constituents, and as the result had been decisive in favour of Mr. Pitt, it was natural to conclude, that that question, thus decided by a competent tribunal, was now at rest for ever. At all events, it must have been perfectly clear to Mr. Fox, that his political rival, so doubly fortified by the royal favour and by the popular voice, would never consent to abandon the vantage ground which he had gained, and to descend from the high eminence on which he stood, merely to acknowledge himself in the wrong, and his opponent in the right; and so to convert the signal defeat, which Mr. Fox had sustained, into a triumph. It is scarcely possible, therefore, to believe that Mr. Fox had any sincere wish for an union of parties; and it is highly probable that he proposed a condition which he knew would be rejected, in order to evade a proposal for the rejection of which he could assign no satisfactory reason to his honourable associates. It was not, then, without justice, that his claim of perfect equality was represented as a mere artifice, adopted to procure the gratification of a personal jealousy by the humiliation of the Minister, which jealousy, if it existed at all, could not fail to counteract all the advantages which it was hoped to derive from the projected coalition;-while Mr. Pitt's willingness to share with his opponents, on honourable

terms, that power of which he was in full and antire possession," exhibited an unequivocal proof of his sincerity, in preferring the interests of the country to any private ends of his own. Though the negotiation was, by this means, broken off; and though it was evident, from what had passed during its existence, that no rational hope could be entertained of a cordial union of parties; a vacant blue ribband was offered to the Duke of Portland,” in the most delicate manner, so as to lay his Grace under no obligation to the Minister, by his acceptance of the proffered honour! The Duke, however, thought proper to decline it, though with the most respectful and dutiful acknowledgements, until he could with satisfaction to himself take a responsible part in the King's councils, vasdong -oty The "dismission of Lord Thurlow was by no means calculated to weaken the administral tion; for though his fordship was, undoubtedly, possessed of strong talents, he was of a temper so untractable, that it was scarcely possible to preserve harmony in a cabinet, of which he was

member. He had a brain particularly fertile in-objections, and barren of expedients; he perpetually started obstacles to measures proposed, but never suggested, either new measures less objectionable, or any means for the removal of the difficulties which he pointed out. ” He was VOL. III.

imperious, dictatorial, and arbitrary; but his character had more of mulish obstinacy than of manly firmness in it; and the pertinacious adherence to his own opinions, which he so frequently displayed, was less the result of any fixed principles, than the operation of a certain dogmatical vanity, acting upon a churlish temper, wholly unaccustomed to the salutary influence of a controlling judgment. Though his professions

bespoke resolution, his conduct was neither decisive nor consistent. Of the contrast which they sometimes exhibited, indeed, his negotiations at Carlton House, and his speeches in the Senate, on the subject of the regency, afforded a signal and a memorable instance. On the present occasion too, there was reason to believe, that his difference with the cabinet was far from being limited to the two bills which he chose to make the public ground of it in the House: For if the sentiments which he did not scruple, at a subsequent period, to avow, respecting the seditious societies in England, were the real sentiments of his mind, he must have thought the proclamation an unnecessary, and, consequently, an unwise and impolitic measure.* It was his

* I have myself heard his lordship, in private company, ridicule the idea of danger to be apprehended from the establishment of such societies, whose means of mischief he considered as too contemptible for notice. And when the

duty, therefore, openly to declare his sentiments, since he thought it necessary to declare any difference of opinion between himself and his colleagues, and to make that strong, prominent, and important measure, the ostensible ground of his opposition to those with whom he had continued to sit in the cabinet, as it ought to have been an efficient reason for his resignation.

On considering all the occurrences in the political world, during the present session, the schism in the opposition, arising from a radical difference on a point of primary importance, both as affecting our foreign relations, and our domestic arrangements, and every other transaction connected with that topic, it appears that the power and influence of Mr. Pitt had been rather confirmed than shaken, strengthened than diminished, by the mixed moderation and firmness of his conduct; and that he stood equally high in the confidence of the Sovereign and the esteem of the nation.

successful efforts of the revolutionary party in France, apparently still more inadequate to the accomplishment of the proposed end, were suggested to him, he refused to admit the validity of the reason, or to depart, in any degree, from his pre-conceived opinion.

CHAPTER XIX.

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Unsettled state of the Continent-Affairs of Poland-Salutary changes in her Constitution-Patriotic conduct of the King, and of the first Orders of the State-Approved by Prussia and Austria-Condemned by Russia-Arrival of a French Envoy at Warsaw Consequent ConfusionChange in the sentiments of Austria and Prussia-Cause of it-Unprincipled conduct of the Empress CatharineDifference between the Polish and the French Revolutions -Falsehood of the Russian Declaration exposed-Confuted by the Poles A Russian Army enters Poland-The new Constitution is destroyed-Murder of the King of Sweden

Affairs of France-Meeting of the new AssemblyIncreased Influence of the Jacobins-Impolicy of the first Assembly-Its Consequence-Composition of the Legislative Assembly-Power of the Constitutionalists annihilated-The Members of the Assembly swear fidelity to the King and the Constitution-Insult the King and resolve to shew him no marks of Respect-The King's resolution scrupulously to observe and maintain the Constitution-His remarks respecting it The Queen's sentiments congenial with those of the King The King refuses his sanction to two Decrees, for declaring all Emigrants Traitors, and for robbing the Non-juring Priests of their Salaries Seditious Addresses presented to the Assembly, by which they are encouraged-Massacres at St. Domingo-The Massacres of the Whites defended by the Friends of the Blacks-Massacres at Avignon defended by Bazire and by