preface to it, Pope’s Epistle to Jervas on the same, Du Fresnoy’s Account of Certain Painters; Chronological and Alphabetical List of Painters.
In a pretty long letter from Bath written in May under severe illness, Burke gives Malone all credit for his labours and discriminative remarks. But, alas! the writer himself, while exciting the sympathy of his fellow-mourner for one whom they so much loved, was soon called by death to mingle with those for whom that fellow-mourner was left also to lament. An affecting incident, characteristic of the warm affections of this great man, is mentioned on this occasion by Malone. In writing to the latter about Reynolds, although so many years had elapsed since his death, Burke had blotted the paper with his tears. He had just returned from Bath to Beaconsfield to die.
Lady Inchiquin wrote to Malone soon afterwards of their mutual friend: “Alas! my dear sir, I can give you but a heart-breaking account of our poor friend Mr. Burke. We are anxiously awaiting the return of a messenger, who we have every reason to fear will bring tidings of his death.”
Two days afterwards he received the following:—
Sir,—It is with the deepest affliction I am to communicate to you the death of Mr. Burke, who expired last night at half-past twelve o’clock.
The long and unshaken friendship which had subsisted between you and him renders this a painful communication; but it is a duty I owe to such friendship.
He died as he lived, great and good. His mind remained collected and calm to the last. Mrs. Burke exceeds even her