Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-09-26
Edmund Burke and q Horse .

The following beautiful anecdote of the
great English Statesman, Edmund Burke
was told by the Hon. Edward Everett in
| speech delivered at the Springfield National
Horse Show, on the 18th Of September, inst:
In the decline of Mr. Burke's life when ne
was living in retirement on his farm ut Bea-
confields, the rumor went up to London
| that he had gone mad and the fact that
| was stated in support of this rumor was
cows and horses A friend, a man of rank
and influence, hearing this story, and deem
| ing it Of too much Importance to be left un-
corrected, fastened down to Beaconfelds,
and sought an interview with the view Of as
pertaining the truth of the rumor. Enter.
into conversation with him, Mr.. Burke read
to him some chapters from his Letters on
the Regicide." His friend Immediately
saw that though the earthly tenement was
verging back to its native dust. the lamp of
reason and genius shone within with undi-
minished lustre. He was accordingly more
than satisfied as to the object OF his coming
down, and in private interview with Mrs
Burke told her what he had come for, and
received from her this pathetic explanation:
Mr.. Burke's only child a beloved son, had
not loLg before died, leaving behind him a
favorite old horse, the companion Of his ex-
customs of business and pleasure, when both
were young and vigorous. This favorite
animal was Of course, turned out by Mr..
Burke, the father, into the park, with d.
rections to all his servants that he should in
every respect be treated as privileged IA
vorite Mr.. Burke himrelf, of course, in
his morning walks, would often stop to ca
ress the favOrite animal. On one occasion,
as he was taking his morning walk through
the park, he perceived the poor animal ut a
distance, and noticed that he was recog-
nized by him. The horse drew nearer and
nearer to Mr.. Burke, stopped, eyed him
with a most pleading look of recognition,
which said. as plainly as words could have
said, 81 have lost him too" and then the
poor dumb beast deliberately laid his head
upon MIR. Burke's bosom Struck by the
singularity of this occurrence, struck by the
recollection Of his son, whom he had never
ceased to mourn with a grief that would not
be comforted, overwhelmed by the tender.
ness Of the animal, expressed in the mute
eloquence Of holy Natures universal Ian
guage, the nlustrious statesman for mo-
ment lost his selfpossessiOn, and, clapping
his arms around the neck of his sons favo
rite animal, lifted up that voice which had
caused the arches of wv estminster Hall to
echo the noblest strains that ever sounded
within them. and wept aloud! Sir, this
was reen, this was heard by the passers-by,
and the enemies Of Burke, unappeased by
his advancing years, by his failing health.
by his domestic sorrows, made it the ground
OF charge insanity. Burke is gone; but
sir, so help me heaven, if l were called up
on to designate the event or the period in
Burke's life that would best sustain charge
OF insanity. it would not be when, in gush
OF the hottest and purest feeling that ever
stirred the human heart, he wept aloud on
the neck Of dead sons favorite horse. But
sir, it should be when at the meridian of his
fame, when the orb of his imperial genius
rode highest in the heavens, amidst the
scoffs Of cringing courtier and the sneers Of
hireling patriots, he debssed his glorious
powers to the scramblings of the day, and,
Born for the universe, narrowed his mind,
ana 70 party gave up wat was IN ant for mankind.