238 BURKE was so charmed with the gepius and knowledge which he exhibited, that, at a very early period of their acguaintance, it was observed by Murphy, that Johnson would from Burke bear contradiction, which he would tolerate in no other person. Goldsmith, Popham Beauclere, Sir John Hawkins, and many others equally distinguished for lite- rature and classical acquirements, also became acquainted with him about this time; and of these was formed a literary club, which comprehended almost all the talent and genius of the day. But the principal and most im- mediate advantage derived by Burke from this publica tion, was a remittance of 100l. which his father, who was enraptured at perasing the spirited and elegant production of his son, immediately forwarded to him; and which, with the sale of his book, relieved him from some very pressing pecuniary embarrassments. In 1758 he proposed to Dodsley the plan of an "An- nual Register" of the civil, political, and literary trans- actions of the times; a work, which, if conducted on liberal and impartial principles, must be allowed to have been a great desideratum in history. This proposal met with Dodsley's approbation, and it was carried into effect; Burke himself saperintending the publication, and con- tributing largely to its contents for many years. He had, at an early period of his Jife, been connected in intimate friendship with the Right Honourable William Gerard Hamilton, since known by the familiar appellation of " Single-Speech Hamilton," a title which was founded on a general, though erroneous idea, that Mr. Hamilton had never delivered but one speech of any importance in the British senate; and that one so justly celebrated as to give rise to an opinion, which was strengthened by the intimacy of the parties, that it was composed for him by Mr. Burke. When Mr. Hamilton went over to Ireland as official secretary to Lord Halifax, then lord-lieutenant, he prevailed upon Burke to accompany him. Shortly after his arrival there, Mr. Hamilton haying made another
