Fascinated by the writings of Mrs. Mary Wollstoncrofft, more especially by her celebrated '_Vindication of the Rights of Woman,_' he assiduously sought that lady's acquaintance, and having obtained the desired honour, cultivated her intimacy with passionate admiration. On the appearance of Mr. Godwin's '_Inquiry concerning Moral and Political Justice_,' he read and studied it with doting enthusiasm; the chapters on _Property_, and on _the Sexual Intercourse_, were particularly to his taste--the chapter on _Sincerity_, not so much. Hungering for a personal friendship with the author of the _Political Justice_, who became the husband of Mrs. Wollstoncrofft, he humbled himself before him, beseeching permission to consider that philosopher as his Gamaliel, and to sit at his feet as the least of his disciples. This was granted, and in that school he commenced an intimacy with Mr. Thomas Holcroft and his friends. That gentleman had just been released from imprisonment, under indictments for high treason, with Messrs. Hardy, Horne Tooke, and Thelwall, who were tried and acquitted of the charge; and at this time Slop's political fervor rose above the temperament of the most hot-blooded among the patriots he associated with. It had been fashionable to wear the hair long and. tied; he thought this aristocratic, cut his hair off to look like a democrat, became a _round-head_, and was called _Citizen S_. At length he was marked out from his fellows by the distinguishing appellation of '_the Jacobin_,' and he became a _Leveller_. Affixing to the words 'Liberty and Equality,' an interpretation of his own, he contended with the _Spenceans_, that there could be no real Liberty without Equality so he preached the doctrine of _all things in common_; and prevailed on a young man who had imbibed some of his notions, to aid him in proving its advantages. In an attic chamber in the Temple they founded a _community of goods_--lived on short commons --and waited on each other. Here Slop lighted the fire, and fetched water from the Temple pump for their joint use, till, tired of the pitcher-duty, he proposed {197}transferring the undignified office to his companion, who declined to accept it; and a fierce quarrel arising in this 'perfect state of society,' concerning rights and duties, the Commonwealth of two ceased to exist.