I shall certainly remember what you say of Lord Kenmare. The moment I get to town I shall wait upon him.

The captain, to whom you desire to be remembered, is one step nearer to a title to that appellation; for he was yesterday made a lieutenant, as the enclosed letter from Mr. Stephens, secretary to the Admiralty, will show you. This gentleman has been always very good to our Edmund, and steady in his protection to him. He had but just served the time necessary for his qualification, and could not have been made sooner, if he had been the first man in the kingdom in point of rank and interest. Indeed, all circumstances considered, he has been very fortunate. I dare say you will drink Mr. Stephens's health, as well as success to our young officer. I hope you will live to see him an admiral: at least, this is the talk of friends, on any promotion of those they love. Poor Wat Nagle has got out of a most disagreeable scrape, into which any man living might have fallen, but for which every man might not have been prepared with equally satisfactory evidence. It was very lucky for him, that my brother was in town at the time. procured bail for him, and gave him letters for Bristol, and did every thing else which his disagreeable situation required. I also went to town; but my presence happily proved not necessary, as the grand jury threw out the bills. I wrote his brother Garret to put him out of his pain on so very unpleasant an accident. Mrs. Burke and my brother and son desire to be

He

cordially remembered to you and your son and family, and your worthy neighbours on the Blackwater. I find by Ned that the old spirit and character of that county is fully kept up, which rejoices me beyond measure. I am ever, my dear Garret, your affectionate kinsman and humble servant,

EDM. BURKE.

EDMUND BURKE TO HIS COUSIN, GARRET

NAGLE, ESQ.

MY DEAR GARRET,

Beaconsfield, August 25, 1778.

Be

YOUR letter came upon me at the very instant that I was sitting down to write to you. I had deferred it, until I should be able to congratulate you on the success of the important bill which had been for some time depending in the parliament of Ireland. I now wish you joy of that success, with the most cordial satisfaction. assured that no event of my time has given me such pleasure. The plan of relief indeed is not quite so large and liberal as that adopted in England upon the same subject; but still it is a great acquisition. It is highly beneficial in itself; and it contains a principle, which in time will extend further; and which cannot fail, by a judicious use of opportunities, of putting you upon as good a footing as people of a persuasion different from that of the state can reasonably expect. You may now raise up your heads, and think yourselves men. The mask is taken off.

You are now for the first time acknowledged as subjects, and protected as such. Laws, indeed, cannot make men rich or happy. That they must do for themselves. But the law now leaves their natural faculties free. Whatever inheritance has come to them from their ancestors is not made any longer the instrument of distracting the peace and destroying the credit of their families. Those who have nothing but the means of acquiring substance, their industry, skill, and good economy, have those means left free. When one considers the force of powerful and inveterate prejudice, which must naturally operate against your relief, and the many errors, to call them by no worse a name, into which some of those who had the conduct of this business have fallen, it is rather to be wondered how so much has been done, than how no more came to be obtained. If some anger appears in many upon this occasion, remember, it is pleasanter to endure the rage of disappointment than the insolence of victory. There will be much arming, much blustering, and many pretended fears and apprehensions on this occasion. But I recommend it to you, and all you converse with, to bear all such things with good humour and humility. It will all speedily pass over. It is only the natural vent and purging off of an old distemper. It is your interest at this time to show that the favour you have received has produced the best effects imaginable; that you are truly attached to the constitution which has opened its doors to receive you; that you are modest and placable to those whose opinions have induced them to

oppose your relief; and that you are thoroughly grateful to those whose humanity and large sentiments have made that opposition fruitless. Indeed you have found your principal friends where vulgar opinion would least have sought for them. Those gentlemen, whose ancestors had been the most active in the framing oppressive laws, were the most zealous for their repeal; two of them went over to Ireland for no other reason than to vote for it. I mean Mr. Dunbar and Lord Lucan. The third is Mr. Mason, a descendant of Lord Molesworth. Lord Inchiquin likewise gave his proxy for the relieving act. You know the merits of the speaker on this business, and of the gentlemen who distinguished themselves in the debate, particularly those of the law. When the English acts had passed, I sent a copy of the first act, which was printed, to Mr. Goold, of Cork. The second, which related to Ireland, and which repealed the act of King William disabling Catholics from any interest in the last forfeited lands, was not printed when I left town, or I should have sent it. This act, which was moved for by Lord Richard Cavendish, next brother to the Duke of Devonshire, and seconded by Mr. Connolly, was a necessary leading step, without which nothing could be done for Ireland. One of those, you know, is among the worthiest gentlemen in your country; and the other, one of the first ornaments of this, for learning, honour, and bravery. I recommended you to Mr. Connolly for a licence to carry arms. I suppose, in the hurry of so much business, he forgot it, but I shall remind him of what you desire. I men

tioned your name to Lord Kenmare as a near relation of mine, for whom I had the greatest affection; and without desiring his future protection in direct terms, I thanked him for what he had already done for you; which I thought the best way of asking it at that time; but I have the honour of writing to him this day, and will not fail to refresh his memory concerning you. If some circumstances in my family had not prevented it, I should certainly, with some other friends whom you have not seen, of a long time, have surprised you among your woods, waters, and mountains. All here desire to be most affectionately remembered to you and yours. am ever, my dear Garret, your most affectionate kinsman, and faithful humble servant,

EDM. BURKE.

I

The papers but too fully inform you of our bad accounts from ****. They are indeed very little different from those which I always expected.

EDMUND BURKE TO MR. BARRY.

MY DEAR BARRY,

London [1765 or 1766]. I AM greatly in arrear to you on account of correspondence; but not, I assure you, on account of regard, esteem, and most sincere good wishes. My mind followed you to Paris, through your Alpine journey, and to Rome; you are an admirable painter with your pen as well as with your pencil; and every one to whom I showed your