had been
mown down by the rifles of the Americans from their hiding-places. That
was altogether another question: they might or might not be supported
by government, since it was clearly evident, from Horne Tooke's motion,
that they had no business to obey the orders of their superiors. Horne
Tooke's humane motion as it stood, therefore, was adopted--a vote of
L100 was carried, and ordered to be transmitted to Dr. Franklin. The
members, however, generally comprehended the peril of the case, and
hesitated to sign the order. But Horne Tooke was as bold as he was
humane, and he took all the responsibility on his own shoulders by
affixing his name to it. The whole affair was clearly too ridiculous for
the notice of government; but he was nevertheless prosecuted, sentenced
to pay L200, to be imprisoned one year, and to find securities for good
behaviour during three more. This was just the thing the patriot wanted.
He had an opportunity of making a sarcastic speech, and his hopes were
elated by the prospect of enjoying a still larger share of the popular
favour. Probably he felt certain that he should one day carry the city
mace, like his ancient friend John Wilkes. The best way to crush a
demagogue is to let him pass unnoticed. Notwithstanding, the offence
of Tooke was a direct challenge to government, and if it had refused
to notice such an insult, its authority might have been despised by
the section he headed, and therefore greatly diminished. Government,
however, laid itself open to animadversion, by committing Mr. Sayre,
an American merchant, to the Tower, on a charge of high-treason. It was
declared on oath, by Mr. Richardson, an adjutant in the Guards, that Mr.
Sayre had told him he intended to seize the king at noon-day, in his way
to the house when it again met, to carry him out of the kingdom, occupy
the Tower, and overturn the government. This would have been clearly
the labour of "another Hercules," and the information should have
been treated with a sneer of contempt; but Lord Rochford seems to have
considered that the enterprise of this most magnanimous American was not
impracticable, and he therefore committed him to the Tower. But whether
Mr. Sayer proved the adjutant's statement to be false, or whether the
king conceived that he was in no danger, does not appear, but certain it
is that the American was set at liberty, after five days' incarceration,
and Lord Rochford had to pay him L1000 damages, on a suit f