PREFACE

IN editing Burke on Conciliation with the Colonies, the editor has found it somewhat difficult to avoid "either leaving it still unsaid in part, or saying it in too great excess."

But inasmuch as the book is intended for the use of young students, and for those preparing for college, it has been deemed wise to gather together from various sources such information as the student could not acquire for himself without the expenditure of too much time and research. This is the editor's apology to such students for depriving them of the joy of seeking and finding for themselves.

The text, with a few slight changes, is that of

the Third Edition, printed by Dodsley in 1775. It has seemed best, in a book to be used by the modern reader, to conform to modern spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, UNIVERSITY PARK, COLORADO,

March, 1899.

usage in

A. A. F.

66

The peculiar effect of Burke is to enlarge, strengthen, liberalise, and ennoble the understanding."

INTRODUCTION

EDMUND BURKE.

Ir is doubtful if any other statesman of any age has received so much praise and has so well deserved it as Edmund Burke. William Ewart Gladstone was as great in moral life and character, yes, greater; for his life was free from that irritability of temper, and extravagance of feeling, that in the last years of Burke's life marred the dignity of his character, and limited his power and influence. Gladstone was as nobly devoted to his country, as disinterested in his public acts. He was perhaps a more successful orator than Burke, as great a lover of books, as noted as an author; but Gladstone was far inferior to Burke in political acumen, in his grasp upon the entire situation. With as great zeal and nobility of character, he stood upon a less commanding, less lofty mount of vision, and, for that reason, he had a narrower and less accurate view of things. Burke possessed what