The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-05-24
Charles James Fox.

a pretty exact delneation of that distinguish
ed man. who acted most conspicuous part
in English and European politics sixty or
seventy years ago. According to Lord
Broughan, who has written an account OF
his public life, he must have been one OF the
most powerful debaters that ever sat in de-
Lucrative body. With all his personal faults
and failings-and they were not few-no
leader of a political party was perhaps ever
so idolized by his political friends, among
whom were men of the highest merit, OF al
most all kinds, which proves that their ad-
miration and attachment were not bhndly
and capriciously bestowed. Mr.. Fox is not
regarded by Household Words as in any re-
spect profound, or beyond the next genera
ton. This may be, but he was not IN any
respect shallow either, nor, in point of politi-
cal saeacity and prescience behind any of his
contemporaries, and was far beyond many who
ranked high for knowledge and ability. He
was a good classical scholar, and master of
the English language His history Of James
IL. is undervalued, because something extra
ordinary was expected Of the distinguished
statesman; and his peculiar notions about
historical writing caused him to use style
much less impressive than that of his orato-
ry:
stephen; second Lord Holland, though
by no means destitute of natural abilities or
vivacity, appears to have had in his compo-
sition too great predominance Of the ami
mai nature over the spiritual. Hence an APP
oplectic tendency, which took him off at the
age of nine-and-twenty.
But Stephen had a brother, afterwards
the celebrated Charles James Fox, the man
of the people, who, however he may have
indulged himself instAe same way, had life
enough in him to keep him wide awake land
others too) for nearly twice the time. In
deed he may be said, during his youth, to
have had too much life more animal vitali-
ty in him, and robustness of body to bear it
out than he we'll knew what to do WITH
And his father is said to have encouraged it
by never thwarting his will in anything.
Thus the boy expressing desire one day to
smash WATCH the father, after ascertain
ing that the little gentleman did positively
feel such desire, and was not disposed to
give it up, said, Well, ifyou must, | suppose
you must; and the watch was smashed
Another time, having been promised that he
should see portion of wall pulled down,
and the demolition having taken place while
he was absent and a new portion supplied,
the latter itself was pulled down, in order
that the fathers promise might be kept, and
the boy not disappointed. The keeping OF
the promise was excellent, and the wall well
sacrificed; but not so the watch and much
less the guineas with which his father is abb
solutely said to have tempted him to the ga
ming table, out of foolish desire to see the
boy employed like himself! Habits ensued
which became alarming to the old gamester
himself, and which impeded the rise, injured
the reputation, and finally nulIifed that su-
premacy on the part of the son, which was
borne away from him by the inferior but
more decorous nature Of Pitt
:" Fox was a great lesson to what is GOOD
and what is bad in fatherly indulgence. All
that was good in him it made better; all that
was bad It made worse. And it would have
made it worse still, had not the good sluclIily
preponderated, and thus made the best at las
even of the bad. Charles was to have his
way as a child so he smashed watches. Hc
was to have his way as a youth, SO he gam
bled and was dissolute. He was to have hi
way as man, SO he must be in parliament
and get power, and vote on the Tory sid
because his father had INDUCED him, and b
must indulge his father. But his father died
and then the love Of sincerity which ha
been taught him as a bravery and predomi
nance, was encouraged to break forth by til
calling of his political trammels ; and thoug
he could not refuse his passions their indul
gence, till friends rescued him from insolyer
cy, and thus piqued his gratitude into amend
ment, that very circumstance tended to sho'
that he added strength and largeness Of heal
to bis fathers softness for the spoilt chill
and reckless ganester, finally settled down {
a representative of nobler age that va
coming, and was the charm in private Of a
who admired simplicity Of manners and Il
perfection Of good sense. Apart from til
love Of truth, we DO not take him in any X
spoct rs have been profound. 0r to have see