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removed。 Had they happened to have been contemporaries； it would
be difficult to form an idea of two individuals who； alike from
tastes； feelings； and habits of life； were more likely to form a
lasting and suitable intimacy。 Both were men of high rank； both
united an intimate knowledge of society and the world with the
ardent temperament of a poet； and both in youth mingled a love of
frolic and pleasure with a graver taste for literary pursuits。'
CHARLES JAMES FOX。
In the midst of the infatuated votaries of the gaming god in
England； towers the mighty intellectual giant Charles James Fox。
Nature had fashioned him to be equally an object of admiration
and love。 In addition to powerful eloquence； he was
distinguished by the refinement of his taste in all matters
connected with literature and art； he was deeply read in history；
had some claims to be regarded as a poet； and possessed a
thorough knowledge of the classical authors of antiquity； a
knowledge of which he so often and so happily availed
himself in his seat in the House of Commons。 To these qualities
was added a good…humour which was seldom ruffled；a peculiar
fascination of manner and address；the most delightful powers of
conversation；a heart perfectly free from vindictiveness；
ostentation； and deceit；a strong sense of justice；a thorough
detestation of tyranny and oppression；and an almost feminine
tenderness of feeling for the sufferings of others。
Unfortunately； however； his great talents and delightful
qualities in private life rendered his defects the more glaring
and lamentable； indeed； it is difficult to think or speak with
common patience of those injurious practices and habitsthat
abandonment to self…gratification； and that criminal waste of the
most transcendent abilities which exhausted in social
conviviality and the gaming table what were formed to confer
blessings on mankind。
So much for the character of Fox； as I have gathered from Mr
Jesse；＇123＇ and I continue the extremely interesting subject by
quoting from that delightful book； ‘The Queens of
Society。'＇124＇ ‘With a father who had made an enormous fortune；
with little principle； out of a public officefor Lord Holland
owed the bulk of his wealth to his appointment of paymaster to
the forces；and who spoiled him； in his boyhood； Charles James
Fox had begun life _AS A FOP OF THE FIRST WATER_； and squandered
L50；000 in debt before he became of age。 Afterwards he
indulged recklessly and extravagantly in every course of
licentiousness which the profligate society of the day opened to
him。 At Brookes' and the Thatched House Fox ate and drank to
excess； threw thousands upon the Faro table； mingled with
blacklegs； and made himself notorious for his shameless vices。
Newmarket supplied another excitement。 His back room was so
incessantly filled with Jew money…lenders that he called it his
Jerusalem Chamber。 It was impossible that such a life should not
destroy every principle of honour； and there is nothing
improbable in the story that he appropriated to himself money
which belonged to his dear friend Mrs Crewe； as before related。
＇123＇ George Selwyn and his Contemporaries； ii。
＇124＇ By Grace and Philip Wharton。
‘Of his talents； which were certainly great； he made an affected
display。 Of his learning he was proudbut rather as adding
lustre to his celebrity for universal tastes。 He was not at all
ashamed； but rather gloried in being able to describe himself as
a fool； as he does in his verses to Mrs Crewe：
〃Is't reason？ No； that my whole life will belie；
For； who so at variance as reason and I？
Is't ambition that fills up each chink in my heart；
Nor allows any softer sensation a part？
Oh！ no； for in this all the world must agree；
_ONE FOLLY WAS NEVER SUFFICIENT FOR ME_。〃
‘Sensual and self…indulgentwith a grossness that is even patent
on his very portrait ＇and bust＇； Fox had nevertheless a manner
which enchanted the sex； and he was the only politician of the
day who thoroughly enlisted the personal sympathies of women of
mind and character； as well as of those who might be captivated
by his profusion。 When he visited Paris in later days； even
Madame Recamier； noted for her refinement； and of whom he
himself said； with his usual coarse ideas of the sphere of woman；
that 〃she was the only woman who united the attractions of
pleasure to those of modesty；〃 delighted to be seen with him！
At the time of which we are speaking the most celebrated beauties
of England were his most ardent supporters。
‘The election of 1784； in which he stood and was returned
for Westminster； was one of the most famous of the old riotous
political demonstrations。 。 。 。 。 Loving _hazard_ of all kinds
for its own sake； Fox had made party hostility a new sphere of
gambling； had adopted the character of a demagogue； and at a time
when the whole of Europe was undergoing； a great revolution in
principles； was welcomed gladly as 〃The Man of the People。〃 In
the beginning； of the year he had been convicted of bribery； but
in spite of this his popularity increased。 。 。 。 The election
for Westminster； in which Fox was opposed by Sir Cecil Wray； was
the most tempestuous of all。 There were 20；000 votes to be
polled； and the opposing parties resorted to any means of
intimidation； or violence； or persuasion which political
enthusiasm could suggest。 On the eighth day the poll was against
the popular member； and he called upon his friends to make a
great effort on his behalf。 It was then that the 〃ladies'
canvass〃 began。 Lady Duncannon； the Duchess of Devonshire； Mrs
Crewe； and Mrs Damer dressed themselves in blue and buffthe
colours of the American Independents； which Fox had adopted and
wore in the House of Commonsand set out to visit the
purlieus of Westminster。 Here； in their enthusiasm； they shook
the dirty hands of honest workmen； expressed the greatest
interest in their wives and families； and even； as in the case of
the Duchess of Devonshire and the butcher； submitted their fair
cheeks to be kissed by the possessors of votes！ At the butcher's
shop； the owner； in his apron and sleeves； stoutly refused his
vote； except on one condition〃Would her Grace give him a
kiss？〃 The request was granted； and the vote thus purchased
went to swell the majority which finally secured the return of
〃The Man of the People。〃
‘The colouring of political friends； which concealed his vices；
or rather which gave them a false hue； has long since faded away。
We now know Fox as he _WAS_。 In the latest journals of Horace
Walpole his inveterate gambling； his open profligacy； his utter
want of honour； is disclosed by one of his own opinion。
Corrupted ere yet he had left his home； whilst in age a boy；
there is； however； the comfort of reflecting that he outlived his
vices which seem to have 〃cropped out〃 by his ancestral
connection in the female line with the reprobate