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 Dow ager 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, hẹ 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. The Sexagenarian once accompanied him on a fishing excursion, in a remote province, and he chose, in the kitchen of the village-alehouse, where they they stopped for refreshment, to dress some of the fish that had been caught. A labouring man came in to enquire of the landlord how to get a letter to London at least expence. "Give me your letter," said Mr. T." and it shall cost nothing." He accordingly asked for pen and ink, and franked it, to the great amazement of seven or eight peasants, who were standing about to see the novel spectacle of a Gemman dressing his own fish. A great deal more might be said, and not without exciting interest, of this singular character, but it appears that our friend's memorandums must be curtailed; they would otherwise extend to too great a length. With the exception of Lord Shelburne and Colonel Barré, Mr. T.'s political friends varied somewhat with times and circumstances. He was once very intimate with Lord Thurlow, with Horne Tooke, with Sawbridge, and Oliver, and Wilkes, and many similar characters of that day, but before his death, these connections ceased altogether. His son, it seems, partook of his father's enthusiasm, or what they mutually understood to be the cause of liberty, and attached himself to the flaming patriots of the day. The London Aldermen of those days, at least it is true of many among them, were in some respects different from those of the present. There were not a few individuals of birth and fortune, but little con connected with commerce, who used their influence to obtain the Aldermanic gown, entirely from political views and purposes; such was Mr. T. and such also was Sawbridge. Mr. Sawbridge was a country gentleman, with no city connections, but ardent in his politics, and exasperated against government, for what he considered as a violation of the constitution, in not permitting Wilkes to sit as representative for Middlesex. He at that time sat in Parliament for one of the Cinque Ports, and so distinguished himself by the part he took in favour of Wilkes, that he became exceedingly popular with the citizens of London, who, before he was an Alderman, elected him with T. to the office of Sheriff. He was in due time both Alderman and Lord Mayor, and afterwards represented the city of London in three succeeding parliaments. He was a violent and constant opposer of the American war, and a systematic advocate for parliamentary reform; and during the whole of the time that he had a seat in the house, he never failed to make an annual motion to shorten the duration of parliament. He was a perfect gentleman in his manners, and very little calculated to assimilate with those, into whose intimate society, his political enmities and prejudices introduced him. Another Another of this circle was Mr. Oliver; he was a West India merchant, and in his external manners, the perfect gentleman. The circumstance which first introduced him to city honours and political importance, was alike whimsical and accidental. He had a brother, who on some vacancy for the representation of London, had declared himself a candidate, with much prospect of success. He was, however, seized with a violent and dangerous sickness, which prevented his appearing on the hustings on the day of nomination. On this day, however, Mr. Richard Oliver, the subject of the present sketch, presented himself to the citizens, and lamented that the condition of his brother's health rendered it impossible for him to avail himself of the honours which probably awaited him; but that he who now addressed them, attached to the same party, governed by the same principles, and possessed of equal independence, begged them to transfer the kindness they meditated for his brother, to himself. He succeeded without opposition, and in the interval between the day of nomination and election, was chosen an Alderman, and was afterwards Sheriff. Of all the political popular characters of his day, Mr. Oliver, perhaps, was most consistently tenacious of the principles which he first avowed. This he exemplified more particularly with respect to Wilkes. Wilkes. As soon as he began to suspect that Wilkes was actuated by other motives, and had other views beyond those which they vindicated and pursued in common, he withdrew himself entire ly from the connection, and obstinately refused to serve the office of Sheriff with Wilkes as a colleague. Some few years afterwards, and towards the conclusion of the American war, in despair, as he observed in a speech to the Corporation of London, of seeing greater wisdom in the measures of government, he resigned both his Aldermanic gown and seat in Parliament. He then went to visit his estate in the West Indies, where, after remaining some time, he proceeded on his return to England, and died in the voyage on board the packet. Very different from the above individuals in almost every particular, was BRASS CROSBY, of whom there is hardly any thing more memorable, than that with Oliver, he demonstrated considerable firmness in the affair of the Printers, and was with him committed to the Tower, for a supposed breach of the privileges of parliament. But he was a man of no talents, of coarse appearance, and rude manners. To the above conclave also belonged RICHARD BECKFORD, a natural son of the celebrated Alderman Beckford, and a mighty lover of liberty; but he |