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vices which seem to have 〃cropped out〃 by his ancestral
connection in the female line with the reprobate Charles II。；
whom he was thought to resemble in features。 Fox；
afterwards； with a green apron tied round his waist； pruning and
nailing up his fruit trees at St Ann's Hill； or amusing himself
innocently with a few friends； is a pleasing object to remember；
even whilst his early career occurs forcibly to the mind。'
Peace； then； to the shade of Charles James Fox！ The three last
public acts which he performed were worthy of the man； and should
suffice to prove that； in spite of his terrible failings； he was
most useful in his generation。 By one； he laboured to repair the
outrages of warto obtain a breathing time for our allies； and；
by an extension of our commerce； to afford； if necessary； to his
country all the advantages of a renovated contest； without the
danger of drying up our resources。 By another； he attempted to
remove all legal disabilities arising out of religionto unite
more closely _THE INTERESTS OF IRELAND WITH THOSE OF ENGLAND；_
and thus； by an extension of common rights； and a participation
of common benefits； wisely to render that which has always been
considered the weakest and most troublesome portion of our
empire； at least a useful and valuable part of England's
greatness among the nations。 Queen Elizabeth's Minister；
Lord Burleigh； in the presence of the ‘Irish difficulty' in his
day； wished Ireland at the bottom of the sea； and doubtless many
at the present time wish the same； but Fox endeavoured to grapple
with it manfully and honestly； and it was not his fault that he
did not settle it。 The vices of Fox were those of the age in
which he lived； had he been reserved for the present epoch； what
a different biography should we have to write of him！ What a
helmsman he might be at the present time； when the ship of Old
England is at sea and in peril！
It appears from a letter addressed by Lord Carlisle to Lady
Holland （Fox's mother） in 1773； that he had become security for
Fox to the amount of fifteen or sixteen thousand pounds； and a
letter to Selwyn in 1777； puts the ruinous character of their
gaming transactions in the strongest light。 Lord Ilchester
（Fox's cousin） had lost thirteen thousand pounds at one sitting
to Lord Carlisle； who offered to take three thousand pounds down。
Nothing was paid。 But ten years afterwards； when Lord Carlisle
pressed for his money； he complained that an attempt was made to
construe the offer into a _remission_ of the ten thousand
pounds：‘The only way； in honour； that Lord Ilchester could
have accepted my offer； would have been by taking some steps to
pay the L3000。 I remained in a state of uncertainty； I think；
for nearly three years； but his taking no notice of it during
that time； convinced me that he had no intention of availing
himself of it。 Charles Fox was also at a much earlier period
clear that he never meant to accept it。 There is also great
injustice in the behaviour of the family in passing by the
instantaneous payment of； I believe； five thousand pounds； to
Charles； won at the same sitting； without any observations。 _At
one period of the play I remember there was a balance in favour
of one of these gentlemen （but which I protest I do not remember）
of about fifty thousand_。'
At the time in question Fox was hardly eighteen。 The following
letter from Lord Carlisle； written in 1771； contains highly
interesting information respecting the youthful habits and
already vast intellectual pre…eminence of this memorable
statesman：‘It gives me great pain to hear that Charles begins
to be unreasonably impatient at losing。 I fear it is the
prologue to much fretfulness of temper； for disappointment in
raising money； and any serious reflections upon his
situation； will （in spite of his affected spirits and
dissipation） occasion him many disagreeable moments。' Lord
Carlisle's fears proved groundless in this respect。 As before
stated； Fox was always remarkable for his sweetness of temper；
which remained with him to the last； but it is most painful to
think how much mankind has lost through his recklessness。
Gibbon writes to Lord Sheffield in 1773； ‘You know Lord Holland
is paying Charles Fox's debts。 They amount to L140；000。'＇125＇
＇125＇ Timbs； _Club Life in London_。
His love of play was desperate。 A few evenings before he moved
the repeal of the Marriage Act； in February； 1772； he had been at
Brompton on two errands；one to consult Justice Fielding on the
penal laws； the other to borrow L10；000； which he brought to
town at the hazard of being robbed。 He played admirably both at
Whist and Piquet；with such skill； indeed； that by the general
admission of Brookes' Club； he might have made four thousand
pounds a…year； as they calculated； at these games； if he could
have confined himself to them。 But his misfortune arose from
playing games of chance； particularly at Faro。
After eating and drinking plentifully； he would sit down at
the Faro table； and invariably rose a loser。 Once； indeed； and
once only； he won about eight thousand pounds in the course of a
single evening。 Part of the money he paid to his creditors； and
the remainder he lost almost immediately。
Before he attained his thirtieth year he had completely
dissipated everything that he could either command or could
procure by the most ruinous expedients。 He had even undergone；
at times； many of the severest privations incidental to the
vicissitudes that attend a gamester's progress； frequently
wanting money to defray the common daily wants of the most
pressing nature。 Topham Beauclerc； who lived much in Fox's
society； declared that no man could form an idea of the
extremities to which he had been driven to raise money； often
losing his last guinea at the Faro table。 The very sedan…
chairmen； whom he was unable to pay； used to dun him for arrears。
In 1781； he might be considered as an extinct volcano；for the
pecuniary aliment that had fed the flame was long consumed。 Yet
he even then occupied a house or lodgings in St James's Street；
close to Brookes'； where he passed almost every hour which
was not devoted to the House of Commons。 Brookes' was then the
rallying point or rendezvous of the Opposition； where Faro；
Whist； and supper prolonged the night； the principal members of
the minority in both Houses met； in order to compare their
information； or to concert and mature their parliamentary
measures。 Great sums were then borrowed of Jews at exorbitant
premiums。
His brother Stephen was enormously fat； George Selwyn said he was
in the right to deal with Shylocks； as he could give them pounds
of flesh。
Walpole； in 1781； walking up St James's Street； saw a cart at
Fox's door； with copper and an old chest of drawers； loading。
His success at Faro had awakened a host of creditors； but； unless
his bank had swelled to the size of the Ban