ll of Rights, one of the objects of which was to
uphold the newspapers in their conflicts with their great foe, the law
of libel, and to defray the expenses which were thus incurred. But,
owing to some quarrel with Wilkes, he withdrew from his connection with
this society, and started a new one--the Constitutional Society--which
was founded in the interests of the American colonies. His publication
of the doings of this society procured for him the distinction of
another trial, the upshot of which was that he was fined L200,
imprisoned for a year, and ordered to find bail for his good behavior
for three years more. After two unsuccessful attempts he got into
Parliament, and proved a very troublesome and formidable antagonist to
ministers, as might be expected from a prominent member of the London
Corresponding Society, which, consisting chiefly of working men, had for
its main objects the establishment of universal suffrage and annual
Parliaments. This society owed its origin to the French Revolution, and
it kept up a regular correspondence with the National Convention and the
French Jacobins. It numbered about fifty thousand members, in different
parts of the kingdom, and disseminated its opinions by means of
newspapers, pamphlets, and handbills, which were published at a low
price, or given away in the streets. One of the most influential of
these pamphlets was Tom Paine's 'Rights of Man,' for writing which he
was tried and convicted. Erskine was his counsel, and in the course of
his speech said:

'Other liberties are held under Governments, but the liberty of opinion
keeps Governments themselves in due subjection to their duties. This has
produced the martyrdom of truth in every age, and the world has been
only purged from ignorance with the innocent blood of those who have
enlightened it.'

The effect of these writings was that Government became alarmed, and a
proclamation was issued against seditious speaking and writing. The
_habeas corpus_ act was suspended, and political trials became the order
of the day. Horne Tooke's was one of the latest of these trials, in
1794. Erskine was his counsel, and was more successful than when
defending Paine. The public excitement had by this time very much toned
down, and Tooke was acquitted. One result of this trial was to secure
the fortunes of Erskine; but another and much more important one was to
establish on a firmer basis the right of free discussion and liberty of
spee