time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time. The Pensionary De Witt, who was torn to pieces in the year 1672, did the whole business of the [Dutch] republic, and yet had time to go to assemblies in the evening, and sup in company. Being asked, "How he could possibly find time to go through so much business, and yet amuse himself in the evening as he did?" he answered, “There was nothing so easy; for that it was only doing one thing at a time, and never putting off anything till to-morrow that could be done to-day." This steady and undissipated attention to one object is a sure mark of a superior genius; as hurry, bustle, and agitation, are the never-failing symptoms of a weak and frivolous mind.

2. ATTEND TO THINGS ABOUT YOU.

(FROM THE SAME WORK.)

I AM Very glad you went to hear a trial in the Court of King's Bench, and still more so, that you made the proper animadversions upon the inattention of many of the people in the court. As you observed, very well, the indecency of that inattention, I am sure you will never be guilty of anything like it yourself. There is no surer sign in the world of a little, weak mind, than inattention. Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well; and nothing can be done well without attention.' It is the sure answer of a fool, when you ask him about anything that was said or done where he was present that, Truly he did not mind it. And why did not the fool mind it? What had he else to do there but to mind what was doing? A man of sense sees, hears, and retains everything that passes where he is. I desire I may never hear you talk of not minding, nor complain, as most fools do, of a treacherous memory. Mind not only what people say, but how they say it; and, if you have any sagacity, you may discover more truth by your eyes than by your ears. People can say what they will, but they cannot look just as they will; and their looks frequently discover what their words are calculated to conceal.

(1) Attention, the act of stretching the mind towards a thing with a view to that contact which is necessary to complete mental apprehension. The importance of cultivating such a habit, even in regard to ordinary daily life, is admirably shown in this passage.

Observe, therefore, people's looks carefully, when they speak, not only to you, but to each other. I have often guessed, by people's faces, what they were saying, though I could not hear one word they said. The most material knowledge of all, I mean the knowledge of the world, is never to be acquired without great attention; and I know many old people, who, though they have lived long in the world, are but children still as to the knowledge of it, from their levity and inattention. Certain forms, which all people comply with, and certain arts, which all people aim at, hide, in some degree, the truth, and give a general exterior resemblance' to almost everybody. Attention and sagacity must see through that veil, and discover the natural character. You are of an age, now, to reflect, to observe, and compare characters, and to arm yourself against the common arts, at least, of the world. If a man, with whom you are but barely acquainted, to whom you have made no offers, nor given any marks of friendship, makes you, on a sudden, strong professions of his, receive them with civility, but do not repay them with confidence; he certainly means to deceive you; for one man does not fall in love with another at sight. If a man uses strong protestations or oaths, to make you believe a thing, which is of itself so likely and probable that the bare saying of it would be sufficient, depend upon it he lies, and is highly interested in making you believe it; or else he would not take so much pains.

(1) Resemblance. See note 2, p. 84.

(2) "Let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."-Matt. v. 37.

EDMUND BURKE.'

1. INDEPENDENCE OF THE MEMBER OF
PARLIAMENT.

(FROM "SPEECH AT BRISTOL,"2 DELIVERED IN 1780.)

WHEN we know, that the opinions of even the greatest multitudes are the standard of rectitude, I shall think myself obliged to make those opinions the masters of my conscience.

it

But if

may be doubted whether Omnipotence itself is competent to alter the essential constitution of right and wrong, sure I am that such things, as they and I, are possessed of no such power. No man carries further than I do the policy of making government pleasing to the people. But the widest range of this politic complaisance is confined within the limits of justice. I would not only consult the interest of the people, but I would cheerfully gratify their humours. We are all a sort of children that must be soothed and managed. I think I am not austere

(1) "Shakspere and Burke are, if I may venture on the expression, above talent. Burke was one of the first thinkers, as well as one of the first orators, of his time. He is without parallel in any age or country, except, perhaps, Lord Bacon or Cicero, and his works contain an ampler store of political and moral wisdom than can be found in any other writer whatever."-Mackintosh.

"Burke's narrative is excellent, and it is impossible more harmoniously to expose the details of a complicated subject, to give them more animation and interest, if dry in themselves, or to make them bear, by the mere power of statement, more powerfully upon the argument. In description he can hardly be surpassed, at least, for effect. He has all the qualities that conduce to it-ardour of purpose, sometimes rising into violence-vivid but too luxuriant fancy-bold, frequently extravagant, conception-the faculty of shedding upon mere inanimate scenery the light imparted by moral associations.”—Brougham.

"The writings of Burke are the only English political writings of a past age that continue to be read in the present. And they are now perhaps more studied, and their value, both philosophical and oratorical, better and more highly appreciated, than even when they were first produced."-Craik, Eng. Lit. and Lang., ii. 333. "Who can withstand the fascination and magic of his eloquence? The excursions of his genius are immense! His imperial fancy has laid all nature under tribute, and has collected riches from every scene of the creation and every walk of art."- Robert Hall.

(2) The speech of which we have here an extract, was delivered to his constituents previous to the election of 1780. His independence cost him his seat.

or formal in my nature. I would bear, I would even myself play my part in, any innocent buffooneries, to divert them. But I never will act the tyrant for their amusement. If they will mix malice in their sports, I shall never consent to throw them any living, sentient, creature whatsoever, no, not so much as a kitling, to torment.

"But if I profess all this impolitic stubbornness, I may chance never to be elected into Parliament." It is certainly not pleasing to be put out of the public service. But I wish to be a member of Parliament, to have my share of doing good and resisting evil. It would, therefore, be absurd to renounce my objects (i.e. the freedom of doing good and resisting evil), in order to obtain my seat. I deceive myself, indeed, most grossly, if I had not much rather pass the remainder of my life hidden in the recesses of the deepest obscurity, feeding my mind even with the visions and imaginations of such things, than to be placed on the most splendid throne of the universe, tantalised with a denial of the practice of all which can make the greatest situation any other than the greatest curse (i.e. be debarred of the power to use my position and influence for good). Gentlemen, I have had my day.3 I can never sufficiently express my gratitude to you for having set me in a place wherein I could lend the slightest help to great and laudable designs. If I have had my share in any measure giving quiet to private property and private conscience; if by my vote I have aided in securing to families the best possession, peace; if I have joined in reconciling kings to their subjects, and subjects to their prince; if I have assisted to loosen the foreign holdings of the citizen, and taught him to look for his protection to the laws of his country, and for his comfort to the goodwill of his countrymen ;-if I have thus taken my part with the best of men in the best of their actions, I can shut the book; I might wish to read a page or two more-but this is enough for my measure. I have not lived in vain.

And now, gentlemen, on this serious day, when I come, as it were, to make up my account with you, let me take to myself some degree of honest pride on the nature of the charges that

(1) Malice is a spontaneous desire to give pain, and is inconsistent with lawful sport or fun. Malice, fr. Lat. malitia, wickedness.

(2) This is supposed to be said by one remonstrating with the speaker.

(3) He had been a Member of Parliament fifteen years, and was now fifty years old.

(4) Measure. Burke uses this word above twice, and in two different senses: in the first it means an Act of Parliament; in the second, "limited powers."

are against me. I do not here stand before you accused of venality, or of neglect of duty. It is not said, that, in the long period of my service, I have, in a single instance, sacrificed the slightest of your interests to my ambition, or to my fortune. It is not alleged, that, to gratify any anger or revenge of my own, or of my party, I have had a share in wronging or oppressing any description of men, or any one man in (of) any description. No! the charges against me, are all of one kind, that I have pushed the principles of general justice and benevolence too far; further than a cautious policy would warrant; and further than the opinions of many would go along with me. In every accident which may happen through life, in pain, in sorrow, in depression and distress, I will call to mind this accusation;— and be comforted.

2. DESCENT OF HYDER ALI ON THE CARNATIC.'

(FROM THE SPEECH "ON THE NABOB OF ARCOT'S DEBTS,"
DELIVERED IN 1785.)

WHEN at length Hyder Ali found that he had to do with men who either would sign no convention, or whom no treaty and no signature could bind, and who were the determined enemies of human intercourse itself, he decreed to make the country possessed by these incorrigible and predestinated criminals a memorable example to mankind. He resolved, in the gloomy recesses of a mind capacious of such things, to leave the whole Carnatic an everlasting monument of vengeance; and to put perpetual desolation as a barrier between him and those, against whom the faith which holds the moral elements of the world together was no protection. He became, at length, so confident of his force, so collected in his might, that he made no secret

(1) This passage may be pronounced, for vivid conception, powerful and comprehensive grasp of details, and graphic diction, one of the most wonderful ever penned. The black cloud compounded of fury, havoc, and desolation, hanging like an avalanche for a while on the declivities of the mountains, blackening all the horizon of those who were so soon to be its victims, and then bursting in a storm of universal fire upon them as they were idly and stupidly gazing upon it, is a conception of awful and overpowering grandeur-a manifestation of a kindred power to that which drew the mighty archangel standing "like a tower." G. H. Lewes says of it: "It is a picture which should be studied as one studies a masterpiece of Veronese or Titian."

(2) Carnatic, a province in the south of Hindostan.