This was too much. Aristocratic and plutocratic animosity had been growing fast enough, and would have been harmless, even with the aid of Mr. Sheridan’s gay disingenuousness; but now, this was too much for the journalists who were struggling (where they were not subsidized) for ministerial favour. So they echo Mr. Sheridan, and return to the charge; the _True Briton_ going a little farther than is needed, and indicating the appropriate punishment:-- “Mr. Windham professes himself to be the _Soldier’s Friend_. We cannot suppose, however, that his attachment to a certain _American scribbler_ arises from his being the writer of a work at the beginning of the French Revolution, bearing that title, because that work had for its object _to excite the soldiery to mutiny_,--to which, it seems, the same patriotic writer now endeavours _to instigate the navy_. We speak merely from what has been said in the House of Commons, for we think no true Briton can read the works of the person alluded to with any kind of temper. The _pillory_ or the _gibbet_ we think a more appropriate reward than that which Mr. Windham has suggested for a writer of such a stamp.” Now, all through Mr. Cobbett’s long life, there was nothing roused his ire so much (in the way of personality) as the charge of sedition; and all through his life he was justified in repudiating it. It was not his way. He was a man for facing his adversaries. And, to the end of his days, whatever his other errors, he could never be reproached with the arts of covert warfare. So Mr. Cobbett was nettled; and,-- “in less than three hours after the libel was published, the libeller, Mr. Heriot, received personal chastisement in the very apartment where he had fabricated the libel.” The reader, who may feel interested in the full details of this squabble, will find Heriot’s version in the _True Briton_ of August 15-22, and Mr. Cobbett’s account in the _Political Register_ for August 20, 1803. It is sufficient to record here, that Mr. Heriot brought an action for assault, and did not appear to prosecute; and that “focus of accumulated infamy, the _Political Register_,” went on its way. * * * * * Just before the above incident occurred, circumstances had led to the production of an article in Cobbett’s _Register_, which should now be mentioned, as indicating, probably, the extremest point of time at which he gave uncompromising support to the Government.