had a clerk, a lad untainted in his character with any sort of crime, and universally beloved by all that knew him. There lived in the same house a servant maid who took care of the children, to whom he had often proposed marriage, and was as often refused. As he had conducted the matter privately no one knew anything of it: so it was hushed entirely for a while, when a Frenchman who used to teach his native language to this gentleman's children, and who it seems had a higher place in the girls affections than the clerk, lands from England. Generous minds would sooner die than gain their ends by a dishonourable method. He saw that his rival had come to supplant him: he scorned to manage matters with that low and mean dexterity that it was in his power to have done. As he lived in the family, he saw that nothing was left to end his unhappy passion but death; to effect which, in the greatest despair, he went to an apothecaries in Dame Street where he bought as much white arsenick as would send him to the other world. To shorten this melancholy story the effects of the poison soon became visible and notwithstanding all the efforts of a family who laboured heartily for his preservation, he died after a great deal of struggling in unexpressible torments.

This accident has altered my sentiments concerning love, so that I am now not only convinced that there is such a thing as love, but that it may very probably be the source of as many misfortunes as are usually ascribed to it. This may I think be a sufficient example to show what length an unrestrained passion though virtuous in itself, may carry a man, and with how much craft and subtlety our great enemy endeavours by all means to work our destruction: how he lays a bait in everything: and how much need we have to care lest he make too sure of us, as in the case of that unfortunate youth. Amid this gloomy prospect of unhappy love, let me style myself, with a pure and sincere affection, dear Dick's assured friend.

E. B.

In the two letters written on the 7th and 10th July, 1744, Burke discusses with Shackleton the subject of Love. He had evidently never as yet been in love himself, but he tells Shackleton the pitiful scene that he had witnessed in the suicide of the young clerk, and says that it

had altered his sentiments concerning love, so that he was now not only convinced there was such a thing as love, but that it was probably the source of as many misfortunes as are usually ascribed to it, and that even though virtuous in itself an unrestrained passion may carry a man to self destruction.

Shackleton seems to have replied, arguing upon some basis of a priori ratiocination that "the passion we vulgarly call the love of women is love of ourselves." Burke, who had been studying the "sprightly" Leyden Professor Burgersdyck, disapproves of the want of conciseness in the syllogistic method by which his friend arrived

at that conclusion, and then launches off into some ironical verses upon Shackleton's theory. It is evident that Burke's lesson from the love tragedy he had witnessed brought him, though still "fancy free," close to Bacon's teaching that self love but little controls this passion, for whereas it hath been well said that the Archflatterer with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence is a man's self certainly the lover is more: for there never was a proud man thought so absurdly well of himself as the lover doth of the person loved1.

Possibly Burke had before his mind the picture of the dying clerk when in the Sublime and Beautiful he discusses the subject of unrequited love,

if you listen to the complaints of a forsaken lover you observe that he insists largely on the pleasures that he enjoyed or hoped to enjoy, and on the perfection of the object of his desires. It is the loss which is always uppermost in his mind. The violent effects produced by Love, which has sometimes been even wrought up to madness, is no objection to the rule which we seek to establish. When men have suffered their imaginations to be long affected with any idea, it so wholly engrosses them, as to shut out by degrees almost every other, and to break down every partition of the mind which would confine it. Any idea is sufficient for the purpose, as is evident from the infinite variety of causes which give rise to madness: but this at most can only prove that the passion of love is capable of producing very extraordinary effects, not that its extraordinary emotions have any connexion with positive pain2.

Dear Dick,

E. Burke to R. Shackleton.

Tuesday, past one o'clock. July 10th, 1744.

I assure you that I think your treatise on self love a very curious and judicious piece, which was entirely pleasing to me not only for the lively and natural lines of poetry (which shone among your morality like diamonds set in gold) but for the curious remarks you made on that passion which we vulgarly call love of women, though you have plainly proved it to be love of ourselves. But if you had read a little more of that sprightly Dutch author Burgersdyck, he would have taught you to have thrown your syllogisms into a more concise method-Per test etc. You desired me when I had nothing else to do, to sit down and write a great big panegyrick on Damer3, and what did I do? I immediately took slate and pencil and 1 Bacon's Essays, "Of Love." Burke had been a diligent student of Bacon's Essays.

2 Sublime and Beautiful, Part I, sec. vIII. Also, as to Burke's views on the origin of Love, ibid. Part I, sec. XVIII.

3 Joseph Damer, M.P. for Weymouth, 1741, Bramber, 1747, Dorchester, 1754; elevated to the peerage of Ireland in 1753 as Baron Milton of Shronehill in the County of Tipperary; created a peer of Great Britain, 1762; Earl of Milton, 1792; died, 1798. The following passage occurs in Sir Thomas Prior's List of the Absentees

fell to scribbling not any panegyrick, but a moral treatise forsooth, and I writ of that perhaps ten or twelve lines: but forseeing that I could not do it in less than two hundred lines at least, and the Muse being in a very bad humour, I left it off. Here, take what I wrote:

Almighty Self love and her power I sing,
Of all the first mover and first spring;
By her command I undertake this song;
Be it her care, its labour to prolong.
Let me, my friend1, arrest thine ear awhile,
Deign on this work propitiously to smile.
As your epistle and well writ Essay

Serve as a torch to light me on my way,
While I explore wild Self-love's mazy course,

And trace the passion to the common source.

I utterly detest all sorts of flattery, and therefore you must not think that I would in anywise employ the Muse to any such mean ends. I am sorry I ever wrote any such to him, but I am glad they are now in the lap of oblivion. I deny not but that the gentleman has abundance of virtues sufficient to make him loved and esteemed by all that know him. Were he a peer or one who possessed any eminent employment in the State, I would think no crime in giving him a little spice of that flattery, but as he is a private gentleman had he a million a year I should scorn for the sake of the finest present he could possibly make me to send him a mean scroll of lying verse. If he could make me any other present I would be ready to show my gratitude in plain prose.

This morning before I was out of my nest (having lain longer than usual not being very well) I received yours by Harry Bawn. I have not bought the books as yet, but will not fail to bring 'em with me when I shall have the pleasure of seeing you22. Your treatise of Self Love puts me in mind of Pope's Ethick Epistles, which I lately bought on Herbert's recommendation, and I assure you they are very fine. I'll bring them with of Ireland (1745 edition, p. 35): “I cant forbear on this occasion to take notice of one remarkable instance among many others, which Mr John Damer, one of our richest commoners, has lately given us of the just sense he has of good of this country, and how much he has the interest thereof at heart. This gentleman having no prospect of issue to inherit his great estate, in order to engage his brother (who we may suppose is designed to be his heir, and has several children and a large fortune in England) to settle in this kingdom, has agreed to make over to him at present a considerable estate with a fine house well furnished thereon, on the express condition that he shall immediately bring over his family and reside among us; and I am informed his brother has agreed thereto. By this means he has provided that his estate shall continue to be spent in the kingdom which otherwise would in all probability be constantly carried off after his decease; and it is to be hoped that other gentlemen moved by the same spirit will shew themselves the same true patriots, and by their last wills oblige their heirs to reside among us." See also post p. 147.

1 Note by Burke in original letter. "I intended to send it to you."

2 Noted on fold of the original letter: 1. Arungzeb; 2. Spanish Fryar; 3. Pope's Ethick Epistles; 4. Hammond's Priscilla. (Shackleton MSS.)

me too. Give my love to Murray and tell him I long to see his sweet face1. Who is your chum? Desire Johnny Buckley to lay by all the scraps of wax he can spare for me to make granasty when I come to your parts2.

Referring to the panegyric on Damer, Prior, who quotes it at length in his Life of Burke (the date being given as July, 1747), writes: Another piece, admired and often alluded to by the "Club" remains. Shackleton writes, July 1747, to Dennis3: "Pray let your next sheet be full, and send 'Damer' enclosed. I intend to write no more till I see that piece. Pray send it by Tuesday's post": Dennis replies only by saying "He'll send 'Damer' the poem." Shackleton rejoins in August "It is needless to tell thee Dennis, for I wont say it to Burke, that I take Damer to be the best panegyric I ever read, except Waller's, who chiefly excels in that.... Bid Ned (Burke) not be piqued that I dont expatiate in praise of his Damer, for there are certain visions of the sublime in it which have dazzled my eyes so much that like a man who has kept himself looking too long in the sun, I cannot see plain enough to pass judgment on the rest"."

From the following letter, as well as from that of 11th June, 1744, it would seem that the French boys at Ballitore were not looked upon very favourably by some of their Irish schoolfellows.

E. Burke to R. Shackleton.

Dublin, July 14th, 1744.

From my usual place-almost eleven O'Clock.

I dont in the least doubt but that before this time there has been a Court called in dear Dick's breast; and that I have been therein accused, found guilty, and condemned to the most rigorous punishments which the law inflicts on such crimes. But oh! how vain and how little to be trusted are appearances! I, that Ned Burke, that perfidious wretch, that criminal who was so deservedly found guilty of that most terrible breach of the laws of friendship, even so far as to neglect answering his friend's favour, and to have no excuse for it but his unpardonable laziness. What! neglect so fair an opportunity of cultivating so delightful and improving commerce!— that Ned Burke, I say, that so deeming unpardonable villain, is entirely innocent of all the crimes laid to his charge. He has answered your letters punctually and would not neglect doing it on any consideration but accidents, unavoidable accidents, which all the skill and cunning of man could not prevent or forsee. To be short, I gave the letter to my brother to carry to the post office, but he forgot to do it; therefore I must send it along with this, per to-day's post. Upon the whole I hope you will be prevailed upon to repeal the sentence, and your Petitioner, as in duty bound, shall for ever pray.

1 John Murray entered Ballitore School in the same year as Edmund Burke, 1741. 2 See ante p. 49.

3 William Dennis, the chum and close college friend of Edmund Burke. He was a prominent member of the Debating Club. Vide post p. 209.

4 Prior (5th edition), p. 39. See an extract from the poem, post p. 147.

I am glad to hear that you have parted with the noble Chevalier Aimé1, whose good qualities, engaging behaviour, and inimitable politeness has gained him the esteem and love of all those who had the honour of his acquaintance. I am at a loss whether to prefer the noble sincerity, unaffected love, and noble greatness of soul and goodness of heart, qualities of which this charming youth was possessed of in so eminent a degree, or his agreeable and humble politeness, which gave a lustre and additional value to his virtues, and which rendered him so justly the darling of the people. Go, dear youth, be happy in whatever part of the world you shall range, let the angels who guard the just be your protectors among your enemies; let them guard you sleeping, and attend you waking, and spread their pinions for your shield; let 'em convey you midst nations inhabited by fiercest barbarians, that you may by the innate mildness and sweetness of your disposition tame their uncultivated morals more sweetly than the divine Orpheus though the woods followed and listened to his song! Fly generous soul from the power of envy, and you will subdue it; leave those who not knowing your noble qualities, despise 'em and hate you for 'em. Go forth; show yourself to mankind, nor hide from 'em that light which was destined to shine at once the delight and wonder of the world! Hah! I think I have penned the Chevalier's elogium, which I hope will always be a good answer to the satirical farewell of my friend, and herein, I have proved the famous logical thesis to be a lie i.e. Contraria non possunt simul esse vera, sed possunt simul esse falsa. Negatur pars prior, satyra enim elogio est contraria. And here I fling away my syllogisms and devilments that I was going to make; for the noise I just heard made me go down to know the occasion and found that my Mother is just, after all this day's suffering, brought to bed of a girl2.

I am in haste, but not in too much to assure dear Dick, that I am his sincere friend,

E. B.

Although he himself depreciates his application, it is evident that Burke worked hard in his Junior Freshman year. The Book of Examinations preserved in the Register's office in Trinity College contains this entry: "7th July, 1744. The following persons in ye Junior Freshman Class have the thanks of ye House for their diligence at Greek Lecture." (Inter alios) "Bourk" (sic). These examinations (as previously stated) were at this period held on two days at the beginning of each term, in the subjects upon which the students had been instructed by their lecturers in the preceding term3. In October and November of the same year he writes, after the Michaelmas

1 A French boy, Louis Aimée, who had just left school. His name appears in the Ballitore School lists as joining on the 20th day of the 11th month, 1743. His stay in the school was therefore a very short one. See ante p. 30.

2 Entry of baptism in parish register of St Michan's Church, Dublin. “1744. July 19th, Ellen D. of Richd. Burk Attory, & Mary, Aron Quay" (sic). Ante p. 4. 3 See Stubbs, Hist. Univ. Dubl., 197; Dixon, Trin. Coll., Dubl., ch. vII.