Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-08
From q London Paper.
"REMINISCENCES OF BURKE.

A letter 10 Mr.. tanning oh '"e Pieeent '
of the Catholic Question, from Mr. X. Merry
of Gray's Inn, has recently been published, 10
which are annexed six original letters OF BURKE,
and "reminiscences Of him and his son. how
ever much we may differ in opinion from MI
Therry. il is but fair TO acknowledge that ms
namphle. is written with great force and eie-
aance. The "Reminiscences which Mr.. her-
ey has added are very interesting, as may be
seen from the following specimens:
"To the anecdotes which MIR. Prior records
of the festive evenings at the Greclan Coffee
house. of Mr.. Burke, DR.. Johnson, DR.. Gold
smith. and "other men Of mind !" | take the IL.
berty of adding one, which MIR. Burke hmseii
was wont to tell It's circumstances are trivial
indeed, yet they confirm the charge OF eXcusa-
bic vanity made by his contemporaries on DE-
Goldsmith AS the Grecian Coffee House was
place of frequent resort with the above named
eminent persons, at a time when none Of them
possessed very ample means, they entered into
an agreement that the douceU, daily given %
the waiter for his attendance, BY each OF them,
should no. exceed sixpense. DR.. was the
only member of the party to break through this
EQUITABLE plan of remuneration. 1t pleased his
vanity TO present the coffee house functionary
with shilling. His friends demonstrated with
him upon the unreasohaolenes OF not conform
ing to the rule of the party, more particularly
as it only encouraged the waiter TO indulge IN
exrravagant expectations from others. TO these
circumstances the Doctor would reply, Sit is
very easy for you gentlemen, to talk thus. Six
pence may be very suitable sum Tor you 10
give, though it may rot be for me. When you
come here yod are treated as strangers, but am
looked upon as y pa,ron Of the house; and
never come In, or go out, but am saluled by
some kind and cordial expression, such as God
bless YOU, DR.. Goldsmith This pleases me,
and imposes upon me the obligation OF acting
somewhat differently"
GA curious and striking instance Of the va
riety of requirements possessed by this extra
ordinary man, occurred on the occasion OF
friendly party solourning at his hospitable house
at Beaconsheld. 1t was told me by my father,
who at that time had the good fortune to be one
of the visitors. One morning, the party walk
ed Out after breakfast, and in the ad Joining vii
lage, they happened to enter into conversation
with fa~rier, or, in the more flatterinG par
lance of the present day, veterinary surgeon.
Mr.. Burke entered earnestly into the subject OF
the Professors duties and vocation, and after
half an hours conversation convinced him that
he knew infinitely less Of the nature of his call
ing than the stranger with whom he had fallen
into accidental discourse. After Mr. Burkes de-
parturc, some gentleman Of the party continued
in conversation with the farrier, who observed,
in tone oil mortified pridc,I Judge that is a.
knowing one from town. Such was the very
diversified nature Of the mind of this wonder
full man, that after having, on the previous
night, in the Senate house Of his country,fn its
prophetic fury admonshed nations,' it could
unbend and adapt itsefin the morning to dis
cussion with an humble mechanic, and convnc-
ed him that he surpassed him in theoretic &
practical acquaintance with the business Of his
trade and occupation. On another occasion,
an inquiry having been introduced as TO the
mode in which the London market was suppli-
ed with meat: Mr.. Burke took up the subject
entered into detail of the manner in which the
supply was made-in which the oxen was driv-
en- upto town-the stages Of rest at which
they stopped during the night-the causes of
variations of price at different seasons Of the
year-the nature Of the credit sabsisting be-
tween the salesmaster, the farmer, and the
butcher; and full account Of the whole pro-
cess Of business at Smith6ed, which usually
engrosses the attention of ordinary men for their
lives.
III utiISliSN III CoHNSFSdllOn Wllh young per-.
sons, whom it was his favorite occupation TO
instruct and amuse, and so successful was he in
rivetting their attention and affections, that ma
ny boys who were in the habit of spending their
vacations with him, now grown TO the estate Of
maphood, have assured me, they look back to
the period Of these occasional soiourns with
him as the happicst and most interesting of
their life time, and that they derived more plea
sure from the amusing stories which Mr. Burke
told in his rural walks, than from any thing
they have since read. This anxiety 10 please
and delight those by whom he was surrounded
was an amiaoie trait Of his character, in which
no motive, but one Of true kindheartedness,
and the purest benevoence, could have a share
"The memorable alteration between Mr..
Fox and Mr. Burke, after close and intimate
attachment of twenty-five years and upwards.
terminated for ever their public and private
friendship. My father resided with Mr.. Burke
in London, at this period; he accompanied him
to the House OF Commons, on The evening Of
this debate, the Sth of May, and it was agreed
that he should wait for him in the part of the
House allotted to visiters, until the close of the
discussion. The question before the House was
the second reading of the Canada Bill For Sc
veral days previously, Mr. Burke had been &C
lively engaged in taking extracts, and making
those notes of preparation which usually pre-
cede the surprising displays of eloquence that
from time to time illuminc the dull discourses