The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-11-21
[VoLuME 3.

iedoiiig ana Cculcntng an cNective party. IL
neither hefeems us, or BELTS the occafion, to an
ticipate the judgment of poferity on the wifi
dom of this general feeling it is iuficient that
1t notorioufly exifted, and we fncercly regret
the lois of it, fhould do any lois that tend
ed to leiicn the national hopes in the prefert
moment. Likewifc, we do not fee any other
man, on whom the fame fsntiment in the fame
ftrength is likely to ref for 70 long time with
10 little wavering. II has been obferved of fc-
veral great men, that their deaths carried on the
work of their lives. The death of lord Mel
fon in the arms of victory blew into yet live-
| lier fame tn fire of that heroic fpirit, in the
fottering of which he had 70 eNinently affifted
his great naval compeers. Gladly would we
turn away from the idea, that the death of Mr..
Fox 10 ihortly after his attainment OF the public
power, 70 long withheld from him, and in the
very height and heat of mems anxiety concern
ing the refult, may additionally dePrefs that
, high tone of national felt confidence, which all
his harangues and meaflrcs had tended TO low.
err, even from his debate concerning the peace
Of Amiens, as leader of oppofitiou, to the
publication of The Enquiry into the State of
the Natlon," which is generally believed TO con-
tain faithful Ratcment of the fun and grounds
OF his principles, as minfter. Whether or no
theic ipeeches and avowals were juitihed by
inevitable circumstances, by the truth of the
views which dictated them, and by the neceiii-
ty, even in political point of view, of making
the nation Zee the refuts of their former conf
dence, will properly become the iuhje6t Of fu-
ture inveltigaton. That general mood OF
humiliation has been efetted, for the purpofc
of preparing the public mind for the acceptance
OF terms necef1ary TO the attaiHment of peace,
which the circumstances of the empire are fup-
Poted impcrioufy to demand, is a fact, the de-
NAL of which, we can hardly anticipate, and By
no means fear.
But of this hereafter.
We have loft great public character, and the
highea funeral honors that can be paid to a
public character, confift in that deep national
interef concerning it, which calls forth It's fair
and free invefigation ; and the higheft comp-
ment that can be paid to the individual, is the
belief that his fpirit, if till conlcious Of our
gongs on, would receive delight from any man
ly and unfa6tious examination of his mcafrres,
that even afforded the chance Of preventing in
Jury from the nature or eXcefs of the principles
that influenced ther, Tc cc:.:1 ca SY1ei-
lions concerning the deceaied to panegYric, is
an aelage which many wife men have not Deem
ed admil1ible, without great limitations, even
with regard TO ordinary men but relatively to
men like Mr. Fox, it would be blank contra
diction to the leading impuIfe of their lives
the honorable PATTON Of laiting fame, and the
hope that even when dead, they NAV be as
though they ltill lived. In this particular in
itance, we pofieis frcfl argument from the al
mott continual counterat'on between the two
great rivals, whole lots we now Jointly deplore:
for whatever we thoud be forced 70 detratf
from Mr.. Fox, will be often debt of iuOic-
Payed to the memory of Mr.. Pitt, and WHAT.
yer from the opinions and conduct of MIR. PITT
to the memory of MIR. Fox. Pofteritv will M.
| timately decide--and we doubt not bur that e,
| much of fair euogy will be left for both, thar
the nsmcs oftwo men, which the vehement on.
petition of almoft halfa life had linked topc.
| ther, will preferve that link for ages, fanaifed
by joint admiration and love. ThemifocIea
and ArIitIdes lived hottie to each other from an
equal love OF their country; and their country,
under different afpe6ts, honored alike the me.
mory of both, and repayed both with equal
love.
Mr.. Fox was undoubtedly one of the greatet
men this country hath ever produced-he r,oc.
fef1ed genius, political eoq1encc almoff with
out an equal, and knowledge various, deep and
| extenive-his command over a popular aT-ro.
bly, was afoniihing with the difadyantare of
voice, at times difcordant, his cIouuencr yvss
irreiiitbe-it was vehement, it was dienifed.
it was at times fubIinle-it routed the moCt Gng.
gih, It warmed the coldeA--it was torrent
70 impetuous, that it hurried and fwept alone
his hearers in fpite amoft of thcmfelyes. H;s
mind had vafnefs, an extent, a g-afo which
Jaw with glance the weak and the fronp Darta
OF his antagoniit's petition; he had great clear.
nefs OF conception and arrangement he had
more than any other man the faculty of & nnli.
flying the mott abhrufe details and of analvGng
the mof complicated. Whit he had frenotSS
which made him able to contend with the mot
powerful, he had plainnefs of reafoning which
rsade him ineligible to the commonef under
Handing he had a peculiar method of imnreC.
ling any favorite point. IF he iaw, and he faw
in moment, that the frt view in which he
had placed it had not been attended with the
dehred effect, he reproduced it in another Chape.
and another till he had finally fucceedcd He
had great dexterty in debate, and knew better
than any man how to improve his ADVANTAGE
over an antagonft who had left himfeIf omen e,
attack. Ifhe had lefs fplendor, lefs ricbnefs of
imagery, leis profuliDn of metaphor, Iefs poetic
IRE than Mr. Burke If he had lefs elegance.
leis copioainefs than Mr.. Pitt, he had hronger
reaIoning powers, he had more mind, than si-
Their of them. it has been affirmed, inconfider-
ately we think, that he was too little folicitone.
too carclefs Of his language his language,
however, would always fand the teft of the mo@
critical examination; it was the bef adanteJ
to the eZpreflion, of the particular idea or
meaning he wiihed to convey it was nure.
unadulterated Englifh.-Ifhe did not po0tfs
the wit Of MIR. Burke or MIR. Sheridan, or thr
arcaim Of Mr.. Pitt, he was not deRitute of
either of thOfs 0ualitico- hut he .,.ot-.