THE CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS OF 1782 FOX (Charles James, 1749-1806, the famous Whig orator, opponent of Lord North over America, friend of the Prince of Wales)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to GRENVILLE (Lord William, 1759-1834, Prime Minister) saying that he "will not wonder at my being harried too much at this moment to write you a detail of what has happened. I do assure you that the thing that has given me most concern is the sort of scrape I have drawn you into, but I think I may depend upon your way of thinking for forgiving me, though to say one can depend upon any man is a bold word after what has passed within these few days. I am sure on the other hand that you may depend upon my eternal gratitude to you for what you have undergone on my account, and that you always must have the greatest share in my friendship & affection. I do not think you will think these [less] valuable than you used to do. I have done right. I am sure I have. The Duke of Richmond thinks very much otherwise I will do wrong. I can not help it. I am sure my staying would have been a means of deceiving the Public & betraying my Party, & there are things not to be done for the sake of any supposed temporary good. I feel that my situation in the Country, my power, my popularity, my consequence nay my character ... but I have done right & therefore in the end it must turn out to have been wise. If this fail me, the pillor'd firmament is Rottenness and Earth's Base built on a bubble. adieu. your Brother disapproves too ...", 3 sides 4to., St James's, 5th July

Grenville entered the House of Commons in 1782. He soon became a close ally of the Prime Minister, his cousin William Pitt the Younger, and served in the government as Paymaster of the Forces from 1784 to 1789.
There was a constitutional Crisis in 1782 when, under the strains of office and the disastrous American War, Lord North finally resigned in March 1782, he was replaced with the new ministry of the Marquess of Rockingham. Fox was appointed Foreign Secretary. But Rockingham, after finally acknowledging the independence of the former Thirteen Colonies, died unexpectedly on 1st July. Fox refused to serve in the successor administration of the Earl of Shelburne, splitting the Whig party.

Item Date:  1782

Stock No:  40112      £675

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