twenty years-its accomplishment which fol lowed but a few months afterwards, would have raised our country, even if she had no other illustration, to stand unrivalled amongst nations, and to look up to God Himself to pronounce -"Well done thou good and faithful servant" the ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE leaves every other triumph of humanity and justice almost out of sight behind it, and well entitled Mr. Fox to declare, "that if, during the forty years he had sat in parliament, he had been so fortunate as to accomplish that object, and "THAT ONLY, he should think he had done ENOUGH, and could retire from public life with "the conscious satisfaction that he had done his "duty." 46 66 One short sentence more belongs imperiously to this subject-the name of WILBERFORCE cannot be separated from it-it is of the utmost importance to mankind perpetually to remember, that immortal honor and reputation are the sure rewards of those by whose virtuous, patient, unconquerable perseverance, the blessed cause of universal freedom has been advanced, and the lingering progression of the world urged on in its slow and mysterious course. Being now brought to the conclusion of my letter, and running it over (too hastily I fear) 5 before I could venture to comply with your request that it should be published, I cannot but look back as to the happiest and most honorable circumstance of my life, that I thought and acted with Mr. Fox, through so considerable a part of his time, and that now, in my retirement from the world, (for so I have considered it since my professional course has been closed for ever), I have had the opportunity of thus publicly expressing my veneration for his memory When I followed him to the grave, I was unable from sorrow to support with decent firmness the high place which my station at that period assigned me in the mournful procession, and even now, when thus engaged in the review of his splendid and illustrious career, I cannot but feel the most affectionate and painful regret : — seeking a kind of consolation with his numerous friends, from his being in a manner still living in the Representative of his Family. LORD HOLLAND's personal resemblance has strikingly increased as his age has been advancing to the period of Mr. Fox's meridian -in private life we find in him the same popular manners, arising from the frankness and simplicity of his character, the like. rare union of ardour and gentleness that singular cast of mind, stimulated as it were by a never-ceasing and fervent interest in every possible subject connected with public spirit or private justice; and in parliament we see him, like Fox, the honest advocate for universal but well-balanced liberty, and distinguished, like him, by a bold, manly, vigorous, and impetuous eloquence. Bill for disqualifying certain Revenue Officers from voting for Members of Parliament Dec. 6. Mr. Serjeant Glynn's Motion for a Committee to enquire into the Administration of Criminal Justice, and the Proceedings of the Judges in Westminster Hall in Cases relative to the Bill to repeal a Clause in the Nullum Tempus March 25. Debate on committing the Lord Mayor and Mr. Alderman Oliver to the Tower, for dis- The Reverend John Horne's Libel on the Speaker of the House of Commons............... Address to the King upon the Disturbances in 13. Augmentation of the Forces..... Lord North's Proposition for Conciliation with March 6. Bill for restraining the Commerce of the New May 15. Mr. Burke's Motion for bringing up a Repre- sentation and Remonstrance from the General Oct. 26. Lord John Cavendish's Amendment to the Nov. 22. 1776. 20. Motion for an Addition to the Incomes of the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland 82 |