for’inhumanlymurdering’theirfellow-subjectsatLexingtonforthesolecrimeof’preferringdeathtoslavery。’Hewasimprisonedforthelibel，andthusbecameamartyrtothecause。Whenthecountryassociationswereformedin1780toprotestagainsttheabusesrevealedbythewar，Hornebecameamemberofthe’SocietyforConstitutionalInformation，’ofwhichMajorCartwright——afterwardstherevered，butrathertiresome，patriarchoftheRadicals——wascalledthe’father。’HorneTookeashewasnownamed，bytheseandotherexhibitionsofboundlesspugnacity，becamealeaderamongthemiddle-classWhigs，whofoundtheirmainsupportamongLondoncitizens，suchasBeckford，TroutbeckandOliver；supportedtheminhislaterdays；
andaftertheAmericanwar，preferredPitt，asanadvocateofparliamentaryreform，toFox，thefavouriteofthearistocraticWhigs。HedenouncedtheFoxcoalitionministry，andinlateryearsopposedFoxatWestminster。The’SocietyforConstitutionalInformation’，wasstillextantintherevolutionaryperiod，andTooke，abluff，jovialcompanion，whohadbythistimegotridofhisclericalcharacter，oftentookthechairatthetavernswheretheymettotalksoundpoliticsovertheirport。Therevolutioninfusednewspiritintopolitics。InMarch179157*Tooke’ssocietypassedavoteofthankstoPaineforthefirstpartofhisRightsofMan。NextyearThomasHardy，aradicalshoemaker，starteda’CorrespondingSociety。’Otherssprangupthroughoutthecountry，especiallyinthemanufacturingtowns。58*ThesesocietiestookPainefortheiroracle，andcirculatedhiswritingsastheirmanifesto。TheycommunicatedoccasionallywithHorneTooke’ssociety，whichmoreorlesssympathisedwiththem。TheWhigsoftheupperspherestartedthe’FriendsofthePeople’inApril1792，inordertodirectthediscontentintosaferchannels。Grey，SheridanandErskineweremembers；Foxsympathisedbutdeclinedtojoin；Mackintoshwassecretary；andSirPhilipFrancisdrewuptheopeningaddress，citingtheauthorityofPittandBlackstone，anddeclaringthatthesocietywished’nottochangebuttorestore。’59*Itremonstratedcautiouslywiththeothersocieties，andonlyexcitedtheirdistrust。Grey，asitsrepresentative，madeamotionforparliamentaryreformwhichwasrejectedMay1793bytwohundredandeighty-twotoforty-one。
LatermotionsinMay1797andApril1800showedthat，forthepresent，parliamentaryreformwasoutofthequestion。MeanwhiletheEnglishJacobinsgotupa’convention’
whichmetatEdinburghattheendof1793。Theverynamewasalarming：theleadersweretriedandtransported；thecrueltyofthesentencesandtheseverityofthejudges，especiallyBraxfield，shockedsuchmenasParrandJeffrey，andunsuccessfulappealsformercyweremadeinparliament。TheHabeasCorpusActwassuspendedin1794：HorneTookeandHardywerebotharrestedandtriedforhightreasoninNovember。AnEnglishjuryfortunatelyshoweditselflesssubservientthantheScottish；thejudgewasscrupulouslyfair：andbothHardyandHorneTookewereacquitted。Thesocieties，however，thoughtheywereencouragedforatime，wereattackedbyseveremeasurespassedbyPittin1795。The’FriendsofthePeople’ceasedtoexist。TheseizureofthecommitteeoftheCorrespondingSocietiesin1798putanendtotheiractivity。Areportpresentedtoparliamentin179960*declaresthatthesocietieshadgonetodangerouslengths：theyhadcommunicatedwiththeFrenchrevolutionistsandwiththe’UnitedIrishmen’founded1791；
andsocietiesof’UnitedEnglishmen’and’UnitedScotsmen’hadhadsomeconcerninthemutiniesofthefleetin1797andintheIrishrebellionof1798。