was ready and willing to take my good
advice."

JOHN HORNE TOOKE.

His abilities were ill fitted for the profession of a clergyman,
which indeed he at last renounced, but they highly qualified him
for his favorite occupation as a demagogue. Between him and Wilkes
there now arose a violent animosity and a keen altercation carried
on in newspapers. Descending to the lowest and most selfish
details, they were not ashamed thus publicly to wrangle respecting
a Welsh pony and a hamper of claret! Even before the close of 1770
might be discerned the growing discord and weakness of Wilkes and
his city friends. At a meeting which they convened to consider
their course of action, some proposed a new Remonstrance to the
King, while others urged an impeachment of Lord North in the House
of Commons. "What is the use of a new Remonstrance?" cried Wilkes.
"It would only serve to make another paper kite for His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales!"--"What is the use of an
impeachment?" cried Sawbridge. "Lord North is quite sure of the
Bishops and the Scotch Peers in the Upper House, and could not
fail to be acquitted!" But although these ardent patriots might
differ a little as to the means, they were bent on one and the
same end; and the Remonstrance which was at last agreed upon,
appears to have been framed by their united wisdom. As thus drawn
up it teemed with silly vagaries fit only to please the lowest
order of intellects. Thus it prayed that His Majesty would for
ever remove from his presence and councils all his Ministers and
Secretaries of State, especially Lord Mansfield (who by the way
was not one of them), and that His Majesty would not again admit
any Scotchman into the administration!

THE CHARACTER OF WILKES.

He was born in 1727, the son of a rich distiller. Early in life he
set up a brewery for himself, but soon relinquished the wearisome
business. Early in life also he improved his fortune by his
marriage with the daughter and heiress of the celebrated Dr. Mead,
the author of the "Treatise on Poisons." But this lady, being of
maturer age than himself, and of slight personal attractions, was
speedily slighted, and he left her with as much disgust as he had
his brewery. In 1757 he was elected Member of Parliament for
A