of the English Constitution which, infused through the mighty mass, pervades, feeds, unites, invigorates, vivifies every part of the Empire, even down to the minutest member.

139. Is it not the same virtue which does everything for us here in England? Do you imagine, then, that it is the Land Tax Act which raises your revenue? that it is the annual vote in the Committee of Supply which gives you your army? or that it is the Mutiny Bill which inspires it with bravery and discipline? No! surely no! It is the love of the people; it is their attachment to their government, from the sense of the deep stake they have in such a glorious institution, which gives you your army and your navy, and infuses into both that liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble, and your navy nothing but rotten timber.

140. All this, I know well enough, will sound wild and chimerical to the profane herd of those vulgar and mechanical politicians who have no place among us; a sort of people who think that nothing exists but what is gross and material, and who, therefore, far from being qualified to be directors of the great movement of empire, are not fit to turn a wheel in the machine. But to men truly initiated and rightly taught, these ruling and master principles which, in the opinion of such men as I have mentioned, have no substantial existence, are in truth everything, and all in all. Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together. If we are conscious of our station, and glow with zeal to fill our places as becomes our situation and ourselves, we ought to auspicate all our public proceedings on America with the old warning of the church, Sursum cordal 268 [We ought to elevate our minds to the greatness of that trust to which the order of Providence has called us. By adverting to the dignity of this high calling our ancestors have turned a savage wilderness into a glorious empire, and have made the most extensive and the only honorable conquests-not by destroying, but by promoting the

wealth, the number, the happiness, of the human race. Let us get an American revenue as we have got an American empire. English privileges have made it all that it is; English privileges alone will make it all it can be.

141. In full confidence of this unalterable truth, I now, quod felix faustumque sit,269 lay the first stone of the Temple of Peace; and I move you—

That the Colonies and Plantations of Great Britain in North America, consisting of fourteen separate governments, and containing two millions and upwards of free inhabitants, have not had the liberty and privilege of electing and sending any Knights and Burgesses, or others, to represent them in the High Court of Parliament."

270

1

NOTES AND QUERIES

SIR. Burke addresses the Speaker of the House.

2 AUSTERITY. From Latin Auster, the "west wind." Hence,

3 HUMAN FRAILTY. Can you find an antithesis in this sentence? *DEPENDING. Hanging. Hence, "undecided."

Б

5 EVENT. Outcome. From the Latin ex, "out of" and venio, 66 come."

"GRAND PENAL BILL. A bill forbidding Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island to trade with any country except England and abolishing their right to fish on the Banks of Newfoundland. On March 8 it passed 215 to 61.

'OTHER HOUSE. What body is alluded to?

8 COERCION AND RESTRAINT. To coerce means to force a person to act. To restrain means to keep a person from acting. What figure of speech?

'AWFUL. Burke uses the word here in its exact sense, calculated to inspire awe.

10 When did Burke first sit in the House of Commons?

11 Was Burke a well-informed man? Look for the answer to this question in the introduction.

12

FLUCTUATION. From the Latin fluctus, "wave." This word therefore contains a metaphor. Burke compares the American situation to a sea. Find two other words which continue this metaphor.

13 Point out a figure of speech in this sentence.

"In this sentence Burke diplomatically contrasts his own fine adherence to principle with the weak and selfish conduct of Parliament.

15 What comparison is implied by the use of the words complaint and "distemper"?

16 The student will realize the condition of America to which Burke alludes if he will remember that this speech was delivered March 22, 1775, and that the battle of Lexington was fought April 19, 1775. (See Life of Burke, pp. 17-20.)

17 A WORTHY MEMBER. Burke refers to Mr. Rose Fuller.

18

OUR. Burke means the methods of the Whig party.

19 LONG AND UNSUCCESSFUL OPPOSITION. The Whigs had been in opposition, that is, in the minority, nine years.

MINISTERIAL MEASURES: The measures of the Tory majority. 21 Find an antithesis in this sentence.

22 Point out the metaphor.

23 PARLIAMENTARY FORM. Burke means that he made the rough outline of the "Speech on Conciliation" in a form suitable for delivery in Parliament.

24

ARGUES. Indicates.

25 SEAT OF AUTHORITY. An official position.

26

27

28

DISREPUTABLY. With loss of reputation.

PAPER GOVERNMENT. Theoretical government. Hatred of theory was one of Burke's most noteworthy characteristics. 'Almost every paragraph in this speech contains one or more sentences which have become political maxims. There are two in this paragraph. Try to decide which they are and do the same for each succeeding paragraph.

20 Point out the antithesis in this sentence.

30 Point out the figure of speech.

31 DESTITUTE OF ALL SHADOW OF INFLUENCE. Burke had no influence with the ministers of George III, because he acted from principle while they were bought.

32 FOMENTED. Kindled. From the Latin, fomes, "kindling." JURIDICAL. Legal.

83

34

This sentence is an artful description of Lord North's so-called scheme of conciliation, which he had previously introduced into the House.

35 Notice how often in this paragraph Burke repeats the word

36

peace.

REFINED. Tricky.

37 NOBLE LORD IN THE BLUE RIBBON. Lord North. North was a younger son, and hence could not sit in the House of Lords. 38 Lord North's scheme was to remit the duties of those colonies who agreed to vote money for the common defense and the civil government. It was introduced February 10, 1775. 39 In what respects did Burke's scheme differ from Lord North's? In what respect were the two schemes alike?

40 CAPITAL means fundamental.

41

42

EXCEPTIONABLE. Open to exception or criticism.

'I MAKE NO DIFFICULTY. I do not hesitate or argue against. 43 OTHERS. Slaves.

44 Note the fine antithesis.

45 In this sentence we have another description of Lord North's

plan for conciliation.

48 MINIMA. Trifles or non-essentials.

"WITH IMPUNITY. Without punishment.

49

A DISTINGUISHED PERSON. Burke refers to Richard Glover (1712–1785). Glover was at once a merchant prince, a publicist, and a poet-Marshall Field, Elihu Root, and Alfred Noyes rolled into one. His chief poems are Leonidas, an epic, and Admiral Hosier's Ghost, a ballad. (See Chambers' Cyclopædia of English Literature.)

ERUDITION. Learning.

50 STATE. Statement.

51 What was the entire amount of the export of England in 1704? In 1772? What was the amount of the colony trade in 1704? In 1772? How did the colony trade in 1772 compare with the whole trade in 1704?

"Note the antithesis between the past and the present on the one hand, and the future on the other.

53 Acta parentum iam legere . . . virtus.

54

He was already old enough to read the deeds of his parents and to understand what virtue is.

AUSPICIOUS. Promising.

6 FOURTH GENERATION. George I., the first Prince of the House of Brunswick, reigned 1714-1728; George II., the second, 1728-1760; George III., the third, 1760-1820. George III. was the grandson of George II.

56 TURN BACK THE CURRENT OF HEREDITARY DIGNITY TO ITS FOUNTAIN. The son of Lord Bathurst got his father raised from the rank of Baron to that of Earl.

57

Note the contrast which Burke draws between the growth of America and England. What would he say if he were now alive?

58 SANGUINE. Hopeful. Sanguine comes from Latin sanguis, "blood." To be full of red blood, as we say to-day, is to be hopeful. Sanguinary means bloody and has reference to the spilling of blood.

5 Note the contrast in the last two sentences. Note also the contrast between the preceding burst of eloquence and the cold commercial figures which Burke gave before and to which he now returns.

❝ CURIOUS. Worthy of careful inquiry.

01 Could there be a finer description of what America did for England in the war from 1914-1918?

62

ANTIPODES. From the Greek anti, “against," and podes, "feet." Note the antithesis.

63 FALKLAND ISLANDS. Are the Falkland Islands connected with any event in the great war of 1914-1918?

"Note the antithesis.