passions was written before his Moral Philosophy. The study, indeed, of man's nature in the abstract is, perhaps, more within the reach of a young man, than the study of it in its operations amidst the complicated engagements and duties of society.

Burke, in his youth, bestowed much attention on logic and metaphysics in general, and applied himself with particular diligence to the investigation of Berkley's and Hume's systems.

While employed in treasuring up a profound knowledge to render himself useful, he did not neglect the means of rendering himself agreeable in the intercourse of life. To the learn ing of a scholar he added the manners of a gentleman. His company was sought among the gay and fashionable, for his pleasing conversation and deportment, as much as among the learned for the force and brilliancy of his genius, the extent and depth of his knowledge, He had that great art of good breeding which rendered the members of the company pleased

with him and themselves. He had an inexhaustible fund of discourse, either serious or merry, with wit and humour, poignant, strong, delicate, sportive, as answered the purpose or occasion. He had a vast variety of anecdotes and stories, which were always well adapted and well told; a constant cheerfulness and high spirits. His looks and voice were in unison with the agreeableness, insinuation, and impressiveness of his conversation and manners.

But though the object of regard and admiration in his native country, he did not see much chance of acquiring in it an independent situation. Ireland, though often the mother of genius, is rarely its nurse. Burke, seeing little prospect of soon raising himself in his own country, made his first essay to attain permanent employment in another, Soon after he had finished academical studies, a vacancy took place in the professorship of Logic at Glasgow. A considerable intercourse had long subsisted between the universities of Glasgow and Dublin, owing, probably, in some measure to their local position, but in a great degree to the fame of the eminent Hutchinson, who had been edueated at Dublin, and always retained a close intercourse with Ireland.

Burke, conscious of his metaphysical knowledge, applied for the professorship; but tool late. Had he been successful, the Logic chair of Glasgow would have teen still more eminent

than the Moral Philosophy chairs of Glasgow and of Edinburgh: though the former have been filled by a Hutchinson, Smith, and Reid; the latter has been occupied by a Fergusson, and is now by a Stewart. Burke had planned a confutation of the Berkleian and Humean hypo. thesis; but the active engagements of politics afterwards prevented the completion of his speculative disquisitions.

Disappointment of early views has been the means of advancement to several eminent men of modern times. Dr. Fergusson was disappointed in an application for an inconsiderable living in an obscure part of Scotland. Had he been successful, taken up with the duties of his profession, his literary and philosophical talents might have been lost to the world.

Had Dr. Johnson become master of the Staffordshire school, talents might have been consumed in the tuition of boys which Providence formed for the instruction of men. The chair which Burke desired to fill would have been favourable to philosophical effort.

Whether, on the whole, his mind might not have been employed as usefully for himself and for mankind, in the sequestered pursuits of literature, is a premature inquiry at this stage of his life; for, if a solvable question, the solution must depend on the effects arising from a different direction of his powers during more advanced periods.

We now know, that the time devoted by Bacon to philosophy was of infinitely superior utility to mankind to that which was occupied in public life. We know, that his political counsels were of much less efficacy, in the wise and successful reign of great Elizabeth, than those of men, who, though possessing considerable talents, were (as almost all men were that ever the world saw) very much inferior in genius to Sir Francis Bacon. As a judge, even had he in a moral view been blameless, he could have done no more than a person of merely a sound understanding, common learning, and professional knowledge, without either genius or philosophy. In the early part of Bacon's life it would have been premature to have determined, whether in a private or public capacity he might have been most beneficial to himself and to society.

Disappointed in Glasgow, Burke betook himself to London, where genius, if vigorously and assiduously exerted, and judiciously directed, seldom fails of ultimate success.

On his first arrival in the metropolis, he entered himself of the Temple. Various accounts are given of his finances at the outset of life. It has of late been asserted that he began the world with a handsome competency, which he sunk by an adherence to a party. The term hndsome competency being vague and indefinite, I cannot enter into a particular discussion of it; but it appears probable that it was not very