y known to, except Mr.
Yelverton, to whom I am only known by my obligations to him. If you live
in any habits with my old friend, the Provost, I shall be glad that he,
too, sees this my humble apology.

Adieu! once more accept my best thanks for the interest you take in me.
Believe that it is received by an heart not yet so old as to have lost
its susceptibility. All here give you the best old-fashioned wishes of
the season; and believe me, with the greatest truth and regard,

My dear Sir,

Your most faithful and obliged humble servant,

EDMUND BURKE.

BEACONSFIELD, New year's Day, 1780.

I am frightened at the trouble I give you and our friends; but I
recollect that you are mostly lawyers, and habituated to read long,
tiresome papers--and, where your friendship is concerned, without a fee;
I am sure, too, that you will not act the lawyer in scrutinizing too
minutely every expression which my haste may make me use. I forgot to
mention my friend O'Hara, and others; but you will communicate it as you
please.

FOOTNOTES:

[14] Mr. Thomas Burgh, of Old Town, was a member of the House of Commons
in Ireland.--It appears from a letter written by this gentleman to Mr.
Burke, December 24, 1779, and to which the following is an answer, that
the part Mr. Burke had taken in the discussion which the affairs of
Ireland had undergone in the preceding sessions of Parliament in England
had been grossly misrepresented and much censured in Ireland.

[15] This intention was communicated to Mr. Burke in a letter from Mr.
Pery, the Speaker of the House of Commons in Ireland.

[16] Mr. Grattan.

[17] Mr. Hussey Burgh

[18] Mr. Stanley, member for Lancashire.

LETTER

TO JOHN MERLOTT, ESQ.[19]

Dear Sir,--I am very unhappy to find that my conduct in the business of
Ireland, on a former occasion, had made many to be cold and indifferent
who would otherwise have been warm in my favor. I really thought that
events would have produced a quite contrary effect, and would have
proved to all the inhabitants of Bristol that it was no desire of
opposing myself to their wishes, but a certain knowledge of the
necessity of their affairs, and a tender regard to their honor and
interest, which induced me to take the part which I then took. They
placed me in a situation which might enable me to discern what was fit
to be done, on a consideration of the relative circumstances of this
country and all its neighbors. This was what y