England was already in a flame when it was first known there that James was dying.  Some of his eager partisans formed plans and made preparations for a great public manifestation of feeling in different parts of the island.  But the insolence of Lewis produced a burst of public indignation which scarcely any malecontent had the courage to face.

In the city of London, indeed, some zealots, who had probably swallowed too many bumpers to their new Sovereign, played one of those senseless pranks which were characteristic of their party.  They dressed themselves in coats bearing some resemblance to the tabards of heralds, rode through the streets, halted at some places, and muttered something which nobody could understand.  It was at first supposed that they were merely a company of prize fighters from Hockley in the Hole who had taken this way of advertising their performances with back sword, sword and buckler, and single falchion.  But it was soon discovered that these gaudily dressed horsemen were proclaiming James the Third.  In an instant the pageant was at an end.  The mock kings at arms and pursuivants threw away their finery and fled for their lives in all directions, followed by yells and showers of stones.25 Already the Common Council of London had met, and had voted, without one dissentient voice, an address expressing the highest resentment at the insult which France had offered to the King and the kingdom.  A few hours after this address had been presented to the Regents, the Livery assembled to choose a Lord Mayor.  Duncombe, the Tory candidate, lately the popular favourite, was rejected, and a Whig alderman placed in the chair.  All over the kingdom, corporations, grand juries, meetings of magistrates, meetings of freeholders, were passing resolutions breathing affection to William, and defiance to Lewis.  It was necessary to enlarge the “London Gazette” from four columns to twelve; and even twelve were too few to hold the multitude of loyal and patriotic addresses.  In some of those addresses severe reflections were thrown on the House of Commons.  Our deliverer had been ungratefully requited, thwarted, mortified, denied the means of making the country respected and feared by neighbouring states.  The factious wrangling, the penny wise economy, of three disgraceful years had produced the effect which might have been expected.  His Majesty would never have been so grossly affronted abroad, if he had not first been affronted at home.  But the eyes of his people were opened.  He had only to appeal from the representatives to the constituents; and he would find that the nation was still sound at heart.