C.B.B.


_Political Maxim--when first used._

The political maxim, or phrase, inquired after by C. is Burke's. It
occurs in his celebrated _Thoughts on the Cause of the present
Discontent_, published in 1770, in the course of his defence of party, a
few pages from the end. A short extract will show the connection in
which it is introduced:--


"No man, who is not inflamed by vain-glory into enthusiasm, can
flatter himself that his single, unsupported, desultory,
unsystematic endeavours are of power to defeat the subtle designs
and united cabals of ambitious citizens. When bad men combine, the
good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied
sacrifice, in a contemptible struggle."


I have some suspicion that the maxim may be found, with probably a
slight variation of expression, repeated in one of Burke's later tracts.
But this is certainly its first appearance.

G.L.C.

Old Brompton, Dec. 8. 1849.