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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
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 http://www.archive.org/details/battleofquillsorOOwilk 
 
THE 
 
 BATTLE of the QJJILLS: 
 
 R, 
 
 WILKES Attacked and Defended. 
 
 A M 
 
 IMPARTIAL SELECTION 
 
 Of all the moft 
 
 INTERESTING PIECES, 
 
 Argumentative) Declamatory, and Humourous^ 
 
 1 N 
 
 PROSE and VERSE, 
 
 Relative to 
 
 JOHN WILKES, Efq; 
 
 Written by his Adverfarics, his Partifans, and Himfelf, 
 
 From the Time of 
 His declaring himfelf a Candidate to reprefent the City 
 of London in Parliament to his being elected 
 tonight of the Shire for the County of Middlesex. 
 
 To which is prefixed, 
 An Account of the Nature of OUTLAWRY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Primed for J. Williams, at N°. 38, in Fleet-fhvet. 
 
 M.DCC.LXVIII. CPrice is. 6d. 
 
[ i" ] 
 
 CONCISE ACCOUNT 
 
 Of the Nature of 
 
 OUTLAWRY: 
 
 EXTRACTED FROM 
 
 Coke, Plowden, Hales, Hawkins, 
 Salkeld, and other eminent Law- 
 yers. 
 
 OUTLAWRY is a punifliment infli&ed 
 on a perfon for a contempt and con- 
 tumacy, in refuting to be amenable to and 
 abide by the juflice of that court which has 
 lawful authority to call him before them j 
 and it fubjects the party to divers forfeitures 
 and difabilities ; for hereby he lofes his 
 liberam legem, is out of the king's protection, 
 &c. 
 
 A 2 As 
 
[ '* ] 
 
 As to forfeitures for refufmg to appear, 
 herein the law diftinguifhes between outlaw- 
 ries in capital cafes, and thofe of an inferior 
 nature ; for as to outlawries in treafon and 
 felony, the law interprets the party's abfence 
 as a fufficient evidence of his guilt, and, 
 without requiring farther proof, accounts 
 him guilty of the fact ; on which enfues cor- 
 ruption of blood, and forfeiture of his whole 
 eftate real and perfonal. But outlawry in 
 lefs crimes, or in perfonal actions, does not 
 occafion the party to be looked upon as 
 guilty of the fact, nor occafion an entire 
 forfeiture of his real eftate, but yet is very 
 fatal and penal in its confequences ; for here- 
 by he is reftrained of his liberty, if he can 
 be found, forfeits his goods and chattels and 
 the profits of his lands while the outlawry 
 remains in force. 
 
 In antient times, outlawry was considered 
 as fo horrid a crime, that any one might as 
 lawfully kill a perfon outlawed as he might 
 a wolf, or other noxious animal ; but this 
 law was changed in Edward III.'s time ; and 
 it was then provided, that an outlaw mould 
 be put to death by the fheriff only, having 
 lawful authority for that purpofe. 
 
 A fherifF may, on a capias utlagatum, break 
 open the houfe of the perfon outlawed j or 
 may enter any place, and feize him, where - 
 ever he lies hid. 
 
 But as the punifhment of outlawry is of a 
 very feverc nature, the law has taken great 
 care, that no perfon fhfeuld be outlawed with- 
 out 
 
[ v ] 
 
 out due notice, and apparent contempt to 
 the court. No perfon is to be outlawed nife 
 per legem terra? ; three capias's are required, 
 and the party to be called in five county 
 courts, a month between every court. 
 
 Originally procefTes of outlawry only lay 
 in treaibn and felony, and were afterwards 
 extended to trefpafles of an enormous nature. 
 They now lie in all appeals, indictments of 
 treafon or felony, of trefpafs vi ft armis, on 
 returns of refcous, indictments of confpiracy 
 or deceit, or other crimes of a higher nature 
 than trefpafs vi et armis. Procefs of out- 
 lawry lies in no cafe but where a capias lies ; 
 and therefore where the proceeding is by bill 
 and not by original, there being no capias, 
 there can be no procefs of outlawry. 
 
 The forfeitures confequent on outlawry 
 have been already mentioned ; befides theie, 
 it is attended with many disabilities. The 
 perfon cannot regularly maintain an action, 
 though he may be faed ; he cannot be a ju- 
 ror; an auditor to take accounts; an ap- 
 prover ; nor can he execute any office in a 
 corporation ; if he has pledged any goods, he 
 cannot redeem them before a reverjal of the 
 outlawry. 
 
 By a want of fuch procefs as is required 
 by law ; by a want of form, or for variance, 
 in fuch procefTes ; or by a defective execution 
 or return ; the out/awry may be r ever fed. 
 
 In order to obtain a reverfal, the outlaw 
 may appear either pet Tonally or by attorney j 
 and, having acquired the reverfal, he is to 
 
 be 
 
[ vi ] 
 
 be put to plead to the indictment, for that 
 flill remains good, and he may be tried at 
 the King's Bench Bar ; or the record may be 
 remitted into the country, if it were removed 
 into the King's Bench by certiorari. 
 
 If the King grants the lands of a perfon 
 outlawed for treafon or felony, and a rever- 
 fal is afterwards obtained, the party may en- 
 ter on the patentee, and needs neither to fue 
 a petition to the King, nor a fcire facias 
 againft the patentee. If the goods of an out- 
 law are fold by the fheriff upon a capias nt- 
 lagatum, and the outlawry is reverfed after- 
 wards by writ of error, he is to be refiored 
 to the goods themfelves ; becaufe the fherirf 
 was not obliged to fell thofe goods, but only 
 to keep them for the King's ufe. If a man is 
 outlawed in the King's Bench, his goods 
 feized into the King's hands, and then the 
 outlawry is reverfed, there can be no reftitu- 
 tion j the reafon of which is, that that court 
 cannot fend a writ to the treafurer ; and the 
 court of Exchequer have no record before 
 them to hTue out a warrant for reflitution. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 Battle of the Qu ills; 
 
 O R, 
 
 WILKES Attacked and Defended, 
 
 f m "\ H E report of Mr. Wilkes*s intention en 
 offer himfelf a candidate for the City of 
 
 A London, though long circulated, was ge- 
 nerally looked upon to be vague. This, in all 
 probability, was of much detriment to him on the 
 poll •, the difbelief of fome, and the doubt of 
 others of his friends, affording the other candi- 
 dates, in their long canvas, an opportunity to ac- 
 quire promifes of votes, which, upon a certainty, 
 might have been retained for him, a fufferer in 
 the pre-eminent caufe of Liberty •, but from which 
 promifes the donor could on no condition recede. 
 
 As Mr. Wilkes judged it expedient, previous to 
 the open avowal of his defign, to make an effort 
 for a pardon, the following letter, it is faid, was, 
 on the 4th of March 1768, delivered by his fer- 
 
 vant at the Q^ 's Palace, and not prefented 
 
 by a noble Duke, as has been commonly, though 
 miftakenly, afierted. This letter, from which no 
 confequences are known to have refulted, is faid to 
 be the only application he has made on that fub- 
 jetf:. 
 
 B SIR F, 
 
[ * ] 
 
 SIRE, 
 
 I BEG thus to throw myfelf at your M y's 
 feet, and to fupplicate that mercy and clemency 
 which fhine with fuch luftre among your many 
 princely virtues. 
 
 Some former minifters, whom your M y, in 
 
 condefce.ifion to the wiflies of your people, thought 
 proper to remove, employed every wicked and de- 
 ceitful art to opprefs your fubject, and to revenge 
 their own perfonal caufe on me, whom they ima- 
 gined to be the principal author of bringing to the 
 public view their ignorance, infufficiency and trea- 
 chery to your M y and to the nation. 
 
 I have been the innocent, but unhappy victim 
 of their revenge. I was forced by their injuftice 
 and violence into an exile, which I have never ceafed 
 for feveral years to confider as the moft cruel oppref- 
 fion, becaufe I no longer could be under the be- 
 nign protection of your M y, in the Land of 
 
 Liberty. 
 
 With a heart full of zeal for the fervice of your 
 
 M y, and my country, I implore, Sire, your 
 
 clemency. My only hopes of pardon are founded 
 in the great goodnefs and benevolence of your 
 
 M y •, and every day of freedom you may be 
 
 gracioufly pleafed to permit me the enjoyment of 
 in my dear native land, mail give proofs of my 
 zeal and attachment to your fervice. I am, Sire, 
 
 Your M y's moft obedient 
 
 and dutiful fubjeot, 
 
 March 4, 1764. JOHN WILKES. 
 
 The rumour of a letter having been thus fent by 
 Mr. Wilkes, getting abroad, and it being repre- 
 feuted as a mean fupplicatory addrefs, an ill wittier 
 
 to 
 
i 3 ] 
 
 to his caufe took occafion to calumniate him on it, 
 in thefe words : 
 
 A Query or two, with a bit of ferious advice to 
 the worthy Livery of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 S Mr. Wilkes's friends infmuate that he has 
 written a very penitent letter to a great Per- 
 fonage, lamenting the impropriety of his conduct, 
 and promifing an entire reformation, is it not ra- 
 ttier firange that he mould plume himfelf to you, 
 upon the very behaviour which he is fo forry for in 
 another place ? And is it not rather ftrange that 
 you mould expect a continuation of his farmer con- 
 duct, when he himfelf declares his ftedfoft inten- 
 tion to alter it ? either he is to have his pardon, or 
 he is not : if he is, don't you think he muft make 
 whatever conceflions power may be inclined to afk - f 
 and if he is not, of what confluence is it to elect 
 a Repre Tentative who never can fit in the Houfe ? 
 betides, Gentlemen of the Livery, you may judge 
 of his patriotifm by what his friends fay of his defign 
 to join Sir Richard Glyn, that celebrated admirer 
 of the late glorious Peace \ that (trenuous enemy to 
 General Warrants, and that renowned fupporter of 
 Land-Tax Reductions, which are fo evidently inju- 
 rious to commercial people. Think of thefe mat- 
 ters, Gentlemen of the Livery, and think of them 
 feriouily : Mr. Wilkes himfelf exhorts you not to 
 chufe a man of bad private character on any ac- 
 count. — " His breaking through the facred rules 
 of rectitude, fays Mr. Wilkes, by one habitual 
 crime, fliews him to be deficient in principle." And 
 would you truft your all (Mr. Wilkes afks you, in 
 the laft Political Regifler, p. 236.) " to a man 
 whom you know to be deficient in principle ?" Do 
 not, Gentlemen, by any means, for Mr. Wilkes 
 B 2 tells 
 
[ 4 ] 
 tells you very juftly, that a wicked man in a flatten 
 of power, is a fiend armed with infernal fire." 
 I am, Gentlemen, 
 
 Old Squaretoes. 
 
 The paper from which this fentiment was ex- 
 tracted, and others in the Political Regifter, afTerted 
 to be written by Mr. Wilkes, were declared by fome 
 of his friends, in the public papers, not to have 
 been his productions. 
 
 On the 10th of March Mr. Wilkes was admitted 
 to the freedom of the Joiners Company, and, the 
 following day, revealed his intention in the follow- 
 ing advertifement : 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 Gentlemen and Fellow-Citizens, 
 
 iN deference to the opinion of fome very refpec- 
 table friends, 1 prefume to offer myfelf a Candi- 
 date for my native City of London, at the enfuing 
 General Election. The approbation you have been 
 pleated, on feveral occafions, to exprefs of my con- 
 duct, induces me to hope that the addrefs 1 have 
 now the honour of making to you will not be un- 
 favourably received. 
 
 The chief merit with you, Gentlemen, I know 
 to be a facred love of Liberty, and of thofe gene- 
 rous principles, which at firft gave, and have fince 
 fecured to this nation, the Great Charter of Free- 
 dom. I will yield to none of my countrymen in 
 this noble zeal, which has always characterized. 
 Englifhmen. I may appeal to my whole conduct, 
 both in and out of Parliament, for the demonltra- 
 tion that fuch principles are deeply rooted in my 
 heart, and that I have fteadily purfued the interests 
 of my country, without regard to the powerful ene- 
 mies I created, or the manifeft dangers in which 
 I muff, thence neceffarily be involved, and that I 
 have fulfilled the duties of a rood fubject. 
 
 The 
 
r 5 ] 
 
 The two important queftions of public Liberty, 
 refpecting General Warrants and the Seizure of 
 Papers, may perhaps place me among thofe who 
 have deferved well of mankind, by an undaunted 
 firmnefs, perleverance, and probity : Thefe are the 
 virtues which your anceftors never failed to exert in 
 the fame national caufe of Liberty, and the world 
 will fee renewed in their defcendants on every great 
 call of freedom and our country. 
 
 The nature and dignity of the truft, Gentlemen, 
 which I now folicit, ftrike me very forcibly. I 
 feel the warmeft zeal for your interefts, and affection 
 for your fervice. I am confcious how unequal my 
 abilities are, yet fidelity and integrity fball in fome 
 meafure compenfate that deficiency ; and I will en- 
 deavour through life to merit the continuance of 
 your approbation, the moft precious reward to which 
 I afpire. If I am honoured with fo near a relation 
 to you, it will be my ambition to be ufeful, to de- 
 dicate myfelf to your fervice, and to difcharge with 
 fpirit and afliduity the various and important du- 
 ties of the diftinguifhed ftation in which I may be 
 placed, by the favour of you, Gentlemen of the 
 Livery of London. I am, with the utmoft refpecl, 
 
 Gentlemen, your moft faithful, 
 
 and obedient humble fervant, 
 
 London, March 10, 
 
 1768. JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Immediately on the appearance of this, various 
 eulogiums on him were exhibited, and met with a 
 very welcome reception. Of the poetical pieces, 
 written to congratulate him, and to ftimuiate the 
 Livery to engage in his caufe, the fubfequent bal- 
 lads may ferve as a fpecimen : 
 
 WILKES 
 
[ 6 J 
 
 WILKES and LIBERTY. 
 To the Tune of When all the Attic fire wasfied, &c. 
 
 WITH longing look and fak'ring fpeech 
 Fair Liberty, on Albion's beach, 
 Bemoan'd her Wilkes's fate. 
 Can he, my darling fon, fhe cried, 
 Who for me Jiv'd, nay almofl died, 
 Neglect my prefent Hate ? 
 
 While bafe corruption, hand in hand 
 With brib'ry, flalks around the land, 
 
 To bind the brave in chains, 
 What foil or clime's referv'd for me ? 
 When England is no longer free, 
 
 No place on earth remains. 
 
 She faid, and dropp'd a burning tear ; 
 When fee her Champion ftrait appear, 
 
 From Gallia wafted o'er ! 
 When Engliih Liberty complains, 
 The dread of danger he difdains, 
 And feeks his native more. 
 
 Shewn to his Prince his loyal zeal, 
 To Thofe * he makes his next appeal, 
 
 Who late beftow'd applaufe ; 
 To Thofe who ne'er were bought or fold, 
 Or barter'd probity for gold 
 
 In Freedom's glorious caufe. 
 
 When, by their Country's love infpir'd, 
 Againft opprefTion juftly fir'd, 
 
 Thefe, then, mail give their voice ; 
 Will they not all, with joint accord, 
 Unite, one patriot to reward, 
 
 By making WILKES their choice ? 
 
 * The Worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 For 
 
[ 7 ] 
 
 For WILKES and our COUNTRY. 
 
 To the Tune of The Echoing Horn, &c. 
 
 EAR Liberty, waving her cap, to us call, 
 
 And bid us remember the day 
 
 When open'd the poll; that her friends at Guildhall 
 
 Upbraid not our tedious delay : 
 For Wilkes on rhc huttings will {fond for our choice, 
 
 The patriot no pow'r can difmay : 
 Then follow but me, and with me 'give your voice 
 For Wilkes and our country, huzza — 
 
 Huzza ! huzza ! 
 For Wilkes and our country, huzza ! 
 
 With General Warrants, when tools of th& flate 
 
 Us'd perfons and papers to feize, 
 'Twas Wilkes, that oppofing the wiles of the great, 
 
 Our houfes made caftles of eafe. 
 'Tis prudent and jult then in him for to truft, 
 
 Who not e'en the Tower could difmay ; 
 Then follow but me, and we'll chufe him, huzza— • 
 
 For Wilkes and our country, huzza — 
 Huzza ! huzza ! 
 
 For Wilkes and our country, huzza ! 
 
 WILKES and F R E E D O M : 
 
 A New Ballad. Tune, — Gibo Dobbin, 
 
 f~^ O M E all ye good friends to your country's 
 ^^ caufe, 
 
 Who value your king, or your freedom, or laws, 
 Now mew you dare boldly for Liberty ftand, 
 And for Wilkes give each voice, and for Wilkes 
 give each Hand : 
 
 Chufe Wilkes and freedom, 
 Wilkes and freedom, 
 Chufe Wilkes and freedom, huzza ! huzza ! 
 
 To bribe you his true Britifh heart does difdain* 
 But he'll venture his life your juft rights to main- 
 tain ; — 
 
 Nay, 
 
[ 8 ] 
 
 Nay, he has ventur'd all, England's good to fecure> 
 
 And, like gold often try'd, we're convinc'd he i s 
 
 pure. Then chufe Wilkes, &c- 
 
 Remember when Freedom, furrounded by foes, 
 Found none but her Wilkes their defigns to oppofe, 
 How firm and intrepid the ftorm he withftood, 
 And tho' ruin'd himfelf, yet his caufe he made 
 good. Then chufe Wilkes, &c. 
 
 O ! feize this oceafion your worth to approve, 
 Let your votes fhew the world that your country 
 
 you love ; 
 Chufe Wilkes for your Member, none elfe can fo 
 
 > fit ye, — 
 Chufe the firft greatefl man for the firft greateft 
 city ! Chufe Wilkes, &c. 
 
 The number of petites mor$eaus fet forth by Mr. 
 "Wilkes's friends, foon alarmed his adverfaries, and 
 produced many virulent compofitions, as may be 
 perceived from the following effays : 
 
 A few ferious QJJ E R I E S, addreffed to the 
 Sober Liverymen of London, 
 
 IS the happinefs of your country a matter of in- 
 difference to you, or is it not ? 
 
 If it is not a matter of indifference, fhould you 
 not be anxious for the inviolable prefervation of your 
 laws, fmce nothing but your laws can be a bulwark 
 to your conftitution ? 
 
 Have not the laws of your country deprived your 
 prefent candidate, Mr. Wilkes, of every right of 
 citizenfliip, as an Englifhman ? 
 
 If they have, Gentlemen of the Livery, whence 
 comes it that you not only invert him with the pri- 
 vileges of citizenfliip in manifeft oppof.tion to thefe 
 laws, but even think of electing him as your Re- 
 prefentative in Parliament ? 
 
 Is 
 
[ 9 ] 
 
 Is it not a very itrange way of fhewing your love 
 of liberty, to violate thofe laws which are its prin- 
 cipal, its only fupport ? and is it not a very extra- 
 ordinary patriotifm which induces you to rile up in 
 oppofition to the eftablifhed ordinances of the king- 
 dom ? 
 
 When the flatutes of the nation fay, that Mr. 
 Wilkes fhall be outlawed, is it not rather an acl: of 
 temerity in the Citizens of London to fay that he 
 fhall not ? and is not this a precedent of fuch a na- 
 ture as may terminate in the tocal ruin of the con- 
 ftitution ? 
 
 Should not the city of London, as the metropo- 
 lis of the kingdom be the firft corporation to fup- 
 port the authoritv of the laws, inftead of being the 
 firft to oppofe it ? 
 
 Admitting even that Mr. Wilkes has bee 1 rigor- 
 oufly treated, is it not more eligible to injure one 
 individual, than to do an irreparable injury to the 
 whole kingdom ? 
 
 If, notwithstanding the flatutes, an outlaw is 
 to be inverted with the benefit of citizenfhip, the 
 ordinances which deprive him of that benefit are 
 utterly unfervice.ib'e, therefore, is it not worth our 
 while, Gentlemen of the Livery, to be very lure 
 that inftead of fhewing a foolifh oppofition to a mi- 
 niitry, which no longer exifls, we are not doing the 
 greateft of all outrages to ourfelves ? 
 
 Are we lure that Mr. Wilkes is a patriot in 
 principle ? 
 
 Are not unqueflionable probity in private life, 
 and an unalterable attachment to the laws in pub- 
 lic, indifpenfible requifites in the character of a 
 patriot ? 
 
 Has Mr. Wilkes been unquestionably honeft in 
 private life! and isn't he at this moment uiing every 
 art to make you elect an outliw, in evident re- 
 pugnance to the constitution of your country ? 
 
 C Is 
 
[ 10 ] 
 
 Ts not Mr. Wilkes the author of a paper in the 
 laft Political Regifter, which contains the follow 
 ing advice to the Freemen of Great-Britain, - — 
 " By no means elect a man of bad private mo- 
 " rals j his breaking thro' the rules of rectitude by 
 " one habitual crime (hews him to be deficient in 
 " principle. And would you truft your all to 
 " a man whom you know to be deficient in 
 l< principle ? A wicked man in a ftation of 
 " power is a fiend armed with infernal fire." 
 
 If Mr. Wilkes's outlawry is continued, can he 
 fit in the Houle of Commons ? if it is difconti- 
 nued, mult he not, Gentlemen of the Livery* 
 make conceffions to power that will render him 
 wholly improper for your purpofts ? 
 
 Did Mr. Wilkes originally fet out as the tool of 
 faction, or the champion of Liberty ? 
 
 If the champion of Liberty, why was the pub- 
 lication of the famous number forty-five, of the 
 North Briton delayed till his negotiation for a place, 
 w r ith a certain unpopular nobleman, was entirely 
 broken off? And, 
 
 If Mr. Wilkes fet out as the tool of faction, are we 
 not as much obliged to the firft man who committed 
 a murder, and thereby obtained a law for the fecurity 
 of our lives, as we are to him for fhewing the ille- 
 gality of entering our houfes with General War- 
 rants, from arbitrary minifters ? 
 
 Upon the whole, Gentlemen of the Livery, is 
 not your attachment to this political adventurer 
 inconfiftent and ridiculous ? You exclaim againft 
 other candidates, if they have but mole-hill faults, 
 yet you over-look imperfections in this man, as 
 huge as Olympus ; a difcarded miniflry has made 
 an illegal infringement on your laws, in the cafe 
 of a worthleis individual, and you are determined, 
 by way of revenge, to do youiielves a ftill greater 
 violence j that is, you determine not only to fup- 
 
 port 
 
port the libeller of your King, and the blafphemer 
 of your God, but nobly rdblve, in a patriotic fit 
 of lunacy to fubvert the fundamentals of your own 
 conftitution. 
 
 Rifum tcneatis Amici. 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of 
 LONDON. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 OF all the events which have happened fince 
 my memory, and probably fince the founda- 
 tion of this conftitution, this of Mr. Wilkes's of- 
 fering himfelf a candidal to reprcfent you in Par- 
 liament, appears the moll aftonifhing and atro- 
 cious. An outlaw prefumes to afpire to the ob- 
 taining the mod important of all trulls, the being 
 delegated to preferve and to defend the laws, liber- 
 ties, and privileges of that flate of which he is 
 no longer a member, and from which he himfelf 
 can derive neither benefit nor protection. 
 
 This proceeding he would not have attempted, 
 without having previoufly received encouragement 
 from fome among you : let me therefore diipaf- 
 fionately lay before you the real Hate of this af- 
 fair ; we fhall then fee whether he deferves this fig- 
 nal inflance of their attachment to his caufe, and 
 how far they are juftifiable in fupporting a man in 
 fuch a fituation. 
 
 In delineating the portraiture of this tranfaclion, 
 I will derive no advantages from the circumftances 
 of his profecution •, that it was a libel againft the 
 King himfelf, nor that this act was aggravated by 
 the heinous offence of publicly blafpheming his 
 God j I will confider him only as he (lands, an 
 Outlaw, and by what means he became fo. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes being expelled the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, and profecuted for a libel, inflead of abid- 
 C % ing 
 
[ 12 ] 
 
 ing the judgment of the laws, and putting himfelf 
 to the teft of guilt or innocence, before a jury of 
 his countrymen, fecretly withdrew himfelf from the 
 kingdom, and remained a fugitive. He was then 
 tried and found guilty, according to law, and after 
 a regular proceeding, according 10 the forms of 
 the legiflature, and his not appearing to the fum- 
 mons, as it is the indifpenfable duty of every fub- 
 jecr. to have done, he was proclaimed an outlaw, 
 deprived of the benefit of the laws, and refcinded 
 from the King's protection. 
 
 Hence it manifeftly appears, that by not await- 
 ing the arbitration and judgment of his peers in a 
 legal trial, he confeffed himfelf guilty of the crime 
 with which he was charged •, and felf-convicted, 
 fled that fentence, which he was confeious he de- 
 ferved, and which he forefaw muft be pronounced 
 againft him •, and thus he himfelf became the real 
 caufe of his being a banifhed man. What appro- 
 bation and encouragement then does that man de- 
 ferve, who pretending to fupport the laws of his 
 country, is the firft to fly from the examination, 
 and to avoid the decifion of them ? Can you be- 
 lieve that the care of the conftitution, or the pro- 
 tection of your rights and privileges, have at any 
 time formed the lealt motive to his conduct ? If 
 you do, it is not more abfurd to believe, that wa- 
 ter will burn, and fire extinguifh conflagrations ; 
 and it would be no lefs ridiculous to apply them 
 in thefe ways, than to felect fuch a man the guar- 
 dian of your rights and privileges. No man can 
 t>e a friend to liberty, who flies from the inqueft of 
 thofe laws by which it is protected. 
 
 Had he remained in England, and, with becom- 
 ing fortitude, awaited a folemn trial of his actions 
 before his Peers ; had he fur rendered himfelf, af- 
 ter fentence of being found guilty, into the hands 
 of the civil magiftrate •, and proved, that though he 
 
 had 
 
[ >3 ] 
 
 had erred in his judgment, his heart was not mifta- 
 ken •, and that he was willing to wear away the 
 imputation of offence by the atonement of his pu- 
 nfhments, he had behaved like a true, though a 
 miitaken fubject : had there appeared any finifter 
 msans to obtain a verdict againft him •, had power 
 interfered to inflame the infliction of the laws, he 
 might then have been the juft object: of your com- 
 paffion, favour, and fupport ; but neither of all 
 thefe is to be alledged in his defence •, he fled from 
 law, lelf- convicted and felf-banifhed. The only pu- 
 nifhment which has yet been pronounced againit 
 him, is that which he has pronounced againft him- 
 felf; and to that alone he is indebted for his being 
 deprived of the benefit of the laws, and protection 
 of the realm. Now then, is this man the proper 
 object of an Englishman's fupport, who has no 
 perfon againft whom he can complain but himfelf ? 
 
 I know not which appears the molt aftonifhing } 
 either his offering himfelf a candidate to reprefent 
 you in Parliament, or that countenance and encou- 
 ragement which he has received from fome among 
 you ! — An outlaw, diverted of every right and 
 privilege of a fubject, has the hardinefs to prefume 
 to the obtaining that honour and confidence, which 
 are the molt fupreme of all rights and privileges of 
 an Englishman. An infatuated multitude daring 
 to fupport him in fuch an undertaking, bids de- 
 fiance to the laws and the conftitution, according to 
 which he cannot be elected. 
 
 Was it a Minifter, or the whole Privy Council, 
 againft whom both he and his friends denounce 
 fuch open defiance, I could afcribe it to the aver- 
 fion which they may entertain againft fuch men : 
 was it againft the King himfelf, to whom this in- 
 fult was offered, it might be imputed to the pre- 
 fent rage of Republican principles, which fo itrongly 
 influences the hearts, and blinds the underftandino-s 
 
 Of 
 
[ »4 ] 
 
 of too many : but when the affront is offered to 
 the laws, to whofe facred obligations, in the for- 
 mation of which the whole kingdom has united ; 
 by which life, liberty, property, right, and privi- 
 lege are preferved ; though it may not be, legally 
 and actually, it is certainly, virtually, a rebellion ; 
 and that of the mofl criminal and atrocious kind : 
 and molt affuredly, when thofe who have engaged 
 in this undertaking havefreflected on the true nature 
 of the fubject, they will repent of their atrocious 
 mifdeeds-, they will mew that they refpect the laws, 
 by deferting the fupport of a fugitive outlaw, and 
 return to that duty which they owe the legiflature 
 and the conftitution. 
 
 Legis Amator. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 To the Liverymen of the City of London. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 HAving in my preceding paper laid before you 
 the atrocioufnefs of Mr. Wilkes's preluming 
 to Hand a candidate for the reprefenting your city, 
 and the infult which is offered to the laws by thofe 
 who have undertaken to fupport him, I mail now 
 explain to the latter the folly which attends their 
 endeavours and impofiibility of their fucceeding in 
 making him a member of parliament •, it may 
 therefore be reafonably prefumed that his friends 
 will decline his caufe, when it can only tend to the 
 demonftrating their inclinations to contemn all juft 
 authority, and effectually to de'eat their own pur- 
 pofes. 
 
 By the laws of England no man can reprefent 
 his country in parliament who has not three hun- 
 dred pounds per annum iffuing from lands during 
 life. Now, tho' it may be fugged ed that this qua- 
 lification has been fometimes coJufively acquired by 
 fraudulent and invalid conveyances, and men have 
 
 too 
 
[ >s J 
 
 too frequently fat in the Houfe of Commons, who 
 were not truly and duly qualified, yet in Mr. Wilkes's 
 cafe,, even the means of fuch unconttitutional qua- 
 lifications are abfolutely impracticable, becaufe be- 
 ing an outlaw he is intitled to no poiieflions in this 
 realm, and therefore, prima facie, no trick, device, 
 collution, or fraud, can convey to him a qualifica- 
 tion •, he is difabled by his own act and deed, in vo- 
 luntarily becoming an outlaw, totally precluded 
 from all means of being qualified, and confequently 
 of fitting in the Houfe of Commons. 
 
 On this account, though the Livery mould una- 
 nimoufly give him their votes, he cannot be elected ; 
 he is incapacitated by law from being a member 
 of that fociety ; and thus, whatever may be the 
 event of numbers at the poll, fuch will be the eon- 
 clufion in the Houfe, that he neither is entitled to, 
 nor can be received as a member of that body. 
 
 His friends therefore may fhew their rebellious 
 difpofitions againft the laws and the conftitution, by 
 giving him their votes, but their minion can derive 
 no advantage from it. 
 
 But, after all, I can hardly be perfuaded that he 
 will ftand the poll : will he prcfume to appear, an 
 outlaw, on the Huffing?, receiving the fufrrages of 
 the Livery of London, of which he mult be con- 
 fcious he cannot avail himfelf, and thus defy the ci- 
 vil power, for the fake only of defying them ? 
 
 And fhou'd he he hardy enough thus publicly 
 to appear, will there be no wiit of capias atlagatum 
 delivered to the Sheriff, by authority of which he 
 may be legally taken from this feat of infulting the 
 whole legiflature ? Who then, among his mifguided 
 and incendiary afTociates will dare to interrupt the 
 civil magistrate in the difcharge of his duty, or 
 refcue a man, who, flying, through felf-conviction, 
 trom the judgment of the laws, hath deprived him- 
 felf of their benefit, and rendered himfelf obnoxious 
 
 to 
 
[ 16 ] 
 
 to their punifhment ? I imagine the moft daring 
 among them will hardly engage in fo dcfperate 
 and fo criminal a tranfgrefiion. And furely, the 
 executive power of the laws will not fuffer fuch an 
 open and flagrant invading of the legiflature to be 
 committed with impunity, but convince his fediti- 
 ous adherents, that the laws are fuperior to the 
 dread of faction, and that delinquents are to be pu- 
 nifhed, whatever may be the mighty imagination 
 of a mob : If not, adieu to all rule and order, all 
 civil authority, and protection from legal inilitutes j 
 the populace is become both the legiflative and ex- 
 ecutive power, and Mr. Wilkes lord paramount 
 over King, Lords, Commons, and the nation. 
 
 Legum Amator. 
 
 Thefe were fucceeded by an EfTay from a writer 
 on Mr. Wilkes's fide, which was thus conceived : 
 
 SOME fecret enemies to Mr. Wilkes and the 
 liberties of Englifhmen, are endeavouring to 
 abufe their fellow citizens, by propagating a report 
 that he is an outlaw, and therefore cannot be elect- 
 ed a member of parliament. This is fo falfe, that 
 were it not for the pains that have been ungene- 
 roufly taken to miflead the public, it would not de- 
 ferve a ferious anfwer. Every one who is conver- 
 fant in the law, knows that outlawries are not only 
 very eafily, but very frequently reverfed. They are 
 done by a motion in Weftminfter Hall, and granted 
 as things of courfe. An appearance of the perfon 
 is exactly of the fame effect. And now, fuppofing, 
 for the fake of the argument, that Mr. Wilkes is 
 outlawed, which, perhaps, may admit of no fmall 
 doubt, yet if he fhould be elected one of the Re- 
 presentatives in Parliament for the city of London, 
 which every friend to Liberty moil ardently wiflies, 
 will not his name, in the return of the writ to the 
 Lord Chancellor, be, to all intents and purpofes, a 
 
 virtual 
 
[ '7 ] 
 
 virtual and official appearance ? Let us fearch for 
 a precedent of an Outlaw being elected a member 
 of parliament. In the reign of queen Elizabeth, 
 anno 1592, Thomas Fitzhcrbsrr, of Staffordfhire, 
 an outlaw, was elected a member of parliament. 
 The cafe is curious, and deferves attention : The 
 fheriff had orders from the court, for the Queen 
 was profecutor, to play a trick, and he performed 
 his part notably. 
 
 A few minutes after the election was over, and 
 about an hour before the return was made, the fhe- 
 riff arrefted him upon a Capias Utlagatum. Mr. Fitz- 
 herbert appealed to the houfe of commons ; upon 
 which this queftion arofe, Whether an outlaw could 
 be elected a member of parliament ? The Queen's 
 lawyers argued, that he was not electable, becaufe 
 there muft be chofen viri idonei ; and a man out- 
 lawed, faid they, is not idoruus, therefore not elect- 
 able. Sir Edward Hobby, a member, faid, The 
 party outlawed is not out of his wits, and (here- 
 fore capable of being elected. Mr. Broughton, ano- 
 ther member, faid, that a man outlawed may cer- 
 tainly be elected a member of parliament -, for in 
 no cafe is outlawry difabil.ity, where a man is en 
 auter droit. Sir Henry Knivet faid the fame. Mr. 
 Tanfield went further into the matter, and not only 
 confirmed what had been faid by Sir Edward Hob • 
 by, &c. but added, that he thought the houfe 
 ought to make a distinction where an exception to 
 a member was grounded upon matter before his 
 being elected or after : and if after, he thought the 
 member ought not to fit •, but if before, he was 
 clear of opinion that the perfon elected fhould be 
 permitted to fit ; for, laid he, if this outlawry be 
 allowed to difable him, then the flat, of 23 Hen. VI. 
 will difable mod of this houfe ; for they ought not 
 to be members now, if this be not a goo J election. 
 Mr. Speaker himfelf faid, " Whether a man out- 
 D la wed 
 
[ «3 ] 
 
 Uwed may be a member, I hold it no queftion ; but 
 that if a man outlawed be elected, and returned, out 
 of all doubt he is a lawful member of parliament." 
 
 This debate lafted feveral days, viz. March 15, 
 16, 17, and 30, and April 3, and 5, 1593. At 
 length the judgment of the Houfe was, " That 
 Thomas Fitzherbert was, by his election, a lawful 
 burgcfs i" that is, a member of parliament. Vide 
 ]y Ewe's Journals. 
 
 In our times, the Hon. Mr. Lyddel was elected 
 a member of parliament, while an outlaw ; and fat 
 in the Houfe during the whole feven years, without 
 the outlawry being reverfed. 
 
 From hence it is fairly deducible, that Mr. Wilkes, 
 whether an outlaw or not, may be elected a mem- 
 ber of parliament. And it is earneftly hoped by every 
 friend to the illuftrious Houfe of Brunfwick, and 
 the Englifh constitution, that the worthy, indepen- 
 dent Liverymen of London, will confer that honour 
 upon him, as the mcft generous and grateful return 
 they can make to a man, who fo bravely ftood forth 
 in the caufe of Liberty, and fecured to us the inva- 
 luable bleffing of our houfes being now our caftles. 
 Hie murus ah emus efio. Eefides the public in gene- 
 ral, many individuals have received considerable 
 benefits from his caufe ; feveral perfons have rofe 
 to great places of power and profit in confequence 
 of it ; while he, alas ! has met with nothing but 
 perfecution. 
 
 To this immediately fucceeded the two following 
 pieces ; intended to controvert the doctrine, " That 
 44 an outlaw may lawfully be elected a member of 
 " parliament, and by his election be entitled to fit," 
 which the author of the laft letter, by two prece- 
 dents, fupported : 
 
 DOTH the law make no diftinction between out- 
 lawries ? Is an outlawry in a fuit for debt of 
 
 the 
 
[ '9 ] 
 
 the fame force in all cafes with an outlawry in con- 
 fequence of a criminal conviction ? Can Mr. Wilkes's 
 friends fhew any precedent that a man outlawed in 
 confequence of a profecution for a crime of lb hor- 
 rid a dye as any of thofe with which Mr. Wilkes 
 Hands charged by his country, v/as admitted to fit 
 in parliament ? Mr. Wilkes, we know, is outlawed 
 for flying from the judgment of law, when con- 
 victed of fed ition againft his Prince, and blafphemy 
 againft his God. In the name of common fenfe is 
 fuch a man vir idoneus to reprefent a Chriftian and 
 a loyal people? By what precedent can Mr. Wilkes's 
 friends prove it ? By none, I am certain. Yet here 
 there is fomethins; more. Mr. Wilkes fled from a 
 profecution authorized by both houfes of parlia- 
 ment, and by an unanimous vote of both houfe. e , 
 that privilege of parliament did not extend to the 
 offences with which he was then only charged. So 
 that the profecution againft him was fairly and re- 
 gularly carried on under the fanction of parliamen- 
 tary authority, till he was undenized. Can iuch a 
 man acquire rights of any kind in England ? Mod 
 certainly not ; for he has no right to breathe Eng- 
 liih air. He is not even intitled to live in England. 
 
 No grant from any corporation can reftore him 
 to the rights of a denizen, and no conveyance of 
 land, or of annuities out of it, to him, in his pre- 
 fent condition, can be valid. Why then mould my 
 brother liverymen chufe a man to reprefent them 
 who can get nothing by being elected. The public 
 buiinefs may for fome time be fufpended, and the 
 nation may be thrown into a ferment by fo preci- 
 pitant a itep, but it is plain that Mr. Wilkes, in 
 his prefent circumftances, neither is nor can be 
 created a citizen of London by any authority that 
 is not paramount to the laws which enact, That 
 denizens only can acquire rights to lands, or to 
 an intereft out of them. No man that is not a 
 D 2 denizen 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 denizen can be eligible to any public truft or 
 honour whatever, till he is naturalized ; and an 
 outlaw, in confequence of a criminal profecution, 
 is fevered from the nation as much as if he had 
 never been born in it, till the judgment of outlawry 
 is reverfed. It is therefore to be hoped that no re- 
 fpeftable citizen of London will load his confeience 
 with the guilt of flying in the face of the parlia- 
 ment, difturbing the public peace, and difhonouring 
 the reputation of the capital, by favouring an outlaw, 
 convicted of fuch grofs crimes, efpecially when the 
 perfjn they intend to favour can acquire nothing 
 by their benenevolence. 
 
 A Liveryman. 
 
 To my Brother Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 TH E confederates with Mr. Wilkes, who are 
 virtually in rebellion againft the laws and 
 conititution of their country, are feeking every 
 plaufible fallacy which can deceive you into the 
 efpoufing his intereft and fupporting him with your 
 votes : and with this view they have receded to the 
 days of Queen Elizabeth, to fhew that an outlaw 
 may be elected a member of parliament, in the 
 cafe of Thomas Fitzherbert of Staffordfhire ; and 
 they prove the rectitude of this meafure, becaufe 
 it was voted to be right in the houfe of com- 
 mons : but a vote of the houfe of commons is no 
 law •, and till Mr. Wilkes has fuch a vote in his 
 favour, he cannot be a member of parliament. 
 Lst him get it if he can. If what may be voted 
 in the houfe of commons is a proof of the truth 
 and rectitude of the meafure, and is to fuperfede 
 the laws and flatutes of tht realm, adieu to the 
 other eftates of the legiflature. The commons 
 have formerly voted a houfe ten miles out of a 
 town to be a market-houfe in the middle of it : 
 
 they 
 
[ 21 ] 
 
 they have voted fhamoy belts to be buff; and that 
 6550 votes are more than 7000 ; and yet I fancy 
 tlu-fe determinations have not altered the nature of 
 things. 
 
 If the maxims of Queen Elizabeth's days are to 
 be obferved at prefent, the king may, as fhe did, 
 take the members from the houfe, commit them 
 to prilbn, and make them afk pardon before they 
 are releafed. I fancy Mr. Wilkes's friends will 
 hardly join in the rectitude of fuch a proceeding ; 
 and yet this precedent is as valid as the other. 
 Thefe incendiaries have forgotten, that fince the 
 revolution, the power of the crown, and the pre- 
 ference of votes to laws, have been more effec- 
 tually reftraine J than heretofore ; it is not »ra a 
 queftion what the houfe of commons can do, re- 
 fpecting Mr. Wilkes hereafter^ but what the laws 
 declare of him at prefent t and according to thefe 
 he cannot be ele&ed. 
 
 If Mr. Lyddel fat in the houfe of commons 
 when an outlaw, it was becaufe he was not profe- 
 cuted on that account ; and he who is not legally 
 proceeded againft is always confidered as not of- 
 fending in the eye of the law : no inference in fa- 
 vour of Mr. Wilkes can therefore be derived from 
 that inftance. 
 
 Befides, in the days of Queen Elizabeth, the 
 prefent qualification ad did not exift ; and even 
 that alone will prevent Mr. Wilkes from being qua- 
 lified, becaufe an outlaw cannot poffefs, nor be ca- 
 pable of having one inch of land conveyed to him ; 
 and though the Court of Aldermen have given him 
 his freedom, he can derive no advantage from it -, 
 he is incapacitated from receiving any benefit, pri- 
 vilege, or honour, by his being refcinded from the 
 common rights of Englishmen ; and this in confe- 
 quence of his becoming a fugitive, aid a felf-con- 
 victed outlaw. 
 
 if 
 
[ " J 
 
 If the executive power of the. law, liftening to fuch 
 fallacious inftances as Fitzherbert and Lyddel, will 
 fuffer a blafpheming outlaw to become a reptelenta- 
 tive of that country, the protection of which he has 
 forfeited by his own act and deed, they may fhut 
 up the courts of juftice, obliterate the laws and re- 
 cords of the ftate, and difmifs the judges from their 
 magistracies. They may turn the churches into ware- 
 houfes and dens of thieves, the clergy into chimney- 
 fweepers, and burn the gofpel by the hands of the 
 common hangman ; and to thefe facrilegious pur- 
 pofes both Wilkes and his friends are impioufly la- 
 bouring •, wherefore it is the indifpenfable duty of 
 every man who loves his country and reveres his 
 God, to oppofe him with all poffible vigour, and 
 not exhibit fo flagrant a proof, in the eyes of all 
 Europe, that the City of London has renounced 
 the prcfervation of their legiflature and religion, in 
 favour of the anointed fon of Blafphemy and Sedi- 
 tion. T A 
 
 JLegum Amator. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes's friends, in fupport of their opi- 
 nion, had recourfe to the Journals of the Houf.e of 
 Commons, and produced another Cafe apt for the 
 purpofe, taken from Vol. 1. March, 1604. and was 
 this : 
 
 IN the year 1603-4, Sir Francis Godwin was elect- 
 ed, and returned, by the Sheriff for the County 
 of Bucks. 
 
 The Clerk of the Crown refufed to accept the 
 indenture by which he was returned, objecting, 
 that his return was null and void, becaufe he was an 
 outlaw. — A writ for a new election was made out, 
 and Sir John Fortefcue was chofen in his place. 
 
 But upon a complaint made againft the Clerk of 
 the Crown, Sir Francis was heard, was declared duly 
 elected, and ordered, though an outlaw, to take his 
 feat in the Houfe, which he accordingly did. 
 
 The 
 
[ 23 ] 
 
 The general refolution of the Houfe upon the 
 cafe was, That an outlawry, before an election, did 
 not difqualify. 
 
 At the King's mitigation, the Lords defired a 
 conference on the fubjedt, but were abiblutely re- 
 fufed by the Commons, as the queftion regarded 
 their own privileges. 
 
 N. B. There are many fimilar cafes in the Jour- 
 nals of the Houfe of Commons. 
 
 About the time of this controverfy, the follow- 
 ing pieces appeared. 
 
 To the Mercers, Vintners, Joiners, Woollen-Dra- 
 pers, Linen-Drapers, Stationers, and all other 
 the low and vulgar Riff-raff of the City of Lon- 
 don, who propoie to vote for Mr. Wilkes at the 
 prefent Election. 
 
 Fellow Citizens, 
 
 THE Scotch traders and clerks in the city, to- 
 gether with the agents difpatched from the 
 weft: end of the town, to open policies for wager- 
 ing againft our fuccefs in favour of Mr. Wilkes, 
 make it their chief bufinefs to fay he has nothing 
 to depend upon but the riff-raff of the city. At 
 the time Mr. Wilkes was arretted by virtue of a 
 General Warrant, and had his moll private papers 
 feized, as we then thought contrary to law, we 
 were told, that we were but the riff-raff of the city, 
 and we could have no hopes of redrefs. The foes 
 to liberty exulted on the power of their party, 
 and laughed to fcorn the efforts of the then mino- 
 rity, though the Duke of Grafton and Mr. Pitt 
 were amongft them •, and thefe champions againft 
 General Warrants and the unlawful feizure of pa- 
 pers were likewiie treated by the agents of oppref- 
 fion as the riff-raff of the Commons. But a fhort 
 time difcovered, that our moft gracious Sovereign 
 
 placed 
 
[ H. ] 
 
 placed thefe noble friends to liberty, and many 
 others of that riff-raff minority, at the head of his 
 adminiftration, and we, riff-raff of the city, foon 
 found the redrefs that had been fo long denied us. 
 If the royal favour hath put it now into our power 
 to reflore Mr. Wilkes to the great council of the 
 nation, fhall we not fhew thefe policy-gentry, that 
 the fteady perfeverance of a minority, in the caufe 
 of liberty, will foon become a majority in the 
 eaft, as it did at the weft end of the town ? 
 
 We are told, that if we mould chufe Mr. 
 Wilkes, and he mould become one of the - Mi- 
 niftry, we may expect he will turn out like 
 other patriots, and ceafe to be a friend to the 
 people, when he no longer wants the people to 
 be friends to him. That we may fee him a friend 
 to duplicity of character, the hocus-pocus trick of, 
 " Now I fpeak as a minifter, not as a member 
 " of parliament." We may fee him ufing his 
 utmoft induftry to difcover flaws in royal grants 
 of the greateft antiquity, and to render the long 
 and peaceable poffefiion of an hundred years but 
 as one day. We may fee him, in contempt of 
 national credit, the faith of charters, and acts of 
 parliament, attacking the liberties and controlling 
 the property of public companies. God forbid, 
 my dear fellow-citizens, this fhould ever be the 
 cafe ! I cannot readily fuppofe, that fuch dreadful 
 principles as thefe, fo chilling to the love of virtue, 
 will gain poffeffion of an heart that has ever been 
 warmed by one fpark of patriot fire. But mould 
 I be miftaken ; fhould he who has done fo much, 
 who has fuffered fo much for the love of his king 
 and country, when he has received his reward, 
 become a friend to tyranny and oppreflion, ftill I 
 fhall not repent that I gave him my vote. — I fhall 
 confider he defervcd it when I gave it •, it was the 
 reward of his paft fer vices •, and I fhall comfort 
 
 myfelf 
 
[ a? ] 
 
 myfelf with the reflection, that while the people 
 preferve their gratitude, there will never be wanting 
 champions for their fervice. Should Wilkes, thus 
 rewarded, hereafter iiliie a General Warrant, his 
 reward will tempt anotherWilk.es to (land the fiery 
 trial againlt him. This country can never fuffer by 
 the fallehood of patriots, if the people never prove 
 ungrateful. 
 
 Bat as this patriot, who calls upon us for his re- 
 ward, has not yet proved falfe, let us not withhold 
 from him his merited reward. — If I do, for one, may 
 a General Warrant leize me on the day of my mar- 
 riage ! May the fecret letters, containing the profef- 
 fions and honeft vows of affection betwixt my bride 
 and myfelf, be expofed to the rude view of low 
 mefiengers, or the dirtieft minions of power ! May 
 I be delayed in recovering a juil debt from the plea 
 of duplicity, an objection about an alias ! May 
 Henry the liighth prove to have been deceived in 
 his grant of the fmall eflate given to my anceflors ! 
 And may 1 never receive a l.irger dividend from my 
 India Stock than a minifter fliall pleafe :o allow me ! 
 I am, my dear Fellow Citizens, 
 
 Your Friend and Servant, 
 
 A.M. 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 HONOUR the man, protect and fupport him 
 who has made your houfes caftles ; and your 
 papers facred and fecure againlt the deteiled vio- 
 lence of General Warrants. 
 
 For fecuring this ineltimable bleffing, and advanc- 
 ing the caufe of Liberty to you, he was periccuted, 
 and obliged to fly his country. 
 
 Reftore him by your fuffrages, and prove to all 
 the abettors of defpotifm, that the: Voice of the 
 People is the Voice of GOD, 
 
 E On 
 
[ 26 ] 
 
 On the latter was directly made this parody : 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 HONOUR the man, protect: and fupport him 
 who attempted to make your houfes, brothels, 
 and your papers blafphemous and feditious libels 
 againft God and the King. 
 
 For his effays towards effecting thofe laudable 
 ends, he was unjuftly perfecuted, and like a brave 
 fellow fled to France, chufing rather to breathe the 
 free air of that country, than fubmit to the legal 
 trial of a jury of his peers. 
 
 Reflore him by your fufTrages to debauch your 
 wives and daughters, and prove to all the abettors 
 of profanenefs and immorality, that the voice of 
 the mob is the voice of the devil. 
 
 And farther to vilify Mr. Wilkes came out this 
 production : 
 
 WILKES and BLASPHEMY for ever! 
 
 Annals of Hell t L. 45. C. 45. No. 45. 
 
 The Speech of Blasphemy to her Son Wilkes, 
 and his Confederates. 
 
 My Beloved, 
 [" T is with exquifite delight I behold fo numerous 
 ■*■ an affembly convened in favour of my darling 
 child, whole uniform and unremitting endeavours 
 fo confpicuoufly deferve countenance and protection, 
 of all thofe who are cordially united in the fame 
 glorious caufe of making off the fhackles of reli- 
 gion and the laws, and being free from all poffible 
 reftraint ; the only liberty which is worthy of your 
 animated intentions. Other fons have frequently 
 ferved me with diftinguifhed zeal on various occa- 
 fions •, but this my anointed fon hath never hefitated 
 nor defifted from the perpetrating every deed which 
 
 might 
 
[ 27 J 
 
 might promote my intereft, and deferve my mod 
 particular predilection and favour. 
 
 Some men, after heroic acts performed in my 
 fervice, have been feized with childifh fentiments of 
 remorfe, and have receded, like daftards, from the 
 accomplishing my immortal purpofes. Some, like 
 
 my great fon David H , have enveloped their 
 
 laudable defigns in difguife, paradox, and ambigui- 
 ty, and by thefe means their purfuits, however well 
 defigned, have proved in a great meafure abortive: 
 but Wilkes, my veteran and intrepid Wilkes, with 
 unremitting ardour, hath openly avowed my caufe, 
 hath laboured inceflantly to eftablifh my dominion, 
 and to demolifh thofe of religion and morality -, 
 both which are my profefTed enemies. 
 
 Permit me on this occafion to remind you of the 
 ftory of the Jew, and of the notes of hand, which 
 every one knows. 
 
 That was a glorious emanation of that fuperior 
 fpirit, which defpifes and treads down all the oppo- 
 fition which rifes in the bofoms of the timid, who 
 have not yet emancipated themfelves from the flavifh 
 fears of punifhment both here and hereafter. This 
 was an achievement worthy of immortal record, 
 which none but men of the fublimeft genius can ac- 
 complifh. An incontrovertible proof of that heruic 
 ardour in my caufe, which nothing, either facred or 
 civil, can overawe or intimidate, and which ought 
 to animate your fouls to the perpetrating of fimilar 
 tranfactions, that both his and your glory may be 
 everlaflingly recorded in the annals of my reign. 
 
 The next deed which I fliall mention was rather a 
 retrogradation, than an advancement of Wilkes's 
 fame, though it might have imparted confpicuous 
 luftre to a man of lefs renown, and defervedly be- 
 llowed on him the appellation of magnanimous ; it 
 was the libelling his King : he faw his decline from 
 his former honours, and feared it might be con- 
 E 2 ft rued 
 
[ 28 ] 
 
 ilrued into a defection from my caufe. Stung with 
 the thought, he bravely ftepped forth, and libel- 
 Joufly attacked that God whom my enemies adore, 
 and thereby indifputably proved that he was equally 
 inclined to pull him from his throne in Heaven, as 
 to dethrone his Sovereign on earth •, and this he en- 
 deavoured to effectuate with great policy : he art- 
 fully dulcified the libation to my divinity with the 
 intoxicaring fweets of obfeenity, in order the more 
 effectually to adapt them to the lufcioufnefs of your 
 palates : he fucceeded : you drank, and your pre- 
 sence on this occafion proves that it operated as 
 he intended, and I defired. 
 
 Having thus far elcaped the chaftifements of hea- 
 ven and of earth, un fated with thefe arduous actions, 
 he is now returned in order to complete that career, 
 which he has fo glorioufly begun and continued ; 
 at once to defy the majefty of thofe laws which he 
 has violated, and to leek your aid and protection, 
 though an outlawed and felf- convicted fugitive. 
 This, if you will affifl him faithfully to accomplifh, 
 my throne and your principles will be eftablifhed 
 to all eternity. All ordinances and powers, both of 
 God and man, which fo pertinacioufly and unjuftly 
 oppofe your laudable and free intention, will then 
 be totally fubducd •, the enflaving laws will be tram- 
 pled under your feet, and you may wanton in the 
 iboils of your and my enemies, without timidity or 
 reftraint. The judges will receive the due reward 
 of ail their counteracting my fon's and my defigns, 
 and find a becoming ifllie of all their oppofitions to 
 my caufe at Tyburn ; the ftatutes will be confumed 
 by fi e ; the courts of juftice be demolifhed ; the 
 lands and riches of your enemies be divided among 
 you ; you alone will be my fubjects, Wilkes my 
 prime minifter, and I your ibvereign. 
 
 Religion fhall be utterly aboiiihed ; the church 
 lands ihvill become the poileffions ot my priefts, and 
 
 the 
 
[ 29 } 
 
 the temples be converted to public uie, and formed 
 into brothels for performing the rites of obfeenity 
 and lewdnefs •, the daughters of my enemies fhall be 
 fdcrificed to your lufls ; the bifhops and clergy fhall 
 be con fumed by fire at flakes in Smithfield, as he- 
 retics, for daring to declaim againft the rectitude 
 of my principles and tenets. Oh, glorious revolu- 
 tion ! Oh, darling object of my fon and me ! 
 
 Shoiild the civil magiflrate attempt to feize him, 
 rife in arms, defy the laws and him •, be not inti- 
 midated, my daughter Impudence fhall fupport you 
 with her eloquence and perfeverance, and my friend 
 ■ fhall protect him with his prefence, fuftain 
 him, if you are all as deferving my favour •, eman- 
 cipate yourielves from the chains of law, and of re- 
 ligion, thofe foes to liberty, my fon, and me j and let 
 your ftreets refound with Wilkes and Blafphemy for 
 ever ! fo fhall your intentions be accompliftied, ar.d 
 my fhrine exalted above Heaven and earth. 
 
 Thefe were fucceeded by 
 
 Hypocrisy's Speech to her Favourite Sons, 
 combined againfl the Friends of Liberty. 
 
 Dearly and Well-Beloved, 
 
 I CANNOT find words fufficiently ftrong to 
 exprefs to you the high fenfe I entertain of 
 your ineffable endeavours to extend my influence 
 among the Livery of London. My heart exults 
 within me when I behold my chofen fons reeling 
 from clubs and bagnios, where they have been giv- 
 ing loofe to every wanton idea, and expreffed their 
 approbation of every fmutty tale ; my heart exults 
 within me when I behold thefe my chofen veffels re- 
 proving the harlot in the ftreet -, and exclaming 
 againft my bitter enemy, the indecent Wilkes. 
 How admirable, gentlemen, is your conduct! wor- 
 thy of the moft exalted praifes ! Thus out of re- 
 
 fped 
 
[ 3° ] 
 
 fpect to my reputation, to cenfure the conduct your 
 hearts approve, and in deference to me to ileal thofe 
 pleafjres which my rebellious fons indulge them- 
 felves in without controul. " Woe unto you fcribes 
 " and pharifees, hypocrites." How noble after 
 fuch a denunciation to fupport your mother's caufe! 
 Go on, my chofen veflels ! call up a deeper gloom 
 into your countenances ! exprefs a keener refent- 
 ment ftill, againft the irregularities of youth, and 
 the venial failles of a warm imagination, and you 
 may praclife your fecret vices with the more fuccefs. 
 Without your aid, my arch enemy, true religion, 
 would by this time have been infinitely more pre- 
 vailing, but you render it unlovely in the eyes of 
 the unthinking, and have made many profelytes to 
 vice. Go on my beloved fons ! defcry the man that 
 openly dares to attack my influence in the human 
 heart, that acknowledges himfelf to be frail, who 
 has exerted himfelf in the ridiculous caufe of liber- 
 ty and his country, and that has dared, even to his 
 own ruin, to ftand up for the liberty of the prefs, 
 and the freedom of piivate thoughts, thofe two 
 mortal and inveterate enemies to defpotifm, my bell 
 ally, and myfelf. Perfevere, my fons, with unre- 
 mitting ardour, in this glorious and difinterefted 
 caufe, and be afTured that you mall by no means 
 lofe your reward. 
 
 Your loving mother, 
 
 Hypocrisy. 
 
 And foon after followed thefe pieces : 
 
 A WHAT'S TO COME CHRONICLE, 
 
 For December, 1768. 
 
 THIS day John Wildfire, Efq-, made a mo- 
 tion in a great afTembly for leave to bring in 
 the heads of a bill to abolifh a certain mode of wor- 
 
 fhip, 
 
t 31 ] 
 
 fhip, fooliflily held in reverence amongft the peo- 
 ple of this kingdom, and calLd, the Chriftian Re- 
 ligion. As the nature of t\\z motion was radier ex- 
 traordinary, the houfe hive appointed a particular 
 day to confider the propriety of complying with it> 
 but as the city of London feems refolutely deter- 
 mined to fupport every meafure which is adopted 
 by their fpirited reprefentative, it is imagined that 
 Mr. Wildfire will triumph over all the oppofition 
 of his enemies. 
 
 'Tis laid that a curious burlefque of the New 
 Teftament is in the prefs, which will make its ap- 
 pearance on Chriftmas day, with explanatory notes, 
 by John Wildfire, Efq; 
 
 A Merchant of London is committed to New- 
 gate for a breach of privilege in prefuming to afk 
 John Wildfire, Efq; for a mm of money which has 
 been owing above five years. 
 
 It is (aid our patriotic reprefentative intends to 
 labour for a repeal of the laws againft rapes and 
 adulteries, which are at prefent Inch difagreeable 
 reductions on the wiihes of the profligate ; and we 
 moreover hear, that he is preparing a bill for the 
 general toleration of thofe feminaries which are de- 
 dicated to the votaries of Venus. 
 
 We are told that the loyal Livery of London in- 
 tend to petition a great perfonage to confer fome 
 peculiar mark of diftindlion on their worthy repre- 
 fentative John Wildfire, Efq-, for the elegant eulo- 
 giums with which at different times he has dutifully 
 complimented his Sovereign, and the whole Royal 
 Family. 
 
 Mr. Wildfire, to fhew his great regard for lite- 
 rary merit, intends, we are told, to give an annual 
 gold medal to the writer who fhall produce the belt 
 poem in favour of blafphemy. 
 
 The 
 
f 32 ] 
 
 The JOINERS JOINED.; Or, 
 
 Jack Gimlet, the Joiner, Triumphant. 
 Tune, Lumps of Pudding, &c. 
 
 YE Joiners of England, and Joiners of France, 
 Come join all your hands, and then join in a 
 dance ; [hit ; 
 
 For fince Joiners made Joints, fuch a Joint ne'er was 
 Nor did fate join to Joiners a Joint of fuch wit. 
 Each join in his praife, who has join'd fuch a 
 
 Joint, 
 And join in a chorus, then take off your pint : 
 Let Liberty join, tho' disjointed and torn, 
 For a Joiner like Gimlet, fure never was born. 
 
 Enjoin'd by dear Freedom he join'd him to Gaul, 
 For the French give for Freedom, the Devil and 
 all ! [Rome -, 
 
 Had the Pope but enjoin'd, he'd have join'd him at 
 But thanks to you jointly, he joins us at home. 
 And now by the Joiners he's join'd for a Seat, 
 And the mob in his intereft join in the ftreet ; 
 Such joining by Citizens never was known, 
 Who join'd in all int'refts, except in their own. 
 
 Then join my brave boys, in full choruiTes join, 
 Join Gimlet and Pitt in a bumper of wine, 
 For jointly they led you to join for their good, 
 And then jointly disjoin'd — and left you in the mud. 
 
 Then join in huzzas, or you're jointly to blame, 
 
 Join Jack to the Senate, you'll join a good name; 
 
 When you've thus join'd the Joiner, I give you 
 my word, 
 
 You may next join your necks to a two-penny 
 cord. 
 
 A New 
 
t 33 ] 
 
 A New Ballad compofed by 'Squire Buckhorse, in 
 honour of ' Squire Wilkes. 
 " D — n my eye, ftand to it, Jack." 
 
 Apol. Wilk. p. 45. 
 
 COME all ye brave boys who obey Wilkes's nod, 
 Who libel your king, and blafpheme the great 
 
 G— s 
 Who feoff at religion, and tread down the laws, 
 Be faithful to his, and to Blafphemy's caufe j 
 Believe your friend Buckhorie, all virtue's a farce, 
 And electing 'fquire Jack, bid the de'il kifs your 
 
 a — e. 
 Hewilldown with thecourts in Wcftminfter-hall, 
 And blow up the churches of Peter and Paul ; 
 Religion and law are but humbugs and flams, 
 And forbifhops and judges he cares not three d— ns. 
 Suftain him, my friends, to make virtue a farce, 
 And electing 'fquire Jack, bid the de'il kifs your 
 
 a — e. 
 He will make it enacted that G — there is none, 
 That Satan's a joke, and yourbufinefsis done ; 
 Thus freed from the terrors of heaven and hell, 
 You may riot at eafe, and bid conference farewell. 
 Then fupport 'fquire Jack, to prove virtue a farce. 
 You may do as you dare, bid the de'il kifs your 
 
 a — e. 
 This 'fquire you mud know is a very brave fellow, 
 Braves G — and the law, both when fober and 
 
 mellow j 
 'Tis freedom he feeks — the fwect freedom to do 
 What may chance to hang him, and perchance mc 
 
 and you, 
 Unlefs we fupport him — then bring it to pafs, 
 That Wilkes be elect, and the de'il kifs our a — e. 
 
 Notwithstanding the machinations of his adver- 
 faries, fo many pieces appeared in favour of Mr. 
 Wilkes, and fo affectionate for him were the ac- 
 
 F clamatiorit 
 
I 
 
 r 34 i 
 
 clamations of the populace, that he found it but 
 
 oratcful thus to addrefs himletf 
 e> 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 Gentlemen, 
 Cannot exprefs the joy of my heart at the noble 
 and generous manner in which you have fhewn 
 your acceptance of the humble tender of my fer- 
 vices. So honourable a teftimony of eftcem from 
 my fellow-citizens has made the deepeft imprefiion 
 On me. My future life will bell prove the fincerity 
 and warmth of my gratitude : it mall pafs in every 
 endeavour to promote the interefes of this great 
 city, and in a iteady attention to preferve our ex- 
 cellent constitution, and the caufe of Liberty, in 
 which we are all embarked. I hope to have the 
 honour of paying my perional refpectsto you, Gen- 
 tlemen, on Wednefday next, at our Guildhall ; 
 and I beg your fupport and early attendance. I am, 
 with the trueft regard, your moll: obliged and obe- 
 dient fervant, 
 
 Monday, March 14. JOHN WILKES. 
 
 The evening precedent to the commencement 
 of the election, the enfuing fpirited lines were thick 
 on the walls of Guildhall. 
 
 Vaididit hie auro -palriam — 
 
 Sanfta ad vos ardma, at que jjiius infeia culp*, 
 
 X)(fcendam magnorum haud unquam indignus avoruw. 
 
 VlR. 
 
 Sacred walls ! while in your midnight gloom, 
 Britannia's genius waits her final doom ; 
 While yet one hour of freedom fate allows ; 
 Hear and atteft one honeft Briton's vows ! 
 By gold, by fear unbias'd in my choice, 
 A> here honour points, I raife my patriot voice. 
 O fee-red pow'rs, that guard our Albion more, 
 Let Freedom triumph, and I afxc no more ! 
 
 Let 
 
 O 
 
[ 35 ] 
 Let Freedom triumph in the dire debate ; 
 Then let me fall, pleas'd I refign to Fate ! 
 Yet mould Corruption and her fervile train 
 Your triumphs fully, and your fhrine profane ; 
 Free and unconquer'd as their ambient waves, 
 Tell them that Britons never (hall be flaves ! 
 Teil them how oft by Freedom's cries implor'd 
 Your great fore -fathers bar'd the vengeful lword ! 
 They rufh'd indignant to their country's aid, 
 And vanquifh'd kings reluctantly obey'd. 
 Tell them that not unworthy of our fires. 
 Their genius warms us, and their fpirit tires ! 
 We too have fouls with native courage fteel'd, 
 We too have hearts unknowing how to yield ; 
 At lead though heav'n, tho' heil fuccefsdeny, 
 He will not ltoop to ferve, that dares to die. 
 
 OSCAR. 
 
 On Wednefday the i 6th of March, the day ap- 
 pointed for the election, the feveral Candidates 
 being affembled on the Huftings, they each, agree- 
 able to cuftorn, harangued the livery. Mr. Alder- 
 man Beckford began •, his addrefs was to this effect : 
 
 Gentlemen and Fellow-citizens, 
 
 Mx\Y I crave your indulgence in faying a 
 few words, in juftification of my conduct 
 in parliament, which has been called in queftion 
 and mifreprefented, not only in common conver- 
 fation, but in the publick papers, and in hand* 
 bills difperfed in cofFce-houles, and other places. 
 
 It gives me great fatisfaction to have an oppor- 
 tunity of anfwering the feveral accufations laid to 
 my charge, belbre fo great and refpectable a body 
 of independent Liverymen, met together on the 
 prefent occafion. 
 
 I think ir, Gentlemen, the duty of every repre- 
 feoiatiye to give an account of his behaviour in par- 
 liament, to his conftituentSj that they may judge 
 F - 1 wiiether 
 
[ 3« ] 
 
 whether he is a proper perfon to be again trufted 
 with fo high a degree of* confidence. This was the 
 old conftitutional manner of proceeding, when 
 members were paid by their conftituents for their 
 attendance •, if the accufations laid to my charge 
 are true, I am certainly unworthy of being re- 
 elected one of your reprefentatives, and you would 
 act unworthily and inconfiftent with the duty you 
 owe to your country, yourfelves, and your pofte- 
 rity, to give your voices for fuch a candidate. 
 
 I am accufed of having declared in parliament, 
 that the crown, the executive part of this conftitu- 
 tion, has a power to difpenfe with pofitive laws ; 
 that I was for extending the prerogative of the 
 crown, and deprefling the liberty of the fubjecc ; 
 that I was for taking away charters, and had voted 
 againft the reduction of thofe taxes which were 
 burthenfome to the people. 
 
 I muft appeal to my late worthy colleagues, who 
 have fhewn themfelves ready to co-operate with 
 me in every occafion, where the intereft of this 
 city was concerned, for the truth of what I mail 
 now fay. 
 
 When the legality of the power of the crown, 
 with the advice of the council, to lay an embargo 
 to prevent the exportation of corn, in a time of 
 the greater} fcarcity, was debated in parliament, I 
 did declare it to be a wife, prudent, and falutary 
 meafure; that it was conformable to the immutable 
 law of nature (which is the.law of God) and to the 
 conftitution of this country, to difpenfe with and 
 overrule a pofitive law when the ftate was in danger, 
 aud the fafcty of the people required fuch an ex- 
 traordinary exertion of power -, but that thofe who 
 gave fuch advice to the crown, were anfwerable for 
 it, and rnuft juftjfy their conduct by the abfolute ne- 
 cemty of the meafure $ that on this principle the glo- 
 rious revolution was foiflsigd, 
 
 A late 
 
[ 37 ] 
 
 A late worthy Lord Mayor, who is now no more, 
 did advife the adminiftration to put an immediate flop 
 to the exportation of corn, fome time before this fa- 
 lutary meafure was, through extreme neceflity. adopt- 
 ed, declaring, that we were in danger of a famine, 
 and if not timely prevented the conlequences might 
 be fatal. If his advice had been followed, many tu- 
 mults, riots, and diforders would have been pre- 
 vented, and the high price of corn reduced, which 
 has fince continued ib opprefiive to the poor of this 
 kingdom. 
 
 I obferved that our bleffed Saviour had juftified 
 David, when he was an hungred, and they that were 
 with him, for entering into the houfe of God, and 
 eating the fhew-bread, which was not lawful for him 
 to eat, neither for them that were with him ; but 
 only for the prieft. 
 
 The next accufation againft me was, that I had 
 made a motion in parlianaent in taking away charters, 
 and thereby would render property infecure. It is no- 
 torious to every man in this city, that I was the firft 
 mover in parliament for an enquiry into the conduct 
 of the Eaji-India Company^ and did fay they had been 
 guilty of a mifufer, in the moft eftential articles of 
 their charter. I confefs I am an enemy to all mo- 
 nopolies, being convinced they are againft the fpirit 
 of the conftitution, and are injurious to the trade and 
 manufactures of this kingdom. I did at the fame time 
 declare, and Imade the fame declaration before you, 
 my fellow citizens, that I never have been, nor 
 ever will be, for taking away the property of any 
 man, or body of men, for publick ufe, without 3. 
 valuable coniideration. 
 
 The third accufation was that I had voted againft 
 the reduction of thofe taxes, which were oppref- 
 five to the people. Gentlemen, I did fpeak and 
 vote againft the reduction of the Land Tax $ my 
 opinion was then, and is- now, that relief ought to 
 
[ 3" ] 
 
 be given to the poor man, in preference to the opu- 
 lent land-holder ; our commerce languifhes under the 
 great impoiitions on trade, and our manufactures are 
 opprefled by the enormous taxations on many necef- 
 faries of life, and the high price of provifions. Thefe 
 were then my fentiments againfl taking from the 
 publick funds five hundred thoufand pounds to place 
 that fum in the pockets of the landed gentlemen of 
 this kingdom. I hope I may be excufed in faying, I 
 fpake and voted againft my own intereft; for there 
 are few private men who have received more advan- 
 tage by this reduction than mvfelf. 
 
 I will take up no more of your time, but 
 conclude, with fubmitting myfelf to your candour, 
 and the judgment of my fellow citizens : whether 
 I have the honour of being again elected one of 
 your reprefentatives, or whether I am rejected, I 
 fball always reran a grateful fenfe of former 
 favours, and my belt endeavours mall be exerted 
 at all times, and on every occafion, to fupport the 
 liberty of my country, and the welfare and prof- 
 perity of my fellow-citizens. My family have 
 been for many years citizens of this metropolis, 
 3nd I take this opportunity of declaring publickly, 
 that I prefer the character of an honeft, free, and 
 .independent citizen of London, to the greateft 
 title in the power of the crown to confer. 
 
 Sir Rich. Glyn next fpoke ♦, and then Alderman 
 Trecothick, who addreifed his audience thus : 
 
 Gentlemen of the Livery, my fellow-citizens ! 
 
 UPON this firft attempt to addrefs fo numerous 
 and refpectable a body, I ftand in need of 
 all that candor and indulgence for which this place 
 hath ever been fo laudably remarkable. 
 
 For a long courfe of years I have been con- 
 verfant in the commerce of Great Britain, &c. I 
 can lay with truth, that the export of its manu- 
 factures, 
 
[393 
 failures, in my branch of trade, hath during my 
 Time been considerably increasing; but I mult 
 add, with concern, that in many ether branches it 
 hath greatly declined ; hence arifes that degree of 
 diitrefs, which fo evidently afflicts many popu- 
 lous parts of this kingdom : to revive, to ex- 
 tend manufactures, to remove their burthens and 
 difcouragements, fhould be the peculiar Irudy of 
 every Britifh fenator; it fhall be mine, if I am 
 honoured with your choice. I wifh my abilities 
 were equal to my inclinations, vigilance at leaft, 
 and affiduity in this precinct, fhall not be wanting 
 on my part. 
 
 Gentlemen, I am untried in the important 
 ftation of representing a free people in parlia- 
 ment ; thus far, therefore, I will profefs, and no 
 farther : I know the invaluable blefTino- of our 
 happy constitution and laws : I know that the 
 utmeft exertion of zeal is due to the lupport of 
 Liberty on every occafion, againft every arbitrary 
 party : the man who, under this conviction, 
 iblicits and obtains the higheft of trufls, and 
 afterwards betrays it, would merit everlalting in- 
 famy. It fhall, Gentlemen, be my earneft en- 
 deavour, in the whole courfe of my conduct, to 
 acquit myfelf to my own confeience ; fare, in {o 
 doing, to obtain and to preferve your approba- 
 tion and favour. 
 
 Mr. Deputy Paterfon hinted at the fervices 
 he had done the City, and promifed, fhould he 
 fucceed in the election, to make the interest of 
 the City more particularly his concern than any 
 other object. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes's fpeech followed, in thefe words : 
 
 I Am happy to find myfelf once more among 
 the friends and patrons of Liberty. This 
 day makes me glorious amends for the rigour of a 
 
 long 
 
I 40 ] 
 
 long unmerited exile, in which the only confola- 
 tion remaining to me was, that from my fuffer- 
 ings you had an uninterrupted enjoyment of your 
 moft invaluable rights and privileges. Since the 
 exertion of my firmnefs in an important moment, 
 no Minifter has once dared to ifTue a General 
 Warrant againft your Perfons, or fign an Order 
 for the Seizure of your Papers, and I truft that 
 fuch defpotifm will never be again exerted over the 
 free fubjecls of this country. 
 
 I ftand here, Gentlemen, a private man, 
 unconnected with the Great, and unfupported 
 by any Party. I have no fupport but you j I wifh 
 no other fupport ; I can have none more certaia, 
 none more honourable. 
 
 If I have the happinefs, Gentlemen, of being 
 returned to parliament by your favour, I mail be 
 ready to pay the greateft deference to the fenti- 
 ments of my conftituents on every occafion, and 
 fhall dedicate myfeif to their fervice, by promoting 
 to the utmoft of my abilities, the trade and com- 
 merce of this great metropolis j by which alone it 
 can maintain the firft rank it now enjoys, and I 
 hope, with its liberties, will ever enjoy. 
 
 The Lord Mayor was the next who addreffed the 
 Livery ; and from what he faid, it was evident he 
 had lain by to reply to Mr. Wilkes. He ob- 
 ferved, that fome of the gentlemen who had had 
 the honour of reprefenting us in the laft parliament 
 had thought it incumbent on them to juftify their 
 conduct in the Houfe of Commons, butthathe him- 
 felf thought this wholly unnecefTary, being confcious 
 that he never had given a vote that did not refult 
 from the genuine dictates of his own heart •, and as 
 far as his abilities enabled him, had endeavoured to 
 judge what would be moft for the honour and inte- 
 refl of Britain in general, and this city in particu- 
 lar. 
 
L 41 ] 
 
 lar. He then took notice that the gentleman who 
 had fpoken immediately before him, had chofen to 
 expatiate much upon Liberty, and, fays he, " it is 
 not more than I expected from him-, but I will venture 
 to affirm that neither he nor any man has a juiter 
 fenfe of Liberty than myfelf, or will go farther in 
 the fupport of it ; yet, when I fpeak of Liberty, I 
 beg I may not be mifunderitood; I mean not to in- 
 culcate the moft diftant idea of Licentioufnefs. 
 The fpirit of Liberty is to be feen in our laws i 
 they breathe nothing elfe. In them I fee an inva- 
 riable direction, and the man who acts with re- 
 fpect and deference to them, gives to me the 
 ftrongeft proof of love to our happy conftitution. 
 And now, gentlemen, continued he, let me drop 
 the language of a candidate, and addrefs you as 
 your firit magiftrate. In this capacity I think 
 myfelf called upon to recommend to you to confi- 
 der maturely, and to act with judgment, difcretion, 
 and moderation, in exercifing the greateft pri- 
 vilege of which you (land poiferTed, that of chufing 
 the men who are to decide for you in the great 
 council of the nation, for the next '.'even years. 
 Let not pafiion, let not prejudice, let not intereft, 
 guide you. Be as ye ever have been, the moit 
 independent, as well as the molt difinterefted 
 corporation in Great Britain. By ~:>ntinuing to 
 purfue the fame conduct you will continue to pre- 
 serve the fame weight you have ever had, and to 
 be refpected and followed by the relt of the nation. 
 Before I conclude, 1 muit once more expreis to 
 you my earnelt wifh, that the four men ye chufe 
 to be returned to parliament may be men of cha- 
 racter, and' abilities, and fuch as may do us honour; 
 fuch men, in ihort, as will not fully the iuilre, or 
 diminifh the dignity of this great metropolis." 
 
 Sir Robert Ladbroke's was the lait fpeech •, 
 
 which was very well adapted. co the purpole, and 
 
 (J per- 
 
[ 42 ] 
 
 perfectly agreeable to his character as a fenfibte 
 man and an honeft citizen. 
 
 On holding up hands, the majority for Mr. 
 "Wilkes was prodigious ; with him were returned 
 the Lord Mayor, Sir Robert Ladbroke, and 
 William Beckford, Efq. A poll was immediately 
 demanded for Sir Richard Glyn, Mr. Alderman 
 Trecothick, and Mr. Deputy Paterfon. The next 
 day this advertifement appeared for Mr. Wilkes : 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 Gentlemen and Fellow-Citizens, 
 Beg leave to return you my molt cordial and 
 fincere thanks for your zealous and early ap- 
 pearance for me this day. Trufting entirely to 
 the difinterefted and generous fupport of the Livery 
 of London, I intreat the continuance of your 
 patronage and protection to perfect what you have 
 begun, and to carry me through the poll with fuc- 
 cefs, in confequence of your own nomination, the 
 majority appearing, by the declaration of the fhe- 
 riffs, to be in my favour. I am, with gratitude 
 and refpect, 
 
 Gentlemen, your devoted, 
 
 and obedient humble fervant, 
 Wednefday, March 16. JOHN WILKES. 
 
 On the commencement of the poll, the attach- 
 ment to Mr. Wilkes's caufe appeared far fhort 
 of that on the holding up hands. As the num- 
 bers for him were much inferior to thefe for the 
 other candidates, his adversaries thus gave vent to 
 their exultation. 
 
 To- the Liverymen cf London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 r is with great pleafure I obferved that, on the 
 firft day's poll for members for this city, there 
 could be but twenty-nine found among you fuffi- 
 
 ciently 
 
C 43 ] 
 
 ckntly loft to decency and common fenfe to 
 vote for John Wilkes. What ! mail the defpifer 
 of his God, the libeller of his King, a man whole 
 conduct and writings fhew him to be without 
 either parts, erudition, or common probity, a hot- 
 headed dangerous incendiary, mall he be capable 
 of Havering into madnefs like his own the inde- 
 pendent "electors of this great city ! let him be 
 elected a member of the hell-fire club if there is 
 any fuch exifting; if he can be .voted into parlia- 
 ment by the fuffrage of porters, link-boys, and 
 hackney-ccachmen, he is their proper reprefenta-' 
 tive, and I have no objection to it ; but mall cha- 
 racters, which ought to be fo grave, fo prudent, 
 and are really fo important as the Liverymen or the 
 City of London, fhall they clafs themfelves with 
 the vulgar, headlong, contemptible mob, (hall 
 they be acceffary in fixing iuch a brand ot indelible 
 reproach upon this metropolis, hitherto remark- 
 able for its wifdom in the choice of ics representa- 
 tives ! at this rate you would run after a Jack 
 Cade, or a Wat Tyler : for fliame, Gentlemen, 
 think of what you are and what you are about, 
 and don't make yourfelves contemptible in the 
 eyes of all Europe. 
 
 As Mr. Wilkes, early in the poll, perceived 
 fome cauie of difguit,this advertifement appeared : 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 GIVE me leave to thank you for thofe genuine 
 marks of your regard which I have this day 
 received, by your free and uninfluenced appear- 
 ance. I am fatisfied that, in this great cauie of 
 Liberty, I fhall, by your generous aiTiitance, rife 
 fuperior to every act of oppreflion and malice. I 
 fhall not fail every day, till the dole of the poll, 
 to have the honour of paying you my perlbnal 
 
 G 2 reipects 
 
[ 44 ] 
 refpects on the huttings at Guildhall. I am, Gen- 
 tlemen, with finccrity and efteem,your affectionate 
 and obedient humble Servant, 
 Thurfday, March 17. JOHN WILKES. 
 
 On the third day of the poll, an ndvertifement was 
 inferted in the papers, whereby it appeared that the 
 three aldermen who were declared to have a majority 
 with Mr. "Wilkes, had joined intereft, but, contrary 
 to precedent, excepted their colleague. This oc- 
 casioned much difcontent; and upon this fubject, 
 theenfuing pieces, among others, feverally appeared. 
 
 To the Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 I Am forry at my time of life to be obliged to ad- 
 drefs you, having long retired j but cannot re- 
 main filent at fuch an afhont as is now offered to you, 
 without warning you of your danger ; and I truft it 
 will be the laft time I fhall ever have occafion. Be- 
 fore the day of the Common- hall it was declared by 
 ibme of the candidates, nay advertifed, that they 
 would not join in any lift, until authorifed by the 
 ianction of the Common-hall ; and notwithftanding 
 nil fuch declarations, the fenfe of the Common-hall 
 is treated .with the greateft difrefpect ; for the man, 
 who was declared to have a majority of above two to 
 one, is left out of the lift of the return of that day. I 
 ihall not take up your time by making remarks upon 
 fuch conduct, , but muft beg leave to tell you, if you 
 do not fupportyour rights by fupporting your return, 
 you are for ever loft. The paltry excules made for 
 fuch conduct are mean and contemptible: firft, the 
 moral character of the man ; and as to the iecond, 
 cX moft it can be called but an error in judgement, 
 in fuppofing that he had the fame right to treat things 
 out of doors with that freedom they have always 
 been done within: and a happy error for you and 
 your poftcrity, as it has freed you from that curfed 
 
 inquU 
 
[ 45 J 
 inquifition of General Warrants ; a meafure, which, 
 if 1 am rightly informed, was fupported by two of 
 your prefent candidates ; at leaft, if not fupported, 
 not oppofed, which is equally as bad ; therefore, 
 my fellow citizens, let me entreat you before it is 
 too late, be fleet, and give the reward where it is 
 juftly due, as a leilbn to pofterity ; and that Mr. 
 Wilkes has great merit I take upon me to aflert, hav- 
 ing done more for your liberties, the greateft blerling 
 an Englishman boafts of, than all your other candi- 
 dates, and that at the rifk of every thing dear to him ; 
 fhew me fuch an example, and I fhall ever be filent. 
 I am truly forry that your eyes are not opened a little 
 more ; for I am confident, upon enquiry you will find 
 the Scotch intereft exerted to the greateft extreme. 
 What ! fhall I live to lee my brother Liverymen be- 
 come dupes to Scottifh influence ? Heaven forbid ! 
 And I truft they will ftill convince the world, that 
 they are, what they have always been reprefented, 
 free and independent, unawed by power, and ever 
 ready to reward merit, wherelbever found : that you 
 may ever approve yourfelves fuch is the iincere wilh 
 of your old friend, Impartial. 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 PERMIT me to propofe the following Queries. 
 Whether it is not the greateft affront ever of- 
 fered the city, for three of the candidates to refufe 
 joining with a gentleman unanimoully approved of 
 at the Common-hall ? And whether it will not reflect 
 eternal infamy on the Livery of London, not to choofe 
 for one of th-jir reprefentatives, the perfon whofe 
 expectations they have railed fo high, and whofe 
 noble ftand for Liberty they have fo conftantly ap, 
 proved ? One, who has done and fuffered fo much 
 for the moft glorious caufe, the caufe'of Freedom, and 
 who can and will exert his great talents on a future 
 
 occafion, 
 
[ 46 I 
 
 #eeafion, where the good of his country, or the li- 
 berty of the fubject, is invaded bv the arbitrary mea- 
 sures of a defpotic minifter. Kut if you, gentlemen 
 of the Livery, lhould neglect p do juftice to fo much 
 merit, and to demonstrate vour grateful fenfe of the 
 obligation, it mult be left to fome faithful hiftorian 
 lo relate the glorious tale, to his immortal honour, 
 and your difgrace. 
 
 Never let it be told, the Livery of London were 
 entirely deftitute of the true principles of honour, or 
 the leaft mare of a real love of Liberty. 
 
 Rife, therefore, as one man, and fliew by your 
 virtuous attachment to this defender of your lives and 
 properties, that you have yet a love of freedom pre- 
 dominant in your breafte; and, as a proof of your 
 title to that belt of characters, unite in voting for John 
 Wilkes, Eiq. A Liveryman. 
 To the L— M— . and Sir R— L . 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 ACCEPT our hearty thanks for your determined 
 and proper conduct on Wednefday laft, after 
 the iheriffs declaration upon the mew of hands, for 
 having fteadily refufed to comply with the common 
 cuftom of fubfcribing your names to a joint adver- 
 tifement Signed by all the four who feemed to have 
 the majority of hands • and we congratulate you on 
 having, by your firm perfeverance, and your juft ex- 
 position of the difgrace that muft refult from a con- 
 trarv conduct, -at laft prevailed with another gentle- 
 man to fee the propriety of fuch a ftep, and to lay 
 aiide his fears and apprehenfions of offending the lo- 
 vereign will of the mob. This gentleman has long 
 pretended to have a great refpect and regard for us, 
 tho' we could never perceive it by any part of h s 
 public or private conduct 5 and this only proves to 
 more fully, that all his profefiions have been vain 
 r.iic.re:;. We are, Gentlemen, 
 
 Your (incere Friends, 
 piQBKcr ; Dignity 3 Steadiness. 
 
[ 47 ] 
 The number of pollers continuing but final) for 
 Mr. Wilkes, his friends thought it neccflary, the 
 other candidates having opened ieveral places for the 
 entertainment of their friends, that he mould like wife 
 open ; joiners-hall was fixed upon, and advertife- 
 ments were printed inviting his friends thither. Af- 
 terwards, the Three Tuns Tavern in Spittlefields, and 
 and the Globe Tavern in the Strand, were appointed 
 for their reception. 
 
 The fourth day of the poll produced what follows : 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 
 Gentlemen and Brother-Citizens, 
 
 I Cannot fuiricicntly acknowledge and applaud the 
 .fteadinefs and zeal you have lhewn from the be- 
 ginning of this election to the prefent time ; an exer- 
 tion of the fame lpirit, during the three following 
 days of the poll, cannot fail to give fuccefs to your 
 ©wn nomination, and to crown the wifhes of all thofe 
 who are the real friends of Liberty, and of a man who 
 now iuifers, in that beft of caufes, every mean fpe- 
 cies of persecution which baienefs and revenge can 
 fugged. Your early attendance on the enfuing days 
 of poll, will be of the greateA lervice. lam, Gen- 
 tlemen, with the utmoft deference and regard, your 
 much obliged and faithful humble iervant, 
 Saturday Night, March 19. JOHN WILKES. 
 
 About the lame time came out thefe ftimulatives. 
 
 The Voice of Liberty : 
 
 A Liveryman's fpeech to his Fellow-Citizens. 
 
 I Understand, gentlemen, thatfome of you, though 
 friends to Liberty, are backward in giving your 
 votes to Mr. Wilkes, fuppoiing that his- prefent cir- 
 cumftances render him incapable of representing you 
 in parliament. — Be not deceived. — Mr. Wilkes is 
 poiTelfed of all tfce requifite, and I will lay, the moft 
 eliential qualifications, to accept and discharge the 
 trull he foiicits. You 
 
[ 48 ] 
 
 You fay you would not chute to give away your 
 votes. — For heaven's fake you furely would not fell 
 them ! — But you will fell them, and at the hazard 
 of lofing their price, if you continue to be influenced 
 by private intereft, or perfonal connections. 
 
 As Liverymen of London, you reprefent by 
 charter the collective body of freemen of this popu- 
 lous City, even as your members in parliament 
 reprefent you. If then you hold in juft abhorrence 
 that man, who, in the great aflembly of the nation, 
 fhould be deaf to your remonftrances, and facrifice 
 your interefls to his own, with what propriety can 
 you be deaf to the voice of the people, and prefer 
 your own particular emolument to the general good. 
 
 I have my reafons, as well as you, to prefer other 
 candidates ; but thefe reafons are peculiar and par- 
 tial ; and therefore can have no influence on a con- 
 fcientious man upon fo univerfally interefting an 
 occafion, I ftand not up in defence of Mr. Wilkes : 
 It is in defence of Liberty j in defence of thofe glo- 
 rious privileges which our anceftors bought dearly 
 with their blood : and fhall we not protect and 
 honour the man who hath fhewn a kindred zeal to 
 tranimit them to pofterity ? God forbid we fhould 
 be fo loft to public virtue, that we fhould be fuch 
 cruel fathers, as to rob our children of thofe inefti- 
 mable privileges, for the fake of any prefent grati- 
 fication to ourfelves ! But if it be fo, if the venality 
 and corruption, which have been long openly prey- 
 ing on the limbs of our country, have at laft iecretly 
 feized on her heart and vitals in the city of London, 
 mortifying indeed is our condition ; let fhame for 
 ever feal up our lips, and the name of Liberty be 
 heard in our ftreets no more ! 
 
 Liverymen, reflect before it be too late. 
 
 WH O will hereafter ftand up in your defence, 
 if the man who hath facrificed friends, favour, 
 fortune, who even rifked his Hie for being the cham- 
 pion 
 
[ 49 1 
 
 pion of our Liberties, is flittered to fink under the 
 
 weight of ministerial oppreilion ! Does Mr. 
 
 Wilkes's private character injure his public one ?— 
 Remember the brightest object is the moft eaiily 
 fullied, and it is the peculiar property of calumny 
 to vent its malice on the molt confpicuous charac- 
 ters. — Muft your defenders be more than men r 1 — 
 If you wait for an angel to come from heaven to 
 your relief, you will ibon be funk into the moft 
 abject flavery. — ■ Do you want a leader ? Every 
 man mould be a leader in fo interefting, io animating 
 a caufe. — While the Romans were free, their citi- 
 zens voted as their foldicrs fought; as if victory 
 depended on each lingle arm. — Would Englishmen 
 continue free, fo lhould they vote on the prelent 
 occafion, as if the fuccefs of the poll depended on 
 each man's (ingle voice! — Qui cito dat bis dat.— 
 An early vote is worth two, and if a fingle vote, 
 four : therefore let the friends of Mr. \\ iikes be 
 fpeedy in giving teitimony of their zeal for Liberty. 
 
 To the v/orthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 A T a Common-hall for chufing members to repre- 
 ***■ fent this city in the eniuing parliament, on 
 Wednefday laft, the heart, hands, and tongue of 
 every individual, as if influenced by a divine and 
 irreliltable force, mightily app'auued and mani- 
 moufly elected a gentleman, whole virtue in a pub- 
 lic character had (liuppofe) en:ttled him to thofe 
 more than ordinary marks of distinction with which 
 he was then honoured. A poll is afterwards de- 
 manded ; when, to my great fur'prife, the nrlt in 
 favour becomes laft on the lift i What, my friends, 
 can this be owing to r Strange reverie ! Is it fear, 
 intereit, caprice, or are ye influenced by fcriblers 
 who would blacken an angel of light ? What then 
 hinders, your voting for the man of your choice ? 
 
 H My 
 
r ^ ] 
 
 My fellow- citizens remcir.bcr your country ; 2nd 
 let not the fa lie and idle plea of his private character 
 pacify your too-yielding conferences ; for it is 
 abuled. grofly abufed ; and all his amiable private 
 virtues wholly concealed : but what have either of 
 thefe to do ? Let ihofe who can, contradict the fol- 
 lowing afTertions. His abilities are indifputable. 
 His love to his king and country, genuine, honeft, 
 and unparaleiled -, and his fteadinefs, invariable. 
 As to his gene roil ty, let thofe fpeak who tranfmitted 
 his benevolence to Dunn, the Scotch alia rim, whilil 
 m prifon for hisattempt; and his returning the 
 challenge to the infamous Targe'eer, left it might 
 occation his profecution after death. This is the 
 man ; this is the noble John Wilkes, you chofe on 
 Wednefday laft. Your's, A Denizen. 
 
 NoGENERAL WARRANTS! 
 
 Matt Darly, Citizen and Clockmaker, to his 
 
 Brethren, the worthy independent t Livery of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 IN the year 1747 a General Warrant was ifTued 
 from the fecretary of ftate, to apprehend, feize, 
 and take, all fuch perfons, papers, 6cc. &c. that the 
 acting meflenger then in vogue fhould think proper; 
 when (with fundry other perfons) the laid melienger 
 did, in my abfence, enter my houfe, and, by force, 
 did fearch and examine my premifes, but did not at 
 that time take or carry any thing away ; but two : 
 davs after the faid meiTenger did forcibly enter the 
 faid premifes, with a great number of thieftakers 
 and other infamous allitrants, and did take away in 
 tugs* part of my flock in trade, my private papers, 
 and other things of value, which goods were never 
 returned ; and part of them was fold by one Reele, 
 an afiiitant to the laid mciienger. Upon fuch treat- 
 ment and open violence, on the body and property 
 of a citizen, let every Liveryman of London reflect ; 
 
 make 
 
[ 5* ] ; . 
 
 make the cafe his own, conlider his fituation, to be 
 torne from his family, imprifoned for fourteen days 
 without examination, his property taken from him 
 (and not returned), roughly handled by an attorney 
 general, though honourably acquitted by the Judge 
 of the court of King's Bench, as he not feeing any 
 caufe of complaint. At that time of day the bare 
 mention of a fecretary of ftate's warrant, or the 
 appearance of a king's melfenger, was the terror of 
 every Englifhman that Ihould chance to come in 
 their wav, they not knowing how to get redrefs, till 
 the late valuable and glorious deciiions, obtained by 
 the patriotic and inflexible Mr. Wilkes, fhewed the 
 people of England, that their perfons, cabinets, and 
 property, were not to be taken away by arbitrary ana 
 nameleis General Warrants. 
 No. 39, Strand. MATT. DARLY. 
 
 Idie following puns alfb then appeared in the papers. 
 
 We hear that, during the poll at Guildhall, a 
 gentleman afked Mr. Wilkes, with a fneer, " Whe- 
 ther he was not tired with {landing r" To which 
 the latter chearfully replied, " Not in the leaft, Sir ; 
 I am determined to itand to the lalt, and then per- 
 haps I ihall get a feat." 
 
 To the Wives of the worthy Liverymen of London. 
 Ladies and Gentlewomen, 
 
 YOUR Intel ell is humbly deiired for John 
 Wilkes, KUy, Citizen and Joiner, to be your 
 reprefentative in the enfuing parliament : he being 
 a zealous defender of the Rights, Privileges, and Su- 
 periority of the female world ; a gentleman, in whom 
 you have now an opportunity of exerting all your 
 powerful influence, for the mo ft glorious caufe that 
 ever folicited your protection, the caufe of Libert y. 
 'Tis your's, ladies, to roufe your hulbands from a 
 fupinenefs, which mull flamp evcrlafting infamy on 
 their pofterity. Freedom and the love of Liberty 
 H 2 are 
 
t ^ ] 
 
 are the peculiar privileges and characleriftics of .th* 
 Britifh fair; permit me therefore to intreatthe union 
 of your hands and hearts, to raife a Member that has 
 and ever will make a noble Stand in your defence. 
 I am, Ladies and Gentlewomen, 
 
 with all refpect, your's, 
 A Lover of Liberty and the Fair Sex. 
 
 As the Poll is pretty far advanced, the ladies are 
 earneftly delired to ftir their hufbands up as foon 
 
 as pollible. Every Englifhman's heart and arms 
 
 will be opened for the reception of Mr. Wilkes's 
 female friends. 
 
 The adverfarjes of Mr. Wilkes, not content with 
 his fmall fuccefs on the poll, ufhered to the publick 
 the following invective : 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of London. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 T^JOtwithltanding the vaft clamour which has 
 * ^ been raifed in fupport of a felf- conceited and 
 felf-banifhed outlaw, I am now happy in finding 
 that the poll at Guildhall perfectly evinces that his 
 friends among the Liverymen are few in number; 
 and that his chief fupport refides in the factious 
 fpirits of the mob, always the friends of thofe profli- 
 gates who blafpheme the religion and defpife the 
 laws of their country. And becaufe their actions 
 defer ve, and their fears infoim them they may re- 
 ceive, condign punifhment both here and hereafter, 
 the 1 - are extremely zealous to abolifh law and juftice, 
 and eradicate the belief of future rewards and punifh- 
 ments, from their own and the minds of other men, 
 and the conftant friends of fuch reprobates. 
 
 Such advocates and adherents are a difgrace to the 
 man they favour, and bring a fcandal and dilhonour 
 on all who may innocently be deluded by their arts 
 and fophiftry, and unite in the fame caufe. In this 
 
 account, 
 
[ 53 ] 
 
 account, on former occaiions, many men have found 
 a decline of trade and fallen into bankruptcies by the 
 refolution which all honeft and religious men have 
 taken not to deal with them. The characters of 
 men are, for the moil part, eftimatcd according to 
 the company they keep ; and their morals and inte- 
 grity are determined according to thole of their ailfe 
 ciates. Even the very perfons of limi'ar principles 
 and defigns, confeious of -heir own immoral and 
 Irreligious tenets and intentions, have avoided the 
 dealing with thefe very perfons whom they have 
 feduced, through f ear of being cheated by them, as 
 they themlelvcs are convinced they would deceive 
 all others. Hence it arifes, that, deferted by the 
 virtuous and deferving, and being never encouraged 
 in trade by the rogues of their own fraternity, their 
 bulinelb mfeniibly languishes, they fall into decav, 
 failures of payment, bankruptcies, and prifons, un T 
 pitied by the good, avoided and unaflifted by the 
 bad who corrupt them. Such are too frequently the 
 ends of fuch unhappy and deluded men. 
 
 On this account, and many others, I hope that fac- 
 tion, and the viiionary idea of Liberty, which rebels 
 againft religion and the laws, have exhausted their 
 fafcination in favour of an atrocious Outlaw ; that 
 thofe who have given him their votes will repent of 
 their offences, and that others will behold his pre- 
 emption through the optics of truth and virtue, and 
 no longer proceed in what is really a rebellion againft 
 the legillature. Believe me, gentlemen, it is not 
 criminal to recede from rath vows and promifes made 
 to the disadvantage of religion and the laws. The only 
 merit which remains after fuch precipitate and per- 
 nicious refolution is, to withdraw yourielves from 
 fuch arlbciates, and compenfate by your actions what 
 you have done amifs by your refolves. It is undoubt- 
 edly indifcreet to e;:ter into fuch engagements ; but 
 it is extremely criminal to comply with them -, for 
 
 the 
 
[ 54 ] 
 the common argument which is defTeminated with 
 fuch diligence among you, that it is dishonourable 
 to retract your word, once again, is fallacious and 
 deftruclive. It may as well "be faid that it is diiho- 
 nourable to repent of paft tranfgrefTions ; whereas it 
 is the only honourable proceeding which is left. 
 
 Wherefore let me entreat you for your own fakes, 
 for the honour of the great city which mufl be dif- 
 graced in all nations, fhould an Outlaw reprefent 
 them, defert the caufe of irreligion and rebellion to 
 the laws, join heartily in the fupport of your old 
 members : thev are honeft men and good fubjeCrs, 
 and have been always Heady to your interefte; there- 
 fore do not run the rifk of being improperly repre- 
 fented by Atheifts and Outlaws, Prefbyterians and 
 Republicans, Scotchmen and Attornies. 
 
 Support your religion, and crufh the blafphemer ; 
 encourage the churchman, and fcout the preibyte- 
 rian; be zealous for your king, and kick out repub- 
 licans ; flick to the honeft Englifh, and defpife the 
 Scot ; and heartily unite to damn and down with the 
 rump. Stedfast Churchman. 
 
 During thecourfe of the election, it appeared that 
 undue methods were made ufe of to bias the electors. 
 Venality was fufpecled ; and, at the inftance of one 
 of the candidates, the oath againft bribery and cor- 
 ruption was adminiftered the latter part of the poll. 
 Court influence, likewife, had its fhare ; as will ap- 
 pear indubitable to thofe who believe the order ge- 
 nuine which is contained in the following letter. 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of London, 
 Gentlemen, 
 "^70U are now brought to a critical period in the 
 ■*• choice of reprefentatives for this great city ; 
 and, to the honour of the Livery, they have ever 
 bppofed any influence from adminiftration. Will 
 '■'<m then look tamelv on, and not fhew yourfelves 
 
 free 
 
[ 55 3 
 free and independent,when you hear, from undoubted 
 authority, that orders are ilfued from above, direct- 
 ing the Livery to vote for the four old members •, a 
 circumftance which puts this capital city upon a le- 
 vel with the loweft and moft corrupt borough. Roufe, 
 therefore, gentlemen, and make choice of that man 
 who pledges his honour, that neither place, penfion, 
 or poll, lhall ever draw him off from a ftri<5t atten- 
 tion to vour beft interefts, manufactures, and com- 
 merce. 
 
 COPY of the O R D E R. 
 
 SI R, 
 
 BY favouring the four late worthy members of the 
 city with your vote and intereft upon the prefent 
 election, you will oblige your beft friends here. 
 
 Tower, I am, Sir, 
 
 March 19. Your moft humble fervant, 
 
 J-B . 
 
 N. B. Mr. B is f to the b— of o . 
 
 Querv. Is not the above order a moft flagrant in- 
 fult on the free and independent Liverymen of Lon- 
 don, who have hitherto ftood foremoft in defence of 
 Liberty and their Country ? 
 
 Although Mr. Wilkes, by the numbers on the 
 poll, loft all hopes of fucccfs, he did not Iofe his po- 
 pularity ; that rather encreafed than diminimed. 
 The populace would not futfer him, on retiring from 
 the hall, to be carried in the ufual manner in his chair, 
 but, taking it from his chairmen, hoifted it on fome 
 of their moulders, and in that manner conveyed him 
 to his place of destination. 
 
 The next day, to avoid fo dangerous an eleva- 
 tion, Mr. Wilkes went in a chariot -, from this the 
 aflembly took the horfes, and dragged it themfelves 
 to the George and Vulture Tavern in Cornhill. This 
 method was followed the fucceeding days of the elec- 
 tion, on his leaving Guildhall. 
 
 Nor 
 
[ 56 ] 
 
 Nor were thefe tokens of approbation confined to 
 this clals of people. A fcheme was formed by ibme 
 gentlemen for paying off Mr. >Vilkes's debts-, in 
 confequence of which, this advertifement was inferted 
 in the papers. 
 '"{""HE. public may be allured that a fubfeription is 
 
 * begun at die houle of Lee and Ay ton, bankers, 
 in Lombard-ftreet, to fatisfy any lawful demands on 
 "John Wilkes, Eiq; id to render him an indepen- 
 dant member of the Houfe of Commons : it is there- 
 fore hoped the true friends of Liberty will affift in 
 fupporting this laudable undertaking. 
 
 Even this afforded fuel to his adverfaries ; one of 
 Whom let forth the enfuing query ; 
 
 A QJJ E R Y to whom it may concern. 
 
 IS it poilible that the fame Livery that elecled the 
 prefent worthy Chamberlain of London into that 
 omxe, as a reward tor his living with the utmoft 
 frugality for a courfe of years, that he might be en- 
 abled to pay debts, unavoidably contracted by mis- 
 fortunes in trade, and which he was not, by law, 
 obliged to difcharge — Can the fame Livery, I fay, 
 fo foon forget the virtuous principle upon which they 
 then acted, and chufe for their reprefentative in par- 
 liament, a man who has lived all his life with the ut- 
 mofl prodigality, and paid no body ? 
 
 This produced the following humorous remark • 
 
 Have read fomewhere of a French Roman Ca- 
 
 * tholic, who never confeffed to the prieft but once 
 a year ; and previous to the day of confefiion he al- 
 ways beat his wife, who was then fure to remind him 
 of all the fins he had committed throughout the year ; 
 whereby he was faved the trouble of endeavouring 
 to recollect them. Now, Sir, if a man in this coun- 
 try fhould want to have his tranfgreffions brought to 
 his own or the public recollection, the fhortefi way 
 
[ 57 ] 
 to attain that end would be to put up for a member 
 of parliament, when he need not doubt being re- 
 minded of all the fins he ever committed, and ibme 
 more in addition, left the weight of his own mould 
 not fufficiently link him. This is exactly the cafe 
 of poor \\ 'iikes 5 whole faults are aggravated, but his 
 virtues forgotten. Your's, &c. Imfartialis. 
 
 On Wednefday the 23d of March, the poll finally 
 clofed, when the numbers ftood thus : 
 
 W. Th. F. Sat. M. Tu. W. Total. 
 
 Rt. Hon. T. Hurley, 64 562 890 566 66j 591 39/' 
 
 Sir Robert Ladbioke, 8i 563 796 565 647 5^5 443 367S 
 
 Mr. Aid. Beckford, - 59 449 7c 3 4^2 614 $S. 462 3402 
 
 Mr. Aid. Trecothick, 60 446 628' 438 478 514 393 2957 
 
 Sir Richard Glyn, - 57 429 6m 391 534 435" 366 2823 
 
 John Paterfon, EI4. - 59 304 400 274 299 244 1^9 1769 
 
 John Wilkes, Eft]. - 29 143 253 154 257 213 19b 1247 
 
 Mr. Wilkes then addfefled the Livery in thefe words : 
 
 Gentlemen and Fellow-Citizens, 
 
 THE poll being now nnilhed, I return my fin- 
 cereft thanks co thofe difinterefted and inde- 
 pendent friends, who have as fteadtly as generoully 
 ftood forth in my favour. The want of fuccefs, out 
 of our power to command, has not in the leaft abated 
 my zeal for your lervice. You cannot be unac- 
 quainted with the various circumitances which have 
 contributed to it. My friends were of opinion that 
 I mould wait the diflblution of the laft ilavilh and 
 venal parliament, while the other candidates had 
 been for many months foliciting your intereft. Mi- 
 niiterisl influence, a'lilb.rd by private malice, has 
 been exerted in the moft arbitrary and unconiiitu- 
 tional manner, and by means of the baleft chica- 
 nery and oppreffiori. 
 
 But though difappointed, I am not in the leaft 
 difpirited : on the contrary, I refleci with pride and 
 gratitude on the many instances of regard and alloc - 
 tion I have received from the Livery of London. 
 
 I . I beg 
 
[ 58 ] 
 
 I beg leave to make my beft acknowledgments t© 
 the iheriffs, who have fhewn the utmoft candour and 
 impartiality during the election, accompanied with a 
 dignity of character becoming their ltation in this 
 great metropolis. 
 
 And now, gentlemen, permit me to addrefs you 
 as friends to Liberty, and freeholders of the county 
 of Mid Jlelex ; declaring my intention of appearing 
 as a candidate to reprelent you in parliament, and 
 Itill hoping, by your means, to have the honour of 
 being uieful to you in the Britilh fenate. 
 
 Gentlemen of the Livery, I recommend it to you 
 in the ftrongeft manner, to exert yourfelves to pre- 
 ferve the peace and quiet of this great city. 
 
 Next day Mr. Wilkes publifhed this advertifement. 
 
 To the worthy Liverymen of the City of London. 
 Gentlemen and Brother-Liverymen, 
 
 THE honour done me by the nomination of the 
 Common-hall, though ineffectual from the op- 
 preffive means made ufe of during the poll, calls for 
 my fincereft and warmeft acknowledgments. I am fen- 
 iible I had the hearts of many who could not give 
 me their hands •, but I truft from the fpirited conduct 
 of thofe Liverymen, whofe votes were engaged before 
 my intention was known, that I mall be honoured 
 on any future occaiion with both the heart and hand 
 of every friend of Liberty and our country. I am, 
 with the fincereft attachment, gentlemen, your molt 
 obliged, humble Servant, 
 Wednefday Night, March 23. JOHN WILKES. 
 
 The rage of the multitude on the rejection of this 
 popular candidate was exceffive : Several perfons, 
 irritated by being refufed admittance into Guild- 
 hall, forced an entrance, and committed fome ir- 
 regularities, but not in the outrageous manner 
 which was at fitft reprefented. The diffatisfac- 
 
 tion 
 
t 59 1 
 
 tiondid not end here : fome literary productions equally 
 evinced difcontent. Betides thole we i"hall inlert in 
 this collection, on that iubject, was a Paper figned 
 Cato, addreiTed to the Livery, with thefe words 
 at the head'; " Thoughts for Slaves, but Speech for 
 Britons." It was remarkably levere againft a cer- 
 tain magiftrate, whofe conduct, this autnb "iippofed, 
 had prejudicea Mr. Wilkes in the elcti i. On the 
 preiumption that an unconftitutional in uence had 
 been exerted, Cato faid, " If Liberty is the obieel 
 of a Freeman, whoever violates that noble existence 
 is moft undoubtedly guilty of a crime w hich Nature 
 muft blulh at, and Mercy never fhine on ! it is an 
 arrogance lit for a tyrant, ^nda cruelty cecoriing a 
 Nero!" After very ftrongly cenfuring the per- 
 fon who objected to Mr. \\ llkes's being ;Oined with 
 the others who had a majority of hands, he pro- 
 ceeded, " Future times will inftrucl: him, that mo- 
 deity is the beauty of youth, and that an old man 
 follows the paths of experience. Every true Eng- 
 lilh heart is happy in the return of the long-fuiter- 
 ing Mr. Wilkes ; and, as the voice of the people is 
 the natural impulfe of the mind, there is more 
 pleafure in the free enjoyment of thofe expreilions 
 which come from the heart, than the compelled 
 obedience, and ftruggled fmiles, to a tyrannical or- 
 der, or the wealthy intereft of a defpifed peer. ■ 
 
 Wilkes has loft his election— I congratulate him 
 upon it ; and lincerely wilh the other candidates as 
 much happinefs in their own breafts, as he enjoys 
 by his few but valuable voters." 
 
 The following pieces came out upon this event. 
 
 BRITANNIA to John Wilkes, Efq ; 
 lP^R OOP not, my lbn, thy laurels cannot fade, 
 j*- 1 * Tho' venal citizens deny the< aid. 
 On me, on me, their barb'rotis rage they turn, 
 My rights they trample, and my altars fpurn, 
 
 1 2 I toe 
 
[ 6o ] 
 
 I too muft fall ! — Too well, alas ! I fee 
 Each fhaft that wounds thy breaft is aim'd at me. 
 Droop not, my fon, nor afk a nobler fate, 
 Than bravely falling with a falling ftate. 
 Thou did'ft not fall, till worth, till honour fled ; 
 Thou did'ft not fall, till Freedom's felf was dead. 
 
 Inscription for a Pillar to be erected in Dorfetihire* 
 
 SACRED 
 
 To the eternal infamy of the City of ******, 
 
 Whofe Citizens, actuated by the meaneft principles of 
 
 Servility and dependance, 
 
 Deaf to the voice of Liberty, 
 
 Liberty acquired and defended by thedeath of fo many 
 
 Patriots and heroes, 
 
 To make room for placemen and minifterial tools, 
 
 Rejected the almoft only man, 
 
 Capable of reftoring, by his firmnefs, 
 
 Authority to the laws. 
 
 Independency to the councils, 
 
 And fecurity to the people of 
 
 Great Britain. 
 
 Exiled from his native country, 
 
 Deferted by his friends, 
 
 Perfecuted by the votaries of defpotifm, 
 
 And fuperftition, 
 
 For defending as a citizen the rights of his country. 
 
 As a man the privileges of reafon, and 
 
 The freedom offentiment. 
 
 Behold in the perfon of John Wilkes, Efq. 
 
 The fate of 
 
 Virtue. 
 
 Pveader, as a man, lament the unequal diftribution of 
 
 Temporary honours and felicity, 
 
 As an Englithman turn afide, and weep in iilence, 
 
 Thy Country's Ruin. 
 
 Of 
 
[ 6i } 
 
 Of the Election for the County of 
 MIDDLESEX. 
 
 AGREEABLE to Mr. Wilkes's declaration at the 
 latter end of his laft fpeech at Guildhall, he of- 
 fered himfelf a Candidate for the County of Middlefex; 
 and with his advertifement of thanks to the Livery of 
 London appeared this addrefs 
 
 To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County 
 of Middlefex. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 "LJAVING ever glorioufly diftinguifhed yourfelves as 
 ■ ■*■ Englifhmen, by preventing the encroachments of arbi- 
 trary power, defpifing minifterial influence, and maintaining 
 the rights and privileges of free-born fubje£ts in a land of 
 Liberty, I beg leave to offer myfelf a candidate to repre- 
 fent you in the enfuing parliament, and to give you the 
 ftrongeft aflurances that I fhall, on this and every occafion, 
 exert that inflexible fteadinefs and undaunted perfeverence, 
 in the beft of caufes, which 1 truft have hitherto recom- 
 mended my conduit, and will ever conftitute the moft ef- 
 fential part of my character. I am, gentlemen, with the 
 trueft efteem and regard, your moft devoted and moft obe- 
 dient humble fervant, 
 
 Wednefday Night, March 23. JOHN WILKES. 
 
 His advenarics immediately took the alarm ; and the 
 following piece of detraction was ufhered to the v/or'i. 
 
 To the Gentlemen of No Property and Free-Booter» of 
 the County of Middlefex. 
 
 The Addrefs of JOHN LIBERTY, Efq; 
 AS I value myfelf for being a free-born Englifhman, ah 
 "** independent fubject of the laws of Great-Britain, and 
 an inflexible enemy to ^11 minifterial mcafures, good, bad, 
 or indifferent, I moft humbly folicit vour votes and in- 
 tereft to reprefent you <?//in the enfuing parliament. 
 
 As a proof of my being properly qualified, I, as a freeborn 
 Englifhman, have reviled my king, traduced the fervants of 
 
 the 
 
[ 6 2 ] 
 
 the crown, and have attempted, in repeated publications, 
 to pervert and fubvert every falutary law of this realm. 
 
 As an independent being, I have with great pains blaf- 
 phemed my God under my own hand, and fet at nought 
 the minifters of the Gofpel in written characters. As an 
 independents fubjecl:, I have made it my bufinefs to get as 
 much money, and by as many means as poffible, from my 
 countrymen, leaving them entirely to the privilege of my 
 feat in parliament, and to the fubfeription of thofe who 
 have more money than wit, to repay themfelves as faft as 
 they can get it. 
 
 As it has been my cuftom heretofore to burn all notes and 
 other fecurities, whenever they have happened foolilhly to 
 be produced, I hereby promife and vow never more to give 
 any thing under my hand for value received, to prevent 
 the like burning practices for the future. 
 
 As a further proof of my independency, though it was a 
 trick of youth in me to marry, yet I foon repented, and 
 got rid of my wife's fortune as faft as poffible, and left her at 
 her own liberty, to get rid of herfelf whenever fhepleafed. 
 
 As an inflexible enemy to all minifterial meafures, good, 
 bad, or indifferent, I have committed high crimes and mif- 
 demeanors without end, againft the ftate, and in defiance 
 of the law ; for which, though I was found guilty, and 
 fentence announced accordingly, I thought it unbecoming 
 my independency and the Liberty of a free-born Englifh - 
 man to undergo the confinement of a gaol, and there- 
 fore as a man of honour ran away from my country as faft 
 as poffible, and run into debt in another country as much 
 as poffible, ftill trufting to my privilege in parliament 
 and your protection to repay them all. 
 
 For thefe, and many other independent meafures, I hum- 
 bly offer myfelf, by all forts of means, direitly and indi- 
 rectly (that may difturb the peace and harmony at prefent 
 •fubfifting in this county) to be yourreprefentative for blaf- 
 phemy, profligacy, and licentioufnefs, in the enfuing par- 
 liament ; and mould I be fo happy as to fucceed, 1 pro- 
 mife faithfully as a man of honour to abide by the fame in- 
 dependent principles, fo long as 1 continue the object of 
 your choice j and am, gentlemen, &cc. &c. 
 
 Yours through thick, and thin, 
 From the Mappye, near 
 
 Whjfechatel Dunghill, JOHN LIBERTY. 
 
 Friday, March 25, 1768. 
 
 Mr. 
 
[ «3 1 
 
 Mr. Wilkes's friends likewife refumed the pen ; and 
 one of them produced this exhortation. 
 
 To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County 
 
 of iviiddlefex. 
 
 The Sixteenth and Twenty-third of March: 
 
 LET thofe days be for ever blotted !rom the remem- 
 brance of the free fubjects of this kingdom ! let them 
 no more be recorded in your {calendars ! for they are the 
 days — the fatal days, which exhibit the honor, the inde- 
 pene'ency, the once fuppofed virtue and inflexibility of your 
 metropolitan citizens — felecled citizens, — funk in' 3 the 
 vileit proftitution and meaneft diffimulation : or, if thefe 
 days muft be recorded, let it be forgotten that on the hrft 
 of them, your citizens, with one voice, made a public de- 
 claration in favor of Liberty and of their opprefled fcliow- 
 fubjecls, fufFcring in that glorious caufe; and on the lall 
 cfthem — [fix days only intervening] — not one fifth of 
 thefe citizens d?rcd to abide by their former declaration. — 
 It were in vain to fay, that corruption and abject depen- 
 dance, couU fo far prevail in a city, as to infect even the 
 
 — , a man of opulent fortune, and noble birth ; 
 
 that our pofterity will not believe, nor will neighbouring 
 nations now credit, — therefore no more of it. 
 
 But many of my fellow citizens know the truth of the 
 former aiTertions, — you have been witnefles of it— -many 
 of you, though not of the feleited number of the citizens, 
 have been lamenting witnefles of it, — and happy is it for 
 you, that you were not of that number ; — to be fo (at 
 prefent) is only to be more confpicuoufly inf s. 
 
 Be it yours, my fellow-fubjecb of the county of Middle- 
 
 fcx, to retrieve the honour of the city of L : if that be 
 
 irretrievable, at leaft heal the wound it has given to your 
 country by that proceeding — reftore to his former privi- 
 lege?, a Briton, who has fufrered the cruellefr. perfecution 
 that malice or an abandoned miniftry could fugaeff. ; who 
 has wandered a wretched exile driven from his country, 
 the love of which was his darling palTion, — and all be- 
 caofe he dared, in the worft of times, to vindicate the rights 
 of his fellow-fubjedrs; afl'ert their privileges, and in his 
 ownperfen to fufler the accumulated weight of opprefTion, 
 inter-led for his countrymen in general. — Rouze then 
 one and all ! let the glorious fpirit of Liberty difFufe itfelf 
 through your hamlets, — a fpirit inherent in Britons, and 
 never overcome but by that pernicious poifon--corrupt:on-- 
 
 fhew 
 
[ 64 ] 
 fhew your gratitude to him who has preferred the liberty 
 of his country to his own ; fo {hall you receive the ever- 
 lafting thanks of your countrymen,— and in the end, when 
 
 faction and jefentment (hall fubfide, of your S n 
 
 himfelf. Yours, 
 
 A Freeholder of Middlefex. 
 
 Among other writers who endeavoured to injure Mr. 
 Wilkes in this fecond attempt (many of which we have not 
 noticed, fome being immaterial, fome ftupidly malevolent, 
 and others relating to matters diftinct from our purpofe), 
 one renewed the fubjecl: of his incapacity, being an Out- 
 law, to fet in theHoufe of Commons. 
 
 This gentleman took up the cafe of Sir Francis Good- 
 win, as we have already related it ; and from which re- 
 prefer! tation, he cbferved, " we are left to conclude, thac 
 though Mr. Wilkes is at prtfent under the difubiiity of an 
 Outlawry, with regard to many rights and privileges of an 
 Englishman, he may nevertheless be elected with the great- 
 eft propriety, juftice, and legality, a reprefentative of any 
 county, city, or borough, in parliament."' 
 
 He likewife took notice, that it was afierted, " there 
 are many fimilar cafes of this fort in the Journals of the 
 Houfe or' Commons ;" after which he proceeded thus : 
 
 1 have not taken the trouble, nor fhall I for the 
 
 prefent, of infpe&ing the Journals of theHoufe of Com- 
 mons, but I have confulted a little old book, allowed to be 
 of no inconfiderable authority, entitled Lex Parliamentarian 
 wherein this fubjecl: is treated, precedents accurately quo* 
 ted from the Journals, and the cafe of Sir Francis Goodwin 
 very -minutely canvaffed. 
 
 it appears from hence " that a perfon outlaw'd in a 
 ferfor.al Action only may be a Burgefs •" and it is likewife 
 there faid " that the lower houfe of parliament agreed, 
 that in regard one was arrefled before he was chofen Bur- 
 gels, that he ought not to have the privilege of the 
 houfe." See Page 117 and 264, and Fitzherbert's Cafe. 
 Moor. fo. 34.0. 
 
 All the precedents cited in this book, of members who 
 were admitted into the houfe, notwithstanding the Out- 
 lawries againft them, are in perfonal Anions^ and the fa- 
 mous cafe of Sir Francis Goodwin ftands thus : 
 
 " He was outlaw'd in debt for 60I. 31ft of Queen Eliz. 
 at the fuit of one Johnfon ; which debt was paid ; and alfo 
 39th Eliz. at the fuit of one Hacker for 16I. which debt 
 
 was 
 
[ H ] 
 
 was alfo paid; and notwithftandin^, the king (James I.)- 
 by the advice of hi council at law, and by advice of his 
 judges took i ognizance of thefe Outlawries, and directed 
 another writ to the flieriff to eleiSl another knight for the 
 county of Bucks. 
 
 Upon a double return, it came to be debited bv the 
 houfe, who refufed a conference with the lords, touching 
 matters concerning tlieif iwn privileges, and it was re- 
 folved, Firft, that an Outlawry in a per final option was no 
 caufc to difable anv perfon from being a member of parlia- 
 ment, as it was fai i that this was ruled in parliament in 
 the cafe of Fitzherbert. 
 
 Another precedent was 30, H. VI. 
 
 Secondly^ the pardons of 39c'! and 43d Eliz. had par- 
 doned cheie Outlawries ; and thereiore, as they fa.d, he 
 was a man able againft all the world, but againft the party 
 creditor, and agamft him he was not ; but in this cafe the 
 parties were pa . 
 
 Thirdly, it was Paid, that Sir Francis Goodwin was not 
 cutlazv'd, becaufe no procl:r:->ation was iiTaed torth to the 
 county cf Bucks, where he was commoranf a; ' reliant ; 
 and therefore the Outlawry being or. the huftin<- iu Lon- 
 don, and Sir Francis being commorant in Bucks, the Out- 
 lawry was void by ftat. 31ft Eliz. 
 
 Fourthly, it was faid the Outlawries were 
 
 1. Againft Francis Goodwin, Efq; 
 
 2. Againft Francis Goodwin, Gent. 
 
 3. The return wa of Francis Goodwin, Knt. et quo* 
 tnodo coti/lai that thefe Outlawries were againft Sir Francis 
 Goodwin. 
 
 For thefe reafons therefore they refolved, that the Out- 
 lawries were not any matter againft Sir Fraticis Goodwin 
 to difenable him to be a Knight for the county of Bucks. 
 
 This, without going farther into this long cafe, is 
 enough for my purpofe. And now, I beg to know, how 
 is this cafe of Sir Francis Goodwin in any manner or 
 fliape fimilar to that of Mr. Wilkes ? Mr. Wilkes was 
 outlawed upon an indictment for a iibel, which is equal to 
 a breach of the peace, and this very little book I have 
 mentioned tells us, p. 259, " that no privilege v. allowa- 
 ble in cafe of the peace ■" there were no flaws in this 
 Outlawry of Mr. Wilkes, as there were in that of Sir 
 Francis Goodwin ; nor i there any pardon to n rder him 
 an able man againft all the w rid, as there was ii. the cafe 
 of Sir Francis. Behde:?, in the conclufion of this it is 
 
 K farther 
 
[ 66 ] 
 
 farther fnid, " that Sir Francis was not outlawed at the 
 day of his election ; for he was not quinto cxaclus, the five 
 proclamations never having been made ; that the exigent 
 was never returned ; nor anv writ of Certiorari directed to 
 the coroners to certify it." In fhort, to put an end to this 
 difpute fo as to oblige the fretful king, the houfe ac- 
 quainted him, " that they had prepared a law, that no 
 outlawed perfon for the time to come fhould be of the 
 parliament, nor any perfon in execution fhould have pri- 
 vilege of parliament ;" which law or refoiution it is not 
 ijnpoflfble may be found even now upon the Journals, to 
 which I will refer thole who chafe farther to confider this 
 matter. 
 
 . P. S. By the 33 Geo. 2 Chap. 20. Every perfon (ex- 
 cept as is herein after excepted) who (hall be elected a 
 member of the Houfe of Commons, mail, before he pre - 
 lumes to vote in the houfe of Commons, or fit there during 
 any debate, after their fpeaker is chofen, deliver in to the 
 clerk of the (aid Houte, and whilft the Houfe is there duly 
 fitting, &c. an account figned by fuch member, contain- 
 ing the names of the parifhes, townfhips, or precincts, and 
 of the counties in which lands or hereditaments lie, where- 
 bv he makes out his qualification, declaring the fame to be 
 of the annual value of 600 1. above reprizes, if a knight 
 of the (hire ; and of the annual value of 300 1. above re- 
 prizes, if a citizen, burgefs, or baron of the Cinque Ports ; 
 and mall, at the fame time, take and fubferibe the fol- 
 lowing oath, viz. 
 
 /, A. B. do fwear, that J truly and bona fide have fuch an 
 ejlate in law or equity , and nffuch value, to and for my own 
 ufe and benefit, of or in lands, tenements, or hereditaments, 
 over and above what will fa ti sty and clear all incumbrances that 
 may affeel the fame, as doth qualify me to be elecled and return- 
 ed to ferve as a member for the place I am returned for, accord- 
 ing to the tenor and true meaning of the aSJs of parliament in 
 that behalf \ and that fuch lands, tenements, or hereditaments, 
 dp lie as dejeribed in the paper or account figned by me, and de- 
 livered to the clerk of the Houfe of Commons. So help me, 
 God ! 
 
 That a man, who could coolly fit down and for his 
 amufement compofe a moil infamous piece of blafphemy, 
 lhould not hefitate nor ihuddcr to take the oath above- 
 mentioned, when he is confeious to himfelf he has not a 
 foot of land in this kingdom, to qualify him for either 
 countv, city, or borough, is not the leaft furprizing. But 
 it is itft&nifhing that any number of people fhould be found, 
 
[ 6y | 
 
 *,o abandonedly wicked, fo profligate, fo regardlcfs of fu- 
 turity, and rebellious againit God, as to countenance, en- 
 courage, or vote for, a man, to perjure himfelf publicly* 
 and, with the ftandard of Liberty in his hand, to evade* 
 tranfgrefs, and violate the laws of his country. 
 
 Nor is it lefs furprizing, that any nation, which is not 
 downright favage and uncivilized, fhould favour and fufrer 
 a man, an outlaw, to come, in (bite of all condemnation 
 againft him, from another country, to difturb the peace 
 and tranquility of th;:-. at a time when it is but too much 
 in confufion, riot, and rebellion already : and to attempt 
 tooppofe Sir William Beauchamp Proctor and Mr. Cooke, 
 men who have always been highly confidered in thecountv 
 of Middlefex, have rcprefented it many years, and had not 
 the leaft doubt this time of bring unanimouflv elected 
 without any ferment or diftu 1 bnnce, is fuch arrogance, pre- 
 emption, and breach of public peace, as furely deferves 
 the fevered punifhment. A rare Champion for Liberty 
 this! 
 
 There is femcthing fo very whimfical in the following 
 predict >n, that it feems neccflary to infert it in this col- 
 lection, efpecially as it was verified in the event. 
 
 '~pHE wind now fits fair for the fhip called Wilkes 
 -*• and Liberty, No. 45. It being well known that 
 I predated the time of the Queen's arrival ; that the dzy 
 his majefty was crowned would be fair, though it rained 
 exceflively for many days before, and immediately after; 
 as well that the day of the laii very great eclipfc of the 
 fun would not be fo dark as all the attronomers imagined. 
 I alio fent Sir Thomas Harrifon, the late chamberlain oi~ 
 London, a letter, that he would gain his election, fome 
 days before it came on ; for which I received his letter of 
 thanks ; the knowledge of which I obtained from my oh- 
 fervations on fome remarkable pofitions of the planet* and 
 their influences. I do now, from the fame principles, 
 deelare, that from certain changes in the Heavens at this 
 time, I am certain there io not the lcaif. danger but John 
 Wilkes, Efq; will be elected a member for The county of 
 Middlefex, on Mondav next, at Brentford. 
 
 J. H ARM AN, Watchmaker. 
 
 High-Street, St. Giles?, March 25. 
 
 N- B. Many other predictions I could mention, if it 
 were required, that have been fully verified ; but none I 
 was ever more confident of, than of the iuccefs of this. 
 K 2 Mr, 
 
f « ] 
 
 Mr. Wilkes's intention to ftand for the county tff 
 J&iddlefex, alarming the other candidates the two old 
 members, thcv adv~rtifed feveral places of m< 'tin;; for 
 their friends, at moil of which Juftices of the peace were 
 to attend to receive them. A friend of Mr. Vv -ikes wrote 
 the entiling letter on this occurrence. 
 
 To the Freeholders of Middlesex. 
 
 ^T^HE names of feveral gentlemen in the commiflion of 
 -*- the peace for Middlesex, &c. have appeared at large 
 in the publick papers, inviting the friends of Sir Wil- 
 liam Beauchamp Prodtor and George Cooke, Efq; to 
 meet th^rn thio evening, and to breakfaft with them at 
 different places on Monday morning next, in order after- 
 wards to go to Brentfoid. 
 
 It is to the great honour of the reft of the gentlemen in 
 the coriiiTiifnon of the peace for Middlefex, &c. that they 
 have not joined thofe bellweathcrs, and enemies to pub- 
 lick Liberty. The magiftrates have great influence, nay 
 command over a great many of the middling clafs of peo- 
 ple, in their neighbourhood, and efpecially the victuallers. 
 There have been precedents enough heretofore, thatfome 
 in the commiflion have been fo daring, as to threaten to 
 take away victuallers licences for refilling to give their 
 voices in their intcreft, although fuch publicans have kept 
 the moft regular houies. 
 
 Ought the magiftrates then, who bear the king's com- 
 rniflion, and have the influence aforefaid, over their neigh- 
 bours, &c. to advertife and publickly intcreft themfelves 
 in the manner that they done, on behalf of their favourite 
 candidates : no, I look upon fuch behaviour to be a moft 
 daring infult, not only upon the freeholders of th( c< iinty 
 of Middlefex, but upon the liberties of the king's fubjecls 
 in general ; and alfo a low and mean artifice jto draw away 
 the friends of the other candidate, Mr. Wilkes. And for 
 which bale and fcandalous behaviour, the names of thofe 
 notable men, will not be foon forgotten by the friends of 
 Liberty. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes from his fouldefpifes (and I am fure would 
 not fuffer) fuch mean artifices on his fide, to prejudice his 
 opponents : No, he acts upon more open, free and ge- 
 nerous principles ; for he, in his own name only, defires 
 .the votes oi the free and independent freeholders ; with- 
 out calling to his aid the power of the magiftrates, or mi- 
 nifterial influence; and therefore let fuch independent free- 
 holders 
 
e 
 
 [ 6 9 ■] 
 
 holders of the county of Middlefex, fhew their refentmeht 
 on the prefent occahon ; and defpife the wretches that 
 (hall attempt to bias or perfuade them to vote contrary to 
 their inclination and confeience. 
 
 I am your humble fervant, 
 
 An Independent Freeh ' .1 
 
 To affift his caufe, the following hand-bill was difp rfed 
 over the Tunty. 
 
 To the wi ;thy Freeholders and Independent G-ntlcmcn 
 Tiers of the county of Middlefex. 
 
 Gent-.emen, 
 
 ■"ONSrDER in what manner your independence in his 
 atcou Uy n<.th been o\ cloaked thefc twice feven 
 years pail. Hach any one of your late members \ouch(aie'd 
 even to befpeak your fupport at any other moment than at 
 the eve of.a new election : Your importance, great as ] hi 
 may prove it to be or. Monday next at Brentford, Ji irh 
 met with a fhamcful neglect, if not contempt, from thofe 
 you have twice fcrved already, if then there are any re- 
 mains of the fpirit of Liberty, and the old Englifh consti- 
 tution Hill exifting, for the caufe of Freedom, I con- 
 jure you gencroufly to .dTert your almoft forgotten rights, 
 and let us, one and all, give votes for Mr. Wilk.cs, as the 
 moit manly and intrepid defender of the eeneral rights and 
 privileges of Englishmen in our times. You have it now, 
 gentlemen, in your power to vindicate yourfelves, and to 
 reward his paft fuffeaings and fpirited conduit : I truft 
 therefore no independent freeholder, who is acquainted 
 with what we all owe this gentleman, will neglect the 
 prefent opportunity to teilify, by his vote for Mr. Wilkes, 
 how much the undaunted love of Liberty, and a regard to 
 prcferve the purity of our laws in favour of Freedom, are 
 rivetted in our breafts. I am, with the utmoft good-will, 
 Gentlemen, Your moil faithful, 
 
 and moll: obedient, humble fervant, 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 On Monday the 28th of March, 1768, the election 
 commenced at Brentford j Mr. Wilkes, as well as the 
 fheriiTr, appeared at the appointed place, which was a 
 booth erected for the purpofe, long before Sir W. B. 
 Proctor; Mr. Cooke did not come to it at all. The free- 
 ho! !crs were vc; . el.'norous to have the poll begun ; and 
 probably would have pi 00 r Jed to cxceiies, had not Mr. 
 Wilkes, by hit prudent behaviour and earner! exhortations, 
 
 inducea 
 
[ 7° 1 
 
 induced them to be patient. Sir William, however, ar- 
 rived at length, and the election began. The majority of 
 hands were for Sir William and Mr. Wilkes; whereupon 
 a poll was demanded for Mr. Cooke. The books were 
 opened at half paft One, from which time- they were fully 
 employed till near Five o'clock, when the freeholders flack- 
 ened ; and, at half after Five, no freeholder offering to 
 poll, it was propofed by the {hcriffs to clofe the book,? at 
 Six o'clock, and open them next day at Nine, finally to 
 clofe at Two. At the fame time, the flieriffs fent to Mr. 
 Cooke, who was at a houfe contiguous, for his own con- 
 currence. No anfwer was received till paft Seven o'clock, 
 •when the lierifFs were informed Mr. Cooke was gone for 
 London : the fherifFs then went round to every book, and 
 finding no perfon polling, made a proclamation at each 
 corner of the booth, for freeholders to come and poll, or 
 that the books would be finally clofed. After waiting 
 fome time, and having made three feveral proclamations, 
 "without any freeholders appearing to poll, the books were 
 fealed up, when the fherirfs adjourned to Tuefday morn- 
 ing, at Nine o'clock, to caft up the books, and make their 
 return ; when the numbers were, for 
 
 Mr. Wilkes 1292 
 
 Mr. Cocke 827 
 
 Sir William Beauchamp Proctor 807 
 
 In confequence of this return, Mr. Wilkes and Mr. 
 
 Cooke were declared dulv elected. 
 
 Although the concourfe of people at this election was 
 very great, the whole was conducted with fuch regularity 
 and decorum as is very rare at Brentford, when there is 
 any contcft. But on the return of the populace to Lon- 
 don, they committed many irrational violences, notwith- 
 ing Mr. Wilkes's committee took all poflible means to pre- 
 ferve gcod o:der, and diftributed 40,000 bills defiring the 
 world ir ; ight be convinced, that " Liberty ivas not joined with 
 liceficicujuef's." They obliged the inhabitants in many frrects 
 to illuminate their houfes, or, upon neglect;, broke their 
 windows. This riotous proceeding was repeated the 
 fucceeding night ; when the illuminations were more ge- 
 neral, but the rnifchief lefs. 
 
 As Mr. Wilkes's nddrefs to the freeholders of Middle- 
 fex, on his being elected their reprefentative, exhibits a 
 linking fpecimen of that gentleman's literary abilities, 
 we (hall here infert it, and with it conclude our col- 
 lection. 
 
 To 
 
t 7', ] 
 
 To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County 
 of Middlefex. 
 Gentlemen, 
 TV /TOST gratefully fenfible of thofe generous and pa- 
 ■ LVA triotick principles which have induced you to ele£t 
 me your reprefentative in parliament, I intreat you to 
 accept of my bed endeavours to exprefs the joy which 
 infpires me on fo interefting, fo affecting an occafion. 
 The pcrfonal regard vou have fh wn rre, indeed, confer* 
 on mean obi iga 1 ion, the due fenfe of which I too cordially 
 feel to find words to defcribe. I cannot, however, forbear 
 congratulating you, as the moft dilringuifhed of En^lifh- 
 men, on the honourable proof you have given, that the 
 genuine fpi; it of independency, the true love of our coun- 
 try, for which the county of Middlefex has for ages been fo 
 eminently confpicuous, {fill glow in your breads with un- 
 remitting ardour, frill mine forth with undiminifhed iufrre. 
 Let the fons of venality bow the knee to the idol of fordid 
 intereft; let them call their pufilla:umity/>r«^»tv, while 
 they ignominioufly kifs the rod of power, and tamelv (loop 
 to the yoke which artful miniiters infidioufly prepare, and 
 arbitrarily impofe. You, gentlemen, have fhewn that 
 you are neither to be deceived or enflaved : in proving 
 yourfelvcs enemies to minifterial perfecution, the eyes of 
 the whole icingdorh, of the whole world, are upon you, as 
 the firft and flrmeft defenders of public Liberty. Happy 
 fhall I think myfelf, if, fired by your example, the efforts 
 of my warmeft zeal may be deemed an adequate return for 
 the favour you havebeftowed on me; nut however inefficient 
 my abilities, my will to ferve you is unbounded, as it is. un- 
 alterable. Engaged as I have Ions been in the glorious caufe 
 of Freedom, i beg you to conhder my part conduct as an 
 earned of tne future, and to look on me as a man, whofe 
 primary views will c^er repaid the rights and privileges of 
 his fellow-countrymen in general ; and whofe fecondary 
 Views fhall be attentively fixed on the dignity, advantage, 
 and profperity of the county of Middlefex. Let me there- 
 fore defire of vou, gentiemen, to favour me from time to 
 time, with fucli inltruclions as may bslc enable me to ac- 
 complish thofe ends, Tefting allured of always finding me 
 devoted to your fervice, and that the happieft moments of 
 my life will be thofe in which I am employed in maintain- 
 ing the civil and religious rights of Engliihmen,andin pro- 
 moting the interefts of my conditucnts. I am, with the 
 trus.lt refpect, Gentlemen, 
 
 Your obliged and faithful humble fervant, 
 Tuefday, March 29. JOHN WILKES-! 
 
[ r- ] 
 
 ADDENDA. 
 
 IN the foregoing collection we have confined ourfelves to 
 thofe pieces which related immediately to Mr. Wilkes ; 
 We fhali here prefent our readers with Come pieces which 
 Were publifhed relative to all the candidates for reprefenting 
 the city of Lond on. 
 
 CITY RACES. 
 A Lift of the Horses that are to ftart on Wednefday 
 
 March 16, placed in the order in which it is expected 
 
 they will come in. 
 I. 'ITHE famous horfe Liberty, formerly belonging to Mr. 
 **- Pitt, and fmce fold by Lord Chatham j he was got 
 by Magna Charta, his dam by Freedom: this horfe is too 
 well known on the turf to need much defcription ; there 
 has been a great deal of Jockeyfhip made ufe of to prevent 
 his ftarting, as the knowing ones are too well acquainted 
 with his mettle to wifn to have him brought again on the 
 courfe ; however, he is now entered, and very large betts 
 are depending; the odds on him are four to one againft the 
 field. 
 
 2. John Bull's horfe Heart-of-Oak, got by Juniper, 
 out ot Tipfey's dam : This is a very fine horfe, and well 
 known or. the turf ; he has won one or two plates, but is 
 very fhy of a poft; and notwithstanding the Jockeys have 
 done all they could to break him of this trick, they have 
 not been able to fucceed ; odds three to one that he wins. 
 
 3. Lord Rockingham's wall-eyed horfe Mercator : this 
 horfe, though aged, is a maiden one, having never ftarted 
 for a plate ; he bears training exceeding well, and come3 
 through his exercife much to the fatisfaction of thofe who 
 have feen him ; he was got by the famous horfe Commerce, 
 well known for having won a great many plates, but by 
 unfkilful Jockeys is now fcarce able to {land on his legs : 
 this horfe is in high favour with the gentlemen of the turf : 
 edds on him two to one againft Prerogative, three to one 
 againft Shaver, five to one againft Pickle, arid two to one 
 that he wins. 
 
 4. Mr. Grenville's young horfe Stamp, his pedigree not 
 known in the city : this horfe came in fecond laft year, but 
 haft fmce run againft a poft, and it is believed is fo much off 
 hisipeedbythis accident, that if he faves hisdiftanceit will 
 be as much as he is able to do ; odds five to- four againft 
 Prerogative. 5. Lord 
 
[ 73 J 
 
 5. Lord Chatham's brown horfe Prerogative, got 
 by a grandfon of Old Noll's Trumpeter, his dam by- 
 Changeling : he was bred in Jamaica, where he was 
 vied as a ftallion to the African fillies, on whom his 
 Get is very numerous : Upon his arrival here he was 
 taken into training, has won a Plate or two, but not 
 without much jockeyihip ; he is naturally very vicious, 
 and much addi&ed to the Reft ; but his lordfhip's rough 
 riders, by exercife and fweating, have brought him to 
 be gentle and traceable ; he has lately been ufed as a 
 Trial Horfe ; and fo hard worked that he is much hurt 
 in his wind : It is imagined he will be beat eafy ; after 
 which he will be of no ufe but as a teazer : Odds five 
 to four him againft Shaver, and three to two againft 
 Pickle. 
 
 6. Lord Holland's black horfe Shaver, got by Craft 
 out of Mr. AylifFe's Ghoft. This horfe won a Plate at 
 Ludgarfhall ; but his lordfhip having found ways and 
 means to purchafe him, and his grooms having ufed him 
 as a hack, it is believed he is foundered : The odds 
 are five to one that he will be diftanced. 
 
 7. Lord Bute's grey horfe Pickle, got by Girkin, his 
 dam by Mufhroom. This horfe won with great diffi- 
 culty one of the laft Plates, and has fince been ftraying 
 about in the K — 's forefts, and nobody thought him 
 worth catching ; at laft one of his lordfhip's grooms 
 picked him up, and he has been rid by the fervants ever 
 fince ; makes an excellent portmanteau horfe, and is fo 
 gentle that a child may ride him, even in the moft dirty 
 road : he is ftill in fome favour among the ftable boys, 
 between whom feveral betts of ftrong beer are depending ; 
 but the gentlemen of the turf offer fix to one againft 
 his winning, but nobody thinks proper to take it. 
 
 SHIP NEWS Extraordinary. 
 
 Limehoufe-hole, March 12, 1768. Run afhore and 
 bulged here, the Paterfon, Johnny Boot, mafter, a lug- 
 fail veflel chiefly laden with ftones and labourers from 
 Scotland, for new paving the ftreets of London, after 
 the Oxford manner ; moft perfons think this a loft vefTel, 
 as her feams begin already to appear, and her bottom has 
 been long known to be unfound. Others are of opi- 
 nion. 
 
E 74 ] 
 
 riibn, that by lightening her only of a little Scotch Coai^ 
 Which makes part of her cargo, and calling in the af- 
 fiftance of a pilot from Holland, ways and means may 
 yet be found to tow her to her ufual Place of mooring 
 at Weftminftcr. 
 
 Gravefend, March 20. Put in here to refit, having 
 loft her rudder in a late fquall of wind, the Trecothick 
 of and for Bofton, but laft for No Land Dock, near 
 Stepney ; a crazy ftiip, fuppofed to be bound on a def- 
 perate voyage. Her crew confifts almoft ihtirely of ar- 
 tificers and manufacturers for New England, moft of 
 them unfkilled in the nature of failing, which was the 
 reafon that this (hip miffed heir flays about feven years 
 ago, fince which file has always gone very heavily. At 
 prefent the infurers are under great concern, large fum£ 
 having been done On this veflel, which it is feared rauft 
 now be totally condemned, and of courfe put many un- 
 derwriters and their employers to their laft fhift. 
 
 Hope, March 20. Came down and failed with a lead- 
 ing wind, the Lively, Capt. Harley ; the True Briton, 
 Capt. Glyn ; the Jamaica Planter, Beckford ; and thtf 
 Englifhman, Ladbroke ; all tight veffels, well manned, 
 rigged and victualled, and which, upon former occafions, 
 have out-failed every fhip belonging to the port of Lon- 
 don. 
 
 P. S. The Wilkes Firefhip was in full fail after them, 
 but in her paffage was run foul of by the Needham, an 
 old fquare-fterned privateer, and fo much damaged In 
 her rigging, that it is judged impoflible ihe ihould pro- 
 ceed on her voyage. 
 
 FINIS. 
 

 
 
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