The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 03 (of 12)
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 03 (of 12)
Burke on revolution, inheritance, political prudence, and social order.
About this book
This volume presents Burke's political imagination at work around revolution, authority, inherited institutions, and the fragile bonds that hold a society together. Burke distrusts abstract schemes when they sever reform from memory, custom, and practical judgment. Whether one agrees with him or not, the writing forces a hard question: how can political change repair injustice without destroying the conditions of common life?
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- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 12418 words
This chapter opens with a striking reversal of roles between accuser and accused, setting the stage for a debate on parliamentary inquiry and executive overreach. Burke challenges the Board of Control's interference in a legally mandated investigation into Indian debts.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 24458 words
Burke continues his assault on the minister's scheme, warning that it conceals corruption and subverts Parliament. He prepares to expose the fraudulent debts behind the plan, urging the House to see through the deception.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 34547 words
As the chapter opens, Burke dissects the fraudulent debts that entangled the Carnatic, revealing how private creditors manipulated the Nabob and subverted Company authority.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 44454 words
In this chapter, Burke exposes the staggering corruption behind British financial dealings in India, where ministers colluded with creditors to impose fraudulent debts on the Carnatic, setting the stage for catastrophic consequences.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 54728 words
Burke continues his indictment of British policy in the Carnatic, contrasting the ministers' neglect with the region's desperate need for restoration. He prepares to expose how they have prioritized corrupt claims over the country's revival.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 64686 words
Burke sharpens his attack on the ministers' handling of Indian debts, exposing how private usury masquerades as public service. He argues the arrangement systematically oppresses the people of the Carnatic and Tanjore.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 74510 words
This chapter traces the minister's alliance with Paul Benfield, revealing how Indian debts were used to reward political allies. The evidence builds a case of collusion that threatens the integrity of British governance.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 8686 words
Burke prepares to examine the corrupt system behind India's debt, acknowledging changed political winds but insisting the duty remains. He warns that evading this issue only makes it return more forcefully.
- 2956 words
This chapter presents documentary evidence on the Nabob of Arcot's debts, revealing how high interest and opaque arrangements entangled Company servants as creditors.
- 1778, Part 14565 words
This chapter compiles archival references and testimony on the Nabob of Arcot's debts and the Company's efforts at revenue reform. The evidence reveals the devastation of the Carnatic and the challenges of introducing a new system.
- 1778, Part 24522 words
This chapter presents documentary evidence on revenue assignments in the Carnatic, disputes between the East India Company and the Nabob of Arcot, and the detrimental effects of excessive demands on local rulers and agriculture.
- 1778, Part 34589 words
This chapter presents witness testimony on Tanjore's revenue and governance, followed by official dispatch clauses addressing disputes between the Nabob of Arcot and the Rajah of Tanjore.
- 1778, Part 44350 words
The Court of Directors issues final instructions on the jaghire, crop of 1776, and Anicut repairs, aiming for a comprehensive settlement between the Nabob and Rajah of Tanjore.
- 1778, Part 54378 words
This chapter presents official directives from the Board of Commissioners for India, detailing a structured plan to settle the Nabob of Arcot's debts and reorganize Carnatic administration.
- 1778, Part 64649 words
Burke presents the Nabob of Arcot's letters accusing Lord Macartney of misconduct, noting the lack of inquiry into these serious charges.
- 1778, Part 74568 words
The chapter opens with a letter from the Nabob of Arcot, accusing Lord Macartney of corruption and oppression, supported by a harrowing petition from a local governor. Burke then shifts to a speech warning against the revolutionary example of France.
- 1778, Part 82908 words
In this chapter, Burke delivers a forceful critique of the French Revolution, contrasting it with England's Glorious Revolution. He argues that the French destroyed their constitutional balances and property rights, while England preserved and improved its ancient constitution.
- 1790, Part 14512 words
Burke sets the stage for his critique by recounting the origin of his Reflections and his unease with English clubs endorsing the French Revolution. He warns that abstract liberty, divorced from circumstance, can be dangerous.
- 1790, Part 24677 words
Burke continues his assault on the doctrine of popular election, arguing that the British crown rests on hereditary succession, not popular choice. He examines the Glorious Revolution to show it reaffirmed, not repudiated, this principle.
- 1790, Part 34180 words
Burke argues that English liberties are an inherited patrimony, not abstract rights. He contrasts this with revolutionary claims, preparing to defend the hereditary principle against doctrines of popular sovereignty.
- 1790, Part 44514 words
Burke examines the composition of France's National Assembly, arguing that its character-dominated by lawyers and petty officials-made disaster inevitable.
- 1790, Part 54697 words
Burke continues his critique of the French Revolution, warning that leveling society destroys the natural order. He contrasts the stable English constitution with France's chaotic experiment, emphasizing the dangers of undermining property and hereditary authority.
- 1790, Part 64048 words
Burke now draws a sharp line between real rights in civil society and abstract claims that would unravel it. Government, he insists, is a practical art, not a metaphysical exercise. The chapter explores what men may truly claim under law and convention.
- 1790, Part 74460 words
As Burke reflects on the events of October 1789, he contrasts the brutal treatment of the French royal family with the supposed refinement of revolutionary politeness. His lament for the lost age of chivalry sets the stage for a profound critique of the new order.
- 1790, Part 84494 words
Burke now turns to defend the French monarchy against its critics, arguing that misfortune is not crime. He contrasts the English reverence for established institutions with the radicalism of the Revolution Society, setting the stage for his defense of prejudice and gradual reform.
- 1790, Part 94605 words
Burke warns that unchecked popular power can be as dangerous as tyranny. He argues that democracy, when absolute, lacks the restraint of shame or fear.
- 1790, Part 104576 words
Burke defends Church property against confiscation, arguing it violates fundamental rights. He exposes the hypocrisy of the French National Assembly and the alliance of moneyed interests with literary men.
- 1790, Part 114536 words
Burke now turns to the financial and political schemes of the Revolution, exposing what he sees as the true motives behind confiscation and paper currency. He contrasts these with the older, more restrained forms of tyranny.
- 1790, Part 124589 words
Burke turns to population and wealth as measures of good government, arguing that pre-revolutionary France showed clear signs of prosperity and growth, challenging the revolutionaries' narrative of absolute tyranny.
- 1790, Part 134457 words
As Burke turns to the persecution of the French clergy, he challenges the revolutionary logic of collective punishment. He argues that punishing men for crimes committed by their predecessors is a profound injustice, and warns against using history as a weapon to justify present cruelties.
- 1790, Part 144605 words
Burke warns that violating property rights, even for seemingly just causes, endangers all possessions. He argues that justice must guide policy, and that confiscation sets a dangerous precedent for all of Europe.
- 1790, Part 154745 words
Burke contrasts the slow, experience-based reform of old establishments with the abstract, geometric schemes of the French Assembly. He argues that preserving useful parts while fitting new additions requires far greater skill than wholesale destruction.
- 1790, Part 164365 words
Burke continues his critique of the French electoral system, focusing on the contradictions between their abstract principles and the practical qualifications they impose.
- 1790, Part 174499 words
Burke now examines the cementing principles of the new French Constitution, focusing on the role of paper currency and confiscation. He warns that these create a dangerous oligarchy of money-managers, undermining the monarchy, church, nobility, and people.
- 1790, Part 184675 words
Burke continues his critique of the new French constitution, focusing on the weakness of the executive and the dangers of an unchecked assembly. He argues that the king has been reduced to a mere figurehead, stripped of all real power.
- 1790, Part 194655 words
Burke dissects the French Revolution's judicial and military reforms, arguing they destroy independence and discipline. He warns that subordinating judges and empowering soldiers with civic clubs lead to despotism or anarchy.
- 1790, Part 204398 words
Burke now turns to the National Assembly's handling of the army and revenue, warning that their policies invite chaos. He examines how undermining military discipline and property rights leads to dangerous consequences.
- 1790, Part 214338 words
Burke turns his attention to the French National Assembly's financial experiments, exposing the flaws in their schemes of voluntary contributions and paper currency.
- 1790, Part 223375 words
Burke sharpens his critique of the French Revolution's financial schemes, contrasting them with the stability of the British Constitution. He warns that liberty divorced from wisdom and virtue leads to ruin, preparing the reader for his philosophical assault on revolutionary governance.
- 1790, Part 23538 words
This chapter collects Burke's notes and quotations, including a poem on royal hypocrisy, a report title, a Scottish legislative detail, and an Aristotelian insight. Each piece sharpens his critique of power disguised as piety.
- 4962 words
This chapter presents a compact Stoic instruction, drawing on historical and political examples to illustrate principles of justice and equity.
- 17871047 words
In this chapter, Burke scrutinizes the French National Assembly's constitutional plan, highlighting its fundamental flaws and the destructive spirit of innovation that drives it.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 12418 words
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 1524 words
This chapter opens with Burke's claim that imperial neglect stems from a lack of comprehensive vision. He sets the stage for a debate on whether the Board of Control overstepped its authority in interfering with a parliamentary inquiry into Indian debts.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 2916 words
Burke unveils a new scheme by the minister, one that threatens to corrupt public revenue and evade parliamentary scrutiny. He warns that without inquiry, the nation's interests will be sacrificed to private greed.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 32128 words
This chapter examines the fraudulent debts of the Carnatic, focusing on how private creditors exploited the Nabob and undermined Company authority. Burke exposes the collusion and usury behind the 1767 debt.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 4922 words
This chapter examines how British ministers authorized fraudulent debts in India, provoking Hyder Ali's devastating invasion. The corruption and its consequences unfold through Burke's indictment.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 51082 words
Burke turns from general accusations to a specific case: the Carnatic. He paints a picture of utter desolation, arguing that British ministers ignored the region's ruin to reward corruption. The chapter examines how they based policy on flawed estimates, prioritizing private gain over public recovery.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 61032 words
Burke turns to the Carnatic debt, exposing how the Company’s claim becomes a cloak for private usury. He traces the chain of oppression from soucar to cultivator, showing a system designed to extract every drop from the land.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 71002 words
Burke presses deeper into the evidence, arguing that ministerial collusion with Paul Benfield reveals a systematic corruption. The debt of the Nabob of Arcot becomes a tool for political reward, and Burke challenges the House to see the pattern.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 8185 words
In this chapter, Burke confronts the evasion of India's corrupt governance. Despite shifting political winds, he insists the system must be examined. The stakes are high, and he prepares to renew his commitment to reform.
- 2246 words
This chapter examines the tangled finances of the Nabob of Arcot, revealing how debt and private interests entangled Company servants. Reports and letters expose a system where loans, high interest, and opaque assignments undermined public trust.
- 1778, Part 11023 words
As the Carnatic lay ravaged by war and mismanagement, the Company moved to take control of the assigned revenues. This chapter examines the committee's efforts to reform a system crippled by corruption and conflict.
- 1778, Part 21022 words
This chapter lays out documentary evidence on revenue assignments in the Carnatic, revealing tensions between the East India Company and the Nabob of Arcot. The numbers and letters speak for themselves, setting the stage for a deeper conflict.
- 1778, Part 31023 words
The chapter opens with testimony on Tanjore's revenue and governance, revealing tensions over taxation and the Rajah's resistance to external interference.
- 1778, Part 4935 words
The Court of Directors weighs the jaghire claim, crop disputes, and the Anicut repairs, aiming for a settlement that balances the rights of the Nabob and Rajah.
- 1778, Part 5932 words
This chapter presents official directives for settling the Nabob of Arcot's debts and administrative arrangements for the Carnatic, alongside the Court of Directors' objections. The outcome hinges on balancing competing claims.
- 1778, Part 61002 words
The chapter opens with letters from the Nabob of Arcot, accusing Lord Macartney of grave misconduct. Burke frames these as evidence of the accusers' influence, setting the stage for a clash of narratives.
- 1778, Part 71019 words
As the chapter unfolds, documents from the Nabob of Arcot accuse Lord Macartney of corruption, while Burke warns against the dangers of revolutionary France. Prepare to examine these contrasting threats to order.
- 1778, Part 8650 words
In this chapter, Burke delivers a powerful speech contrasting the French and English Revolutions, defending the British constitution and warning against radical change.
- 1790, Part 1951 words
As the chapter opens, Burke sets the stage for his reflections by explaining their origin in a correspondence with a young Parisian. He prepares to examine the conduct of the Revolution Society, inviting readers to consider the weight of circumstances in political judgment.
- 1790, Part 21038 words
Burke defends hereditary succession against claims of popular election, grounding his argument in the Glorious Revolution's legal foundations. He challenges revolutionary principles, preparing readers for a constitutional analysis.
- 1790, Part 3966 words
Burke defends the English Constitution as an inherited patrimony, contrasting it with revolutionary claims of popular sovereignty. He argues that liberties are secured through tradition, not abstract rights, setting the stage for his critique of the Revolution Society's principles.
- 1790, Part 41041 words
Burke now turns to the composition of the National Assembly, arguing that its members' backgrounds doomed the revolution from the start. He insists that the character of those who govern determines the fate of a nation.
- 1790, Part 51076 words
Burke warns against leveling society, arguing that natural order and property must be protected. He contrasts France's revolutionary upheaval with England's stable constitution, setting the stage for a defense of hereditary privilege.
- 1790, Part 6903 words
Burke now turns to distinguish genuine rights from false claims, arguing that government must be grounded in practical experience, not abstract theory. He warns against revolutionary enthusiasm that ignores human nature.
- 1790, Part 71001 words
In this chapter, Burke reflects on the violent events of October 1789 and contrasts them with the chivalric ideals he believes are lost. He prepares to mourn the passing of an era.
- 1790, Part 81007 words
Burke continues his defense of tradition, arguing that the English cherish their prejudices and established institutions. He contrasts this with the French Revolution's radicalism, warning against discarding inherited wisdom.
- 1790, Part 91041 words
Burke warns that democracy can become as tyrannical as monarchy. He argues society is a sacred contract across generations, requiring stable institutions like the church.
- 1790, Part 10877 words
Burke now turns to the French confiscation of Church property, defending it as a violation of fundamental rights. He exposes the hypocrisy of revolutionaries who claim public faith while robbing the clergy.
- 1790, Part 111031 words
Burke continues his critique of the Revolution's financial policies, focusing on the confiscation of church lands and the issuance of paper currency. He contrasts these measures with the stability of mixed government.
- 1790, Part 121037 words
This chapter examines France's pre-revolutionary population and wealth as indicators of good governance, challenging the notion that the old regime was purely oppressive.
- 1790, Part 131022 words
As Burke examines the persecution of the French clergy, he challenges the revolutionaries' use of history to justify present cruelty. He invites us to consider whether punishing a group for the crimes of their predecessors is ever just.
- 1790, Part 141017 words
Burke turns to the confiscation of church property in France, warning that such violations of prescription threaten all property. He argues that justice and policy are inseparable, and that revolutions breed confiscation.
- 1790, Part 151060 words
Burke contrasts the French Assembly's radical reforms with the gradual, experience-based approach of the British Constitution. He argues that true reform preserves useful parts and fits new additions to what is retained, rather than destroying everything.
- 1790, Part 16972 words
Burke now turns to the French electoral system, dissecting its contradictions. He argues that the new constitution, despite its claims to natural equality, imposes arbitrary qualifications that betray its own principles.
- 1790, Part 171021 words
Burke examines the structural flaws of the new French Constitution, focusing on how its reliance on paper currency and centralized power undermines unity.
- 1790, Part 181031 words
Burke turns his critical eye to the new French constitution, arguing that its abstract design undermines the very foundations of stable government.
- 1790, Part 191049 words
Burke turns his critique to the French National Assembly's judicial and military reforms, arguing they undermine independence and discipline, paving the way for despotism and anarchy.
- 1790, Part 20965 words
As Burke turns to the military and revenue, he warns that an assembly cannot command obedience. The army, once debauched from its officers, becomes a tool for any popular general-a dangerous prelude to dictatorship.
- 1790, Part 21965 words
Burke scrutinizes the Assembly's financial experiments, from voluntary contributions to assignats, exposing their failure to establish sound credit or equitable taxation.
- 1790, Part 22741 words
Burke sharpens his critique of revolutionary finance, contrasting French schemes with the British Constitution. He warns that liberty without wisdom and virtue becomes the greatest evil. The chapter examines the moral foundations of free government.
- 1790, Part 23152 words
This chapter weaves together poetry, historical notes, and Aristotle to expose the hypocrisy of those who plunder under pious pretense. Burke draws parallels between demagogues and court favorites, showing how power corrupts across regimes.
- 4210 words
This chapter examines financial administration and social unrest, drawing on historical examples to highlight tensions between governance and justice.
- 1787247 words
As Burke examines the French National Assembly's constitutional plan, he warns of a fundamental flaw: the disconnect between voters and representatives. This chapter reveals the destructive consequences of their spirit of innovation.
- MDCCCLXXXVII, Part 1524 words
- The Carnatic Debts: A System of Fraud and Collusion1397 words
As the chapter opens, Burke confronts a startling reversal: the accuser now flees inquiry. He warns that to shrink from Indian scrutiny is to betray the empire's true compass.
- Documentary Evidence of Corruption in India1195 words
This chapter presents documentary evidence on the Nabob of Arcot's debts and the Company's efforts at revenue reform, revealing the devastation of the Carnatic and the challenges of introducing a new system.
- The French Revolution: A Critique of Abstract Rights1439 words
Burke contrasts the French Revolution with England's Glorious Revolution, arguing that the French destroyed their constitution while England preserved and improved its ancient inheritance.
- The National Assembly and the Destruction of Order1406 words
Burke dissects the National Assembly's composition, warning that a body of lawyers and theorists inevitably breeds disaster. He contrasts England's reverence for inherited order with France's reckless pursuit of abstract rights, setting the stage for a defense of prejudice and gradual reform.
- Property, Religion, and the True Basis of Government976 words
As we explore the assault on Church property, Burke reveals the deeper motives behind revolutionary confiscation. The chapter examines how this violation of prescription threatens all property and the foundations of civil society itself.
- The Flaws of the New French Constitution1118 words
Burke warns that the French Assembly mistakes government for geometry, destroying old establishments instead of reforming them. He dissects their electoral contradictions and the dangerous cement of paper currency, Parisian power, and a degraded army.
- Financial Experiments and Military Disorder1027 words
This chapter examines how the National Assembly's handling of the army and finances sows chaos, undermining discipline and property. Burke warns that such experiments, divorced from wisdom, lead to ruin.
- Final Reflections on Revolution and Governance724 words
In this chapter, Burke examines the French National Assembly's radical plan to destroy and recreate all institutions, warning against the destructive spirit of innovation that discards centuries of wisdom.
- The Carnatic Debts: A System of Fraud and Collusion1397 words
Related works
Countervoices
- Common Sense
Burke wantrouwt revolutionaire abstractie; Paine geeft de revolutie juist een directe en populaire stem.
- The Social Contract
Burke verdedigt historische continuiteit en gewoonte; Rousseau zoekt legitimiteit in een radicaler idee van algemene wil.