They now made deliberate attempts to silence the veteran by unmannerly and brutal interruptions, of which a mob of lower class might have been ashamed.

Then suddenly came a moment of such excitement as has not often been seen in the annals of party.

It became known one day in the autumn of 1788 that the king had gone out of his mind.
The news naturally caused the liveliest agitation among the Whigs.
When the severity of the attack forced the ministry to make preparations for a Regency, the friends of the Prince of Wales assumed that they would speedily return to power, and hastened to form their plans accordingly.

Fox was travelling in Italy with Mrs.Armstead, and he had been two months away without hearing a word from England.
The Duke of Portland sent a messenger in search of him, and after a journey of ten days the messenger found him at Bologna.

Fox instantly set off in all haste for London, which he reached in nine days.