It may not be altogether unentertaining to say a little on some of these worthies, the result of personal knowledge.
What variety of herbs soever are shuffled together in the dish, yet the whole mass is swallowed up in one name of sallet. In like manner, under the consideration of names, I will make a hodge-podge of differing articles.
CHAPTER IV.
James T. of B. Castle, was the most extraordinary character of them all. He was of a good family, his father having been an opulent merchant, Alderman of London, and Member of Parliament. Whether this gentleman had that determined and implacable spirit of resistance to the measures of government, which afterwards characterized his son, has not been recorded. This James T.’s first appearance as a candidate for political fame, was when he served the office of Sheriff, with Sawbridge, and perhaps the same office has never since been filled by such individuals, possessing, in such entire unison, qualities so eccentric. It is not intended to write T.’s life, though it deserves a place in our biographical collections, far better than many which there make their appearance.
The principal upon which he seemingly acted, was to resist government in every thing, though this was hardly fair on the score of gratitude. He married a natural daughter of the last Lord C. who left Mrs. T. all his estates, which were very large indeed, but as she had been born abroad, and had never been naturalized, the estates were forfeited to the crown. The then Lord Holland had an intimate political connection with Mr. T.’s father, and through his parliamentary interest, the estates were restored to Lord C.’s daughter, and confirmed to her by act of Parliament.
This liberality had, however, no sort of influence on his conduct; his own opinion on any subject was the standard of right, and fari quid sentiat, his motto. During the time of his serving the office of Sheriff, it was thought expedient by government to execute some rioters in Spital-fields, in the neighbourhood where the offence had been committed. This he and his brother Sheriff strenuously resisted, contending they were not justified in seeing the sentence of the law put in force, except at the usual place of execution. They were, however, obliged to give way. Upon another occasion, he resisted the payment of the land-tax, and suffered his effects to be seized at T. from the excuse that in the case of Wilkes and Lutterell, the county of Middlesex was not legally represented.
He had great natural eloquence, though he had not taken much pains in the cultivation of his mind; and he always commanded attention in the House of Commons, where he once very narrowly escaped being sent to the Tower, in consequence of some intemperate expressions against the Princess Dowager of Wales. His most particular friends were Lord Shelburne and Colonel Barré. He represented Calne, Lord Shelburne’s borough, and when in town, always resided in his Lordship’s house. Whatever may be thought of his politics, though they certainly were of a mischievous tendency, he was a firm and steady friend, and so tenacious of his promise, that he would leave the remotest part of the kingdom, and the most delightful society, to attend and give his vote at Guildhall, though for the meanest individual, and the humblest office. He was very proud and tenacious of his dignity among the great, though of the most conciliating affability with his inferiors. He would travel from one end of the kingdom to the other without a servant, and with a small change of linen in a leathern trunk behind the saddle.