The discussions arising out of the question of the French Revolu tion, replete as they are with publio interest, are also important in a life of Fox, on account of their having led to a termination not merely of his political alliance, but also of his friendship with Mr. Burke. The difference of their opinions on that great question had been shown so early as in February 1790, during a discussion on the army estimates. At this time however, each spoke of the other in terms of kindness and regard. But it was not always thus. When on the 6th of May 1791, the Quebec Government Bill, or Bill for regulating the govern ment of Upper and Lower Canada, came under discussion, Mr. Burke rose and was proceeding to deliver a violent diatribe against the French Revolution, when, after he had been several times ineffectually called to order, it was moved by Lord Sheffield, and seconded by Fox, "that dissertations on the French constitution, and narrations of transactions in France, are not regular nor orderly on the question; that the claims of the Quebec Bill be read a second time." The remarks made by Fox in seconding the motion, though wearing an appearance of candour and avast friendliness, were calculated to irritate his former friend; and when Burke rose to reply, he did so under the influence of strong excitement, and complained bitterly that ho had not been i treated by Fox as one friend should be treated by another. He observed, towards 'the conclusion of his speech, that it certaiuly was indiscreet at his time of life to provoke enemies, or give his friends occasion to desert him ; yet if his firm and steady adherence to the British constitution placed him iu such a dilemma, ho would risk all; and, as public duty and public prudence taught him, with his last breath exclaim, "Fly from the French constitution." Fox here whispered that there was no lose of friendship. "Yes, there is," exclaimed Burke, "I know the price of my conduct; I have done my duty at the price of my friend: our friendship is at an end." At the conclusion of Mr. Burke's epeech, Fox rose, but it was some minutes before his tears allowed him to proceed. So soon as he could speak, he pressed upon Mr. Burke the claims of a friendship of five-and twenty years' duration, but to no purposo, and the breach was never made whole.
Fos distinguished himself during the same session of 1791 by his opposition to the ministerial project of an ermament against Russia, by his support of Mr. Wilberforce's motion for tho abolition of the slave-trade, and by the introduction of a bill for the amendment of the law of libeL From the latter part of 1792 to 1797 his efforts were unceasing, first to prevent a war with France, and afterwards, when his warnings had been of uo avail, and it had been entered into, to bring it to a close. During this period many of his friends, filled with alarm at the progress of events in France, and their probable influence on their own countrymen, left him to swell the majorities of the minister; and pitiable indeed were the minorities by which Fox's motions, one after the other, were supported ; but this in no way dauuted him. We must mention also the support which, in 1793, he gave to Mr. (afterwards Earl) Grey's famous motion for parliament ary reform, his eloquent advocacy in 1794 of the cause of Muir and Palmer, the Scottish political martyrs, his indefatigable opposition to the treason and sedition bills of 1795, and his attempt to procure attention to the state of Ireland and to the grievances of Irish Catholics, by a motion made in 1797, as additional important incidents during that period of his career, the principal object of which was opposition to the first French revolutionary war.
On the 26th of May 1797 Mr. Grey made a second motion on the subject of parliamentary reform. Fox took this opportunity of
announcing a resolution which he had formed to discontinue his attendance at the house, seeing that he and his friends were destitute of power to carry out their views. It is perhaps a question whether such a step as this can be taken by a member of the legislature without dereliction of duty, even though it may be a means of influencing the public mind, and through it the legislature ; and though the consent of the member's special constituents may have been procured thereto. But at the same time it would be unjust to apply to tho conduct of Individuals acting under a very defective system of representation testa which spring from, and form parts of, a perfect theory. The five years then, from 1797 to 1802, were passed by Fox principally at St. Ann's Hill, In retirement, and in the pursuits of literature. It was during this period of retirement that he formed the project of his History of the Reign of James II.' A dissolution of parliament took place in June 1802, and Fox, whose popularity with his constituents had not been a whit diminished by his absenting himself from the house, was again returned for Westminster. Almost immediately after his re-election he paid a visit to Paris, principally for the purpose of collecting documents for his projected historical work. Duriug his stay In Paris it is said that he was treated with marked attention by Napoleon I.
Mr. Pitt bad retired from office in March 1801, on finding himself unable to procure the king's assent to the measure of Catholic emanci pation; and he bad been then succeeded by Mr. Addington. The uew ministers had almost immediately set about negociations for peace with France; and when the preliminary articles, signed at London on the 1st of October 1801, bed come under discussion in the House of Common., Fox had emerged from his retirement to express his joy at the prospect now opened of a conclusion of the war, and to give his beat support to the ministry. He appeared again in his place on the meeting of the new parliament, in the autumn of 1802, still hoping to contribute to the bringing about of peace, but beginning by this time to doubt the sincerity of the ministers. A message from the crown, in May 1803, announced that the negociations were broken off. The following year Mr. Addington resigned office, unable to stand against an opposition which included both Fox and Pitt. It was now hoped that Pitt, to whom was intrusted the making of the ministerial arrangements, would be able to avail himself of the services of Fox, by whose side, though not in recognised conjunction, he had been now sitting for some time in opposition. But the king would not hear of Fox being admitted to office. Lord Grenville, Lord Spcucor, Mr. Windham, and others, who, like Pitt, had been latterly co-operating with Fox, refused to take any part In an administration from which Fox was excluded ; and Pitt was thus compelled to throw himself upon the scattered subordinates of the Addington ministry. Peace came not from this ministry. On the 23rd of January 1806, l'itt's death dissolved It; and in the new ministry which was formed under Lord Grenville, Fox was appointed secretary of state for foreign affairs. His life was spared but for seven months longer ; but during this short period he did much towards the abolition of the slave-trade, which had over been one of the objects that he most cared for and he entered zealously into negociations for peace with France, which it was a heavy misfortune to his country that his death did not allow him to complete. lie died on the 13th of September 1800, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. The complaint which caused his death was water on the chest.