(5) Charles, whenever the name occurs, refers to Charles James Fox (1749-1806).  He entered Parliament at nineteen; at twenty was made a Lord of the Admiralty; in 1773 a Commissioner of the Treasury; in 1782 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the Rockingham Ministry; in 1783 he became again Secretary of State in the memorable Coalition Ministry formed by himself and Lord North under the nominal premiership of the Duke of Portland.  When the Whigs at length returned to power in 1806 he was again Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Lord Grenville’s Ministry of all the Talents, and died in office.  No statesman so little in office ever obtained so great influence in Parliament and in the country.

(6) Wilmot, fourth Viscount Lisbourne.

(7) George James Williams, commonly known as Gilly Williams (1716-1805), son of William Peere Williams, an eminent lawyer; uncle by marriage to Lord North; appointed Receiver-General of Excise in 1774.  It was he of whom it was said that he was wittiest among the witty and gayest among the gay, and his society was much sought after.  He and Edgecumbe, with Selwyn, met at Strawberry Hill at stated periods, forming the famous group—­Walpole’s “out-of-town party.”

(8) Lord Charles Spencer (1740-1820); second son of third Duke of Marlborough; M.P. for Oxfordshire 1761-1784, and again 1796-1801; filled from time to time several minor political offices.

(9) Richard Vernon (1726-1800), termed father of the turf.  He was a captain in the army and a Member of Parliament; it was as a sporting man, however, that he was best known.  One of the original members of the Jockey Club, he had a racing partnership with Lord March, and rode in races.  His skill at cards and on the turf afforded the means for extravagant living.  He married the youngest daughter of the first Earl Gower.

(10) William Douglas (1725-1810), third Earl of March and fourth Duke of Queensberry, in his later years called “Old Q.”  He was appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber on the accession of George iii., and in 1767 made Vice-Admiral of Scotland.  Pleasure in all its forms was the sole object of his life, regardless of public opinion; he was good-natured and shrewd, and not without interest in politics and literature.  At the time of the King’s madness, in 1788, he openly declared for the Prince of Wales, and voted for the regency; he entertained the princes and Fox with reckless prodigality until the King regained his reason, when he lost his place at Court, and prudently retired to Scotland for a time.  Among Selwyn’s many friends the Duke of Queensberry held the first place.  “Hors son milord March, il n’amie rien,” writes Mme. du Deffand, in her portrait of Selwyn, whose unentailed property was left to the Duke of Queensberry, and who survived his friend by nineteen years.

(11) Augustus Henry, third Duke of Grafton (1735-1811).  In 1766 he became First Lord of the Treasury in Lord Chatham’s Ministry, resigning in January, 1770; and in 1771 Lord Privy Seal in Lord North’s Government, stipulating at the same time that he should not be “summoned to any Cabinet.”  He resigned in 1775, but joined the Rockingham Ministry in 1782 as Lord Privy Seal.  On the formation of the Coalition Ministry of North and Fox, in 1783, Grafton left office for the last time.