have likewise failed almost universally. Barley is miserable. Wheat is the only promising crop, and I have never seen it better; without this we should have been threatened with nothing short of a famine. I have this year about fifty acres of wheat, of which five and thirty are, I think, extraordinary good. I have got, too, a very tolerable cutting of clover, about five and forty load. I let my meadow hay stand too long in hopes of rain; but this very hot and dry weather melted away the bottom, so that there was little left but dry husky bents. My not having cut my hay three weeks before I did, makes, I am persuaded, a difference of thirty pounds to me. Let me hear that you and all with you are well, and you will make me very happy. No man living wishes you better. Remember me to all on the Blackwater. We remember you very often.

I am, my dear Garret, with great truth and affection, your sincere friend and kinsman,

Beconsfield, July 12, 1772.

EDM. BURKE.

XV.

MY DEAR GARRET,-I do most heartily wish myself with you. I should wish it even if I were not put in mind by this burning weather of the breezy mountains, shady woods, and refreshing waters of Killarney. We have got a summer at last, and it is paying off its arrears of heat with compound interest. Indeed I long sincerely to see you; and if I were not held by various ties, and engaged in various occupations, (though neither very pleasant or important,) and if I were as rich as, I thank God, I am still healthy and active, I should this summer pay you a visit in your Woodhouse; that is to say, if you would deign to receive so humble a person after all your great and titled guests. If I see Lord Kenmare I shall certainly thank him for his civilities to you. I certainly am as much pleased with them as if they were offered to myself; and, indeed, a little more. My acquaintance with Lord Winchelsea is very slight; but I have known Lord Pembroke pretty intimately for some time. We may meet this summer, and we shall talk you over. I wish you had named me to him.

What you say of Lord Shelburne is more important. I very well remember your application to me some time ago; I remember, too, that I mentioned it to Colonel Barri. Nothing further came of it; I believe that agency was not vacant when you wrote. Between ourselves, and I would not have it go farther, there are I believe few who can do less with Lord Shelburne than myself. He had formerly, at several times, professed much friendship to me; but whenever I came to try the ground, let the matter have been never so trifling, I always found it to fail under me. It is, indeed, long since he has made even professions. With many eminent qualities he has some singularities in his character. He is suspicious and whimsical; and, perhaps, if I stood better with him than I do, perhaps my recommendation would not have the greatest weight in the world. This I mention as between ourselves. In the mean time, if an opportunity occurs, I shall do the best I can for you. I hope I am not inattentive to my friends to the best of my power; and let me assure you, that I have ever looked upon you as a friend, whose ease and welfare I have at heart as much as the

interest of any person whatsoever. But indeed there is little in my power; and if I can serve any person it is by mere accident. I gave assurances to Ned Barret, when I thought myself sure of an object for him, but I was disappointed; and few things have given me more concern. Both he and Frank Kiernan have informed me of your engagement for the woods. I trust it will turn out as much for your advantage as you expected.

Poor Ned Nagle, when he came from the Mediterranean, and had hopes of relaxing himself for a while on the home station, was suddenly ordered out; whither his ship is gone is not yet certainly known; but the opinion is that she is ordered to cruise off Saint Helena to secure the East India ships against the Americau privateers. Wat is in London. I saw him some days ago. He is well; and I believe a goodnatured worthy man. The Company has agreed to make him an allowance until he can be regularly employed again. As to Ned Nagle, he is perfectly liked by all the captains he has served under, as a very good officer. He may probably do good service in some better times, and in a course of employment which I may like better for him, than any which the present war affords.

My son is now at home with me at his vacation. I think you would like him if you were acquainted. Richard the elder is in town. If his business had prospered, you would have been one of tire first to hear of it. But we do not trouble our friends except with pleasing news. He has had much wrong done to him; but the thing is not yet desperate. I believe that the commissioner who goes out will not have adverse instructions.

I have not been punctual in the newspapers, nor can I undertake it, we are so little regular. But I shall endeavour, now you are from home, to amuse you a little.

Wat Nagle was punctual about the money you ordered; I thank you for that and every thing; and am ever with the greatest regard, My dear Garret, your affectionate kinsman, &c. &c., Beconsfield, August 2d, 1776.

Mrs. Burke desires her love to you.

XVI.

EDM. BURKE,

DEAR SIR, Patrick Clancy is an industrious man who has saved some little money, and does not know how to remit it home, and therefore applies to me. I have received from him eight guineas and a half, which I beg you will be so good to pay to him, and charge it to my account. I am, my dear Sir, most sincerely yours, &c.

Westminster, Nov. 14, 1776.

XVII.

EDM. BURKE.

MY DEAR GARRET,-The long want of any thing which can contribute to your satisfaction or entertainment, has made me a bad correspondent, but not a forgetful or a careless friend. I frequently hear from one person or other of your affairs, and of those of your family, about neither of which I am or can be uninterested. It gives me great pleasure to find James settled, and in every respect acting so as to do credit to himself and to give satisfaction to you.

As to public affairs, I attend to them because I must, not because

they give me any sort of pleasure; for things are in such an unfortunate situation, that nothing can happen which can do more than diversify the mode of our misfortune. In truth, until the Session opens, I turn my mind as much from them, and every thing which relates to them, as I possibly can.

Our harvest is later this year than for many years past; but a very few days of fair weather will enable us to get in every thing. The badness of the blooming time has made my wheat, and that all about, rather light; but otherwise we have no reason to complain. The barley, where it stood very thick, has suffered, having been lodged be fore the ear was filled. Where it did not stand very thick it is admirably good; and on the whole, there is a great burthen of that grain on the ground. The clover, which with us is almost always sowed with it, has this year prospered so well, that in some of my fields it equals nearly the quantity of barley straw; indeed I never saw a finer plant of that grass. This year has been highly favourable both to that and the natural grass, in every particular except the getting in. The weather was so long wet, that I could not get my ground in order for turnip seed in any reasonable time. I shall have little or none; and this will fall heavy upon me in winter. The season has been savourable to beans and oats; I have but about two acres of the former, if so much; but they are very good; of the latter about twenty-eight. Such is the state of the year with us. I am endeavouring to improve my breed of sheep. If I should like any of my rams next year, I shall endeavour to send you one; though I am told Lord Doneraile has an admirable breed in your neighbourhood, so that possibly you may supply yourself, and it is not easy to get rams out of the kingdom.

You have seen Ned, with whom, I dare say, you are pleased. I never knew a young man who has a better character from his captains, both for ability and diligence in his profession. He ought to think of returning to his duty. I would not hurry him, but the sooner he comes the better. I believe Clohir owes me about two half years. You will be so good to supply Ned for his journey from it; he can bring me what he does not absolutely need either in money or bill. I should prefer the latter. Mrs. Burke, my brother and son, salute you and yours affectionately. It grieves me to think that the old stock is wearing out. God send that their successors may be better. Assure yourselves, that nothing can do you all so much good, as keeping up your old union and intercourse, and considering yourselves as one family. This is the old burthen of my song. It will answer infallibly, at one time, or in one way or other. Adieu, my dear Garret,

Your sincere friend and affectionate kinsman,
EDM. BURKE.

Beconsfield, Sept. 3, 1777.

XVIII.

MY DEAR GARRET,-I am heartily obliged to you for your letter, and for your kind remembrance of me when you happened to see so many of my most particular friends in so remote and so sequestered a spot as the Lake of Killarney. Ned Nagle told me that they were at your lodge, but your letter only expresses that you dined with them. Wherever you saw them I am sure that you passed a pleasant day, and I may venture to say, with no less certainty, that the satisfactions of the Lake of Killarney were heightened by meeting you there, and by

your obliging attention to them. You are now become the man of the Lough, and must be admitted to be the true Garriot Jarlu who is come at last. If you are not that Garret, he will never come, and the honest Kerry men will be disappointed from generation to generation. Don't you like Charles Fox? If you were not pleased on that short acquaintance, you would on a further; for he is one of the pleasantest men in the world, as well as the greatest genius that perhaps this country has ever produced. If he is not extraordinary, I assure you the British dominions cannot furnish any thing beyond him. I long to talk with him about you and your Lough. As to the thoughts of our visit to Ireland it may possibly be in times more favourable to us both; but I am far from being able at present to engage for any such thing.

I shall certainly remember what you say of Lord Kenmare. The moment I get to town I shall wait upon him.

The captain, to whom you desire to be remembered, is one step nearer to a title to that appellation; for he was yesterday made a lieutenant, as the enclosed letter from Mr. Stephens, secretary to the Admiralty, will shew you. This gentleman has been always very good to our Edmund, and steady in his protection to him. He had but just served the time necessary for his qualification, and could not have been made sooner, if he had been the first man in the kingdom in point of rank and interest. Indeed, all circumstances considered, he has been very fortunate. I dare say you will drink Mr. Stephens's health, as well as success to our young officer. I hope you will live to see him an admiral. At least, this is the talk of friends, on any promotion of those they love. Poor Wat Nagle has got out of a most disagreeable scrape, into which any man living might have fallen, but for which every man might not have been prepared with equally satisfactory evidence. It was very lucky for him that my brother was in town at the time. He procured bail for him and gave him letters for Bristol, and did every thing else which his disagreeable situation required. I also went to town; but my presence happily proved not necessary, as the grand jury threw out the bills. I wrote to his brother Garret to put him out of his pain on so very unpleasant an accident. Mrs. Burke and my brother and son desired to be cordially remembered to you and your son and family, and your worthy neighbours on the Blackwater. I find by Ned that the old spirit and character of that country is fully kept up, which rejoices me beyond measure. I am ever, my dear Garret, your affectionate kinsman and humble servant, Beconsfield, Oct. 26, 1777. EDM. BURKE.

Received from Mr. Garret Nagle the sum of fifty-one pounds sterling, in a bill from Mr. King, of Cork, on account of the rents of Clohir, this 26th of October, 1777. EDM. BURKE.

On the summit of the mountains we stopped to take a farewell view of the celebrated plain at our feet, and then advanced over a barren tract till we came to a spot, watered by one or two rivers, and shaded with trees; a luxury of this kind is often a favourite retreat from the city. The road afterwards wound through wild and rocky defiles in the mountains, and by the steep side of a rapid torrent that flowed over its course beneath, till, towards evening, we came into a plain, and passed the night in the cottage of a peasant.

The next day was uncommonly fine, and we pursued our way in good spirits. The aspect of the country was more agreeable than on the preceding day, and the cottages were more numerously scattered. Soon after sunset we came to Zibolané, a large village finely situated, and surrounded with groves, and a river ran through the middle of it. The habitation of one of the villagers was again our home; they spread their best mat on the floor, in the midst of which the fire burned