THE OCCASIONAL REVIEW. ART. I. Memoirs of the latter years of the Right Honourable Charles James For. By John Bernard Trotter, Esq. late Private Secretary to Mr. Fox. 8vo. pp. 536. London. Phillips. 1811. HE first paragraph of what, at p. xxi, Mr. Trotter calls his introductory preface,' exhibits, when taken in connection with the title-page, a confusion of language that leads us to believe, that Mr. T. has written his book in that precise situation of his intellectual powers, which he so beautifully describes himself to have enjoyed, when, in the train of the greatest man in England,' he set sail for France: 'As the packet passed through the glittering waves with a brisk and easy motion, my mind was suspended as it were between various sensations and ideas :'-p. 36. In the title-page, Mr. T. had presented us with one of his various sensations and ideas,' concerning the true description of his work, and, as we think, with exactly that one which is alone correct. He has there said, that the memoirs are those of the latter years of Mr. Fox; but, in the paragraph to which we have referred, and which we shall now transcribe, he gives us to understand, that the same memoirs include a considerable part of his life :' In laying before the public a work, purporting to consist of memoirs, or biographical sketches, of a considerable part of the Life of the late RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES JAMES FOX, I have no claim to approbation for a complete and entire work, as my acquaintance with that illustrious character did not commence till the evening of his days. Consequently, I have not attempted to give a full account of his actions, or life others may hereafter accomplish that task: mine is at present a less important and less extensive one. p. 7. Nor is this all. In a delectable dedication to an illustrious personage, who, perhaps, by some parts of his past conduct, has deserved the disgrace and annoyance of this and similar intrusions, Mr. T. goes a step further, and tells that personage, that the book before us is a work which illustrates the public and private life, that is, the entire life, of the late Right Honourable Charles James Fox.' Thus is Mr. T.'s mind suspended as it were between the various sensations and ideas' of the latter years,' a 'considerable part of the life,' and the life,' of the subject of his memoirs; and thus it becomes exceedingly necessary that we should inform our readers as to the real scope of the performance. GEN. CHRON. VOL. III. NO. XIII. X These These Memoirs are divided into three parts, of which the first consists simply in a detail of Mr. Fox's visit to Paris in the year 1802, and the second in that of his accession to the ministry in 1806, of his illness which shortly followed, and of his death and funeral. The third part consists in letters to the author, from Mr. Fox and General La Fayette, and a letter from La Fayette to Buonaparte Mr. T. as appears from his book, was an inmate in Mr. F.'s family from the end of July to about September, 1802; and from the month of February, 1806, when Mr. Fox received the seals of the foreign department, till September, in the same year, on the thirteenth of which month he died. To these two periods, both of very contracted duration, Mr. T.'s narrative is confined; and therefore it is plain, that when the memoirs which contain it are called those of the latter years' of Mr. Fox, the description promises quite as much as the substance will warrant. As, even in relating the life of Mr. Fox during the two short periods mentioned, Mr. T. confines himself almost exclusively to domestic scenes, it might be supposed that the materials could not be very bulky; but the truth is, that Mr. T. has introduced, into the first part especially, an abundance of decorative matter, at the nature of a great part of which the reader is sufficiently surprised. In the first part, we have chapters of travels, and accounts of Tom Jones and Joseph Andrews, and throughout are running critiques on Virgil, the Greek and English poets, abuse on the memory of Mr. Pitt, and no sparing quantity of the life and opinions of Mr. Trotter himself. What is worse (for in the hands of a happier writer, a great part of these materials might have been rendered acceptable), there is, in the style and diction of Mr. T. so much that is ineffably contemptible, that the whole has that tendency to degrade the memory of the deceased, even in the estimation of his warmest friends, which must necessarily result from this act of placing a ludicrous monument over his grave. Mr. T. has every where supposed himself writing a novel, and a very ill-written novel he has produced. Amid this heap of politics, biography, criticism, and fine teri ting, we think that we have discovered some passages which deserve the most serious attention that can be given to them. By these passages, which we regard as affording premises from which very important conclusions may be drawn, we have been ourselves induced to bring the work under the special notice of our readers; and to them, therefore, after a slight review of the general texture of the memoirs, we shall direct our more fixed regards. It is doubtlessly not unacceptable to us to be informed of the domestic habits of Mr. Fox, in those latter years' of his life, of which, under this aspect, Mr. T. appears to be very competent to speak: The domestic life of Mr. Fox,' says Mr. T.' was equally regular and agreeable. In summer he rose between six and seven: in winter before eight. The assiduous care, and excellent manage ment, of Mrs. Fox, rendered his rural mansion the abode of peace, elegance, and order, and had long procured her the gratitude and esteem of those private friends, whose visits to Mr. Fox in his retirement at St. Anne's Hill, made them witnesses of this amiable woman's excmplary and endearing conduct. I confess I carried with me some of the vulgar prejudices respecting this great man. How completely was I undeceived! After breakfast, which took place between eight and nine, in summer, and at a little after nine in winter, he usually read some Italian author with Mrs. Fox, and then spent the time preceding dinner at his literary studies, in which the Greek poets bore a principal part.' A frugal but plentiful dinner took place at three, or half past two, in summer, and at four in winter; and a few glasses of wine were followed by coffee. The evening was dedicated to walking and conversation till tea time, when reading aloud in history commenced, and continued till near ten. A light supper of fruit, pastry, or something very trifling, finished the day; and at half past ten the family were gone to rest; and the next and succeeding dawn ushered in the same order and elegance, and found the same content, the same happiness, and the same virtuous and useful life. A life so sacred, such serene repose, At the period to which I allude, he was beginning to turn his atten tion to an historical work, and our readings after tea were directed to the furtherance of this grand and useful object. Happy were those evenings, when the instruction of the historian, the pointed remarks of the statesman, and all the ease and happiness of domestic society were united. The occasional visits of men of talent and high character sometimes pleasingly interrupted the evening's employment; but I have never seen Mr. Fox more perfectly happy, than when we were quite alone. He was so utterly divested of a wish to shine, or of any appetite for flattery, that he in no manner required what is called company to enliven or animate him. A lover of nature, and consequently an enemy to art, he held, I think, above every quality, sincerity and unaffectedness; and, being also of a character singularly domestic and amiable, he found in his little circle all he wished and wanted. To his other attainments he had added very considerable knowledge in Botany; and, without making it a primary object, enjoyed every pursuit connected with agriculture, in a high degree. p. 20. Though many estimable, and subsequently very elevated, characters, visited at St. Anne's Hill, I never liked it so well as when we were quite alone. There was a perfect originality of character in Mr. Fox that made his society always new, and always preferable to that of most other men men. Professional cant, and party ideas in general, give a monotony to the minds of distinguished members of society. Accustomed to view things constantly in one way, and not seeking for new ideas, but rather occupied in advancing or defending their old ones, their conversation does not create new sensations, and frequently wearies rather than delights. Mr. Fox himself was so little obtrusive in this respect, that I recollect feeling a good deal of embarrassment at first on observing how frequently he was inclined to silence, waiting for others to begin a conversation. I soon discovered, however, that he was pleased at its originating with another; and, so great was his benevolence, as well as unbounded his capacity, that, whatever was started, in the smallest degree interesting, useful, or natural, received illustration and indulgent investigation from him.'-p. 23. 'At breakfast, the newspaper was read, commonly by Mr. Fox, as well as the letters which had arrived, for such was the noble confidence of his mind, that he concealed nothing from his domestic circle, unless it were the faults or the secrets of his friends. At such times, when the political topics of the day were naturally introduced in the paper, I never could observe the least acrimony or anger against that party, which so sedulously, and indeed successfully, had laboured to exclude him from the management of affairs, by misrepresentations of his motives, rather than by refutations of his arguments. In private conversation, I think he was rather averse to political discussion, generally preferring subjects connected with natural history, in any of its branches; but, above all, dwelling with delight on classi cal and poetical subjects. It is not to be supposed, however, that, where the interests and happiness of millions were concerned, he preserved a cold silence. He rather abstained from hopeless and useless complaining, than withheld the mite of compassion and sympathy for those who suffered under a pernicious system.'-p. 25. Of the deportment observed in public by Mr. Fox, resulting from the diffidence of his temper, an example presented itself at one of the theatres in Paris : As I considered that I should see a classic performance of Phedra, and that the French actors were assimilated to those of Greece, in passion and energy, my expectation was much raised, and I prepared myself with my enthusiasm for the Greek stage, for a lively exhibition of its beauties. Mr. Fox was a good deal amused, and not displeased at this enthusiasm. On this occasion, he was very soon recognized by the audience in the pit. every eye was fixed on him, and every tongue resounded Fox! Fox!-The whole audience stood up, and the applause was universal. He, alone, to whom all this admiration was paid, was embarrassed. His friends were gratified by the honour bestowed on this great man, by a foreign, and, till lately, hostile people. It was that reward which crowned heads cannot purchase-respect and gratitude from his fellow men, for his exertions in favour of humanity and an honourable peace. So unwilling was Mr. Fox to receive the reward as personal C personal, that he could not be prevailed upon to stand forward; nor, when his name, repeatedly pronounced, left no doubt of the matter, could he bring himself to make any obedience or gesture of thanks. No man had ever less vanity, or rather was totally devoid of it, as Mr. Fox; and, perhaps, he seemed deficient on this occasion, in respect to the audience. p. 205. The same feature is displayed in Mr. T.'s account of Mr. Fox's introduction to Buonaparte. 'The moment the circle was formed, Buonaparte began with the Spanish ambassador, then went to the American, with whom he spoke some time, and so on, performing his part with ease, and very agreeably, until he came to the English ambassador, who, after the presentation of some English noblemen, announced to him Mr. Fox!-He was a good deal flurried, and, after indicating considerable emotion, very rapidly saidAh! Mr. Fox!-I have heard with pleasure of your arrival-I have desired much to see you-1 have long admired in you the orator and friend of his country, who, in constantly raising his voice for peace, consulted that country's best interests-those of Europe-and of the human race. The two great nations of Europe require peace;-they have nothing to fear; they ought to understand and value one another. In you, Mr. Fox, I see with much satisfaction that great statesman who recommended Peace, because there was no just object of war; who saw Europe desolated to no purpose, and who struggled for its relief.' Mr. Fox said little, or rather nothing, in reply,-to a complimentary address to himself, he always found invincible repugnance to answer; nor did he bestow one word of admiration, or applause, upon the extraordinary and elevated character who addressed him. A few questions and answers relative to Mr. Fox's tour, terminated the interview.'-p. 267. Much restricted in the limits to which we find ourselves obliged to confine this article, we pass immediately to that feature of the work to which we lately referred. It consists in the views presented to us by Mr. T. of Mr. Fox's sentiments, when minister, on the subject of Catholic Emancipation.' We are aware that such a writer as Mr. T. is small authority on which to rest any serious conclusion; but, taking the premises afforded us as sound, we submit the inferences to our readers. Mr. T. lending himself to the assistance of that impudent delu sion, the pretended concern of the Irish nation for the success of those political questions, to carry which, a few ambitious men are attempting to agitate the kingdom, represents (p. 364), that on the accession of Mr. Fox to his Majesty's councils, the repeal of the Union, the Catholic Emancipation, of course, and the establishment of a liberal and conciliating system in all things, danced before their warm imaginations.' On the expectations thus stated, the following are Mr. T.'s comments: 'Before |