mired, the talents of his son, he was too soon brought forward into politics, and into a responsible situation. The great models of antiquity were not sufficiently considered; but the natural partiality of the late Lord Holland goes far in excuse for his error respecting the education of his accomplished son. He did only what thousands have done, and are doing, unfavourable as are such errors to the complete and advantageous developement of a great character. The mind, like the oak, does not, or cannot, attain full perfection, but by slow degrees All premature shoots, until the leading roots have deeply and firmly seized upon the soil, are injurious; and exhaust, or enfeeble, the nascent tree. It must be granted, too, that a commercial and luxurious nation, however great, is less favourable to the production of so extraordinary a character as that of Mr. Fox, than one in which simplicity and disinterestedness would be the prevailing features,

The powerful weight of mercantile interests in the councils of the English people, is decidedly adverse to the germination, expansion, and glory of genius. In vain did the noblest and highest motives impel Mr. Fox to put forth his powers, to excite his country to what is -wisest and most glorious,-to advise with prophetic force, and to argue with irresistible demonstration. He was not heard with interest, because there were wanting minds congenial to his arguments; he was neither applauded nor rewarded, because his auditors had no faculty by which to estimate his merits; and he returned home weary and disgusted. The views of mercenary politicians coincide rather with the declaiming arrogance of any man who has bartered the national welfare for mercantile support; who has strengthened his party by the artificial influence of commerce; and, having satisfied his thirst for domination, leaves his country involved, his party in difficulties, and

commerce itself languishing and exhausted, by the efforts which its avarice had tempted it to make, and which his incitements had contributed to extend.

There is a strong similarity, not only in the style of oratory, but in the fortunes of Demosthenes and Fox. The oratory of both was plain, but of mighty strength. Each appears to have thought more of his subject than his audience, to have burst forth with demonstrative reasoning and facts, and, trusting to the power of truth on the hearts of patriots, to have given the wisest councils in the strongest and most vigorous manner, Demosthenes had the great advantage of speaking to a large and independent popular assembly. Fox spoke to one of too aristocratic, as well as commercial a cast, to expect the same effects from his eloquence.

I have often admired the sweetness and

equanimity of his temper in returning from the unavailing war of words, in which he bore so super-eminent, but fruitless a part. Though fatigued with so many barren struggles, although he distinctly saw the ruin preparing by a rash ánd obstinate minister, for his country, no expression of bitterness ever escaped him in private life; the name of that minister was rarely, if at all, noticed by him, and never with acrimony. His determination, when he seceded from parliament, to retire much from public life, until the misguided people saw the errors into which they were plunging, certainly arose from this hopeless scene of useless debate, -a determination which I have never ceased to regret he did not scrupulously adhere to, as suitable to the grandeur of his character, his simplicity, and his indifference for power; at once beneficial to his health, and promising ultimate advantage to the state.

Having enjoyed his private friendship, and been admitted into his domestic circle, at this period, I may be asked what were his prepa-: rations for debate? I answer,-None !-I have often known him, when a debate was expected of importance, pursuing his usual studies, the day before, in poetry, history, botany, or natural history; his conversation was the same; his walks, and his inspection of his little farm," were unchanged: nor, as far as came within my observation, did he abstract himself from his family or ordinary society an hour, or a moment, for any preparation when great debates were impending.

His dispatches, which were compositions nothing inferior to his orations, and, I believe, quite sui generis in England, he mentally composed before they were committed to paper, when he wrote or dictated them with great facility. They, as well as his orations, were di