534 FOX. 
Fox. erected on the foundation of human integrity; and laws, against special 
—yY"" though he subsequently qualified his paseo. A by ance to these bills evidently rested only upon his disbe- 
limiting his a to the destruction of theab- lief of those seditious desi 
solute monarchy, yet his lan unfortunately con- which could alone have rend: Ls 
veyed to multitudes, who revered his authority, or who although future events, cularly the confessions of 
wished to avail themselves of his name, a sanc- O'Connor, have proved is tr 
tion of French principles. He was very far, however, ble practices, where Mr Fox had no suspicion of their j 
from being a republican theorist; enti Sngning par- being entertained ; the same discoveries rite ywnld : 
tiality to the French revolution may be bed to his 5 with par- 
general love of political freedom, his naturally ardent pen seers Fy any revolutionary B 
feelings, and particularly to his extremely i- fav was the impression made by his speeches 
cious disposition, which may have led him to confide in partiornant te. that: periess: ot Sette eeeee et 
too much in the good intentions of the first revolu- in 9 Noe a ee the 
tionists in France. When, in 1791, the French mo- _ list of privy i ; 
narch was cormmitted to custody, and preparing for hand, was his disapprobation of the 
trial, Mr Fox expressed in Parliament a wish to mter- by the ministry, that, yoo Jed the 
pose in his behalf, by some declaration “S of hi i his 
of the House ; but afterwards concurred with Mr Pitt 
in abstaining from all interference, lest it might serve likely to benefit his country. He b gee however, 
only to exasperate the National Assembly. In 1792, in his place, in opposition to the triple assessment bill, 
when seditious societies in Great Britain were corre- the incomeand tax, and particularly the Union 
sponding with the National Convention, and the Alien with Ireland, which he condemned principally on the 
ill was proposed, in order to provide against Jacobin ground of its being effected by means of influence, and 
Socrecrntinatymcenersscnpetiontinngpes. liswas conslenditiaes Senin aan 
utionary measures as e e was i wn retirement 
a sees uired ; and, while he execrated the date of coptivental aides) dal wat seaae »po 
murder of Loui XVI. he resisted the ions for every motion, which favoured the opening of negoc 
rechi dec chasecnight tealegslelGcguen’ io mceaeetiog « somtiaiegrene in aaeaae 
principle, whatever might as in ing a iati to the le 
ST appe ies: Coates ahyech ves es eee pepe rma cig as Grand Consul, « sued 
ternal government o! country. to the King ngland, inviting jation ; and, 
When a message from his Majesty, on the 12th of though it has since been admitted by those: awho: 
February 1793, announced the im; t intelligence, cur in Mr Fox's political views, that the a — 
that the French convention had declared war against Coe eat Piss ot tk cael Ran 
Great Britain and the States of Holland, Mr Fox, French Chief, was extremely correct, it is impossi- 
while he still insisted that the conduct of the British _ ble to vindicate the lofty tone and irritating proposals 
government had not been sufficiently candid and con- expend ii she. snares ie, ee rn 
ciliating, was willing that the address from the House Mr i ’s administration the 
to the Throne should convey a ise of support peace of Amiens in 1801, Mr Fox, 8 consistent 
inst every hostile attempt of France, and in such pressing the spirit of pacification, joi with | 
exertions as might be necessary to procure such im approving, or rather accepting 
terms of pacification as might be consistent with the that could have been expected. 
honour of his Majesty's crown, the interests of his _we may regard the war in its commencement, 
people, and the security of his allies. There can now scarcely be denied, that Mr Fox faithfully pointed | 
little doubt, that it answered the purposes of the se important errors in its progress, and in many 
despotic rulers who successively directed the mili respects gave good advice to his country. But his in- 
energies of France, to involve the nation in war with variable and inveterate opposition to almost every mea- 
foreign powers ; and that their triumphant troops could _ sure of the administration, occasioned 
scarcely be termed a nation of freemen resisting the which he uttered to be heard by 
Hu 
iE 
SERss 
= 
2 
eon of es et ae oe pat that Mr ee ed ay a 
‘ox’s predictions, ure e ition against war in 1802, ‘ox great eloquence 
them, approached very near to the actual result. His support of peace; and must be allowed to have shewn, 
forebodings, however, of the ruin of the British con- that, however clesniger. geste of compitint 1 
stitution, in consequence of the suspension of the the conduct and designs of the French ruler, the 
Seay “ee, chamaiag aes af she tines ae pete government, the prime minister announced his in : 
ently conformable to the spirit of our constitution, tion to withdraw from office ; and Mr Pitt recomm« 
which supposes parliament to provide, by temporary ed to the king the formation of a ministry on the broad. 
* The great question in the origin of the war with France, is this, whether the | to which this country was 
inpaoed fom ths hontle ecmteachatonte and views of the deck g were sufficiently’ pe yar to warrant our 
ne affine: them; and whether the wisdom of preparations was or was not the declaration of 
of France. We refer to the speech of Mr Pitt in the House of Commons, on the of February 1793, and t 
of Mz Grey the House of Lords on the 2lst of that month, as containing an authentic view of the arguments of both partiem 
