preceding dinner at his literary studies, in which the Greek poets bore a principal part.

A frugal, but plentiful dinner took place at three, or half past two, in summer, and at four in winter; and a few glasses of wine were followed by coffee. The evening was dedicated to walking and conversation till tea-time, when reading aloud, in history, commenced, and continued till near ten. A light supper of fruit, pastry, or something very trifling, finished the day; and at half past ten the family were gone to rest; and the next and succeeding dawn ushered in the same order and elegance, and found the same content, the same happiness, and the same virtuous and useful life.

"A life so sacred, such serene repose
Seemed Heaven itself."

Alas! those scenes are for ever closed; that heart which throbbed with every fine feeling is cold;-those private virtues which made St. Anne's Hill so delightful, those public ones, which might have benefited mankind, are lost.

It is with pain and reluctance I go on; but the dictates of friendship and

No

truth ought to be obeyed. One small record, unmixed with, and uncontrolled by, party motives, shall afford to posterity, if it survive, some means, though imperfect, of appreciating the private character of the most illustrious, but often the most calumniated, of public men in the eighteenth century. monument yet marks a nation's gratitude towards him; and the all-prevailing ascendency of the system which Lord Bute, Lord North, and Mr. William Pitt, successively defended and propagated, has stifled every parliamentary expression of respect and veneration, for the memory of CHARLES JAMES FOX; whilst a successful skirmish, or a dubious battle, unites all parties in conferring honours and rewards! Nor do I think it is one moment to be admitted, that so unfortunate a politician, as his parliamentary rival, could have been Mr. Fox's coadjutor in office: their principles were diametrically opposite: the one was a practical lover of arbitrary power, and in his own person exercised it too long for the glory of his sovereign, or the happiness of his people. The other was a sincere friend to a limited monarchy, the

C

only species of government recognized by the British constitution, was a benevolent statesman of the first order, and was an undaunted advocate for liberty, whether civil rights, or freedom of conscience were concerned. Ministries formed of repugnant and conflicting materials cannot be permanent or efficient. Every department ought to be filled by men of whom the statesmen, who undertakes to conduct the affairs of a nation has the selection, and on whose principles, as well as talents, he can rely. The disorder which otherwise takes place from the counteraction of the inferior servants of government is of the worst kind, paralysing every grand measure of the head of the ministry, and even controlling his intentions.

The great genius of Mr. Fox, to have been efficient, should have reigned supreme in the management of public affairs. Mr. Pitt, under the wholesome restraints, and instructed by the enlightened mind of that great man, might have conducted a subordinate department with benefit to his country; but as to co-operation with him, on any system of

co-ordinate power, the plan must have been detrimental to the public service, as long as it was attempted, and certainly would have been degrading to Mr. Fox. The more I have considered, the more am I persuaded, that his own conception of retirement was the true rule of conduct to follow; and being one of the most disinterested of men, and having no impatience to attain power, it would have been as easy as wise in him to have adhered to it.

At the period to which I allude, he was beginning to turn his attention to an historical work, and our readings after tea were directed to the furtherance of this grand and useful object. Happy were those evenings, when the instruction of the historian-the pointed remarks of the statesman-and all the ease and happiness of domestic society were united. The occasional visits of men of talents and high character sometimes pleasingly interrupted the evening's employment; but I have never seen Mr. Fox more perfectly happy than when we were quite alone. He

1

was so utterly divested of a wish to shine, or of any appetite for flattery, that he in no manner required, what is called, company, to enliven or animate him. A lover of nature, and consequently an enemy to art, he held, I think, above every quality, sincerity and unaffectedness; and, being also of a character singularly domestic and amiable, he found in his little circle all he wished and wanted. To his other attainments he had ́added a very considerable knowledge of Botany; and, without making it a primary object, enjoyed every pursuit connected with Agriculture, in a high degree.

About the end of the year 1799, Mr. Fox met with an accident of a most alarming nature. He was very fond of shooting, and as he was following that amusement one day in the neighbourhood of Chertsey, in company with Mr. William Porter, of that town, his gun burst in his hand. The explosion having shattered it much, he wrapped it up, and returned to St. Anne's. As no surgeon in the country, would undertake so delicate a charge upon his own