CHARLES JAMES FOX.

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Mr Fox had built a spacious conservatory. And in the centre of the shrubberry stands a prettily designed open pavillion, lined with spars and shells! The whole of the grounds is marked by a fascinating variety. Here the distinguished possessor passed much of the latter part of his life, enjoying, with an exquisite relish, the pleasures of a classical retirement.

CHARLES JAMES FOX, second son of Henry, Lord Holland, paymaster of the forces, was born in 1748, and educated at Eton School, where his Latin Exercises obtained him great reputation. He entered Parliament in 1768, as a supporter of the Royal Prerogative, though he even then advocated the cause of Religious Liberty. He, however, became a most eloquent opposer of the American War, greatly distinguishing himself, even amidst that constellation of able men, who then formed such a body of oppositionists as Parliament has seldom witnessed. In the year 1780, he was the successful candidate for Westminster, against all the influence of the court. Inspired by a native kindness of heart, a social ease and artless simplicity, Burke justly said of him-" He was a man made to be beloved." He was, indeed, the man of the people. Though the constant and invariable opposer of Mr. Pitt, yet such was the generosity of his disposition, that visiting Lausanne, in 1788, Gibbon says " Mr. Fox gave me, in a few words, such a character of Pitt, as one great man should give of another, his rival." And when Burke, in the

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vehemence of his zeal, renounced the intimate friendship of Fox, on account of his political principles, the tenderness of Mr. Fox's feelings was displayed in a burst of tears! On the death of Pitt, in 1806, Mr. Fox became Secretary of State for the Foreign Department. But a dropsy now making its appearance, put an end to his valuable life, September 13, 1806, in the 59th year of his age. He expired at the house of the Duke of Devonshire, Chiswick, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. The funeral was grand, the spectators innumerable, and the countenance of every one present seemed to indicate the loss of a real friend to his country. I had the honour to witness the melancholy procession, and well remember the sombrous feelings excited on the occasion. Dr. Aikin remarks," That the last of his public acts was one which alone would embalm his memory. The Abolition of the SLAVE TRADE, to which Mr. Pitt gave his eloquence, but not his authority, was by his influence rendered a solemn act of both Houses of Parliament, in the face of an opposition from which almost every other minister would have shrunk; and there is too much reason to suppose, that had it not been carried into effect, whilst this real friend of humanity yet survived, England would not at this day have been able to glory in setting such an example to the nations of EUROPE!" As to the person of Mr. Fox, his countenance was peculiar and striking, with black bushy eye-brows, and features indicating thought and sagacity. He was short and broad set,

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inclining to corpulency. His character may be

summed up

in these four lines

A PATRIOT's even course he steer'd,

'Mid Faction's wildest storms unmoved; By ALL who marked his mind, rever'd

By ALL who knew his heart, Beloved!

His publications were, his Letter to the Electors of Westminster, in 1793, and Sketch of the Character of the late Francis, Duke of Bedford, 1802. Since his death, his nephew, Lord Holland, (a nobleman worthy of such a relaitve,) published a quarto volume, relative to the Transactions of James the Second, a precious relic, but uncompleted; and his Speeches, in six octavo volumes, with an eloquent prefatory Introduction, by his friend the justly celebrated Lord Erskine. His Lordship also, in a very interesting work, entitled Armata, a Fragment, just published, has thus described MR. Fox, and it will form a suitable conclusion:-"Never was a being gifted with an understanding so perfect, nor aided by a perception which suffered nothing to escape from its dominion. He was never known to omit any thing which in the slightest degree could affect the matter to be considered, nor to confound things at all distinguishable, however apparently the same; and his conclusions were always so luminous and convincing, that you might as firmly depend upon them, as when substances in nature lie before you in the palpable forms assigned to them from the foundation of the

world. Such were the qualifications for the office of a Statesman, and his profound knowledge always under the guidance of the sublime simplicity of his heart, softening without unnerving the giant strength of his intellect, gave a character to his ELOQUENCE which I shall not attempt to describe, knowing nothing by which it may be compared."

His private secretary, Mr. Bernard Trotter, published an interesting account of MR. Fox's latter years, honourable to his character and memory.、

STAINES, through which we passed, is a market town, situated sixteen miles from the metropolis, and at the extremity of the County of Middlesex. The name is derived from Stana, the Saxon for stone, alluding to a boundary stone, bearing date 1280. This indicates the extent of the jurisdiction of the city of London over the Thames westward. In the year 1781, during the mayoralty of Sir Watkin Lewes, it was repaired and placed on a new pedestal, but the ancient scite religiously preserved. The town is chiefly one street, and a bustle pervades the most populous parts of it. The church is at the extremity of the town, but has nothing remarkable, with one singular exception. In a small apartment, under the stair-case, leading to the gallery, is presented the spectacle of two unburied coffins, containing human bodies, covered with crimson velvet! They are placed beside each other on trestles, bearing respectively the following inscriptions:

"Jessie Aspasia, the most excellent and truly be

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loved wife of Fred. W. Campbell, Esq., of Barbeck, N. B. and of Woodlands, Surry. Died in her 28th year, July 11, 1812.

Henry E. A. Caulfield, Esq., died September 8, 1808, aged 29 years."

The Sexton tells us, that the lady was daughter of W. T. Caulfield, Esq., of Rahanduff, in Ireland, by Jessie, daughter of James, third Lord Ruthven, and that she bore with exemplary patience a fatal disorder, produced by grief on the death of her brother. They now lie together in unburied solemnity! In this town there are many Dissenters; Quakers, Independents and Baptists, have each places of worship; to their honour be it recorded, that they live together in Christian candour and harmony.

Egham, on the left as we drove along, is a small place, eighteen miles from London. Here are neat alms-houses founded by Sir John Denham, father of the Poet, who wrote Cooper's Hill, a Poem of no mean reputation :- :

On COOPER'S HILL eternal wreaths shall grow,

While lasts the mountain or while Thames shall flow;

I seem through consecrated walks to rove,

I hear soft music die along the grove;

Led by the sound I rove from shade to shade,

By godlike poets venerable made;

Here his first lays majestic DENHAM sung,

There the last numbers flow'd from Cowley's tongue!

POPE.

DENHAM was born at Dublin, 1615, his father being then Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland.

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