Note 241 — BOOK THE FOURTH 1815-1821

Mr. Sheridan has more than once observed to me, with great apparent sincerity and warm commendation, the astonishing resources of Mr. Fox’s mind, and the no less astonishing generosity with which he would frankly impart his thoughts and materials to any speaker of his side. “He seemed,” said Sheridan, “to exhaust the subject he spoke upon; yet when he sat down he could, and often did, supply those who came after him with fresh and excellent matter nearly equal to what he had used, and quite new to the person about to speak; and, again, from those whose turn in debate came before him, he never concealed any thought, but on the contrary would communicate to them most readily the best argument and even the liveliest illustration that occurred to him in favour of his view of the question.”—V.H.