Mr. Burke’s more familiar correspondence will be reserved as authorities to accompany a narrative of his life, which will conclude the whole.  The period during which he flourished was one of the most memorable of our annals.  It comprehended the acquisition of one empire in the East, the loss of another in the West, and the total subversion of the ancient system of Europe by the French Revolution, with all which events the history of his life is necessarily and intimately connected,—­as indeed it also is, much more than is generally known, with the state of literature and the elegant arts.  Such a subject of biography cannot be dismissed with a slight and rapid touch; nor can it be treated in a manner worthy of it, from the information, however authentic and extensive, which the industry of any one man may have accumulated.  Many important communications have been received; but some materials, which relate to the pursuits of his early years, and which are known to be in existence, have been hitherto kept back, notwithstanding repeated inquiries and applications.  It is, therefore, once more earnestly requested, that all persons who call themselves the friends or admirers of the late Edmund Burke will have the goodness to transmit, without delay, any notices of that or of any other kind which may happen to be in their possession or within their reach, to Messrs. Rivingtons,—­a respect and kindness to his memory which will be thankfully acknowledged by those friends to whom, in dying, he committed the sacred trust of his reputation.

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] Prefixed to the first octavo edition:  London, F. and C. Rivington, 1801:  comprising Vols.  I.-VIII. of the edition in sixteen volumes issued by these publishers at intervals between the years 1801 and 1827.

[2] Comprising the last four papers of the fourth volume, and the whole of the fifth volume, of the present edition.

[3] The former comprising the matter included between the paragraph commencing, “I hear it has been said,” &c., and that ending with the words, “there were little or no materials”; and the latter extending through the paragraph concluding with the words, “disgraced and plagued mankind.”

[4] At the paragraph commencing with the words, “In turning our view from the lower to the higher classes,” &c.

[5] In the first half of the paragraph commencing, “If, then, the real state of this nation,” &c.

ADVERTISEMENT

To the second octavo edition.[6]

A new edition of the works of Mr. Burke having been called for by the public, the opportunity has been taken to make some slight changes, it is hoped for the better.