by Jean Plaidy
He was not a great success in Parliament, lacking the necessary eloquence; but his wit and humour secured him many friends; he was a most entertaining companion; he even made fun of his ugliness. He had never, he said, like Narcissus, hung over a stream and admired his countenance; one would not find him stealing sly glances at a mirror, a habit he had noticed among those to whom Nature had been a little more kind when dealing out good features. He made a cult of his ugliness. He was extremely virile; he had a deep need of sexual satisfaction; and in a short time he had gone through his fortune and his wife’s and was looking for a means of making money.
He discovered a talent for journalism; it was an exciting profession. To express one’s views in print, to hear them quoted, to be a power in the land – that was exactly what Wilkes wanted.
If there was one man in the country whom Wilkes wished to send toppling from his pedestal, that man was Lord Bute. Bute was all that he was not – handsome, pompous and a lover to whom the Dowager Princess of Wales had been faithful for years; Wilkes was envious; he was cleverer than Bute, but Bute was a rich man and he a poor one. Bute had become head of the Government and he, brilliant Wilkes, was a failure in Parliament.
And now Bute was forcing his desires on the country and he had done it through bribes. Here was a subject for a journalist.
One of the papers, The Monitor, was criticizing the Government, but it was a scrappy little sheet, hardly worthy to be called a newspaper; and in retaliation Lord Bute had founded two papers, The Briton and The Auditor, and had set up the novelist Tobias Smollett as editor of the former. Under brilliant editorship The Briton was attracting some attention and was helping to put the case for Bute, who was becoming less unpopular as a result. This was something which Wilkes could not endure. He went to his crony Charles Churchill, a man who lived as disreputably as Wilkes himself, had separated from his wife as Wilkes had, and had made some reputation as a poet.
‘We should found a rival paper to The Briton,’ he suggested. ‘In it we could keep the country informed on Mr Bute.’
‘What could we tell them that they don’t already know?’
That made Wilkes laugh. ‘We’ll find plenty, never fear. Bribes! And what a gallant gentleman! I’ll swear the people would like to know how very well he performs in the Princess’s bed.’
‘Wilkes, you’re a devil,’ cried Churchill.
‘And doing you the honour of accepting you as the same, my friend. Now to business.’
In a very short time they were ready to bring out their paper.
‘What shall we call it?’ Churchill wanted to know.
Wilkes was thoughtful; then a lewd smile spread across his ugly face. ‘Why not The North Briton? After all it is going to be dedicated to the destruction of a gentleman from across the Border. Yes, that is it. The North Briton.’
And so The North Briton came into existence.
From its first number it was a success. There was nothing the people liked better than to see the great ridiculed, and when it was done with wit and humour it appealed more than ever.
Wilkes saw that it was presented, and people were buying it in their thousands. Fox was represented as Bute’s faithful henchman. They had brought about their measures and how? Wilkes was hiding nothing. He had the information at his fingertips. He knew how the peace treaty had been brought safely through the Commons and Lords. Bribery! Bribery and Corruption was something which Wilkes and Churchill in The North Briton were going to expose to public view. Wilkes and Churchill were for Liberty. Freedom of action; freedom of speech. That was what they stood for; and they were no respecters of persons either. No one was going to be considered if he offended against the laws of decency laid down by Wilkes and Churchill. And Bribery was an offence which made them cry out Shame.
But the chief butt was the Scotsman. Very, very handsome, he was. He had a wife and numerous children. But he still had time and energy to serve the Princess Dowager. Did the people realize they had a boudoir genius in their midst?
Another method of attack was a more serious one. George III was likened to Edward III, the Dowager Princess of Wales to Queen Isabella. And Bute had to have a part in this drama so he was of course Roger Mortimer.
Together Wilkes and Churchill concocted a parody of Mount-fort’s Fall of Mortimer which they published with a dedication to that brilliant bedchamber performer, Lord Bute. The sales of The North Briton shot up; and Wilkes realized that this was the most amusing, the most exciting and the quickest way to change his financial position. It had been a stroke of genius to start the paper. All he had to remember was that they must stop at nothing; no one should be safe from their vitriolic pens. The simple fact was that the people loved scurrilous gossip; and the more shocking and the higher placed the people involved, the more the public liked it.
‘They shall have what they want,’ sang out Wilkes; and proceeded to give it to them.
*
Henry Fox, seeing the way trends were going – and by allying himself with Bute he was naturally catching some of the odium which was showered on that nobleman – saw no reason why he should continue in office.
Caroline was urging him to get out. He had promised, had he not, that as soon as he could do so, he would. He had told her that this last little fling was too important to be ignored. Well, he had done what was asked of him; he had shown them how to carry through the terms which Pitt had so violently rejected, so what further purpose could be served by remaining in office?
Walking in the grounds of Holland House, his arm through that of his wife, revelling in the signs of spring all around them, Henry Fox told her that she was right. He agreed with her.
Now that that odious man Wilkes had come out with his scandal sheet, no one was spared – certainly not those in high places. The Government was going to sway to the attack of ridicule.
If he were going to get out in that blaze of glory, then he should do so now, and the price of past services would be a title.
‘What do you think of Lord Holland, my dear?’ he asked, smiling complacently about the park.
‘I think it would be ideal,’ Caroline told him; ‘but only if you leave the Government and come into retirement so that we can spend more time together which would give me great pleasure and enable you to escape from the mudslinging of that hideous Wilkes, the general scorn with which the Government is beginning to be regarded, and the growing unpopularity of my Lord Bute.’
‘Wise woman,’ commented Fox. ‘Tomorrow I go to see my lord and with him to the King. I doubt not soon that your husband will be a noble lord.’
‘The sooner the better since it means your escape from the Government.’
*
Mr Fox presented himself to Lord Bute.
Poor Bute! He was certainly losing his youthful looks. Being head of a government most definitely did not suit him. Fox laughed inwardly with grim satisfaction. These ambitious men who saw themselves as they were not! Let Bute go back to cosseting the Princess Dowager; he was very good at that. But countries needed more than cosseting.
‘My lord, I have come to tell you that my health is failing, and as I have done that which I gave my word to do, I can see no point in remaining longer in the Government.’
Bute was alarmed. While he had had Fox’s support he had felt secure. Crafty as his name, this man was a brilliant politician, who could be called a worthy rival to Pitt. Bute had clung to high office fervently, knowing that this man was supporting him; but now the sly fellow was withdrawing that support. He had had enough.
‘This is ill news,’ began Bute.
‘Nay, nay,’ cried Fox. ‘A man who is not in the best of health is a poor henchman. You, my lord, with that cleverness which has placed you in your present position, have no need of a poor sick fox. I have made up my mind to retire.’
‘This cannot be final.’
‘Alas, yes. My health demands it. I have promised my wife that today I would come to you and tell you that I intend to off
er my resignation. I can be of no further use to you. Therefore I shall go with the title your promised me, to show the people that I am considered worthy of my reward.’
‘Title …’ began Bute.
‘Baron Holland of Foxley, Wiltshire,’ said Fox. ‘And I should hope to retain the post of Paymaster.’
Bute was astounded. How like Fox to ask for his title and a post which was almost a sinecure and brought in a considerable income.
‘I think even my enemies would agree,’ said Fox smiling, ‘that the country owes me this.’
*
The King was deeply disturbed. He had read Wilkes’s sheet. Those terrible accusations against his mother and Lord Bute! Did everyone know of them except himself? What a simpleton he had been! All those years when they had been together he had thought they were just good friends. And they had been living together as husband and wife; and the whole world knew … except George, and was doubtless laughing at George for his simplicity.
The King buried his face in his hands. There were times when he felt that the whole world was against him. He could trust no one – not even his mother; not even Bute – those two on whom he had relied all his life.
Oh, yes, he could rely on Charlotte; because Charlotte was only a young girl who knew nothing of state affairs. She should never know. She should remain shut away from the Court which was wicked, anyway. Charlotte should retain her innocence; she should go on bearing his children. In August they would have another. Two already and not married two years! Yes, Charlotte was all he cared to think about these days. He was beginning to hate politics and mistrust politicians. But if he were going to be a good King he must understand these matters. The manner in which the peace had been passed through Parliament appalled him. Bribes! And that cynical Mr Fox arranging it all!
What pleasure to escape to Richmond when he could; to walk with Charlotte in the gardens there; to sit beside the baby’s cradle and marvel at the fact that he was such a lusty healthy little fellow.
And now Lord Bute was bringing Fox to him to tell him that the minister wished to offer his resignation, and as a reward for his services he would accept a barony and become Baron Holland; he wished to retain the post of Paymaster.
‘So you are leaving the Government, Mr Fox, sir,’ said the King disapprovingly.
‘Your Majesty, my health has deteriorated and I am in no position to do honour to the high post which Your Majesty in your goodness bestowed on me.’
George felt sick with annoyance and disappointment. Mr Fox was lucky. When he wanted to extricate himself from a difficult situation he only had to resign; and get a title for doing it.
There was nothing to be done. They could only let him go.
*
On 19 April the King opened Parliament and four days later number 45 of The North Briton appeared.
In this Wilkes commented on the Peace of Hubertsberg – which had followed the Peace of Paris – as ‘the most abandoned instance of ministerial effrontery ever attempted to be imposed on mankind’.
George read the paper, for everyone was now reading The North Briton, anxiously scrutinizing it to make sure that they were not being ridiculed in it; and he found that Wilkes had dealt with him personally.
‘The King’s speech,’ wrote Wilkes, ‘has always been considered by the legislature and by the public at large as the speech of the Minister.’
This was an attempt to imply that he had no intention of attacking the King but was blaming the chief minister, George Grenville.
‘Every friend of this country,’ he went on, ‘must lament that a Prince of so many great and amiable qualities, whom England truly reveres, can be brought to give the sanction of his sacred name to the most odious measures and to the most unjustifiable public declarations from a throne ever renowned for truth, honour and unsullied virtue.’
When George read this he was not in the least taken in by the implication of loyalty. This was a sneer at himself, suggesting that he was at best a puppet.
He was suffering from one of his headaches and he kept repeating the phrases of that article over and over again in his mind.
He wanted to get right away. He was weary of his office. If only he could be like Mr Fox and get away to the pleasure of his wife’s company. But he was the King; he could not resign.
George Grenville was asking for an audience. He came in clutching The North Briton and it was easy to see that he was as angry as the King.
‘We cannot allow this to pass, Your Majesty.’
‘So I thought,’ agreed the King. ‘We are submitted to insult, but what can we do?’
‘We can send a copy of The North Briton to the law officers of the Crown. This, in my opinion, is a seditious libel.’
‘Let it be done,’ said George. ‘It is time we took some action against this man Wilkes.’
*
Lord Halifax and the Earl of Egremont as Secretaries of State were only too ready to issue the warrant which Grenville demanded.
This gave permission for a strict and diligent search to be made in the offices of the seditious and treasonable paper The North Briton and for the authors of seditious libel to be arrested.
Halifax’s secretary arrived at Wilkes’s house one night and read the warrant to him, but Wilkes pointed out that his name was not mentioned on the warrant and therefore it was not legal. So forcefully did he argue that the secretary retired, but the next morning he had presented himself at the offices of The North Briton.
Wilkes was arguing with him when Charles Churchill came in and looking straight at Churchill, Wilkes said: ‘Good day, Mr Thompson. How is Mrs Thompson? Does she dine in the country?’
Churchill immediately guessed what was happening and that Wilkes was warning him, so he replied: ‘Mrs Thompson is in good health, sir. I merely called to enquire after your health before joining her in the country.’
And accepting Wilkes’s kindest regards for Mrs Thompson, Churchill disappeared and without delay went to the country to avoid arrest.
Wilkes’s arguments were waved aside and he was taken away protesting that he would sue them all for breach of the law.
London was in an uproar. Wilkes was arrested. This was a threat against the freedom of the individual; freedom of speech was in jeopardy and Wilkes was the defender of liberty.
Bute engaged Hogarth to draw a derisive cartoon of Wilkes, making him look even uglier than he was, so that it could be circulated throughout the City. Churchill, from a few miles out of the town, was able to retaliate with lampoons and songs about Bute and his followers. He made it clear to the people that Hogarth was in the pay of Bute, that he was an artist who worked for those who would pay him most, and his views were therefore worthless.
When, in May, Wilkes was brought up for trial he claimed privilege as a Member of Parliament and when he was released by Chief Justice Pratt, this was one of the biggest defeats the Government had suffered.
Arrogant and impudent Wilkes returned to his offices. Now he was going to fight them, and his first step was to issue writs against those who had caused his arrest.
The City waited in breathless amusement for what would happen next. The jeers at Lord Bute were more offensive than ever; the King was often received in a hostile silence. Wilkes was the defender of liberty and the people’s hero.
*
All through that trying summer George escaped to Richmond whenever possible, but by the beginning of August it was time for Charlotte to come back to St James’s to prepare for the birth of the child.
Charlotte had been taking her English lessons regularly and had progressed considerably. Her accent was decidedly German but she was no longer in the irritating position of being unable to understand what people around her were saying. Not that she was allowed to talk to many people. There were her women who attended to her needs but Schwellenburg had installed herself at their head and in spite of that warning they could not shift her from the position she had chosen for herself. There were so oft
en those occasions when Charlotte could only express herself in German; then either Schwellenburg or Haggerdorn was needed.
Charlotte was aware of the manner in which she was restricted, but reminded herself that she had been pregnant most of the time she had been in England.
Occasionally she heard scraps of conversation. She knew that Elizabeth Chudleigh, that bold lady-in-waiting, was the mistress of the Duke of Kingston, which surprised her, for the Duke had given her the impression that he was a scholarly man and being so much older than Elizabeth hardly the sort of lover one would have expected her to take. But perhaps it was his title which attracted her, although that was not much help to her as he did not marry her.
She wondered why Elizabeth was allowed to remain at Court, for her conduct was a little disreputable.
She mentioned this to George who said he agreed with her. His mother though had recommended her and might be offended if Elizabeth were dismissed without consulting her.
‘When next we meet I shall mention the matter,’ said Charlotte.
And George, who was preoccupied, merely nodded. Poor George, he did seem to be weighed down by his cares now. But he was delighted with her pregnancy of course.
‘Why,’ she laughed, ‘I have little time to see England. All the time I have been here I have either been going to have a baby or having one.’
‘Which is very laudable,’ added the King.
Yes, thought Charlotte, but there should be a little breathing space between babies.
When she next saw the Princess Dowager she did mention Elizabeth Chudleigh but the Princess Dowager looked confused and muttered that she thought the woman was a good servant.
‘She is a little frivolous,’ suggested Charlotte.
‘Most of these women are.’
‘Doubtless you do not know that she is the Duke of Kingston’s mistress.’
‘There are always scandals.’ The Princess Dowager flushed a little. ‘I doubt not that few of us are spared.’
It was very strange, thought Charlotte, because the Princess Dowager was usually so strict. When she, Charlotte, with George had attended balls after the birth of little George, the Princess had expressed her disapproval of such frivolity – even to celebrate the birth of a Prince of Wales. Now she was being very lenient to Miss Chudleigh. And when Charlotte recalled Miss Chudleigh’s arrogant and altogether complacent manner it made one wonder whether she had not some hold over the Princess.
