FOX ELECTED FOR WESTMINSTER.

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longer exist which then, we may presume, influenced his action; such as the corruption of Parliament, the imperfect representation of public opinion, and the excessive power of the Crown.

The Gordon "No Popery" Riots in June, 1780, seem to have inclined the Government to seek the support of the Rockingham party, and negotiations were opened between Lord North and its principal members. As they proved abortive, no special reference to them is necessary, further than to indicate the King's continued prejudice against Fox. He absolutely refused to admit him to any ministerial office, but suggested that he would be content with one of a lucrative character, though not in the administration. "He never had any principle," writes the generous monarch, "and can therefore act as his interest may guide him." The negotiations also show that Lord North, at heart, deeply regretted the King's obstinate perseverance in the American War, and his aversion to the admission into his councils of the advocates of peace, reform, and economy.

At the general election of 1780, Fox stood for Westminster, and was returned by a large majority over his competitor, Lord Lincoln. He was afterwards carried in triumph through the borough. In February, he supported Burke's bill for the reduction of the enormous Civil List. (This was on the 26th). "The young men in Opposition," says Walpole, "made a considerable figure, particularly John Townshend [second son to the Viscount], Sheridan [then manager of Drury Lane Theatre], both intimate friends of Charles Fox, and William Pitt, who Lord North declared made the best

first speech he ever heard." Said a member to Fox, after hearing this oration, "He will be one of the first men in Parliament." "He is so already," was Fox's reply.* The future rivals were thus for a time thrown side by side, and there can be little doubt but that their political views and inclinations were not very dissimilar. But Pitt necessarily attached himself to the Chatham section of the Whigs, against whose recognised leader, Lord Shelburne, Fox entertained a strong prejudice. Moreover, two suns cannot shine in one hemisphere; and the harmonious cooperation of two men so nearly equal in intellectual power but so different in character, even though holding the same principles, could hardly extend over any considerable period.

Fox's devotion to his parliamentary duties was at no time incompatible with his pursuit of excitement in other

*Lord Holland relates that Fox hastened to compliment and congratulate the young member. As he was doing so, a General Grant passed by them and said, "Aye, Mr. Fox, you are praising young Pitt for his speech. You may well do so; for, excepting yourself, there's no man in the House can make such another; and, old as I am, I expect and hope to hear you both battling it within those walls, as I have done your fathers before you." Mr. Fox, disconcerted at the awkward turn of the compliment, was silent and looked foolish; but young Pitt, with great delicacy, readiness, and felicity of expression, answered, "I have no doubt, General, you would like to attain the age of Methusaleh." He had not, however, to attain to such longevity to see his prediction fulfilled. Sir Samuel Romilly, 'Memoirs,' i. 192, says :-" William Pitt, the late Lord Chatham's son, has made a great figure this session in Parliament; he has spoken only twice, but both his speeches have gained him uncommon approbation. Applause was echoed from one side of the House to the other; and Fox, in an exaggerated strain of panegyric, said he could no longer lament the loss of Lord Chatham, for he was again living in his son, with all his virtues and all his talents."

SOCIAL EXCESSES.

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and less commendable forms. In May, 1781, we find Walpole writing to Horace Mann : "Gaming is yet general, though money, the principal ingredient, does not abound. My old favourite game, 'faro,' is lately revived. . . . Mr. Fox is the first figure in all the places I have mentioned, the hero in Parliament, at the gaming-table, at Newmarket. Last week he passed twenty-four hours without interruption at all three, or on the road from the one to the other." It is a proof of our advance in social morality that such excesses nowadays would infallibly prevent their author from attaining a Parliamentary position, and burden him with popular odium. On the 2nd of June, Fox's library, which some remorseless creditor had seized, was sold by auction. "Amongst the books," says Walpole, "was Mr. Gibbon's first volume of Roman History, which appeared by the title-page to have been given by the author to Mr. Fox, who had written in it the following anecdote :—' The author, at Burke's, said there was no salvation for this country till six heads of the principal persons in the administration were laid on the table; eleven days after, this same gentleman accepted the place of Lord of Trade, under those very Ministers, and has acted with them ever since!"" Such was the avidity of bidders for the smallest production of so conspicuous a politician, that owing to the addition of this little record the book sold for three guineas.

In March, 1782, the North Administration, probably the worst that ever controlled the affairs of this country, was driven from office. On Lord North himself, however, our judgment need not be too severe. While we

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LORD NORTH'S ADMINISTRATION.

cannot but blame him for carrying out a policy which he is known to have disapproved. We must remember that he was prevented from resigning office by the urgent pressure put upon him by the King. His unfortunate facility of disposition, and his exaggerated sense of the duty of a subject, made him the pliant instrument of an obstinate and narrow-minded monarch; but, as a man, his genial temper secured him a host of friends, and even his opponents could not but admire his considerable parts and his facile wit. He had risen into special favour with George the 3rd, because, in a time of much difficulty and danger, on the resignation of the Duke of Grafton, he had consented to assume the office of First Lord of the Treasury. And whatever may be thought of the measures which he introduced, or of his system of administration generally, it must be allowed that he manifested on all occasions no ordinary courage and capacity. Scarcely any prime minister has been called upon to contend against such formidable antagonists as those with whom Lord North crossed swords; such opponents as Chatham, and Burke, and Fox, supported by Barré, Dunning, Townshend, Lee, and a host of other able debaters. Nor have many Ministers had to encounter such critical difficulties; discontent at home, hostile alliances on the Continent, and a revolt in America; all aggravated and augmented by the absolutist tendencies of the sovereign. "Such was the strife," says Brougham, "and in such untoward circumstances, which Lord North had to maintain, with the help only of his attorney and solicitorgenerals, Thurlow and Wedderburne, to whom was afterwards added Dundas. But a weight far more than sufficient

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to counterbalance this accession was at the same time flung into the opposite scale, and rendered its preponderance still more decided. Mr. Pitt signalized his entrance into Parliament by the most extraordinary eloquence, at once matured and nearly perfect in its kind, and by lending all its aid and all its ornament to the Opposition. Nothing daunted, the veteran minister persevered in maintaining the conflict, and was only driven from the helm after he had fought triumphantly for six years against the greater part of the Whig chiefs, and desperately for two more against the whole of the body thus powerfully reinforced." Conspicuous in this long and unequal war were his knowledge of men, his remarkable tact, his strong common-sense, his fluency and ease of speech, and his almost unfailing suavity of temper.

Of the ready wit with which he so often turned away wrath, and foiled the attack of an adversary, few examples have come down to us; but it was evidently spontaneous and good humoured," a pleasant, affable, recommending sort of wit," the wit of a gentleman, not of a professed epigrammatist. Like the late Lord Palmerston, he frequently refreshed himself during a dull debate by a sound slumber. On one occasion, a furious opponent, observing him thus engaged, bitterly

* Soon after his resignation he remarked, that the Opposition, who had always complained of his publishing lying Gazettes, were no sooner in office than they set off with a Gazette more full of lies than any of his had been, for it contained a string of paragraphs each beginning, "His Majesty has been pleased to appoint, etc.," when it is certain that the king was not pleased at any one of those appointments.-SIR S. ROMILLY, 'Memoirs,' i. 217.