SPEECHES

OF THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

CHARLES JAMES FOX,

&c. &c.

MR.

R. FOX took his seat in the House of Commons at the opening of the first session of the thirteenth Parliament of Great Britain, which met on the 10th of May, 1768. He was returned for Midhurst, in Sussex, a family borough, and was introduced into Parliament when he was little more than 19 years of age, and consequently ineligible.

THE

HE first speech made by Mr. Fox in the House of Commons, of which any account has been preserved, took place at the opening of the Session on the 9th of January 1770. In the course

* The following is a List of the Administration at this time:-
First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer - Lord North.
Secretaries of State-Viscount Weymouth, Earl of Rochford, Earl of
Hillsborough (Colonies).

Lord Chancellor-Lord Camden. Succeeded, Jan. 17. 1770, by the Hon. Charles Yorke, created Lord Morden, but died on the following day, before the seals were put to the patent of peerage. Upon this, the great seal was put into commission, until the 23d of Jan. 1771, when Lord Apsley was appointed Lord Chancellor.

Lord President of the Council-Earl Gower.

Lord Privy Seal-Earl of Halifax.

First Lord of the Admiralty- Sir Edward Hawke, K. B.
Secretary at War-Lord Barrington.
Paymaster-General of the Forces

VOL. I.

Right Hon. Richard Rigby.

B

of the debate on the King's Speech, Sir George Savile, in allusion to the decision with regard to the Middlesex Election, accused the House of having betrayed the rights of the people. Upon this, Sir Alexander Gilmour rose up in great anger, and urged, that in times of less licentiousness, members had been sent to the Tower for words of less offence. Sir George Savile repeated the offensive words. "Let others," said he, "fall down and worship the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar has set up; I will own no superior but the laws, nor will I bow the knee to any but Him who made me." Sir George was defended by Mr. Serjeant Glynn. Mr. Burke spoke on the same side, and challenged the ministry to punish Sir George, if he was a delinquent. He said, the people abhorred the present ministry, and asked the Speaker if he did not feel the chair tremble under him. Sir William Meredith observed, that one part of the Address, namely, thanking the King for his approbation of the conduct of the House, would be construed without doors, that His Majesty approved of the resolutions of the House in respect to the Middlesex Election.

Mr. Fox observed, that from the licence gentlemen had taken in their language that day, it seemed as if the old decent freedom of debate was at an end, and that they were endeavouring to establish new forms. The expression in the Address did not allude to any particular measure of Parliament, nor to every measure; as no one could suppose His Majesty approved of every resolution taken by the House, but only of the general tenor of their actions.

BILL FOR DISQUALIFYING CERTAIN REVENUE OFFICERS FROM VOTING FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

N a committee on the state of the nation, Mr. Dowdeswell moved, That a bill might be brought in for disqualifying certain Officers in the Revenues from voting for Members of Parliament." In the course of the debate, the Lord Mayor, Mr. Al

Treasurer of the Navy - Sir Gilbert Elliot.

Attorney-General - William De Grey, afterwards Lord Walsingham. Succeeded, Jan. 23. 1771, by Edward Thurlow, Esq. afterwards Lord Thurlow.

Solicitor-General

Joseph Dunning, Esq. Succeeded in March 1770 by Edward Thurlow, Esq.; who was also succeeded, Jan. 23. 1771, by Alexander Wedderburn, Esq., afterwards Lord Loughborough.

*On the 13th of February 1770, Mr. Fox was appointed one of the Lords of the Admiralty.