the resplendent luminary from whom they borrowed their lights is concerned ;-no shadow, no spot, shall remain upon his touch of truth can remove it. orb, if the honest If the good of an empire, and the wishes of millions for information, if the honour and name of Fox are concerned; I cannot stop to consider of wounding "the feelings of individuals." I shall suppress no truth, no circumstance. I stand before my country, not daring to be false, and I offer to the shade of Fox the imperfect, but genuine and unbiassed homage of a faithful tribute to his memory. I cannot presume to think that the following volume gives an adequate idea of the character of Mr. Fox. The early part of his life must at present remain a desideratum among his admirers. It is on its close only that I have, I hope, been peculiarly enabled to throw a full and satisfactory degree of light. In early youth, I understand Mr. Fox was distinguished by extraordinary application to study. He was abroad for a short time at the early age of fourteen, to which may be attributed, probably, that fluency, perfect understanding, and good pronunciation of French, which most eminently marked him, amongst his countrymen, and even Frenchmen, at Paris. His knowledge of Italian was nearly as great, and probably to be attributed to the same cause. If I were to sketch the divisions of his life, I would form them into THREE PARTS:-His YOUTH, warm and impetuous, but full of extraordinary promise. His MIDDLE AGE, energetic and patriotic. His LATTER DAYS, commencing from the French revolution, simple, grand, and sublime. The splendour of the last period presents a picture of magnanimity and wisdom of stupendous dimensions, and the most powerful effect. I have described his domestic life in this period. I have given to the world, his travels,—a little of Should this work meet with the favourable reception which the partiality of friends has led the author to expect, he meditates the plan of a work on THE ENTIRE PUBLIC LIFE OF MR. Fox; and with that view invites the communication of facts and original materials to the care of SIR RICHARD PHILLIPS, No.5, Buckingham-gate, London. CONTENTS. Vulgar prejudices relative to Mr. Fox-His superiority over Mr. Pitt-The mistakes and misfortunes of the latter-Character of Mr. Fox-Description of St. Domestic habits of Mr. Fox-The author's obligation to record his virtues-Contrasted with Mr. Pitt-His love of nature-His amenity-His conjugal affection -His originality-The newspapers - His conversation CHAPTER IV. Impressions on entering the Netherlands-Mr. Fox's knowledge of Agriculture -- Delightful situation of Cassel-Revolutionary impiety-Joseph Andrews Mrs. Fox-Tree of liberty..... CHAPTER V. 51 to 65. Lisle-Public respect paid to Mr. Fox-General O'Mara -Public dinner given to Mr. Fox-His diffidence - Ghent- - Charles 5th - His retirement contrasted with that of Mr. Fox-Public homage to Mr. Fox -Antwerp-The Eneid Mr. Fox's tenderness -His taste in poetry-Enlargement of France-Breda -Gardens of the Stadtholder-Impressions excited by Holland-Utrecht-Industry and Liberty-Amsterdam — Haarlem - Leyden - The Hague - The Stadtholder-The De Witts---The Eneid. 66 to 132 CHAPTER VI. Rotterdam --- Bergen-op-Zoom - Agriculture and commerce-Brussels The Æneid-Lord Holland — M. Chauvelin - Lord Grenville Barras - Mr. Walker's Tom Jones Gemappe Cambray Valenciennes. -Ariosto-Tour to Constantinople......... 133 to 176 CHAPTER VII. Observations on Mr. Fox's character-His opinion of Religion-Reflections on approaching Paris-Buonaparte compared to Augustus - Arrived at Par'sHotel de Richelieu-Climate of Paris..... 177 to 192. |