CHARACTERS. 
Ali, a late vizier, wore one of pearl, 
fo perfe&t as to be valued at $0001. 
fterling. 
Sketch of the Life of the late John Wilkes. 
From the Monthly Magazine. 
IS prefent Majefty afcended 
,& the throne of thefe realms 
-amidft the plaudits of his fubjects. 
His elevation was accompanied by 
aferies of aufpicious occurrences ; 
and every appearance augured a 
fortunate and happy reign. <A 
change in the dynafty had taken 
place in favour of his family; and 
the doétrine of popular election, 
by a practical and memorable ex- 
emplification,. was, juftly preferred 
to a pretended - hereditary right. 
But George I. was unacquainted 
with our laws, and even with our 
language. Thefe circumftances, 
added to his partiality for Hanover, 
and the enaction of the Septennial 
Bill (the firft infringement on pubs 
lic liberty during the reign of a 
houfe exprefily called in for its pro- 
tection) rendered him at times 
unpopular. . The latter part of the 
reign of George II, was uncom- 
monly brilliant;, but he alfo was 
accufed of an overweening fond- 
nefs for his electoral dominions, 
and confidered, even on the throne, 
as a foreigner. 
A happier fate attended his 
grandfon, who, in his firft fpeech, 
loried in being * born a Briton.” 
is youth, his graceful perfon, the 
memory of a father.dear to the na- 
tion, and, above all, the early pro- 
mife of a government founded on 
the practical bleflings of liberty, en- 
deared the new king to his people. 
Indeed, there is not a fingle inftance 
in all our hiftory, of a prince who 
attained the throne of thefe.king- 
Vout, XXXIX 
369 
doms with brighter profpeds; it 
was accordingly predicted, in the 
fervour of enthufiafm, that the fway 
of a Trajan, or an Alfred, was to 
be renewed in the perfon of George 
the Third. 
His Majefty found the country 
engaged in a juftand fortunate con- 
teft with the houfe of Bourbon. 
The war was conducted by a ftates- 
man who proved uncommonly fuc- 
cefsful in fubduing the armies and , 
navies of France; for we pointed 
the thunders of an united nation 
with terrible and irrefiftible effect 
en its humbled monarchy. A 
change of men and councils, in- 
deed, faved the enemy from utter 
ruin; but this very circumftance 
gave a decided turn to the current 
of popularity, which had hitherto 
deere around, and afforded a fa- 
cred barrier to the throne. 
On the retirement of William 
Pitt, 1761, majefty feemed fhorn 
of its rays; and its luftre being in- 
tercepted by the fudden interpofi- 
tion of a malignant planet, it ap- 
peared to experience almoft a totak 
eclipfe. The fetret views that led 
to the peace of Paris are ftill enve- 
loped in obfcurity, and the particu- 
lar motives which fuperinduced fo 
many facrifices are, at beft, but e- 
quivocal. It was, indeed, in fome 
meafure, fanétioned by a majority, 
obtained by means not difficult to 
be gueffed at in a venal age ; but it 
proved the moft finifter treaty in, 
our annals, and, from a variety of 
circumftances, became peculiarly 
odious to the nation. 
The adminiftration of the Earl of 
Bute gave general difguft. Clofe, 
infinuating, cunning, rapacious, 
and revengeful, he was faid to 
have enjoyed the unlimited confi- 
dence of his royal mafter; and the 
Aa people 
