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The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke novel. A total of 269 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke.Vol. I.by Edmund Burke.PREFACE.Before the
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke.Vol. I.by Edmund Burke.PREFACE.Before the philosophical works of Lord Bolingbroke had appeared, great things were expected from the leisure of a man, who, from the splendid scene of action in which his talent
- 1 The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke.Vol. I.by Edmund Burke.PREFACE.Before the philosophical works of Lord Bolingbroke had appeared, great things were expected from the leisure of a man, who, from the splendid scene of action in which his talent
- 2 AND SEVERAL OTHER ADDITIONS *** _The first edition of this work was published in 1756; the second with large additions, in the year 1757._ PREFACE.I have endeavored to make this edition something more full and satisfactory than the first. I have sought wi
- 3 PART I.SECTION I.NOVELTY.The first and the simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind is curiosity. By curiosity I mean whatever desire we have for, or whatever pleasure we take in, novelty. We see children perpetually running from place to plac
- 4 SOCIETY AND SOLITUDE.The second branch of the social pa.s.sions is that which administers to _society in general_. With regard to this, I observe, that society, merely as society, without any particular heightenings, gives us no positive pleasure in the e
- 5 OBSCURITY.To make anything very terrible, obscurity[13] seems in general to be necessary. When we know the full extent of any danger, when we can accustom our eyes to it, a great deal of the apprehension vanishes.Every one will be sensible of this, who co
- 6 Indeed, there is nothing more prejudicial to the grandeur of buildings than to abound in angles; a fault obvious in many; and owing to an inordinate thirst for variety, which, whenever it prevails, is sure to leave very little true taste.SECTION X.MAGNITU
- 7 SECTION XX.THE CRIES OF ANIMALS.Such sounds as imitate the natural inarticulate voices of men, or any animals in pain or danger, are capable of conveying great ideas; unless it be the well-known voice of some creature, on which we are used to look with co
- 8 PROPORTION NOT THE CAUSE OF BEAUTY IN THE HUMAN SPECIES.There are some parts of the human body that are observed to hold certain proportions to each other; but before it can be proved that the efficient cause of beauty lies in these, it must be shown that
- 9 As to the colors usually found in beautiful bodies, it may be somewhat difficult to ascertain them, because, in the several parts of nature, there is an infinite variety. However, even in this variety, we may mark out something on which to settle. First,
- 10 PART IV.SECTION I.OF THE EFFICIENT CAUSE OF THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL.When I say, I intend to inquire into the efficient cause of sublimity and beauty, I would not be understood to say, that I can come to the ultimate cause. I do not pretend that I shall
- 11 SECTION XIV.LOCKE'S OPINION CONCERNING DARKNESS CONSIDERED.It is Mr. Locke's opinion, that darkness is not naturally an idea of terror; and that, though an excessive light is painful to the sense, the greatest excess of darkness is no ways troub
- 12 [31] I do not here enter into the question debated among physiologists, whether pain be the effect of a contraction, or a tension of the nerves.Either will serve my purpose; for by tension, I mean no more than a violent pulling of the fibres which compose
- 13 "O'er many a dark and dreary vale They pa.s.sed, and many a region dolorous; O'er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp; Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death, A universe of death."Here is displayed the force of union in
- 14 If it is believed at home, all that firmness of mind, and dignified national courage, which used to be the great support of this isle against the powers of the world, must melt away, and fail within us.In such a state of things can it be amiss if I aim at
- 15 If this gentleman's hero of finance, instead of flying from a treaty, which, though he now defends, he could not approve, and would not oppose; if he, instead of s.h.i.+fting into an office, which removed him from the manufacture of the treaty, had,
- 16 This is just as ridiculous, as to put against the general balance of the nation, how much more goods Ches.h.i.+re receives from London than London from Ches.h.i.+re. The whole revolves and circulates through this kingdom, and is, so far as regards our pro
- 17 Such are his savings, as operating on his own project of a peace establishment. Let us now consider them as they affect the existing establishment and our actual services. He tells us, the sum allowed in his estimate for the navy is "69,321_l._ less
- 18 That "the regulations for the colony trade would be few and simple if the old navigation laws were adhered to," I utterly deny as a fact. That they ought to be so, sounds well enough; but this proposition is of the same nugatory nature with some
- 19 They would have acquiesced perhaps in terms somewhat lower than those which were obtained. The author is indeed too kind to them. He will, however, let them speak for themselves, and show what their own opinion was of the measures pursued in their favor.[
- 20 [47]1754. _s. d._ Total export of British goods value, 8,317,506 15 3 Ditto of foreign goods in time 2,910,836 14 9 Ditto of ditto out of time 559,485 2 10 ------------------ Total exports of all kinds 11,787,828 12 10 Total imports 8,093,479 15 0 -------
- 21 [86] Page 39.[87] It is observable, that the partisans of American taxation, when they have a mind to represent this tax as wonderfully beneficial to England, state it as worth 100,000_l._ a year; when they are to represent it as very light on the America
- 22 I am not one of those who think that the people are never in the wrong.They have been so, frequently and outrageously, both in other countries and in this. But I do say, that in all disputes between them and their rulers, the presumption is at least upon
- 23 The members of the court faction are fully indemnified for not holding places on the slippery heights of the kingdom, not only by the lead in all affairs, but also by the perfect security in which they enjoy less conspicuous, but very advantageous situati
- 24 By this plan several important ends are answered to the cabal. If the authority of Parliament supports itself, the credit of every act of government, which they contrive, is saved; but if the act be so very odious that the whole strength of Parliament is
- 25 If I wrote merely to please the popular palate, it would indeed be as little troublesome to me as to another, to extol these remedies, so famous in speculation, but to which their greatest admirers have never attempted seriously to resort in practice. I c
- 26 The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke.Vol. II.by Edmund Burke.PREFACE.The following speech has been much the subject of conversation, and the desire of having it printed was last summer very general. The means of gratifying the public curiosity w
- 27 I will likewise do justice--I ought to do it--to the honorable gentleman who led us in this House.[9] Far from the duplicity wickedly charged on him, he acted his part with alacrity and resolution. We all felt inspired by the example he gave us, down even
- 28 Sir, whilst we hold this happy course, we drew more from the colonies than all the impotent violence of despotism ever could extort from them.We did this abundantly in the last war; it has never been once denied; and what reason have we to imagine that th
- 29 The distinguis.h.i.+ng part of our Const.i.tution is its liberty. To preserve that liberty inviolate seems the particular duty and proper trust of a member of the House of Commons. But the liberty, the only liberty, I mean is a liberty connected with orde
- 30 About that time, a worthy member,[19] of great Parliamentary experience, who in the year 1766 filled the chair of the American Committee with much ability, took me aside, and, lamenting the present aspect of our politics, told me, things were come to such
- 31 The first of these plans--to change the spirit, as inconvenient, by removing the causes--I think is the most like a systematic proceeding.It is radical in its principle; but it is attended with great difficulties: some of them little short, as I conceive,
- 32 Here is my third example. It was attended with the success of the two former. Chester, civilized as well as Wales, has demonstrated that freedom, and not servitude, is the cure of anarchy; as religion, and not atheism, is the true remedy for superst.i.tio
- 33 To this objection, with all possible deference and humility, and wis.h.i.+ng as little as any man living to impair the smallest particle of our supreme authority, I answer, that _the words are the words of Parliament, and not mine_; and that all false and
- 34 [23] Mr. Rice.[24] Lord North.[25] Journals of the House, Vol. XXV.[26] Journals of the House, Vol. XXVII.[27] Ibid.[28] The Solicitor-General informed Mr. B., when the resolutions were separately moved, that the grievance of the judges partaking of the p
- 35 What but that blindness of heart which arises from the frenzy of civil contention could have made any persons conceive the present situation of the British affairs as an object of triumph to themselves or of congratulation to their sovereign? Nothing sure
- 36 If ever this scheme of taxation was to be pushed against the inclinations of the people, it was evident that discussions must arise, which would let loose all the elements that composed this double const.i.tution, would show how much each of their members
- 37 You tell me, Sir, that you prefer an union with Ireland to the little regulations which are proposed in Parliament. This union is a great question of state, to which, when it comes properly before me in my Parliamentary capacity, I shall give an honest an
- 38 Observe, Sir, that the apology for my undertaking (an apology which, though long, is no longer than necessary) is not grounded on my want of the fullest sense of the difficult and invidious nature of the task I undertake. I risk odium, if I succeed, and c
- 39 For what plausible reason are these princ.i.p.alities suffered to exist?When a government is rendered complex, (which in itself is no desirable thing,) it ought to be for some political end which cannot be answered otherwise. Subdivisions in government ar
- 40 Thus, by following the course of Nature, and not the purposes of politics, or the acc.u.mulated patchwork of occasional accommodation, this vast, expensive department may be methodized, its service proportioned to its necessities, and its payments subject
- 41 But if all of these things were not more than sufficient to prove to you the inutility of that expensive establishment, I would desire you to recollect, Sir, that those who may be very ready to defend it are very cautious how they employ it,--cautious how
- 42 [36] Vide Lord Talbot's speech in Almon's Parliamentary Register. Vol VII. p. 79, of the Proceedings of the Lords.[37] More exactly, 378,616_l._ 10 _s._ 1-3/4 _d._ [38] Et quaunt viscount ou baillif eit comence de acompter, nul autre ne seit res
- 43 To read what was approaching in Ireland, in the black and b.l.o.o.d.y characters of the American war, was a painful, but it was a necessary part of my public duty. For, Gentlemen, it is not your fond desires or mine that can alter the nature of things; by
- 44 "Parliament," they a.s.sert, "was too hasty, and they ought, in so essential and alarming a change, to have proceeded with a far greater degree of deliberation." The direct contrary. Parliament was too slow.They took fourscore years to
- 45 MR. FOX'S EAST INDIA BILL.Mr. Speaker,--I thank you for pointing to me. I really wished much to engage your attention in an early stage of the debate. I have been long very deeply, though perhaps ineffectually, engaged in the preliminary inquiries, w
- 46 The British officer who commanded in the delivery of the people thus sold felt some compunction at his employment. He represented these enormous excesses to the President of Bengal, for which he received a severe reprimand from the civil governor; and I m
- 47 The Company stretched this resource to the full extent, when they accused two old women, in the remotest corner of India, (who could have no possible view or motive to raise disturbances,) of being engaged in rebellion, with an intent to drive out the Eng
- 48 An establishment of English government for civil justice, and for the collection of revenue, was planned and executed by the President and Council of Bengal, subject to the pleasure of the Directors, in the year 1772. According to this plan, the country w
- 49 The third and contradictory objection is, that this bill does not increase the influence of the crown; on the contrary, that the just power of the crown will be lessened, and transferred to the use of a party, by giving the patronage of India to a commiss
- 50 THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.LUNae, 14 DIE JUNII, 1784.A motion was made, That a representation be presented to his Majesty, most humbly to offer to his royal consideration, that the address of this House, upon his Majesty's speech from the throne, was
- 51 The enemies of the late House of Commons resolved, if possible, to bring on that event. They therefore endeavored to misrepresent the provident means adopted by the House of Commons for keeping off this invidious necessity, as an attack on the rights of t
- 52 The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke.Vol. III.by Edmund Burke.ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT.That the least informed reader of this speech may be enabled to enter fully into the spirit of the transaction on occasion of which it was delivered, it may be prope
- 53 This day, and not before, the right honorable gentleman thinks that the general establishment of all claims is the surest way of laying open the fraud of some of them. In India this is a reach of deep policy. But what would be thought of this mode of acti
- 54 Your worthy ministers, supporting what they are obliged to condemn, have thought fit to renew the Company's old order against contracting private debts in future. They begin by rewarding the violation of the ancient law; and then they gravely reenact
- 55 2.[6] Appendix, No. 2.[7] Fourth Report, Mr. Dundas's Committee, p. 4.[8] A witness examined before the Committee of Secrecy says that eighteen per cent was the usual interest, but he had heard that more had been given. The above is the account which
- 56 [54] Mr. Petrie's evidence before the Select Committee, Appendix, No. 7.[55] Appendix, No. 7.[56] Mr. Dundas.[57] See Report IV., Committee of Secrecy, pp. 73 and 74; and Appendix, in sundry places.[58] Mr. Smith's protest.[59] Madras correspond
- 57 In this state, which we believe is no way exaggerated, the Company took charge of the a.s.signed countries. Their prospect of relief from the heavy burdens of the war was, indeed, but little advanced by the Nabob's concession; and the revenues of the
- 58 Referred to from pp. 101 and 105._Extract of a Letter from the Council and Select Committee at Fort St.George, to the Governor-General and Council, dated 25th May, 1783._ In the prosecution of our duty, we beseech you to consider, as an act of strict and
- 59 From your Minutes of Consultation of the 31st October, 1770, and the Nabob's letter to the President of the 21st March, 1771, and the two letters from Rajah Beerbur Atchenur Punt (who we presume was then the Nabob's manager at Arcot) of the 16th
- 60 It equally concerns the honor of our government, that such natives as may have been put in any degree of authority over the collections, in consequence of the deed of a.s.signment, and who have proved faithful to their trust, shall not suffer inconvenienc
- 61 We think it proper, considering the particular nature of the subject, to state to you the following remarks on that part of your representation which relates to the plan for the discharging of the Nabob's debts.1st. You compute the revenue which the
- 62 The outrages and violences now committed are of that astonis.h.i.+ng nature as were never known or heard of during the administration of the Circar.Hyder Naik, the cruellest of tyrants, used every kind of oppression in the Circar countries; but even his m
- 63 Fox's words. And that he wished, as amongst the greatest benefits he could wish the country, an eminent share of power to that right honorable gentleman; because he knew that to his great and masterly understanding he had joined the greatest possible
- 64 THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE.Dear Sir,--You are pleased to call again, and with some earnestness, for my thoughts on the late proceedings in France. I will not give you reason to imagine that I think my sentiments of such value as to wish myself to be solicit
- 65 Multosque per annos Stat fortuna domus, et avi numerantur avorum.This is the spirit of our Const.i.tution, not only in its settled course, but in all its revolutions. Whoever came in, or however he came in, whether he obtained the crown by law or by force
- 66 We know that the British House of Commons, without shutting its doors to any merit in any cla.s.s, is, by the sure operation of adequate causes, filled with everything ill.u.s.trious in rank, in descent, in hereditary and in acquired opulence, in cultivat
- 67 Before I proceed further, I have to remark that Dr. Price seems rather to overvalue the great acquisitions of light which he has obtained and diffused in this age. The last century appears to me to have been quite as much enlightened. It had, though in a
- 68 These doctrines, or rather sentiments, seem prevalent with your new statesmen. But they are wholly different from those on which we have always acted in this country.I hear it is sometimes given out in France, that what is doing among you is after the exa
- 69 This laxity of public faith is not confined to those unfortunate persons. The a.s.sembly, with perfect consistency, it must be owned, is engaged in a respectable deliberation how far it is bound by the treaties made with other nations under the former gov
- 70 Whoever has examined into the proceedings of that deposed government for several years back cannot fail to have observed, amidst the inconstancy and fluctuation natural to courts, an earnest endeavor towards the prosperity and improvement of the country;
- 71 I shall here only consider it as a transfer of property. On the policy of that transfer I shall trouble you with a few thoughts.In every prosperous community something more is produced than goes to the immediate support of the producer. This surplus forms
- 72 You see I only consider this Const.i.tution as electoral, and leading by steps to the National a.s.sembly. I do not enter into the internal government of the departments, and their genealogy through the communes and cantons. These local governments are, i
- 73 The parliaments were not wholly free from faction, I admit; but this evil was exterior and accidental, and not so much the vice of their const.i.tution itself as it must be in your new contrivance of s.e.xennial elective judicatories. Several English comm
- 74 Well! but a lessening of prodigal expenses, and the economy which has been introduced by the virtuous and sapient a.s.sembly, make amends for the losses sustained in the receipt of revenue. In this at least they have fulfilled the duty of a financier.--Ha
- 75 _Extract of M. de Lally Tollendal's Second Letter to a Friend_."Parlons du parti que j'ai pris; il est bien justife dans ma conscience.--Ni cette ville coupable, ni cette a.s.semblee plus coupable encore, ne meritoient que je me justifie; mais j'ai a
- 76 [119] See two books ent.i.tled, "Einige Originalschriften des Illuminatenordens,"--"System und Folgen des Illuminatenordens." Munchen, 1787.[120] A leading member of the a.s.sembly, M. Rabaut de St. etienne, has expressed the principle of all their pr
- 77 The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke.Vol. IV.by Edmund Burke.A LETTER TO A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL a.s.sEMBLY, IN ANSWER TO SOME OBJECTIONS TO HIS BOOK ON FRENCH AFFAIRS.1791.Sir,--I had the honor to receive your letter of the 17th of November la
- 78 Opposed to these, in appearance, but in appearance only, is another band, who call themselves _the Moderate_. These, if I conceive rightly of their conduct, are a set of men who approve heartily of the whole new Const.i.tution, but wish to lay heavy on th
- 79 To say, then, that the book did not contain the sentiments of their party is not to contradict the author or to clear themselves. If the party had denied his doctrines to be the current opinions of the majority in the nation, they would have put the quest
- 80 Against the opinion of many friends, even against the solicitation of some of them, he opposed those of the Church clergy who had pet.i.tioned the House of Commons to be discharged from the subscription. Although he supported the Dissenters in their pet.i
- 81 [Sidenote: That the terms of our Const.i.tution imply and express an original contract.][Sidenote: That the contract is mutual consent, and binding at all times upon the parties.][Sidenote: The mixed Const.i.tution uniformly preserved for many ages, and i
- 82 [Sidenote: Commons do not state the limits of submission.][Sidenote: To secure the laws, the only aim of the Revolution.]"In clearing up and vindicating the justice of the Revolution, which was the second thing proposed, it is far from the intent of the
- 83 "'Tis plain that the Doctor is not impeached for preaching a general doctrine, and enforcing the general duty of obedience, but for preaching against an _excepted case after he has stated the exception_. He is not impeached for preaching the general doc
- 84 [Sidenote: Princ.i.p.al n.o.bility and gentry well affected to the Church and crown, security against the design of innovation.]"We are confident that no persons can have _such hard thoughts of us_ as to imagine that we have any other design in this unde
- 85 On that hypothesis, let any set of men be strong enough to set their duties at defiance, and they cease to be duties any longer. We have but this one appeal against irresistible power,-- Si genus humanum et mortalia temnitis arma, At sperate Deos memores
- 86 In estimating danger, we are obliged to take into our calculation the character and disposition of the enemy into whose hands we may chance to fall. The genius of this faction is easily discerned, by observing with what a very different eye they have view
- 87 [13] Works, Vol. III. pp. 251-276, present edition.[14] State Trials, Vol. V. p. 651.[15] Page 676.[16] The words necessary to the completion of the sentence are wanting in the printed trial--but the construction of the sentence, as well as the foregoing
- 88 Whether this scheme of indulgence, grounded at once on contempt and jealousy, has a tendency gradually to produce something better and more liberal, I cannot tell, for want of having the actual map of the country. If this should be the case, it was right
- 89 THE ROMAN CATHOLICS OF IRELAND, THE PROPRIETY OF ADMITTING THEM TO THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE, CONSISTENTLY WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSt.i.tUTION, AS ESTABLISHED AT THE REVOLUTION.1792.My Dear Sir,--Your remembrance of me, with sentiments of so much kindn
- 90 First, I cannot possibly confound in my mind all the things which were done at the Revolution with the _principles_ of the Revolution. As in most great changes, many things were done from the necessities of the time, well or ill understood, from pa.s.sion
- 91 TO BE DELIVERED TO MONSIEUR DE M.M.WRITTEN IN THE EARLY PART OF 1791 The King, my master, from his sincere desire of keeping up a good correspondence with his Most Christian Majesty and the French nation, has for some time beheld with concern the conditio
- 92 The political dogma, which, upon the new French system, is to unite the factions of different nations, is this: "That the majority, told by the head, of the taxable people in every country, is the perpetual, natural, unceasing, indefeasible sovereign; th
- 93 [Sidenote: Ecclesiastical State.]In the States of the Church, notwithstanding their strictness in banis.h.i.+ng the French out of that country, there are not wanting the seeds of a revolution. The spirit of nepotism prevails there nearly as strong as ever
- 94 They all have some sort of communication, just as much or as little as they please, with the centre. By this confinement of all communication to the ruling faction, any combination, grounded on the abuses and discontents in one, scarcely can reach the oth
- 95 [Sidenote: Connection of clubs.]Whilst the public ministers are received under the general law of the communication between nations, the correspondences between the factious clubs in France and ours will be, as they now are, kept up; but this pretended em
- 96 That she must lean on France or on England.That it is as much for the interest of Great Britain to prevent the predominancy of a French interest in that kingdom as if Spain were a province of the crown of Great Britain, or a state actually dependent on it
- 97 Eighthly, To give force to these negotiations, an instant naval armament ought to be adopted,--one squadron for the Mediterranean, another for the Channel. The season is convenient,--most of our trade being, as I take it, at home.After speaking of a plan
- 98 As no individuals have power and influence, so there are no corporations, whether of lawyers or burghers, existing. The a.s.sembly called Const.i.tuent, destroyed all such inst.i.tutions very early. The primary and secondary a.s.semblies, by their origina
- 99 The world will judge of the spirit of our proceeding in those places of France which may fall into our power by our conduct in those that are already in our hands. Our wisdom should not be vulgar. Other times, perhaps other measures; but in this awful hou
- 100 [37] The first object of this club was the propagation of Jacobin principles.APPENDIX.EXTRACTS FROM VATTEL'S LAW OF NATIONS.[The t.i.tles, Marginal Abstracts, and Notes are by Mr. BURKE, excepting such of the Notes as are here distinguished.]CASES OF INT