Political
FOX
(Charles James, 1749-1806, the famous Whig orator, opponent of Lord North over America, friend of the Prince of Wales), DYSON (Jeremiah, 1722-1776, Clerk of the House of Commons, 1748) and TOWNSHEND (Hon. Charles, 1728-1810, from 1797 Baron Bayning)
Signatures on fragment of a document as Lords of the Treasury,
1 side 8 x 4½ (max.), 19th January
Item Date: 1774
Background
It is remarkable that Fox was only in office for very short periods - here as a Lord of the Treasury (under Lord North !), from which, owing to his independent action, he was dismissed by the King. In 1806, as Foreign Secretary, he moved the bill to abolish slavery a few days before his death.Dyson was nicknamed 'Mungo' (the ubiquitous negro slave in Isaac Bickerstaffe's 'Padlock') from his omnipresence in parliamentary business (DNB). He discontinued the practice of selling the subordinate clerkships in his office. He was a friend of the novelist Richardson and settled a pension on Mark Akenside, the poet and physician.Signed also at the foot by Henry Fiennes Clinton, 1720-1794, from 1768 2nd Duke of Newcastle, from 1751 Auditor of the Receipt of the Exchequer.
Stock No. 51709