tly," he at once obtained for the
author a stall at Gloucester, saying--what I earnestly wish all
other Chancellors had borne in mind--"that those who supported the
Church should be supported by it." Nevertheless his temper, even
when in some measure sobered down by age, was always liable to
violent and unreasonable starts of passion. It is related by a
gentleman who dined with him at Brighton only a few months before
his death--for I must ever hold that great characters are best
portrayed by little circumstances--that a plateful of peaches being
brought in, the ex-Chancellor, incensed at their ill appearance,
ordered the window to be opened, and not only the peaches but the
whole desert to be thrown out!

EDMUND BURKE.

In pamphlets, however, and political essays--and even speeches,
when revised and sent forth singly, may be comprehended in that
class,--the personal disadvantages of Burke could no longer apply;
and as regards that class of writings, it may be doubted whether
he has ever, in any age, or in any country, been excelled. The
philosophy and deep thought of his reflections--the vigor and
variety of his style--his rich flow of either panegyric or
invective--his fine touches of irony--the glowing abundance and
beauty of his metaphors--all these might separately claim applause;
how much more, then, when all blended into one glorious whole! To
give examples of these merits would be to transcribe half his
works. Yet still if one single and short instance from his maxims
be allowed me, I will observe that the generous ardor and activity
of mind called forth by competition has formed a theme of
philosophic comment from a very early age. It is touched both by
Cicero and Quintilian; it has not been neglected either by Bacon
or Montaigne. Yet still, as handled by Burke, this trite topic
beams forth, not only with the hues of eloquence, but even with
the bloom of novelty. He invites us to "an amicable conflict with
difficulty. Difficulty is a severe instructor set over us by the
supreme ordinance of a parental guardian and legislator, who knows
us better than we know ourselves, as he loves us better too. He
that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our
skill. Our antagonist is our helper!" If amidst so much of
eloquence and feeli