Illness of Mr. Fox-Fatigues and Embarrassments of Office add Strength to his Maladies-Death of Mr. Fox-The Public Affliction at this Intelli- gence-Procession at his Interment-His Private Character-Short View of his Political Life--The Financial and Military Arrangements of his Administration-His Motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade-His Conduct with respect to Foreign Powers-His Efforts for Peace--Is suo ceeded by Lord Percy for Westminster-Dissolution of Parliament- Boisterousness and Rudeness attending the New Elections-Influence of the People in Southwark, Liverpool, and other Places-Conduct of Sir Fran- cis Burdett, nominated for Middlesex-Trial of Lord Melville. Order of Council for regulating the trade to Buenos Ayres, Sept. 17 (161) Order of Council concerning the West India trade, Se, t. 17 Order of Council concerning Duties to be levied at Buenos Ayres, Oct. 1 His Majesty's Declaration relative to Prussia (ibid.) France, Oct. 21 (1704 Speech of the Speaker of the House of Commons, conveying the Thanks of the House to the Managers of Lord Melville's Impeachment. (238) Address of the Corporation of London on the change of Ministers, presented AMERICA. Message from the President to the House of Representatives Proclamation of General Bernadotte to the Inhabitants of the Country of (ibid.) GERMAN and RUSSIAN PAPERS Proclamation of Francis II. (254) Royal Decree of Louis Napoleon, Hague, Dec. 15 PUBLIC ACTS passed in the Fourth Session of the Second Imperial Last Senes of the Life of Thomas Dermody New Process for clearing Feathers from their Animal Oil New Method of Cleansing Silk, Woollen, and Cotton Goods, without Da- CHA P. III. CHA P. IV. Containing the Transactions of Literary Societies, Biography, Antiquities, Philology, Classics, Poetry, Drama, Novels, Tales, and Romances [352] CHAP. II. CHA P. III. CHA P. IV. THE HISTORY OF KNOWLEDGE, LITERATURE, THE AND TASTE, IN GREAT BRITAIN, DURING THE REIGN OF WILLIAM III. PART III. HE reign of William commenced under circumstances apparently unfavourable to the cultivation of literature and taste. The revolution itself was an event of such magnitude as could not but throw a shade of obscurity over all contemporary objects: the state of the country had absorbed the public mind, and to trace the fortunes of war abroad, or watch the fluctuations of party at home, became more or less the business of every individual in the community. The fashion of the court was changed ;-few of the wits of Charles the second survived to observe the career of those youthful rivals who were to lend such lustre to the age of Anne. The reign of William presents an interval between those brilliant æras, which renders the character of each more distinct. Of those writers who had acquired eminence during the preceding reigns, there yet remain some deserving of notice ;-sir William Temple still lived and flourished, venerable for age and wisdom, for patriotism and integrity. He had long withdrawn from court, but in his retreat at Moorpark was visited by king William, who often asked, and, what was more important, often embraced his salutary counsels. b 3 Bishop |