us to ascertain in some degree the views of the enemy; and would tend either to realize, or to remove, those ideas so generally entertained in this country of the intentions of Bonaparte to infringe upon its honour, its interests, or its rights. If these apprehensions should be dissipated by any proposals which he might make, the way to pacification would then be prepared; if, on the contrary, they should be confirmed, every difference of opinion in this country, as to the expediency or practicability of peace, would be effectually removed; and every possible privation would not only be chearfully submitted to, but the temporary calamities incident to any portion of our fellow subjects, who may be more particularly liable to suffer from the effects of long protracted hostilities, or by the loss of commercial intercourse, would doubtless be alleviated by the liberality of the more wealthy part of the community, or the timely aid of the nation at large. If, however, we should be

compelled by the ambitious views and unreasonable demands of our adversary to continue the war, let our efforts be directed by magnanimity and public spirit, supported by prudence and economy, and above all, let us endeavour to reconcile the world to our cause by conducting ourselves with integrity, with strict adherence to good faith, and with inviolable justice. It is by such means, and by such means only, that we can hope to render any war either popular or successful. To stain the honour, to degrade the character, and to violate the good faith of the nation; to attempt either to secure ourselves, or to annoy our enemies, by acts of cruelty, of treachery, and of injustice, unauthorized by the general laws of society, and the practice of civilized states, is to acknowledge that we can no longer rely on the virtue, energy, and courage, which have hitherto distinguished and preserved this country through all er difficulties; it is to render ourselves the just objects of resent

ment, of dread, and of abhorrence, to the rest of the world, and cannot fail to accelerate that ruin which must be the unavoidable consequence of that debasement of public spirit, and of private virtue, to which such a course of conduct cannot fail to give rise.

POSTSCRIPT.

PERHAPS there never was an instance of a more gross and unfounded calumny than in a recent attempt to asperse the memory, and impeach the veracity of the late Mr. Fox, by insinuating that the proposal made to him. respecting the assassination of the French Ruler, as related by him in his letter to M. Talleyrand, was a story fabricated by himself, for the purpose of bringing on a negociation with France. The more immediate friends of Mr. Fox have disdained to take any public notice of the false assertions, and scandalous imputations to which I allude; and I can scarcely suppose that any of my readers require further evidence than what is contained in Mr. Fox's letter, of a fact, with regard to which his character and veracity are opposed to the malicious and wanton accusations which have been made against him. But that no possible doubt may hereafter remain as to this transaction, and for the entire refutation of these slanders, I think it incumbent upon me to state, from indisputable authority, that

there exists evidence, in documents at the Alien Office, of the arrival at Gravesend, of the person named and described in Mr. Fox's letter; of his application from that place for an audience with Mr. Fox; of his private interview with that Gentleman at his house in Arlington-street; of Mr. Fox's order, in the first instance, to send the Frenchman out of the kingdom, and of his subsequent revocation of that order; in consequence of which, the intended assassin was detained in custody three weeks, and was then embarked at Harwich, on board a vessel bound for Husum.

When

to these particulars it is added, that the person who accompanied the Frenchman to the interview with Mr. Fox, and who acted under his directions in the measures taken for sending him out of the kingdom, was Mr. Brooke, who yet holds the same situation in the Alien Office, as he did under the administration of Mr. Fox, I trust it will be wholly unnecessary for me to state any thing further in vindication of that distinguished character, against so malignant and foul a charge.

THE END.