DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.69942#0093
ENGLAND.] CHATHAM.
industry and predilection, the rising talents of his second
son, Charles James Fox, who was also destined to make
such a figure in the commons, to become the most formi-
dable adversary of William Pitt, to dispute with him in
every debate the palm of eloquence, and finally to suc-
ceed him as minister.
Though Lord Chatham was no longer connected with
administration, yet he was ever attached to the interests,
the liberty, and the glory of his country. On all impor-
tant occasions he was still the most zealous, as well as most
able defender of the free principles of the constitution.
When the first troubles occurred in America, he pleaded
the right common to every Briton, of submitting to those
taxes only which are approved by his representatives. In
proportion as these dissensions assumed a more decisive
and alarming appearance, he redoubled all his efforts to
prevent their fatal consequences, and vigorously opposed
the measures adopted by the ignorance, and pursued by1
the obstinacy of ministers. The celebrated Dr. Johnson
said, at the time, that, to put an end to these divisions,
it would be sufficient to appoint Lord Chatham Dictator
for six months.
He was fated to die in the bed of honour. On the 8th
of April, 1778, when hostilities had commenced in every
part of America, this venerable man, who still united
the greatest zeal with the utmost clearness of percep-
tion and energy of counsels, went to the House of Peers
to demand the recal of all the English troops from the
colonies,, that satisfaction should be given to the Ameri-
cans, and that war should be instantly declared against
France. In the middle of his speech, he was struck with
apoplexy, and died soon after, at his seat at Hayes. His
industry and predilection, the rising talents of his second
son, Charles James Fox, who was also destined to make
such a figure in the commons, to become the most formi-
dable adversary of William Pitt, to dispute with him in
every debate the palm of eloquence, and finally to suc-
ceed him as minister.
Though Lord Chatham was no longer connected with
administration, yet he was ever attached to the interests,
the liberty, and the glory of his country. On all impor-
tant occasions he was still the most zealous, as well as most
able defender of the free principles of the constitution.
When the first troubles occurred in America, he pleaded
the right common to every Briton, of submitting to those
taxes only which are approved by his representatives. In
proportion as these dissensions assumed a more decisive
and alarming appearance, he redoubled all his efforts to
prevent their fatal consequences, and vigorously opposed
the measures adopted by the ignorance, and pursued by1
the obstinacy of ministers. The celebrated Dr. Johnson
said, at the time, that, to put an end to these divisions,
it would be sufficient to appoint Lord Chatham Dictator
for six months.
He was fated to die in the bed of honour. On the 8th
of April, 1778, when hostilities had commenced in every
part of America, this venerable man, who still united
the greatest zeal with the utmost clearness of percep-
tion and energy of counsels, went to the House of Peers
to demand the recal of all the English troops from the
colonies,, that satisfaction should be given to the Ameri-
cans, and that war should be instantly declared against
France. In the middle of his speech, he was struck with
apoplexy, and died soon after, at his seat at Hayes. His