started the _Test_, a journal
devoted to the demolition of Pitt, but which called forth an opponent of
no mean pretensions, under the name of the _Con-Test_, for then, as now,
as it always has been, and always will be, a good and taking title
produced a host of imitations and piracies. In spite, however, of
Murphy's great talents and its first blush of success, the _Test_ soon
began to languish, and died of atrophy, after a brief existence of some
eight or nine months. One of the most formidable anti-ministerialist
papers which, had hitherto appeared, was the _Monitor_. It came out upon
the accession of George III., and was especially occupied in attacking
Lord Bute, the young monarch's chief minister and favorite. Its editor
was John Entick, who is best known as the author of a dictionary, which
was largely used in the schooldays of the last generation, and is still
occasionally to be met with in old-fashioned families and out-of-the-way
corners of the world. This _Monitor_ was as terrible to the marquis as
another more modern Monitor was to the Merrimac, and the Scotch minion
was compelled to bestir himself. He called in to his aid Bubb
Doddington, who, during the lifetime of the preceding king, had done
good service for the party of the Prince of Wales, in a journal styled
the _Remembrancer_, and they, in conjunction with Smollett as editor,
brought out the _Briton_ in 1762. It was but a weakly specimen of a
Briton from the very first. There were many causes which contributed to
its downfall. Scotchmen were regarded throughout the nation with
feelings of thorough detestation, and Smollett had made for himself many
bitter enemies, of men who had formerly been his friends, by his
acceptance of this employment. It was the hand of a quondam friend that
dealt his paper the _coup-de-grace_, none other in fact than John
Wilkes, who had started the _North Briton_ in opposition to Smollett.
The _Briton_ expired on the 12th of February, 1763, and upon the 23d of
April, in the same year, appeared the never-to-be-forgotten No. 45 of
the _North Briton_. The circumstances connected with this famous
_brochure_, and the consequences which followed upon its appearance, are
so well known, that it will not be necessary to proceed to any great
length in describing its incidents. This said No. 45 initiated a great
fight, in which both sides committed several mistakes, won several
victories, and sustained several defeats. Wilkes undoubtedl