912, 
beyond my strength,” said he, ‘ I 
had almost said, my duty. If I 
have not acted much, you will 
allow I have spoken much; and I 
have felt more than [ have either 
acted or spoken. My constitution 
has sunk under it. I find myself 
unequal to the business on which 
you have written ; it must be left to 
younger men.” 
Once he employed this remarkable 
expression.—‘* Pitt has died in Ja- 
nuary—perhaps I may go off before 
June.’ A gentleman who was in 
company with him, haying made 
some observation in reply—** Nay,” 
said Mr. Fox, ‘1 begin to think’ 
my complaint not unlike Pitt’s ; 
my stomach has been long discom. 
posed ; I feel my constitution dis- 
solving.” 
This state of health continued 
through the month of March, when 
his friends were conyinced he was 
breaking fast. Still he insisted that 
his diseasé was only a temporary 
habit, and as he happened in May 
to recover an interval of strength, 
that circumstance tended to confirm 
him in his error. The symptoms, 
however, soon returned with redou. 
bled violence, and he was pro- 
nounced, at the latter end of June, 
to have decided symptoms of 
dropsy. 
It was the beginning of July be- 
fore his disease was completely 
ascertained. The symptoms were 
no longer doubtful, and the swelling 
daily increased. All efforts to dis- 
charge the water by diuretic me. 
dicine failing, the operation of 
tapping was performed on the 
7th of August; the quantity 
taken from him was about five 
gallons. The weakness which suc- 
ceeded, was such as to excite a 
general alarm that he would not 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
survive it; he was long speech} 
and that at the moment when th 
public’ prints represented him 
gaiety and spirits. His state conti 
nued very doubtful, till the night o 
the 10th, when he again began t 
recover strength. He now dined 
with one or two of his most inti- 
mate friends, and conversed, with 
them as long as his physicians per 
mitted. > a 
Mr. Fox had occasionally fa- 
vourable symptoms after his first 
operation, and his medical attend- 
ants entertained hopes almost to the 
Jast, of his recovery. But, in the 
mean time, the accumulation of 
water returned, and as another 
operation was obviously soon to be 
necessary, he was removed, in the 
first instance, to Chiswick, that he 
might enjoy there the benefits of air 
and residence in the country. This 
change of residence took place on 
the 28th of August, and on the Ist 
of September following the opera- 
tion of tapping was again per- 
formed. He suffered less than he 
had done the first time, from the 
immediate effects of the operation ; 
and the symptoms of his case were, 
in the opinion of his physicians, 
mere favourable than they had been 
at any time during his illness, when 
he suddenly fell into astate of great 
lowness and exhaustion, on Monday, 
the 8th of September, from which 
he never campletely recovered, 
He continued to languish till the 
13th instant, when he expired, hay- 
ing retained his senses and recollec- 
tion to the last. His body being 
examined after death, it was found 
that the cause of his illness was a 
schirrus, or induration ef the liver. 
Thus died the right honourabfe™ 
Charles James Fox, on the 13th 
day of September, 1806, in the 58tk 
year 
