These were not the only instances of his life being perilled as a political and party editor. He had not been long in Paris, after his recovery, when a Scotch captain, of the name of Charles John Forbes, called him out, as the writer of several articles in the North Briton against the dignity of Scotland. Wilkes pleaded other engagements of the same nature, but expressed his willingness to give him satisfaction as soon as they were disposed of. The captain, in a wild manner, insisted upon an immediate meeting; but not being able to find a second, or any one to vouch for his being a gentleman, Wilkes declined accepting his request. This affair coming to the ear of the police, the parties were put upon their parole not to fight within the French dominions. Mr. Wilkes, upon this, offered to meet him in Flanders, or any country in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America, excepting the French territory. Soon after the return of Wilkes to London, Captain Forbes appeared there, with a view, as it was suspected, of fighting with him; but the ministry, upon getting notice of the arrival and intention of the Scotchman, very prudently caused it to be intimated to him, that his presence could not but be very disagreeable; upon which the doughty champion of Caledonia thought proper to leave the kingdom, and afterwards entered the Portuguese service a desperate adventurer. In December 1763, another Scotchman, of the name of Alexander Dunn, obtained admission into Wilkes’s apartment; but being suspected of a design to assassinate him, he was immediately seized and searched, when a new large penknife was found in his pocket; which circumstance, coupled with a declaration which he had been heard to make, that he, and ten other sworn Scotch accomplices, had determined to cut Mr. Wilkes off, whatever might be the result, left little doubt of his intention. The papers found upon his person were laid before the House of Commons; but it was found upon further examination, that the man was deranged.