wn account, cost him a
great deal of pains and time, he was, it is said, assisted by
Thomas Potter, second son of the late Archbishop of Canterbury,
who had been Secretary of Frederick Prince of Wales, and had since
shown ability and gained office in the House of Commons, but was
(as well became one of Wilkes's friends) of lax morals in his
private life. The result of their joint authorship, however, has
little wit or talent to make any amends for the blasphemy and
lewdness with which it abounds. As the original had been inscribed
by Pope to Lord Bolingbroke, so was the parody by Wilkes to Lord
Sandwich; thus it began, "Awake my Sandwich!" instead of "Awake my
St. John!" Thus also, in ridicule of Warburton's well-known
commentary, some burlesque notes were appended in the name of the
Right Reverend the Bishop of Gloucester.

This worthless poem had remained in manuscript, and lain in
Wilkes's desk, until in the previous spring he had occasion to set
up a press at his own house, and was tempted to print fourteen
copies only as presents to his boon companions. Of one of these
copies the Government obtained possession, through a subordinate
agent, and by not very creditable means, and Lord Sandwich holding
it forth in his hand with the air of injured innocence, denounced
it as not only scandalous and impious, but also as a breach of
Privilege against the Bishop as a Peer of Parliament. He likewise
complained of another profane parody, written by the same hand,
and printed on the same occasion; this last was entitled, "The
VENI CREATOR paraphrased." The most offensive passages of both
were now by Lord Sandwich's order read aloud to the House, until
Lord Lyttleton with a groan entreated that they might hear no
more!

In the discussion which ensured, Bishop Warburton, forgetting that
such ribaldries could not really tarnish his character, showed a
heat which little became it. He exclaimed that the blackest fiends
in Hell would disdain to keep company with Wilkes,--and then asked
pardon of Satan for comparing them together! Both the Earl and
Bishop in their passion would have readily over-leaped the common
forms of justice. The former, after producing evidence at the Bar
as to the authorship of Wilkes, wished the House to take measures
for his prosecution, without the least delay