interest to Great Britain. The state of things arising in Europe, required the most enlightened and improved policy in English statesmen. The coercive The coercive energy of the new military government in France was alone to be counterpoised, and met, on the part of these islands, by a still more vigorous spirit, produced by the conscious possession of civil rights, and a renovated constitution.

To enter the lists with the great military chieftain of the French, without similarity of means or situation, proved a want of knowledge of England's genuine strength, and the blindness of envy, rather than the foresight of wisdom. Mr. Pitt treated Ireland like a conquered country, and chose to build upon the hollow submission of slaves, rather than strengthen himself by the support of freemen. I can truly testify, that in the shocking times of 1798, and during the degrading scene which crowned them, Mr. Fox yearned over Irish misfortunes with a truly paternal heart.

A peculiar attribute of his character was,

an inclination to encourage and raise up neglected merit, and to pour balm into the wounds of misery. What a quality would this have been in an English statesman, operating for the benefit and redemption of Ireland? I distinctly recollect the horror excited in him, on hearing of the burning of cottages and their furniture by the military, and the pain he felt on reading the accounts of the actions between the insurgents and the army.-How well I remember the valuable cautions he gave me, when the acuteness of my feelings for a suffering country, prompted hasty and momentary expressions of anguish. His opinion, which is given in one of the letters annexed to this volume, when the Union was agitated in Ireland, will be found solid and important; I do not take upon me to assert, that it went so far as to imply the re-admission of catholics to the parliament of their country, but I believe it must be taken to have gone that length; because, reform in Ireland, without relieving the great majority, and fully admitting them to participation of civil rights, must be deemed illusive and partial, and consequently, uncongenial to such

a mind as that of Mr. Fox. The grand principle he relied on in this case, namely, that the aristocracy, without the support of the people, are nothing, has been, since his lamented death, strongly elucidated and demonstrated in England, as it was also in Ireland at the period of the Union. Nor is it a less important truth, that the people, separated from the aristocracy, (or to make it clearer) from all those characters whom genius, education, and cultivation of mind, have elevated, must be feeble, or at best, hurried on by impotent violence, and that both parties must ultimately fall under too great a controul of the crown.

In turning with my reader to foreign scenes, these truths will be further developed; but in general I shall prefer a simple exposition of facts, to drawing conclusions, or pronouncing opinions; and I must intreat my readers to consider me as not presuming to advance ideas and sentiments of my own as those of Mr. Fox. In the latter case I shail always specify what was his; in the former, I shall use the right of an independent mind

to exercise its own powers, taking on myself all responsibility and blame, where either may be incurred.

The peace, or rather the truce, of Amiens, in 1802, very naturally excited in Mr. Fox a desire to visit the continent. His historical work had advanced a good way, but as he approached the reign of James the 2nd. he felt a want of materials, which he understood could alone be supplied in Paris, and he determined to go there. That work has since appeared, and the public have formed their opinion upon it. I do not hesitate to say, that it would have been desirable that he had gone further back, or chosen a larger period, and one unconnected even by analogy with modern politics. An involuntary association of ideas and feelings, tending to form a comparative view of epochs and circumstances, may have had an influence, unsuspected by the author, and have led to his dwelling, as it has appeared to some, with prolixity upon peculiar passages in the unhappy reigns of Charles and James.

The goodness of his heart, and the grandeur of his mind-the just medium of his opinions between the crown and democracy, and his warm love of true and rational liberty, are, however, indelibly recorded in a work, which perhaps came out too soon after his death to be justly appreciated; and, as it promoted the views of none of the parties of the day, it is to be considered a Classic, whose wholesome tendency, and purity of principle, will benefit posterity, rather than amend the present generation.

I was wandering among the beauties of North Wales, when a letter from Mr. Fox reached me, stating his intention of going to France, in furtherance of his historical work, and adding, that I could be of use in copying for him in Paris. The sublime scenery of the interior of North Wales, the peaceful mansions of a contented and happy people, the innumerable beauties of nature, stamped by the hand of a divine Creator, and scattered profusely around me, had harmonized my mind, and prepared it for reflection and observation. The friendly eye