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BURKE 265 tion, by references to measyres which Burke had either proposed or promoted, and by many apposite quotations from his speeches. This repetition of the charge of incon- sistency prevented the impression which his affectionate and conciliating language and behaviour might otherwise have made on Burke. "It would be difficult," says Dr. Bisset, "to determine with certainty whether consti- tutional irritability or public principle was the chief cause of Burke's sacrifice of that friendship which he had so long cherished, and of which the talents and qualifications of its object rendered him so worthy. Another reason has been assigned, which might, perhaps, have had some weight in this determination. It is stated, that an obser- vation of Fox, on the "Reflections," that they were rather to be regarded as an effusion of poetic genius, than a philosophical investigation, had reached Burke's ears; a remark which mortified him as an author, and displeased him as a friend. Be this as it may, from the time of this debate, he remained at complete variance with Mr. Fox, and even treated him with great asperity in some of his subsequent publications. Some days after this discussion, the following paragraph appeared in the Morning Chronicle-The great and firm body of the Whigs of England have decided on the dis- pute between Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke; and the former is declared to have maintained the pure doctrines by which they are bound together, and upon which they have inva- riably acted. The consequence is, that Mr. Burke retires from parliament." After this consiguation to retirement, Mr. Burke no longer.took any prominent part in the pro- ceedings of parliament, except with regard to the French revolution and the prosecution of Hastings, which being terminated by the acquittal of that gentleman in the sum- mer of 1794, he soon after resigned bis seat, and retired to his villa at Beaconsfield, where, on the end of August in the same year, he met with a severe domestic calamity, in the death of his only son. In the beginning of the year he