# Burke's Speech on Conciliation with America/Notes

NOTES
1, 9. grand penal bill. This bill originated with Lord North. It restricted the trade of the New England colonies to England and her dependencies. It also placed serious limitations upon the Newfoundland fisheries. The House of Lords was dissatisfied with the measure because it did not include all the colonies.
2, 14. When I first had the honor. Burke was first elected to Parliament Dec. 26, 1765. He was at the time secretary to Lord Rockingham, Prime Minister. Previous to this he had made himself thoroughly familiar with England's policy in dealing with her dependencies—notably Ireland.
​4, 1. America has been kept in agitation. For a period of nearly one hundred years the affairs of the colonies had been intrusted to a standing committee appointed by Parliament. This committee was called "The Lords of Trade." From its members came many if not the majority of the propositions for the regulation of the American trade. To them the colonial governors, who were appointed by the king, gave full accounts of the proceedings of the colonial legislatures. These reports, often colored by personal prejudice, did not always represent the colonists in the best light. It was mainly through the influence of one of the former Lords of Trade, Charles Townshend, who afterwards became the leading voice in the Pitt ministry, that the Stamp Act was passed.
4, 10. a worthy member. Mr. Rose Fuller.
4, 15. former methods. Condense the thought in this paragraph. Are such "methods" practised nowadays?
6, 3. paper government. Burke possibly had in mind the constitution prepared for the Carolinas by John Locke and Earl of Shaftesbury. The scheme was utterly impracticable and gave cause for endless dissatisfaction.
8, 1. Refined policy. After a careful reading of the paragraph determine what Burke means by "refined policy."
8, 13. the project. The bill referred to had been passed by the House on Feb. 27. It provided that those colonies which voluntarily voted contributions for the common defence and support of the English government, and in addition made provision for the administration of their own civil affairs, should be exempt from taxation, except such as was necessary for the ​regulation of trade. It has been declared by some that the measure was meant m good faith and that its recognition and acceptance by the colonies would have brought good results. Burke, along with others of the opposition, argued that the intention of the bill was to cause dissension and division among the colonies. Compare 7, 11-12. State your opinion and give reasons.
8, 14. the noble lord in the blue ribbon. Lord North (1732–1792) He entered Parliament at the age of twenty-two, served as Lord of the Treasury, 1759; was removed by Rockingham, 1765; was again appointed by Pitt to the office of Joint Paymaster of the Forces, became Prime Minister, 1770, and resigned, 1781. Lord North is described both by his contemporaries and later historians as an easy-going, indolent man, short-sighted and rather stupid, though obstinate and courageous. He was the willing servant of George III., and believed in the principle of authority as opposed to that of conciliation. The blue ribbon was the badge of the Order of the Garter instituted by Edward III. Lord North was made a Knight of the Garter, 1772. Burke often mentions the "blue ribbon" in speaking of the Prime Minister. Why?
8, 16. Colony agents. It was customary for colonies to select some one to represent them in important matters of legislation. Burke himself served as the agent of New York. Do you think this fact accounts in any way for his attitude in this speech?
9, 5. our address. Parliament had prepared an address to the king some months previous, in which Massachusetts was ​declared to be in a state of rebellion. The immediate cause of this address was the Boston Tea Party. The lives and fortunes of his Majesty's subjects were represented as being in danger, and he was asked to deal vigorously not only with Massachusetts but with her sympathizers.
10, 16. those chances. Suggested perhaps by lines in Julius Cæsar, IV., iii., 216–219:—
"There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries."
11, 8. according to that nature and to those circumstances. Compare with 8, 1. Point out the connection between the thought here expressed and Burke's idea of "expediency."
17, 9. great consideration. This paragraph has been censured for its too florid style. It may be rather gorgeous and rhetorical when considered as part of an argument, yet it is very characteristic of Burke as a writer. In no other passage of the speech is there such vivid clear-cut imagery. Note the picturesque quality of the lines and detect if you can any confusion in figures.
17, 10. It is good for us to be here. Burke's favorite books were Shakespeare, Milton, and the Bible. Trace the above sentence to one of these.
17, 21.
"Facta parentum Jam legere et quæ sit poteris cognoscere virtus." —Virgil's Eclogues, IV., 26, 27
​Notice the alteration. Already old enough to study the deeds of his father and to know what virtue is.
18, 20. before you taste of death. Compare 17, 10.
20, 25. Roman charity. This suggests the more famous "Ancient Roman honor" (Merchant of Venice, III., ii, 291). The incident referred to by Burke is told by several writers. A father condemned to death by starvation is visited in prison by his daughter, who secretly nourishes him with milk from her breasts.
23, 7. complexions. "Mislike me not for my complexion."—M. V. Is the word used in the same sense by Burke?
23, 10. the thunder of the state. What is the classical allusion?
23, 21. a nation is not governed.
"Who overcomes By force hath overcome but half his foe"
—Paradise Lost, I., 648, 649.
24, 23. Our ancient indulgence. "The wise and salutary neglect," which Burke has just mentioned, was the result of (a) the struggle of Charles I. with Parliament, (b) the confusion and readjustment at the Restoration, (c) the Revolution of 1688, (d) the attitude of France in favoring the cause of the Stuarts, (e) the ascendency of the Whigs. England had her hands full in attending to affairs at home. As a result of this the colonies were practically their own masters in matters of government. Also the political party known as the Whigs had its origin shortly before William and Mary ascended the throne. This ​party favored the colonies and respected their ideas of liberty and government.
26, 14. great contests. One instance of this is Magna Charta. Suggest others.
30, 24. Freedom is to them. Such keen analysis and subtle reasoning is characteristic of Burke. It is this tendency that justifies some of his admirers in calling him "Philosopher Statesman." Consider his thought attentively and determine whether or not his argument is entirely sound. Is he correct in speaking of our Gothic ancestors?
33, 2. Abeunt studia in mores. Studies become a part of character.
33, 20. winged ministers of vengeance. A figure suggested perhaps by Horace, Odes, Bk. IV., 4: "Ministrum fulminis alitem"—the thunder's winged messenger.
34, 4. the circulation. The Conciliation, as all of Burke's writings, is rich in such figurative expressions. In every instance the student should discover the source of the figure and determine definitely whether or not his author is accurate and suggestive.
35, 19. its imperfections.
"But sent to my account With all my imperfections upon my head." —Hamlet, I., v., 78, 79.
37, 23. same plan. The act referred to, known as the Regulating Act, became a law May 10, 1774. It provided (a) that the council, or the higher branch of the legislature, should be appointed by the Crown (the popular assemblies had previously ​selected the members of the council); (b) that officers of the common courts should be chosen by the royal governors, and (c) that public meetings (except for elections) should not be held without the sanction of the king. These measures were practically ignored. By means of circular letters the colonies were fully instructed through their representatives. As a direct result of the Regulating Act, along with other high-handed proceedings of the same sort, delegates were secretly appointed for the Continental Congress on Sept. 1 at Philadelphia. The delegates from Massachusetts were Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Paine, and Thomas Cushing.
38, 25. their liberties. Compare 26, 14.
39, 12. sudden or partial view. Goodrich, in his Select British Eloquence, speaking of Burke's comprehensiveness in discussing his subject, compares him to one standing upon an eminence, taking a large and rounded view of it on every side. The justice of this observation is seen in such instances as the above. It is this breadth and clearness of vision more than anything else that distinguishes Burke so sharply from his contemporaries.
39, 16. three ways. How does the first differ from the third?
43, 21. Spoliatis arma supersunt. Though plundered their arms still remain.
44, 4. your speech would betray you. "Thy speech bewrayeth thee"—Matt. xxvi 73. There is much justice in the observation that Burke is often verbose, yet such paragraphs as this prove how well he knew to condense and prune his ​expression. It is an excellent plan to select from day to day passages of this sort and commit them to memory for recitation when the speech has been finished.
45, 10. to persuade slaves. Does this suggest one of Byron's poems?
45, 23. causes of quarrel. The Assembly of Virginia in 1770 attempted to restrict the slave trade. Other colonies made the same effort, but Parliament vetoed these measures, accompanying its action with the blunt statement that the slave trade was profitable to England. Observe how effectively Burke uses his wide knowledge of history.
48, 18. ex vi termini. From the force of the word.
49, 23. abstract right. Compare with 11, 8; also 8, 1. Point out connection in thought.
50, 20. Act of Henry the Eighth. Burke alludes to this in his letter to the sheriffs of Bristol in the following terms: "To try a man under this Act is to condemn him unheard. A person is brought hither in the dungeon of a ship hold; thence he is vomited into a dungeon on land, loaded with irons, unfurnished with money, unsupported by friends, three thousand miles from all means of calling upon or confronting evidence, where no one local circumstance that tends to detect perjury can possibly be judged of;—such a person may be executed according to form, but he can never be tried according to justice."
51, 17. correctly right. Explain.
53, 16. Paradise Lost, II., 392–394.
53, 18–24; 54, 1–10. This passage should be carefully studied. Burke's theory of government is given in the Conciliation by ​just such lines as these. Refer to other instances of principles which he considers fundamental in matters of government.
55, 24. exquisite. Exact meaning?
56, 5. trade laws. What would have been the nature of a change beneficial to the colonies?
61, 1. English conquest. At Henry II.'s accession, 1154, Ireland had fallen from the civilization which had once flourished upon her soil and which had been introduced by her missionaries into England during the seventh century. Henry II. obtained the sanction of the Pope, invaded the island, and partially subdued the inhabitants. For an interesting account of England's relations to Ireland the student should consult Green's Short History of the English People.
62, 13. You deposed kings. What English kings have been deposed?
63, 23. Lords Marchers. March, boundary. These lords were given permission by the English kings to take from the Welsh as much land as they could. They built their castles on the boundary line between the two countries, and when they were not quarrelling among themselves waged a guerilla warfare against the Welsh. The Lords Marchers, because of special privileges and the peculiar circumstances of their life, were virtually kings—petty kings, of course.
66, 25. "When the clear star has shone upon the sailors, the troubled water flows down from the rocks, the winds fall, the clouds fade away, and, since they (Castor and Pollux) have so willed it, the threatening waves settle on the deep. "—Horace, Odes, I., 12, 27–32.
​70, 22. Opposuit natura. Nature opposed.
70, 25. no theory. Compare 33, 11–25; 34, 1–18. Select other instances of Burke's impatience with fine-spun theories in statescraft.
71, 15. Republic of Plato. Utopia of More. Ideal states. Consult the Century Dictionary.
71, 19.
"And the dull swain Treads daily on it with his clouted shoon" —Milton's Comus, 6, 34, 35.
72, 3. the year 1763. The date marks the beginning of the active struggle between England and the American colonies. The Stamp Act was the first definite step taken by the English Parliament in the attempt to tax the colonies without their consent.
72, 6. legal competency. This had been practically recognized by Parliament prior to the passage of the Stamp Act. In Massachusetts the Colonial Assembly had made grants from year to year to the governor, both for his salary and the incidental expenses of his office. Notwithstanding the fact that he was appointed (in most cases) by the Crown, and invariably had the ear of the Lords of Trade, the colonies generally had things their own way and enjoyed a political freedom greater, perhaps, than did the people of England.
74, 14. This is not my doctrine, but that of Ofellus; a rustic, yet unusually wise.
75, 10. Compare in point of style with 43, 22–25; 44, 1–6. In what way do such passages differ from Burke's prevailng style? What is the central thought in each paragraph?
​81, 14. misguided people. There is little doubt that the colonists m many instances were misrepresented by the Lords of Trade and by the royal governors. See an interesting account of this in Fiske's American Revolution.
84, 10. an Act. Passed in 1767. It provided for a duty on imports, including tea, glass, and paper.
84, 20. An Act. Boston Post Bill.
85, 2. impartial administration of justice. This provided that if any person in Massachusetts were charged with murder, or any other capital offence, he should be tried either in some other colony or in Great Britain
85, 8. An Act for the better regulating See 37, 23.
85, 13. Trial of Treasons. See 50, 20.
90, 17. de jure. According to law. de facto. According to fact.
92, 1. jewel of his soul.
"Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls." —Othello, III., iii., 155, 156.
95, 1. proposition of a ransom. See 8, 13.
95, 6. An experiment upon something of no value.
102, 6. They stake their fortune and play.
102, 16. Such a presumption. Is Burke right in this? Select instances which seem to warrant rest such a presumption. Discuss the political parties of Burke's own day from this point of view.
​103, 1–7. What can you say about the style of this passage? Note the figure, sentence structure, and diction. Does it seem artificial and overwrought? Compare it with 43, 22–25; 44, 1–6; also with 90, 23–25, 91, 1–25, 92, 1–23.
105, 4. enemies. France and Spain.
105, 13. light as air.
"Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ" —Othello, III., iii., 322–324
105, 16. grapple to you.
"The friends thou hast and their adoption tried Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel" —Hamlet, I., iii., 62, 63.
105, 21. the cement is gone. Figure?
107, 21. profane herd.
"Odi profanum volgus et arceo" I hate the vulgar herd and keep it from me —Horace, Odes, III., 1, 1.
108, 6. Magnanimity. Etymology?
108, 10. auspicate. Etymology and derivation?
108, 12. Sursum corda. Lift up your hearts.
108, 25. quod felix faustumque sit. May it be happy and fortunate.