904 
demanded extraordinary declara- 
tions. 
Mr. Fox moved for a repeal of 
the bills, with a minority of 50 a- 
against 200. His little party was, 
however, more successful in a sin. 
gular measure which became necessa- 
ry about the same time, 
Mr. John Reeves, who had been 
Conspicuous as a founder of * an 
association against republicans and 
levellers,”? published, ¢ Thoughts 
on the English government,” tend- 
ing to shew the propriety of its be- 
coming—an absolute despotism. It 
was voted a daring libel on the con« 
stitution. 
In 1796 parliament was dissolved, 
and the candidates for Westminster, 
with Mr. Fox, were sir Alan after- 
wards lord Gardner, and Mr. Horne 
Tooke. 
Mr. Tooke, in his usval strain of 
popular argument and dry humour, 
told the electors, with respect to sir 
Alan Gardner, ‘ that if Mr. Fox 
and sir Alan were returned by the 
electors of Westminster, they would 
be literally not represented at all ; 
they would be like a mansetting out 
in a carriage with one horse harness- 
ed before and the other behind,both 
pulling different ways, which was a 
pretty method ‘of arriving at the 
journey’send!”? and as respected Mr. 
Fox, he said, that “ the only distinc. 
tion between them was, that Mr. 
Fox was right honourable ; but as 
he himself was neither right honour. 
able nor honourable, he must con. 
sider himself as a private in the ranks; 
and though he was afraid he could 
never command, yet he could fight 
as bitterly and as effectually as any 
of them.” 
Mr. Fox pursued his usual mode, 
without deviating cither one way 
ANNUAL REGISTE R, 1806. 
or the other. Mr. Tooke had been _ 
eminent as a leader of the people, — 
and was therefore a popular candi- f 
date. It was desired,probably both — 
by minister and people, that Mr. 
Fox should join that gentleman. 
He,however, constantly denied the 
existence of any coalition. 
The following were the final num-= 
bers. 
For Mr, Fou cittesnabise 
Forsir A. Gardner « « 4814 
For Mr. Horne Tooke ~ 2810 
Early in the new parliament, 
which commenced its sittings in Oc- 
tober 1796, the minister opened a 
negociation for peace with France, 
in which Mr. Fox most heartily 
concurred But, in the following 
December, he censured with all his 
force the conduct of Mr. Pitt, in 
having granted money to the Empe- 
ror of Germany, and to the French 
princes, without the consent or 
even knowledge, of parliament ; a 
censure, the justice of which was 
proved by the acquiescence of many 
even ef the minister’s friends, form- 
ing a minority of 81, which was con- 
sidered important. In the early 
part of 1797, Mr. Fox’s exertions 
were indefatigable, and received 
every support of his party. In 
May, with three other gen- 
tleman, he presented a petition 
from Bristol, for the dismissal 
of the ministers, signed by nearly 
four thousand persons ; and soon 
after, by himself, another from An. 
trim. As a privy counsellor, he 
obtained an andience of the King in 
the closet, and represented to his 
majesty the alarming situation of 
the kingdom. On the 23d of the 
same month, he moved for a repeal 
of the treason and sedition bills, but 
found himself again in a minority of 
50. 
| 
| 
