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His success at Faro had awakened a host of creditors; but; unless
his bank had swelled to the size of the Bank of England; it could
not have yielded a half…penny apiece for each。 Epsom too had
been unpropitious; and one creditor had actually seized and
carried off Fox's goods; which did not seem worth removing。 Yet;
shortly after this; whom should Walpole find sauntering by his
own door but Fox; who came up and talked to him at the coach
window; on the Marriage Bill; with as much _sang…froid_ as
if he knew nothing of what had happened。 Doubtless this
indifference was to be attributed quite as much to the
callousness of the reckless gambler as to anything that might be
called ‘philosophy。'
It seems clear that the ruling passion of Fox was partly owing to
the lax training of his father; who; by his lavish allowances;
not only fostered his propensity to play; but had also been
accustomed to give him; when a mere boy; money to amuse himself
at the gaming table。 According to Chesterfield; the first Lord
Holland ‘had no fixed principles in religion or morality;' and he
censures him to his son for being ‘too unwary in ridiculing and
exposing them。' He gave full swing to Charles in his youth。
‘Let nothing be done;' said his lordship; ‘to break his spirit;
the world will do that for him。' At his death; in 1774; he left
him L154;000 to pay his debts; it was all ‘bespoke;' and Fox
soon became as deeply pledged as before。'126'
'126' Timbs; ubi supra。 There is a mistake in the
anecdote respecting Fox's duel with Mr Adam (not Adams); as
related by Mr Timbs in his amusing book of the Clubs。 The
challenge was in consequence of some words uttered by Fox in
parliament; and not on account of some remark on Government
powder; to which Fox wittily alluded; after the duel;
saying‘Egad; Adam; you would have killed me if it had not been
Government powder。' See Gilchrist; Ordeals; Millingen; Hist。
of Duelling; ii。; and Steinmetz; Romance of Duelling; ii。
The following are authentic anecdotes of Fox; as a gambler。
Fox had a gambling debt to pay to Sir John Slade。 Finding
himself in cash; after a lucky run at Faro; he sent a
complimentary card to the knight; desiring to discharge the
claim。 Sir John no sooner saw the money than he called for pen
and ink; and began to figure。 ‘What now?' cried Fox。 ‘Only
calculating the interest;' replied the other。 ‘Are you so?'
coolly rejoined Charles James; and pocketed the cash; adding‘I
thought it was a _debt of honour_。 As you seem to consider it a
trading debt; and as I make it an invariable rule to pay my Jew…
creditors last; you must wait a little longer for your money。'
Fox once played cards with Fitzpatrick at Brookes' from ten
o'clock at night till near six o'clock the next morninga waiter
standing by to tell them ‘whose deal it was'they being too
sleepy to know。
On another occasion he won about L8000; and one of his bond…
creditors; who soon heard of his good luck; presented
himself and asked for payment。 ‘Impossible; sir;' replied Fox;
‘I must first discharge my debts of honour。' The bond…creditor
remonstrated; and finding Fox inflexible; tore the bond to pieces
and flung it into the fire; exclaiming‘Now; sir; your debt to
me is a _debt of honour_。' Struck by the creditor's witty
rejoinder; Fox instantly paid the money。'127'
'127' The above is the version of this anecdote which I
remember as being current in my young days。 Mr Timbs and others
before him relate the anecdote as follows:‘On another occasion
he won about L8000; and one of his bond…creditors; who soon
heard of his good luck; presented himself and asked for payment。'
‘Impossible; sir;' replied Fox ‘I must first discharge my debts
of honour。' The bond…creditor remonstrated。 ‘Well; sir; give me
your bond。' It was delivered to Fox; who tore it in pieces and
threw it into the fire。 ‘Now; sir;' said Fox; ‘my debt to you is
a debt of honour;' and immediately paid him 。
Now; it is evident that Fox could not destroy the document
without rendering himself still more ‘liable' in point of law。 I
submit that the version in the text is the true one; conforming
with the legal requirement of the case and influencing the debtor
by the originality of the performance of the creditor。
Amidst the wildest excesses of youth; even while the perpetual
victim of his passion for play; Fox eagerly cultivated his taste
for letters; especially the Greek and Roman historians and poets;
and he found resources in their works under the most severe
depressions occasioned by ill…successes at the gaming table。 One
morning; after Fox had passed the whole night in company with
Topham Beauclerc at Faro; the two friends were about to separate。
Fox had lost throughout the night; and was in a frame of mind
approaching to desperation。 Beauclerc's anxiety for the
consequences which might ensue led him to be early at Fox's
lodgings; and on arriving he inquired; not without apprehension;
whether he had risen。 The servant replied that Mr Fox was in the
drawing…room; when Beauclerc walked up…stairs and cautiously
opened the door; expecting to behold a frantic gamester stretched
on the floor; bewailing his losses; or plunged in moody despair;
but he was astonished to find him reading a Greek Herodotus。
On perceiving his friend's surprise; Fox exclaimed; ‘What would
you have me do? I have lost my last shilling。'
Upon other occasions; after staking and losing all that he could
raise at Faro; instead of exclaiming against fortune; or
manifesting the agitation natural under such circumstances; he
would lay his head on the table and retain his place; but;
exhausted by mental and bodily fatigue; almost immediately
fall into a profound sleep。
Fox's best friends are said to have been half ruined in annuities
given by them as securities for him to the Jews。 L500;000 a…
year of such annuities of Fox and his ‘society' were advertised
to be sold at one time。 Walpole wondered what Fox would do when
he had sold the estates of his friends。 Walpole further notes
that in the debate on the Thirty…nine Articles; February 6; 1772;
Fox did not shine; nor could it be wondered at。 He had sat up
playing at Hazard; at Almack's; from Tuesday evening; the 4th;
till five in the afternoon of Wednesday; the 5th。 An hour before
he had recovered L12;000 that he had lost; and by dinner;
which was at five o'clock; he had ended losing L11;000! On
the Thursday he spoke in the above debate; went to dinner at past
eleven at night; from thence to White's; where he drank till
seven the next morning; thence to Almack's; where he won
L6000; and between three and four in the afternoon he set out
for Newmarket。 His brother Stephen lost L11;000 two nights
after; and Charles L10;000 more on the 13th; so that in
three nights the two brothersthe eldest not _twenty…five_
years of agelost L32;000!'128'