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 in the provinces. He was, however, drawn towards politics. He supported Home Tooke in the Westminster election of 1790. After a tour to Brussels in the autumn, where he acquired 'uncommon facility' in speaking French, he became a regular contributor to the 'Oracle,' belonging to (1745–1831) [q. v.] Bell was startled by his once earning ten guineas in a week, and afterwards allowed him a fixed salary, which was for a time his chief support. He now resolved to go to the bar. Meanwhile he settled at Little Ealing, and in answer to Burke's 'Reflections on the French Revolution,' wrote the 'Vindiciae Gallicæ,' published in April 1791. Three editions were speedily sold, and the publisher liberally gave him 'several times' the sum of 30l., originally stipulated. Burke had been answered with much power by Thomas Paine. Mackintosh's reply, however, taking a less radical ground, and showing much literary and philosophical culture, was the most effective defence of the position of the whig sympathisers with the revolution. It was partly translated by the Duke of Orleans (afterwards Louis-Philippe) (Life, ii. 341). Mackintosh, already known to Home Tooke and Parr, was now introduced to Fox and Sheridan. He became honorary secretary to the association of the 'Friends of the People,' and defended their principles in a published letter to Pitt (1792), which was highly applauded by Parr and other friends. He continued, however, to study law, was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in Michaelmas term 1795, and joined the home circuit. He was contributing at this time to the 'Monthly Review,' not yet eclipsed by the 'Edinburgh.' A review of Burke's 'Thoughts on a Regicide Peace' in November and December 1796 showed that his revolutionary ardour had been considerably cooled by events. He was led into a correspondence with the author, and visited Burke at Beaconsfield in the following Christmas. He became a most ardent though discriminating admirer of Burke (see his letter to Windham upon Burke, ib. i. 309-317) ever afterwards, and adopted his view of the French revolution. 'It is my intention,' he said on 6 Jan. 1800 (ib. i. 125), 'to profess publicly and unequivocally [in his lectures, see below] that I abhore, abjure, and for ever renounce the French revolution, with its sanguinary history, its abominable principles, and for ever execrable leaders,' and hoped that he would be able ' to wipe off the disgrace of having been once betrayed into an approbation of that conspiracy against God and man.'

His wife died on 8 April 1797, leaving three daughters. A monument to her memory, with a Latin inscription by Dr. Parr, was erected by him in the church of St. Clement Danes. On 10 April 1798 he made a second and happy marriage with Catherine, daughter of John Allen of Cresselly in the county of Pembroke. Two of her sisters were married to Josiah and John Wedgwood. He met Coleridge at Cote, John Wedgwood's house, in the winter of 1797-8, and introduced hint to the Stuarts as a promising contributor to the 'Morning Post.' Coleridge disliked Mackintosh, and wrote a witty lampoon upon him, the 'Two Round Spaces on a Tombstone,' in the 'Morning Post' (4 Dec. 1800). In the edition of 1834 he apologises for it as written in 'mere sport.' Mackintosh takes some credit to himself for obtaining Coleridge's pension from the Royal Literary Society in 1824 [see under ], which his biographer calls his only mode of revenging himself. It does not appear, however, that he had anything to revenge except occasional expressions of contempt in private intercourse. In the 'Table Talk' (27 April 1823) Coleridge calls Mackintosh 'the king of the men of talent,' and praises his conversation, while denying his originality.

Mackintosh had formed a plan for a course of lectures on 'The Law of Nature and Notions.' He published an 'Introductory Discourse' at the end of 1798, intended partly to indicate his conversion from the objectionable theories of the 'Vindiciae Gallicæ:' In this he attacked Godwin with a sharpness for which he afterwards expressed some regret (Life, i. 124). It succeeded brilliantly; Pitt, Canning, and Lord Loughborough signified their approval, and the benchers of Lincoln's Inn granted him the use of their hall. He gave a course of thirty-nine lectures from February to June 1799, and ' repeated it with some variations ' in 1800. He had about one hundred and fifty hearers, including six peers and twelve members of the House of Commons, but only two of his opposition friends. The lectures (except the first) were never published, but a few extracts are given in the 'Life' (i. 110-22). He was now prospering both at the bar and in society. He joined a debating society of barristers and members of parliament, chiefly supporters of the government, and made the acquaintance of Perceval, afterwards prime minister. A dining club called 'The King of Clubs' was started at his house, of which the original members were Rogers, Sharp, 'Bobus' Smith, Scarlett, and John Allen. It was afterwards joined by many eminent men, including Lord Holland, Brougham, Person, Romilly, Sydney Smith, Jeffrey,