_Dec. 8th._--D’Alembert’s _Éloges_ of the _Académiciens_ is full of excellent criticism, altho’ he was a mathematician, and might be suspected of requiring in a poet more precision than taste. That of Boileau is very entertaining; it not only contains criticisms of his works, but is full of philosophical observations upon human character and lively anecdotes. The title is disgusting. An _éloge_ implies a laboured panegyric upon the person who is the object, but he has adopted it only in conformity to the usage of ye French Academy, as, in fact, he has not spared Despréaux where a lash was called for. The futile prophecy of Despréaux’s father about him ought to serve as a lesson to parents not to indulge in predictions favourable or the contrary with regard to the abilities and character of their children. Who that has read Boileau can hear without a smile that it was of him that his father said, ‘Pour celui-ci, c’est un bon garçon qui ne dira jamais de mal de personne’? ‘On sent,’ says d’Alembert, ‘à quelle médiocrité sans ressource un père croit son fils condamné, quand il se borne à lui donner un éloge si modeste.’ Disgusted successively by jurisprudence and theology, he became a poet; and as if to belie his father he began by being a satirist, and by a trait of adroit flattery he converted into a friend the D. of Montausier, the declared enemy of raillery. Mr. Fox came and slept here on ye 4th December to attend the Whig Club. He made a speech which has, if possible, added to his unpopularity. He was, in a way, called upon by a man who talked of the _deceptions of O’Connor_, to say something with regard to the evidence he gave at Maidstone. What he said as to that point was liberal and manly, but he unnecessarily added some sentences upon the application of those principles of liberty (which he professed maintaining in common with O’Connor) against the Governt. in Ireland. Very few of his friends attended; Grey and ye D. of Bedford would not go, thinking that as they did not take an active part in Parliament, it was wrong to do anything out of it. Ld. H. wishes, if possible, to abolish the Whig Club, more especially as the reason for which it was instituted subsists no longer, as Mr. Fox has completely seceded. [Sidenote: GREY AND SECESSION]