1764,
much public anxiety and disquietude was manifested. Mr. Wilkes again
appeared before a public tribunal for publishing opinions not in
accordance with the reigning powers. The House of Commons sat so early
as seven o'clock in the morning to consider his case, and the speaker
actually remained in the chair for _twenty hours_, so important was the
matter considered.
About the end of this year, the king became much indisposed, and
exhibited the first signs of that mental aberration, which, in after
years, so heavily afflicted him. The nation, in general, supposed this
to have arisen from his majesty's anxiety upon the fearful aspect of
affairs, which was then of the most gloomy nature, both at home and
abroad. Little, indeed, did the multitudes imagine the _real_ cause;
little did the private gentleman, the industrious tradesman, the worthy
mechanic, or the labourer, think that their sovereign was living in
splendid misery, bereft of the dearest object of his solicitude, and
compelled to associate with the woman he all but detested!
Nature had not formed George the Third for a king; she had not been
profuse to him either in elegance of manners, or capacity of mind; but
he seemed more fitted to shine in a domestic circle, where his
affections were centred, and in that sphere only. But, with all
hereditary monarchies, _an incompetent person has the same claim as a
man adorned with every requisite and desirable ability_!
In this year, Lord Albermarle received TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS as _his_
share in the Havannah prize-money; while _one pound, two shillings, and
six-pence_ was thought sufficient for a corporal, and _thirteen
shillings and five-pence_ for a private! How far this disbursement was
consistent with _equity_, we leave every honest member of society to
determine.
In December, a most excellent edict was registered in the parliament of
Paris, by which the King of France abolished the society of Jesuits _for
ever_.