The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-05-15


tent tenor, than IN the rec orded parliamentary
debates of Fox. Many have called in eurfion
ms prudence, and the practicabil'ty of his poll.
tics IN Tome of their branches-nope have fuc-
cceded in fixing ftain upon the truly Ensli(h
temper Of his heart. :
The reafon why Fox 70 much excel,ed in this
reign VIM. Pulteney, aud other eminent leaders
OF oppoh'Ion, in the reign of Ccoise II. was,
that his heart beat in acc ord TO the fentments
of lberty.-The character of the Englifh natl.
on has improved Gncc the year 1860. The
two firft kings of the houfe of Hanover, did not
aiplre TO the praiie of epcouragers of Enelifh
literature, and had no PATTON for the fine arts;
and their miniffer, Sir Robert Walpole, loved
nothing, nor pretended to uaderft aud any thing
but finance, Commerce, and peace. His oppo-
nents caught their tone from his, and their dc.
bates rather refembled thoie of the directors of
great trading company, than of men who were
concerned with the paffions, the morals, the ar
dent fentiments, and the religion Of generous
and enlightened nation. The Englifh feemed
TAFT degenerating into fuch people as the
Dutch; but Burke and Fox, and other eminent
Characters not necei1ary to be mentioned here,
redeemed us from the eminent depravty, and
lent their efforts TO make us the worthy inhabi-
tants OF a foil, which had produced Shake.
fpeare, Bacon, and a Milton.
Fox, in addition tn the generous feelings of
his heart, poilefIed in tine fupreme degree the
powers of an acute logician. He feized, with
aeoniihng rapidity, the defects of his antago-
nih's arguments, and held them up in the mott
ftikine pont-of ridicule. He never had milf.
rePretened what his opponent had faid, or at.
| tackled his accidental overhghis, but fairly met
and routed him when he thought himielf frong-
eft. Though he had at no time Rudied law as
a protection, he never entered the lifts in rea.
ion'ng with lawyer, that he did not thew
himfef hyperion to the gowned pleader at his
| own weapons. 1t was this fnguar junction
of the bef feelings of the human heart, with
| the acuteft powers of human understanding,
that made Mr.. Fox the wonderful creature he
was.
Let us compare William Pitt in office and
Charles James Fox out of it, and endeavor to
decide upon their REFLECTIVE claims to the era-
titude of poaerity. Pitt was furrounded with
all that can dazzle the eye of vulgar fpe6tator
he poiief1ed the plenitude Of power during a
part of his reign, he was as nearly defpotic as
| the mirifter of mixed government can be, he
difpenfed the gifts of the crown he command
ed the purfe OF the nation-he welded the po-
ltical arength of England. Fox during almoft
all his life had no part of thefe advantages.
1t has been faid that Pitt preferved his coun-
try from the anarchy and .confuGon, which
from neighboring nation threatened to infect
us. This lisa very doubtful petition. It is by
no means clear that the Enelifll people could
ever have engaged in 70 wild, indfcriminate, fe-
rocious, and fanguinsry train Ct conduct as
was exhibited by the people of France. 1t is
| by no means clear that the end which Pitt is
faid to have gained, could not have been ac-
comPiifhed without fuch bloody wars, fuch
formidable innovations on the liberty of Eng.
liihmen-fuch duplicity, unhallowed dexter.
ty and treachery, and 70 audacious defertion
of all the principles with which the miniiter
commenced his political life, as Pitt emp owed
Meanwhile 1t was the fmple, ingenious, and
manly Office of Fox, to pretelt againft the mad
nefs and the defpotica proceedings of hi, ri.
val in administration and if he could not fuc.
cefsfuy counteratf The meafures of Pitt, the
honour at leaf is due to him, to have brought
cut the EngiiI character not Fundamentally
impaired, in the iflue of the mott arduous trial
it was ever called to fnftain.
| The eloquencc Of thefe two renowned Statec
men well correfpond with the different parts
they affirmed in public life. The elouuence OF
Pitt was cold and artificial. The complicated,
yet harmonious ftructure of his periods. he.
fPoke the man of contrivance and ftudy. No
man knew 70 well as Pitt how to anfwer the
| queitions of his adverfary without communi.
eating the FINALE It information. He was never
taken on his guard. If Pitt ever appeared in
lone eyes to grow warm as he proceeded, il
was with meafured -waymth-there was no
tartS and fallies, and fudden carnations of the
foul =; he feemed to be as much under the mi
nutett regulation in the mott vehement fwel-
lings and apofrophes of his fpeech, as in the
coIdett calculations.
Mr.. Fox, as an Orator, appeared to come
immediately from the forming hand of nature.
! He fpoke well, becaufe he felt trongy and ear
nehly. His oratory was clear and impetuous
as the current of the river Rhone nothing
could arreft its csurfe. His voice would nfen.
| ioiy rife to too high key he would run
himieif out of breath. Every thing fhewed
how little artifce there was in his eloqueuce.
Though on all great occafons he was through
out energetic, yet it was by fudden haihes and
carnations that he electrified the heart, and
hot through the blood of his nearer. Ihaye
feen his counteDanee tighten up with more
than mortal ardor and goodneis have been
prefent when his voice has become fuffocated
with the fudden burhing forth of torrent of
tears.
The love of freedom which marks the public
proceedings of Fox, is exactly analogous to the
natural temper of hi, mind he feemed born
for the caufe which his talents were EMPLOYED
to iupport. He was the mott unanuming of
mankind.-He was 70 far from debating to
others, that it was often imputed to him, tho
perhaps erroneouny, that he flffered others TO
dlctate TO him. No man ever exifted more finn
pie IN his manners, more fDge-hearted, or lefs
artificial in his carriage.-The fct phrafes of
what is called polifhed life, made no part of his
l ifYaR he 4