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BURKE. 231 deviation from this; to be convinced that security in our own opinions, like too great security in any thing, " is mortal's chiefest enemy," and tbat, in our daily converse with the world, we meet with others who are far wiser than ourselves, even on those points where we fondly imagine our own wisdom to be the most authenti- cated. His honest desire not to feed contention, but bring it to as speedy a determination as could reasonably be wished, deserves great praise. " He did not," says Mr. Flood, alluding to him in one of his speeches, " live to be ennobled, but he was ennobled by nature." EDMUND BURKE. THE early history of this great man is unusually meagre; even the place of his birth has been disputed. According to some of his biographers, he was born at Dublin; ac- cording to others, in a little town in the county of Cork. The date of his birth, however, is more certain-1st Ja- nuary, 1730. His father was an attorney of considerable practice; and, beside the results of his practice, had an estate of 150. or 200. a year. He married into the ancient family of the Nagles. Edmund was his second son ; and, at a very early age was sent to Balytore school, a seminary in the north of Ireland, well known for having furnished the bar and the pulpit of that country with many distinguished men--a fact the more worthy of note, because the school has, for near a century, been under the direction of Quakers, whose oratory is not generally esteemed the best model of imitation for young imen of any profession, with the exception, perhaps, of those who are intended for certain walks of the drama. Here young Burke is said to have distinguished him- self " by an ardent attachment to study, a prompt com- mand of words, and a good taste." He proved the power of his memory by the facility with which he became a capper of verses, and the precocity of his invention by