"The _Militia_ has received so many just testimonies of applause, both from their king and country, that the attack of envy and malevolence was long expected. But I dare say this poor jester will have Mr. _George Townshend's_ free consent to vent his spleen upon him and the gentlemen of _Norfolk_. I believe he may ever go on in this way almost unnoticed; at one time ridiculing the _Guards_ for a _disorderly_, and at another the _Militia_ for an exact and _orderly_ march. Mr. _Townshend_ will still have the warm applause of his country, and the truest satisfaction, that of an honest heart, for his patriot labours in establishing this great plan of internal defence, a _Militia_, which has delivered us from the ignominy of _foreign hirelings_, and the ridiculous fears of invasion, by a brave and well-disciplined body of _Englishmen_, at all times ready and zealous for the defence of their country, and of its laws and constitution." [A] This is the orthography of Mr. _Hogarth_. See the print. [66] The present Lord _Camden_. [67] This gave rise to a catchpenny, intituled, "_Pug's_ Reply to Parson _Bruin_; or, a Political Conference, occasioned by an Epistle to _William Hogarth_, Esq;" 4to. [68] "Which was probably accelerated by this unlucky (we had almost said unnatural) event; for _Wilkes, Churchill,_ and _Hogarth_, had been intimate friends, and might have continued such as long as they lived, had not the dæmon of politics and party sown discord among them, and dissolved their union." [69]--the friend----Dr. _Morell_. The conduct of this gentleman cannot fail to put the reader in mind of _Sir Fretful Plagiary's_ complaint in Mr. Sheridan's _Critic_: "--if it is abuse, why one is always sure to hear of it from one damn'd good-natured _friend_ or another." [70] "While thinking figures from the canvas start, And _Hogarth_ is the _Garrick_ of his art," is a couplet in _Smart's Hilliad_. The compliment from the _Hilliad_ to Mr. _Hogarth_, Mr. _Smart_ observes, "is reciprocal, and reflects a lustre on Mr. _Garrick_, both of them having similar talents, equally capable of the highest elevation, and of representing the ordinary scenes of life with the most exquisite humour." [71] The pyramid, &c. This stroke of satire was retorted on _Hogarth_, and employed to express his advanced age and declining abilities; while the _Cheshire_ cheese, with 3000 _l._ on it, seemed to imply that he himself merited an annual pension.