CHAPTER VIII.

1771. March 15th. The Lord Mayor attends the House 299

Alderman Oliver sent to the Tower 301

March 27th. Riot and Attack on Lord North 302

Lord Mayor committed to the Tower 304

March 30th. Lord Rockingham visits the Lord Mayor 306

Weakness of the Opposition 308

Conduct of the Court 310

Education of the Prince of Wales 311

Character of Mr. Smelt 312

Debate on the King’s Friends 314

Alderman Oliver declines to stand as Sheriff with Wilkes 316

Dissolution of the French Parliaments 317

April 23rd. Bill for an East Indian Regiment rejected 319

April 28th. Bill for Triennial Parliaments 320

May 1st. Motion of Lord Chatham tending to a Dissolution 321

Lord Chatham and the Pynsent Estate 322

Instances of the Partiality of both Houses 323

May 9th. Close of the Session 324

Controversy between Horne and Wilkes 325

Duke of Grafton accepts the Privy Seal 327

Visit of the Prince of Wales to Gravesend 327

Wilkes and Bull elected Sheriffs for Middlesex 328

“Adventures of Humphrey Clinker” 328

Chevalier d’Eon supposed to be a Woman 329

State of Affairs in France 330

Character of Maupeou 331

Disgrace of the Bishop d’Orleans 333

The Abbé du Terray 334

Madame du Barry 335

Popularity of the Duc de Choiseul 338

Dissolution of the Parliaments of Bourdeaux and Toulouse 339

Bold Conduct of Choiseul 342

Disturbed State of France 342

General Dislike of the Mistress 343