The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-09

with the words 'I take the Wilkes and Lib
ertv to inform you:" and there was found
ing of new, OF refounding of an old, club
in the city Of Cork, the members OF which
had names which contained forty-five letters;
they met at a tavern where they spent forty
Ave nence each: every man drank forty-ive
wine glasses of punch, in celebration of forty
Eve toasts, which were chiefly directed against
the despotism of rulers in general Perhaps
the greatest triumph that Wilkes had, when
the effervescence was at its greatest, consisted
not SO much in members of the Royal Family
'1ighting up" to save their windows, nor in
lords, who hated the Tribune, having the
panels of their carriages scratched all over
with 'sNo 40, but in the Duke and Duchess
of Northumberland appearing in their bal
cony to salute the Wilkes mob and in Lord
Butte illuminating his house 80 brilliantly (of
course to protect it) that all South Audley
street seemed in blaze. We must not for
get the chandler who sent to Wilkes gift of
forty-five dozen of candles
The North Brtton put Wilkes life in peril
at various times, but no one could seriously
doubt Wilkes courage. Lord Talbot chal-
lenged him on passage in one of the num-
bers, the authorship of which Wilkes would
neither avow nor deny, till they had fought
upon it. When they had exchanged shots he
confessed himself to be the author of the
insulting paragraph; but Lord Talbot,
instead of demanding another shot, declared
himself satisfied, and the combatants
finished the affair by drinking bottle of
caret together. Wilkes did not seek this
duel, and would have avoided it probably
if he had been able, but once entered
on the quarrel he bore himself becomingly.
If there were some farcical incidents in this
encounter there was real tragic element in
it menacing to Wilkes. He fought with q
halter round his neck, for if he had killed
Lord Talbot he would certainly have been
hanged. With this knowledge he confided
his daughter to the guardianship of Lord
Temple before he went to meet what, no
doubt, he wished he couldhave avoided. After
this celebrated affair Wilkes could afford to
disregard any sneer against his courage when
he refused in Paris to fight certain Scotch
captain named Forbes unless the latter could
find a second, or some one who could vouch
for his being gentleman. The grievance of
Forbes was like that of the would-be assassin
Dunn. A quip against Scotland or Scottish
men was an insult to them individually, but
Forbes would have avenged it like "man of
honor" while Dunn meant nothing else than
cutting Wilkes throat to satisfy the honor of
his country. The duel into which the NORTH
B,1ton brought Wilkes with Martin, Secre-
tary of the Treasury, was the one most peri
lous to Wilkes. The North B55t0n not only
attacked "a certain Secretary as the basest
of mankind but identified him as having ''a
snout worthy of o Portuguese inquisitor.
Martin charged the anonymous writer in the
House with cowardly stabbing in the dark;
and at that charge Wilkes avowed himself the
author. A rather savage duel ensued, in
which Wilkes fell, grievously wounded. In
prospect of death, as it seemed, Wilkes gene
rously did his best to shield Martin from the
consequences; but he could not control his wit,
which would have its fling at the ruling powers.
''Its clear enough, said the wounded suf-
ferer, 'that Martin did not use Government
powder" This was uttered with the more
delight as it struck at both Government and
its servants. The most of Wilkes brightest
utterances are too we'll remembered to need
being repeated. His reputation in Paris as a
wit has not died out 81 have been told by
M. Louis Blanc, says Mr.. Rogers, ''that his
witticisms are even now stock French stories,
as Sydney Smiths jests are with u.s." We
regret that the biographer has not given as
some sample of the esprit which has received
the stamp of Partisan sanction. In England,
one of the best things ever uttered by Wilkes
has been preserved by Lord Lytton, but not
without ''slap in the face" of the utterer.
We refer our readers to the concluding para
graph of ''Paul Clifford" where Wilkes life,
patriotism and morals find harsh treat
ment-where he is called ''the Drawcansir of
Liberty" but where he is allowed to have
said zone excellent thing, for which we look
on you with benevolence-nay, almost with
respects" namely, words that are acknow-
lodged as being both witty and wise, and
which are to the effect that ''the very worst
use to which you can put man is to hang
him."
Wilkes may have been ''dull in Parlia-
ment;" he did bright things there, but he said
his brightest among his private friends. His
wit was easy and brilliant; not played off for
effect, but often uttered for the conveyance
of truth. ''How far does the liberty of the
press extend in England ?" said the Prince de
Croy to him, at Calais. 'T cannot tell" was
the reply of Wilkes to the Governor, 'but
am trying to know" Like Chesterfield, he
uttered more wit than he wrote. 1t was
bold-often impudent; but spontaneous.
When the King was about to go to St.
Pauls to offer public thanksgiving
Wilkes expressed hope that Lord George
German (who had been charged with show
ing less valor than discretion at Minden)
would be appointed ''to carry the sword
before his Majesty in the procession. His
innuendo cut as.sharply as his wit. At the
time that George the Third was treating his
brothers with severity, the audacious men,
ber for Middlesex took occasion to praise
the fraternal affection of the King of France;
unlike" he said, ''the gloomy tyrant . -
and then he paused, while every ear was
| Eleventh The loyalist men could not keep
from laughing. OF course, the King of
England could not be expected to be glad
at Wilkes election to the Mayoralty of Lon
don. A rumor was circulated that the Lord
Chancellor, on Wilkes being presented to
that official, would signify to him that the
| King did not approve of the citizens choice