‘ 
892 
the county of Middlesex, but was 
precluded from taking his seat by 
incapacity, arising from the causes 
of his former expulsion. Notwith- 
standing this preclusion, Mr. Wilkes 
continued to threaten and annoy the 
government with petitions, which, if 
they obtained not their prayer, 
Served at least to keep him in the 
public view, and afford new pretexts 
for tumult ; and it was in opposi- 
tion to the selfish violence of this 
refined and turbulent person, that 
Mr. Fox, with that clear perception 
of character, for which he was 
afterwards so remarkable, made his 
maiden speech. 
In this first effort he was oppos- 
ed, among others, to the celebrated 
Mr. Burke, who, by his tongue 
and pen, asserted the unconstitu- 
tional grounds of the expulsion. 
Yet such was the immediate effect of 
his powers, as to attract the at- 
tention both of the senate and the 
world ; and through the whole of 
the proceedings on the different 
elections for the county of Middle- 
sex, he was an active and useful 
champion of the government. The 
result was, an early appointment of 
Mr. Fox to the office of paymaster 
of pensions to the widows of land 
officers ; and, in the beginning of 
1770, to a seat at the admiralty 
board. 
In March, 1771, when freedom 
was determined to consist in a rude 
disdain of superiors, and alderman 
Oliver was summoned before the 
house of commons, Mr. Fox is said, 
in the heat of indiguance for unwor- 
thy artifice, to have called him assas- 
sin—a circumstance too advantage. 
ous to escape the colleague of Mr. 
Wilkes. His principal parliament- 
ary operations for the ensuing year, 
consisted in opposing the marriage 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
act, and afterwards in moving for 
its repeal. He was also of the secret 
committee for enquiring into the 
malversations then the subject of 
complaint in the East Indies. Some 
dispute, however, arising between 
Mr. Fox and the minister, he is 
reported to have dismissed himself 
from office in a very laconic man~ 
ner, by the following note :— 
‘¢ My lord, 
‘¢ You have greatly insulted me, 
and I will resent it, I am abont to 
set out for St. James’s, to resign 
my seal at the admiralty-board 
to the king. 
“6 Tam, my lord, 
‘¢ Your lordsbip’s humble servant, 
“6 C, J. Fox.” 
This difference lasted but a short 
time, and Mr. Fox became one of 
the lords of the treasury. © 
The genial sympathy of corres. 
ponding minds, however, had alrea- 
dy drawn the young statesman into 
an union with Mr. Burke. From 
him Mr. Fox did not hesitate to 
acknowledge, that ‘* he learned 
more than from all others.” His 
attraction to the most powerful 
chief of opposition did not long. 
escape the penetration of lord North, 
who, without any vulgar censure of 
his choice, only laughingly argued— 
‘© If we see a woman coming fre- 
quently from a bagnio, we cannot 
swear she is not virtuous, yet we 
cannot help judging of her from her 
company.” Mr. Fox, nevertheless, 
was drawn closer into the connec. 
tion, and carly became a member 
of the literary club, established by 
Johnson and his friends. 
In political affairs, Mr. Fox, at 
this time, stood, if not in an inde. ° 
pendent, at least in an isolated situ- 
ation, With the opposition he 
bore all the obloquy ef being a 
_ placeman 
