BURKE These become filled with a reddish fluid, which is used as a beverage. Its taste resembles some sweet wines. never Burke, Edmund, Irish orator and statesman: b. Dublin, probably 12 Jan. 1729; d. Beaconsfield, England, 9 July 1797. In 1743 he entered Trinity College, Dublin, taking a bachelor's degree, in 1748; and not much is recorded of his life for the next few years. In 1750 he first entered the great theatre of London as a law student at the Middle Temple, but did not study with assiduity and was called to the bar. He is said to have become the admiration of his intimates, however, for the brilliancy of his parts, and the variety of his acquisitions. Applying himself to literature, he supported himself by his pen, and in 1756 published, without a name, his first work, A Vindication of Natural Society, in a Letter to Lord, by a late Noble Writer.' This exhibited so complete an imitation, although ironical, of the style of Bolingbroke, that many persons were deceived by it, not perceiving Burke's intention to prove that the same arguments with which that nobleman had attacked religion might be applied against all civil and political institutions whatever. In the same year he published his Philosophical Inquiry Into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful. The elegance of its language, and the spirit of philosophical investigation displayed in it, introduced the author to the best literary acquaintance. In 1758 he suggested to Dodsley the plan of the Annual Register, and took upon himself the composition of the historical part, which he continued for a number of years. His political career may be said to have commenced in 1761, when he went to Ireland as confidential friend to William Gerard Hamilton, then secretary to the lord-lieutenant, Lord Halifax. On his return to London he joined the club to which Dr. Johnson, Garrick, and Reynolds belonged, all of whom became his intimate friends. In 1765, he was introduced to the Marquis of Rockingham, then first lord of the treasury, who made him his private secretary; and through the same interest entered Parliament as member for Wendover. The marquis also made him a nominal loan, but real gift, of a large sum, which, together with funds otherwise obtained, placed him for a time in easy circumstances, and enabled him to purchase his elegant seat near Beaconsfield. His first speech in Parliament was on the Grenville Stamp Act; and it was at his advice that the Rockingham administration took the middle and undecided course of repealing the act, and passing a law declaratory of the right of Great Britain to tax the American colonies. This ministry was soon dissolved, to make room for a new cabinet, under Pitt. Burke concluded his official labors by his pamphlet entitled A Short History of a Short Administration) (1766). In the proceedings against Wilkes he joined the remonstrants against the violation of the rights of election, and in 1770 published Thoughts on the Causes of the Present Discontents,' the sentiments of which are consistent with his future doctrines, and conduct. He opposed the ministerial measures antecedent and consequent to the American war; and the whole powers of his eloquence were exerted, first to prevent, and then to heal, the fatal breach between the mother country and her colonies. In 1774 he was chosen member for Bristol, and for the next eight years Fox warmly supported him in his opposition to Lord North's administration. In 1778 he delivered his famous speech against the employment of the Indians in the American war. He subsequently ventured to give offense to his Bristol friends by his support of the Irish petitions for free trade, and for moderating the penal statutes against the Roman Catholics. In 1780 he introduced his famous economical reform bill, which he unsuccessfully advocated with an extraordinary union of wit, humor, and financial detail. Next year, being now member for Malton, he again brought it forward without success. In 1783 Lord North's ministry was dissolved; and on the return of the Marquis of Rockingham and his party to power, Burke obtained the lucrative post of paymastergeneral of the forces, and a seat at the council board. He also embraced the auspicious opportunity to reintroduce his reform bill, which passed, but not without considerable modifications. On the death of the Marquis of Rockingham, and the succession of Lord Shelburne, Burke resigned, and joined the coalition. The India Bill formed the ostensible cause for dismissing this ill-judged combination; and Pitt succeeded to the helm, his administration lasting for 17 years. The next great political event in Burke's life was his share in the prosecution of Warren Hastings. His conduct in this affair gained him little in the public estimation, except increased fame as an orator. On the settling of the regency in 1788 he argued against the principle of the ministers, that the regency was elective, and not hereditary. The last great act of his political life was the part he took in the discussions on the French revolution. He early manifested his dislike to it, and in 1790 loudly condemned the principles and conduct of the revolutionists. It was mainly this feeling that made him oppose Fox's bill for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts (March 1790). His famous 'Reflections on the Revolution in France' appeared in November of that year; and no work ever attracted more attention, or produced more effect. It exhibits both the merits and defects of the writer, and contains much justness of argument, profundity of observation, and beauty of style; but it is equally obvious that he commits the very fault he intended to reprobate in his Vindication of Natural Society by making his arguments applicable to the defense of all establishments, however tyrannical, and censure of every popular struggle for liberty, whatever the oppression. It had an unprecedented sale, and obtained unbounded praise from all who trembled for establishments, or were alarmed at the character which the French Revolution was beginning to assume. On the other hand, it met with severe and formidable critics and opponents, and, among other things, produced the celebrated Rights of Man, of Thomas Paine, and the Vindicia Gallicæ,' of Sir James Mackintosh. Burke followed up this attack with a Letter to a Member of the National Assembly) (1791); an 'Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs) (1791); Letter to a Noble Lord on the Subject in Discussion with the Duke of Bedford' (1796); 'Letters on a Regi BURKE cide Peace (1796-7); etc. In all these productions he displayed unabated powers of mind. In 1792 he published a 'Letter to Sir Hercules Langrishe, on the Propriety of Admitting Roman Catholics to the Elective Franchise.' In 1794, after a nine days' speech against Warren Hastings, he withdrew from Parliament. Amiable in private life, and exemplary in his domestic and social relations, he was greatly beloved by his friends. His conversation was delightful and instructive. He was exceedingly charitable and beneficent, and founded a school for the children of French emigrants, the permanent support of which formed one of his latest cares. His public character will be best collected from a study of his political career, and his powers of mind from his publications. His oratory was preeminently that of a full mind, which makes excursions to a vast variety of subjects, connected by the slightest and most evanescent associations, and that in a diction as rich and varied as the matter. On the whole, though the greatest genius, he was by no means the most effective orator in the House of Commons. Consult Macnight, 'Life and Times of Edmund Burke (1858-60); Morley, Burke in English Men of Letters (1879); Morley, 'Burke, a Historical Study' (1867). Burke, Jane, better known as CALAMITY JANE: American army scout and mail carrier: b. Princeton, Mo., 1852; d. Deadwood, S. D., I Aug. 1903. She was reared on the plains and early became an Indian scout, and was an aide to Gen. Custer and Gen. Miles in numerous campaigns. For several years she was the government mail carrier between Deadwood, S. D., and Custer, Mont. Burke, John, Irish genealogist: b. near Parsontown, Ireland, 1786; d. Aix la Chapelle, 27 March 1848. His life was devoted to genealogical research. In 1826 he began to publish a 'Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronage of the British Empire and subsequent works by him were: A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland' (1833-8), which in subsequent editions appeared as A Dictionary of the Landed Gentry.' Burke, SIR John Bernard, English herald and genealogist; son of John Burke (1787-1848): b. London, 1815; d. Dublin, 13 Dec. 1892. He was educated at Caen in Normandy, was trained as a lawyer and called to the bar in 1839. Besides editing the successive issues of the Peerage' founded by his father (49th ed. 1887), he published other works on the 'Landed Gentry) (1846); 'Extinct Peerages' (1846); 'Anecdotes of the Aristocracy) (1849); Family Romance) (1853); 'The Vicissitudes of Great Families' (1859); The Rise of Great Families (1873); The Book of Precedence' |(1881); and Reminiscences' (1882). ((1881 Burke, John Masterson, American banker and philanthropist, of Irish parentage: b. New York, 2 July 1812. His early education was obtained at a private school and at the age of 12 he became a clerk in a woolen house in his native city, accepting a position of trust in a steel and iron foundry four years later. While there he studied mechanical engineering and subsequently went to Yucatan as engineer of a cotton factory there, remaining seven years. Returning to New York, he became some years later the chief member of the firm of Ponvert & Company, sugar and commission merchants. Retiring from this business after 1860 he devoted his attention to railroad interests, becoming director in the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and other important railways, as well as in several large banking corporations. From boyhood the main purpose of his life has been to devote his savings to philanthropic ends, and in July 1902 he transferred real and personal property to the amount of $4,000,000 to a corporation, called in honor of his mother, the "Winifred Masterson Burke Relief Foundation." The purpose of the corporation is to be the relief of worthy men and women who, notwithstanding their willingness to support themselves, have become partly or wholly unable to do so by reason of sickness or misfortune, or who have been discharged from hospitals before regaining sufficient strength to resume their regular employments. As the especial design of the founder is to benefit convalescents, provision is made for the establishment of a convalescent home upon part of the real estate conveyed to the trustees in the immediate vicinity of New York. All persons needing rest as a means of cure will be eligible for admission to the convalescent hospital. As far as possible the selfrespect of the applicants will be carefully considered. A moderate charge may therefore be made, but in case the patient prefers it shall be regarded as a loan, to be repaid without interest and without security. In formulating this plan it is intended that provision shall be made at the Convalescent Hospital for the reception of sick children, not proper subjects for any existing hospital, but requiring careful attention in order to prevent more serious ailments. It is also intended that provision shall be made for supplying nurses at a moderate cost to families having sick cases requiring special treatment under the supervision of the attending physician. Burke, Maurice Francis, American clergyman: b. Ireland, 5 May 1845. He came to the United States in childhood and was educated in Chicago and Notre Dame, Ind., and in the American College, Rome, where he was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1875. Returning to the United States, he took charge of a parish in Joliet, Ill. In 1887 he was consecrated bishop of Cheyenne, Wyo., and in 1893 was transferred to the see of St. Joseph, Mo. Bishop Burke is known as a fine linguist. Burke, Robert O'Hara, Australian explorer: b. county Galway, Ireland, 1820; d. Australia, 28 June 1861. After serving in the Austrian army he went to Australia, and after seven years' service as inspector of police was appointed commander of an expedition to cross the continent of Australia from south to north. He and his associate, Wills, reached the tidal waters of the Flinders River, but both perished of starvation on the return journey. They were among the very first white men to cross the Australian continent from south to north. Burke, Thomas Martin Aloysius, American clergyman: b. Ireland, 10 Jan. 1840. He came in childhood to Utica, N. Y., and was educated in Toronto and Baltimore and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1864. He was appointed to labor in Albany and became successively vicar-general and administrator. In 1894 he was consecrated bishop of Albany. Burke, Thomas Nicholas, Irish clergyman and orator: b. Galway, 1830; d. 1883. He was educated in Italy, where he entered the Order of St. Dominic. Going to England, he preached in that country and later in Ireland, gaining a high reputation as an orator and becoming familiarly known as "Father Tom." In 1872 he made a visit to the United States and lectured in reply to Froude, his addresses appearing in print under the title of 'English Misrule in Ireland.' Burke and Hare, two miscreants, of whom William Burke, a native of Ireland, was detected, tried, and executed at Edinburgh, in 1829, for the murder of numerous individuals, his accomplice, Hare, escaping the hangman by turning king's evidence. At this time the "resurrectionists" were busy at their nefarious trade, but the vigilance with which the burying-grounds throughout the country were watched rendered a supply of subjects for anatomical schools almost impracticable, and the demand for dead bodies consequently became great. This led Burke and Hare to murder, by suffocation, many poor waifs who were decoyed into Hare's lodging-house, and whose bodies they sold to Dr. Robert Knox, proprietor of an anatomical theatre in Edinburgh. The case of Burke and Hare brought home to the public mind more clearly than ever how necessary it is that schools of anatomy should receive a regular supply of subjects for dissection, and in 1832 an act was passed for supplying the anatomical schools throughout the kingdom from the unclaimed dead in the hospitals. of the State. To him is also due the regulation of the coinage, which had been altered since Henry VIII.'s time. He was created Baron Burleigh in 1571, and, in 1588, concluded an advantageous treaty with the Netherlands. His policy was both cautious and comprehensive and he was entirely unaffected by personal prejudices in his management of public affairs. Consult: Nares, Memoirs of Lord Burghley' (1828-31); Charlton, 'Life' (1847); Hume, Great Lord Burleigh' (1898). Burleigh, William Henry, American poet: b. Woodstock, Conn., 2 Feb. 1812; d. Brooklyn, N. Y., 18 March 1871. Bred on a farm, at 16 he became apprentice to a clothier, then to a village printer, and continued to labor in various places as journeyman printer, and finally as editor. In the latter capacity he had charge of the Literary Journal' at Schenectady, the Christian Witness, at Pittsburg, and the Washington Banner, in which papers, and in others, he published many short poems. A collection of them was published in 1840. Burlesque, the comic effect arising from a ludicrous mixture of things high and low. High thoughts, for instance, are clothed in low expressions, or noble subjects described in a familiar manner, or vice versa. Burlingame, Anson, American diplomatist: b. New Berlin, N. Y., 14 Nov. 1822; d. St. Petersburg, Russia, 23 Feb. 1870. After graduating from the Harvard Law School in 1847 he practiced law in Boston, and entering politics was active as a Free Soil advocate in 1848, and in 1854 was sent to Congress as a representative of the American Party. His vigorous denunciation of the assault upon Senator Sumner by Bürkel, Heinrich, hin'riн bür'kël, German the latter, which was accepted, but Brooks dePreston Brooks brought him a challenge from painter: b. Pirmasens, 30 March 1813; d. clined to travel to the rendezvous in Canada. Munich, 10 June 1869. He was educated at In 1861 he was sent as minister to Austria but Munich and in Italy; he is chiefly a genre painter; his scenes from the Bavarian and was not received by the Austrian government on Tyrolean Alps were among the first of their account of his advocacy of Hungarian indekind, and his village and tavern scenes rank pendence. He was minister to China 1861-67, among the best in modern art. Among his paint-bassador from China to the United States and and in the last-named year was appointed amings are 'Scenes in an Inn' and Winter Scenes in the Tyrol.' various European governments. On 4 July 1868 he concluded the noted Burlingame Treaty which gave reciprocal privileges to China and the United States. After concluding treaties between China and Denmark, Sweden, Holland and Prussia, he died while arranging a treaty between China and Russia. Bur'kitt, Francis Crawford, English Biblical scholar: b. London, 3 Sept. 1864. He was graduated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He has published Early Christianity Outside the Roman Empire' (1899); Fragments of Aquila' (1897); The Rules of Tyconius' (1894); Two Lectures on the Gospels' (1900); etc. Burleigh, ber'li, George Shepard, American writer, brother of William H. Burleigh (q.v.): b. Plainfield, Conn., 26 March 1821; a. Providence, R. I., July 21, 1903. He has published The Maniac and Other Poems'; 'Signal Fires on the Trail of the Pathfinder.' Burleigh, William Cecil (LORD), English statesman: b. Bourn, Lincolnshire, 13 Sept. 1520; d. London, 4 Aug. 1598. He was secretary of state under Edward VI. and Elizabeth, and prime minister of England for 40 years. In 1588 Parliament was assembled, and, by his advice, a plan of religious reform was laid before it. In this he had a considerable share; and he also took the leading part in the establishment of the Thirty-nine Articles of faith, which form the basis of the reformed religion Burlingame, Edward Livermore, an American editor, son of Anson Burlingame (q.v.) : b Boston, 30 May 1848. He studied at Harvard and acted as private secretary to his father, who Since 1879 he has was United States minister. been associated with the publishing house of Charles Scribner's Sons, and in 1886 became editor of 'Scribner's Magazine.' Burlington, England. See BRIDLINGTON. Burlington, Iowa, a city and county-seat of Des Moines County, on the west bank of the Mississippi River at the intersection of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy, and several othe lines of railroad. Its industries include the manufacture of machinery, furniture, agricultural tools, flour, linseed oil, soap, and many other articles, and extensive railroad shops are situated here. The city contains among its BURLINGTON - BURMA important buildings an opera house, court-house, Burlington, Vt., a city, port of entry and Burlington Limestone, a limestone of subCarboniferous age, named for its occurrence near Burlington, Iowa. It is also found in other parts of the Mississippi valley. This limestone is of light color and fine-crystalline, resembIt has important inling lithographic stone. dustrial value. Bur'ma, the largest province of British India. It is on the east side of the Bay of Bengal, and at one time formed the greater portion of a native kingdom or empire, which is said to have BURMA goods are conveyed to China, and this branch front, and reaching below the knees. The lower classes of women wear only a single garment, resembling a sheet, wrapped round the body and fastened under the arms. Men of rank wear a long robe of flowered velvet or satin, with open sleeves and collar, a mantle or scarf being thrown over this. On the head is worn a high velvet or silk cap, plain or embroidered, according to rank. The men wear earrings, often of large size. Women of the higher classes genpit of the stomach, where it is drawn tight and erally wear a shift which reaches only to the fastened by strings. This is covered by a loose The Burmese have many skilful weavers, cloth encircles the waist and descends to the jacket, with tight sleeves. A piece of silk or smiths, sculptors, workers in gold and silver, feet. When a woman wishes to be particularly joiners, etc. Among industrial establishments fine she stains her nails and palms a red color, are rice-mills, saw-mills, a few works for iron and tinges her teeth and the edges of her eyegoods, ship-building yards, cutch works, etc. lids with black. Both sexes wear the hair long; Other industries include boat-building, weaving, the men tying it in a knot on the crown of the pottery, lacquer work, and brasswork. weaving of cotton and silk goods is carried on The head, the women on the back. Sandals are often by the women everywhere. The pottery of the every man, woman, and child, however, carries worn, but neither boots, shoes, nor stockings; country is strong and durable, if not especially an umbrella. The chewing of betel and smokartistic; and the gold and silver work finds ing of tobacco are universal. The Kakhyens or numerous purchasers outside Wood-carving is extensively practised for the upper basin of the Irrawadi above Bhamo. They the country. Singfo are a courageous people inhabiting the adornment of houses, boats, etc. vessels plying on the Irrawadi and other rivers The native practise a sort of nature worship, and are active are often of 100 to 150 tons burden, while thou- Their villages are ruled by hereditary chiefs. as traders, though at present rather lawless. sands of small craft are engaged in trade or fishing. Large numbers of good cigars are made settled in considerable numbers as traders and The Chinese from Yunnan have of late years by women, and are partly used in the country, agriculturists in the Kakhyen country; and in partly exported. The buildings among the Bur- Lower Burma they are now a highly important mese are very slight, as the government used element in the population as traders and otherto require them to be chiefly of wood or bamboo, and prohibited the use of stone or brick Pegu we find the Karens, a somewhat secluded wise. In the hilly districts of Tenasserim and except for pagodas, and other important struc- people, less intelligent and more ignorant than physical character. The Talaings or Mons of the Burmese, and not so purely Mongolian in speak a distinct language. The Shans are a the Irrawadi delta resemble the Burmese, but numerous people closely allied to the Siamese, together with portions of the neighboring counand inhabiting eastern and northeastern Burma, tries. tures. People.- The Burmese are divided into several tribes, and belong to the common IndoChinese stock. Among the tribes other than the Burmese proper are the Karens, Kakhyens, Shams, etc. The Burmese proper are of a brown color, with lank, black hair, and vigorous, well-proportioned frames. No Burmese can have more than one wife; but he may have as many mistresses as he will. The latter live in the same house with the wife, and are her servants. The Burmese women enjoy a good deal of freedom; are not shut up as in some parts of the East, and can even engage in a lawsuit in their own name. The chief amusement of the Burmese is their theatre, where declamation, dancing, and music are given by turns. The new year (which begins in April) is celebrated with what is known as the "water feast," when young men and women throw water on each other and the passers-by. The Burmese usually write on palm leaves with an iron style or on black tablets with a pencil; the rich have libraries, with books, the leaves of some of which are thin pieces of ivory, with gilt edges. Their materia medica is chiefly confined to herbs, spices, and mercury; with vaccination they have long been acquainted. The language is monosyllabic, like Chinese, and written with an alphabet (derived from India), the characters of which are more or less circular. Among the common people the principal part of the male dress consists of a double piece of cloth about five vards long, loosely wrapped about the body. Over this a frock is worn, with sleeves open in archy, the king having unlimited power over The native government was an absolute monoscillating between Ava and Amarapura, was life and property. The seat of government, after latterly fixed in Mandalay, a new town founded in 1857, and situated in a dusty plain a little over two miles from the left bank of the Irrawadi, and about 28 miles northwest from Amarapura. The king was assisted in governing by which belonged at once the functions of a legisa council of state known as the Hloot-daw, to tice. It was composed of officials of 14 grades, lature, a cabinet, and a supreme court of justhe president being the king himself, some other member of the royal family, or the prime minispleasure anyone, including even the great offiter. The king had power to punish at his cers of state. from taxes levied in a very irregular and capriThe public revenue was derived fixed salary corruption and oppression were excious manner, and as the officials received no tremely prevalent. The criminal laws were barbarously severe. Capital punishment was commonly inflicted by decapitation, but crucifixion and disemboweling were also practised. Torture might be applied to principals or witnesses; and trial by ordeal was not unknown. The |