Mr. Grenville, though dipped with them in opposition, had never forgiven Lord Rockingham and his friends for succeeding him in power, and for repealing the Stamp Act, nor had ceased pelting them in pamphlets. Just before the Parliament met, he had written, or assisted in writing, a tract called _the State of the Nation_, in which they had been bitterly treated.[200] Hoping union with him, at least, willing to act with him in opposition, they had borne all former provocations. They now at last replied, in a large quarto called _Observations on the State of the Nation_. It was drawn up by Edmund Burke, and did more honour to his talents as a writer than as a politician. The book solidly confuted Grenville, exposed him, and exploded his pretensions to skill in finance; but then it made all approach to him impossible, notwithstanding Lord Temple’s endeavours to unite them. It almost as explicitly abjured Lord Bute,--a step the party two years after tried as injudiciously to recover, when it was too late. If the work did honour to the author and to his party’s principles, yet it showed that that party was composed of impracticable men; and, what was worse for their cause, it declared inviolable attachment to the Marquis of Rockingham, a weak, childish, and ignorant man, by no means fit for the head of Administration. Burke had far more shining abilities than solid conduct, and, being dazzled by his own wit and eloquence, expected that those talents would have the same effect on others. His ambition built airy castles, and would not attend to those parts of policy that make no immediate show. One quotation in his book was singularly happy, and in one line drew the portrait of Grenville,--_Vixque tenet lachrymas quia nil lachrymabile cernit_. It was, in truth, Grenville’s character to weep over woes that he wished to exterminate by rigour.[201] CHAPTER XI. American Affairs.--Re-election of Wilkes.--His Second Expulsion.--Payment of the King’s Debts.--Third Election and Expulsion of Wilkes.--Loyal Demonstrations.--Address of the Merchants of London.--Riots.--Lutterell appears as Candidate for Middlesex.--Wilkes again Elected and Expelled.--Lutterell declared duly Returned.--Excitement of the Country.--Meeting of the Freeholders of Middlesex.--Close of the Session. 1769.