o be free. He was at liberty to squander his
money unquestioned and unchallenged in the society of as pretty a gang
of scoundrels as even the age could produce. No meaner, more
malignant, or more repulsive figure darkens the record of the last
century than that of Lord Sandwich. Sir Francis Dashwood ran him close
in infamy. Mr. Thomas Potter was the peer of either in beastliness.
All three were members of Parliament; all three were partially
responsible for the legislation of the country; two were especially so
responsible. All three were bound at least to a decorous
acknowledgment of the observances of the Church; one was in especial so
bound. Sir Francis Dashwood and Lord Sandwich were, then or
thereafter, members of the Government. Sir Francis Dashwood was
remarkable as having been the worst and stupidest Chancellor of the
Exchequer known to history. Lord Sandwich was made First Lord of the
Admiralty. As for the third in this triumvirate of blackguards, Mr.
Thomas Potter was a son of the Archbishop {49} of Canterbury, and he
was soon afterwards made Vice-Treasurer for Ireland. Into such
honorable hands were the duties of government delivered less than a
century and a half ago.

[Sidenote: 1763--Wilkes's profligacy]

In this society Wilkes was made very welcome. He brought to their
filthy fooleries something resembling wit; he brought an intelligence
as far above that of his companions as that of the monkey is above that
of the rabbit. While he had money he spent it as royally as the rest.
If he rivalled them in their profligacy, he outstripped them by his
intellect. They were conspicuous only by their vices; he would have
been a remarkable man even if it had pleased Providence to make him
virtuous. It had not pleased Providence to make him attractive to look
upon. There were few uglier men of his day; few who lost less by their
ugliness. But though we are well assured that his appearance was
repulsive, he redeemed his hideousness by his ready tongue and witty
mind. He said of himself, truly enough, that he only wanted half an
hour's start to make him even with the handsomest man in England.

Wilkes flung his money and his wife's money about recklessly, while he
played his part as a country gentleman upon the estate at Aylesbury
which his unhappy wife had resigned to him when they separated. Of
this money some eight thousand pounds went in an unsuccessful attempt
to bribe his way into the represen