Tour Imperial Majesty’s just influence, which is still greater than your extensive power, will animate and expedite the efforts of other sovereigns.  From your wisdom other states will learn that they who wait until all the powers of Europe are at once in motion can never move at all.  It would add to the unexampled calamities of our time, if the uncommon union of sentiment in so many powers should prove the very cause of defeating the benefit which ought to flow from their general good disposition.  No sovereign can run any risk from the designs of other powers, whilst engaged in tins glorious and necessary work.  If any attempt could be feared, your Imperial Majesty’s power and justice would secure your allies against all danger.  Madam, your glory will be complete, if, after having given peace to Europe by your moderation, you shall bestow stability on all its governments by your vigor and decision.  The debt which your Imperial Majesty’s august predecessors have contracted to the ancient manners of Europe, by means of which they civilized a vast empire, will be nobly repaid by preserving those manners from the hideous change with which they are now menaced.  By the intervention of Russia the world will be preserved from barbarism and ruin.

A private individual, of a remote country, in himself wholly without importance, unauthorized and unconnected, not as an English subject, but as a citizen of the world, presumes to submit his thoughts to one of the greatest and wisest sovereigns that Europe has seen.  He does it without fear, because he does not involve in his weakness (if such it is) his king, his country, or his friends.  He is not’ afraid that he shall offend your Imperial Majesty,—­because, secure in itself, true greatness is always accessible, and because respectfully to speak what we conceive to be truth is the best homage which can be paid to true dignity.

I am, Madam, with the utmost possible respect and veneration,

Your Imperial Majesty’s

Most obedient and most humble servant,

EDM.  BURKE.

BEACONSFIELD, November 1st, 1791.

A

LETTER

TO

SIR CHARLES BINGHAM, BART.,

ON THE

IRISH ABSENTEE TAX.

OCTOBER 30, 1773.

NOTE.

From authentic documents found with the copy of this Letter among Mr. Burke’s papers, it appears that in the year 1773 a project of imposing a tax upon all proprietors of landed estates in Ireland, whose ordinary residence should be in Great Britain, had been adopted and avowed by his Majesty’s ministers at that time.  A remonstrance against this measure, as highly unjust and impolitic, was presented to the ministers by several of the principal Irish absentees, and the project was subsequently abandoned.

LETTER.