Note 70 — 35.
Reading edition
This was a characteristic habit of Gibbon's throughout life. In 1780 some verses were written by Richard Tickell, which purport to be addressed by Charles James Fox to his friend the Hon. John Townshend on his election to Parliament by the University of Cambridge. They contain the following lines:—
"Soon as to Brookes's thence thy footsteps bend, What gratulations thy approach attend! See Gibbon rap his box: auspicious sign That classic compliment and wit combine."
Another description is given of Gibbon in "The Luminous Historian; or, Learning in Love," written by George Colman the Younger (Eccentricities for Edinburgh, pp. 73, 74).
"His person look'd as funnily obese As if a Pagod, growing large as Man, Had, rashly, waddl'd off its chimney-piece, To visit a Chinese upon a fan. Such his exterior; curious 'twas to scan! And, oft, he rapt his snuff-box, cock'd his snout, And ere his polish'd periods he began, Bent forwards, stretching his fore-finger out, And talk'd in phrase as round as he was round about."