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
[[37]]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!
![[37]](#9008006848925025622_37.png.id-7968077183026295766.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
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.
Early in the year