Burke's "Reflexions on the French Revolution" had produced an open rupture between him and Mr. Fox. In the celebrated and painful scene which occurred in the House of Commons on the 6th of May, 1791, these statesmen unfolded views the most opposite to each other. While Mr. Fox lauded the attempt of the French to establish a free government, Mr. Burke adjured his countrymen to beware the baleful example. When Mr. Burke pronounced the words, "Fly from the French Constitution!" Mr. Fox, who sate near him, whispered that there was no loss of friendship. Mr. Burke at once replied, "Yes there was; he knew the price of his conduct; he had done his duty at the price of his friend: their friendship was at an end." When Mr. Burke had finished Mr. Fox rose to reply, but was so much agitated that tears trickled down his cheeks, and for some minutes he could not proceed. In broken accents he endeavoured to express the pain he felt at what had occurred; referring with deep feeling to the days of his boyhood, when he had received instructions from Mr. Burke, and formed a friendship which had lasted twenty-five years, for the last twenty of which they had acted together, and lived on terms of the most familiar intimacy. On a subsequent day Mr. Burke, in his turn, complained "of being obliged to stand upon his defence by that right honourable gentleman who, when at the age of fourteen years, had been brought to him, and evinced the most promising talents, which he had used his best endeavours to cultivate; and this man, who had arrived at the maturity of being the most brilliant

and powerful debater that ever existed, had described him as having deserted and abandoned every one of his principles!"

While Mr. Burke complained of being accused of deserting his principles, Mr. Fox resented the imputation that, because he rejoiced in the overthrow of the despotism of France, and did not admire the Quebec Bill, he must be tainted with Republican principles. It was in one of these debates that he compared his opponents, who fulsomely and constantly praised the Constitution, to Regan and Goneril, who abounded in panegyrics on their father; while he, like Cordelia," should say he loved the Constitution just as much as a subject of Great Britain ought to love a government under which he enjoyed such blessings."

In these discussions Mr. Fox showed himself frank, open, and generous anxious to preserve the friendship, while he dissented from the views, of Mr. Burke. Their divergence of sentiments regarding the French revolution was indeed such, that as soon as any practical question should arise, in which the French revolution was an element, their political separation was sure to ensue. Indeed, it was easy to foresee, that in the event of a struggle between the Governments of England and France, Mr. Burke would be the fiery advocate of war, while Mr. Fox would be no less sincerely the strenuous friend of peace.

It must, however, be related in this place, that in June, 1792, an effort was made to form a coalition between Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox. The matter is

noticed in Lord Malmesbury's diary, in various passages, of which extracts shall here be given. On June the 10th, 1792, Lord Malmesbury writes:

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Long téte-à-tête conversation with the Duke of Portland. He agreed that the circumstances of the times made a coalition with Pitt a very necessary measure; that the security of the country required it, as well relative to its foreign as to its internal situation. In short, the result of two hours' discussion was, that a coalition was so desirable a measure, that not only every overture tending towards one should be listened to, but even overtures made to promote it, were it practicable." Soon after this Mr. Dundas expressed a wish for a permanent union. He held out the prospect of four vacant cabinet places, the Chancellor, the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, the President of the Council and Privy Seal, besides two or three Privy Councillors' places in the House of Commons, and the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland. On June 13th we find again in Lord Malmesbury's diary: "Duke of Portland said he had seen Fox for two hours. Fox, he said, was a friend to coalition; that he only wished it to be brought about in such a way as it should appear they had not acceded to Pitt's ministry, but went to it on fair and even conditions, to share equally with him all the power, patronage, &c." Such being the disposition, various conferences took place, both as to the principles on which the two parties were to join, and on the distribution of offices. The principles chiefly in question related to the measures of

Parliamentary Reform, the Abolition of the Slave Trade, the Repeal of the Test Act, and the system to be observed relative to French politics. With respect to several of these questions, Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt were agreed in opinion; while the Duke of Portland, Lord Loughborough, and Lord Malmesbury differed from both of them. The next entry in the diary is so curious that I shall give it entire :

"Saturday, June 16th. Dinner at Lord Loughborough's with Fox. While Lord Loughborough was engaged with his company (which were foreigners) I talked with Fox, and afterwards carried him to Burlington House. He had not heard of the last meeting with Pitt; he was full of doubts and misgivings, and did not make himself (as he generally does) practicable. He seemed a little hurt at the first advance not having been made to him; but this I collected from his manner, not from any direct impression. He doubted Pitt's sincerity, and suspected he had no other view than to weaken their party and strengthen his own; that to divide the Opposition was his great object. He doubted also the King's having consented willingly to dismiss the Chancellor, and seemed to think it possible a new Administration might be made through him, from which Pitt was to be excluded. He contended, that it was impossible ever to suppose Pitt would admit him to an equal share of power; and that, whatever might be his own feelings or readiness to give way, he could not, for the sake of the honour and pride of the Party, come in on any other terms. Pitt must have the Treasury, he said,

and he, on his part, had friends in the House of Commons he must attend to. These friends I conceived to be Sheridan, Grey, Erskine, and Lord Robert Spencer. After stating these doubts and difficulties, and dwelling on them with a degree of peevishness and obstinacy very unlike him, he however ended by saying that he loved coalitions; that, as a party man, he thought it a good thing for his Party to come into office, were it only for a month; and, under the particular circumstances of the country, he thought it of very great importance that a strong administration should exist. He reasoned on foreign politics with his usual ability, and on the same system as formerly. When we got to Burlington House he was not inclined to speak, and it was with great difficulty I could lead him and the Duke of Portland into discourse. Fox repeated merely what he had said to me on the way, spoke with acrimony of Pitt, and repeatedly said 'the pride of the Party must be saved.' I observed, purposely, that I conceived, if the Duke of Portland and he were agreed, they necessarily must lead the Party, and that all their friends would follow them. The Duke seemed to acquiesce ; but Fox was silent and embarrassed, and said, with a degree of harshness very unlike his usual manner, that he did not believe that Pitt was sincere, and that, even if he was sincere, he did not believe any coalition could take place. I endeavoured to bring him to— at least, give the proposal fair play-by urging its importance as to public concerns, which he admitted; and I contended that he had no option as a party