Penny Dreadful Cover

This is Volume II of Lord John Russell's edited collection of the memorials and correspondence of Charles James Fox, published in 1853. The volume contains materials documenting Fox's life and the political history of his era through 1792. The preface emphasizes Fox's integrity and principles as contrasted with the factious politics of his period, noting how he resisted intrigue and betrayal. The main text begins a detailed analysis of Fox's political career around 1782-1784, examining the succession of leadership in the Whig party following Lord Rockingham's death and the simultaneous emergence of William Pitt as Fox's rival. Russell includes extended commentary comparing the two statesmen—Fox's natural brilliance, popularity, and debating prowess against Pitt's disciplined education, methodical application, and cultivation of political connections. The volume incorporates contemporary accounts from Horace Walpole evaluating both figures' characters and parliamentary abilities. Russell's editorial remarks contextualize the events leading toward the French Revolutionary period.