TIIF FLORIST. 89 



THE LATE CHARLES FOX, ESQ. 



Although it may not be unknown to the larger portion 

 of our readers, it is still our painful duty to record in the 

 pages of The Florist, the decease of our lamented friend and 

 fellow-labourer, Charles Fox, Esq., the gentleman who super- 

 intended the illustrations of our little work, and through 

 whose hands were passed the various seedling flowers sent 

 for our opinion. Never has the grave closed on one more 

 amiable, of more integrity, or of more ability to fulfil this 

 important portion of the duties connected with a noricultural 

 publication. Nothing would have induced him to depart 

 from what he conscientiously believed to be a perfectly cor- 

 rect judgment. Every flower about whose merits he felt the 

 slightest misgivings, as to whether it was an improvement 

 or not, was submitted to a critical comparison with the best 

 varieties in cultivation ; and when unable to do so personally, 

 they were forwarded to parties upon whose judgment and 

 integrity he could fully rely. How much and how justly he 

 will be missed as a censor at our metropolitan horticultural 

 and floral exhibitions, let those tell who have been his com- 

 panions in that onerous service. The spring is at hand, bring- 

 ing in its train the flowers he studied and loved so well ; but 

 that eye which examined them so critically, and with such a 

 refined taste, is closed for ever. He had long suffered from 

 an affection of the heart, which, after a painful illness of three 

 weeks, terminated in death, at the house of a friend, at Leyton 

 in Essex, where providentially he happened to be paying a 

 periodical visit. Respect for the delicacy of their feelings alone 

 prevents our mentioning the name ; but we must be allowed 

 to record, that every thing which the most exalted Christian 

 friendship could suggest was done to soothe his dying pillow 

 by every member of the family. It is not our province to 

 speak of him in his profession as a picture-engraver ; but he 

 has left behind him works held in high estimation ; and more, 

 he has left 



" Better than fame by crowds adored, 

 Or gold immeasurably stored, 

 A pure and spotless name." 



We hope at some future day, through the kindness of 

 W. Carpenter, Jun., Esq., the Artist, to present our readers 

 with an etched likeness of our lamented friend, from a suc- 

 cessful drawing made by that gentleman just before Mr. Fox's 

 health was seriously impaired. 



VOL. II. NO. XVI. H 



