[Wmi-devel-hu] Lterations only referred to the penalties to be imposed for violations of t

[Claybrooks R. <ta...@ap...>]

As to get rid of its nominal chief, and in the spring of 1762 he managed
to drive the Duke of Newcastle from the Treasury, and was himself placed
by the King at the head of the administration. So rapid an elevation of
a man previously unknown as a politician could hardly fail to create
very widespread dissatisfaction, which was in some degree augmented by
the nationality of the new minister. Lord Bute was a Scotchman, and
Englishmen had not wholly forgiven or forgotten the Scotch invasion of
1745. Since that time the Scotch had been regarded with general
disfavor; Scotch poverty and Scotch greediness for the good things of
England had furnished constant topics for raillery and sarcasm; and more
than one demagogue and political writer had sought popularity by
pandering to the prevailing taste for attacks on the whole nation.
Foremost among these was Mr. John Wilkes, member for Aylesbury, a man of
broken fortunes and still more damaged character, but of a wit and
hardihood that made his society acceptable to some of high rank and lax
morality, and caused his political alliance to be courted by some who
desired to be regarded as leaders of a party; many of the transactions
of the late reign having, unfortunately, not been favorable to the
maintenance of any high standard of either public or private virtue. On
Lord Bute'