tained an age, that enabled you to profit, as your immediate predecessors had done, by his friendship in private, and co-operation in publick life. But hereditary veneration for his character, and the studious perusal of his writings, have, in a great degree, supplied that loss. Had he lived to know how firmly and zealously you are attached to the principles which he had invariably maintained, and how steadily and manfully you come forward, upon all occasions, to their support, he would have derived from that knowledge, in the present inauspicious state of publick affairs, some consolation at least, perhaps some hope of better times; notwithstanding the triumphant career, which lies open to the enemies of Whiggism, in consequence of divisions within itself, and the apathy of the people from without

In the mind of Mr. Burke political principles were not objects of barren speculation. Wisdom in him was always practical. Whatever his understanding adopted as truth, made its way to his heart, and sunk deep into it; and his ardent and generous feelings seized with promptitude and eagerness every occasion of applying it to the use of mankind. How large a portion of an active and laborious life was thus employed, will be seen in our future history of it. Where

shall we find recorded exertions of active benevolence, at once so numerous, so varied, and so important, made by one man? Amongst these, the redress of wrongs and the protection of weakness from the oppression of power, were most conspicuous: And of this kind the Impeachment of Mr. Hastings was considered by Mr. Burke, as beyond all comparison the most interesting and momentous.

The volume, which is now inscribed to your Lordship, relates to that proceeding; a proceeding, which that virtuous and enlightened Representative held to be the most important of his parliamentary labours.

The assumption of arbitrary power, in whatever shape it appeared, whether under the veil of legitimacy, or skulking in the disguise of state necessity, or presenting the shameless front of usurpation; whether the prescriptive claim of ascendancy, or the brief career of official authority, or the newly-acquired dominion of a mob*, was the sure object of his detestation and hostility. His endeavours to stifle it in its birth, or to obstruct its march, and impede its progress,

* This is not a fanciful enumeration of possible cases. The reader will find in these Volumes, examples of Mr. Burke's exertions, referable to each particular case.-EDIT.

progress, or to redress its oppressions, will be found to have occupied, in various instances, as I have already said, no small portion of his life. The scale, upon which oppressions of this kind had been exercised in our East Indian possessions, was of such a magnitude, that it required a mind like his to grapple with them. His ardent zeal, and unwearied perseverance, were not more than equal to the task. He well knew, that the impunity of Indian delinquency was demanded by interest too weighty and extensive, and was secured by influence and protection too powerful to be resisted. The event accordingly, did not correspond with his wishes: but the eclât of a triumph was neither necessary to his fame, nor the triumph itself to the satisfaction of his own mind. The real cause, which he advocated, did not depend upon the decision of the court of judicature, before which the Im peachment was tried. From the moment it was yoted by the House of Commons, the attainment of its main object, was placed out of the power of his opponents to wrest from him. The ex. istence of the enormities, with the commission of which the governour general was charged, how much soever the managers might fail in the technical proof of his guilt, required only to be known; and Mr. Burke was firmly persuaded, that by the investigation of the affairs of that government,

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government, resulting from the Trial, and by the publick exposure of the crimes which had been perpetrated, he had not only discharged à sacred and imperative duty, but at the same time had interposed a powerful check to the commission in future of such enormities.

It was from this view of the subject, that he had, a short time before his last sickness, begun to prepare materials for a complete history of the Impeachment. His subsequent inability to proceed in it, was, I know, most sensibly felt by him and it was among the last requests, he made me, that I would collect and arrange those materials, and publish so much of them, as I might judge fit for publication.

With this desire of my most dear and honoured friend, I am endeavouring to comply. The cultivators of literature will for ever lament the want of his finishing hand. I trust, however, that the substance of the whole of the proceedings will be found in these volumes; and that the philosopher and the statesman will not be insensible of their value. The next volume will contain the speeches, which he made at the close of the Impeachment, and which were continued for nine days.

In a subsequent volume, an essay will be made towards a history of his life; comprizing such part of his correspondence, and other fugitive compositions, as may be judged fit for publick perusal. This volume, the termination of my labours, and of our joint trust in editing the posthumous works of Mr. Burke, I purpose dedicating to the Earl, your venerable father. But as it may not be the Divine Will, that I should live to accomplish my intention, you will not, I hope, my dear Lord, refuse permission to my availing myself of this present opportunity of telling the world, how greatly I love him, and how highly I honour him.

Soon after my first acquaintance with him, he succeeded to the splendid possessions of his uncle, the Marquess of Rockingham, my revered master and patron; and, together with them, perhaps I may be permitted to say, to the guardianship of the Whig cause in England and Ireland. From that time his political conduct is well known to his country; for covertly or in concealment, I may confidently assert, he has done nothing. To his country, then, I may safely leave the judgment of that conduct. His political knowledge, and his ability for the administration of publick affairs, are known to those, who have either sat in Council, or have

held