was, however, not only deficient in oratory, but devoid of all its graces and qualifications; for his utterance was difficult, his voice unmelodious, his figure unprepossessing. Besides the want of personal beauty, which the most eloquent man of Rome deemed essential to suche possessed the glaring defect of Roscius †, without exhibiting, in any eminent degree, a single accomplishment of that great actor. point of composition, too, his speeches were dull and inanimate, neither sparkling with wit, like his conversation, nor abounding in point and repartee, like his writings.

cess;

In

As a man, his character was equivocal. He had yielded, without compunction, to all the passions in succession; and the witcheries of women and conviviality, proved ruinous to his affairs. His fortunes were soon swallowed up by the insatiable cravings of luxury; while a taste for foreign wines, and foreign manners, rendered him a dependent on the great, whom he affected to despise, and a suppliant to the crown, which it appeared to have been his constant aim to offend. Such were his necessities and his ambition, even in early life, that he had secretly

* Cicero de Oratore.

↑ "Erat perversissimis oculis."- Is not this to be termed squinting?

solicited a government, as well as an embassy, and had afterwards subsisted, in a foreign country, on a pension from that very ministry* which he appeared to condemn.

On the other hand, it must be allowed, that he cheered the death-bed of Lloyd by means of his bounty; and, after burying Churchill, at his own expense, erected an appropriate monument to his memory; thus resembling one of the greatest ment of antiquity, both in his virtues and his vices. The metropolis in him constantly beheld the champion of popular rights; and such was the unvarying attachment of its inhabitants, that after obtaining, in quick succession, the offices of sheriff, alderman, and mayor, he, whose principles were those of professed libertine, was entrusted with the morals of the city youth, while its treasures were confined to the eare of a man of ruined fortunes!

And yet, it is but justice to observe, notwithstanding so many sinistrous forebodings, that Wilkes conducted himself, as chamberlain, with exemplary discretion; and, after acquiring independence, enjoyed the satisfaction of beholding an unjust and degrading sentence expunged

*The Rockingham administration.

t

Alcibiades, et vitiis, et virtutibus celebris."

from the records of parliament. At length, neither unmindful of his adverse fortunes, in former times, nor the source of his present prosperity, he erected an altar to gratitude and the city of London, in a beautiful and romantic island *, not unworthy of the praise of the poet Tibullus; an edition of whose sonnets, constituted one of the last labours of his variegated life.

The year 1798 proved a busy and important one to Mr. Tooke. The first part of the "Diversions of Purley" had by this time obtained a considerable degree of circulation and celebrity. Both the subject, and the manner of treating it, possessed much novelty; the learned in England, and, indeed, throughout Europe, had received it favourably, and a high opinion was entertained of the author. A second edition was now become necessary, and was indeed called for by the general voice. He had accordingly collected and arranged his materials, and every thing being prepared, he now determined to gratify the public and himself.

This work, which is in quarto, contributed not a little to enhance his reputation, and it will be seen hereafter, that it tended greatly to improve

The Isle of Wight.

his fortune also. The volume in question includes, among the additions, the copy of an original letter from Mr. Pitt to the author in 1782; and also some bitter allusions to the political conduct of Mr. Windham.

In 1797, an event occurred, that contributed not a little to vary the life and gratify the feelings of Mr. Tooke. This was the introduction of sir Francis Burdett, as a constant visitor and guest at Wimbledon. The baronet then represented Boroughbridge in parliament; and, having heard much of the talents and acquirements of the philologist, was desirous of his acquaintance. An intimacy soon took place, which at length ripened into friendship. They not only conversed daily, but actually studied together; and I have been given to understand, that, during the first year or two of their intercourse, several of the Latin classics were perused, and many of the favourite passages elucidated, explained, and commented upon.

It was soon after this period, also, that I first frequented the house of Mr. Horne Tooke. To that circumstance I am partly indebted to accident, and partly to the introduction of a common friend, a physician, since dead. Instead of finding a man equally repulsive in his manners and appearance, as some had taught me to expect, I was most agreeably disappointed, at

the first interview, to be received with the politeness of a well-bred gentleman, and entertained with all that ease, attention, and hospitality, which an intimate knowledge of the world, added to liberal sentiments, can alone confer.

When I first saw him, he had already passed the meridian of life, and his dress, which savoured of the old school, seemed to add an air of dignity to his conversation. His coat, which consisted of a dark brown English broad-cloth, was calculated for court, as it was destitute of the modern appendage of a collar; while his cuffs were adorned with a large row of steel buttons. His small clothes, exactly corresponded both in cut and colour; his waistcoat was handsomely tamboured; his stockings were of silk; he wore long ruffles at the wrist; while his hair was tied and powdered, in the manner of former times. In the midst of conversation, he generally recurred to the contents of a large snuff-box, containing rappee; and I thought I could perceive that he managed this in such a manner, as to render it serviceable to his wit and repartee. His house and table denoted great plenty, if not great opulence, and the view towards the lawn, which was terminated by a distant wood, always appeared delightful to me.

I had then resumed my studies, and was en