mented. The other was much more imperfect, just as it was taken from his mouth by dictation. Of course it was neceffary to use a more ample difcretion in preparing that part for the press. There is, however, ftill a very confiderable member, or rather there are large fragments and pieces of a confiderable member, to which the candour and indulgence of the Publick must be respectfully intreated. Mr. Burke had himself chalked out an accurate outline. There were loofe papers found, containing a fummary and conclufion of the whole. He had preferved fome fcattered hints, documents, and parts of a correfpondence on the state of the country. He had been long anxioufly waiting for fome authentick and official information, which he wanted to afcertain, what with his ufual fagacity he had fully anticipated from his own obfervation. When the first two Reports of the Finance Committee of the House of Commons, and the Great Reports of the Secret Committees of both Houses, were printed, he procured and read, them with much avidity; but the Supreme Difpofer of all, in his infcrutable counfels, did not permit the complete execution of the task, which he meditated., Under thefe circumftances, his friends originally inclined to lop off altogether, that member which he had left fo lame and mutilated; but the confideration, how much the ultimate credit of all his opinions might poffibly depend on that main branch of his queftion not being wholly fuppressed, it was thought beft, that fome ufe fhould be made of the important materials, which he had fo far in readiness. It was then conceived that, it might in fome degree answer the purpose, to draw out mere tables of figures, with short obfervations under each of them; and they were actually printed in that form. These would ftill however have remained an unseemly chaẩm, very incoherently and aukwardly filled. At length, therefore, it was refolved, after much hefitation, and under a very unpleasant responsibility, to make a humble attempt at supplying the void with fome continued ex planation planation and illuftration of the documents, agreeably to Mr. Burke's own Sketch. In performing with pious diffidence that duty of friendship, no one fentiment has been attributed to Mr. Burke, which is not moft explicitly known, from repeated converfations. and from correfpondence, to have been entertained by that illuftrious man. Some paffages from his own private letters, and fome from letters to him, which he was pleased to commend and to preferve, have been inter woven. From what has been thus fairly fubmitted, it will be feen, that it is impoffible to indicate every period or fentence in the latter part of this letter, which is, and which is not, from the hand of Mr. Burke. It would fwell this advertisement to a long preface. In general, the ftyle will too. furely declare the author. Not only his friends, but his bittereft enemies (if he now has any enemies) will agree, that he is not to be imitated: he is, as Cowley fays, "a vaft fpecies alone." The The fourth Letter, which was 'originally THE |