271 RICHARD BURKE P1I Or this gentleman whose powers of pleasing in private life, were no less distinguished than those of his celebrated brother Edmund, we regret that we have been able to obtain but few particulars. His fame rests principally on his wit, which peculiarly excelled in repartees, deli- vered with a hamorous quaintness, that gave additional poignancy to the sentiment, and many of which have been frequently retailed as proceeding from his brother.He was educated to the profession of the law, in which he became a barrister, but does not appear ever to have attained any height in this pursuit, as he was probably contented with the moderate salaries of those situations to which he was appointed through the interest of bis brother. In Barry's Letters, we find a grateful renembrance of the kindness which he experienced from Richard Burke during a visit made by that gentleman to Paris in 1767, while Barry remained in that capital; and shortly after his return from the continent, he had the misfortune to break both bones of his leg in two places, by a fall in the street; a circumstance which is humorously alluded to by Gold smith, as a just punisbment for the jests he had broken on others. He was at different times collector of Grenada, ahd recorder of Bristol, which last office he retained till his death, whieh happened February 5, 1794. He had supped with his brother Edmund, and another relation, in Duke Street, St. James's, on the preceding evening, and appeared in excellent health and spirits; at twelve o'clock he was carried home in a coach to his chambers in Lin- coln's Inn, where he was soon after taken ill, and expired before three in the norning. His easy bumour and familiar good-nature, procured for him the appellation of Dick Burke; and his under- standing, though far inferior to the transcendant powers of that of his brother, was highly respectable and fraught
