put cherishing designs subversive to the con stitution which he supported.

As Lord North and Burke were both men of great classical erudition, and very frequently introduced quotations from ancient authors, they sometimes had friendly disputes concerning some of the passages. Burke had studied ancient language merely as a vehicle of ancient ideas. Lord North, besides studying it for the purpose which general reason dictates, was thoroughly acquainted with it in the way which local usage prescribes: having been taught at Eton, he was perfectly instructed in the metri. cal parts. One day, Burke having occasion to use the Latin word vectigal, pronounced it vectigal: Lord North told him it should be vectigal. Burke proposed a bet of a guinea: Lord North agreed, and of course gained. In the prosody of the languagé, both the Scotch and Irish are, no doubt, much inferior to the English; and we hear mistakes as to quantity from some of the ablest and most learned men among them which an English boy would detect. I remember once to have heard some Latin conversa. tion between a very respectable master of an academy near London, esteemed among the best scholars in the profession, and one of the first literary Scotchmen of the age; both spoke the language with fluency and propriety in other respects, but the latter not in point of prosody. It was with difficulty that the master

of the academy convinced the learned Doctor that he was not erroneous in pronouncing confĕro, confero. Although he has manifested himself to the world to be most intimately and profoundly conversant in the history, character, ge. nius, customs, manners, laws, and politics of the Romans, yet was he inaccurate in their sounds'; although few men in England could equal him writing sense prose, yet many boys might surpass him in writing nonsense verses.

Little, except the impeachment of Hastings engaged the political attention of Burke until the time of the REGENCY.

To dwell upon the melancholy event that rendered a plan of Regency necessary, would be extremely absurd, indecorous, and unfeeling. It, however, in the alarm during the calamity and the joy at the recovery of the personage whom it had pleased Heaven to afflict, manifested how highly he was prized by his people.

On its being ascertained that a temporary incapacity existed for exercising the functions of government, Mr. Fox's idea was, that during this incapacity there was virtually a demise of the Crown; that therefore the next heir should assume the powers of government whilst the incapacity continued. Mr. Pitt's opinion was, that in such a case it rested with parliament to supply the deficiency, as in other circumstances not before provided for by the existing laws.

Great ability was displayed on both sides; but as the necessity for its exertion on that subject soon ceased, I shall not enter into its details. Much obloquy was attached to Burke on ac count of the violence of his conduct, and still more, of his expressions. Impartial truth obliges me to acknowledge that his language was very intemperate; it was indeed so much so as to excite the blame of his friends and associates. In estimating character, however, we must take THE WHOLE of action, not PART of expression. Burke conceived that it was the intention of Ministry to make the Regent dependent on a party, of which they were the heads; and cer. tainly displayed very extraordinary abilities in opposing their plans, whether they were selfish or patriotic. "There was (he said) a partition of power, in which the Prince was destined to have an official, a merë nominal character; while all the places and real dignities were given to another. This partition was more odious and offensive than the famous Partition Treaty, relative to the succession, on the death of the last Prince of the house of Austria. It was a par tition founded on the most wicked and malicious principle: every thing that was degrading and restrictive, every thing that could stamp suspicion and indignity on the Prince's charac ter, was implied in what the bill withheld from him; while, on the other hand, all that was

.

graceful, all that was calculated to hold up a character as great, as virtuous, and meritorious, was given where an opposition was set up to counteract the Executive Government." Burke's intemperance in debate appeared, perhaps, more during the Regency discussion than at any other time. Once, when he was called to order, he made the following reply: "Order is an admirable thing, perfect in all its limbs, only unfortunately it squints, and wants the aid of some expert oculist to enable it to see straight. I also wish to preserve the utmost delicacy; but delicacy, though a being of perfect symmetry like the former, is only a subsidiary virtue, and ought always to give way to truth, where the case was such, that the truth was infinitely of more consequence than the delicacy." Burke drew up the questions addressed to Mr. Gill, the Lord Mayor, containing very bitter invectives against Administration. He also wrote an answer to Mr. Pitt's letter to the Prince of Wales. Indeed he, how- ́ ever reprehensible in the violence of his expressions, displayed his talents during the Regency bills fully as much as at any other period of his life. The view he took of circumstances and proceedings was great and comprehensive, whether just or not; if there were too frequently sallies of passion, there was always effu sion of genius.

While the Regency was the subject of serious consideration in parliament, it occasioned seve. ral very humorous compositions out of doors. Of these, the Regency Cauldron, in imitation of that of Macbeth's witches, was the most distinguished. So forcible, indeed, was its humour, and brilliant its wit, that by many it was imputed either to Courtenay or Sheridan. I here were, indeed,

a number of very laughable and ingenious writ ings subsequent to the Rolliade and Birth-day Odes; such as the Cabinet Stud, Royal Recol lections, and many others. On the side of Opposition there was certainly greater versatility and variety of powers than on the side of Ministry. For Administration there were extensive knowledge, comprehensive understanding, strong reasoning, masculine and dignified eloquence; there were industry and practical ability in the conduct of affairs. In the other party, there were, besides the materials and powers of serious reasoning and eloquence, the materials and powers of sportive exhibitions. From the one you could derive information and instruction: from the other, information, instruction, and entertainment. In both you met with the equals of Cicero and Demosthenes. In the Minority you met with Congreve and Swift. Burke, who was one of the wittiest of men himself, was also the cause of wit in others, as "Simkins's Letters to his Brother Simon in Wales" can testify.