The historic gallery of portraits and paintings: and biographical review : containing a brief account of the lives of the moost celebrated men, in every age and country : and graphic imitations of the fines specimens of the arts, ancient and modern : with remarks, critical and explanatory (Band 7) (London: Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe, 1811)

FOX.

Charles James Fox, who died in 1806, one of
his majesty’s principal secretaries of state, may justly
be considered as one of our greatest contemporaries.
For more than twenty years he headed the opposition
in the House of Commons, and was the constant po-
litical adversary of Mr. Pitt. This struggle between
two such eminent men gave the greatest interest to
all the debates during that period, and fixed the atten-
tion of all parties.
In truth, the war of which the independence of
America was the object; the long-pending trial of
Hastings, the governor of India; the French revolu-
tion, and the great struggle to which it gave rise ; the
abolition of the slave trade; the emancipation of the
catholics of Ireland; and the important question of
of the regency, were discussions highly susceptible of
interest. In slightly reviewing these great events, we
shall merely observe, that Fox strenuously opposed
the declaration and continuance of the war against
America, and foretold its disgraceful issue; and that
he contended with equal energy against the rash and
ineffectual attempts to crush the spirit of freedom in
France. Upon these occasions he fearlessly risked the
loss of his popularity. And when, as minister, he had
it in his power to act upon the principles which he
had always professed, he was on the point of realizing
the high expectations raised by his splendid notions in
favour of peace, when death closed his mortal career.