During the Parliament which was now commenced, the uncommon genius and eloquence of Burke were treated by many in the house with a disrespect which they never before experienced. It must be confessed, that the richness of his mind very often diffused itself into too great prolixity. Beautiful, sublime, and pathetic, as many of his luxuriant expatiations were, they did not always tend to promote the business at issue. Were Homer to recite his grandest descriptions, his most pathetic episodes, or most exact characteristics of human nature, to an assembly of men engaged on special business, that recital might be very probably considered as an interruption to their own affairs. It might also happen, that there might be in such an assembly of men, fully competent to the details of business, many who might have neither taste to relish, nor understanding to comprehend such excellencies. In such a situation, a man of the greatest genius might naturally expect to meet with checks. Burke, besides, was very irritable, and often hurried by passion

into most violent expressions. His prolixity and irritability gave occasion to treatment of which his powerful genius might, perhaps, be in some degree the cause. While he spoke, several members made a point of coughing, beating the ground with their feet, and even hooting. Frolick, perhaps, might have its share in this mode of opposition, as a great part of the most active senators in that way were of an age when allowance may be made for sport and frolick; and others might claim some of the allowance to juvenile age, although, as to ́date, their youthful years were long passed. Coughing and hooting were also very convenient in other respects. The lungs and fcet were forthcoming for noise, when drafts upon the brain for argument might not be so easily answered. The former were duly honoured; the latter might be returned with the answer of no effects. The dignity of conscious superiority ought to have rendered Burke indifferent to such disturbance. He might have contented himself with reflecting that their hoots and coughs could

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not render them in any degree equal to him the croaking of the frogs ought not to have discomposed the lion. Instead of that, he frequently fell into the most outrageous fits of passion. He once told them that he could discipline a pack of hounds to yelp with much more melody, and equal comprehension.

In the beginning of July, he made a speech on the enormities he ascribed to Hastings. In the picture he drew, he dis-. played powers which might have composed a most admirable tragedy. The sufferings he figured to himself, and the avarice and cruelty which his fancy drew as causing them, contained an equal degree of interest and passion with any exhibited on the stage. He brought forward a string of motions, as the foundation of an inquiry into the conduct of Mr. Hastings. Pitt very briefly opposed this, because there were not proofs of the fact, on the supposition of which Burke grounded his inquiry. It does

not appear that at that time there really was that undoubted evidence of delinquency,which only could support the propriety of the motions. Burke's fancy and passions getting much warmer from opposition, pictured to him Hastings as the greatest monster that had ever existed. Persisting in pressing the subject, he was at length overpowered by a loud and continual clamour.

Burke did not enter much on Pitt's bill for the prevention of smuggling, and the commutation act. On the commutation act Mr. Courtenay very much distinguished himself, not only by his humour, but by his information and reasoning.

In the last measure of the session, framcd by the able and liberal mind of Dundas, most of the members were of one mind:the restoration of the forfeited estates. Burke appears to have been so much occu pied by inquiries into the conduct of Hastings, that he, during the latter part of that

session, seldom spoke, and never for any length of time. The session closed the 20th. of August.

Whilst the transactions of the GovernorGeneral were engaging the thoughts of Burke as a public man, a circumstance took place that much moved his feelings as a private. Dr. Johnson, after recovering from an alarming shock, was now in a state of health which, together with his age, appeared to predict a speedy dissolution. Burke went frequently to see his venerable friend, now confined to the bed of sickness. One day, he, along with his friend Mr. Windham, and several other gentlemen, was visiting the dying sage. Burke said, 'I am afraid, my dear Sir, such a number of us may be oppressive to you? No, Sir,' said

Johnson, it is not so; and I must be in a wretched state, indeed, when your company would not be a delight to me.' Mr. Burke, in a tremulous voice, expressive of being very tenderly affected, replied, my dear Sir, you have always been too good ta