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as the ground of a resolution declaratory of mismanagement in naval affairs. Though the motion was negatived, yet the majority was so small as to render it probable that ministers could not much longer maintain their ground. After the debate on this subject, when the minority were returning into the house from the lobby on the division, having lost their question, the facetious Mr. Selwyn, just as Mr. Fox was passing by him, put himselfinto the attitude of a banker tallying at faro,and making,as though he turned up cards to the right and to the left, called out in the style of that game, "Charles, knave looses-king wins." A bon mot which at that time was received with universal applause.

Soon afterwards Lord John Cavendish made a motion, declaring, that the house could no longer repose confidence in the ministry, which was rejected by a small majority; but on a similar motion being made after an interval of a few days, Lord North rose and declared he was no longer minister. In the Month of march a new administration was formed; the Marquis of Rockingham was its nominal head; but Mr. Fox, as secretary of state, became the principal efficient minister.

At this period of Mr. Fox's history, it may not be deemed improper to take a brief retrospective view of his political and public conduct.

From his first entrance into public life Mr. Fox had a desperate game to play, and he play

ed it on the principles of a desperate gamester. He first appeared as the public encomiast and personal friend of Lord North, and that at a time when it was the fashion to carry the prerogative to its utmost extent.

The old Whig interest was then in strong opposition to the court; nor had Whigs at that period forfeited every pretension to principle. Mr. Fox opposed them-spoke against themturned them into ridicule-was the most forward in suppressing the spirit of liberty out of the House of Commons, and the foremost in recommending prosecutions against those who supported the people's rights, and who exposed the weakness of the most unfortunate administration with which the kingdom had ever been cursed.

It certainly was suspected that this conduct of Mr. Fox was well calculated to advance his interest at St. James's. Lord North, tho' a professed Tory, wanted a little of Mr. Fox's boldness. He declined to go the violent lengths which Mr. Fox had recommended, and in consequence that gentleman was dismissed from the Treasury Board with every circumstance of rudeness and personal insult.

By this conduct Lord North proved himself a short-sighted politician. Mr. Fox, finding one avenue to preferment closed upon him, shook off with the utmost ease his old connexions and his old principles. The Whigs, who, for four years, had smarted under the lash of his eloquence, refused him their confidence until the breach between Lord North and him ap

peared irreparable. From their decided enemy he became their leader-With indefatigable industry he opposed, for more than seven years, every measure of Lord North's administration, and with as strong marks of personal enmity and insult as parliamentary terms would allow. For the same space of time he was champion of the people against a majority of the House of Commons, whose proceedings he canvassed, exposed and ridiculed at the Shakespeare, the King's Arms, and among a mob in Westminster-Hall. At length when even in the opinion of the most sanguine, the country was in a very miserable state, but absolutely ruined in the opinion of Mr. Fox, the king resigned himself implicitly into the hands of a new administration.

Mr. Fox now came into power with the favourite appellation of the man of the people, and with the support of the Whig families, who, tho inheriting the estates, displayed none of the splendid abilities of their ancestors. In this administration were combined the king's friends, as they were called, the Rockingham and Newcastle Whigs, and the Pitt and Grenville Whigs. Those who were distinguished as the king's friends, were not, however, disposed to act cordially with a party whose avowed object was to restore the reign of the Whig aristocracy, and to conciliate to the great Whig families the favour of the people, by concessions which were judged to be not perfectly compatible with the order of good government.

The first measure proposed by Mr. Fox as

minister, appeared rather too precipitate. Overtures of peace were made to Holland and America, but by the former they were received very coldly. Mr. Fox soon after brought a message from the king, recommending the adoption of a plan for the retrenchment of the public expenditure. The object of this was to pave the way to the revival of Burke's reform bill, which passed after it had undergone several modifications. Various popular measures were proposed and adopted. Contractors were excluded, by act of parliament, from the House of Commons; officers of the customs and excise were disqualified from voting at elections: and the resolutions of 1769, relative to the Middlesex election, was expunged from the journals of the house. The only party-measures with which this administration could be charged, was the appointment of Admiral Pigot to supercede Rodney, of whose glorious victory, on the 12th of April, they were still ignorant. They were proceeding to carry into execution all their plans for domestic government, and for the arrangement of the foreign affairs of the empire, when the death of the Marquis of Rockingham, the nominal head of the whole party, enabled the sovereign to emancipate himself from his controul.

The Marquis of Rockingham died on the 1st of July. Upon this event, Mr. Fox expected to be called by the sovereign to fill the post of prime minister. Several days, however, elapsing, without this expectation being verified, he summoned a secret council at his house in Grafton-srteet,

consisting of the Cavendishes, Lord Keppel, Mr Burke, the duke of Richmond, Mr. T. Townsend, &c. when he concisely informed them, that unless they firmly united to oppose such a measure, the Earl of Shelburne would be appointed minister. On this it was unanimously agreed, that the duke of Portland would be an excellent man of straw for prime minister under their auspices, and that Mr. Fox should immediately wait upon the king with a strong recommendation of his grace by this majority of his cabinet. Mr. Fox however had reached the closet only time enough to learn that Lord Shelburne had just gone out with the appointment of first lord of the Treasury. Mr. Fox expressing great astonishment on hearing this, asked his majesty if, under this circumstance, he had any objection to his (Mr. Fox's) naming the new secretary of state? To this his majesty replied: "That, sir, is already done." On which Mr. Fox rejoined

"Then I trust your majesty can dispense with my services." The answer of this was, certainly, sir, if you feel them the least irksome. Mr. Fox bowed, retired, and the next day had a farther audience, only to deliver up the seals of his office. Mr. Pitt, who had refused a high situation in the Rockingham ministry, was appointed Chancellor of the exchequer; and lord Temple succeeded Mr. Fox as secretary of state for the northern department.

The sentiments expressed by Mr. Fox on quitting administration, were highly honourable. In resigning my situation as secretary of state,"

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