powers of genial spring, or a most lovely wife; mine, I trust will thaw, melt, and resolve itself to sprightly dew long before the first breath of zephyr. After all, my dear Doctor, I might, I believe, admit the state-physician and surgeon without any danger of a Russian hæmorrhoidal cholic,* but I will not do any thing on compulsion, Hal. I do not suspect either of them in the least to resemble a Talbot, a Martin, a Forbes, or a Dun. On the contrary, they are both amiable men, and therefore I wish you would bring them here to dinner as soon as I shall get a little better; for, at present, if they come, I should fear they would place themselves by authority, one on the right, and the other on the left hand of their poor patient, and, like Sancho's doctor with his wand, forbid my tasting any thing I ogled, or rather squinted at. I am alone; if you are disengaged, I wish you to come here at four, and I will give you half of my boiled chicken. We never can want food for laughter, while in the phrase of the sly Fox,† George Grenville has the conduct of the House of Commons. I am ever, my dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, JOHN WILKES. *A complaint which has proved fatal to several heirs apparent and princes of the imperial house of Romanoff; of later years an apoplectic fit, occasioned by an awkward adjustment of the cravat, has proved equally efficacious, and quite as satisfactory to the sovereign de facto. † Henry Fox, afterwards Lord Holland, on his first taking office with the implied management of the House of Commons, was so elated by his position, that, inconsistently with his habitual prudence, he, in his first circular addressed to the ministerial adherents previous to the commencement of the session, was incautious enough to preface it with these words," His Majesty having been pleased to confide to me the conduct of the House of Commons;" this gave much of fence, and one or two members severely animadverted on this improper allusion to the crown, but all farther consequence was averted by an adroit and crafty, although evasive apology on the part of the Fox. THE DUELLIST. BOOK I. THE clock struck twelve; o'er half the globe Ambition, who, when waking, dreams Who, when asleep, ne'er knows that rest Gray Avarice nodded o'er his gold. 5 10 16 20 Jealousy, his quick eye half-closed Stretch'd at his length on the bare ground, Thou bloody Man! whose ruffian knife A firm, fast friend, by vice allied, In whom ten murders breed no awe, Thou man of Lust! whom passion fires And rapes, full blown upon thy crown, 25 80 40 45 50 Whose restless thoughts still form the plan Thou perjur'd Wretch! whom falsehood clothes Blaspheming heaven and earth for pelf, Thou son of Chance! whose glorious soul, Dost game on at thy country's cost, 56 60 65 70 75 And, grown expert in sharping rules, First fool'd thyself, now prey'st on fools: Gives too much credit to disgrace, 8C 66 Another allusion to the execution of Ayliffe, and the popular imputations it gave rise to. See note on v. 140 of the Epistle to Hogarth. Who, with the motion of a die, Dost make a mighty island fly, The sums, I mean, of good French gold For which a mighty island sold; Who dost betray intelligence, Abuse the dearest confidence, And, private fortune to create, Most falsely play the game of state; 8 Sums, which might beggar a whole court, 90 And sin have drawn from Reason's side; Who, fearing his avengeful rod, 100 92 Earl Talbot, Lord Steward of the King's Household from 1761 to 1782. On his first appointment to the office, his lordship proposed some economical reforms in the palace, but the clamour excited among some of the retainers of the court, together with his lordship's want of resolution, induced nim to desist from carrying them into execution. In a future page we shall have occasion to notice his lordship's rencontre with Mr. Wilkes at Bagshot. |