d Hogarth with a denunciation that was the more effective
because it was accompanied by a frank and full recognition of Hogarth's
great gifts and deserved title to fame. Hogarth retaliated by his
famous caricature of Churchill as a canonical bear with a pot of porter
in one paw and a huge cudgel in the other, the knots on the cudgel
being numbered as Lie 1, Lie 2, and so forth. Instantly the great
caricaturist was attacked by others eager to strike at one who had
struck so hard in his day. The hatred of Bute was extended to the
painter who condescended to accept Bute's patronage, and who labored to
please his patron. Hogarth was derided as "The Butyfier," in mockery
of his "Analysis of Beauty." It would have been as lucky for Hogarth
as it would have been lucky for Bute to let Wilkes alone.

If Wilkes's release filled his supporters throughout the country with
delight, it only spurred on his enemies to fresh attempts and fresh
blunders. Had they left the matter where it stood, even though it
stood at a defeat to them, they would have spared themselves much
ignominy. But the fury of the King inspired a fiercer fury in the
ministers and those who followed the ministers. Every weapon at their
command was immediately levelled at Wilkes, even, it may not be
unfairly asserted, the assassin's weapon. Wilkes carried himself
gallantly, defiantly, even insolently. His attitude was not one to
tempt angry opponents to forbearance. His letters from the Tower and
after his release to Lord Halifax were couched in the most contemptuous
language. He brought an action against Lord Halifax. He brought an
action against Mr. Wood, the Under-Secretary of State, and was awarded
1,000 pounds damages. When Lord Egremont died, in the August of 1763,
Wilkes declared that he had "been gathered {64} to the dull of ancient
days." He republished the numbers of the _North Briton_ in a single
volume with notes, to prove that the King's speech could
constitutionally be only regarded as the utterance of the King's
ministers. There must have been a splendid stubbornness in the man
which enabled him to face so daringly, so aggressively, the desperate
odds against him.

[Sidenote: 1763--Wilkes and his accusers]

Every man who wished to curry favor with the King and the King's
ministers was ready to strike his blow at Wilkes. There was not a
bully among the hangers-on of the King and ministers who was not eager
to cross swords with Wilkes