The Same Evening I Called On Mr. Leonhardi, Who, As I Did Not Wish
To Hire A Lodging For The Few Days I Might Be Obliged To Wait For A
Fair Wind, Got Me Into The Freemasons' Tavern.
And here I have been
waiting these eight days, and the wind still continues contrary for
Hambro'; though I
Do now most heartily wish for a fair wind, as I
can no longer make any improvement by my stay, since I must keep
myself in constant readiness to embark whenever the wind changes;
and therefore I dare go no great distance.
Everybody here is now full of the Marquis of Rockingham's death, and
the change of the ministry in consequence of it. They are much
displeased that Fox has given up his seat; and yet it is singular,
they still are much concerned, and interest themselves for him, as
if whatever interested him were the interest of the nation. On
Tuesday there was a highly important debate in Parliament. Fox was
called on to assign the true reasons of his resignation before the
nation. At eleven o'clock the gallery was so full that nobody could
get a place, and the debates only began at three, and lasted this
evening till ten.
About four Fox came. Every one was full of expectation. He spoke
at first with great vehemence, but it was observed that he gradually
became more and more moderate, and when at length he had vindicated
the step he had taken, and showed it to be, in every point of view,
just, wise, and honourable, he added, with great force and pathos,
"and now I stand here once more as poor as ever I was." It was
impossible to hear such a speech and such declarations unmoved.
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