100 'OLD Q' 



taken to punish this enemy to society — Wilkes. In 

 fact, all that could should be done, as he was one 

 of the three chosen to form a committee to investi- 

 gate the matter. His lordship's coadjutors were 

 the Bishop of Gloucester and Lord Sandwich, who 

 was almost as free a liver as his brother temporal 

 peer. 



The result of this combination against the pro- 

 prietor of the North Briton — who ' ran ' Bute, allied 

 to an animus which regarded the whole Scotch 

 nation as good copy — is historic. Hence an invita- 

 tion by writ to meet Lord Mansfield in the Court 

 of King's Bench, in official audience, Wilkes declined 

 by flying the country ; whereon he was condemned 

 as contumacious, and outlawed. 



That the part played by Lord March in this matter 

 caused much comment goes without saying. Nor 

 did his chaplain escape satire. One who styles 

 himself an 'M.P., and a friend to Wilkes and 

 Liberty,' published some doggerel verses on Kidgell's 

 narrative. 



The title-page bears these references : 



' Why should a reverend priest submit to fawn? ' 



' Pope has answered : 



' " A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn." ' 



