gested, I think, in a few moments of silent rapid reflection, and they then gave him no further anxiety. His memory was so exquisitely powerful, that it supplied him with every subject matter he required for study; and when other men were obliged to recur to books, he had only to apply to the sources of his mind, and proceed in his argument or composition.

Lord Holland, in his Preface to Mr. Fox's Historical Fragment, has dwelt rather too much upon his uncle's solicitude as to historical composition: Mr. Fox doubtless felt anxious to keep it distinct, as he ought, from oratorical delivery; but I am inclined to think, that historic matter flowed from him as his dispatches did, with facility and promptness. His manuscript of the Fragment, of which a good part is in his own hand-writing, has but very few corrections or alterations; and his great anxiety (and very justly) appears to me to have regarded

facts, rather than style. I differ from the noble Editor with extreme regret on this point, as I

work on some

have found myself obliged to do in the following on some others. Mr. Fox's singular modesty and sincerity may have led him to express distrust of himself; but his powers were too commanding to admit of hesitation or difficulty in any species of composition to which he directed them.

His letters are perfect in their kind, more agreeable (as they have nothing of his egotism) than those of Cicero, and more solid than those of Madame de Sevigné. Those which I have been able to present to the reader are models of English composition, as well as valuable depositories of the critical opinions of Mr. Fox upon the most excellent authors of ancient and modern times. I am tempted to think, from the elegance and conciseness of all his compositions, that his Historical Fragment was written under the disadvantage of his frame of mind, being some

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what affected by a tinge of melancholy, which produced in some parts a certain diffuseness, not otherwise likely to have taken place. Public affairs were so manifestly tending to a crisis when he wrote, and the minister had so much. weakened and impaired the constitution, that Mr. Fox could not but grieve,-for his feelings were warm, and his mind of a truly patriotic cast and it was extremely natural that, unsuspected by himself, something of this disposition of mind should be imparted to the work he had undertaken at that period. At such a time, and in that state of mind, travelling would have afforded better occupation to Mr. Fox than writing history; but from that he was precluded : he was shut out from the continent by the French war, and in having recourse to history, (still continuing his exertions in favour of liberty) he shewed the generous struggles of a noble mind to serve his country and posterity in the only way left open to him; and if a shade

of melancholy pervades it, the source from whence it certainly sprung (for he was easy in circunstances, and truly happy in domestic life) is the most honourable and venerable sentiment which can exist in the human breast,grief for a wronged and unhappily misguided Country !

In one grand point all his compositions, his letters, dispatches, historical work, and orations, beautifully harmonize.---I mean in genuine Christian love for mankind, as fellow creatures and friends. This will be found the uniform impulse through Mr. Fox's glorious life. In the work I offer to my readers, imperfect as it is, that great principle will appear to be clearly developed.

It is singular, or at least worthy of remark, that, although Mr. Fox knew nothing, or very little of geometry, no man spoke or wrote with more precision; his demonstrations were always

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mathematically correct and conclusive, and his language was very exact, and free from all redundancy. That noble science indubitably aids and improves the powers of reasoning, and is of immense utility in life; yet Mr. Fox derived no assistance from it. There can, however, be little doubt that his progress in it would have been rapid, and that his logical faculty would have been strengthened by it. About five or six years before his death, he expressed much regret to me at his ignorance of mathematics, and seemed then inclined to turn his attention to those sciences, and in particular to astronomy. It is very probable, that as he appeared to testify a strong inclination for mathematics, he would have applied to them, if he had continued in retirement.

His return to politics prevented this design, and suspended his History. The words of the noble Editor of the Fragment are very remarkable, as to Mr. Fox foregoing his original intention of retiring for a time from public life. "The remon