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 LETTERS 
 
 TO AND FROM 
 
 MR. W I L K E S,
 
 LETTERS 
 
 B B T W X M 
 
 The DUKE of GRAFTON, the EARLS of 
 HALIFAX, EG RE MONT, CHATHAM, 
 TEMPLE, and TALBOT, Baron BOT- 
 TETOURT, Right Hon. HENRY BILSON 
 LEGGE, Right Hon. Sir JOHN CUST, 
 Bart. Mr. CHARLES CHURCHILL, Mon- 
 fieur VOLTAIRE, the Abbe WINCKEL- 
 
 MAN, &C. &C. 
 
 AND 
 
 ' JOHN W I L K E S, E S Q^ 
 
 With EXPLANATORY NOTES* 
 
 Fides, Libertas, Amicltia, przcipua human! animi bona funt. 
 
 TACITUS. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 M DCC LXIX.
 
 Stack 
 FROM THE ^ 
 
 PUBLIC ADVERTISER. 
 
 Monday, May 16, 1763. 
 
 The following Letters, &:c. we can a flu re the 
 public are genuine. The originals of the 
 greater part are in the pofleflion of the earls 
 of EcREMONTand HALIFAX*. They are 
 prefented to the public, becaufe they bear 
 an immediate relation to the NORTH 
 BRITON. 
 
 LETTERS, cc. 
 
 R. Seeker prefents his compli- 
 ments to Mr. Wilkes, he has 
 been three times at his houfe to wait 
 on him from lord Talbot. Mr. Seeker 
 would be obliged to Mr. Wilkes to let 
 him know by a note directed to him an 
 
 "Thefe two lords were then Secretaries of State, 
 and, bcfides many other illegal adl?, gave ord:rx 
 for the feizure of all Mr. Wilkes's papers, on a 
 /ufpicion, not confirmed by oath, of his having 
 written a pretended libel. 
 
 Mr.
 
 Mr. Hertford's, St. James's Palace, where 
 and what time Mr. Seeker could fpeak 
 to him this afternoon. If he does not 
 hear from Mr. Wilkes, will wait on 
 him by nine o'clock to-morrow morn- 
 ing at his houfe. 
 
 Sept. 10. 
 
 half an hour paft two o'clock. 
 
 Direfted to John Wilkes, efq; 
 
 T\/fR. Wilkes's compliments to Mr. 
 -**- Seeker, was not acquainted till 
 this minute by his note that Mr. Seeker 
 had once called in Great George-Street, 
 {hall be at home from feven till eight 
 this evening, and as Mr. Wilkes fhall 
 be alone, he fuppofes at this meeting 
 Mr. Seeker will bring no company. 
 
 Great George-Street. 
 Friday afternoon, five, Sept. 10. 
 
 Direfted to Mr. Seeker, at Mr. Holford's, 
 St. James's Palace.
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 T\ /TR. Seeker's compliments to Mr. 
 1VJ. Yvllkes, he will wait on him 
 alone this evening between feven and 
 eight. 
 
 St. James's. 
 Direded to John Wilkes, efq. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 S I have received no anfwer to 
 a letter I wrote to you on the 25th 
 of Auguft, and find by fending to your 
 houfe in town, that I can have no imme- 
 diate opportunity of feeing you, I am 
 forced again by letter to afk if you avow 
 or difclaim being author of the paper 
 entitled the North Briton, of the 21 ft 
 
 of Auguft. 
 
 TALBOT. 
 
 Eolton Street. 
 Sept. 10, 1762. 
 
 Directed to Col, Wilkes.
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 Great George- Street, Friday, Sept. 10. 
 My LORD, 
 
 T Beg your lordfhlp to do me the juf- 
 A tice to believe that I have never yet 
 received the letter to me at Winchefter, 
 which Mr. Seeker tells me was fent there 
 a fortnight ago. I have juft now the 
 honour of your lordfhip's by that gen- 
 tleman, Your lordfhip afks, if I avow 
 or dilclaim being author of the paper 
 entitled the North Briton of the 2 ift of 
 Auguft. My anfwer is, that I muft 
 firft infift on knowing your lordfhip's 
 right to catechife me about an anony- 
 mous .paper. If your lordmip is not 
 fatisfied with this, I mall ever be ready 
 to give your lordfhip any other fatisfac- 
 tion becoming me as a gentleman. 
 
 I am, my lord, 
 Your lordfhip's moll obedient, 
 humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Directed to Earl Talbot.
 
 C 9 J 
 
 Winchefter, Sept. 14, 1762. 
 MY LORD, 
 
 T Left Winchefter, with lord * Effing- 
 * ham's leave, on the fecond of Auguft, 
 and did not return to this city till the 
 1 2th of this month. My drum-major 
 brought me your lordfhip's letter yef- 
 terday. I now return it with the feal 
 imbroke, as the cleared demonstration 
 that I never have read the contents of 
 it. I fuppoie they are the fame with the 
 letter I had the honour of receiving and 
 anfwering by Mr. Seeker. 
 I am, my lord, 
 
 Your lordiriip's moft obedient, 
 humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Directed to Earl Talbot. 
 
 * Commander in chief of the troops in and 
 near Winchefter.
 
 SIR, 
 
 T Suppofe you have by this time found 
 * the letter 'I wrote directed to you at 
 Winchefter, and that hath acquainted 
 you why I addrefled myfelf to Mr. 
 Wilkes, to enquire if the North Briton 
 of the 2ith of Auguft was written by 
 him. I well know every gentleman who 
 contributes to fupport periodical papers 
 by his pen, is not anfwerable for all the 
 papers that appear under the title of 
 that which he affifts, but I cannot con- 
 ceive that any man mould refufe to 
 allure aperfon who hath been the object 
 of the writ of any paper, that he was 
 not the author of a paper he did not 
 write. Every man's fenfe of honour 
 ought to direct his conduct -, if you pre- 
 fer a perfonal engagement to the deny- 
 ing being the author of a paper that 
 hath been fo free with my name, I, 
 
 who
 
 who am publickly affronted by that 
 paper, cannot in honour avoid requiring 
 the fatisfaction you feem moil defirous 
 to give. Be pleafed to write or fend to 
 me as foon as you have determined 
 what part you will act. I mail be in 
 London Thurfday and Friday next, and 
 this day fe'ennight, after which I mall 
 not be in London till Thurfday the 23d. 
 
 I am, Sir, your humble Servant, 
 
 TALBOT. 
 
 Bolton-Street, 
 Sept. 12. 1762. 
 
 Direfled to Col. Wilkes.
 
 Winchefler, Sept. 16, 1762. 
 
 MY LOR r>, 
 
 T Had not till yefterday the honour of 
 * your lordmip's letter of the i2th, 
 and embrace this earlieft opportunity of 
 acknowledging it. Your lordfhip has 
 not yet, in my poor idea, afcertained 
 the right .you claim of interrogating me 
 about the paper of the 21 ft of Auguft, 
 and I will firft know the very good au- 
 thority on which I am thus quellioned, 
 before I will return any anfwer whatever. 
 
 Your lordfhip defires me to write or 
 fend to you as' foon as I have determined 
 what part I fhall act. I intended my firft 
 letter fhould have made that fufficiently 
 clear. 
 
 I am, my lord, 
 
 Your lordfhip's very humble fervant, 
 JOHN.WILKES. 
 
 Dirked to Earl Talbot.
 
 C 
 
 Si R, 
 
 T Have this inftant received your's of 
 * the 1 6th. It is your own declara- 
 tion before men of truth and honor, 
 that you occasionally afiifted the paper 
 called the North Briton with your pen, 
 that is the foundation of my interrogat- 
 ing you about the North Briton of the 
 2ift of Auguft and whatever may be 
 your idea, mine is that when a gentle- 
 man owns himfelf an occafional author 
 of an anonymous fatirical paper, any 
 perfon by name ridiculed in fuch an 
 hebdomadal performance hath a right to 
 afk the occafional avowed writer, if he 
 was the author of the offending paper. 
 
 You may now, Sir, anfwer my quef- 
 tion or not, I have offered to put my- 
 felf upon that footing with you that be- 
 came a man .who hath fpirit, and is in- 
 
 fluenced
 
 [ '4 ] 
 
 fiuenced by honor if you do not deny 
 the paper, I muft and will conclude you 
 wrote it. 
 
 Your humble fervant, 
 
 TALBOT. 
 
 Bolton-ftreet, 
 Sept. 17, .1762. 
 
 to Col. Wilkes.
 
 [ 15 1 
 
 Winchelter, Sept. 21, 1762. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 C UN DAY's poft brought me your 
 lordfhip's of the i;th, and by the 
 return of it this waits on your lordfhip. 
 
 You are pleafed to fay that it is my 
 own declaration before men of truth 
 and honour, that I occafionally aflifted 
 the paper called the North Briton. I 
 wifh your lordflhip had been more ex- 
 plicit, and had mentioned the name of 
 any one gentleman before whom I made 
 that declaration. Was ;it made in pub- 
 lic ? or was it in private converfation ? 
 Still I have the misfortune of not yet 
 feeing your lordmip's right of putting 
 the queflion to me about the paper of 
 the 2 1 ft of Auguft, and till I do, I will 
 never refolve your lordmip on that head," 
 though I would any friend I have in the 
 
 world,
 
 [ 16 ] 
 
 world, who had the curiofity of alking 
 me, if it was in a civil manner. 
 
 Your lordfhip fays, that if I do not 
 deny the paper, you muft and will con- 
 clude I wrote it. Your lordfhip has my 
 free confent to make any conclufions you 
 think proper, whether they are well or 
 ill grounded; and I feel the mod per- 
 fect indifference about what they are, or 
 the confequences of them. 
 
 I intend at prefent to make a tour on 
 Thurfday to the Ifie of Wight. I mall 
 return to this city the beginning of the 
 next week. 
 
 I am, my lord, 
 
 ^our lordfliip's 
 
 Moil humble fcrvant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Directed to Earl Talbor.
 
 r 17 r 
 
 Wincheiler, Sept. 30, 
 
 S I R. 
 
 T ORD Talbot, by your meflagc, 
 
 W has at laft brought this mod im- 
 portant queftion to the precife point, 
 where my firil anlwer to his lordfhip 
 fixed it, if he preferred that. As. you 
 have only feen the two laft letters, I 
 mud entreat you to caft your eye ovc: 
 thofe preceding, becaufe'I apprehend 
 they will juftify an obfervat-ion or two I 
 made this morning, when I ^had tilt- 
 honour of paying my -compliments to 
 you at camp. 
 
 Be allured that if-. I' am between 
 heaven and e : arth, -I will be on Tuef- 
 day evening at Tilbury's, the Red Lion 
 at Bagihot, and on Wednefday mornrng 
 [ will play this durt with his lordiliip. 
 
 VOL. I/ .P .It
 
 It is a real latisfaction to me, that 
 his lordlhip is to be accompanied by a 
 gentleman of Colonel Berkeley's worth 
 and honour. 
 
 This will be delivered to you by my 
 adjutant, who attends me to Bagftiot. 
 I fhall not bring any fervant with me, 
 from the fear of any of the- parties 
 being known. My piftols only, or his 
 lordihip's, at his option, lliall decide 
 this point. 
 
 I beg the favour of you to return me 
 the letters, as I mean to leave Winchef- 
 ' ter this evening. 1 have lord Bruce's* 
 leave of abience for ten days. 
 I am, with fincere regard, 
 
 Sir, 
 Your very humble Servant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 * In the abfence of lord Ejfinghem the command 
 had devolved on lord Bruce. 
 
 I hope
 
 [ 19 1 
 
 I hope that we may make a partie 
 oiiarrie for fupper on Tiiei'day at 
 Bagfliot. 
 
 Directed to Colonel Berkeley, nc\V lord. 
 Bottetourt. 
 
 B 2
 
 C 20 ] 
 S I R, 
 
 T Have read all the letters, and fhall 
 depend upon the pleafure of fupping 
 with you at Tilbury's, the Red Lion at 
 Bagmot, Tnefday evening. My fervant 
 will attend me, as the going alone would 
 give room for iufpicion, but you may 
 depend upon his following your direc- 
 tion at Bagmot, and that he mail not be 
 feen where you would not have him 
 I am much obliged by your favourable 
 opinion, 
 
 And am your humble fervant, 
 
 N. BERKELEY. 
 
 Camp near Winchefler, Sept. 30, 1762. 
 
 Inclofed is a copy of a letter received 
 by Mr. Stanley this afternoon. (It relat- 
 ed to the taking of the Havannah.) 
 
 Direfted to Colonel Wilkes.
 
 [ 2' ] 
 Red Lion at Bagfhot, Tuefday, 10 it flight. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 T Had the honour of tranfmitting to 
 
 your lordmip copies of feven let- 
 ters, which paffcd between lord Talbot 
 and me. As the affair is now over, I 
 enclofe an original letter of colonel 
 Berkeley, with a copy of mine previous 
 to it, which fixed the particulars of our 
 meeting, and therefore remained a 
 fecret, very facredly kept by the four 
 perfons concerned. 
 
 I came here at three this afternooff, 
 and about five I was told that lord Tal- 
 bot and colonel Berkeley were in the 
 houfe. Lord Talbot had been here at 
 one, and was gone again, leaving a 
 mefiage however that he would foon 
 return. I had continued in the room 
 where I was at my firft coming, for' 
 fear of raifi'ng any flifpicionw $ fent a 
 B 3 compliment
 
 [ 22 ] 
 
 compliment to colonel Berkeley, anci 
 that I wilhed to fee him. He was fo 
 obliging as to come to me directly. I told 
 him that I fuppofed we were to flip 
 together with lord Taibot, whom I was 
 ready to attend, as became a private 
 gentleman, and that he and Mr. Har- 
 ris, as cur feconds, would fettle the 
 bufmefs of the next morning, accord- 
 ing to my letter to him from V\ inchef- 
 ter, and his anfwer. Berkeley laid that 
 ' his lordfhip defired to finim the bufmefs 
 immediately. I replied, that the ap- 
 pointment ' was to fup together that 
 evening, and to fight in the morning, 
 that in ccnfequence of fuch an arrange- 
 ment, I had, like an idle man cf plea- 
 lure, put off fome bufmefs of real 
 importance, which I meant to fettle 
 before I went to bed. I added, that I 
 was come from * Medmenham Abbey, 
 * Vide a note refpefling Medmenham Abbey, 
 .at the end of this letter. 
 
 where
 
 . [ 23 J 
 
 where the jovial monks of St. Francis 
 had kept me up till four in the morning, 
 that the world would therefore conclude 
 1 was drunk, and form no favourable 
 opinion of his lordfhip from a duel at 
 fuch a time , that it more became us 
 both to take a cool hour of the next 
 morning, as early a one as was agree- 
 able to lord Tr.lbct. Berkeley faid, 
 that he had undertaken to bring us to- 
 gether, and as we were now both at 
 Bagfhot, he would leave us to fettle our 
 own bufinefs. He then afked me, if I 
 would go with him to lord Talbot. I 
 fiid I would any moment he pleafcd. 
 We went directly with my adjutant, 
 Harris. 
 
 ! found lord Talbot in an agony of 
 
 padion. He faid, that I had injured, 
 
 t'^it I had infulted him, that he was not 
 
 fj be injured, or infulted : w r har 
 
 B 4 did
 
 did I mean ? Did I, or did I not, write 
 the North Briton of Augufb the 21 ft, 
 which affronted his honour ? He would 
 know -, he infilled on a direct anfwer : 
 here were his pi ftols. I replied, that he 
 would' foon ufe them, that I defired to 
 know by what right his lordfhip cate- 
 chifed me about a paper, which did not 
 bear my name, that I fhould never rc- 
 Iblve him that qucftion, till he made 
 out the right of putting it, and that if 
 I could have entertained any other idea, 
 I was too well bred to have given his 
 lordfhip and colonel Berkeley the trou- 
 ble of coming to Bagfhot. I obferved, 
 that I was a private Englifh gentleman, 
 perfectly free and independent, which 
 I held to be a character of the higheft 
 dignity, that I obeyed with pleafure a 
 gracious ibvereign, but would never 
 fubrnit to the arbitrary diftates of a fel- 
 low fnbject, a lord fteward of his houfe- 
 
 hold,
 
 f 25 ] 
 
 hold, niy fuperior indeed in rank, for- 
 tune, and abilities, but my equal only 
 in honour, courage, and liberty. Lord 
 Talbot then afked me, if I would fight 
 him that evening. I faid, that I pre- 
 ferred the next morning, as it had been 
 fettled before, and gave my reafons. 
 His lordfhip replied, that he infifted on 
 finifhing the affair immediately. I told 
 him, that I mould very foon be ready, 
 that I did not mean to quit him, but 
 would abfolutely firft fettle fome impor- 
 tant bufmefs relative to the education of 
 an only daughter, whom I tenderly 
 loved, that it would take up a very lit- 
 tle time, and I would immediately after 
 decide the affair in any way he chofe, 
 for I had brought both fword and 
 piftols. I rung the bell for pen, ink, 
 and paper, defiring his lordfhip to con- 
 ceal his piftols, that they might not be 
 feen by the waiter. He foon after be- 
 came
 
 came half frantic, and made ufe of a 
 thoufand indecent expreffions, that I 
 Ihould be hanged, damned, &c. I faid, 
 that I was not to be frighted, nor in 
 the leaft affeclied, by fuch violence, that 
 God had given me a finnnefs and fpirit, 
 equal to his lorduYip's, or any man's, 
 that cool courage mould always mark 
 me, and that it would be feen how well 
 bottomed I was. 
 
 After the waiter had brought pen, 
 ink, and paper, I propofed that the 
 door of the room might be locked, and 
 not opened till our bufmefs was derided. 
 Lord Talbot on this prbpofition became 
 quite outrageous, declared that this was 
 mere butchery, and that I was a wretch, 
 who fought his life. I reminded him, 
 that I came there on a point of honour, 
 to give his lordfhip fatisfaction, that I 
 mentioned the circurnftance of locking 
 
 the
 
 'the door only to prevent all poflibility 
 of interruption, and that I \\ould in 
 every circumftance be governed, not by 
 the turbulence of the moft violent tem- 
 per I had ever feen, but by the calm de- 
 terminations of our two feconds, to 
 whom I implicitly fubmitted. Lord 
 Talbot then afked me, if I would deny 
 the paper. I anfwercd, that I neither 
 would o\vn, nor deny it ; if 1 furvived, 
 I would afterwards declare, not before. 
 Soon after he grew a little cooler, and in 
 a foothing tone of voice faid, I have 
 never, I believe, offended Mr. Wilkes: 
 why has he attacked me ? he mull be 
 forry to fee me unhappy. I afked upon 
 what grounds his lordfhip imputed the 
 paper to me ; that Mr. Wilkes would 
 juftify any paper to which he had put his 
 name, and would equally afiert the pri- 
 vilege of not giving any anfwer what- 
 ever about a paper to which he had not -, 
 
 that
 
 r 28 ] 
 
 that this was my undoubted right, 
 which I was ready to feal with my blood. 
 He then faid he admired me exceed- 
 ingly, really loved me, but I was an 
 unaccountable animal fuch parts ! but 
 would I kill him,, who had never offend- 
 ed me? &c. &c. &c. 
 
 \Ve had after this a good deal of con- 
 verfation about the Buck inghammire mi- 
 litia, and the day his lordfhip came to fee 
 us on Wycombe Heath, before I was co- 
 lonel. He foon after flamed out again, 
 and faid to me, you are a murderer, you 
 want to kill me, but I am fure that I 
 {hall kill you, I know I mail by God. If 
 you will fight, if you kill me, I hope 
 you will be hanged. I know you will, 
 Berkeley and Harris were {hocked I 
 afked, if I was firft to be killed, and 
 afterwards hanged, that I knew his lord- 
 ihip fought me with the king's pardon 
 
 in
 
 r 29 ] 
 
 in his pocket, and I fought him with a 
 halter about my neck, that I would 
 fight him for all that, and if he fell, I 
 Jhould not tarry here a moment for the 
 tender mercies of fuch a miniftry, but 
 would directly proceed to the next ftage, 
 where my valet de chambre waited for 
 me, and from thence I would make the 
 beft of my way to France, for men of 
 honour were fure of protection in that 
 kingdom. He feemed much affected by 
 this. He then told me, that I was an 
 unbeliever, and wimed to be killed. I 
 could not help fmiling at this, and 
 obferved that we did not meet at Bag- 
 iliot to fettle articles of faith, but points 
 of honour, that indeed I had no fear of 
 dying, but I enjoyed life as much as any 
 man in it, that I was as little fubject to 
 be gloomy, or even peeviih, as any 
 Englifliman whatever, that I valued life, 
 and the fair enjoyments of it fo much, 
 
 I would
 
 [ 3 j 
 
 I would never quit it by my own con- 
 fent, except on a call of honour. 
 
 I then wrote a letter to your lordfhip, 
 refpecting the education of Mifs Wilkes, 
 and gave you my poor thanks for the 
 ileady friendfhip, with which you have 
 fb many years honoured me. Colonel 
 Berkeley took the care of the letter,. 
 and I have fmce defired him to fend it 
 to Stowe, for the fentiments of the 
 heart at fuch a moment are beyond all 
 politicks, and indeed every thing elfe, 
 but fuch virtue as lord Temple's. 
 
 When I had fealed my letter, I told 
 Lord Talbot that I was entirely at his 
 fervice, and I again defired that we 
 might decide the affair in the room, be- 
 cauie there could not be a pofnbility of 
 interruption , but he was quite inexora- 
 ble. He then aiked me, how many 
 
 times
 
 [ 3* 3 
 
 times we fliould fire. I faid that I left 
 it to his choice , I had brought a flafk 
 of powder, and a bag of bullets. Our 
 feconds then charged the piftols, which 
 my lord had brought. They were large 
 horfe piftols. It was agreed that we 
 mould fire at the word of command, to 
 be given by one of our feconds. They 
 toiTed up, and it fell to my adjutant to 
 give the word. We then left the inn, 
 and walked to a garden at fome diftance 
 from the houfe. It was nearfeven, and 
 the moon (hone very bright. We flood 
 about eight yards diilant, and agreed 
 not to turn round before v/e fired, but 
 to continue facing each other. Harris 
 gave the word. Both our fires were in 
 very exaiSc time, but neither took effect. 
 I walked up immediately to lord Tal- 
 bot, and told him that now I avowed 
 the paper. His lordfhip paid me the 
 higheft encomiums on my courage, and 
 
 laid
 
 faid he would declare every where that 
 I was the nobleft fellow God had ever 
 made. He then defired, that we might 
 now be good friends, and retire to the 
 inn to drink a bottle of claret together, 
 which we did with great good humour 
 and much laugh. Lord Talbot after- 
 wards went to Windfor, Berkeley and 
 Harris to Winchefter, and I continue 
 here till to-morrow morning, waiting 
 the return of my valet de chambre, to 
 whom I hav fent a mefienger. Berke- 
 ley told me, that he was grieved for 
 lord Talbot's pafiion, and admired my 
 courage and coolnefs beyond his fartheil 
 idea: that was his expreffion. 
 
 I have a million of other particulars 
 to relate, but I blufh already at the 
 length of this letter. Your lordJhip 
 will foon fee colonel Berkeley, and I 
 hope in a very few days to pay my 
 
 devoirs
 
 t 33 1 
 
 devoirs at Stowe. I intend to be at 
 Aylefbury quarter feflions by Thurfday 
 dinner. 
 
 My moft refpeftful compliments al- 
 ways attend lady Temple. 
 
 I am ever, my dear lord, 
 
 Your lordfhip's very devoted, 
 and obedient humble fervant, 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Oirefted to Earl Temple. 
 
 VOL. t.
 
 r 34 i 
 
 \\7 E, fubjoin the following, which 
 is faid to be an explanatory note 
 of a pafiage in Mr. Churchill's Can- 
 didate, where he fpeaks of Mcdmenham 
 Alley. 
 
 Whilft Womanhood, in habit of a Nun, 
 At Medmcnkam lies, by backward Monks undone, 
 A nation's reck'ning, like an alehoufe fcore, 
 Whilit Paul the aged chalks behind a door, 
 CompelPd to hire a foe to cart it up ; 
 Dafhwood fhall pour, from a Communion Cup, 
 Libations to the Goddefs without eyes, 
 And Hob or Neb in Cyder and Excife. 
 
 THE CANDIDATE* 
 
 Mcdmenham, or as it is- pronounced 
 Mednam, Abbey, is a very large houfe 
 on the banks of the Thames near Mar- 
 low in Buckinghamshire. It was for- 
 merly a convent of Ciftertian Monks. 
 The fituation is remarkably fine. Beau- 
 tiful hanging woods, foft meadows, a 
 
 cryftal
 
 I 35 ] 
 
 cryftal ftream, and a grove of venerable 
 old elms near the houfe, with the retir- 
 ednefs of the manfion itfelf, "made it as 
 Iweet a retreat, as the mod poetical 
 imagination could create. Sir Francis 
 Bafliwood, Sir Thomas Stapleton, 
 Paul Whitehead, Mr. Wilkes, and other 
 gentlemen to the number of twelve, 
 rented the Abbey, and often retired 
 there in the fummer. Among other 
 amufements they had fometimes a mock 
 celebration of the more ridiculous rites 
 of the foreign religious orders of the 
 diurch of Rome, of the Francifcans in 
 particular, for the gentlemen had taken 
 that title from their founder, Sir Francis 
 Daihwood. Paul the aged was fecretary 
 and fteward to the order. Mr. Wilkes 
 had not been at the Abbey for many 
 months before the publication of this 
 poem in 1764. 
 
 C 2 No
 
 I 3 ]' 
 
 No profane eye has dared to penetrate 
 into the Englifh Eleufmian myfteries of 
 the chapter room, where the monks 
 afTembled on all folemn occalions, the 
 more fecret rites were performed, and 
 lilations poured forth in much pomp to 
 the BONA DEA. I mail only venture to 
 relate what many mortal eyes have feen, 
 fc mi hi fas audit a loqiii. 
 
 Over the grand entrance was the 
 famous inicripticn on Rabelais' Abbey 
 of THELEME, Fay ce quevcitldras, and at 
 the end of the paffage, over the door, 
 Aude^ hofpes, contemnere opes. At one 
 end of the refect cry was Harpocrates, 
 the Egyptian God of filence, at the 
 other the Goddefs Angerona, which 
 feemed to imply that the fame duty was 
 enjoined both fexes. 
 
 The
 
 [ 37 1 
 
 The garden, the grove, the orchard, 
 the neighbouring woods, all fpoke the 
 loves and frailties of the younger 
 monks, who feerncd at leall to have 
 finned naturally. You faw in one phce 
 Id pdma de jo'ie des mortels k plus hcu- 
 reux in another very imperfc&ly 
 mcurut un arnant fur le fan de fa dame 
 in a third en cet endroit milk baifers de 
 flamme furent domes, &? milk autres ren- 
 dus. Againft a fine old oak was 
 
 flic Satyr u/n Naias <v;ftorem iiicta fubegii* 
 
 At the entrance of a cave was the 
 Venus, Hooping to pull a thorn out of 
 her foot. The ftatue turned -from you, 
 and juft over the two nether hills of 
 Ihow were thefc lines of Virgil, 
 
 Hie locus eft, part's >tci fe 'via fjidit in awl as : 
 Ilac iter RljZtHfX nobis : at L-cva jtalfruxi 
 Exercet pcenas, & ad impia Tarl.ira /;;/////. 
 
 C 3 On
 
 On the in fide over a mofly couch was 
 the following exhortation, 
 
 Jfe, agite, ojuvenss ; pariter fudate me/ullis 
 Omnibus inter was ; non murmura <vc/lra columSa:^ 
 Hrachia ncn heder<e, ten <vincant ofcula concha. 
 
 The favourite dcdtrine of the Abbey 
 is certainly not penitence; for in the 
 center of the orchard was a very gro- 
 tefque figure, and in his hand a reed flood 
 flaming, tipt with fre, to ufe Milton's 
 words, and you might trace out, 
 
 PENI TENTO 
 
 ncn 
 PENI T E N T i. 
 
 On the pedeftal was a whimfical repre- 
 fentation of Trophonius's cave, from 
 whence all creatures were faid to come 
 
 out
 
 [ 39 ] 
 
 out melancholy. Among that ftrange, 1 
 difmal group, you might however re- 
 mark a cock crowing and a Carmelite 
 laughing. The words gallum gallina- 
 ceum & facer do tern gratis were only 
 legible *. 
 
 Near the Abbey was a fmall, neat 
 temple eredled to Cloacine, with the 
 infcription, This chapel of eafe was 
 founded in the year 1760. Facing the 
 entrance on the infide, 
 
 jEque pauperibus prodejl, locuplelibus eeque, 
 j&que negleflum pueris Jenibujaue nccebit. 
 
 The following letter, printed in the 
 St. James's Chronicle about the time 
 of the publication of the Candidate^ 
 will enable the reader to give a fhrewd 
 
 * Omne animal poll coitum trifle eft, pneter 
 gallum gaUinaceum, et faceidotem gratis forni- 
 cantem. 
 
 C 4 guefs
 
 [ 40 J 
 
 guefs at the GODDESS WITHOUT EYES, 
 to whom Sir Francis Dafliwood not only 
 poured out libations from a communion 
 cup, but actually built a temple in his 
 gardens at Weft Wycombe.
 
 [ 4i I 
 
 SIR, 
 
 T A M juft returned from a tour into 
 ** Buckinghamfliire, which has afford- 
 ed me much pleafure. The noble prof- 
 pect from Cliefden Houfe enchanted me ; 
 and I was in raptures with the many 
 elegant beauties of Stowe. As an Eng- 
 lifhman, I was particularly pleafed that 
 all the great patriots and heroes of my 
 country, Alfred, King William the 
 Third, Hampden, Sir Walter Raleigh, 
 &c. receive there that juft tribute of 
 praife, which this nation, while it re- 
 mains free, will continue to pay to fupe- 
 rior virtue. At Stowe both antient and 
 modern virtue are enmrined with grate- 
 ful magnificence. Not only good tafte, 
 but patriotifm, are confpicuous in that 
 delightful paradife, the favourite abode 
 of the virtues, graces, and mufes. 
 STOWE however has fo often been de- 
 fcribed by abler pens, that I mall dwell 
 
 no
 
 [ 42 J 
 
 no longer there, though 1 never leave it 
 without the mod fenfible regret. 
 
 I returned by Weft Wycombc, and 
 pailcd a day in viewing the villa of Sir 
 Francis Dafhwood, now lord le Delpen- 
 eer, and the church he has juft built on 
 the TOP of a very deep hill, for the con- 
 venience and devotion of the town at 
 the BOTTOM of it. I mud own, the 
 noble lord's gardens gave me no ftronger 
 idea of his virtue or patriotifm, than 
 the fituation of the new- built church did 
 of his piety. Some churches have been 
 built from devotion, others from 1 parade, 
 or vanity. I believe this is the firft 
 church, which has been built for a prof- 
 peft. The word memento in immenfe 
 letters on the fteeple furpriied and per- 
 plexed me. I could not find the mori\ 
 or perhaps the other word was meri y 
 from the practice as well as the precept 
 
 of
 
 [ 43 J 
 
 f she noble lord. As to die eleganc* 
 ef the Latin, his lordihip has em bar- 
 raffed himfelf as little about that, as he 
 has about the elegance of his Englifh. 
 Memento men is befides more monkifhj 
 and therefore more becoming St. Fran- 
 cis. This conjecture, that the other 
 word on the outfide mud be meri, is 
 farther ftrengthened by the magnificent 
 gilt ball at the top of the ftceple,. which 
 is hollowed and made fo very convenient 
 on the infide for the celebration, not of 
 devotional^ bur of convivial rites, that 
 it is the bed Globe Tavern I was ever 
 in. Yet I muft own that I was afraid 
 my defcent from it would have been as 
 precipitate, as his lorclfhip's was from 
 a* high ftation, which TURNED HIS HEAD 
 too. I admire likewife the filence and 
 fecrecy, which reign in 
 
 The char.cellorfhip of the Exchequer. 
 
 undifturbed
 
 [ 44 ] 
 
 undifturbed but by his jolly fongs, very 
 unfit for the profane ears of the world 
 below. As to fecrecy, it is the moft 
 convenient place imaginable ; and it is 
 whifpered, that a not unimportant poli- 
 tical negociation was here begun by the 
 noble lord himfelf with Meffrs. \Vilkes 
 and Churchill. The event will mew the 
 amazing power of his lordfhip's oratory; 
 but if from perverfenefs neither of thofe 
 gentlemen have yielded to his wife rea- 
 ibns, nor to his dazzling offers, they 
 both did juftice to what he calls his 
 divine milk punch. 
 
 The church on the top of the hill is 
 not the only temple here erected by the 
 noble lord. There is another in the 
 gardens at Weft Wycombe, dedicated 
 to =, the Egyptian Hieroglyphic for 
 the reverend Triftram Shandy's TETRA- 
 GRAMMATON, the four favourite * * * *. 
 
 To
 
 [ 45 ] 
 
 To this object his lordfhip's devotion is 
 undoubtedly fincere^ though I believe now 
 not ferven^ nor do I take him at prefent 
 to be often proftrate, or indeed in any 
 way very regular in his ejaculations. In 
 this point his lordihip is confident, for he 
 keeps up the fame public wormip in the 
 country, to which he has been accuftom- 
 ed in town. There was for many years 
 in the great room at the King's Arms 
 Tavern, in New Palace Yard, an ori- 
 ginal picture of Sir Francis Dalhwood, 
 prefented by himfelf to the Dilettanti 
 Club. He is in the habit of a Francif- 
 can, upon his knees before the Venus 
 of Medicis, and his gloating eyes fixed, 
 as in a trance, on what the modefty of 
 nature feems mod defirous to conceal. 
 The communion cup in his hand, which 
 is rilled to the brim, tells us the object 
 of his devotion, for it has the words 
 MATRI SANCTORUM in capitals. The 
 
 glory
 
 I 46 ] 
 
 'glory too, which till then had only en- 
 circled the facrcd heads of our Saviour 
 and the Apoftles, is made to beam on 
 that favourite fpot, and feems even to 
 pierce the hallowed gloom of Maiden- 
 head thicket. The public faw, and 
 were for many years offended \vith fo 
 infamous a picture, yet it remained 
 there, till that club left the houfe. As 
 to the temple I have mentioned, yon 
 find at firft what is called an error in 
 limine; for the entrance to it is contrived 
 to fhadow out to us the entrance by 
 which we all come into the world, and 
 the door is made to reprefent what fome 
 idle wits have called the door of life, 
 It is reported that on a late vifit to his 
 chancellor, lord Bute particularly admir- 
 ed this building, and advifed the noble 
 owner to lay out the 500!. bequeathed 
 to him by lord Melcombe's will for an 
 i in a Paphian column, to ftand 
 
 at
 
 [ 47 ] 
 
 at the entrance, to be made of Scct- 
 tilh pebbles. 
 
 In thefe gardens no butt even is to be 
 found of Socrates, Epaminondas, Hamp- 
 den, or Sydney, but there is a moft inde- 
 cent ftatue of the unnatural fatyr. At 
 the entrance to the temple I have men- 
 tioned, are two urns facred, not to a 
 Lucretia and a Smpronia, but to the 
 Ephejian matron^ and to Pctiphar's 
 ivife, with the infcriptions, Matron* 
 Ephefi* Cineres, Doming Potiphar Cine- 
 res. Thefe urns, containing the hclj 
 cjlies of the great and virtuous dead, 
 are, with a happy propriety, doubly 
 gilt, though not quite fo ftrongly as 
 that at Hammerfmith, fuppofed to hold 
 the afhes of the celebrated female, who 
 died the wife of George Eub Doddlng- 
 ton, efq-, afterwards lord Mekombe. 
 This gaudy urn quite dazzled the eye, 
 
 and
 
 [ 48 J 
 
 and was placed on a proud column by 
 the poor, forlorn, difconfolate hufband, 
 undoubtedly conjugialh amoris folamen 
 fimul & monumentum. You afcend be- 
 tween the urns of Pctiphar's wife and 
 the Ephefian matron to the top of the 
 building, which is crowned with a par- 
 ticular pillar, defigned, I fuppofe, 
 to reprefent our former very upright 
 ftate, when we could fay fuimus tones, 
 fait ingens gloria, and it is flkirted with 
 very pretty underwood, the Cyprian 
 myrtle, &c. the meaning of which I 
 could not difcover. 
 
 The houfe contains nothing remark- 
 able, except on the grand ftair-cafe a 
 very moral painting of a maid Healing 
 to her matter's bed, laying at the fame 
 time her fingers on her lips. 
 
 On
 
 [ 49 J 
 
 On my return I had the plcafure of 
 feeing UK Qpble lord's japanned coach ; 
 but while"! was obterving his new motto 
 in Gothic letters, Pro Afugna Charta, 
 the mob grew riotous and were halloo- 
 ing, LIBERTY, PROPERTY, AND NO 
 EXCISE. 1 therefore chofe to make 
 the bed of my way to the park. I 
 found there a very odd thing, which 1 
 intended to prefent to the fociety of 
 antiquaries. It is a gold fleeve button, 
 with IKS and the fign of the crofs 
 enamelled on it. I giieiTed that it be- 
 longed to fome concealed brother of the 
 fociety of Jefus, but a fervant in * green 
 claimed it as the property of his lord, 
 and faid that it was a part of the ponti- 
 ficalia worn by his matter, when he 
 officiated on the great feftival days of 
 high laugh at certain myfteries. I there - 
 
 * The livery of lord Le Defpencer. 
 
 VOL. I. D fore
 
 [ 50 ] 
 
 fore gave it up to him, and retired to 
 my inn, full of aftoniihment that any 
 man mould take fo much pains, and be 
 at fo great an expence, only to mew a 
 public contempt of all decency, order, 
 and virtue. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 Extract:
 
 t 5 . 
 
 Extract from the Trial of Wil- 
 liam Lord Byron, for the Murder 
 of William Chaworth, Efq. before 
 the Houfe of Peers on the i6th of 
 April 1765. Publiflied by Order 
 of the Houfe of Peers. 
 
 Page 20. 
 EARL TALBOT aiks the witnefs, 
 
 " When you reproved Mr. Chaworth 
 for having gone too far in what he 
 had faid to lord Byron, by faying 
 I think \izfaid rather more than was 
 neceflary on fo trifling an gccafion, 
 ' did not you think the words he had 
 faid were of force enough to a MAN" 
 
 " OF STRICT HONOUR AND NICE SEN- 
 
 " SIBILITY, to require an explanation?" 
 
 D 2 Frorh
 
 r 52 ] 
 
 From a Dublin Journal. 
 
 H E following letter is prefentcd 
 * to the public, becaufe it is a kind 
 of fate paper, and gives authentic evi- 
 dence of an infamous fcene tranfac"led 
 by the Scottifh minifler in the year 1 763. 
 The original, from which this is printed 
 verbatim, was among other papers care- 
 lefsly tumbled into a fack in Great 
 George Street, and was made a property 
 of for fome weeks by the earls of Egre- 
 mont and Halifax. It is now in the 
 editor's pofleflion. How he came by 
 it, does not concern the public, but it 
 concerns his character as an honed man 
 to declaft, that he did not bribe any fer- 
 "cant to fled it cut of his majler's houfe.
 
 [ 53 ! 
 
 Saturday morning, March 26, 1763. 
 
 DEAR. WILKES, 
 
 A S I can't be fure of feeing you in a 
 P day or two, I can't help writing a 
 line to correct a miftake which Buller 
 tells me you are under, and which, if 
 true, would give me great concern. 
 He informs me that you lamented my 
 having given fome fort of countenance 
 to the terms of the NEW LOAN, v hich 
 iurprifes me greatly in a matter \vher~ 
 my attention and my practice was juft 
 the contrary, and I inuil have expreTed 
 my thoughts Rrangely to be ib mif- 
 underftood, if you were prefent at the 
 times I fpoke. I think I can recollect 
 almoft the words I ufed both days, and 
 will repeat them to you. When Sir 
 Francis brought in both the taxes, and 
 the loan, (and that was before the 
 exorbitant premium upon the tickets had 
 P 3 taken
 
 t 54 ] 
 
 taken effect,) I faid that as to one of the 
 taxes (the wine} I was certain it would 
 bring in nothing, that is, canfe no en- 
 creafe upon the general revenue on 
 wine, but on the contrary diminifh it, 
 and gave my reafon. As to the bargain, 
 I thought it a bad one ; for that the 
 treafury themfelves in the difpofition they 
 had made of the navy bills and ordinance 
 debentures, fuppofcd the redeemable four 
 per cents to be at par, that the premium 
 therefore upon this bargain would be 
 whatever the rage for play (when the 
 gamefters would think they were come 
 for the laft time to the table, and with 
 a great deal of money in their pockets) 
 Jthould induce them to give for lottery 
 tickets. This might go, efpecially upon 
 two lotteries, to two, three, or more 
 pounds per ticket, (though indeed I did 
 not forefee it would go higher) and then 
 they would give four, five, or may be, 
 
 fix
 
 [ 55 ] 
 
 fix per cent. premium for raifing a four per 
 cent at par, which was enormous. Upon 
 the fecond day I defired what I had faid 
 upon the former day might be recol- 
 lected, and in anfwer to the excufe Sir 
 Francis made from the time at which 
 the bargain was made, I laid it was very 
 poflible that while fo material an alter- 
 ation between the preliminaries &? defini- 
 tive treaty p , as the Eaft India Article, was 
 depending, it might make the figning 
 of the definitive treaty very doubtful, 
 and confequently affeft the flocks. But 
 to what purpofe was the head of the 
 board of treafury of the cabinet council, 
 and admitted to the knowledge of all 
 foreign affairs, but to form his domeftic 
 conduct upon that knowledge, and 
 therefore why was fo improper a fea- 
 fon pitched upon to make the loan ? 
 This occafioned Fox to declare that the 
 treafury knew the definitive treaty \vr.s 
 D 4 fiened
 
 [ 56 ] 
 
 figned at the time of making the loan, 
 and at the lame time to declare his 
 wondrr at the folly of mankind to give 
 four or five pounds for leave to tofs up 
 for ten. In aniwer to this I replied, 
 that if Treafury knew of the definitive 
 treaty being figned, they were inex- 
 cufable not to have brought their loan 
 to an open'fubicription, which was the 
 only fure way to take a teft of the tem- 
 per and folly of the market, and might 
 at fuch a time and for fo fmall a ium 
 have been done with fafety. And you 
 know Ofwald then gave reafons to 
 cxcufe their not having retorted to open 
 fubfcri.ptions. This is pretty near the 
 manner in which the whole pall. I 
 write in a hurry, but fhould be very 
 forry this tranfaction lay wrong in your 
 honour's mind, eipecially as you might 
 not be prelent at the whole both days. 
 I hope you don't go abroad early in 
 
 next
 
 [ 57 1 
 
 next week, and will endeavour to get 
 Dr. Hay and Dr. Butler to meet you 
 here at dinner on Wednefday next, if 
 you (lay ib long. 
 
 I am, dear Vvilkes, 
 
 faithfully your's, 
 
 II. B. LF.GGE. 

 
 [ 5 J 
 
 T N the Continuation of the Complete 
 * Hijhry of England, by TOBIAS SMOL- 
 LETT, M. D. is a charafter of Mr. 
 Wilkes, and an account of the proceed- 
 ings againft him, in which the ufual 
 accuracy of that hiftorian is carefully 
 preferred. The following letters will 
 perhaps ihevv the real, private fenti- 
 ments of the dodlor even now, as welt 
 as before lord Bute undertook the Trea- 
 iury, his doughty champion and coun- 
 tryman, TOBIAS, became the BRITON, 
 or Mr. Wilkes began to (kirmifh under 
 the banners of the NOKTH BRITON.
 
 [ 59 I 
 
 Chelfea, March 16, 1759.- 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 T A M again your petitioner in behalr 
 of that great chum of literature, 
 Samuel Johnfon. His black fervant,. 
 whofe name is Francis Barber, has been 
 preffed on board the Stag Frigate, capt. 
 Angel, and our Lexicographer is in 
 great diftrefs. He fays the boy is a 
 fickly lad of a delicate frame, and par- 
 ticularly fubjeft to a malady in his 
 throat, which renders him very unfit for 
 his majefty's fervice. You know * what 
 matter of animofity the faid Johnfon 
 
 * A pleafantry of Mr. Wilkes on that ftrange 
 paflage in Johnfon's Grammar of the Englifli 
 Tongue, prefixed to the Dictionary, " H feldora, 
 " perhaps never, begins any but the firit fylla- 
 " ble." It was primed, when the Dictionary firft 
 appeared, and contained a few fcore inftances to 
 prove the falfity of Johnfon's remark. It began, 
 " The author of this obfervation muft be a 
 " man of a quick appre-henjion, and of a moil 
 " cs::irc-hcnjl-je genius, &c." 
 
 has
 
 [ 60 ] 
 
 has again ft you, anil I dare fay you 
 define no other opportunity of refent- 
 ing it than that of laying him under an 
 obligation. He was humble enough to 
 defire my aflifbance on this occafion, 
 though he and I were never eater-con- 
 fins ; and 1 gave him to underftand that 
 I would make application to my friend 
 Mr. Wilkes, who perhaps by his intereft 
 with Dr. Hay and Mr. Elliott might 
 be able to procure the difcharge of his 
 lacquey. It would be fuperfluous to 
 fay more on the fubjeft, which I leave 
 to your own confideration, but I cannot 
 let flip this opportunity of declaring 
 that I am with the moft inviolable efteem 
 and attachment, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your affectionate, obliged 
 humble Servant, 
 
 T. SMOLLETT. 
 
 Direded to John Wilkes, efq;
 
 [ 6, ] 
 
 Chelfea, March 24, 1759. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 T? CC F, iterum Crifpinus your ge- 
 *-*' nerofity with refpect to Johnibn 
 (hall be the theme of our applauie and 
 thankfgiving. I mall be very proud to 
 find tnyfelf comprehended in your league 
 offenfive and defenfive, nay, I confider 
 myfelf already as a contracting party, 
 and have recourfe to the aflirtance of 
 my allies. It is not, I believe, unknown 
 to you that admiral Knowles has taken 
 exception at a paragraph in the Critical 
 Review of laft May, and commenced a 
 prefecution againft the printer. Now, 
 whatever termination the trial may 
 have, we fhall infallibly be expofed to a 
 confiderable expence : and therefore I 
 wifh to fee the profecution quafhed. 
 Some gentlemen who are my friends, 
 have undertaken to find out and talk 
 with thofe who are fuppofed to have in- 
 fluence
 
 [ 62 J 
 
 iluence with the faid admiral: may I 
 beg the fame favour of you and your 
 friends ? The trial will come on in the 
 beginning of May, and if the affair 
 cannot be compromifed, we intend to 
 kick up a duft and die hard. In a 
 word, if that foolifh admiral has any 
 regard to his own character, he will be 
 quiet rather than provoke further the 
 refentment of 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your very obliged, 
 humble fervant, 
 
 T. SMOLLETT. 
 
 Direfted to John Wilkes, efq;
 
 Chelfea, March 28, 1762, 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 "]\/I" Y warmeft regard, affedlion and 
 *** attachment you have long ago 
 fecured. My fecrecy you may depend 
 upon when I prefume to differ from 
 you in any point of opinion, I fhall 
 always do it with diffidence and defe- 
 rence. I have been ill thefe three 
 months : but hope foon to be in a con- 
 dition to pay my refpefts to Mr. Wilkes 
 in perfon. Mean while I muft beg 
 leave to trouble him with another packet, 
 which he will be fo good as to confe- 
 crate at his leifure. That he may con- 
 tinue to enjoy his happy flow of ipirits -, 
 and proceed through life with a flow- 
 ing fail of profperity and reputation, 
 is the wifh, and the hope, and the 
 confident expectation, of his much 
 obliged, humble fervant, 
 
 T. SMOLLETT, 
 
 Diredted to John Wilkes, efqj
 
 H E following letter Mr. Wilkes 
 wroie to his daughter the day 
 after his commitment to the Tower, and 
 fcnt it to the earl ot Halifax to be for- 
 warded to Paris. It was afterwards 
 printed in the public papers. 
 
 Tower, Sunday, May i, 176^. 
 
 My deareft POLLY, 
 
 I have now full leifiire to pay my 
 compliments to you, and entirely to 
 relieve you from the anxiety your kind 
 affection for me will neceflarily give you 
 at the hearing of my commitment to this 
 place. Be allured that I have done 
 nothing unworthy of a man of honour, 
 who has the happinefs of being your 
 fathtr. You mail never in life blufli 
 for me. 
 
 I am only accufed of writing the laft 
 North Briton, yet my fword has been 
 taken from me, all my papers have been 
 
 ftolen
 
 ftolen by ruffians, and I have been 
 forcibly brought here. I have not yet 
 leen my accufer&, nor have I heard who 
 they are. My friends are refuied admit- 
 tance to me. Lord Temple and my 
 brother could not be allowed to fee 
 me yefterday. As an Englimman, I 
 inuft lament that my liberty is thus 
 wickedly taken away, yet I am not 
 unhappy, for my honour is clear, my 
 health good, and my fpirit unfhaken, 
 1 believe indeed, invincible. The moil 
 pleafing thoughts I have are of you, 
 the moil agreeable news I can hear, 
 will be the continuance of your health. 
 
 I beg you not to write a word of 
 public budneis, or of my public folia- 
 tion Can you get me made Membrc di 
 P art&natt-d* Paris, for that of Weftmin- 
 fter is lofing all it\s privileges ? 
 
 * * * * #- ######## 
 Continue to love me, and believe me 
 with the greatcft warmth of affection, 
 Your obliged father, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 VOL. I. E
 
 [ 66 J 
 MY LORD, 
 
 '"IT* H E king having judged it impro- 
 *" per, that John Wilkes, efq-, mould 
 any longer continue to be colonel of 
 the militia for the county of Bucking- 
 ham, I am commanded to fignify his 
 majefty's pleafure to your lordfhip, that 
 you do forthwith give the neceflary orders 
 for difplacing Mr. Wilkes, as an officer 
 in the militia for the faid county of 
 Buckingham. 
 
 I am, with refpecl, 
 My lord, 
 
 Your lordfhip's mod obedient, 
 humble fervant, 
 
 EGREMONT. 
 
 Whitehall, May 4, 1763. 
 
 Directed to Earl Temple.
 
 S I R, 
 
 A T my return laft night from the 
 ** Tower, I received the enclofed 
 letter from the earl of Egremont. In 
 eonfequencs of his Majefly's commands 
 therein fignified, you will pleafe to 
 obferve, that you no longer continue 
 colonel of the militia for the county of 
 Buckingham. 
 
 I cannot at the fame time help ex- 
 prefling the concern I feel in the lofs 
 of an officer, by his deportment in 
 command endeared to the whole corps, 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your moft obedient, 
 
 and moft humble fervant, 
 T E M P L E. 
 
 Pall- Mall, May 5, 1763. 
 
 Directed to John Wilkes, cfq; 
 
 E 2
 
 T 6* ] 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 T HAVE this moment the honour of 
 ^ your lordfhip's letter, fignifying his 
 Majefty's commands, that I mould no 
 longer contmue colonel of the militia 
 for the county of Buckingham. I have 
 only to return your lordfhip my warmeft 
 thanks for the fpirit and zeal you have 
 mewn in -the fupport of that conftitu- 
 tional meafurefrom the very beginning. 
 Your lordmip will .pleafe to remember, 
 that I was among the foremoft who 
 offered their fervices to their country at 
 that crifis. Buckinghammire is fenfiblc, 
 and has always acknowledged, that no 
 man but your lordmip could have given 
 fuccefs to that meafure in our inland 
 county. I am proud of the teftimony * 
 your lordlhip is pleafed <to give me, and 
 
 happy, 
 
 * Mr. Wilkcsfucceeded Sir Francis Dafhwood, 
 
 now Lord Le Defpencer, as Colonel. When Sir 
 
 Francis refign'd, he wrote to the Officers of the 
 
 Buckingham (hire
 
 Happy, in thefe days of peace, to leave 
 fo excellent a eorps in that perfect har- 
 mony, which has from the beginning 
 
 1 have the honour to- be, 
 With unfeigned relpecl, 
 
 MY LORD, 
 Your lordihip's mod obedient, 
 
 and mofl humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Tower, May 5, 1763.- 
 
 Dired-e-U to the Earl Temple. 
 
 Enckinghamfhire regiment, " If thefucceffion goes 
 in the Regiment, (as I hope it will, and think it 
 ought) then I mult add, my fucceflor is a man 
 of fpirit, good fenfe, parts, and civil deport- 
 ment, who has fnewn refolution, and induih-y 
 in putting this falutary meafure into ex&- 
 cution." 
 
 F ^ 
 11
 
 [ 70 I 
 
 The hour of Mr. Wilkes's return, 
 to his own houfe from the court of Com- 
 mon Pleas, he fent the following letter 
 to the fecretaries of ftate. 
 
 Great George Street, May 6, 1763. 
 
 MY LORDS, 
 
 S~\ N my return here from Weftmin- 
 Vf Her Hall, where I have been dif- 
 charged from rny commitment to the 
 Tower under your lordlhips* warranty 
 I find that my houfe has been robbed, 
 and am informed that iheftolen goods* 
 are in the pofleffion of one or both 
 of your lordlhips. I therefore infill that 
 you do forthwith return them to 
 
 Your humble fervant, 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 # A fpecial jury of gentlemen were afterwards 
 of opinion that the fecretaries of Hate were- 
 guilty of this theft. The adion againft the under- 
 fecretary Mr. Wood was tried in the Common 
 Pleas, and a verdict was given for Mr. Wilkes, 
 the plaintiff, with iooo/. damages, and cofts of 
 fuit.
 
 
 t 7' ] 
 
 Great George-Street, May 7, 1763. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 T N anfvver to your letter of yefterday, 
 * in which you take upon you to make 
 ufe of the indecent and fcurrrilcus expref- 
 fions of your having found your houfe had 
 been robbed, and that the ftolen goods are 
 in our pojfejjion : we acquaint you that 
 your papers were feized in confcquence 
 of the heavy charge brought againft 
 you, for being the author of an infamous 
 and feditious libel, tending to inflame 
 the minds, and alienate the affections 
 of the people from his majefty, and 
 excite them to traiterous infurreftions 
 againft the government ; for which libel, 
 notwithstanding your difcharge from 
 your commitment to the Tower, his 
 majefty has ordered you to be profecut- 
 ed by his attorney-general. 
 
 E 4 We
 
 [ /* ] 
 
 We are at a Icfs to guefs what yon- 
 mean by ftolen goods ; but fuch of your 
 papers as do not lead to a proof of your 
 guilt, (hall be reftored to you ; fuch as- 
 are necefTary for that purpofe, it was 
 our duty to deliver over to thofe, whole 
 office it is to collect the evidence, and. 
 , manage the profecution sgainft you. 
 
 We are 
 
 Your humble fervants r - 
 EGREMCNT. 
 DUNK HALIFAX. 
 
 Bircfted to Mr. Wilkes.
 
 , [ 73 J 
 
 Great George- Street, Mdy 9, 17^3 
 
 M y LORDS, 
 
 T I T T L E did I expect, when I was 
 **' requiring from your lordfhips what 
 an Englifhman has a right to, his pro- 
 perty taken from him, and faid to be in 
 your lordfliips' pofTefiion, that I mould 
 have received in anfwer, from perfons in- 
 your high ftation, the expreffions of 
 indecent andfcurrilous applied to my legal, 
 demand. The refpect I bear to his 
 Majefty, whofe fervants itfeems you ftill 
 are,, though you ftand legally convicted 
 of having in me violated, in the highefl 
 and moft offenfive manner, the liberties 
 of all the Commons of England, pre- 
 vents my returning you an anfwer in the 
 fame Billingfgate language. If I confi- 
 dered you only in your private capacities, 
 I mould treat you both according to 
 your deferts > but where is the wonder 
 that men, who have attacked the facred 
 
 liberty
 
 [ 74 ] 
 
 liberty of the fubject, and have ifTued 
 an illegal warrant to feize his property, 
 fhould proceed to fuch libellous expref- 
 fions ? You fay " that fuch of my papers 
 fliall be reftored to me, as do not lead to 
 a proof of my guilt." I owe this to 
 your apprehenfion of an action, not to 
 your love of juftice ; and in that light, 
 if I can believe your lordfhips' afiuran- 
 ces, the whole will be returned to me. 
 I fear neither your profecution, nor your 
 periecution ; and I will aflert the fecurity 
 of my own houfe, the liberty of my 
 perfon, and every right of the people, 
 not fo much for my own fake, as for the 
 fake of every one of my Englifli fellow 
 fubjecls. 
 
 I am, my lords, 
 
 Your humble fervant, 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Dire&ed to th earls of Egremont and Halifax, 
 "his MajeRy's principal fecretaries of ftate.
 
 I 75 ] 
 
 from the St. James's Chronicle, Sept. 27, 1765, 
 
 To the PRINTER of The ST. JAMES'S 
 CHRONICLE. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 T DESIRE you to communicate to 
 * the public the following letters, 
 which you may be affured are genuine. 
 I think you mould premife, that captain 
 Forbes, by Mr. Murrray's own confef- 
 fion, was concealed for fome time at 
 his houfe, which was the occafion that 
 Mr. Murray too was put under arrefl, 
 by order of the marfhals of France, and 
 was brought before marfhal Noailles, 
 the fenior marfhal, at the fame time 
 with Mr. Wilkes. Diligent fearch was 
 made for captain Forbes, but he had 
 abfconded. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes was obliged before 
 marlhal Noailles, to fign a Parole 
 
 fHonneur,
 
 d'Honneur, that he would not proceed' 
 to any voye de fait^ direfte ou indirefie^. 
 with captain Forbes, and Mr. Murray 
 engaged in the fame manner for cap- 
 tain Forbes, in confequence of which* 
 the guards of Mr. Wilkes and Mr.. 
 Murray were difcharged.. 
 
 Mr. Forbes has never fince appeared^ 
 at Paris. After the firft letter enclofed,, 
 which was fent Sept. 7, Mr. Wilkes 
 went feveral times to Mr. Murray's 
 houfe, fometimes with Monfi'eur Goy,, 
 fometimes alone, but could never be 
 admitted. Mr. Murray only once called 
 at the Hotel de Saxe,. while Mr. Wilkes- 
 was abfent on a two days tour to 
 Fontainebleau.. Mr. Wilkes left Paris 
 the 1 8th of September. The day 
 before he called, at Mr. Murray's 
 houfe, and, not being admitted, left- 
 word that he mould fet off for Flanders 
 the next morning. 
 
 Mr,
 
 t 77 ] 
 
 Mr. Wilkes arrived at Men in the 2 1 ft 
 in the morning, and went directly to 
 the poft houfe. He found no lettter 
 there, either from captain Forbes or 
 Mr. Murray. He continued at Menin 
 all that day, and the next went again 
 to the poit-rmfrer, bnt with no better 
 I'uccefs. He then left a direction where 
 he was gone, and fet off for Dunkirk. 
 
 I think, Sir, that you ought to do 
 Mr. Forbes thejuftice to declare, that 
 it is certain, in the whole of ; this, affair, 
 although he was guilty of much, raflv. 
 nefs, yet he was not of any rudencls, 
 nor even incivility of exprcllion.
 
 [ 7* 1 
 To the Hon. Alexander Murray, Efq; 
 
 SIR, 
 HAVE waited with no fmall impa- 
 
 I 
 
 tience, and I believe you will agree 
 with me, that before this Captain Forbes 
 ought to have fen t to me. You know 
 every thing which has pafied between 
 us, and the wild, extravagant wifh he 
 formed of fighting me, on no pretence, 
 nor provocation. 
 
 I am no prize-fighter ; yet I told him 
 that I would indulge him, and as foon 
 as I could. I mentioned to him the 
 affair of lord Egremont, and the pre- 
 vious engagement I thought myfelf 
 under. I defired him to bring his fe- 
 cond the fame day at noon, and our 
 two friends mould fettle between us all 
 the particulars of time, place, &c. 
 
 I ftated the circumftances of the info- 
 lence and inhumanity of lord Egre- 
 mont, and my refolution of calling his 
 
 lordlhip
 
 [ 79 1 
 
 lordfliip to account , a refolution not 
 formed yefterday, but what had ftruck 
 me the fecond day of my imprifonment 
 in the Tower, as becoming my dig- 
 nity, and which, at that very time, I 
 had mentioned to major Rainsford, the 
 governor. 
 
 I had likewife then fixed the hour of 
 his lofing the feals, as the period I 
 mould call his lordihip to that account j 
 and I am fure that I would have left 
 Paris, or any other place, immediately 
 on receiving news fo interefting to my- 
 felf, fo welcome to the nation. 
 
 Mr. Forbes undertook, on the fame 
 morning, Tuefday, the 1 6th of Auguft, 
 to return at noon, and to bring his 
 fecond. You know that he came, but 
 brought no fecond. Monfieur Goy, 
 my fecond, attended. If Mr. Forbes 
 had kept his promife, the trouble I am 
 now obliged to give you, would have 
 been unneceffary. 
 
 Lord
 
 [ So ] 
 
 'Lord Egremont to my great regret, 
 'greater I believe than that of any other 
 perfon, has .prevented my proceeding 
 farther, and as a Frenchman would lay, 
 
 il m'a jous un vitain tour. 
 
 J \ 
 
 I am now therefore mofl entirely at 
 capt. Forbes's fervice, and mail wait 
 his commands. I do not know where 
 he is, for he has not appeared at Paris 
 fmce Tuefday the i6th of Auguft. As 
 your houfe has been his afyl-um, I am 
 jiecefihated to beg you, Sir, to acquaint 
 capt. Forbes, that I will be at Menin, 
 the firft town in Auftrian Flanders, on 
 the confines of France, the 21 ft of this 
 month, and that Mr. Goy will do me 
 the honour of accompanying me ; but 
 he only. I mall direft my letters to be 
 lent there, and the moment of my arri- 
 val I mail go to the poit-houfe. 
 
 No perfon, but monfieur Goy, is ac- 
 quainted with any part of this tranfac- 
 
 tion ;
 
 [ 8i ] 
 
 tion ; he is To -obliging as to take the 
 charge of this letter. 
 
 Give me leave to acknowledge the 
 perfonal civilities you have been pleafed 
 * -to confer on me at Paris, and to aflure 
 you that 
 
 I am, SI R, 
 
 Your very humble fervant, 
 JOHN WILKES, 
 
 Paris, Hotel de Saxe, Sept. 7. 
 
 This is the genuine copy of the let- 
 ter which was written this day, Sept. 7, 
 to the hon. Alexander Murray, efq; by 
 John Wilkes, efq; and delivered by 
 myfelf into the hands of the fervant of 
 the abovefaid Alexander Murray, efq-, 
 
 Paris, Sept. 7, 1763. 
 
 VOL> L F Monfieur
 
 I 82 ] 
 
 Monfieur Goy wrote the following let- 
 ter to Mr. Murray, to which he re- 
 turned no anfwer, and on the Satur- 
 day would not be at home. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 TT D I D myfelf feveral times the ho- 
 * nour to wait upon you, but have 
 not been fo happy as to find you at 
 home. I intend to fet off on Sunday 
 morning for Flanders, and mould be 
 very proud to take my leave of you, 
 therefore hope you will give orders for 
 iny being admitted to-morrow, any 
 time the moft agreeable to you. 
 
 I am, with refpecl:, Sir, &c. 
 
 P, GOY. 
 
 Rue St. Anne, butte St. Roch, 
 vis-a-vis le Commiilaire.
 
 [ 8 3 3 
 
 From the St. James's Chronicle, Sept. 29, 1763. 
 
 To the P R I N T E R. 
 
 T B E G leave by your paper to unde- 
 ceive the public as to the letter 
 printed in the London Chronicle of Sept. 
 1 8, and faid to have been written by 
 capt. Forbes to his father. It contains 
 fo many falfehoods, that I am (lire it 
 muft be a forgery, and a grofs impofi- 
 lion on the world, as well as an injury 
 to that gentleman. The letter fays, 
 captain Forbes began that he had heard 
 Mr. Wilkes was a man of honour^ and 
 had hitherto treated him accordingly ; and 
 as he could new hardly believe zY, he want- 
 ed alfolutcly to pit him to the proof', 
 whereas capt. Forbes only declared, he 
 had heard Mr. Wilkes was acknowledged 
 to le a man of courage, and therefore he 
 F 2 in/tfted
 
 [ 84 ] 
 
 infixed on his fighting him for writing 
 againft his country. 
 
 I can aflure you, that Mr. Wilkes 
 never laid that he was a man of courage, 
 and that he had given proof enough of that 
 in fighting lord allot, and that he would 
 fight no men elfe till he fought lord Egre- 
 mcnt. Thefe three affertions are untrue. 
 j't is equally falfe that captain Forbes 
 afked Mr. Wilkes, if he came to Peris 
 to fight lord Egremont, that he was not to 
 be made a fool of, 'that he had been now fo 
 often at Mr. Wilkes^ lodgings he was re- 
 folded he fliould fight, -otherwife the firft 
 time he fliould meet with 'him, he would 
 treat him as a villain andfcoundrel deferr- 
 ed. All this is pure fiction, not one 
 offenfive word ever efcaped-capt. Forbes , 
 lie Teemed to be armed with only two 
 or three Ihort fen fences : You have abufed 
 Scotland my country linfift en fighting. 
 
 Mr.
 
 -r 85 ] 
 
 Mr. Wilkes never declared he was too 
 ufeful a fubjetl to rijk his life. Mr. 
 Forbcs's anfwer is equally invention. 
 Mr. Wilkes never faid, that as fuch 
 tilings could not be done without ivitneffes, 
 to come bach at twelve o'clock, and to have 
 a friend. Mr. Wilkes never talked or* 
 wknefTes, but defired Mr. Forbes to 
 bring a fecond at twelve, who fhould 
 adjiiit every thing with Mr. Wilkes's 
 friend. The letter lays, that Mr. Forbes 
 re turned at the hour appointed, and told 
 his friend not to enter the Hotel, that Mr. 
 ff^flkes' might no-t have to fay there cams 
 two upon him; whereas Mr. Forbes had. 
 promifed to bring his fecond, and Mr. 
 Wilkes's was there. Mr. WiLkes re- 
 turned a little after twelve to the Htel 
 de Saxe. He met at his own door two 
 gentlemen, who were ju(t come from 
 England, and were delivering their 
 cards to the Suifle. Mr. Wilkes afked 
 F 3 them
 
 [ 86 ] 
 
 them to walk in, where they found 
 Monf. Goy and Mr. Forbes. They had 
 not been at the Hotel de Saxe a quarter 
 of an hour, when Mr. Forbes abruptly 
 got up, faying he had fome urgent bufi- 
 nefs with Mr. Wilkes. The gentlemen 
 then of courfe directly retired. Mon- 
 fieur Goy, Mr. Wilkes's fecond, only 
 remained in the room. Mr. Wilkes 
 never declared that he would not fight any 
 one till he jlwuld lord Egremont , nor 
 did capt. Forbes fay, if he had not the 
 protection of his own houfe, he would ufe 
 him like a fcoundrel and rafcal as he de- 
 ftrved. 
 
 All the reft which follows of what the 
 fecretary faid, (by which I fuppofe is 
 meant monfieur Goy, no other perfon 
 being prefent) and Mr. Forbes's decla- 
 ration that the firft time he met Mr. 
 "Wilkes in the fireets, or elfewhere, he 
 would give him a hundred ftrokes of aftick y 
 
 as
 
 as he deferred no more to be ufed like a gen-* 
 tleman, but as an eternal rafcal and fcoun~ 
 drdj &c. is abfolute fiction. Mr. Wilkes 
 dcfired to know where Mr. Forbes lived* 
 who would not tell him, but defired he 
 might be lent to at the cofFee-houfe, 
 oppofite to the play-houfe. The lail 
 line of the letter finiflies according to 
 the rule in Horace, fervetur ad imum y 
 &c. This happened the \ Jth and ib'M of 
 Aiiguft, whereas Mr. Wilkes never faw 
 captain Forbes after the i6th, nor did 
 he appear at Paris after that day. 
 
 I hope, Sir, that in juftice to captain 
 Forbes you will deteft the impoilure, 
 and the printers of the London Chronicle 
 ought to afk pardon of that gentleman 
 for inferting, as his, a letter io Pr.ame- 
 fully falfe in a variety of particulars. 
 
 Having now, Sir, detected fome of 
 
 the more important falfhoods contained 
 
 in the pretended letter of captain Forbes 
 
 F 4 to
 
 [ 8 J 
 
 to his father, I fhall proceed to give- 
 you the circumftances of this interesting 
 affair, with the moft fcrnpulous exad- 
 nefs and veracity. 
 
 On Monday morning, Anguft 15, as 
 Mr. Wilkes was walking with lord Pal- 
 merfton to Notre Dame, a gentleman 
 in the ftreet came up to him, and in- 
 quired if his name was Wilkes. The 
 gentleman was anfwered in the affirma- 
 tive ; upon which he faid, Mr. Wilkes 
 wrote the North Briton, and mud fight 
 him. Mr. Wilkes defired to know what 
 evidence the gentleman had for fo round 
 an aflertion, that he had in a moment 
 cut very fhort a difpute, which had 
 been a good while agitating in England, 
 and would not be foon over-, that a 
 fquabble in the ftreets was unbe- 
 coming a gentleman, and an indecent 
 affront to the laws of the country ; that 
 he lived at the Hotel de Saxe, and wilhed 
 
 him
 
 [ S 9 J' 
 
 him a good day. Mr. Forbes in the 
 afternoon called at the Hotel de Saxe, 
 and left on a card, C. John- Forbes. 
 The next morning he returned about 
 fix. He faid his name was Forbes, a 
 captain in the French regiment of 
 Ogilby, which had been broke, or, as 
 it is there called, reformed. Mr. Wilkes 
 regretted that he had not left on his 
 card where he lived, to have prevented 
 him that fecond trouble of coming to 
 the Hotel de Saxe, and defired to know 
 his commands. He faid that Mr. 
 Wilkes muft fight him, becaufe he had 
 wrote againft Scocland. Mr. Wilkes 
 allied \\hat he had wrote, and wifhed to 
 fee the papers objected to, or to know 
 what they were. Mr. Forbes replied, 
 you have wrote againil my country : 
 your name is Wilkes: do you not write? 
 Mr. Wilkes faid, that he did now and 
 then write receipts for tenants, and 
 
 fometimcs
 
 [ 90 J 
 
 .fometimes on poft nights ; but would 
 give no account to Mr. Forbes, nor to 
 any man. Mr. Forbes then afked him, 
 if he would fight him that day, Mr. 
 Wilkes told him, that he would fight 
 him upon his honour ; but he believed 
 he could not Indulge him that day, for 
 he had a previous account to fettle with 
 lord Fgremont, and went into the cir- 
 cumftances of that affair. Mr. Wilkes 
 added, that it was very unfit captain 
 Forbes and he mould talk over alone fo 
 critical a bufinefs : therefore defired 
 him to return the fame day at noon, and 
 to bring one gentleman for a fecond 
 along with him ; and Mr. Wilkes's 
 friend and fecond would likewife attend. 
 Mr. Wilkes declared he would leave 
 every particular of time, place, &c. 
 to their two friends, and would abide 
 by their determination. Captain Forbes 
 promifed that he would bring his fecond -, 
 
 but
 
 [ 91 I 
 
 but came at twelve alone, and found 
 monfieur Goy in Mr. Wilkes's apart- 
 ments. Mr. Wilkes foon after return- 
 ed, and at his door faw two Englifh 
 gentlemen, as mentioned before. As 
 foon as Mr. Goy, captain Forbes, and 
 Mr. Wilkes, were by themfelves, cap- 
 tain Forbes infifted on Mr. Wilkes's 
 fighting him that day, and directly. 
 Mr. Wilkes defired him to explain the 
 reafons of fuch a duel to monfieur Goy; 
 that he knew nothing of any perfonal 
 quarrel with captain Forbes, and re- 
 minded him of his promife in the morn- 
 ing to return with a fecond. Mr. Forbes 
 faid, that Mr. Wilkes knew enough ; 
 and that he would not explain himfelf 
 farther. Mr. Wilkes replied, that he 
 would not then enter farther into that 
 affair, his friend being prefent, and no 
 gentleman on the part of Mr. Forbes. 
 Mr. Forbes then faid, that his friend 
 
 was
 
 f 92 ] 
 
 was near, and that he would fetch him. 
 He accordingly went away, in a quarter 
 of an hour returned again alone, and 
 faid, he would bring no friend , but 
 Mr. "Wilkes fhould foon hear from him. 
 Mr. Wilkes afked how he could' know 
 that the perfon he was converfmg with 
 was a gentleman, or was captain Forbes, 
 having never feen him till the day before, 
 and obferved, that his coming in fuch a 
 manner, and refufing to bring a fecond, 
 had more the air of an aflaflin, than of 
 a gentleman. Mr. Forbes faid, that he 
 was well known to the prince of Sou- 
 bize, and then went away. 
 
 In the afternoon the marfhals of 
 France fent and put Mr. Wilkes under 
 arreft. Soon after he received a vifit 
 from Mr. Macdonald, a Scottifh gentle- 
 man in the French fervice ; who told 
 him, that he came in the name of the 
 Scots at Paris, to allure Mr. Wilkes, 
 
 that
 
 [ 93 ] 
 
 that they entirely difapproved of cap- 
 tain Forbes's behaviour ; and that it 
 was only to be looked upon as the rafli- 
 nefs of a young man of three and twen- 
 ty. Mr. Mackey, who is likewife in 
 the French fervice, and has the crofs of 
 St. -Lewis, waited afterwards on Mr. 
 \Vilkes, and repeated the fame afTu- 
 rances. Mr. Forbes never appeared at 
 Paris after that afternoon, Tuefday, the 
 1 6th of Anguft. Diligent fearch was 
 made, and it was difcovered that he had 
 been, -for Tome time, .concealed at Mr. 
 Murray's. At laft captain Forbes not 
 appearing, Mr. Murray was taken into 
 cuftody, and was brought before mar- 
 ftial Noailles, who is prefident of the 
 tribunal of the m?.rfhals of France, on 
 Friday afternoon, the ipth, at the fame 
 time with Mr. Wilkes -, and on their 
 .giving their paroles, both their guards 
 were difmifled. When marfhal Noailles 
 
 afked
 
 [ 94 ] 
 
 afked Mr. Wilkes, .what was his quar- 
 rel with captain Forbes, Mr. Wilkes 
 only laid, Mcnfeigneur, je n'ai ni I'Jion- 
 neur ni I'envie de comioitre mcnfieur Forbes. 
 (My lord, I have neither the honour 
 nor the wifh to know Mr. Forbes.) Mr. 
 Wilkes then, in the prefence of feveral 
 French gentlemen, after marfhalNoailles 
 was retired, begged Mr. Macdonald, 
 who is an intimate friend of Mr. Forbes, 
 to afliire him, that as foon as the affair 
 with lord Egremont was fettled, if he 
 was alive, he would indulge captain 
 Forbes, fhould he choofe to fight him ; 
 and that it would be captain Forbes's 
 own fault if he did not -, for Mr. Wilkes 
 would meet him for that purpofe any 
 where in Europe, Afia, Africa, or Ame- 
 rica, except the dominions of France. 
 
 I am, &c.
 
 [ 95 1 
 
 From the St. James's Chronicle, O&. 27, 1763. 
 
 To the PRINTER. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 O U may be allured, that the let- 
 
 Y 
 
 ter, firit printed in the evening 
 paper, called The London Chronicle^ 
 Tuefday, October 25, and faid to have 
 been written by captain Forbes to Mr. 
 Wilkes, is a mere fiction, and that he 
 has never received any letter from cap- 
 tain Forbes. Lord Sandwich can bed 
 explain the motives which induced him, 
 a> fecretary of ftate, to caufe captain 
 Forbes to leave England. Mr. Wilkes 
 was entirely ignorant of that whole 
 tranfaction, and afterwards, on his re- 
 turn to London from Menin, declared 
 very publickly, that through the whole 
 important bufmefs, in which he was 
 concerned, he would owe his protection 
 to nothing, but the laws of his country, 
 
 and
 
 [ 9* J 
 
 and his own iword. The -account 'in 
 the London Chronicle contradicts ittHf ; for 
 it is there faid, that capt. Forbes, the 
 day after he wrote to Mr. Wilkes, re- 
 ceived a letter from Mr.' Murray, affuring 
 liim, on his honour, that he had never 
 wrote to, nor received any letter from, 
 Mr. Wilkes." Whereas, in the very- 
 letter printed as Mr. Forbes's, he calls 
 Mr. Wiikes's letter to Mr. Murray a 
 pretended letter. The letter to Mr. 
 Murray is placed beyond difpute, be- 
 caufe it refts on the teftimony of a third 
 perfon, a gentleman of honour, Monfieur 
 <?oy, who delivered it himfelf at Mr. 
 Murray's houfe. It is remarkable too, 
 that the fubfequent letter of Monfieur 
 Coy, which has a relation to Mr. 
 Wiikes's letter, is not difputed. The 
 expedition ufed on this occafion is won- 
 derful. The letter faid to be Mr. 
 Forbes's, mentions The Public Adver- 
 
 tifer
 
 [ 97 I 
 
 lifer of September 28, which was Wed- 
 nefday. The poft did not fcc out for 
 Paris till the Friday night, as ufual ; 
 yet Mr. Forbes, wherever he was, re- 
 ceives a letter from Mr. Murray rela- 
 tive to it on the Monday following, the 
 3d of October. Why did not captain 
 Forbes get fame friend to deliver the letter 
 to Mr. IVilkes, or to leave it at his houfe ? 
 No account is given when it wasfent, nor 
 by what conveyance. The other parti- 
 culars mentioned in the letter have al- 
 ready been difproved in your paper. 
 A. B. in The London Chronicle, only tells 
 us, that it fell accidently into his hands, 
 yet he is fure that it is genuine. On the 
 contrary, by every external as well as 
 internal evidence, I will maintain that 
 it is fpurious. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 VOL. I. G
 
 t 9 I 
 
 the St. James's Chronicle, Nov. 10, 1763, 
 To the P R I N T E R. 
 
 T DESIRE for the laft time Jer- 
 * haps to intrude on you with refpeft 
 to the ftale ftory of Mr. Wilkes and 
 captain Forbes, again ferved up in The 
 London Chronicle of Tuefday, November 
 8, in a letter figned Peter Mackay. 
 
 It is firft an abfurdity, that marfhal 
 Noailles's fecretary fhould tell Mr. Mur- 
 ray, " that there was nothing to fay to 
 him ;" for Mr. Murray was taken into 
 cuftody, and brought to the Hotel de 
 Ncailles .for having concealed Mr. 
 Forbes. It is further abfurdiy laid, 
 " when Mr. Murray was going away and 
 already out of the apartments^ upon fecond 
 thoughts he returned to wait on the mar- 
 fhal de Noailles in particular ;" -- 
 whereas Mr. Murray, according to 
 this very account, was brought by an 
 exempt before rnarfhal Noailles, who 
 difcharged him on his engaging for 
 
 captain
 
 [ 99 1 
 
 captain Forbes but not being the prin- 
 cipal, Mr. Murray did not fign. It is 
 no where afierted that he did but that 
 he engaged his Parole Honneur for 
 Mr. Forbes, (whom he had fecreted 
 before in his houfe) in the fame man- 
 ner Mr. Wilkes did for himfelf. Mr. 
 Murray could not otherwile have ob- 
 tained his difcharge. 
 
 It is fufficient to obferve, that any 
 man acquainted with the procefs of this 
 kind of bufinefs in France, muft imme- 
 diately difcovcr the abfurdity of almoft 
 the whole account ; and the two exempts,, 
 as well as monfieur Goy, can contra- 
 dict many of the particulars faid to- 
 have patted at Mr. Murray's houfe. 
 Mr. Mackay cannot but remember, 
 that he came afterwards to Mr. Wilkes, 
 and excufed the conduct of his country- 
 man. Monfieur Goy, and the exempt, 
 who attended Mr. Wilkes, were there 
 at the fame time. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 G 2
 
 Great George Street, Wednefday, Nov. 16. 
 S I R, 
 
 TT'OU complained yefterday before 
 * five hundred gentlemen that yon had 
 been ftabbed in the dark by the North 
 Briton, but I have reafon to believe that 
 you was not fo much in the dark , as you 
 affected and chofe to be. Was the com- 
 plaint made before fo many gentlemen 
 on purpofe that they might interpofe ? 
 To cut off every pretence of your igno- 
 rance as to the author, I whifper in your 
 ear, that every paffage of the North 
 Briton, in which you have been named, 
 or even alluded to, was written by 
 
 Your humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Dire&ed to Samuel Martin, efq; 
 
 * In a very full Houfe of Commons. Mr. Wilkes, 
 in his fpeech that day took no notice of what 
 Mr. Martin had faid, no name having been 
 mentioned, nor application made. The houfe 
 did not rife till four in the morning. At nine 
 Mr. Wilkes fent this letter.
 
 Abingdon Street, Nov. 16, 1763. 
 SIR, 
 
 A S I faid in the Houfe of Commons 
 >? yefterday, that the writer of the 
 North Briton, who had {tabbed me in 
 the dark, was a cowardly, as well as a 
 malignant and infamous, fcoundrel; and 
 your letter of this morning's date, ac- 
 knowledges, that every paffage of the 
 North Briton, in which I have been 
 named, or even alluded to, was written 
 by yourfelf, I muft take the liberty to 
 repeat, that you are a malignant and 
 infamous fcoundrel, and that I defire 
 to give you an opportunity of fhewing 
 me whether the epithet of cowardly was 
 rightly applied or not. 
 
 I defire that you may meet me in 
 Hyde Park immediately, with a brace 
 of piftols each to determine our differ- 
 ence. 
 
 G 3 I lhali
 
 I 102 ] 
 
 I (hall go to the Ring in Hyde Park, 
 with my piftols fo concealed that nobody 
 may fee them ; and I will wait in ex- 
 pectation of you one hour. As I mail 
 call in my way at your houfe to deliver 
 this letter, I propofe to go from thence 
 directly to the Ring in Hyde Park, from 
 whence we may proceed, if it be necef- 
 fary, to any more private place , and I 
 mention that I fhall wait an hour in or- 
 der to give you full time to meet me. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your humble fervant, 
 SAM. MARTIN. 
 
 Direfted to J x ohn Wilkes, efq;
 
 Mr. Wilkes arrived at Paris, Dec. 2&, 
 1763. On the 30 th he received the fol- 
 lowing note from Mr. Martin. 
 
 Mr. Martin prcicnts his compliments 
 to Mr. Wilkes, and defires to know 
 how he does , flattering himfelf, from 
 Mr. Wilkes's performance of fo long a 
 journey at this feafon of the year, that 
 his health is perfectly re-eftablilhed. 
 
 Mr. Martin cannot help taking this 
 opportunity to allure Mr. Wilkes, that 
 lie had defired Mr. BradPnaw to deliver 
 up Mr. Wilkes's note, written to Mr. 
 Martin on the i6th Nov. as it occurred 
 to the latter that any imaginable ufe 
 might be made of it to Mr. Wilkes's 
 prejudice, and before, Mr. Martin had 
 G 4 heard
 
 [ .04 J 
 
 heard from Mr. Bradfhaw that it 
 actually given up.* 
 
 Mr. Martin returns his thanks to Mr. 
 W. for his attention to Mr. M's fafety, 
 by giving the early notice he did to Mr. 
 
 * This paffage is not intelligible. The following quotation 
 from the Hiftory of the latt Minority, third edition, 1766, 
 will perhaps throw feme light upon it. Jt contains likewife 
 a fliort account of the duel. 
 
 " When the gentlemen met in Hyde Park, they walked 
 " together for a little while to avoid feme company, which 
 " feemed coming up to them. They brought each a p.iir ot 
 " piflols. When they were alone, the Tuft fire was frc,in 
 " Mr. M's piflol. Mr. M's piftol miffed Mr. W. and tHe 
 " piftol in Mr. W's hand flaihed in the pan. The gentle- 
 " men then each took one of Mr. W's pair of piftols : Mr. 
 " W. midl'd, and the ball of Mr. M's piftol lodged in Mr. 
 " W's belly. Mr. W. bled immediately very much. Mr. 
 " M. then came up, -and -lenred to give him all the afliilamre 
 " in his power. Mr. Wilkes replied, that Mr. M. had 
 '*' behaved like a man of honour, that he was killed, and 
 " infifted on Mr. M's making his immediate efcape, and no 
 creature fhould know from Mr. W. hew the affair hap- 
 " pened. Upon this they parted, but Mr. M. came up 
 ' again in two or three minurcs to Mr. W. oiVering, him a 
 " fecond time his afliftance, but Mr. W. again infiftcd on 
 " his going off. Mr'. M. expreffed his concern for Mr. W. 
 f f laid the thing was too well known by feverxl people, who 
 " carne up almoft directly, and then went away. Mr. Y/. 
 " was carried home, but would not tell any circumftance of 
 " the cafe till he found it fo much known. He only faid to 
 " the furgeon, &c. that it was an affair of honour.
 
 Bradfhavv, of his apprehending himfetf 
 to be in danger. 
 
 It is impofnble for Mr. M. to think 
 of -taking part in any affair of Mr. Ws 
 that he may find depending in the Houfe 
 of Commons at his arrival in England. 
 
 " The day follviv'ing Mr. W. imagining himfelf in the 
 " greateft danger,, returned Mr, M. his letter, that no.evi- 
 ** dence mighf appear agai-nft him ; and infifted upon it with 
 ' his relations, rhat in cafe of his death no trouble fhould 
 " be given Mr. M. for he had behaved as a man of honour. 
 
 " Mr. M. not at the fame time reluming M. W's letter, 
 " occafioned lomebody to remark, that in all probability it 
 " was kept in order to be made ufe of as a proof of Mr. W. 
 " bsin^ concerned in the North Briton. I own, faid the 
 " rem.uker, that I cannot account for this behaviour of Mr. 
 " M. no more than I can for his tamely bearing above eight 
 ' i. L./.i/:i the abufe upon him. Kas he been all tfut time t 
 " Sundays not exccptcd, praf~:lfing at a target f That report 
 " is confirmed by all his ne.sjhbouis in the country. Yet, 
 " after all, he did not venture to fend to Mr. \V. but before 
 " five hundred gentlemen, ready to interpoie, and feemed to 
 " intend to b^pin a cjuarrtl, I fappol'e that it might end 
 " there. Mr. W. chole coolly to take it up the next morn- 
 " ing, by a private ktter to Mr. M. v\ho infifted on piftols, 
 " without naming the fword, though the choice of weapons 
 " was, by the Ja\vs of honour, in Mr. W." page 236, &c. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes's letter was returned to him by Mr. Graves in 
 in the name of Mr. Martin near a month after, on Dec. 
 
 He
 
 [ io6 ] 
 
 He propofes to fet out from hence on 
 v his return home on Monday next^ but 
 believes he fhalJ not fet foot in London 
 till thofe affairs are determined, to avoid 
 even a colour for fufpicion that he is 
 capable of appearing againft Mr. W. 
 after what hath fo recently happened, 
 
 -Hotel de Luynes, Dec. 30,. 1763,
 
 Hotel de Saxe, Dec. 30, Friday. 
 
 Mr. Wilkes's compliments to Mr. 
 Martin, and is much obliged by the fa- 
 vour of his note. Mr. W. is going to 
 pay his refpefts to lord Hertford J, and 
 if Mr. Martin is difengaged, will after- 
 wards wait upon him for a quarter of 
 an hour, at the Hotel de Luynes. 
 
 Hotel de Luynes, Dec. 30, 1763, 
 
 Mr. Martin's compliments ; and will 
 wait at home to receive the vifit with 
 which Mr. Wilkes intends to favour 
 him. 
 
 J Lord Hertford was at that time the Engliih 
 arnbaflador at Paris.
 
 E 108 } 
 
 Votes of the tfcufe of Common^ Veneris, 
 
 16 Die Decembris, 1763. 
 Ordered, 
 
 That doftor Hebberden, rhe phyficiarr, 
 and Mr. Caefar Hawkins, one of his 
 majcfty's fcrjcant-furgeons, be defired 
 "to attend John Wilkes, efq; from time 
 to time, at proper intervals, to obferve 
 the prbgrefs of his cure , and that they, 
 together, with doctor Brocklefby and 
 Mr. Grraves, do attend this houfe, to 
 report their opinion thereupon on the 
 1 9th day of January next, in cafe the 
 faid John Wilkes, efquire, be not then 
 able to attend in his place.
 
 [ *<>9 1 
 
 Cecil Street, Dec. 17. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 A N order of the Houfe of Commons 
 ** * is come to Mr. Hawkins and me 
 to attend Mr. Wilkes from time to time, 
 in order to dbferve the progrefs of the 
 cure, and to make a report to the houfe, 
 together with you and Mr. Graves. 
 You will oblige us by acquainting Mr. 
 Wilkes with this ; and if you will let us 
 know at what time you intend to fee 
 Mr. Wilkes on Monday, we will be 
 ready to meet you there. Mr. Hawkins 
 defires that the appointment .may be for 
 Some hour after twelve. 
 
 . 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your moft humble fervant, 
 
 w. HEBBERDEN: 
 
 Direded to Dr. Brocklefby. 

 
 [ "0 ] 
 
 Norfolk Street, Sunday morning, Dee. 18, 1765. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 ATE laft night I received the in- 
 
 L 
 
 clofed letter from my moft ingenu- 
 ous and worthy friend, Dr. Hebberden, 
 and alfo the inclofed copy of an order 
 of the Houfe of Commons, to report 
 upon your cafe on the i9th of January; 
 I am therefore to entreat you, to fix the 
 hour for our attendance at your houfe on 
 Monday, and I will take care to appoint 
 Dr. Hebberden and Mr. Hawkins. 
 
 I am, dear Sir, 
 Your moft obedient, 
 
 hnmble Servant, 
 RICHARD BROCKLESBY. 
 Dire&ed to John Wilkes, efq;
 
 [ I" ] 
 
 Hreat George Street, Mondav, Dec. 19, 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 T HAVE the favour of your letter^ 
 A and of the papers enclofed. I think 
 you are rather deficient in politenefs, 
 that you do not congratulate your friend, 
 on the mw and fmgular honour done 
 him by the Hotft of Commons , in ap- 
 pointing a PHYSICIAN and SURGEON to 
 attend me. I ought to take this the 
 more kindly at their hands, becaufe to 
 pay me this compliment, they have, I 
 believe, exceeded their legal powers. 
 The lords j rather unwittingly, fet them 
 fuch an example, by ordering the phyfi- 
 tian and furgecn of a member of the 
 other houle to their bar, to be examined 
 concerning his ftate of health. I had 
 before received other unmerited obliga- 
 tions from their LORDSHIPS, and the old 
 fiiendfhip of lord Sandwich, though I 
 
 own
 
 own I was rather put to the blufh by 
 
 THEIR PUBLISHING tO tilC WOl'ld what 
 
 they pretended was found, perhaps put, 
 among the things ftolen from me. If a 
 man makes a 'private ejfc.y on woman, 
 fhould all the world fee it ? Is a treatife 
 againft the fpleen, or the tedium vit^e, 
 fo dangerous as now to become a date- 
 crime for the cognizance of our prefent 
 cruel rulers, or rather inquifitors ? Has 
 the nafiy, gummy, blubbering, over- 
 grown boy of a lord, barbarous and 
 bluftering as the NORTH *, has he like- 
 wife received his orders to denounce to 
 the Commons a laughable poem as a hor- 
 rid crime to make all good chriflians 
 'fhudder ? Are the mod wretched and 
 impious lines to be forged, that a work, 
 which idolizes the whole fex, may be 
 brought into judgment before the crafty 
 
 * Lord North, elded fon of the earl of Guild- 
 ford. 
 
 Scot,
 
 t rig ] 
 
 J Scot, who never loved any woman. 
 This laft aft of the Majority feems 
 almoft to perfecl the fcene, and really 
 quite overwhelms me with gratitude. Yet 
 though I am a young member, I cannot 
 but obferve and lament, that the antient, 
 eftablifhed forms of Parliament have in 
 the prefent cafe been laid afide, as if 
 order had taken leave of the Houfe with 
 good old ONSLOW. The courfe of bufi- 
 nefs has always been, that affairs of im- 
 portance fhould prcvioufly go to a Com- 
 mittce^ to have a full and fair difcuffion, 
 and afterwards the Houfe receives and 
 duly weighs the report of the Committee. 
 The affair you have mentioned is of fo 
 much real conlequence, that it fhould, in 
 my poor opinion, have been referred 
 to the two ufual Committees. Firft, it 
 
 t Lord Mansfield. 
 
 VOL. I. H fhould
 
 fhould have gone to the Committee of 
 Ways and Means, to contrive how the 
 ftate Phyfician and Surgeon can get into 
 my houfe. Secondly, to the Committee of 
 Supply* to vote the fees due to the gen- 
 tlemen for their attendance ; but I have 
 public ceconcmy fo much at heart, tho* I 
 make no parade of it, that I will fav'e 
 the nation this expence, for I will not 
 fuffer either of them to enter my doors. 
 
 The Majority of the Commons, like 
 true country people, feem to have a 
 troublefome overflowing of kindnefs for 
 me, which you know is very apt to 
 forfeit. Yet, like the others fometimes, 
 in the fame moment they fail in a point 
 of neceflary good breeding, even to one of 
 their own members. The Houfe defires 
 Dr. Hebberden and Mr. Hawkins to come 
 to me, but forget to defire me to receive 
 them, and I moil certainly will not. 
 
 Surely,
 
 [ "5 ] 
 
 Surely, my dear Sir, this matter has 
 been too lightly determined upon by the 
 honourable Houfe. It is pretty well known 
 that I have already. :) a Phyfician and 
 Surgeon, whofe characters the foul breath 
 of (lander never reached, and whom I 
 confide in and love. Why fliould I ad- 
 mit any others ? Am I to confent to an 
 unjuft flur upon gentlemen, with whom 
 I have all the reaibn in the world to be 
 fatisfied ? Shall I concur in fuffering 
 party rnadnefs to fix a vile fufpicion, 
 where I know that it ought not to reil ? 
 I will never countenance fo fliameful a 
 proceeding. Honour, juftice, gratitude, 
 private friendfliip^ equally forbid it. 
 
 The Majority of my brother mem- 
 bers feem quite wild in their love. 
 They would force a Phyfician and Surgeon 
 upon me, when I have one of each 
 already, and they forget that my dear 
 friend and chaplain, Churchill, has left 
 H 2 me
 
 [ lit- ] 
 
 me for fome time. Would it not there- 
 fore have looked better, if thefe oblig- 
 ing friends had (hewn fome regard to my 
 fpiritual concerns, and had ordered their 
 own chaplain, the very learned brother of 
 the very * confcientious merchant, and of 
 the very acute fpeaker, to attend me -, or 
 they might perhaps have prevailed on 
 good Mr. Kidgell. He is fo ready to 
 every laudable (and lucrative) work, he 
 would not I believe have hefitated. You 
 might in time have had Obfervatidns on 
 wy converjion and apoftkjhipi though I 
 hope not in a way to make you doubt 
 of the whole , at leaft you would have 
 been fure of a SERIES OF LETTERS in the 
 LEDGER, the profits to be divided be- 
 tween the faid Kidgell and his partner 
 Mac-Faden, according to Kidgell's for- 
 
 * Vi<k an affidavit printed in vol. 3d of a " Seled 
 *' Collection of the moft Interesting Letters," page 28. 
 
 mer
 
 mer plan. I think the Lords too ought 
 to have confidered this important point 
 of chaplainjliip, and lord Sandwich* or 
 lord Le Defpencer, or fome other pious 
 lord, (hould have moved to fend me a 
 Divine Legation of the tyf/iop of Gloucefter* 
 I have been faid to have doubts. I 
 really have none. If I had, that ortho- 
 dox bifhop would furely be able to re- 
 move them ; only I fliould fear that for 
 every one of mine he carried away, he 
 would leave ten of his own behind with 
 me. I might likewife be treated with 
 one of his quaint perfuafives to continence, 
 the only doctrine to which his practice 
 has been fully adequate. It could never 
 come more a propos, nor with greater 
 probability of fuccefs, for that cold, 
 frozen virtue of chaftity* the virtue of 
 age not of youth, feems likely to be as 
 much my portion the reft of this 
 year, as it has been that pedant's every 
 H 3 year
 
 year of his life. * His virtue is fixed as . 
 in afrojl, beyond all the powers of genial 
 fpring, or a charming, lufcious wife : 
 mine I truft will thaw, melt, and refolve 
 itfelf to fprightly dew, long before the 
 firil breath of zephyr. 
 
 After all, my dear Doflor, I might 
 I believe admit the ftate Phyfician and 
 Surgeon without any danger of a Ruffian 
 hcemorrhoidal choltc, but 1 will not do any 
 thing on compulfion, Hal. I do not fufpedt 
 either of them in the leaft to refcmble a 
 I'albot, a Martin, a Forbes, or a Dun. 
 On the contrary, they are both amiable 
 men, and therefore I wifh you would 
 bring them here to dinner as foon as I 
 get a little better, for at prefent if they 
 came, I mould fear they would place 
 
 * Aflt of the Learned the way ? The Learn 'd are blind : 
 That way a Warburton could never find. 
 
 E/ay on Woman, />. 4. /. 15. 
 
 themfelves
 
 [ "9 ] 
 
 themfelves by authority^ one on the right, 
 and the other on the left hand, of their 
 poor patient, and, like Sanctions Doftor 
 with his wand, forbid my tafting any 
 thing 1 ogled, or rather fquinted at. 
 
 I am alone. If you are difcngaged, 
 I wilh you to come here at four, and I 
 will give you half my boiled chicken. 
 We never can want food for laughter, 
 while, in the phrafe of the Jly Fox, 
 George Grenvilk has the CONDUCT OF 
 THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 
 
 I am ever, 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 Your affectionate, humble fervant, 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Dire&cd to Doflor Brocklefby. 
 
 $ Fox, Lord Holland.
 
 t "0 ] 
 
 Two Cards to Dr. HEBBERDEN, and Mr . 
 HAWKINS. 
 
 TV/I R. Wilkes prefents his compliments 
 "*-* to Dr. Hebberden, and is duly fen- 
 fible of the kind care and concern of the 
 Houfe of Commons, not only for his 
 health, but for his fpeedy recovery. He 
 is attended by Dr. Brocklefby, of whofe 
 integrity and ability he has had the ex- 
 perience of many years, and on whofe 
 ikill he has the moft perfect reliance. Mr. 
 Wilkes cannot but be of opinion, that 
 there is a peculiar propriety in the choice 
 he at firft made of Dr. Brocklelby for 
 the cure of what is called a gun-flwt 
 wound, from the circumftance of the 
 Doctor's having been feveral years 
 Phyfician to the army, but at the fame 
 time entertains a real eileem for Dr. 
 Hebberden's great merit, and though 
 he cannot fay, he withes to fee the Doctor 
 at prefent, he hopes that in a few v/eeks 
 he mall be well enough to beg that 
 honour, to eat a bit of mutton in 
 
 Great-George Street. 
 Monday, Dec. 19,
 
 MR. Wilkes prefents his compli- 
 ments to Mr. Hawkins. He 
 fome time ago, from motives of huma- 
 nity^ readily confented, at the requeft of 
 Mr. Martin, to receive the vifits of Dr. 
 Hebberden and Mr. Hawkins. He is 
 now acquainted, that the honour Mr. 
 Hawkins intends him of a vifit to-day is 
 not at the defire of Mr, Martin, and 
 therefore he begs that it may be deferred, 
 till he is more capable of enjoying com- 
 pany. He has every reaibn to continue 
 perfectly fatisfied with the conduct of 
 Mr. Graves, a military furgeon of emi- 
 nence, who extracted the ball. He 
 hopes in a few weeks to be fo well reco- 
 vered, as to be able to receive Mr. 
 Hawkins in Great George Street, and 
 fhall be impatient for an opportunity of 
 (hewing the juft regard he will ever pay 
 to fo diftinguifhed a chara&er. 
 
 Monday, Dec. 19.
 
 [ 122 ] 
 
 The following extracts explain the affair 
 of Alexander Dun. 
 
 From the St. James's Chronicle, Dec 10, 
 
 N Tuefday night laft, foon after 
 the verdid was given for Mr. 
 Wilkes, a man knocked at his door, 
 defiring to fpeak with him on particular 
 bufirtefs; it appearing, by his dialect, 
 he was a Scotchman, and being an 
 entire ftranger, he was refufed admit- 
 tance ; on which he went away to a 
 coffee-houfe near Parliament-Street, 
 where he was overheard by a perfon 
 then prefent, to declare, that himfelf, 
 and ten more men, were determined to 
 cut Mr. Wilkes off, let the event be 
 what it would -, the gentleman gave in^ 
 formation of the above declaration next 
 
 morning,
 
 [ 3 I 
 
 morning, by letter, to Mr. Wilkes, 
 defiring him to be on his guard ; the , 
 affair then refted till Thurfday morning, 
 when the fame perfon, as is fuppofed, 
 brought a letter to Mr. Wilkes's houfe, 
 figned Alexander Dun, the purport of 
 which was to beg an interview with him 
 on an affair of the moft interefting 
 nature, when he was defired to call 
 again at one o'clock, which he did 
 accordingly, and feven o'clock was 
 then the hour appointed ; in the interim, 
 Mr. Wilkes had got feveral of his 
 friends, gentlemen of diftinction, about 
 him. At the above hour the man came, 
 and was ufhered into the parlour, where 
 he waited a Ihort time, and was informed 
 that Mr. Wilkes was then alone, and he 
 fhould be introduced to his prefence ; 
 but, oft going out at the parlour door, 
 two gentlemen, who had placed thern- 
 
 felvcs
 
 [ "4 ] 
 
 felves behind it, feized him by each arm, 
 and flung him on his back. On fearch- 
 ing him a new penknife was found in 
 his pocket, which he pretended he had 
 purchafed about nine months ago : on 
 being farther questioned, he faid fix 
 months, and at lad owned he bought it 
 at Chatham about a fortnight fince. 
 Previous to the time appointed by Mr. 
 Wilkes for his interview, proper affida- 
 vits, containing an accurate detail of the 
 whole tranfaction, were prepared, and a 
 warrant procured from the hon. Mr. 
 juftice Wilmot for apprehending him, 
 which was immediately executed , and 
 we are informed that authenticated evi- 
 dence of the whole proceedings was 
 yefterday laid before a very auguft 
 afiembly, who have ordered the tipftaff 
 to bring the faid Mr. Dun to be exa- 
 mined before that honourable houfc 
 this day. 
 
 Mr.
 
 [ '25 J 
 
 Mr. Wilkes, on the firft intimation 
 of Dun's defign, treated the affair wrth 
 levity, and intended taking no notice of 
 it -, but the worthy -j- fon of a moft 
 worthy commoner, who fome time fmce 
 retired from public bufmefs, happening 
 to be prefent, he, with fome other of 
 Mr. Wilkes's friends, infifted that an 
 enquiry fhould be made into it, when 
 matters turned out as above related. 
 
 f George Onflow, cfq; Member for Surry.
 
 I "6 ] 
 
 .From the St. James's Chronicle, Dec. 13, 1763. 
 
 Copy of a letter to John Wilkes, efq. 
 in Great George Street, Wcftminfter. 
 
 London, Dec. 7, 1763. 
 S I R, 
 
 T Should not do my duty, if I did not 
 * acquaint you that the young Scotch 
 officer, that wanted entrance at your 
 houfe, is a villain, and his intentions are 
 of the blackeft dye! I have been in 
 his company for near four hours. That 
 part of our converfation -that relates, to 
 you, confided chiefly of his intentions 
 of mafiacring you the firfl opportunity, 
 and that there was thirteen more gentle- 
 men of Scotland of the fame refokition, 
 and confederates of his, who was refolved 
 to do it, or die in the attempt. Laft 
 night, when your trial was over, the' 
 gentlemen at rhe coffee houfe quitted the 
 
 room
 
 [ "7 ] 
 
 room that I was in (on account of the 
 (bouts in the hall) and left the Scotch 
 hero and I together, but I abruptly left 
 the room, and went after the people to 
 Great George ftreet, and on hearing a 
 noife at your door, I went up, and, to 
 my great furprize, faw the Scotchman a 
 trying for entrance ; I knocked and had 
 Admittance, which enraged the hero fo 
 much, that he fwore revenge againft the 
 fervant, and was very troublelbme ; 
 when I went out, I heard a gentleman 
 taking him to uflc upon his vowing re- 
 venge on you or your fervant, upon 
 which I told the gentleman a fmall part 
 of what I knew, and he put him in the 
 hands of two watchmen, and ordered 
 him to the Round-houfe, but at the corner 
 of Great George ftreet, I am told he was 
 reicued, and ran away. There was con- 
 verfation pafled between him and the 
 company that is not fafe to communicate 
 
 by
 
 C 128 ] 
 
 by tetter : his principles and zeal make it 
 unfafe for fuch an abandoned wretch 
 to be at large. Your own difcretion, 
 I hope, will guide you to prevent any 
 thing that may be intended. I am, 
 with all refpeft, Sir, your's, 
 
 M. DARLY. 
 
 Cranbdrn-Alley, Leicefler-Fields.
 
 [ "9 J 
 
 Copy of the Letter from Alexander Dun 
 to John Wilkcs, efq. 
 
 London, Dec. 8, 1763. 
 S I R, 
 
 A S I have fomething of confequence 
 to communicate to you, I mould 
 be glad to know what time would be 
 moft convenient for me to call upon you 
 this day. I called once before, and was 
 refufed admittance. Be fo good as fend 
 me an anfwer by my fervant, who will 
 wait for it. Lieutenant Orchat of dra- 
 goons, who is now in Scotland, defires 
 his compliments to you for the many 
 civilities fhewn him when he was quar- 
 tered near your country feat ; you may 
 be aflured thit many of the Scotch have 
 ftill. a regard for you, and none of them 
 more fo than your moft humble and obe- 
 dient fervant, 
 
 ALEX. DUN. 
 
 Direct to me at Mr.Whytes's, peruke- 
 maker, Lieutenant of Marines. 
 VOL. I. I
 
 f 130 J 
 
 Journals of the Houfe of Commons, 
 vol. 29, p. 721. 
 
 ' Paris, Hotel deSaxe, Jan. n, 1764. 
 S I R, 
 
 T Cannot exprefs the concern I am under 
 * from the impoflibility 1 now find of 
 attending my duty in parliament on the 
 1 9th of this month. I' have fuffered very 
 much from the tour I made here in the 
 holydays to fee my daughter. My wound 
 is again become extremely painful, the 
 parts are very much inflamed, and a fever 
 attends it. I enclofe a certificate of one 
 of the king's phyficians, and of a furgeon 
 of the army, gentlemen of eminence in 
 their profefiion, who think it abfolutely 
 necefiary for me to ft ay fome time longer 
 at Paris. I refer to the certificate itfelf 
 for the particulars. 
 
 The
 
 The impatience I feel to juftify my ft If . 
 to the Houfe from the ground Icfs and 
 cruel attacks made upon me, and the zeal 
 I hope ever to retain for the vindication 
 of the facred rights of the Commons of 
 Great Britain, and the privileges of par- 
 liament, both of which have been grofsly 
 violated in my perfon, had determined 
 me to fet out for England on Friday next, 
 but I now find rnyfdf incapable of per- 
 forming the journey. 
 
 I am therefore, Sir, under the necefiity 
 of intreating you to fubmit my cafe to the 
 Houfe, and I doubt not from their juf- 
 tice that a more diftant day will be ap- 
 pointed, when it may be in my power to 
 attend the difcuilion of points, fo very 
 important in themfelves, and in which I 
 am fo very materially concerned. 
 
 I 2 1 would
 
 C 132 I 
 
 I would not, Sir, implore this of the 
 Houfe, if I thought the delay could be 
 attended with any poflible inconvenience 
 to the public ; and I beg to obferve that 
 I feized the firft moment, which the re- 
 folutions of parliament gave me to enter 
 my appearance to the informations, which 
 have been filed againft me'in the King's 
 Bench. 
 
 I am, with due refpect and efteem, 
 
 S I R, 
 Your moft obedient, 
 
 humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Dire&ed to the right honourable- Sir John Cuft.
 
 [ '33 ] 
 
 Journals, p. 722. 
 The Certificate inckfed. 
 
 , foufiignes, medecin confultant 
 du Roi, ci-devant medecin en chef 
 defesarmeesenAllemagne&enEfpagne-, 
 & nous, chirurgien confultantdes armees, 
 & chirurgien -major du regiment des 
 gardes Francoifes, certifions queMr.Jean 
 Wilkes eft dans un etat qui ne lui per- 
 met point, tant par rapport a fa bleflure, 
 qui n'eft pas entierement cicatrifee, que 
 par rapport a la fievre qui lui eft furve- 
 nue, d'entreprendre la route de Paris a 
 Londres ; qu'il feroit a craindre, vu 1'in- 
 flammation & le bourfouflement confide- 
 rable arrives depuis pen de jours, qu'il 
 ne fe format une hernie, a laquelle il ne 
 feroit point pofiible de remedier ; que, 
 pour preVenir cet accident dont il eft me- 
 I 3 nace,
 
 t 134 J 
 
 nace, & que le mouvement violent, tcl 
 que celui d'une chaiie de pofle, & 1'agi- 
 tation de la mer, ne manqueroient pas de 
 determiner, il eft abfolument indifpenfa- 
 ble qu'il refte encore quelque temps a 
 Paris. En foi de quoi nous lui avons de- 
 livre le prefent certificat. 
 
 A Paris, ce 11 Janvier, 1764. 
 
 NINNtN. 
 DUFOUART.
 
 London, Jan. i7th, 1764. 
 SIR, 
 
 T received, by the poft, this day, the 
 * favour of your letter, dated from the 
 Hotel de Saxe at Paris the nth inftant, 
 together with a certificate of a phyfi- 
 cian and furgeon, both which I fhall, 
 according to your deiire, communicate 
 to the Houfe of Commons on Thurfday 
 next, to which day the Houfe yefterday 
 adjourned. 
 
 I am very fbrry, Sir, for the account 
 which you give of your health; and am, 
 
 S I R, 
 
 Your moil obedient, 
 humble Servant, 
 
 JOHN CUST. 
 
 Dirtied to John Wilkes, efquire. 
 I 4
 
 [ 136 J 
 
 The following letter is not inferted In 
 the Journals. 
 
 Paris, Feb. 5, 1764. 
 Si R, 
 
 T took the liberty of tranfmitting to 
 ** you on the i ith of laft month the ori- 
 ginal of a certificate, which was entirely 
 the hand writing of Mr. Ninnin, one 
 of the king's phyficians, and figned by 
 that gentleman, as well as by Mr. Du- 
 fouart, afurgeon of the army. It was not 
 imagined here that any thing more was 
 neceffary among gentlemen. If theHoufe, 
 or any {ingle member,had defired a notarial 
 aft of the authenticity of the certificate, 
 I mould fooner have troubled you with 
 the enclofed, which is attefted by our 
 ambaflador at this court. It now be- 
 comes my honour to requefl that it may 
 be laid before the Houfe. 
 
 I do not mean, Sir, to mifpend my 
 
 time in making any remarks on the late 
 
 proceedings,
 
 [ '37 ] 
 
 proceedings. They are fo obvious, that 
 they will immediately occur to every man, 
 who is not loft to the principles of virtue, 
 and dead to the feelings of honour and 
 humanity. I am not able at prefent to 
 fay much, but this I will add, that I am 
 fure my countrymen of the prefent age, 
 and the faithful hiftorian's page, will do 
 juftice to the uprightnefs of my intentions, 
 to my ardent love of the conftitution of 
 our happy ifland, and to the honeft efforts 
 I have made in the caufe of liberty. I re- 
 joice that I have been the inftrument in 
 the hand of Providence to obtain very im- 
 portant legal decifions in favour of my 
 fellow fubjefts. 
 
 I am, with becoming regard, 
 
 S I R, 
 Your very humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Dire&ed to the right honourable Sir John Cuft.
 
 r 133 ] 
 
 A Certificate, omitted in the Journals. 
 
 pARDEVANT les confeillers du 
 "* Roi, notaires au Chatelet de Paris ; 
 fouffignes, furent prefents M. Henri 
 Ninnin, medecin confultant du roi, & 
 ci-devant rnedecin en chef de fes armees 
 en Allemagne & en Efpagne, & fieur 
 Paul Dufeuart, chirurgien confultant des 
 armees du Roi,& chirurgien-major du re- 
 giment des gardes Fran^oifes, tons deux 
 de nous notaires fouffignes, bien connus, 
 demeurant enclos de FAbbaye Saint- 
 Germain-des-Pres, paroifie Saint-Sim- 
 phorien. 
 
 Lefquels, en confirmant le certificat 
 fous fignature privee, qu'ils declarent 
 avoir donne le 1 1 Janvier dernier, & qui 
 a' etc envoye a Londres, ont, par ces 
 prefentes, de nouveau certifie et attefte a 
 tous qu'il appartiendra, que le dit jour, 
 1 1 Janvier dernier, & pendant le refle du 
 
 meme
 
 [ '39 1 
 
 meme mois, Mr. Jean Wilkes etoit 
 dans un etat qui ne lui persiettoit pas, 
 tant par rapport a fa bleflure, qui n'e- 
 toit pas entitlement cicatrifee, que par 
 rapport a la fievre qui lui etoit furvenue, 
 d'entreprendre la route de Paris a Lon- 
 dres , qu'il auroit ete a craindre, vu 1'in- 
 flammation & bourfouflement confidera- 
 ble arrives alors a fa plaic, qu'il ne fe 
 format une hernie, a laquelle il n'auroit 
 pas ete poifible de rcmedier -, que, pour 
 prevenir cet accident dont il etoit me- 
 nace, & que le mouvement violent, tel 
 que celui d'une chaife de Jpofte, & 1'agi- 
 tation de la mer, n'auroient pas manque 
 de determiner, il etoit abfolument in- 
 difpenfable qu'il reftat encore quelquc 
 temps a Paris-, ce qus les dits fieurs com- 
 parans out affirme & attefie, pour avoir 
 vilite & panfe le dit fieur Wilkes pen- 
 dant fa makdie, & ont requis aftes aux 
 
 notaires
 
 [ 140 ] 
 
 notaires fouflignes, pour fervir & valoir 
 ce que de raifon. 
 
 Fait & paffe a Paris, en 1'Etude, Pan 
 mil fept cent foixante-quatre, le 3 Fevrier, 
 & ont figne 
 
 (Scelle les dits jour & an.) 
 
 NINNIN. DUFOUART. 
 R O B I N E A U. 
 DE LA RUE.
 
 [ 14' J 
 
 * This day, the 5th of February 
 1764, there appeared before me M. de 
 
 * It has been one of the difgraces of a late Administration, 
 that fcarcely a (Ingle fentence of any public aft was good-Enp;- 
 lith. The reafon perhaps is, that no Englifh were employed in 
 the real bufinefs ? Lord Hertford figns a paper of only tiu 
 fentences in our language, drawn up by his Scottifn Secretary, 
 David Hume, and yet we find three palpable blunders in it. 
 THERE appeared. Where ? It is not mentioned in the acl: 
 of the Englifli Ambaflador lahsre Monfieur de la Rue ap- 
 peared. Where did Lord Hertford fee Monfieur de la Rue ? 
 Was it at Paris, Verfailles, Fontainebleau, or Compiegne ? 
 It is not ftated in this paper. The French gentlemen are ac- 
 curate. Their Aft is declared to be done at Paris on the third 
 of February. We have no hint where Lord Hertford was on 
 the fifth. From any information this paper affords us, he 
 might be returned to London, and might have figned it as a 
 jfmfitt of the Peace. Lord Hertford is not named as Ambtf- 
 fador, nor his capacity of attefting a public act ftated. 
 
 There appeared Manfieur de la Rue is a {trange and barfli 
 conftruftion, not very ufual. The verb takes tke place of 
 it's own nominative. It ihould rather be, Monjleur de la Rut 
 appeared before me, &c. We fhould know firft who the per- 
 ibn is, before the quality of appearing, or indeed any other, it 
 given to him. Such is the general concord of our grammar j 
 but that Adminiftration were as little felicitous to preferve 
 toncord among verbs and ncuns, as among provinces and king- 
 doms. They made a libel on the late French Minifter, Mon- 
 fieur D'Eon, I charitably hope more from ignorance than 
 malice. When that gentleman's public charafter ceafed, they 
 declared he had no character. The London Gazette told 
 the world, His Majefty has been pleaded to declare that Mon- 
 fieur D'Eon has no longer ANY CHARACTER here, and hat 
 forbid him the Court. 
 
 Lord
 
 la Rue, and made oath that he was a 
 notary publick, that he had figned the 
 above paper, that M. Robineau was 
 alfo a notary publick, and had figned 
 the fame. In witnefs whereof I have 
 hereunto * affixed my hand and feal. 
 
 HERTFORD. (L.S.) 
 
 * Lord Hertford fays, that he has affixed hh hand and fea!> 
 How does a man affix hh hand? I may fet my hand and feal 3 
 or I may affix tr.y feal ', but how can I affix my hand If
 
 r 143 ] 
 
 A Letter to the Earl of Bute, fuppofed 
 to have been written by Mr. Wilkes. 
 It was prefixed to the new edition of 
 
 THE FALL OF * MORTIMER. 
 A TRAGEDY. 
 
 Fcriad my tongue to fpeak of Mortimer ; 
 But I will find him when he lies afleep, 
 And in his ear I'll holla Mortimer! 
 Nay, I will have a darling taught to fpeak 
 Nothing but Mortimer, and give it him, 
 To keep his anger Hill in motion. 
 
 SHAKESPEARE. 
 
 Mortimer 
 
 Is a great Lord of late, and a new thing ; 
 A Prince, an Earl, and Coufin to the King. 
 BEN JOHNSON. 
 
 * The hiftory of Mortimer is told at length in No. 5. of 
 the NcrtJi Briton, which was publifhed July 3, 1762. It has 
 for its motto, 
 
 Dabitur mora parvula, dum res 
 Nota urbi ct populo, contingat frincipis aures, 
 Dedecus ;//sdomus fciat ultimus. JUVENAL, 
 
 No. 45. had indeed wonderful luck ; but the elder brotherj 
 No. 5. dcferved ftill more to have been taken notice of, and 
 cerhaps actually laid the foundation of the younger brother'* 
 fortune.
 
 TO THE 
 
 Right Honourable JOHN STUART, 
 Earl of BUTE, 
 
 Chancellor of the Univerfity of ABERDEEN in 
 SCOTLAND, firft Commiffioner of the 
 TREASURY in ENGLAND, one of the fix- 
 teen Reprefentatives of the Peers of SCOT- 
 LAND, one of his MAJESTY'S moft ho- 
 nourable PRIVY COUNCIL, and KNIGHT 
 of the moft noble ENGLISH Order of the 
 GARTER. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 "Tl/rANY and various motives have con- 
 * curred to give a peculiar propriety 
 to the fond wifh I had formed of making 
 this humble offering at thefhrine of Bute. 
 I have felt an honeft indignation at all 
 the invidious, unjuft and odious appli- 
 cations of the ftory of Roger Mortimer^ 
 I abfolutely difclaim the moft diftant 
 allufion, and I purpofely dedicate this. 
 
 Play
 
 [ H5 3 
 
 Play to your Lordfcip, becaufe hiftory 
 docs not fuir.ifh a more (Inking contrail, 
 than there is between the two minivers, 
 in the reigns of Edward the ThirJ., a::cl cf 
 George thf Third. I fhall trace this through 
 a variety of the moil intereuing particu- 
 lars, fecure of the fatisfaction yoar Loixl- 
 fhip will find by accompanying me in fo 
 pleafing a purfuit. 
 
 Edwar d the Third was held in the molt 
 abfolute flavery by his rno.her and her 
 ininider. The firft nobles of England were 
 excluded from the king's councils, and 
 the minion difpofed of ail places of profit 
 and truft. The king's uncles did not re- 
 tain the fhadow of power and authority. 
 They were treated with infult, and the 
 whole royal family became not only de- 
 prefled, but forced to depend upon the 
 Caprice of zn infolent favourite. The 
 young king had been victorious over the 
 Scots, then a fierce, favage, and perfi- 
 VOL, I. K dious
 
 dious'pieople, in that reign our cruel ene- 
 mies, 'happily in this our deareft friends. 
 On every favourable opportunity, either 
 by the diftractions in the public councils 
 of this kingdom during a minority, or 
 by the abfcnce of the national troops, they 
 had ravaged England with fire and {word. 
 Edward might have compelled them to 
 accept of any terms, fo glorious and de- 
 cifive was the fuccefs of his arms, but 
 Roger Mortimer, from perfonal motives 
 of power and ambition, haftily concluded 
 an ignominous peace, by which he facri- 
 iiced the triumphs of a profperous war, 
 and the jufleft claims of conquefl. 
 
 It is with thehigheft rapture, my Lord, 
 I now look back to that difgraceful asra, 
 becaufe I feel the ftri'king contraft it 
 makes with the halcyon days of 'George the 
 Third. This excellent prince is held i(F 
 no kind of captivity. 'All his nobles have 
 free accefs'to him. The throne is not 
 
 now
 
 now befieged. Court-favour not confined 
 to one partial ftream, flows in a variety 
 of different channels, enriching//^ whole 
 country. There is now the mod perfect 
 union among all the branches of the royal 
 family. No court minion now finds it ne- 
 cefiary,for theprefervationof his own om- 
 nipotence, by the vileft infmuations to di- 
 videeither the royal, or any noblefamilies. 
 The king's uncle is now treated with that 
 marked diftmclion which his fingular me- 
 rit is entitled to, both from the nation, 
 and the throne, eftablifhed by his valour 
 in extinguidiing a foul rebellion, which 
 buril upon us from its native North, anci 
 almoft overfprcad the land. Our fove- 
 reign is confcious that he owes more to 
 our great deliverer than any prince in 
 Europe owes to any fubjeft i and he fets 
 a noble example of gratitude to princes, 
 que les rois, ces illuftres ingrats, font ajfcz 
 malhtureux pour ne connollre fas }. No 
 
 f Voltaire, 
 
 K 2 fai'c uriic
 
 [ '48 ] 
 
 favourite now has trampled upon the 
 moft rdpectable of the Engliih nobility, 
 and driven them from their fovereign's 
 councils. No difcord now rages in the 
 kingdom, but every tongue blefies the 
 minifter who has fo many ways endeared 
 himfelf no lefs to the nobility than to the 
 whole body of the people. 
 
 Primorss pcpuli arripuit, populumque tributim. 
 
 To compleat the contrail, we have now 
 an advantageous , a glorious peace, fully 
 adequate to all the fuccefles, to all the 
 glories of the war. 
 
 The prefent internal policy of this 
 kingdom, my Lord, is equally to be ad- 
 mired. Our gracious fovereign maturely 
 'examines all matters of national impor- 
 tance, and no unfair or partial reprefen- 
 tation of any bufmefs, or of any of his 
 fubjecls, is furFered to be made to him, 
 nor can any character be aflfafiinated in 
 the dark by an unconditional Prime 
 
 Mini/ter.
 
 [ 149 1 
 
 Minifter. He regularly, by your advice, 
 attends every private council of real mo- 
 ment, and nothing is there fubmitted to 
 the arbitrary decilion of one man. This 
 happy ftate of things we owe to your 
 lordlhip's unexampled care of hisMajefly's 
 youth. The importantpromife you made 
 us, that we fhould frequently fee our fo- 
 vereign, like his great predecefibr, Wil- 
 liam the ThirJ, prefiding in perfon at the 
 Britlffl trcp.fury, has been fulfilled, to the 
 advantage and glory of thefe times, and 
 to the perfecting of that fclieme cf ceco- 
 Komy fo earnellly recommended from the 
 throne, and fo ably carried into execution 
 'felfand YOUR chancellor cfthe ex- 
 -\) as well as fo minutely by the lord 
 
 f- " Sir Francis Dafliwood, now Lord Le Defpenfer, who 
 from puzzling all his life at tavern bills, was called by lord 
 Bute to adminifter the finances of a kingdom above an hun- 
 dred millions in debt, and ftiled by him, in the royal manner, 
 my Chancellor,' 1 '' 
 
 K 3 fteward
 
 E 150 ] 
 
 toward of the houfliold f . Tour whole 
 council of ftate too is compofed of men 
 .of the firft abilities ; the duke of Bed- 
 ford; the earls of Halifax, Egremont, 
 and Gower; the lords Henley, Mansfield, 
 and Ligonier; Mr. George Grenville, 
 and Mr. Fox. The bufmefs of this great 
 empire is not however trufted to them : 
 the mod arduous and complicate parts 
 are not only digeiled and prepared, but 
 finally revifed and fettled, by Gilbert El- 
 liot, Alexander * Wedderburn, efqrs. 
 
 f " Earl Talbot, who thought a civil lift of 00,000!. a 
 year inefficient to keep up the hofpitality of a private nokle- 
 inan's kitchen, in the king of England's palace." 
 
 * Mr. Churchill has drawn his piclure to the life. 
 
 To mifchief train'd, e'en from his mother's womb. 
 
 Grown old in fraud, tho' yet in manhood's bloom, 
 
 Adopting arts, by which gay villains rife, 
 
 And reach the heights, which honeft men dcfpife j 
 
 j(Viute at the bar, and in the fenate loud, 
 
 Dull 'moiigft the dulleft, proudeft of the proud j 
 
 A pert, prim, prater of the northern race, 
 
 Guilt in his heart, and famine in his face, fi3Y, 
 
 Sir
 
 .{ '5' ] 
 
 Sir Henry Erfkine, baronet, and the 
 Home -j-. 
 
 Another reafon why I chufe your 
 Lorclihip for the fubject of this dedica- 
 tion, is, that you are faid, by former de~ 
 dicators t to cultivate with fuccefs the po- 
 lite arts. How fparing and penurious is 
 this praife ? Such literary economy is really 
 odious. They ought to have gone fur- 
 ther, and to have (hewn how liberally you 
 are pleafed to reward all men of genius. 
 Malloch * and the Home have been 
 
 f " The Rev. John Home, Efqj firft a preacher among 
 the Scottish Preibyterians, then a Play-wright. This Preacher, 
 like the famous Threfher, the blind Cobler, and others, was 
 at the beginning looked upon as a prodigy of genius and learn- 
 ing, merely from being thought to have, at an early age, pro- 
 duced one tolerable piece. He went on, and it was foon feen 
 how mean and contemptible his talents were. He funk into 
 obfcurity, and his fame, like the torrent he fpeaks of in 
 Pouglas, 
 
 Infufed SILENCE with a STILLY J SOUND." 
 1 Var. Left. SILLY. 
 
 " David Malhch, author of many forgotten poems and 
 
 plays, was formerly an u&er to a fchool in Scotland. On 
 
 his arrival from the North, he became a great declaimer at 
 
 K 4 the
 
 [ '5* ] 
 
 nobly provided for. Let Churchill, or 
 Armftrong, writg.like them, your lord- 
 
 the London coffee-houfes againft the Chriftian religion. Old 
 furiy Dennis was !iic,bly offended at his conduft, and plwayj 
 railed him Moloch. Ke then changed his name to Mallet, 
 and (ben after pabli/hcd An Epiftle to Mr. Pope on Verbal 
 CriiiciftK. Theobald was attacked in it, and foon revenged 
 f !n the neiv edition of Shakdpeare : " An an- nymous 
 * ; v.rlterhas, like a Scotch pedlar, in wit, unbraced his pack 
 " on the <ubjecT-. I may fairly fay of this author, as Fal- 
 " fiafie doeso; Poins Hang him, baboon ! his wit is as thick 
 " as Tewkfoury muflard ; there is r.o more corceit in him 
 *' than a mullet." Preface, f. 52. Edition of 1733. 
 
 a This Mai'\-h had llie happinefj of a wife who l\adfahk 
 enough. She believed that her hultand was the grfatt.lt- pret 
 and wit of the age. ome-;mes fhe would feize and kiis his 
 hand with rapture, and if the looks of a friend exj reCed ar y 
 furprife, would apologize, that it <u,as the dear li<tnd that ivroie 
 thofe divine pcerr.s. She once lamented to a lady, how rr.uch 
 the reputation of her hufband fufiered by his name being fo 
 irequently confounded with that of Dr. Srr.cllet. The lady 
 aufvvered, Madam, there it a fhorr remedy, let your husland keep 
 to. hi* own name" 
 
 " The fame man publi/hed Lord Bolingbroke's Pof humous 
 Works, for which a Prefentment was made agair.ft hi^n by 
 the Grand Jury of Middlesex. Penlioner Johnlbn faid, that 
 Lord Bolingbroke had charged a blunderbufs with ali mr.nner 
 of combijflibles againft the human race, and that he dared not 
 let it cffhimfelf, but had hired a rafcal to pull the trigger." 
 
 In *fie oftavo Abridgment of Johnfon's Dictionary, is an 
 article ef " alias for otherwiJe, as Mallet ptherwife.M//scA." 
 
 iliip's
 
 [ '53 ] 
 
 fhip's clafiical tafte will relim their works, 
 and patronize the authors. You, my 
 lord, are faid to be not only a Patron^ 
 but a Judge^ and Malloch adds, that he 
 w'fhes, for the honour of our country, 
 that this praife were not, almoft exclu- 
 fively, your own. I wifh too, for the ho- 
 nour of my country, and to preferve your 
 lordfhip from the contagion of a ma- 
 lignant envy, that you would not again 
 give permijfion to a Scottifli fcribbler to fa- 
 crifice almoft the whole body of our no- 
 bility to his itch of panegyric on you, of 
 pay from you ; and I fubmit, whether a 
 future inconvenience may not refult from 
 fo remarkable an inftance how certain 
 and fpeedy the way to obtain the loft is, 
 by means of thefirft. 
 
 Almoft all the fciences, my lord, have 
 at length made fo great a progref in 
 England, that we are become the ob- 
 jects of jealoufy to the reft of Europe, 
 
 but
 
 r 154 j 
 
 but under your aufpices Botany and 
 tragedy have now reached the utmoit 
 height of perfection. Not only the Sy- 
 ftem of Power, but the Vegetable Syftem 
 likewife has been compleated, by the 
 joint labours of your lordfhip, and the 
 great doctor Hill. Tragedy, under Mal- 
 Joch and the Home, has with us rivalled 
 the Greek model, and united the dif- 
 ferent merits of the great moderns. The 
 fire of Shakefpeare, and the correctnefs 
 of Racine, have met in your two coun- 
 trymen. One other exotic too I muft 
 not forget : Arthur Murphy, gent. He 
 has the additional merit of aBing no lefs 
 than of 'writing, fo as to touch, in the 
 moft exquifite manner, all the fine feel- 
 ings of the human frame. I have 
 fcarcely ever felt myfelf more forcibly 
 affected, than by this excellent, but poor, 
 neglected player, except a few years 
 ago at the dutchefs of Queenfbury's, 
 
 where
 
 C 155 ] 
 
 where your lordfhip fo frequently exhi- 
 bited. In one part, which was remark- 
 ably humane and amiable f, you were 
 fo great, that the general exclamation 
 was, here you did not a8. In another 
 fart you were no lefs perfect. I mean 
 in the famous fcene of Hamlet, where 
 you pour fatal poifon into the ear of a 
 good unfufpecting king. If the great 
 names of Murphy and Bute^ as players^ 
 penfantur eddem trutina^ it is no flattery 
 to fay, that you, my Lord, were not only 
 fuperior, but even unrivalled by him, as 
 well as by all, who have ever appeared on 
 the great ftage of the world As a 
 writer^ I take Mr. Murphy rather to ex- 
 cel you, except in points of orthography ; 
 but as an actor, he can form no preten- 
 fion to an equality. Nature indeed in 
 
 f Lord Bute was fond of acYmg Lothario. It was the ex- 
 prefiion of Frederic prince of Wales, eccboed by the public, 
 Here Fute does not afi. 
 
 her
 
 her utmoft Jimplicity we admire in Mr. 
 Murphy ; but art, art characterizes ycur 
 bfdfh!p. 
 
 This too gives your lord (hip a claim 
 to the dedication of this Play. You are 
 perfect in every thing refpecYmg the 
 powers of afting. Your whole mind has 
 been formed to it. All your faculties 
 have been directed to this important ob- 
 ject. While Mr. Pitt, lord Temple, and 
 others, your cotemporaries, unmindful 
 of fuch great acquirements, were only 
 preparing themfelves for t'ie national bu- 
 finefs of parliament, and beginning to 
 tuk'j a difdnguifhed part in that iingle 
 fpLcre, you, after a feven years SERVICE 
 in the Hcitfe cf Peers, were become per- 
 fcdt in your various parts, and con- 
 defcended to tread many a private fcage 
 in the high bufkins of pompous, fono- 
 rcus tragedy. With what fuptrior fuc- 
 cefs I record with pleafure. Mr. Pitt 
 
 and
 
 [ '57 ] 
 
 and his noble brother are now both in a 
 private ftation. You hold the firfc of- 
 fice of this kingdom, and enjoy, almoft 
 exclvjively, the fmilts of your fovereign. 
 They have only the empty applaufe of 
 their country. 7'his too they Ihare with 
 others j a duke of Newcafile and Devon- 
 fhire ; a marquis of Rockingham ; an 
 earl of Hardwick ; and the two fpirited 
 young nobles, who Rand fo high in fame 
 and virtue, whom England glories that 
 fhe can call her own, the dukes off 
 Grafton and Portland. Thefe illuftrious 
 characters will ever be refpccted by your 
 lordfhip for their ardent love of our So- 
 vereign and of Liberty^ as well as ho- 
 noured by this nation, as the declared, 
 
 f The Duke of Grafton afterwards fold himfelf to the 
 Thane, repented of the god he had unwittingly done, aflced 
 pardon, and was forgiven. By way of atonement, and to 
 accommodate himfelf to his new friends, he grew arbi- 
 trary, mifchievous, and cruel, in a manner worthy the baft 
 the remorfelefs, tyrant line of the Stuarts. 
 
 deter-
 
 determined, and combined enemies of 
 defpotic, infolent, contemptible favour - 
 itifm. 
 
 As Tragedy and Botany have thus 
 reared their heads, give me leave to re- 
 commend to your lordihip one important 
 point refpecting the Sciences and the Belles 
 Lcttres, which ilill remains unfettled : I 
 mean orthography. The French Academy 
 has fixed it for their nation ; and yet a 
 bold modern, Voltaire, has dared to de- 
 viate from their rules. He endeavours 
 to eftablim a new orthography, ftill nearer 
 approaching to the pronunciation. With 
 a polite nobleman, this mud bear the 
 palm, if not of correcftnefs, yet of grace 
 and elegance. Some fpecimens of this 
 kind in our own tongue, which your 
 lordfhip has feen, have much amufed me, 
 although the deviations from the vulgar 
 mode might not perhaps be fupported 
 with the learned arguments of that amaz- 
 ing
 
 ing French genius. Indeed, my lord, 
 the letters, to which I allude, are fo cu- 
 rioii3, that I wifh fafrxfaifiviiU of them, 
 as we have of one famous genuine letter 
 of your countryman Archibald Bower -f . 
 They would, I am perfuaded, excel all 
 the curious manufcripts in your univerfity 
 of Aberdeen, or among the immenfe col- 
 lection of learned books of your late va- 
 luable purchafe in the Argyle library. 
 May I not therefore hope, that as the- 
 Definitive Treaty is now figned, your 
 lordmip's labours will be directed to 
 this important point, and that we may 
 expect to fee a compleat Orthographi- 
 cal Dictionary, to determine the knotty 
 point of Britain for Briton, which has 
 of late puzzled that great writer, the 
 
 f Vide Dr. JeLn-Dsuglafi's feveral pamphlets relative to 
 ilver's corvdp"iidence with the "Jcjiiits. 
 
 GREAT
 
 [ 160 ] 
 
 CRE AT BRITON fhimfelf, notwithftanding 
 the excellence of his Scottifli education ? 
 Eafe and elegance will, I am perfuaded, 
 ftill attend your lordfhip, as infeparably as 
 they have ever done, nor will you in this 
 cafe be in danger of being forfaken by 
 them, although Benedift, or, if you pleafe 
 in your own botanical phrafe, Carduus 
 Benedi&us, fays, now he is turned ORTHO- 
 GRAPH ER, his words are a very f ant aftical 
 banquet^ juft fo many fir ange diflies. 
 
 I mould have added, my lord, that 
 the Play, of which I now make the 
 humble offering, is a Tragedy^ the moft 
 grave and moral of all poems. With a 
 happy propriety, therefore, it comes in- 
 
 J- Thefe endearing words, Born *nd educated in this country, 
 1 glory in the name of Britain, were permitted to be feen in 
 the above royal Orthography, of Britain for Briton. Some 
 pretended to give an Icon Bajilike of his facred majefty King 
 George the Third from that fingle word. The political writer, 
 the Briton t in feveral pafiages followed the royal Ortho. 
 graphy. 
 
 fcribed
 
 fcribed to your lordihip, the moft grave, 
 the mod moral, of all men. A witty co- 
 medy I would never have offered to your 
 lordlhip, nor indeed to any of your 
 countrymen. Wit is an ignis fatuus, 
 which bewilders and leads aftray. It is 
 the primroje path, which conducts to 
 folly. Your lordfhip has never deviated 
 into it. You have marched on with fo- 
 lemn dignity, keeping ever the true 
 tragic ftep, and on the greateft occafions, 
 SO known, SO honoured at the Houfc 
 of Lords f, exhibiting to the world 
 what you learned on^the ftage, the moft 
 pompous diction wklda the boldeft thea- 
 trical fwell, infinitely fuperior to all the 
 light airs of wit or humour. The eafy 
 Jock of laughing comedy you never con- 
 defcended to wear. 
 
 \ Grac'd as thou art with all the pvufr of words, 
 
 So known, fo honour'd, at the Houle of Lords. POPE. 
 
 Thefe two lines on Lord Mansfield are rather bathos and 
 fcurlcfque than panegyrick j but Mr. Wiikes ferioufly and 1'x- 
 tally experienced his Lord/hip's foicer of <unrds in the altera- 
 tion of the records. 
 
 VOL. I. L I have
 
 [ 162 ] 
 
 I have one thing more to urge -to your 
 lordfliip, as this Play is unhappily im- 
 perfect. Your lordfhip loves the flage : 
 fo does Mr. Murphy. Let me intreat 
 your lordfhip to affift your friend in per- 
 fecting the weak fcenes of this Tragedy, . 
 and from the crude labours of Ben John- 
 Ion and others, to give us a compleac 
 Play. It is the warmeft wifli of my heart, 
 that the Earl of BUTE may fpeedily com- 
 pleat the fiery <?/ ROGER MORTIMER. 
 I hope that your lordfhip will gracioujly 
 condefcend 10 undertake this arduous 
 tafk, to which parts like yours are pe- 
 culiarly adapted. A variety of anec- 
 dotes in real life will fuperfede the leaft. 
 r.ecefiky of poetical fiftion. To you 
 every thing will be eafy. The fifth Aft 
 of this Play will find thofe great talents 
 {till in full vigour, even after you have 
 run fo wonderful a career. If more im- 
 ,-portant concerns, either of bufinefs or 
 a&ftfemenf, engage you too much, I beg, 
 
 my
 
 my lord, that you will pleafe royally to 
 COMMAND Mr. Murphy, as Mr. Mac- 
 pherfon fays you COMMANDED him, to- 
 publifh the profe-pocms of Fingal and 
 Temora. Such a work will immortalize 
 your glory in the literary, as the Peace 
 of Paris will in the political, world ; and 
 I venture to prophecy, that when the 
 name of ROGER MORTIMER mall be 
 mentioned, that of BUTE will follow to 
 the lateft times f . 
 
 f This idea does not feem to be difagreeable to the noble 
 Lord, if the following pafiage of a late Journal be true. 
 '* We hear with pleafure of the progrefs of the polite arts 
 " even to ultima Tkule. We are informed from the north 
 " of Scotland, that at Mount Stewart, in the ifle of Bute, 
 " is lately finifhed a fuperb cenotaph, of the fineft ftatuaiy 
 " marble. 
 
 ' The defign is belt explained in the infcription. . 
 Felici Genio 
 
 et 
 
 Sterns Famae 
 ROGERI MORTIMER 
 
 Comitis de March 
 
 Quod monftravit viam 
 
 Hoc quale cumque grati animi et honoris monumentum 
 
 Pofuit 
 
 Johannes Stuart 
 COMES PI BUTE." 
 
 L 2 Give
 
 r '64 i 
 
 Give me leave now, my lord, to offer 
 my thanks as an Englifhman for your 
 public conduct. At your accejjion to 
 power, you found us a diftracted, dif- 
 vinited nation. The late abandoned mi- 
 ni fer of the people had wickedly extended 
 every art of corruption through all ranks 
 of men, the fenate not excepted : I 
 fpeak of the late venal parliament. You, 
 my lord, have made us an united and 
 happy nation. Corruption ftarted like a 
 guilty thing, upon your fummons of Mr. 
 Fox ; nor have I fmce heard of a fmgle 
 inftance of undue, unconftitutional in- 
 fluence exerted in the fenate. I now 
 fpeak of the prefent virtuous parliament. 
 Your lordfhip too from every foreign 
 court has received the moft flattering 
 teftimonies of an unbounded confidence 
 in your veracity and good faith, equal to 
 their juft fenfe of your tranfcendent abilities. 
 
 I beg pardon, my lord, for having fo 
 long detained the patriot minifter of the 
 
 patriot
 
 patriot king, from the great fcenes of 
 foreign bufmefs, or the rooting out cor- 
 ruption at home, or the innocent employ- 
 ments of his leifure hours. I hope Dr. 
 Hill and the Home will forgive me, 
 and that the great triumvirate having at 
 length compleated a. glorious and perma- 
 nent peace, may in learned cafe, under 
 the made of their own olive, foon enjoy 
 the full fweets of their own philoibphy ; 
 for as Candide obferves, cela eft. bien dit, 
 mais il faut cut liver noire jar din. In your 
 fofter, more envied hours of retirement, 
 I wim you, my lord, the moft exquifite 
 pleafures under the made of the Cyprian 
 myrtle. Your patriot moments will be" 
 patted under the (hade of theScottijk'Jir. 
 
 I will no longer intrude on your lord- 
 mip. The Cocoa Tree and your country- 
 men may be impatient to fettle with you 
 the army and the finances of this king- 
 dom. I have only to add my congratu- 
 lations on the peculiar fame you have ac- 
 L 3 quired
 
 quired, fo adequate to the wonderful 
 a6h of your adminiftration. You are in. 
 full poffeifion of that fame at the head 
 of Tories and Scotfmen , but alas ! my 
 lord, the hiftory of mankind mews how 
 fantaftic as well as tranfitory is fame. 
 What an excellent moral of humility 
 are we taught by this ? It is mortifying 
 to reflect that the meaneft have their dcy^ 
 as well as the mod eminent and il- 
 luftrious. Although Mr. Pitt f is ftiil 
 
 f Of all political adventurers Mr. Pitt has been the moft 
 
 . i'.iccefsful, according to the venal ideas of modern ftatefmen. 
 
 Pul'.cney fold the people only for a barren title. The mer- 
 
 I cenary Pitt difpofed of his popularity like an exchange-broker. 
 
 IJd'ides the fame title with the other apoftate, Pitt fecured 
 
 jirom the Crown a large family pen/ion, and the lucrativey/Kf- 
 
 \cure of thefr'vvy Seal, which he Jeld for a few years. His 
 
 retreat into the Houfe of Lords was a political demife. He 
 
 p aj)ed aivay, but is not yet quite forgotten. His treachery 
 
 )* to the caufe of the people ftill loads his memory with curfes. 
 
 He raifed himfelf to the greateft offices of the flate by the 
 rare talent of command in a pppular afTembJy. He was indeed 
 born an orator, and from nature pofiefied every outward requifite 
 obefpeak refpecl and even awe. A manly figure, with the 
 tagle-face of the famous Conde, fixed your attention, and a-1- 
 moft commanded reverence, the moment he appeared, ami 
 rthe keen lightenings of .his eye fpoke the haughty, fiery foul, 
 rbefore his Ijps had pronounced a fyllable. His tongue dropped
 
 
 adored at the head of Whigs and Englifli- 
 
 venom. There was a kind of fafcination in his look, when he 
 eyed any one askance. .Nothing could withftand the force of 
 that contagion. The fluent Murray has faultered, and even 
 Fox /hrunk back appalled from an adverfary_/V<Af tvith f.re 
 unquenchable, if I may borrow the expreflion of our great 
 Milton^ He always cultivated the art 'of (peaking with 
 the moft intenfe care and application. He has paffed his 
 life in the culling of words, the arrangement of phrafe?, 
 and choice of metaphors, yet his theatrical manner did 
 "more than all, for his fyeeches could not be read. There 
 was neither found reafoning, nor accuracy of expreffion, 
 in them. He had not the power of argument, nor the 
 correclnefs of language, fo ftriking in the great Rcrnan 
 orator, but he had the -verba ardcntla, the bold, glowing, 
 words. This merit Was confined to his fpeeches ; for his 
 writings were always cold, lifelefs, and incorrect, totxlly voM 
 of elegance and energy, fometimes ev:n offending againft the 
 phineft rules of conftruction. In fhe purfuit of eloquence 
 he \vas indefatigable. He dedicated all his powers and facul- 
 ties, and he faciificed every pleafure of focial life, even in 
 youth, to the fingle point of talking well. 
 
 Multa tulit fecitque puer ; fudavlt et alfit ; 
 ^?hjtiauit vcnere et vino, 
 to a ereater degree than almoft any man of this r.ge. 
 
 He acknowledged, that when he was young, he always 
 r;tme hte into company, and left i: early. He alV:lcd ,it 
 iivft a fovereign contempt of money, and when he was Pajj- 
 ;naiU'r, m^de a parade of two or rhree very public ails of dif- 
 imcrellednefs. When he, had eiTeclually duped his crednlou- 
 friends, as \vell as a timid miniitry, snd obtained enormous j 
 J"gacies, penf:ons, and fine-cure places, the mafic dropped oft'. 
 v.-r-rt ihci wards ar^-.-vcd to be the only idol to 
 V 4
 
 [ 1 68 ] 
 men ; he too will experience that 
 
 The greateft can but blaze and pafs away J. 
 
 I am, my Ljord, 
 
 With a zeal and refpeft equal to your virtues, 
 Your Lordfhip's 
 
 Very humble Servant, 
 March 15, 1763. 
 
 'which he facrificed. The old duke of Newcaftle ufed to fay, 
 that Mr. Pitt's talents would not have got him forty founds a 
 year in any country tut this. 
 
 At his entrance into Parliament, he attacked Sir Robert 
 Witlpole with indecent acrimony, and continued the perfe- 
 cution to the laft moment of that Minifter's life. He aftet- 
 wards paid fervile and fulfome compliments to his memory, 
 not from conviftion, as appeared from many other particulars, 
 but to get over a few Walpolians. He had no fixed principle, 
 but that of his own advancement. He declared for and 
 againft continental connections, for and againft German wars, 
 for and aeainft Hanoverian fubfidies, &c. &c. ftill preferving 
 an unblufhing, unembarrajjed countenance, and was the 
 moft perfedt contradiction of a man to bimfelf which 
 the world ever faw. If his fpeeches in parliament had been 
 faithfully publi/hed to the Englim, loon after they were deli- 
 ,' vered, as thofe of Demofthenes and Cicero were to the Greeks 
 and Romans, he would have been very early detected, and 
 utterly caft oft" by his countrymen. 
 He is faid to be ftill living at Hayes in Kent. 
 J And what is. fame? The meaneft have their day, 
 The greateft can but blaze, and pafs away. Po p r.
 
 t 169 3 
 
 Extract of a Letter, fuppofed to have 
 been written by Mr. Wilkes from Pa- 
 ris, June 5, 1764. 
 
 THE two noble Swedijh whigs^ 
 
 of whom you were fo fond, did me the 
 favour of dining here yefterday . I pafled 
 the day very happily, though not fo joy- 
 oufly as that day twelvemonth, in the midft 
 of my worthy conftituents at Aylefbury, 
 all of us in full chorus to the liber- 
 ties of our country, and the virtues of 
 our fovereign , yet after the late flagrant 
 acts of defpotic power in the minifters, 
 not forgetting either their wickednefs or 
 their infolence. -f Joly's champaign, was 
 not neceflary to infpire the higheft good 
 humour and gaiety on fo white, fo aufpi- 
 cious a day as the fourth of June. The 
 toaft confecrated the wine, and gave it the 
 
 f A wine-merchant at Paris. 
 
 true
 
 1 7 o ] 
 
 -true flavour, although I could not help 
 lamenting my hard and unmerited lot of 
 being forced to give fuch a toaft out of 
 my own dear country, and in a land where 
 the ftandard of liberty is not yet erect- 
 ed. With Mils Wilkes's help we made 
 outtolerably well, GOD SAVE GREAT 
 GEORGE, OUR KING; and as the 
 duke of Nivernois ! fays in one of his 
 letters, Nous cmons toafte & ehante fort 
 .gaiement, fcf enfin nous avons etequatre bon- 
 nes heures a table. As I am an univerfal 
 'whigi I could not avoid giving an addi- 
 tional ftanza, the poetry of which I en- 
 deavoured to bring down as low as the 
 reft of the fong, and I believe I fuc- 
 ceeded. The thought was good, that the 
 mame of BRUNSWICK may ever be as 
 propitious to the liberties of mankind as 
 that of NASSAU, and that ourgracious 
 fovereign, through a long and glorious 
 reign, equally feared abroad and beloved at 
 
 home-
 
 [ T 7 I J 
 
 home, may approve himfelf as fteady a 
 patron of the rights of Englimmen as 
 his grandfather v/as. On the whole, it 
 proved the moft agreeable day I have 
 patted fmce a few of us in April kept 
 'the anniverfary of the victory at CUL- 
 :LODEN, which a good many others 
 feem to have a memorandum to far get., or 
 at leaft to neglect very fhamefiilly. 
 
 Lord Hertford gave yefterday a grand 
 dinner to all the Englifli here, except one, 
 -and to the true Irijh whigs ; nor, like a 
 good courtier, did he omit the new con- 
 verts, the Scots. He did not however ob- 
 ferve the diftin&ion which is fo much in 
 fafhion on your fide the water, for the 
 friends of the Hanover family were re-' 
 ceivCjd at leaft as well as -their known 
 enemies. My lot is particular and droll 
 enough. I am the fingle Engliflimccn not 
 invited by the AmbafTador of my coun- 
 try, on .the only day I can at Paris fhew 
 
 .my
 
 L '72 ] 
 
 my attachment to our fovereign, as if I was 
 difaffected to the prefent eftablimment, 
 and yet I am frequently and groisly 
 abufed by a ridiculous fellow at Bouillon, 
 becaufe I am known to hate the other fa- 
 mily, and his mailer, the duke^ marri- 
 ed the fitter of the Pretender's wife, a 
 princefs of Poland, of the houfe of So- 
 biefki. This fcribler is one Roujfeau^ who 
 by a wretched journal does all he can 
 twice a month to degrade a name macicil- 
 luftrious by one of the beft French poets, 
 and by the great philofopher, though 
 in thefe times no longer the citizen, of 
 Geneva. He lays at my door the North 
 Britons againft the Stuarts, and their dear 
 friends in the north of our ifland. 
 
 You may believe me, when I aflure 
 you, it was not the flighted mortifica- 
 tion to me, that I did not receive an in- 
 vitation to the Hotel de Brancas. When 
 I was afked, how it could happen that fo 
 
 ftaunch
 
 f 173 ] 
 
 ftaunch a Whig as Mr.Wilkes was not in- 
 vited on the 4th of June, I laughed like 
 the old Roman^ I had rather you flioutd ajk 
 why I was N OT than why /WAS invited \ 
 perhaps it fhould have been afked, why 
 fome others were invited. The lift of the 
 company, of the Macs and Sawney s^ NOT 
 /' the French ft rvice , would divert you. 
 I wifn fome of our neighbours from the 
 other fide of the Tweed may not keep 
 the f twenty -firft with more real devotion 
 than they did the fourth. With refpect 
 to external rites they were exemplary here, 
 as all new converts are , and I believe 
 you find them in England good occafi- 
 onal confcrmifts, though I (hall ever ima- 
 gine that it depends on contingencies how 
 long they will continue fo. To fay the 
 truths I paflfcd the day much more to my 
 iausfaction than -I mould have done in afet 
 
 f The Pretender's birth-day. 
 
 of
 
 r J 74 ] 
 
 of mixed or fufpiqious company, a ful- 
 fome dull dinner, two hours of mighty 
 grave converfation, to be purchafed in 
 all civility by fix more of PHAROAH, 
 which I deteft, as well as every other 
 kind of gaming. As to the Ambaflador, 
 I have never had the leaft connexion with . 
 him, nor indeed do I now wifh it , as 
 little too at this time with his f ScottijJi 
 Secretary, or at any time with his J Scot- 
 tifli cliaplain. 
 
 An Ambaflador generally owes his 
 very nomination to miniiterial influence,, 
 and is almolt of courfe ( though this does 
 not extend through his family) under the 
 direction of the minifters, or perhaps 
 as to the prefentcafe, in all propriety we 
 
 f Mr. David Hume. 
 
 J Mr. James Trail, now bifliop of Down and 
 Connor. 
 
 General Conway, the brother of lord Hert- 
 ford, was theain the opposition. 
 
 ought
 
 f '75 J 
 
 ought to fay, of the minifier, who, behind 
 find between the curtains, ftill governs our 
 ifland. I have never been prefented at 
 court, becaufean Englishman ihould be 
 prefented by the Englifh Ambaflador;. 
 and I will not a(k any favour of Lord 
 Hertford, in the prefent ftate of public 
 affairs ; although, as a private nobleman, 
 I fliould be ambitious to merit, and molt 
 fortunate to obtain, his friendmip, as 
 well as lord Beauchamp's, from their real 
 fterling fenfe, great intrinfic worth, and 
 what lets off the whole, their ingenuous^ 
 amiable manners f . I have the protection 
 of the laws, which I never offend, and I 
 am at Paris like any other foreigner, who 
 has no favour to afk, nor need feek any 
 particular protection or fecurity. The 
 eloge, which the nobleft of poets J gives 
 me, that I neither 
 
 Court .the fmile, nor dread the frown cf kings t 
 
 f This laft circumftauce feems to give an air of 
 irony to the whole. 
 
 J Churchill. 
 
 is
 
 is as exact truth here as you know it to 
 have been while I was at home. The fmall 
 circle in which I now walk, will however 
 bear teilimony to the juft tribute of gra- 
 titude I pay to the humane virtues of a 
 prince, under whofe mild and gentle 
 government I meet with that protec- 
 tion, which an innocent man had a right 
 to expect, but could not find in his own 
 country, under his own fovereign. Yet 
 let me do juitice, and carry my com- 
 plaints to the fource from whence they 
 fpring, to the bafe contrivances of nii- 
 niilers, exceedingly wicked and corrupt, 
 and befides flung to the quick, who had 
 cbtained a molt unhappy alcendency over 
 the mind of their Prince, and to iecure 
 themfelve?, had endeavoured tomake their 
 moft odious meafures pafs for the mea- 
 iures of their rnafter, that the enormous 
 load of their guilt might be thrown from 
 them feives upon him ^ a practice not new, 
 
 but
 
 but of which every reign of the Stuarts 
 furniihes examples. 
 
 I hope foon to fend you part of a 
 work, quod et kunc in annum vivat et 
 plures. It opens with the general idea of 
 political liberty ; then proceeds to ex- 
 amine the fentiments of the European na- 
 tions on this head, as diftinguimed from 
 the almoft univerfal grofs defpotifm of 
 the reft of the world. The third part is a 
 criticii'm on the various governments of 
 Europe. The fourth and laft, is entirely 
 on the Engliih conftitution, the various 
 changes it has undergone, the improve- 
 ments made in it by the glorious Revolu- 
 tion, and the no lefs happy than timely 
 acceffion of the houfe of Brunfwick. There 
 are a few hints of fome remedies to 
 the drfedbs (till fubfuling in this no- 
 ble, and, if my prayers are heard, this 
 eternal fabric. A large Appendix contains, 
 I hope, a full j unification of my conduct 
 
 VOL. I. M upon
 
 r 178 ] 
 
 upon conftitutional grounds. A variety 
 pf characters are drawn from the life, 
 which, if I miftake not, will entertain 
 you. They are certainly curious and 
 genuine, and I believe not Jkehtons^ 
 though I hope the originals will be fo 
 before the book is pnblifhed. 
 
 I am tolerably well in health, and my 
 
 fpirits are not funk. I bear up flill with 
 
 courage , but ilium haufi dolor ern vet acer- 
 
 fajfimitm in vita^ abftrahi ejinu gremioqw 
 
 atri*. Adieu.
 
 C '79 ]. 
 
 A -Letter to the worthy Electors of the 
 Borough of Aylefbury, in the County 
 of Bucks. 
 
 Fox Populi, <vcx Dei, ought to be underftood of 
 the univerfal bent and current of a People, not of 
 the bare MAJORITV of a few Reprefentatives ; 
 which is often procured by little arts, and great 
 induflry and application ; wherein thofe who en- 
 gage in the purfuits of Malice and Revenge, are 
 much more fedulous than fuch as would prevent 
 
 .them. 
 
 I have been often amazed at the rude, paffionate, 
 ?nd miltaken refults, which have at certain times 
 fallen from great .afiemblies, both antient and mo- 
 dern, and of other countries as well as our own. 
 .This gave me the opinion I mentioned a whil* 
 ago, that publick .Conventions are liable to all 
 the infirmities, follies, and vices .of private men 
 therefore when we fbmctimes meet a few 'words 
 put together, which -is called the Vote or Refolution 
 pf an Aflembly, and which we. cannot poffibly re- 
 
 -concile to prudence or publick good, it is molt 
 charitable'to conjecture that fuch a Fate has been 
 jconceived, and born, and bred in a private brain, 
 Afterwards raifed and fuppcrted by an obfequio.us 
 party, and then with ufual methods confirmed by 
 m artificial MAJORITY. 
 
 SWIPT. Caxtfjli and Difftttiom in Athens
 
 f 180 ] 
 
 Paris, Oa. 22, 1764. ' 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 E very honourable, unanimous, 
 and repeated marks of efteem you 
 conferred on me, by committing to my 
 truft your liberty, fafety, property, and 
 all thole glorious privileges, which are 
 your birth-right as Engliflimen, entitle 
 you to my warmeft thanks, and to the 
 higheft tribute of gratitude my heart can 
 pay. Yet in the peculiar circumftances 
 of my cafe, I think that I ought not at 
 prefent to reft contented with thanking 
 you. I have always found a true plea- 
 fure in fubmitting to you my parlia- 
 mentary -conducl. It is now more par- 
 ticularly my duty ; and when I refleft on 
 the real importance and interefling na- 
 ture of thofe great events, in which, as 
 your reprefentative, I have been more 
 immediately concerned, I am exceed- 
 ingly anxious not barely to juftify my- 
 fclf, but to obtain the fanction of your 
 approbation.
 
 approbation. ' It has ever been my am- 
 bition to approve myfelf worthy of the 
 choice you have more than once made 
 of me as your deputy to the great coun- 
 cil of the nation, with an unanimity 
 equally honourable and endearing. The 
 conlcioufnefs of having faithfully dif- 
 charged my truft, of having a<fted an 
 upright and fteady part in Parliament, 
 as well as in the moft arduous circum- 
 ftances, makes me dare to hope, that 
 you will continue to me what I mod va- 
 lue, the good opinion and friendship of 
 my worthy conftituents. Having the 
 happinefs of being born in a country, 
 where the name of vcfft'l is unknown, 
 where MAGNA CHART A is the inherit- 
 ance of the fabjeft, I have endeavoured 
 to fupport and merit thofe privileges, to 
 which my birth gave me the ciearcft 
 right. Secure as I am of fully juftifying 
 my conduct, could I perfuade myfclf 
 that I have a&ed up to the 1 acred ideas 
 M 3 of
 
 [182 ] 
 
 of liberty, which warm the hearts, ahtl 
 infpire the aftions-of my countrymen, I 
 % fhcmld not, under all the variety of the 
 moft unjuft aad cruel perfecutions, be 
 quite unhappy. 
 
 The various charges brought again ft : 
 me may be reduced to two heads. The 
 one is of a public, the other of. a pri- 
 vate nature. The firft is grounded on 
 the political paper of the North Briton^ 
 No. 45 ; the other refpecls a fmall part 
 of a ludicrous- poem, which was ftolen 
 out of my hoiife. The two accufations 
 are only fo far connected, that I am 
 convinced there is not a man in England, 
 who believes that if the/r/? had not ap- 
 peared, \\-\efecend would ever have been 
 called in queftion. 
 
 The Majority in the Houfe of Ccmmcns 
 on the 1 5th of November 1763, Re- 
 fohed, " That the Paper, intituled, The 
 " North Briton, No. 45, is a/k//^, fean- 
 ** dalous^ and feditious Libel* containing 
 " expreffions
 
 [ r3' J 
 
 ** exprefiions of the moft unexampled 
 " infolence and contumely towar4s his 
 " Majefty, the groffeft afperfions upon 
 " both Houfes of Parliament, and the 
 " moft audacious defiance of the autho- 
 " rity of the whole Legiflature, and 
 " moil manifeftly tending to alienate 
 ** the affections of the People from his 
 " Majefty, to withdraw them from their 
 " obedience to the laws of the realm, 
 ** and to excite them to traiterous infur- 
 " reclions againft his Majefty's govern- 
 " vernment." Theie are the words of 
 the Refolution. I mean to examine them 
 with ibme accuracy. 
 
 The firft charge is, that Me North 
 Briton, No. 45, is a FALSE Libel. The 
 Refolution was moved by Lord North ; 
 yet in a tedious fpeech he did not at- 
 tempt to difpute the veracity of any one 
 paragraph in the whole paper. I was in 
 my place during that debate, and I took 
 notice to the Houfe, that his lordfliip 
 M 4 had-
 
 t i$4 1 
 
 nad not faid a word to prove iht faljity 
 of any one fentence ; but I could ob- 
 tain no fatisfaftion, not even a reply, on 
 that head. On my trial before lord 
 Mansfield, the word falfe was omitted 
 in the information, becaufe I fuppofe 
 the Court of King's Bench knew that I 
 would prove publickly on oath in that 
 Court by the higheft authorities, that 
 every word in it was true. The word 
 falfe is not to be found among the va- 
 rious epithets applied to this Paper, in 
 either of the warrants iffued by lord Ha- 
 lifax. I am bold to declare, upon the 
 moft careful perufal of this Paper, that 
 there is' not any one particular advanced, 
 which is net founded on fact, and that 
 every line in it is ftrictly and fcrupu- 
 loufly conformable to truth. Twill not 
 compliment the prefent profligate Ma- 
 jority in the Houfe of Commons fo far as 
 to fay, they were fo well informed, that 
 they knew the exacl truth of every af- 
 
 fertion
 
 C 185 ] 
 
 fertion in that Paper. One particular 
 .however came within their knowledge., 
 the means by which it is hinted that the 
 
 ENTIRE APPROBATION OF PARLIAMENT, 
 
 even of the Preliminary Articles of the 
 late inglorious Peace, was obtained, and 
 the previous (Icp to the obtaining that 
 ENTIRE APPROBATION, the large debt 
 contracted on the Civil Lift. They knew 
 this afifertion was extremely true, and I 
 am as ready to own that it was ex- 
 tremely fcandalcus. 
 
 The fecond charge of fcandalous muft 
 then be admitted in its full extent, flill 
 keeping in our view that it is true. But 
 to whom is it fcandalous ? To the Ma- 
 jority ', who have facrificed the interefts 
 of the nation, by giving the ENTIRE 
 
 APPROBATION OF PARLIAMENT, of which 
 
 fo much parade is made in the Speech, 
 to an act, which ought to have been 
 followed by an impeachment To the 
 Minifter, who made the late ignomi- 
 
 Q 
 
 nious
 
 nious Price, and in the very firft year of 
 it impofed on us an intolerable Excife 
 To the worft of vipers in our bofom, to 
 the 'Tories, who have never failed to fup- 
 port his unconstitutional meafures, who 
 have made us almoft forget the infamy 
 of their anceftors at Utrecht, by the 
 greater facrifices of the Peace of Paris., 
 Thefe are the objects of fatire in a Paper, 
 which deferved indeed the higheft refent- 
 ment of the Majority, becaufe it had 
 proclaimed their difgrace, their fcandal, . 
 through all Europe. It was very na- 
 tural for thefe men no longer to fuffer 
 the fvppofed author to fit among them, 
 and I mould have gloried in my expul- 
 fion, if it had not diffolved a political 
 connection with my friends at Aylefbury, 
 which did me real honour. 
 
 Another charge is, " That the Paper 
 ^ is a /editions libel, tending to with- 
 44 draw the People from their obedience 
 " to the laws of the realm, and to ex- 
 
 " cite
 
 t "'7 , 1 
 
 u cite them to trait emits infurre<ftio ; n*> 
 " againft his Majefty's govern aient." 
 By the firft warrant, under, which I ..was 
 apprehended, The North Briton, No. 45, 
 was denominated ztreafonaUe Paper. Jn 
 the fecond, by which I was committed 
 to the Tower, that word too was omit- 
 ted , fo that the greateft enemies of this 
 Paper Teem, to give up it's, being either 
 falfe or treafonabk.- Now the charge is 
 varied by the. Majority in the Hcufe of 
 Commons, with all the little quibbling of 
 attornies. The Paper is not TREASON-. 
 ABLE, but // tends to excitz TRAITEROUS 
 ivfttrreBtttu. It is remarkable that the 
 epithet TR.AITEROUS is here given to in- 
 furrefiion, as tkz fuppcfsd cor.iequence of 
 n fuppofed libel j whereas the Scots, who . 
 appeared in open rebellion fo lately as 
 1 745, v/ere in the weekly writings againft 
 the North Briton, publifhed under the 
 patronage of the.Scottffi Minifies and 
 paid for by him out of the public treafure, 
 
 only
 
 r 188 i 
 
 only termed infurgents^ who defeated re- 
 gular forces. Yet in fad no itfurreQion 
 of any kind ever did, or could, follow 
 from this publication, even in thole 
 parts of the kingdom fo lately fubjecled 
 to all the infolence and cruelty of the 
 moft defpicable of our fpecies, the mean, 
 petty Excifeman. This is the ftrongeft 
 cafe which can pofllbly be put. The EX- 
 CISE is the moft abhorred monfter, which 
 ever fprung from arbitrary power, and 
 the new mode of it is fpoken of through 
 this Paper as the greateft grievance on 
 the fubjecr. -, yet even in this cafe, obe- 
 dience to the laws, and all lawful autho- 
 rity^ is ftrictly enjoined, and no oppofi- 
 tion, but what is confident with the 
 laws and the conjiituticn, is allowed. 
 The words are very temperate, cautious, 
 and well guarded. cw Every legal attempt 
 1 " of a contrary tendency to the fpirit of 
 " concord will be deemed a juftifiable 
 ." refiftance,
 
 [ 189 ] 
 
 *' refinance, warranted by the fpiri't of 
 " the Englifh conftitution." Is this 
 withdrawing the people from their 
 obedience to the laws of the realm ? 
 Is refifiance recommended, but exprefsly 
 only fo far as it is flrictly LEGAL ? Let 
 the impartial public determine whether 
 this is the language of SEDITION, or 
 can have the leaft tendency to excite 
 TRAiTZRovsijifurrefiionSi or whether the 
 Houfe of Commons have not made a 
 falfe and groundlefs charge. 
 
 The general charge, that The North 
 Briton^ No. 45, is a LIBEL, fcarcely de r 
 ferves an anfwer, becaufe the term is 
 vague, and ftill remains undefined by our 
 law. Every man applies it to what he 
 diflikes. A fpirited/#//n? will he deemed 
 a libel by a wicked Minifter, and by a 
 corrupt judge, who feel, or who dread 
 the lam. In my opinion the rankeft Ubd 
 of modern times is the falfe and fulfome 
 
 Mdrtft
 
 [ i 9 o J 
 
 'Addrefs of the Majority in this Houfe of 
 Commons on. the Preliminary Articles. They 
 laid that they had confidered them with 
 their beft attention, they expreffed the 
 Jlrongejl fentiments -of gratitude, they gave 
 their hearty applaufe, they declared the 
 Peace would be no lefs honourable than pro- 
 fitable, folid, and) in ell hitman probabi- 
 lity , permanent. Were the Houfe of Com- 
 mons ferious in this Addrefs, which was 
 drawn up and prefented, even before any 
 one of the grofs blunders in the Prelimi- 
 naries had been amended ? If they were, 
 the body of .the people -judged better, 
 and did not hefltate to give their clear 
 opinion, that the glories of the war were 
 Sacrificed by an indeqttate and infecure Peace, 
 which could not-fail of foon retrieving the 
 affairs of -France. Time has already proved 
 that the nation judged right, and that 
 the Peace is in almoft every part infamous 
 rotten* contrary to .the .vain boaft IE
 
 C '9' ] 
 
 the * Miniver's Speech at the f beginning of 
 the fame feffion, u The utmoft care has 
 " been taken to remove all occafions of 
 " future diiputes between my fubjefts 
 *' and thofe of France and Spain, and 
 " thereby to add fecurity and perma- 
 " nency to the bleffings of Peace." A 
 declaration not believed by the nation at 
 the time it was made, and fince, from a 
 
 * This expreflion, the Mlnifter's Speech, fhould always be 
 ufed, both from propriety and decency. From propriety, be- 
 caufe the Minijier .compotes it, and therefore it is ftricily his 
 fpeech. From decency, becaufe when it becomes neceffary to 
 guard the people agsinft any deceit or falfehood, which a 
 wicked Adminiftration .chufe to ufe the King's tongue to 
 broach, the King's printer -to publifli, the King's name to 
 juftify, by this precaution the public odium recoils on th.e 
 Minlftsr, and no blame, nor ridicule, diredly reach the facred 
 perfon of the Sovereign. 
 
 The fneer in Pope is really indecent. The good bifhop, 
 who publifhed the late edition of his works, ought in the 
 nild limbo of his commentary, to have foftened the feverity t-f 
 the following patfage. 
 
 What Speech efteem you moft ? " The King's," ftid-I. 
 But the beft words f " O Sir, the Difiionary." 
 
 POPE. Warburton's Edition, voj. iv. p. iyr. 
 
 f On the 25th of November 1762.- The affair of Dun- 
 kirk, the Canada Bills, the Manilla Renfim, &c. .were uji- 
 fcttled at the er*d of .M^y 1769.
 
 variety offsets, known not to be founded 
 on truth. The North Briton did not 
 fuffer the public to be milled. He ac- 
 knowleged no privileged vehicle of fallacy, 
 He confidered the liberty oftheprefs as the 
 bulwark of all our liberties, as inftituted 
 to open the eyes of the people, and he 
 feems to have thought it the duty of a 
 political writer to follow truth wherever 
 it leads. In his behalf I would afk even 
 Lord Mansfield^ can TRUTH be a LIBEL ? 
 Is it fo in the King's Bench? Though it 
 has always found a cold and unwelcome 
 reception from his lordfnip, though it 
 has through life proved much more his 
 enemy than his friend, yet furely he has 
 not been ufed to treat it as a libel. I do 
 not know what the doctrine of the King's 
 Bench NOW is, but I am Cure that it will 
 be a fatisfaftory aniwer to the honeft part 
 of mankind, who follow the dictates of 
 found fenfe, not the jargon of law, nor 
 
 the
 
 C '93 ] 
 
 the court flattery of venal Parliaments, 
 that the NortJi Briton, No. 45, cannot 
 be a LIBEL, becaufe it does not in any 
 one line deviate from truth. 
 
 This unlucky paper is likewife faid 
 to contain " exprefilons of the moft un- 
 " exampled infolence and contumely to- 
 " wards his Majefty, moil manifeftly 
 " tending to alienate the affeflions of the 
 " People from his Majefty ;" and by the 
 hirelings of the Miniftry it is always in 
 private charged with perfonal difrefpeft 
 to the King. It is however moft certain 
 that not a fingle word perfondly dif- 
 refpedttul to his Majefty is to be found 
 in any part of it. On the contrary, the 
 Sovereign is mentioned not only in terms 
 of decency, but with that regard and 
 reverence, which is due from a good 
 fubjecl: to a good King " A Prince of 
 " fo many great and amiable qualities, 
 " whom England truly reveres The' 
 " perfonal character of our prefent ami- 
 
 VO'L. I. N " able
 
 " ab'e Sovereign makes us eafy and 
 " happy that fo. great a power is lodged 
 " in fuch hands." Are theje the " ex- 
 <l prefilons of the moft unexampled in- 
 " folence and contumely towards his 
 * ; Majefty," which the Majority in this 
 JHcufe of Commons have declared that 
 it contains ? Are thefe " exprefiions moft 
 ." manifeftly tending to alienate the af- 
 " feclions of the People from his Ma- 
 " jelly ?" The Majority, who could 
 vote this, feem equally fuperior to any 
 regard for truth, or moddt. fear of de- 
 tection. The author of that. Paper, fo 
 far fro m making any personal attack on 
 his fovereign, has even vindicated him 
 perfcnally from fome of the late meafures, 
 which were fo feverely cenfured by the 
 judicious and unbiaffed Public. He ex- 
 claims, with an honeft indignation, 
 " what a fhame was it to fee the fecurity 
 " of this country, in point of military 
 " force, complimented away, CONTRARY 
 
 " TO
 
 [ '95 ] 
 
 " TO THE OPINION' OF ROYALTY ITSELF, 
 
 " ::nd facrificed to the prejudices and to 
 " the ignorance of a fct of people, the 
 " moft unfit from every confideration 
 tc to be confulted en a matter relative 
 " to the fecurity of the Moufe of Ha- 
 " nover ?" When the fpeech is- men- 
 tioned, when the various abiurdities, and 
 t\ en fallacies of it, are held out to the 
 nation, it is always called, in the lan- 
 guage of Parliament and of the confti- 
 tution, the Minifter' > s fpeech ; and the 
 author declares, that he doubts, " vvhe- 
 " ther the impofition is greater on the 
 " fovereign or on the nation -," fo tender 
 has he been of the honour of his Prince, 
 fo zealous in his vindication. The Mi- 
 nifter is indeed every where treated with 
 the contempt and indignation he has me- 
 rited, but he is ever carefully diftin- 
 guifhed from the Sovereign. Every 
 kingdom in the \vorld has in it's turn 
 found' occafion to lament that princes of 
 N 2 tl.e
 
 [ '96 ] 
 
 the bcft intentions have been deceived 
 and mified by wicked and defigning Mi- 
 nifiers and Favourites, h has likewife in 
 moil countries been the fate of the few- 
 daring patriots, who have honeilly en- 
 deavoured to undeceive their Sovereign, 
 to feel the heavieft marks of his dif- 
 pieafure. It is however I think rather 
 wonderful among us, even in thefe times., 
 that a Paper, which contains the moil 
 dutiful expreffions of regard to his Ma- 
 jefty, fhould be treated with fuch un- 
 ufual feverity, and yet that fo many 
 other publications of the fame date, full 
 of the mofl deadly venom, (hould pafs 
 totally unregarded. Some of thefe pa- 
 pers contained the moft opprobrious re- 
 ilections on that true patron of liberty, 
 the hte King? whofe memory is embalmed 
 with the tears of Engliihmen, while his 
 afnes are rudely trampled upon by others, 
 whom his godlike attribute of mercy 
 had pardoned the crime of unprovoked 
 
 rebellion.
 
 [ 197 ] 
 
 rebellion. Others were full of the moft 
 indecent abufe on our great Proteftant 
 ally, the King of Pruffia, on the near 
 relation of his prefent Majefty, who has 
 merited fo highly of the nation by fixing 
 the crown in the Houfe of Hanover, on 
 the ftauncheft friends of freedom, the 
 City of London, and on the firft cha- 
 racters among us. Yet all thefe papers 
 have paffed uncenfured by Minifters, Se- 
 cretaries, and by the two Houfes of Par- 
 liament. 
 
 There only remains one other charge, 
 that the North Briton, No. 45, contains 
 " the groffeft afperfions upon both 
 " Houfes of Parliament, and the moll 
 " audacious defiance of the cuihurlty cf 
 " the whole Legislature." It is to be 
 lamented that the Majority of either 
 Houfe of Parliament fiiould ever lay the 
 juft ground of any afptrjion, or fall into 
 general contempt with the people. We 
 have feen their actions, and we know the 
 N 3 mercenary
 
 198 
 
 mercenary motives of them When the 
 grojjeft afperjic-ns" are complained of, the 
 qucftion is,'/&tte : they been 'merited? Are 
 they well founded ? It is in vain they talk 
 of their authority. It is departed from 
 them, jfathvrityi which -is founded on 
 efteem' and reverence, and is the conitant 
 attendant only of thole who are believed 
 to be good and virtuous, has long ago 
 left them ; but I muft own their power 
 Hill remains. We have feen to what un- 
 juftifiable lengths it has been carried ; 
 and a man who is rafii enough to make 
 an impotent and unavailing attack upon 
 it, will foon find himfelf the unpitied 
 victim. All thinking men are full of 
 apprehenfions at the approach of their 
 meeting, and the nation impatiently ex- 
 pects the allotted term of resuming a 
 power they have fo fhamefully abufed, 
 by fetting afide thofe, who have made the 
 nobleft blood of our heroes be fpilt al- 
 moft in vain. Under the arbitrary 
 
 Stuarts^
 
 [ '99 3 
 
 Stuarts, when our more than Roman Se- 
 nates dared to bring truth to the foot of 
 the throne, and made the tremblingtyrant 
 obey her facred voice, the nation was in 
 love with Parliaments, becaule they were 
 the (ready friends of liberty, and never 
 met but in favour of the fubjecl: to redrtrfs 
 the grievances of the people Now we 
 are alarmed at every approach ing jefficr.^ 
 becaufe \ve know that a corrupt Majority 
 only afiemble to make their own terms 
 with the miailter, to loud their fellow- fub- 
 jects with the molt partial taxes, in order 
 to pay the amazing number or ufelefs 
 places and peniions, created only to pre- 
 vent their mutiny or defer tion^ or tofurren- 
 der to the crown thoieprii-Hegrs of Parlia- 
 ment, coeval with the confntution, which 
 were at length acknowieged to be a jute 
 claim, andexioi'tedfrom the ufurpationof 
 forme {prerogative princes for the fafety of 
 the people, and I fear they meet to forge 
 fetters for themfelvcs and their pcilerity. 
 ' N 4 I have
 
 [ 2GO ] 
 
 I have thus, gentlemen, gone through 
 all the objeft ions madeagainil this paper, 
 which is certainly innocent, perhaps me- 
 ritorious, only to mew the extreme in- 
 juftice of the treatment I experienced, as 
 the fuppofed author. The molt cruel or- 
 ders were given by the deceafed fecretary 
 of ftate, to -drag me out of my bed at mid- 
 night. A good deal of humanity, and 
 fome {hare of timidity, prevented the 
 execution of fuch ruffian-like com- 
 mands. I was made a prifoner in my 
 own houfe by feveral of the King's mef- 
 iengers, who only produced a General 
 Warrant iflued with6ut oath, neither 
 naming, nor defcribing me. I there- 
 fore refufed to obey a warrant, which I 
 knew to be illegal. I was however by 
 violence carried before the Earls cfF.gre- 
 mont and Halifax, (vho thought it worth 
 their while to afk me a tolerable number 
 of plain queftions, to not one of which 
 I thought it worth my while to give a 
 
 fore
 
 [ 201 ] 
 
 plain anfwer. It is now no fmall fatif- 
 faction to me to know, that I have not a 
 friend in the world, who wilhes a fingle 
 word utfaidby me in the critical moment 
 of that examination. I informed their 
 lordftiips of the orders actually given by 
 the Court cf Common Pleas for my Habeas 
 Corpus ; notwithilanding which I was 
 committed to the Tower, the cuftody of 
 me fhiftcd into other hands, and that a<5t 
 for the liberty of the fubjeft eluded. 
 Although the offence of which I flood ac- 
 cufed, was undoubtedly bailable, yet for 
 three days every perfon was refufcd ad- 
 mittance to me, and the f governor was 
 obliged to treat me in a manner very dif- 
 ferent from the great humanity of his na- 
 ture, for he had received orders to con- 
 ficier me as a clofe prilbner. I rejoice that 
 I can fay, I am the only inftance offuch ri- 
 gorous treatment fmcc the acceflion of the 
 mild Houfe of Brunfwick, although the 
 
 f Major Rainsford. 
 
 obliged
 
 [ 202 ] 
 
 Tower has twice been crouded even with 
 rebels from the northern parts of the 
 Ifland ; and therefore I {hall continue to 
 regret the wretched and cowardly policy, 
 the indecent partiality, and even in- 
 juftice, of conferring on Scotfmen ALL 
 the governments of the few conquells 
 not tamely given up by the SCOTTISH 
 Minifter, conquefts won by the valour 
 of the united forces of England, Scotland 
 and Ireland. While I fufirered this harlh 
 confinement, my houfe in Great George 
 Street was plundered, all my papers were 
 feized, and fome of a very J nice and de- 
 
 } Whatever is held moft dear or facred was violated by 
 men deftitute of every good principle, and fpurnii -j at all t: 
 of private confcience, as well as of public decorum. An in- 
 difcreet letter of the handlome and lively wife of a Member 
 of Parliament in the cppofition was found in Mr. Wiliu-s's 
 pocket-book. The original was fhewn even to fome relations 
 of thehufoand, and the peace of two families facrificed at the 
 altar of miniflerial revenpf. A paper was found fealed iipand 
 endorfcd, Mr. Wi'lkes"* loft Will and Tejlament. It was evi- 
 dent this was a paper of the moil private nature; yet the ft a I. 
 was not refpected, and the facrednefs of fuch a deed cou!J not 
 preferve his rnoft fecret concerns from bei."3 divulged to the 
 public. 
 
 iicate
 
 licate nature, not bearing the nioft diflanc 
 relation to the affairs oi "government, were 
 divulged, as if Administration had been 
 determined to fhew, that ir.en, who had 
 violated public juflice, were incapable of 
 private honour. 
 
 Two clays previous to my being heard 
 before a court of juftice, I had the grief 
 to find that my enemies had prevailed on 
 his Majefty to fhew me a public mark of 
 his difpleafure, .by fuperfeding me as 
 Colonel of the Regiment of my own 
 county, without any complaint againit 
 me, which could not but give fuch a 
 ftep the very unconftituticnal appearance 
 of an endeavour to influence or intimidate 
 my judges. When I was brought before 
 the court of Common Pleas, I pleaded the 
 caufe of univerfal liberty. It was not the 
 caufe of Peers and Gentlemen only, but 
 of all the middling and inferior clafs of people, 
 which ft and mo ft in need cfprotefticn, which 
 I obferved was on that day the great 
 
 quefiion
 
 [ 204 ] 
 
 queftion before the court. I was dif- 
 charged fromirnpriibnmentby the una- 
 nimous fentence of my judges, without 
 giving any bail or fecurity. On the firft 
 day of the meeting of Parliament, I hum- 
 bly fubmitted my grievances to theHoufe 
 ' of Commons, as they were chofen to be the 
 guardians of the liberties of the people 
 againft the defpotifm of minifters. I 
 likewife voluntarily entered my appear- 
 ance to the actions brought at lawagainft 
 me, as foon as I knew the determination 
 of the Majority^ that all the irregularities 
 againit me mould be juftified, and that 
 no privilege faould be allowed in my cafe, 
 even as to the J mode of proceeding, 
 which was the mod harfh the rancour of 
 party could devife. 
 
 The firll charge exhibited againft me 
 v/as for being the author of the North 
 Briton, No. 45, and I was expelled the 
 Houfe of Commons on that charge, after 
 
 J The fubpocna, &c. ferved on Sfr. Wilk.cs. 
 
 a loo ft
 
 a loofe examination at their bar of wit- 
 neffes without oath. The judicial pro- 
 ceedings againft me, as the fuppofed 
 author, were however dropped, and I 
 was afterwards tried in the King's Bench 
 only for the republication of it. If the 
 charge againft me as author was juft, 
 and could be fupported on oath, why 
 was I not tried at law on that charge ? 
 If the charge wasunjuft, and could not 
 be fupported on oath, why was I expelled? 
 If the republication is a crime, it was 
 publickly committed by the printers of 
 feveral news-pipers, who ftill remain 
 unnoticed, although their names appear 
 to their feveral papers. This is furely a 
 glaring proof of the greateft partiality. 
 My perfonal enemy, Lord Mansfield, chofe 
 to try both the caufes againft me, that 
 he might in the moft daftardly manner, 
 under the colour of lav*', avenge the 
 attack made on thofe known political 
 
 principles
 
 [ 206 ] 
 
 principles of his, fo inconfiftent with the 
 glorious Revolution, on the rooted attach- 
 ment of himfelf and his neareft relation? 
 to the Stuart family, on his partiality in 
 the feat of juftice, &c, &c, which fecm 
 to have been favourite topics in the 
 North Briton, and other political pa- 
 pers, of which his Lordfliip did me 
 the honour to name me as the au- 
 thor. This had long rankled in his heart, 
 and now the faireir. opportunity of re- 
 venge prefented itielf. Having carefully 
 ftudied the records, and finding that they 
 did not inftire the certainty he wifhed of 
 my conviction, on the evening preced- 
 ing the trials, he lent for my fcliator TO 
 HIS OWN HOUSE, and delired him to con- 
 fent to the alterations his Lordfhip pro- 
 poied in both the caufes, that of the 
 North Briton, No. 45, and of the E$ay 
 on Woman. T he Chief juftice f u n k ; i n to 
 the crafty attorney^ and made himfelf a 
 party agumit the perfon accufed bef.-re 
 
 him
 
 him as judge, when he ought to have 
 prefumed me iuiiccent. My fciicitor re- 
 . fufed, and againil his conic nt the records 
 were there materially altered by his Lord- 
 fnip's exprefs orders, fo that I was tried 
 on two new charges, very different from 
 thofe I had anfwered. This is, I believe, 
 the moil daring violation of the rights of 
 Ertgliflimen, which has been committted 
 by any judge fince the time of Jeffries ; yet 
 this arbitrary Scottifh C&Vf JtyfoV* ftill re- 
 mains unimpeaehed except in the hearts 
 of the whole nation. Several of the Jury 
 were by counter-notices, hgr&d Summoning 
 Officer, prevented from attending on the 
 day appointed for the trial, while others 
 had not only private notice given them 
 of the real day^ but likewife inftructions 
 for their behaviour. To crown the whole, 
 Lord Mansfield in his charge tortured both 
 the law and the faff fo grofly, that the 
 audience were fhocked no lets at the inde- 
 cency than at the partiality of his conduct. 
 
 I was
 
 [ 208 ] 
 
 I was during all this time very dangeroufiy 
 ill with my daughter at Paris, abfolutely 
 incapable of making any perfonal de- 
 fence, and indeed totally ignorant of the 
 two new queilions, on which I was to be 
 tried. 
 
 The Majority in the Houfe of Com- 
 mons had in this interval grown fo im- 
 patient for revenge, that they would not 
 wait to fee, if I mould be intangled in 
 the nice meflies of the curious Mansfield 
 net, which was fpread for me. They 
 voted my expul/ion^ while I was confined 
 to my bed at Paris, although I had fent to 
 their Speaker the rnofl authentic proof of 
 my abfolute inability to attend their fum- 
 mons, and had only defired afnort delay. 
 Humanity pleaded my caufe in vain. The 
 corrupt and cankered hearts of thofe men, 
 which had been Ihut againft juftice, were 
 not open to pity. They were fteeled aginnit 
 compafiion, but I am fure they will feel 
 rcmorfe. 
 
 I now
 
 C 209 ] 
 
 I now proceed to the other charge 
 brought againft me, which refpe&s an 
 idle poem, called an ESSAY ON WOMAN, 
 and a few other detached verfes. Iffo 
 much h d not been faid on this fubject, 
 I mould be fuperior to entering npon any 
 juflification of myfelf,becaufe I will always 
 maintain the right of private opinion in 
 it's fulled extent, when it is not followed 
 by giving any open, public offence to any 
 ellablimment, or indeed ro any individual. 
 The crime commences from thence, and 
 the magiflratc Jus a right to inrerpofe, 
 and even to pur.lfh outrageous and inde- 
 cent attacks on what any community has 
 decreed to bs fac'-ed. Not only the rules 
 of good breeding, but the 1 .-,-.. 3 of fociety 
 are then infringed. In my own clofet I 
 had a right to examine, and even to try by 
 the keen edge of ridicule, any opinions 
 I pleafed. If I have laughed j. rerty 
 freely at the glaring abfurdities of the 
 moft monftrous creed, which was ever 
 
 VOL. I. O attempted
 
 [ 2 JO J 
 
 attempted to be impofed on the credulity 
 of Chriftians, a creed which our great 
 Tillotibn WISHED THE CHURCH OF ENG- 
 LAND WAS FAIRLY RID OF, it was in pri- 
 vate I laughed, I am not the firft good 
 proteftant, who has amufed himfelf with 
 the egregious nonfenfe, and filly conceits, 
 of that ftrange, perplexed, and per- 
 plexing mortal, that faint of more ad- 
 mirable fwallow, and more happy di- 
 geftion than any of the tribe, Athanafms. 
 I^gave however no offence to any one 
 individual of the community. The fad 
 is, that after the affair of the North Briton r 
 the government bribed one of my fervants 
 lofteal a part of the Effc.y on Woman^ and 
 the other pieces, out of my houfe. Not 
 quite a f&urth part of the volume had 
 been printed at my own private prefs. 
 The work had been difcontinued for 
 feveral months,- before I had the leaft 
 knowledge of the theft. Of that/<?r/A 
 part only twelve copies were worked off r 
 
 and.
 
 [ 211 J 
 
 and I never gave one of thofe copies to 
 any friend. In this infamous manner did 
 government get poffeSion of this new' 
 fubjeft of aecufation, and, except in the 
 cafe of Algernon Sydney,,' of this new 
 fpecies of crime? fora Stuart only could 
 make the refinement in tyranny of ran- 
 facking and robbiag the recelTes of 
 clofets and ftudies, in order to con- 
 vert private amufemtnts into ftate crimes 
 After the fervant had been bribed to 
 commit the theft in his mailer's houfe, the 
 moft abandoned J man of the age,, who in 
 \\\\&virhtou3 reign had rien tobeiecretary 
 of ftate, was bribed to make a complaint 
 to theKoufe of Lords, that.1 hz&publijhcd 
 
 J The carl of Sandwich, of whom Churchill 'A the Can- 
 Jtdafe fays, 
 
 Vice, bold, fubftantjal vice, puts in her claim, 
 And fiamps him perfect in the books of /hame.. 
 Cbferve his follies well, and you would fwear 
 Folly had been his firft, his only rare ; 
 Obferve his vices, you'll that oath difu\vn r 
 
 And fwear that he was born for vice alone. - 
 
 Search earth, fcarch hell, the Devil cannot find 
 An agent, like Lothario, to his miad. 
 
 O x an
 
 an infamous Pcem, which no man there 
 had ever feen. It was read before that 
 great aflembly of grave lords and pious 
 pr dates ^ excellent judges of ivit and poetry , 
 and was ordered to lie on the table, for 
 the clerks of the Houfe to copy, and to 
 publrfli through the nation. The whole 
 of this proceeding was, I own, a public 
 infult on order and decency ; but it was 
 committed by the Houfe of 'Lords, not 
 by the accufed member of the Houfe of 
 Commons. The neat, prim, fmirking 
 chaplain of that babe of grace, thatgude 
 cheeld of the prudim kirk of Scotland, the 
 Earl of March, was highly offended at 
 my having made an ejjay on woman. Hi-s 
 nature could not forgive me thai*inefalle 
 crime, and his c*wn condufi did not afford 
 me the ihadow of an apology. In great 
 wrath he drew his grey goofc quill againft 
 rne. The pious peer caught the alarm, 
 and they both poured forth moft woful 
 
 * The exprdlion of Mr. Kidgell. 
 
 lamentations,
 
 lamentations, their tender hearts over- 
 whelmed with grief, or as the chaplain, 
 who held the pen, laid, with grief of 
 griefs. He proceeded to make very un- 
 fair extracts, and afterwards to be-not e 
 them in the fouleft manner. The mod 
 vile blafphemies were forged, and pub- 
 lilhed as part of a work, which in reality 
 contained nothing but fair ridicule on 
 fome doctrines I could not believe, mock 
 par/jgyrick, flowing from mere envy, 
 which iickened at the fupericr parts and 
 abilities^ as -well as wondrous deeds of a 
 man I could not love, a few portraits 
 drawn from warm life, with, the too high 
 colouring of a youthful, fancy,, and two, 
 or threedefcriptions, perhaps too lufcious, 
 which though nature and woman mu$hc 
 pardon, a Kidgell and a Mansfield c-wukl 
 not fail to condemn, 
 
 I have now, Gentlemen, gone through 
 
 all the obj'-dtions, which have beer, made' 
 
 to my conduct in a public capacity. My 
 
 O 3 cnetr.ies
 
 t ai4 3 
 
 enemies finding that I was invulnerable, 
 where they pointed their moft envenomed 
 darts, afterwards attempted to affaffinate 
 my private character, and propagated an 
 infinite variety of groundkfs calumnies 
 againft rne. I have generally treated 
 thefe with the contempt they deferved, 
 from the certainty that all who knew me, 
 would know that I was incapable of the 
 things laid to my charge. A few falfe- 
 hoods advanced with more boldnefs than 
 the reft, 1 was at the pains to refute. The 
 "Winchefter ftory in particular, becaufe 
 it refpeted lord Bute's own fon, and 
 had been ushered to the public with the 
 greateft parade, as well as with all the 
 impudence of malice, and rage of party, 
 I difproved fo fully, that I am fure not the 
 leaft fbadow of a -doubt remained in any 
 man's mind as to my entire innocence of 
 that moft illiberal charge, 1 have lived 
 fo long among you, Gentlemen, that I 
 
 Vide the North Briton, No, XXI, 
 
 will
 
 will reft every thing refpedting me as a 
 private man on the teftimony, which the 
 experience of fo many years authorizes 
 you to give, well knowing that true can- 
 dour always weighs in the fame balance 
 faults and virtues, Thcfliades in private 
 life are darkened by an enemy, butfcarce- 
 Jy feen by a friend. Befides it is not given 
 to every man to be as pious as lord Sand- 
 wich, or as ckafte, yet as potent, in and out 
 of the marriage-bed, in all thought, word, 
 and deed, as the Biftivp of Gluucefter. 
 
 A few other particulars, Gentlemen, 
 deferve to be mentioned, that you may 
 have before you the whole of my conduct 
 an thefe interefting affairs. Immediately 
 .after the late flagrant breach of the laws, 
 I thought it my duty to the community 
 to commence actions againlt all the per- 
 fons guilty. I defpifed the meannefs of 
 attacking only agents and deputies. I 
 endeavoured to bring to the jurifdicHon 
 O 4 of
 
 [ 216 ] 
 
 of the law, the principals, the firft and 
 great offenders, \hztwojecrciaries of fiats. 
 I blufli for my country, when I add, that 
 although I have employed the abieft 
 gentlemen of the proleiTion., they have 
 hitherto found it isipofliijle even to force 
 an appearance. Lore] Egremcnt died, 
 braving the juftice pf his country. Lord 
 Halifax lives, perhaps to triumph over 
 it, and to give the example to future 
 fecretaries of committing the grofieft vio- 
 lation of the rights of the Commons with 
 impunity. The judicial proceedings at 
 my fuit commenced in the beginning of 
 May twelvemonth, and now at the end 
 of October in the prcfent year, his lord- 
 fliip has not entered any appearance-, fctk - 
 ing flicker all the winter under privilege t 
 ail the fummer under the chicane of law. 
 T\\ziittlc offenders indeed have not efcaped. 
 Several honeft juries have marked the'm 
 with igno'miny, and their guilt has been 
 
 followed
 
 [ 2I 7 ] 
 
 followed with legal punimment. But 
 what is of infinitely greater importance 
 to the nation, we have heard from the 
 Bench, that GENERAL WARRANTS ars 
 cbfc-httely illegal. Such a declaration is 
 become in the higheft degree intereft- 
 ina; to the fubjecl:, becaufe the Majority 
 in this courtly Houfe of Commons refund 
 the very lad winter to come to any re- 
 folution in favour of the rights of their 
 fellow-fubjects. We owe it likewife to 
 the moil upright, independent, and intre- 
 pid ' Chrefjuftice of 'the Court of Gcinmbn 
 Pleafj that in the action againft the under 
 fecretaryof ftate, Mr. \Vood, thefiizure 
 of paper s^ exce pt in cafes of H igh Treafon, 
 has been declared illegal. 
 
 When I reneci-bn theie two mod im- 
 portant determinations in i"ivourof///'fr>\', 
 the bell cauie, and the nobleft (lake, for 
 v/hich men can contend, I congratulate 
 my free-born countrymen, and am frill of 
 
 gratitude
 
 f * 3. 
 
 gratitude that heaven infpired me with a 
 iirmnefs and fortitude equal to the con- 
 duct of fo arduous a bufinefs. Under all 
 the wanton cruelties of ufurped and 
 abufed power, the goodnefs of the caufe 
 fupported me, and I never loft fight of 
 the great object, which I had from the 
 firft in my view, the prefervation of the 
 Tights and privileges of every Englifliman* 
 I glory in the name, and will never for- 
 get the duties refulting from it. Though 
 lam driven into exile from my dear coun- 
 try, I fhall never ceafe to love and re- 
 verence it's conilitution, while it remains 
 free. It will continue my firft ambition 
 to approve myfelf a faithful fon of Eng- 
 land, and I mail always be ready to give 
 my life a willing facrifice to my native 
 -country, and to what it holds moft dear, 
 the fecurity of our invaluable liberties. 
 While I live, I mail enjoy the fatisfaclion 
 of thinking that I have not lived in vain, 
 
 that
 
 I 219 ] 
 
 that the prefcnt age has borne the nobleft 
 teflimony to me, and that my name 
 will pafs with honour to pofterity, for 
 the upright and difinterefted part I have 
 a&ed, and for my unwearied endeavours 
 to protefl and fecure the perfons, houfes* 
 and papers, of my fdlow-fiibjeRs from ar- 
 bitrary viJiJs andfeizures. 
 
 ; 
 I am, 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 ; ; 
 
 "With much regard and affedion, 
 
 Your moft obliged, 
 And obedient humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WIL^,ES.
 
 [ 220 ] 
 
 A Letter to his Grace the Duke 0/Graftbn;. 
 Firft Commiflioner of his Majefty's 
 Treafury. 
 
 London, Nov. i, 1766. 
 MY LORD, ; 
 
 TT is a very peculiar fatisfaction I fee) 
 -* on my return to my native country., 
 that a nobleman of your grace's iuperior 
 talents, and inflexible integrity, is at the 
 head of the moil important department 
 of the Hate. I have been witnefs of the 
 general applaufe, which has been given 
 abroad to the choice his Majefty has 
 made ; and I am happy to find my own 
 countrymen zealous and unaaimous in 
 every teilimony of their approbation. 
 
 I hope, my lord, that I may congra- 
 tulate myfcif, as well as my country, 
 on your grace's being placed in a fta- 
 tion of fo great power and importance. 
 Though I have been cut off from the 
 body of his Majefty's fubjects, by a 
 
 cruel
 
 cruel and unjuft profcription, I have 
 never cnurtaincd an idea inconfiftent 
 with the duty of a good fubjech My 
 heart (till retains all it % s former warmth 
 for the dignity of England, and the 
 glory of it's Sovereign. I havj not af- 
 fociated with the traitors to our liberties, 
 nor made a fingle connection with any 
 man who was dangerous, or even fuf- 
 pected by the friends of the protedant 
 family on the throne. I now hope that, 
 the rigour of a long, unmerited exile .is 
 paft, and that I may be allowed to con- 
 tiuue in the land, and among the friends, 
 of liberty. 
 
 I wifh, my lord, to owe this to the 
 mercy of my Prince. I entreat your 
 grace to lay me with ail humility at the 
 King's feet, with the trued affuranccs 
 that I have never, in any moment of iny 
 lire, fwerved from the duty and alle- 
 giance I owe to my Sovereign, and that 
 
 I im-
 
 [ 222 } 
 
 I implore, and in every thing fubmit to> 
 his Majefty's clemency. 
 
 Your grace's noble manner of thinks 
 ing, and the j- obligations I have for- 
 merly received, which are ftill frem in 
 my mind, will, I hope, give a full pro- 
 priety to this addrefs, and I am fure a 
 heart glowing with the facred zeal of li- 
 berty, muft have a favourable reception 
 from theDukeofGrafton, I flatter my- 
 felf that my conduct will juftify your 
 grace's interceding with a Prince, who 
 is diftinguifhed by a compaffionate ten^ 
 dernefs and goodnefs to all his fubjects., 
 I am, with the trueft refpect, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Your Grace's moft obedient, 
 And moil humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 f Cicero, fpeaking of Pompejv fays, Ncs, ut 
 ejiendit, admodum dUigit, ampleftitur, amat, aperie 
 laudat: fed nihil come, nihil Jlmplex^ nihil ty TCK 
 7ro,\tTJ>:oK honeftum, nihil illvftre, nihil fcrie, nihil 
 libcrum.
 
 [ 223 J 
 
 A Second Letter to the Dyke of 
 
 Grafton, 
 
 Vacare culpa magnum eft folatium ; prrefertim cum habeanv 
 duas res quibus mefuftentem, optimarum artium fcientiam,, 
 et maximarum rerum gloriam, quarum altera mihi viv 
 nunquam eripietur, a'.ttra ne mortuo quidem. 
 
 C i c r R o. 
 
 Paris, Dec* 12, 1766. 
 MY LORD, 
 
 T A M not yet recovered from the afto- 
 nifhment into which I was thrown by 
 your grace's verbal meflage, in anfwer 
 to my letter of the firft of November. 
 In a converfation I had with colonel 
 Fitzroy at the Hotel d'Efpagne, he did 
 me the honour of affuring me, that I 
 fhould find his brother my real and fin- 
 cere friend, extremely defirous to concur 
 in doing me juftice, that he was to tell 
 me this from your grace, but that many 
 interefting particulars relative to me could 
 
 noE,
 
 I< 224. ] 
 
 not be communicated by letter, nor by 
 th^poft. 1 fondly believed thefe obliging 
 afiurances, becaufe cm a variety of oc- 
 cafions your grace had tcftiHed a full ap- 
 probation of my conduit, had thanked 
 me in the moft flattering terms, as the 
 perfon the moft ufeful to the common 
 caul'e in which we were embarked f , and 
 had mewn an uncommon zeal to ferve a 
 man who had fuffered fo much in the 
 caufe of liberty. 
 
 I returned to England with the gay eft, 
 and the moil lively hopes. As foon as I 
 arrived at London, I defired my excel- 
 lent friend, Mr. Fitzherbert, to wait on 
 your grace with every profefiion of re- 
 gard on my part, and the refblution I 
 
 f Mr. Wilkes might very well exclaim in the 
 words cf TULLY, Non cjl tredibile., qua: fit pcrfidi* 
 in iftis princ ipibus, ut volunt effe, e t nt ej/'ent, Ji quic- 
 quKm haberent fa'ei ', fen/cram, noram, indutits, re- 
 liftus, projeftus ab Us : taw.en hcc ere.! in axino, Tit 
 turn Us in Republic?, can/em ircm. 
 
 had
 
 I 4*5 3 
 
 }iacl taken of entirely fubmitting the 
 mode of the application I fhould make 
 to the throne for my pardon. I cannot 
 exprefs the anxiety;, which your grace's 
 anfwer gave me, " Mr. "Wilkes mud 
 " write to Lord Chatham." I then 
 begged Mr. Fitzherbert to (late the rea- 
 fons, which made it impoffible for me to 
 follow that advice, from every principle 
 of honour, both public and private. I 
 fhewed too the impropriety of fuppli- 
 cating a fellow- lubject for mercy, the 
 prerogative good Kings are the mod jea- 
 lous of, by far the brighteft jewel in 
 their crown s and the attribute by which 
 they may the neareft approach to the 
 Divinity. 
 
 I afterwards wrote the letter to your 
 grace, which I have feen in all the public 
 prints. I never received any other anfwer 
 than nwbal meffage, " Mr. Wilkes muft 
 " write to Lord Chatham. I do nothing 
 
 VOL. I. P " withou.
 
 [ 226 ] 
 
 *' without Lord Chatham.'* When I 
 found that my pardon was to be bought 
 with the facrifice of my honour, I had 
 the virtue not to hefitate. I fpurned at 
 the propofal, . and left my dear, native 
 London, with a heart full of grief that 
 myfaireft hopes were blafted, of humi- 
 liation that I had given an eafy faith to 
 'the promifes of a minifter and a courtier, 
 and of aftonifhment that a nobleman of 
 parts and tiiicernment could continue 
 'in an infatuation, from which the con- 
 duct of lord Chatham had recovered 
 every other man in the nation. He 
 was indeed long the favourite character 
 of our countrymen. Every tongue was 
 wanton in his praife. The whole peo- 
 'ple lavimed on him their choiceft fa- 
 vours, and endeavoured by the no- 
 bleil means, by an unbounded generality 
 and confidence, to have kept him vir- 
 tuous. With what anguifh were we at 
 
 kit
 
 [ 22 7 J 
 
 laft undeceived ? How much it cofl us to 
 give up a man, who had fo long entirely- 
 kept pofleflion of our hearts ? How cruel 
 was the ftruggle ? But alas ! how is he 
 changed ? how fallen ? from what height 
 fallen? His glorious fun is fet, I believe 
 never to rife again. 
 
 We long hoped, my lord, that public 
 virtue was the guide of his actions, and. 
 the love of our country'his rulingpaffion j 
 but he has fully me wn, omnis vis, vfrtuj- 
 c.m in lingua fita eft-\. Our hearts glowed 
 with gratitude for the important ferviccs 
 he had done againft the common enemy, 
 and the voice of the nation hailed him; 
 'our deliverer , but private ambition was 
 all the while fkulking behind the fhicld 
 "of the patriot, and at length in an evil 
 hour made him quit the fcene of ail his 
 glory, the only place in which he could 
 be truly ufeful, for a retreat, where he 
 
 \ Ad C. Caefarcm dc Repullica Cruinanda Epiilola priraa. 
 
 P 2 knew
 
 [ 228 ] 
 
 knew it was impoffible the confidence of 
 the people could follow, but where 
 he might in inglorious eafe bear his 
 ELUSHING honours thick upon him. 
 
 I might now, my lord, expoftulate 
 with your grace on a verbal meffage, and 
 of fiich a nature, in anfwer to a letter 
 couched in the moft decent andrefp'ectful 
 terms, coming too from a late member 
 of the legiflature. I might regret, that 
 the largefl proffers of friendfhip and real 
 fervice could mean no more than two or 
 three words of cold advice, that I fhould 
 apply to another. I might be tempted 
 to think it a duty of office in the firft lord 
 of the Treafury, to have fubmitted to his 
 Majefty a petition relative, to the exercife 
 cf the nobleft act of regal power, which 
 any conftitution can give any fovereign. 
 Surely, my lord, my application to the 
 firft comrnifiicner of the treafury, who is 
 always confidered as the firft Minifter in 
 England, was the veryproper application. 
 
 As
 
 [ 22 9 3 
 
 As I had made no difcovery of any new 
 wonderful pill or drop, nor pretended to 
 the fecret of curing the gout or the tooth- 
 ach, I never thought of foliciting lord 
 Chatham for a privy feal. His lord (hip's 
 office was neither important, nor refponli- 
 ble. I will not however enlarge on this, but 
 I mall den re your grace's permifTion fully 
 to (late what has happened to me as a 
 private gentleman, relative to lord Chat- 
 ham, becaufe I would not leave a doubt 
 concerning the propriety of my conduct 
 in a mind naturally fo candid, and fo 
 capable of judging truly, as that of the 
 Dxke of Graf ion. 
 
 I believe that the flinty heart of lord 
 Chatham has known the Iweets of private 
 friendihip, and the fine feelings of hu- 
 manity, as little as even lord Mans- 
 field. They are both formed to be ad- 
 mired, not beloved. . A proud, infolent, 
 overbearing, ambitious m.an is always 
 fullc, .5 of his own importance, 
 
 P 3 and
 
 I 230 1 
 
 <and vainly imagines himfelf fuperior to 
 the equality neceflary among real friends 
 in all the moments of true enjoyment. 
 Friendmipis toopureapJcpfureforamind 
 cankered with ambition, or the lull of 
 power and grandeur. Lord Chatham de- 
 clared in Parliament the ftrongeft attach- 
 ment to lord Temple, one of the greateft 
 characters our country could ever boail, 
 and faid he would live and die with his nobk 
 ^brother. He has received obligations of 
 the firft magnitude from \\\^noble brother^ 
 yet what trace of gratitude, or of friend- 
 ship, was ever found in any part of his 
 condu6l? and has he net now declared, 
 the moil open variance, and even hoiti- 
 lity ? I have had as warm and exprefs de- 
 clarations of regard as could be made by 
 'this marble-hearted friend, and Mr. Pitt 
 .had -no doubt his views in even feeding 
 .me with -f flattery from time to time, on 
 occafions too where candour and indul- 
 
 Vide. Mr. Pitt's Letters in the fecond volume.
 
 r 23 r ] 
 
 g'ence were all I could claim. He may 
 remember the compliments he paid me ' 
 on two certain poems in the year 1754. 
 If I were to rake the declarations made 
 by himfelf and the late Mr. * Potter a la 
 fettre, they were morecharmed with thofe : 
 verfes after the ninety ninth reading than ' 
 after the firft ; fo that from this circum- 
 ftance, as well as fome of his fpeeches ' 
 in Parliament, it feems to bslikewife true 
 of the firft orator, or rather the fifft 
 comedian, of our age, non difpticuijfi illi 
 jccos, fed mncontlgiffe\. 
 
 I will now fubmit to your grace, if' 
 there was not fomething peculiarly bafe' 
 and perfidious in Mr. Pitt's calling me a! 
 blafphemer of my God for thofe very verfes, 
 at a time when I was abfenr, and dan- 
 geroufly ill from an affair of he:. 
 
 * Vide Mr. Potter's Letters in the fecund volume. 
 
 f Q^intilian ufss this cxprcilic.-i, :'pcilcinj of De- 
 mofthcnes. 
 
 P 4 The
 
 [' 232 ] 
 
 The charge too he knew was t falfe, for 
 the whole ridicule of thofe two pieces 
 was confined to certain myfteries, which 
 formerly the unplaced and unpenfancd Mr. 
 Pitt did not think himfelf obliged even to 
 affed to believe. He added another 
 charge equally unjuft, that I was the li- 
 beller of my king, although he was fenfible 
 that I never wrote a fingle line difrefpecV 
 ful to the facred perfonof my fovereign, 
 but had only attacked the defpotifrn of 
 his ministers, with the fpirit becoming a 
 good fubject and zealous friend of his 
 country. The reafon of this perfidy 
 was plain* He was then beginning to- 
 pay homage to the Scottifh idol, and I 
 was the moil acceptable facri free he could 
 offer at the fhrine of BUTE. Hiftory 
 fcarcely gives fo remarkable a change. 
 
 t The verdift of the jury fully justified Mr. Wilkes front 
 this fcanclalous charge of blaffheiny made by Mr. Pitt in the 
 Houfe of Comrnocs. Vide likesviie the l^ttt t Martis, 3^ 
 dtt Januarii, 17^9. 
 
 He
 
 He was a few years ago the mad, ledi- 
 tious Tribune of the People, infulting 
 his Sovereign even in his capital city, now 
 he is the abject, crouching deputy of the 
 proud Scot, who, as he declared in Par- 
 liament, wants wifdqm, and holds principles 
 incompatible with freedom -, a moft ridi- 
 culous character furely for a flatefman, 
 and the fubject of a free kingdom, but the 
 very proper competition for a favourite. 
 Was it poflible for me after this to write 
 a fuppliant letter to lord Chatham? I 
 am the firil to pronounce myfelf moft 
 unworthy of a pardon, if I could have 
 obtained it on thofe terms. 
 
 Although I declare, my lord, that 
 the confcious pride of virtue makes me 
 look down with contempt on a man, 
 who could be guilty of this bafenefs, who 
 could in the lobby -f declare that I mult 
 
 f This declaration was made to George Onflow, efq; fon 
 of the late Speaker, and to other gentlemen. A curious let- 
 ter of Mr. Onflow, dated Ember-Covrt, Sept. 21, 1765, is in 
 the fecond volume. 
 
 be
 
 be fupported, and in the Houfe on the 
 fame day defert and revile me, yet I 
 will oft every occafion do juftice to the 
 minifter. He has ferved the public 
 in all tho'fe points, where the good 
 of the nation coincided with his own 
 private views ; and in no other. I 
 venerate the memory of the Secretary, ' 
 and I think it an honour to myfelf that I 
 fteadily fupported in Parliament an ad- 
 miniftration, themoft fuccefsful we ever 
 had, and which carried the glory of the' 
 nation to the highefl pitch in every part' 
 of the world. He found his country al- 
 moft in defpair. He raifed the noble fpi-' 
 rit of England, and {trained every nerve 
 againft our enemies. His plans, when 
 in power, were always great, although in 
 direct oppofnion to the declarations of 
 his whole life, when out of power. The' 
 invincible bravery of the Britifh troops 
 .gave fuccefs even to the moft rafh, the' 
 
 moft
 
 [ 335 ] 
 
 extravagant, the mod defperate of 
 his projects. He faw early the hoftile. 
 intentions of Spain, and if the celebrated 
 written advice, which he gave, had been 
 followed, a very few weeks had then pro- 
 bably clofed the laft general war -, al-. 
 though the merit of that advice was more 
 the merit cf his noble brother^ than his 
 own. After the omnipotence of lord 
 Bute in 1761 had forced Mr. Pitt to re- 
 tire from his Majefty's councils, and the 
 caufe was declared by himfelf to be our 
 conduct relative to Spain, I had the hap- 
 pinefs of fetting that affair in fo clear and 
 advantageous a light, that he exprefled 
 the mod entire fatisfaclion, and particular 
 obligations to my friendfhip. I do not 
 however make this a claim of merit to Mr. 
 Pitt. It was my duty, from the peculiar 
 -advantages of information I then had. 
 
 The conftitution of our country-has no 
 obligations to him. He has left it with all 
 
 it's
 
 r 236 j 
 
 it's beauties, and all it's blemimes. Her 
 never once appeared in earned about any 
 queftionof liberty. He was the caufe that 
 in 1 764 no point was gained for the public 
 in the two great queftions v{ General War - 
 rants,, and the Seizure of Papers. The 
 curled remains of the court of Star Cham- 
 ber, the enormous power of the attorney- 
 general, the fole great judici al officer of 
 the crown, who is dnrante Icne placito, and 
 not upon oath, who tramples on Grand 
 Juries, and breaks down the firft, the 
 foremoft barriers of liberty, continued 
 during his adminiflration the fame as be- 
 fore. Every grievance, which was not 
 rooted out by the glorious Revolution, 
 and the later ftruggles of our patriots, 
 flill fubfifts in full force, notwithstanding 
 the abfolute power heexercifed forfeveral 
 years over every department of the ftate 
 But I have done with lord Chatham. I 
 leave him to the poor confolation of a 
 
 place,
 
 place, a pcnfion, and a peerage; for 
 which he has fold the confidence of a 
 great nation. Pity {ball find, and weep 
 over him. 
 
 I am now, my lord, once more driven 
 from the Romans to the gay, the polite-f 
 Athenians, but I fhall endeavour to con- 
 vince your grace that I am not totally 
 loft to my country, nor to myfelf, in this 
 kene of elegant diflipistion, and that I 
 do not wafte the time in unavailing com- 
 plaints of my hard fate and the ingratitude 
 of thofe, whom I have ferved with fuccefs; 
 for I mall very foon beg to call the public 
 
 f It is remarkable that France has generally been chpfen 
 as the afylum of persecuted merit or genius. One of their 
 beft authors fays, De tout terns, lei Ro'u malhtitreux, et Us 
 kttmmes illuflres, ont cholfi leur afile en France, farce que d tout 
 ' terns le Fraaeois a eu la refutation d'etre un feuplt doux, humain 
 <t comfatijjant. Sydney retired to 'France, and during the 
 greateft part of his exile chofe to live there, even under 
 Lewis the Fourteenth, who had entirely deftroyed the fraall 
 remains of liberty in that kingdom; but at laft, duped by the 
 infidious pnytiifes of the Englifti court, he returned to his 
 aative country, aad died on foiftbld. 
 
 attention
 
 [ 2 3 J 
 
 attention to fome points of national im- 
 portance,- and in the mean time I {hall 
 embrace this opportunity of doing my- 
 felf juftice againft the calumnies, which 
 a reftlels faction does not ceafe to pro- 
 pagate. 
 
 The affair of the GemralW arrant, and 
 the Habeas Corpus i is told very unfaith- 
 fully, and almoft every particular rela- 
 tive to my being made a prifoner, and 
 fent to the Tower on the goth of April 
 1763, has beeninjurioufly miireprefented 
 in feveral late publications. I fhall there- 
 fore ftate the transactions of that memo- 
 rable day, and I appeal to the minutes 
 taken at the time for the accuracy of this 
 relation. 
 
 On my return from the city early 
 that morning, 1 met at the end- of Great 
 George-ftreet one of the King's meiTen- 
 gers. He told me that he had ^ warrant 
 to apprehend me, which he muft execute 
 immediately,
 
 t 2 39 1 
 
 immediately, and I muft attend hifa 
 to lord Halifax's. I defired to fee the 
 warrant. He faid it was againft the 
 authors, printers, and -pubiifliers of the 
 North Briton, No- 45, and that his verbal 
 orders were to arreft Mr. Wilkes. I told 
 Jiim the warrant did not refpe<5t me. I 
 advifed him to be very civil, and to ufe 
 no violence in the ilreet, for if he at- 
 tempted force, I would put him to 
 death in the inftant, but if he would 
 -come quietly to my houfe, I would con- 
 vince him of the illegality of the tzar? 
 rant, and the injuftice of the orders he 
 had received. He chofe to accompany 
 me home, and then produced the Ge- 
 neral Warrant. I declared that fuch a 
 warrant was'abfolutely illegal and void 
 in itfelf, that it was a ridiculous war- 
 rant againft the whole Englifh nation, 
 and I alked why he would ferve it on 
 me rather than on trie Lord Chancellor, 
 
 either
 
 F icso'f ilatei lord Bute, 
 or lord Corke, my next doo-r neighbour. 
 The anfwer-was, 'I am* to atrtft MrWilkes: 
 About an hour afterwards two other 
 ngepl atiiveei^ ami -ieyeral of their 
 affiftants; -hey 3!! endeavoured in vain 
 to perfuade ale to accompany them t-o 
 lord Ralifax/s. , I had likew-ife many civil 
 meSages fronv his lofdfhip to defire my 
 attendance. > My only a-nfwer was, that 
 I had not the honour of viftting his lord- 
 fnip, andibistfiril application was rather 
 rude dnd ungentleman-like. 
 
 While fame of the mefTengers and 
 their afiiftants were with me, Mr. Chur- 
 chill carne into the room-. I had heard 
 that their verbal orders were likewife to 
 apprehend hitn, but .1 fofpetftcd they did 
 not know his perfon, and by prefence of 
 mind I had the happinefs of foving my 
 friend. As foon as Mr. Churchill en- 
 tered the room, I accoftcd him, " Good 
 
 " morrow^
 
 " morrow, Mr.Thomfon. HowdoesMrs. 
 " Thorn fon do to-day ? Does (he dine in 
 " the country?" Mr. Churchill thanked 
 me, faid (he then waited for him, that 
 he only came for amoment toafk me how 
 I did, and almoftdireclly took his leave. 
 He went home immediately, fee u red all 
 his papers, and retired into the country. 
 The mefiengers could never get intelli- 
 gence where he was. The following 
 week he came to town, and was prefent 
 both the days of hearing at the court of 
 Common Pleas. 
 
 The whole morning pafied in mefiages 
 between lord Halifax and me. The 
 bufmefs of the meifcngers being foon 
 publicly known, feveral of my friends 
 came to me on fo extraordinary an evcrrt. 
 I defired two or three of them to go to 
 the court of Common Pleas, to make 
 affidavit of my being a prifcner in my 
 own houfe under an illegal warrant^ 
 
 VOL. I. C and
 
 and to demand the Habeas Cbrpus. The 
 Chief Juftice gave orders that it mould 
 iffue immediately. 
 
 A conftable came afterwards with fe- 
 veral afiiftants of the mefTengers. I re- 
 peatedly infifted on their all leaving me, 
 and declared I would not fuffer any one 
 of them to continue in the room againft 
 my content, for I knew and would fup- 
 port the rights of an Engliihman in the 
 fandtuary of his own houie. I was then 
 threatened with immediate violence, and 
 a regiment of the guards, if necelTary. 
 I loon found all refiftance would be vain. 
 The conftable demanded my fword, and 
 infifted on my immediately attending the 
 meffengers to lord Halifax's. I replied, 
 that if they were not aflaffins, they 
 fhould firft give me their names in 
 writing. They complied with this, and 
 thirteen let their hands to the paper. I 
 then got into my own chair, and pro- 
 ceeded
 
 cteded ta lord Halifax's, guarded by 
 the mefiengers and their affiftants. 
 
 I was conduced into a great apart- 
 ment fronting the Park, where lord 
 Halifax and lord Egremont, the two 
 fecretaries of (late, were fitting at a ta- 
 ble covered with paper, pens, and ink. 
 The undersecretaries flood near their 
 lordfnips. Mr. Lovel Stanhope, the law- 
 clerk, and Mr. Philip Carteret Webb, 
 the folicitor of the treafury, were the 
 only perfons befides who attended. Lord 
 Egremont received me with a fuperci- 
 lious, infolent air , lord Halifax with 
 great pplitenefs. I was defired to take 
 the chair near their lordfbips, which 
 I did. Lord Halifax then began, 
 " that he was really concerned that 
 " he had been neceffitated to proceed 
 " in that manner againft me, that it 
 " was exceedingly to be regreted that 
 " a gentleman of my rank and abilities 
 2 " could
 
 , i 5 
 
 " could engage againft the King, and 
 "' his Majcffy*s government," I replied, 
 
 " that his lord fh"ip could 'not be more 
 'ii'jil.l ijoi3QrntDn r> 5DcIti vmii' Lifj LsL'ji), *' 
 " miftaken,' for the King had not afub- 
 
 " ject more zealoufly attached to his per- 
 " fon ahcTgoverriment than' myfelf, that 
 " I had all my lire been a warm friend 
 " of the Houfe of Brunfwick arid the 
 " Protcflant Succellion, that while I 
 
 " made the trued profentbns of duty 
 
 . . T -. if , 
 
 " to the King, I was equally free to de- 
 
 " clare in the fame moment, that Ibe- 
 
 *' lieved no Prince had ever the misfor- 
 
 7'i ^ v!l*i.*?ii * '' 
 
 *' tune of being ferved by fuch ignorant, 
 
 tc infolent, and defpodc rninifters, of 
 ** which my being there was a frefn, 
 " elarin-.'- proof, for I was brought he- 
 
 r -' T in . "T i 
 
 '* fore tneir lordmips by lorce under a 
 
 lj '/flJS vtliiU t <> " 
 
 <fc General Warrant, wmcn named r.o 
 
 " body, in violation of "the lav/s of "mv 
 J , J icri."! JT/C -s 
 
 " country, and of the pnvileges of rar- 
 '* liameiit, that I begged both their lord- 
 
 t; (hips
 
 I **$ 1 
 
 " (hips to remember my prefent declara- 
 
 " tion, that on the very firft day of the 
 
 " enfuing fefllon of Parliament, I would 
 
 " (land up in my place and impeach them 
 
 " for the outrage they had committed in 
 
 ** my perfon againfl the liberties of the 
 
 " people." Lord Halifax anfwered, 
 
 " that nothing had been done, but by 
 
 i e i 1/^1 \ 
 
 tne advice of the beft lawyers, and 
 " that it was .now his duty to examine 
 " me." He had in his hand a long lift 
 of queftions, regularly numbered. He be- 
 gan, " Mr. Wilkes, do you know -f Mr. 
 44 Kearfly ? When did you fee him I 
 " &c,&c." I replied, " that I fulpected 
 ** there was a vain hope my anfwer would 
 *' tend rather to what his lordfhipwimed 
 " to know, that he feeined to be loft in 
 " a dark and intric'atL' path, anci really 
 " wantedmuchlighttoguidchim through 
 ' it, but that I could allure his lordihip 
 
 f The publisher of the North Briton, No. XLV. 
 
 "not
 
 [ 246 ] 
 
 " not a {ingle ray fliouid come from me." 
 Lord Halifax returned to the charge, 
 *' Mr. Wilke.s, do you know Mr. 
 " Kearfly ? &c, &c." I faid, " That this 
 " was a curiofity on his lordfhip's part, 
 " which however laudable in the fecre- 
 *' tary, I did not find myfelf difpofed to 
 " gratify, and that at the end of my 
 " examination all the quires of paper on 
 " their lorcjfhips' table i.'fhould be as 
 " milk white as at the beginning." Lord 
 Halifax then " defired to remind me of 
 " my being their prifoner, and of their 
 " right to examine me." I anfwered, 
 " that I fhould imagine their lordfhips* 
 *' time was too precious to be trifled 
 *' away in that manner, that they might 
 " have feen before I \vould never fay one 
 " word they defired to know j" and I 
 added, " Indeed, my lords, I am not 
 " made of fuch flight, flimfy fluff;" 
 then turning to lord Egremont, I faid, 
 " Could you employ tortures, I would 
 
 " never
 
 [ 247 ] 
 
 <e never utter a word unbecoming my 
 " honour, or affecting the facred confi- 
 " dence of any friend. God has given 
 " me firmnefs and fidelity. You trifle 
 " away your time moft egregioufly, 'my 
 " lords." Lord Halifax then " advifed 
 " me to weigh well the confequences of 
 " my conduct, and the advantages to 
 " myfelf of a generous, frank confef- 
 " fion." I lamented " the proilitution 
 " of the word, generous, to what I 
 " fhould confider as an act of the utmoft 
 " treachery, cowardice, and wicked- 
 " nefs." His lordfhip then afked 
 me, " If I chofe to be a priioner in 
 " my own houfe, at the Tower, or in 
 " Newgate, for he wasdifpofed tooblige 
 " me." I gave his lordfhip my thanks, 
 but " I defired to remark, that I never 
 u received an obligation, but from a 
 " friend, that I demanded juRice, and 
 tc my immediate liberty, as an Englifh- 
 ** man, who had not offended the laws 
 
 " of
 
 [ 248 ] 
 
 " of Ivis country -, that as to the reft, it 
 *' was beneath my attention, the odious 
 " idea of reftraint was the fame odious 
 *' idea every where ; that I would go 
 *' where I pleafed, arid if I was reftrained 
 " by a fuperior force, I mtfft yield to the 
 " violence, but would never give colour 
 " to it by afhamefull compromife; that 
 " every thing was indifferent to me in 
 " comparifon of my honour an^l my li- 
 " berty j that I made my appeal to the 
 " laws, and had already by my friends 
 ** applied 'to the Court of Common Pleas 
 " for \h Habeas Corpus , which the Chief 
 *' Juftfce had actually ordered to be if- 
 " fued, arid that 1 hoped to owe my 
 *' difchargelblely to my innocence, and 
 14 to the vigour of the law in a free 
 jfi? pdiaitrpV&Lord H alifax then told me, 
 ** that I (hoald be fent to the * Tower, 
 
 *' Nor^fcy t*>iver, nor walls of beaten brafs, 
 .} ;" Nc^ (< j;/|t/j dufigeM, . nor c ftrong lifilw-( *W ' 
 Can be rstcntive to the flrength of fpirit. 
 
 SHAKESPEARE. 
 
 * 4 where
 
 " where Lfl^u^e,4p8tedin & manner 
 fuitable tor my -rank, aifcUJmih^ hoped 
 " the Mergers had tehatedifoellto 
 
 --* rne." I acknowkdged " that they had 
 -** behaved widi humanity^ antd?cvencivi- 
 " lity to nne 4 ,n0twi^M:an(iing,'the^uffian 
 " orders given them by his lordfhip's 
 " colleague.", I then again turned to 
 lord Egremont, and did, " Xourlord- 
 " fhip's verbal orders were -to drag me 
 " out of my bed at midnight. The firft 
 " man, who had entered my bedcham- 
 " ber by force, I mould have laid dead 
 " on the ipot. Probably I fliould have 
 
 .; <c - fallen jn the fkirmifh with the others. 
 
 " I thank God, not your lordfhip, that 
 44 fuch aicene of blood has been avoided. 
 * 4 Your lordfhip is very ready to iffuc 
 4t orders, which you have neither the 
 " courage to fign, nor I believe to 
 *' juftify." No reply was made to this. 
 The convention drr,P^ed. Lord Hah- 
 
 o ni:> 
 
 fax
 
 C 2 5 ] 
 
 fax retired, into, another apartment. Lord 
 Egremont continued fullen and filent 
 about a quarter of an hour. I then made 
 a few remarks on fome capital pictures, 
 .which were in the room, and his lord- 
 fhip left me alone. 
 
 I was afterwards conducted into 
 another apartment. I found there fe- 
 veral of my friends, in argument with 
 the mod infamous of all the tools of 
 that adminiftration, Mr. Philip Carteret 
 Webb. He confirmed to me, that I 
 was to be carried to the Tower, and 
 " wifhed to know if I had any favours 
 " to aik." I replied, " that I was ufed 
 " to confer, not to receive, favours, that 
 " I was fuperior to the receiving any, 
 " ev.en from his mailers, that all I would 
 " fay to him was, if my valet de cham- 
 " bre was allowed to attend me in the 
 " Tower, I mould be fhaved and have a 
 *' cleanfhirt; if he was not, I ihould have 
 . ' a long beard, and dirty linen." Mr. 
 
 Webb
 
 t 25-1 ] 
 
 Webb faid, " that orders would be given 
 ** for his admiffion at the Tower." I 
 complained of the fhameful evafion of 
 the Habeas Corpus, in fending me to the 
 Tower, though the orders of the Chief 
 Juftice Pratt were known. Mr. Webb 
 made no reply to this. He came to 
 vifit me at the Tower in the beginning 
 of my imprifonment, when I had not the 
 permiffion to fee any friend. I defired 
 him almoft at his firft entrance to take 
 his leave , " for if I was not allowed 
 " to fee thofe I loved, I would not fee 
 " thofe I defpifed." 
 
 While I continued in the Tower, I was 
 prefled to offer bail in order to regain my 
 liberty, and two of the firft nobility defired 
 to be my fecurities in the fum of 1 00,000 1. 
 each. I was exceedingly grateful for the 
 offer, but would not accept it. I obferved, 
 that neither my health, nor my fpirits, 
 were affe^ed, that I would by great tempe- 
 rance and abftinence endeavour to com- 
 
 penfate
 
 penfate the want of air and exercife, but 
 if my health fuffered in a dangerous way^ 
 I would then accept fuch generous offers, 
 for I hoped to live that fo noble a caufe 
 might be brought to a glorious ifiue for 
 the liberties of my country. From the 
 beginning of this arduous bufmcfs, I 
 would not on any occafion give bail, by 
 which I never involved any friend, and 
 remained the perfect mafter of my own 
 conduct. 
 
 I (hall now, my lord, proceed to do my- 
 felf juftice againft a calumny of Sir John 
 Cuft, a perfon of the meaneft natural parts, 
 and infinitely beneath all regard, excej t 
 from the office he bears, with the utmoft 
 difcredit to himfelf, with equal difgrace 
 and infufficiency to the public. I find in 
 the twenty-ninth volume of the Journals 
 >f the Houfe of Commons, juft publilhed, 
 page 721." Jovis 1 9 die Januarii, 1 764, 
 41 Mr.Speaker acquainted the Houfe, that 
 
 "he,
 
 '>i:>t3$a ns nc lo anew. an) 33jnq 
 
 he, uponTuefday laft, received a letter 
 
 " by the general poft from M.r..Wilkes, 
 " dated Paris the. i \ t.h inftarit. inclofing 
 
 "^iUJS.*) 31O Ofl Oi JfiflJ 3VIA OJ L/^tjyri * iw^ 
 
 '- a puper in the French h$$3>%?-> P lir ~ 
 " porting to be a ccrrifi'qat^of one of 
 tl the French king's phyficiaps, and of a 
 " furgeon of the.faid king's army, re- 
 " lating to the ilatc of Mr. \yilkes's 
 tc health, fubfcribed with two names, 
 " but not authenticated before a^-nptary 
 " public, nor the fignatute thereof veri- 
 " fied in any manner whatibever." Then 
 follow the letter and certificate. The in- 
 linuation is too phin to be overlooked, 
 too falle to be fcrgiven. The fignature 
 was verified by my letter. It is certain 
 that the certificate was in all the ufual 
 s. yft though the affair was deter- 
 mined with refpeci to me, and I_was in- 
 decently expelled the II fj cf Commons 
 ^vi.hou^nvume being 
 allowed for other proof, k regard to truth, 
 and my own honour, made me give the 
 
 moil 

 
 I 254 3 
 
 moft cofnpleat anfwer to this wretched 
 fubterfuge of the abandoned Majority. 
 I fent a fecond certificate in ths unufual 
 form they had prefcribed themfelves, at- 
 tefted by two notaries, and confirmed by 
 the Englifh ambaffador. I wrote like- 
 wife again to the Speaker on the 5th of 
 February following, but neither tl/e fe* 
 cond letter, certificate, or atteftation, is 
 to be found in the Journals, as they ought 
 in juftice to my character. I have how- 
 ever, my lord, taken care that theyfhould 
 be publifhed, for in a free government 
 like our's I will endeavour through my 
 life to emulate the fpirit of antientRome, 
 provoco ad pofulum , and while the peo- 
 ple do not condemn me, I may perhaps 
 in this, I Jhall mod certainly in every 
 fucceeding age, rife fuperior to any party 
 cabal, or court faction. This ftep co- 
 vered my enemies with confufion, but was 
 of no farther fervice to me. The party 
 
 war
 
 [ 255 "3 
 
 war againft meceafed of courfein theffoitfi 
 of Commons, but flamed with equal fury in 
 Weftniinfter Hall, and was attended with 
 every circumftance of revenge and cru- 
 elty, which the ingenious wit of a Mans- 
 field could devife to gratify the malice of 
 a bad heart. 
 
 In the fame volume of the Journals, 
 page 723,1 find that I am voted guilty of 
 WRITING and PUBLISHING tli paper^ inti- 
 tuled " The North Briton, No. 45," and 
 thatfeveral witnefles were examined as to 
 thofe two fads. There is not however in 
 the Journals a {ingle word of the evidence 
 they gave, a-nd it is well known that not 
 one of them did, or could, fay any thing 
 relative to the author/hip. The evidence 
 of the publication was exceedingly flight, 
 but the willingnefs of the judges made 
 ample amends for the deficiency of the 
 witnefles, who were not upon oath. The 
 adminiftration did not chufe to rifk either 
 of thefe charges againft me even in the 
 
 court
 
 court of King's Bench, and I was only 
 tried for a re-publication. I will never blufh 
 at the imputation of being the author of 
 that paper, becaufe I know that truth is 
 refpected in every line. One circumftance 
 will foon fully appear to the indignant 
 public. 1 mean the large -j- debt on 
 the Civil Lift, contracted chiefly by the 
 fcandalous purchafe of a parliamentary 
 approbation of the late ignominious^^-, 
 the arbitrary excifc^ and other ruinous 
 meafures of the Scottifh minifter. But 
 I leave the affair of the Civil Lift to a 
 future exact difcuflion. 
 
 The laft calumny, my lord, which I 
 fhall difprove, refpects the actions at law 
 againft lord Halifax. It is faid that I 
 have neglected, orpurpofelydifcontinued 
 them, fince my exile. The imputation 
 is totally groundlefs. I was fo ill at 
 Paris in the begining of the year 1764, 
 
 f Above half a million was voted on this account in March 
 1769, ar.ii a dirc-ft refulal made to enquire into the caufes of 
 tht Civil Lift debt. 
 
 that
 
 [ 257 ] 
 
 that it was jrpppflible for me then to re- 
 t#/n. to England alive, but I gave the 
 moft exprefs Borders that the law proceed- 
 ings ..fhould be carried on with vigour, 
 a,i\d in facl: there was not a moment's de- 
 lay. When my wound began to heal in the 
 fpring, I was diiTuaded by all my friends 
 from returning to a country, where the 
 fame adrniniflration, which had illegally 
 ieized my perfcn, plundered my houfe, 
 corrupted the fidelity of my fervants^ 
 and by the wicked arts of an arbitrary 
 judge, whocaufed the records to be faljijied- 
 had juil obtained two verdi^U againfb 
 me, were ftijl in full power. I yielded 
 to thdc regions, bccaull* * fr'.plcr eorum 
 
 * Thefe \v -/js the ^reat Roman orator ules concerning his 
 MwHiitAate ';dncrnji, After his retwrn to.Eng!an<j, Mr. 
 V/ilkcs might have applied tohimiclf (he reft of the paflagc, 
 
 /-. tcd;::i m'?i i-.ikifo rr.eHcres rcS 
 
 effendifjitn nr^arum me n c?Jf::vd'irumf.Jc!:t<i>c contra -vctcrum 
 fitf.-tiam muniendum futtnii. The evpi.'rivncc of every man, 
 who has diuak deep of the hitter cup of ad verity, has been, I 
 believe, much the fame in all SJ-K. The tn-a. ii.-ry of the great, 
 and the bafenefs of the degenerate hereof (llfifn ^.nj int-rrrfti-d 
 friends, fillmoftof our books. The v.orld hat never beep, with- 
 out the Ctodltti an4 theGV*/..^, no mure th-n il:.-/^/ t -: anl 
 
 . I. R
 
 jcelas, nihil mihi infra meos parities tulum, 
 aihil injidiis 'vacuum viderem. Lord Hali- 
 fax for near two years availed himfelf of 
 very advantage, which privilege and 
 the chicane of law could furnifh. He 
 never entered any appearance to a court 
 of juftice, and the Common Pleas hao\, 
 as far as -they could, pumlhed fuch an 
 'open contempt, fuch a daring proof that 
 administration would not fubmit to the 
 law of -'the land, and had endeavoured to 
 compel his lordfhip to appear. Towards 
 the "end of 1764 I was outlawed.* The 
 proceedings continued againft his lord- 
 Ihip till that hour. He then appeared, 
 and his Tingle plea was, that as an outlaw, 
 I could not hold any action. No other 
 defence was made againft the heinous 
 
 This outlawry was not declared illegal till June 1768. 
 When Mr. Wilkes received abroad the news of his being 
 cutla-wed) he was not dejefted, but gave immediate orders to 
 attempt the reverfal of all the proceedings, and concluded in 
 the words of Tully, Pcrfciam frcfefio, ut me nan modb ncnfe- 
 'gregandum, cum Jim ci-vis, a numero civium, vcrxm etiam'Ji 
 lisa fjjem, .futetis afcifcendumfuJJJe, 
 
 charge
 
 [ 259 1 
 
 charge of having in my perfon violated 
 the rights of the people. 
 
 I felt this, my lord, as the moil cruel 
 ftroke, which fortune had given me, 
 Juf:ice had at length overtaken many of 
 the inferior criminals, but my outlawry 
 prevented my punifhing the great, the 
 capital offender, when after all hisfubter- 
 fuges he \vas almor; within my reach. I 
 pleafe mYfel; however with the reflexion 
 that no nr.r'lcr has fmce dared to ifiue 
 a General V/arrant^ nor to fign an order 
 for the Seizure ofPc.pers. In the one the 
 perfonal liberty of every fubject is im- 
 mediately concerned. On the other may 
 depend not only his own fafety and pro- 
 perty, but what will come fall more 
 home to a man of honour, the fecurity, 
 the happinefs of thofe, with whom he 
 is mofl intimately connected, their for- 
 tunes, their future views, perhaps fe- 
 .crets,, the difcovery of which would 
 drive the coldeft floic to defpair, their 
 R 2 very
 
 [ 260 ] 
 
 very exiftence pofiibly, all that is. im- 
 portant in the public walk of life, 
 all that is dear and facred in friend- 
 fnip and in love. I was the loft oppref- 
 .fed, but I was the/r/? man, who had the 
 courage to carry through ajuft refiftancc 
 to thefe acts of defpotifm. The opinions 
 of our fovereign courts of juftice are now 
 known and eftablimed. I rejoice that fe- 
 veral others, who fuffered * before me, 
 have made their appeal to the laws, and 
 obtained redrefs. I hope the iron rod of 
 minifterial oppreffion is at length broken, 
 and that I am the laft victim of violence 
 and cruelty. 1'ftiall not then regret all 
 the facrifices I have made, and my mind 
 mall feaft itfelf with the recollection in 
 the unjuft exile I am doomed to fuffer 
 from my friends and my native land.. 
 
 * The reverend Mr. John Entick, Mr. Arthur Beardmore, 
 and others, were apprehended on account of the Monitor in 
 1762, but did not bring their aclions againft the Secretaries cf 
 State, or the Mefi'engei?, .11111764. 
 
 I will
 
 [ 26! ] 
 
 I will now, my lord, only add, how- 
 ever unfa(hio.nable ,fuch a declaration 
 may be, that confiftencyfhall never depart 
 from niy character, that to the laft mo- 
 ment I will preferve the lame fixed and 
 unconquerable hatred to the enemies of 
 our happy ifland, the fame warm attach- 
 ment to the friends and the caufe of li- 
 berty, that I keep a fteady and a longing 
 eye on England, that my endeavours for 
 the good and fervice of my country by 
 every method left me mall have a period 
 only with my life, and that although I 
 do not mean to lay any future claim to 
 your grace's favour, I will take care to 
 iccure your eflcem. I am, my Lord, 
 your grace's moft obedient, 
 and very humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 Grr.tias .tibi, Deus opiums, maxume, citjin nutu 
 mttriq, nata eft et aucia res Angiicana, lubtns 
 Ittnifque ago, lihertale public! in hanc diem et lio- 
 i am, per rnanus, quod t voiu : jti, mcas, fervata, ean- 
 ti-m et in eetsrtr.tm ferva, fovc, protege propitiate, 
 Jut flex oro.
 
 [ 262 J 
 
 St. James's Chronicle of May 26, 1767. 
 
 To the PRINTER. 
 SIR, 
 Give you joy of your correfpondent 
 
 I 
 
 from Woodford^ vvhofe letter I read 
 in your Chronicle of Thurfday May 7. 
 He is the moil wonderful modefl crea- 
 ture I have heard of, for he pretends to 
 imderfcand Latin belter than the old 
 Romans, and calls Paulus^!milius,Scipio 
 Africanus, Marcus Porcius Cato, &c, 
 &c. to account for blunders in their 
 mother tongue, and on the moil delibe- 
 rate, folemn occafions. 
 
 He fays, " As Mr. Wilkes has given 
 us a Latin prayer after the conclufion of 
 his letter to a truly great and noble per- 
 lonage; permit me amongil other inele- 
 gancies in it, v/hich I pafs over, to cor- 
 rect a piece of falfe Latin : The two laft 
 Lines are, Eandem fc? in aeiernum ferva> 
 fove, frQiege^roptlate^Jit^ky; oro. 
 
 " The
 
 " The clafiic writers always ufe the 
 conj. ut after oro, as oro ut Eandem & in 
 teternum, ferves, foveas, protegas, &c. 
 fupplex oro. 'Tis a pity this gentleman 
 had not fpared himfelf the trouble of this 
 Latin compojition" 
 
 Now, Sir, it is a little unlucky for 
 your correfpondent that he didfpare him- 
 felf the trouble of this Latin compaction, 
 for it is two thoufcnd years old. It is 
 the exact formula of the Rcir.nn gene- 
 rals when they triumphed, en their 
 mounting the triumphal car, and enter- 
 ing afterwards the temple of Jupuer 
 Eentrius at the Capitol. Nc alteration 
 is made in the form, except res Angli- 
 cana for res Romana,. and the turn to 
 Liberty, a Goddefs, to whom his devo- 
 tion ought to be fince-r?, from the great 
 facrifices he has made at her altar. I fcorn, 
 fir, to put the facred claffic page into 
 the profane hands of your correfpondent. 
 I would not give rny champaign to a~ 
 
 Dane
 
 Dane or a Dutchman. I will treat him 
 only with muddy porter from two fellows 
 as dull as himfelf, but much more exact. 
 He may find in Blondi Flavii Forlivienfis 
 de Roma triumphante Lilri decem, Bafili<e, 
 1.531, Folio, p. 214, and 216, a cu- 
 rious detail of every thing relative to the 
 Roman triumph, from the beft authors of 
 antiquity. I refer himlikewife tojcac/nmi 
 'johannis Maderi Nct*e in Onuphrii Panu- 
 I'-ini de Triumpho Comment arium, Patavn, 
 1681, folio, page 139, and 143. He will 
 fee in both the mod entire juftification 
 of the Latin prayer, and of every fmgle 
 word ufed , fervate, fovete, prctegetepro- 
 pitiati, fupplcx cro, only in the plural, 
 from the plurality of Gods in the hea- 
 then creed. 
 
 Who can tell, fir, but it was a ten- 
 dernefs for fome modern courtiers, and 
 apoftate patriots, made him give a prayer 
 for public liberty in Latin, although in- 
 deed the Roman language is too free and 
 roo manly for any, but freemen?
 
 [ 2*5 3 
 
 Your corrcfpondent goes on, " The 
 claiTic writers always ufe the con), tit after 
 oro^ as oro ut." The aflfertion is not true. 
 They fometimes ufe the imperative mood, 
 and the fubjun<5tive often after cro with- 
 out the ut. Two inftances of this are fuf- 
 ficientfrom writers of fuch eftablifhed au- 
 thority as Virgil and Plautus. In the very 
 firft book of the Mneld we find 
 
 ORAMUS PROHIBE inftadet a na-vitus igncs. 
 
 Had the happy tranflation of Plautus, 
 juft publilhed by Mr. Thornton, given 
 your correfpondent the curiofity of con- 
 fulting the original, two things, would 
 have followed. Pie would have admired 
 the learning and genius of Mr.Thornton, 
 and he would have found in the very 
 firft fcene of the firft aft of the firft 
 play, Amphitryon, 
 
 felatis manikin o R A N T i G N o s c .. M u s fcccatum futim, 
 
 without the ut expreffed. Mr. Thorn- 
 ton obferves on this paflage, that " for 
 furity and concifenefs of cxpreffion, ex-, 
 quifite painting, &c, this narrative might 
 
 not
 
 not perhaps have appeared outree or 
 mifbecoming in a Livy or a Lucan." 
 
 The truth is, that the imperative or 
 fubjunctive mood may be ufed indiffer- 
 ently with ore, and the fubjunftive with 
 or without the ut, according to the turn 
 of the phrafe. The fame variety is in: 
 our own language. In Englim we might 
 fay equally well, Remove, we. humbly he- 
 fee ch you, moft gracious fovereign, from 
 your -pre feme and councils fcr ever, John 
 earl of Bute, and all the people Jliall re- 
 joice ; or, We humbly befeech you, moft 
 gracious fovereign, that you would pleafe 
 to remove, or (till more fimply, We 
 humbly befeech you, moft gracious fovereign,. 
 t.o remove, from your prefence and councils 
 for ever, John earl of Bute, and all the 
 people jliatt rejoice. Both are good. Grant 
 this our petition, we humbly befeech thee, 
 eh ! Lord, from thy great goodmfs to this- 
 poor people -, or, We humbly befeech thee^ 
 eh ! Lord, that ihou wouldft grant, or to 
 
 grant.
 
 grant this our petition, from thy great good- 
 nefs to this poor people. Give me leave to 
 mention one more inftance, to which I am 
 led by the former. Slay rue rather, oh ! 
 my God, than make me a William Pitt, 
 earl of Chatham, I $ray thee ; or, I pray 
 thee rather, oh ! my God, that thou wouldft 
 flay me, or to flay me, than to make me a 
 William Pitt, earl of Chatham. 
 
 The pofidvenefs of your correfpon- 
 dent is rather diTgufling, but if hq has 
 any grace left, he will now afk parJoa 
 of the manes of the great Romans for 
 having charged them with inelegancies 
 and iVfe Latin. I almoft fufped < hat he 
 is a mere fchool-boy gone to V/oodford 
 for the Eafter holydays. He may con- 
 tinue there, for I fcarcely think it worth 
 his parents while to fend him to Oxford. 
 He is not yet fufficiently advanced even 
 in fchool-learning, nor indeed in any 
 way promifing enough. 
 
 He is *' forry to fee this champion of 
 liberty,, Mr Wilkes,. fall into one of 
 
 the
 
 _.iC errors of the popifh church, the 
 praying in an unknown tongue" Latin 
 I muft own feems an unknown tongue to 
 your correfpondent ; but I believe there 
 is fome little difference between the la-' 
 Unity of this prayer, arid that of the 
 vulgate bible, or the m'afs-book. It' 
 would be eafier perhaps to prove Mr. 
 Wilkes a 'good Roman, than a good' 
 Roman catholic. 
 
 He " begins to fear Mr. Wilkes's 
 religion is in danger from his refiding in 
 France." Is it his fault that he continues 
 in France ? I know how much he longs, 
 and how deeply he feels' for England, 
 Patriam eluxitjamgrai'iits et diutius qtiam 
 ulla mater unicum'filium. I wifli he was at 
 home again, and the bitter enemy of 
 his country and himfelf abroad. I hope 
 it will not be forgot that the Marqiu* 
 cf * Sqitiltace is new in Italy. I do not 
 
 * The king of Soain had been prevailed upon to difmifs tnat 
 Minifter,' as generally odious to his people, and the Marquis 
 was then in Italy, but lord Bute itill continued it St. James's. 
 
 think
 
 think France is a country of much reli- 
 gion. The French do not trouble them- 
 felves greatly about making prpfelytes. 
 They are rather employed in the way, 
 which the prophet Jeremiah mentions,- 
 chap. V. verfe 8. " They were as fed 
 " horfes in the morning, every one 
 " neighed after his neighbour's wife." 
 I have no fears for his religion, for I 
 know him and Paris, where he generally 
 refides. No faith remains there, but 
 
 Th' enormous/<z/VA of many made for one, 
 
 jf I may be allowed to 'quote thatEnglilh 
 papifti Pope, vol. III. page 96. War- 
 burton's octavo edition. I hope THAT 
 faith will never again be the court creed 
 in England, as it was too long under 
 the northern race of the Stuarts. I 
 pawn my honour that Mr. Wilkes will 
 never believe it. He leaves it to thofe 
 wretches, who, under the Brunfwick 
 line, endeavour to revive doctrines which 
 drove out the Tarquins, 
 
 lob.
 
 I obferved, fir, a moft curiotfs poft- 
 fcript to the letter from Woodford.' 
 N. B. " The king prays in Englifli." 
 The language is not material. God 
 "underftands all languages. It is im- 
 portant that the fpirit of the prayer 
 '(hould be for the welfare of his people, 
 and the prefervation of public liberty. 
 It interefts us all ft 111 more that the prac- 
 tice of the fovercign fhould be uniform 
 to thofe two great objects. By fuch a 
 fteady and firm conduct only, the name of 
 'George the Third will become facred to 
 all pofterity with that of our heroic de- 
 liverer, William the Third, and the ami- 
 able monarch now on the throne will ap- 
 prove himfelf the 
 
 Great Friend of Liberty ; in Kings a Name 
 Above all Greek, above all Roman Fame. 
 
 POPE, vol. iv. p. 147. 
 
 1 am, Sir, your's, 
 
 Et potus, et exlex J. 
 
 J Hor, A'rs Poetica,
 
 I 7 1 
 
 A Letter from Mr. Andrew Baxter, 
 author of MATHO, Jin Enquiry into tht 
 nature of the hitman foul, &c. -f. 
 
 My dearefl Mr. Wilkes, 
 \7-OUR letter of December the i2th 
 " alarmed me, by hearing you had 
 got fuch a dangerous fall off your horfe. 
 Moderate exercife is good, but danger- 
 ous exercife, Rich as riding a fiery horfe, 
 is not commendable ; and if you would 
 oblige Mrs. Wilkes, if you would oblige 
 all your friends, and all good men, who 
 conceive great hopes from you, you will 
 be more cautious for the future. We 
 had a terrible infcance in the news- 
 papers lately of a man fpoke wonder- 
 fully well of, who got his death by fuch 
 a. fall. As to altering any thing in the 
 
 f A falfe and imperfeft copy of this letter was printed in 
 -Sorts Magazine,
 
 [ 272 ] 
 
 addrefs to you before the Appendix J, I 
 durft not do it without your participation, 
 unlefs you had fuggefted fomething you 
 
 J In another letter he fays, " I have employed my time 
 " of late in confiderirrg the difference, or controverfy, be- 
 " tween the Englifh. and foreign philofophers concerning the 
 force of bodies moving in free fpaces, which in it's confe- 
 " quences fpreads far and wide through natural philofophy. 
 " I have fliewn demonftratively that the experiments brought 
 " by the foreign philofophers to eftabli/h their new theory, 
 " are applicable entirely to the Englifh computation, which 
 " they beautifully confirm and illuftrate, and that thefe 
 " learned gentlemen have quite miftaken them. We talked 
 " much of this you may remember in the Capuchin's garden 
 " at Spa. . I have fini/hed the prlma cur a of it in the dia- 
 " logue \vay : I c'efign to infcribe it to my dear John Wilkes, 
 " whom, under a borrowed name, I have made one of the 
 " interVocutors. If you are againft this whim (which a paf- 
 ** fionate love to you has brought me to bed of) I will 
 drop it. 
 
 " In the mean time I fhall publi/h an Appendix to the 
 " Enquiry, which you muft give me leave to infcribe to you 
 " in tke following manner. Sir, the fuijeft f our con-ver- 
 (l fation in the Capuchin's garden at Spa in the Rummer of 
 " 1745, lies ftill by me in the (tfefs it was put in. I ha-ve 
 f< not leisure at prefent to prepare it for the public vifw. In 
 " the interim I fend you the following fleets, as a tohn of my 
 " Jincere refpcfi. It is a pleasure to think on the time tve fpcnt 
 " fa agreeably together, I am, &c." 
 
 The Appendix was afterwards 'publiihed with the above 
 dedication. 
 
 would
 
 would have had changed ; and by this 
 time I fuppofe it is publifhed- If not, 
 I beg you caufe change any .thing you- 
 think proper. I wrote to Mr; Millar, 
 after prefenting fome copies to gentle- 
 men in London, to fend down five co- 
 pies of it to lord Blantyre at Edinburgh, 
 to be given to particular friends there, 
 and I vvim you would fpeak to him of 
 it As to the ftate of my diftafe, unlefs 
 I would make fuppofitions contrary to 
 all probability, I have no reafonablc 
 hopes of recovery, the fwelling which 
 began at my legs, being now got up to 
 my belly and head. I am a trouble to ail 
 about me, efpecially to my poor wife, 
 who has the life of a flave night and day, 
 in helping me to take care of a difeafed 
 carcafs. Yet I may linger on a while, as 
 I can ftill walk a little through the room, 
 and divert myfelf now and then with 
 reading, nay, and writing down my re- 
 VOL. I. S marks
 
 marks on what I read. But I can with 
 fincerity afiure you (my moft dear Mr, 
 \Vilkes) death has nothing terrible to 
 me , or rather I look upon it with plea- 
 fure. I have long and often confidered, 
 and written down, the advantages of a 
 feparate flate. I mall foon know more 
 than all the men I leave behind me-, 
 wonders in material nature and the world 
 of fpirits, which never entered into the 
 thoughts of philofophers. The end of 
 knowledge there is not to get a name, or 
 form a new feel, but to adore the power 
 and wifdom of the Deity. This kills 
 pride, but heightens happinefs and plea- 
 fure. All our rational defires, becaufe 
 rational, muft be fatisfied by a being 
 himielf infinitely rational. 1 have been 
 long aware that nothing can go beyond 
 the grave but the habits of virtue and 
 innocence. There is no diftinftion in 
 that world, but what proceeds from 
 
 virtue
 
 [' 275 ] 
 
 virtue or vice. Titles and riches are 
 laid off, when the fhroud goes on. But 
 eh ! my deareft friend, I cannot conceal 
 from you a topic of inexpreffible plea- 
 fure. Punifhment itfelf is pleafant. God 
 does not punim out of anger and re- 
 venge, to deftroy, as we wrathful men 
 conclude, but to correct and make bet- 
 ter. That is the true end of punifh- 
 ment. Boundlefs punifhment would 
 mew incontroulable power, but chaftife- 
 ment in proportion to our faults, mews 
 the divine perfection of Equity, and with 
 a defign to correct, not to throw us off, 
 mews mercy. The end of God's punifh- 
 ing us therefore is our final happinefs. 
 Are not thefe comfortable topics at the 
 approach of death ? Befides, what is it 
 to be free from the pains and infirmities 
 of the body ? Though I am fatisfied 
 juft now that the weaknefs of my di* 
 ftrefied limbs is as much the immediate 
 S 2 effect
 
 f 276 ] 
 
 effect of the fame power and goodnefs, 
 as their growth and ftrength was fixty 
 years ago. Dare I add a word without 
 being thought vain? This is owing to 
 my having reafonedhoneftly on the nature 
 of that dead fubftance matter. It is as 
 utterly inert when the tree flourimes, as 
 when the leaf withers. And it is the 
 fame divine pqwer differently applied, 
 that directs the laft parting throb, and 
 the firft drawing breath. O the blindnefs 
 of thofe who think matter can do any 
 thing of itfelf, or perform an effect 
 without impulfe and direction by im- 
 material power! As to party-philofo- 
 phers who are for one fide only, and 
 contract a perfonal didike to thole who 
 are not as ftiff, they are to be pitied. I 
 fee them making their court to the heads 
 of the party, and thus angling for a 
 little reputation, at fecond hand It is 
 aftonifliing, my dear fir, that all men are 
 
 forced
 
 forced to own, that all matter neceffarily 
 re/ifts a change of ifsprefentftate, either of 
 reft or motion , and yet when they corne 
 to the genuine confequence of this, to 
 wit, that the Deity performs immediately 
 ail that is done in the material univerfe, 
 they retract the former felf-evident truth, 
 and aicribe to this rejifiingfubjlance, both 
 a felf motive, and felf determining power. 
 I know not one book of natural philofo- 
 phy, not one, free from this inconfiftency. 
 And though I be the only perfon, (for 
 any thing I know) who has endeavoured 
 to eltablilh the particular Providence of 
 the Deity, and mew his inceffant influ- 
 ence and action on all the parts of matter, 
 through the wide univerfe, from the 
 inactivity of this dead fubftance: yet I 
 hope when the prefent party- zeal fubfides 
 a little, men v/ili come more eafily in to 
 own fuch a plain truth. And from the 
 fame obvious principle a great many ao- 
 S 3 furd
 
 [ 278 ] 
 
 furd notions in natural philofophy, con- 
 cerning powers in matter, will be rejected 
 I own, if it had been the will of 
 heaven, I would have gladly lived, till 
 I had put in order the fecond part of the 
 Enquiry, fhewing the Immortality of the 
 human foul : But infinite wifdom cannot 
 be miftaken in calling me fooner. Our 
 llindnefs makes us form wijhes. I have 
 left feven or eight different manufcript 
 books, where all the materials I have 
 been collecting for near thirty years are 
 put down without any order, in the book 
 that came next to hand, in the place or 
 circumftances I was in at the time. I 
 took allthefe papers to Holland with me, 
 thinking to put them in order there; but 
 you know that was impracticable. And 
 fmce I came home, I have been pre- 
 vented, either with looking after country 
 affairs, or want of health. There are a 
 great many mifcellaneous fubjects in 
 philofophy,
 
 [ 279 J 
 
 philofophy, of a very ferious nature, few 
 of them ever confidered before as I know 
 of; but (as I have hinted above) a fhort 
 time offeparafe exigence will make every 
 good man look with pity on the deeped 
 refearches we make here, and which we are 
 apt to be vain of. Thus I have writ you 
 every thing I had to fay. It will be kind 
 if you fend me a laft letter. I wifh you 
 and Mrs. Wilkes all pofiible profperity. 
 And though I cannot do you any fervice 
 here, yet I hope our friendfhip fhall never 
 end. 
 
 AND. BAXTER. 
 
 Whittingham. Jan. 29. 1750, 
 
 S 4
 
 [ 280 ] 
 
 Letters of Dr. Brewfter, author of an 
 excellent tranflation of Perfius. 
 
 Bath, May 20. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 'TT'OU find me for once fomewhat in 
 * the cafe of afair young virgin,hardly 
 able to withftand your felicitations, they 
 are fo warm and engaging, and yet 
 afraid to comply with them, though 
 pleafure muft be the certain confequence. 
 But the fair ones I believe you have always 
 found at lad confenting ; and as they are 
 moft admirable precedents, fo I follow 
 their example. It is true, I ought to be 
 afnamed of not complying without re- 
 luctance; (in that point indeed the young 
 ladies and I a little differ) but you know 
 the unhappy caufe fometime next week 
 then, I fhall endeavour to wait on you at 
 Aylelbury. 
 
 I fcarce
 
 [ 281 ] 
 
 I fcarce know a man in the world, 
 whom I would go farther to fee, or to 
 whom I would fooner dedicate my time 
 and myfelf. You need not, for my 
 temptation, in the account you give me 
 of the wonderful verdure of the rich 
 vale of Aylefbury, and the fragrance of 
 your bean-fields in full bloflbm, have 
 defcribed Arabia Felix, for I couid rea- 
 dily have waited on you in the very 
 de farts. 
 
 Dr. * * is the only one whom I know 
 among the faculty, that composes tragedy. 
 His brethren content themfelves with 
 barely furnifning fubjecb for it, widows 
 and orphans. 
 
 I am, dear Sir, 
 Your faithful, and obliged, 
 
 humble Servant, 
 THO. BREWSTER.
 
 [ 282 ] 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 '"INHERE is nothing I long for fo 
 -^ much, as to be reading a chapter 
 with you, at Aylefbury, in the old black 
 letter. However hurtfull you may find 
 it to the eyes, I am perfuaded your 
 learned and pious expofitions, will ren- 
 der it highly edifying and confortable to 
 the heart. I will therefore (God willing) 
 fulfil yet my promife, and wait on you 
 before this fummer ends. That I do not 
 fet out immediately, I do allure you is 
 not my fault, but merely my misfortune. 
 Two or three anomalous patients un- 
 luckily detain me here at prefent ; and 
 when they will be pleafed to releafe me, 
 upon my word is more than I can yet tell, 
 or even conjecture. It is a ftrange thing 
 that people who have the whole year 
 before them, to be lick in, can find no 
 other part of it, for that purpofe, but 
 
 juft
 
 juft the "particular time when I fhould be 
 enjoying the happinefs of your com- 
 pany. 
 
 Whatever may be the weather at Ay- 
 lefbury, I have no doubt of meeting 
 with gaiety and pleafure, when I meet 
 with Mr. Wilkes, and am in the mean 
 time, his obliged friend, 
 
 and obedient Servant, 
 THO. BREWSTER. 
 
 Bath, June 30.
 
 Bath, Jan. 6, 1755. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 'THROUGH lam fitting down but 
 * now, to acknowledge the favour of 
 your letter, I muft neverthelefs own I 
 received it in due time; even on Chrift- 
 mas-day in the morning. The contents 
 I hoped would have informed me, that 
 you were foon following: but upon pe- 
 rufal,, how grievous was the difappoint- 
 ment! Almoft enough to fadden the 
 mod joyous of all feaibns. 
 
 The Royal Society by taking the fleps 
 you mention, may happily once again 
 favour us with a little common fenle ; 
 which, among all the ftrange things they 
 have for fome time publilhed, will itfelf, 
 I fhould believe, be efteemed the 
 flrangeft. But the more they reform, 
 the lefs perhaps they will entertain, 
 which I wim may not be likewile the 
 cafe of our reforming friend. However 
 
 if
 
 if Mr. * * * be in earned fo defperately 
 refolved on matrimony, I heartily wifh 
 him all the happinefs it can afford ; and 
 hopeyou are ready with his epithalamium. 
 This indeed is a feafon, whofe coldnefs 
 admonimes us all to think of good warm 
 wives. It makes me do fo fometimes, 
 among the reft : but a line or two of 
 Horace, on the other hand, a little dif- 
 courages, 
 
 Quze bellua ruptis, 
 Cum femel eft'ugit, reddit fe prava catenis ? 
 
 The French of our times, I find greatly 
 furpafs the Greeks of Juvenal's. Natio 
 comoeda eft^ even down to their very dogs: 
 who indeed, by your account of thofe at 
 the Haymarket, feem to be a moft extra- 
 ordinary race of puppies. Methinks it 
 is pity but they fnould be well princi- 
 pled : and for that good end have govern- 
 ors and preceptors out of hand appointed 
 them. You who have the faving of fouls fo 
 
 very
 
 [ 286 J 
 
 very much at heart, I wonder you do 
 not recommend them, either to the pro- 
 moters of Chriftian knowledge, or to the 
 propagators of the Gofpel in foreign 
 parts : who furely would not do amifs tof 
 confider that the greateft of all charities 
 mould begin at home. 
 
 To the wit and pleafure of this place, 
 I am quite a ftranger. For that I mud 
 therefore beg leave to refer you to the 
 pen of Mr. * * *, our gallant, gay Lo- 
 thario. 
 
 I am, ever your's, 
 
 THO. BREWSTER.
 
 Burton-Court near Lemftcr, July 29, 1758, 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 UR letter found me under the ap- 
 pie-trees of Herefordfhire, where 
 I have now beenabovethefe three months, 
 in fuch a folitude as I am only fit for. 
 The truth is, I am but in a ruinous fort 
 of condition, nodding, as it were, to my 
 fall: and my tremors, at all times bad 
 enough, under the obfervation of com- 
 pany, are ftill worfe. For thefe reafons, 
 though the pleafures of Aylefbury have 
 left a very ftrong impreffion, yet dare I 
 not accept your kind invitation to repeat 
 them ; but wiihing you all happinefs in 
 all places, am, dear Sir, 
 
 Your moft obliged, and 
 affectionate Friend, 
 THO. BREWSTER.
 
 [ 288 ] 
 
 A Letter of the Reverend Dr. Douglas, 
 author of feveral pamphlets, relative 
 to the impofture of Archibald Bower, 
 and of other pieces. 
 
 Half-Moon ftreet, Piccadilly, April i, 1762. 
 S I R, 
 
 will excufe the trouble I give 
 you, becaufe it is on an affair of 
 infinite concern to my character, and I 
 think you have it in your power to do 
 me juftice. A report has been fet about, 
 that I am the author of the Qbfervations 
 en the Spanijh Pcpers^ which, if it gains 
 credit, will be as prejudicial to my in- 
 tereft, as it is abfolutely unfupported by 
 truth. You may pleafe to remember you 
 told me in the Park, the very day after 
 the pamphlet appeared, that you heard I 
 had writ it. It is become necefiary for 
 
 me,
 
 me, by the advice of the mod refpecta*- 
 ble friends, to trace this groundlefs ftory 
 to the fountain head j and therefore I 
 apply to you, begging you would recol- 
 lect who told you I was the author, that 
 fo 1 may be able effectually to flop the 
 progrefs of a report, which if at firft 
 propagated only wantonly, will, I fear, 
 if not traced to its fource, in the end 
 have the fame bad effects, as if it had 
 come from the mod determined malice, 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 Your molt obedient and 
 
 mod humble fervant, 
 JOHN DOUGLAS, 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 _ 
 
 \VinclieIler, April 6, 1762. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 . T Had the honour of your letter at 
 "* Bafingftoke in my inarch to this 
 -place. When I was laft in the foolifh 
 circle at the Smyrna, the Obfervatiovs on 
 the Spanifli Papers were talked of, and as 
 you know the fages there pretend to in- 
 finite fagacity, they were generally 
 given to you, though a few afcribed them 
 to Mauduit) the author of the famous 
 CowfideratiGiis. I am entirely fatisfied 
 with your authentic afiurances on this 
 fubject, and on every occafion will con- 
 "tradift fo groundlefs a report. 
 
 There is not a man in this country, 
 who more honours your fuperior lite- 
 rary abilities than I do, nor more warmly 
 wifh.es, for the dignity of our church, 
 to fee them rewarded in an eminent and 
 diftinguifhed manner. I mail be ftre- 
 
 nuous
 
 [ -2 9 I ] 
 
 nuous in contradicting the report, for 
 undoubtedly the author of the Obferva- 
 tions has no chance of favour from any 
 of the prefent powers ; and if he is the 
 unlucky Mauduit^ he has overthrown 
 all the merit he might with fome derive 
 from the Conftderations. I hope that 
 your other friends will exert themfelves 
 with the fame zeal on this occafion as I 
 aiTure you I fliall, for I am, with real 
 regard, 
 
 S I R, 
 
 Your very humble fervant, 
 
 JOHN WILKES. 
 
 T 2
 
 r 292 3 
 
 Letters of Mr. ROBERT LEOTD, 
 
 "JV/TR. Churchill infcribed to this gen- 
 **-* tleman the gay and fpirited epiftle 
 of Night. A fhort character of him is ex- 
 tradled from the notes on thatpoem. Mr. 
 Lloyd dedicated toMr.Wilkes 'The Ncw- 
 River-Head, a Tale, at the very time 
 that all the profecutions were carrying 
 on for the North Briton and the pa- 
 pers ftolen out of his houfe, and after- 
 wards addrefied to him the following 
 lines. 
 
 What tho' oppreffion, with her defperate tools 
 
 Of bold, mean knaves, and weak complying fools, 
 
 Lord it abroad, yet, Wilkes, thy honour'd name, 
 
 Built on the folid bafe of patriot fame, 
 
 Shall in truth's page to lateft years defccr.d, 
 
 And babes unborn {hall -hail thee England's friend j. 
 
 A juft reward ftiall future times beflow, 
 
 And pay thofe honours which the prefent owe. 
 
 THE
 
 I 293 1 
 
 - THE poem of Night was written by Mr. 
 Churchill in vindication of himfelf and 
 Mr. Lloyd againft the cenfures of fome 
 falfe,treacherous,and hypocritical friends, 
 who affected to pay the highefl compli- 
 ments to their genius, but appeared equal- 
 ly pleafed and induftrious in feizing every 
 opportunity of condemning their conduct 
 in private life. Thefe f *>mf<?/perfons, 
 whom neither love, pleafure, nor pity 
 ever drew for a fingle moment out of 
 their way, found a malicious pleafure in 
 propagating theftory of every unguarded 
 hour, and in gratifying that rage after 
 the little anecdotes of admired authors, 
 
 f- There rs no talent fo ufeful towards rifing in the world, 
 or which puts men more out of the reach of fortune, than 
 that quality generally pcfleiTed by the dulleft fort of people, 
 and is in common fpeech called discretion, a fpecies of lower 
 prudence, by the afliftance of which, people of the meancfl 
 intellectuals, without any other qualification, pafs through 
 the world in great tranquillity, and with univcrfal good treat- 
 ment, neither giving n-jr taking offence. 
 
 SWIF T. EiTay on the Fates of Clergymen. 
 
 T 3 upon
 
 [ 294 ] 
 
 upon which fmall wits fubfift. Such a 
 proceeding ought however in all fairnefs 
 to be confidered only as the \Qvfgjffiping 
 of the literary world. Scandal amufes 
 the circle of the gay and polite in the 
 fame manner. The curiofity of the 
 town was fed by thefe people from time 
 to time, and every dull letturcr within the 
 bills of mortality comforted himfelf that 
 hedid notkeepfuch hours as Mr. Churchill 
 and Mr. Lloyd. 
 
 The poet does not blufh to own that 
 he often pafied the night after the man- 
 ner of the firft men of antiquity, who 
 knew how to redeem the fleeting hours 
 from death's half -brother, and fellow- 
 tyrant, Jleep. They likewife lamented 
 the Ihortnefs and uncertainty of hu- 
 man life. Such reflections however in 
 them produced neither melancholy nor 
 defpair, but ferved to give a keener 
 relifh to their pleafures, and were per- 
 petual
 
 [ 2 95 J 
 
 petual J incitements not to let any poi> 
 tion >f life pafs unenjoyed. They were' 
 generally employed in celebrating the 
 my fteries of the god of love, who delights 
 in the friendly gloom of night ^ or the 
 rites of the genius of friendfhip, when he 
 does not languifh under the impertinence 
 of the day's infipid vifitors. The two 
 Englifh poets were worthy of the con- 
 verfe of the moft genial wits of Rome 
 and Greece. They may perhaps have 
 been cenfured by fome wondrous grave 
 moderns, cold- blooded critics, void of 
 all fire and fancy, but in a more clafilc 
 
 Vitae fumma brevis fpem nos vetat inchoare longa:n. 
 
 Jam te premet nox, fabulseque manes, 
 Et dornus exilis Plutonia ; quo fimul mear's, 
 
 Nee regna vini fortiere tails, &c. 
 
 HORACE. 
 
 Soles occidere, et redire poflunt ; 
 Nobis, quom feme! occidit brevis lux, 
 Nox eft perpetua u.na dormienda. 
 Da mi bafu milie^ deinde centum, &c. 
 
 CATULLUS. 
 
 T 4 age
 
 age their happy Tallies would not have IEI 
 become the Noffes Atticae. 
 
 Mr. Robert Lloyd was educated with 
 Mr.Churchill atWeftminfterfchool, and 
 the ftrideft friendfhip always fubfifted be- 
 tween them. The talents of Mr. Lloyd 
 were eclipfed by thofe of our poet, qui 
 itmnes extinxif, ftdlas exortus nti aether his 
 fol, yet he never {hewed the leaft jealoufy 
 or envy on account of the decided fu- 
 periority, which the public gave to his 
 friend. Mr. Lloyd was mild and ami- 
 able in private life, of gentle manners, 
 and very engaging in converfation. He 
 was an excellent fcholar, and an eafy, 
 natural poet. His peculiar excellence 
 was the dreffing up an old thought in a 
 new, neat, and trim manner. He was 
 contented to fcamper round the foot of 
 Parnaffus on his little Welch pony, 
 which feems never to have tired. " Ke 
 left the fury of the winged fteed, and 
 
 the
 
 [ *97 1 
 
 the daring heights of the facred moun- 
 tain, to the fnblime genius of his friend. 
 When the unhappy circumftances of Mr. 
 Lloyd at length had forced him to re- 
 tire to the Fleet, the friendfhip of Mr. 
 Churchill was the almoft fmgle remain- 
 ing fource of his comfort and fupport. 
 He received the regular bounty of a gui- 
 nea every week, and the fame generous 
 friend likewife paid all the expences of 
 a fervant, who conflandy attended him. 
 He had a very grateful heart, and his 
 fufferings teemed to have added to the 
 tendernefs of his nature. The following 
 letters will {hew his warm attachment to 
 his friends, and how extremely fenfible 
 he was of every kindnels.
 
 Vine- Street, May 31, 1763. 
 MY DEAR WlLKES, 
 
 TT is impoffible for me to exprefs the 
 * infinite obligation you have con- 
 ferred upon me, by your unfolicited 
 and generous behaviour of yefterday. 
 Give me leave only to allure you, that 
 I am, and ever mail be, in the trueft 
 fenfe, 
 
 Your moft fincere and 
 
 affectionate friend, 
 ROBERT LLOYD.
 
 [ 299 ] 
 
 Tuefday morning. 
 ' 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 T HAVE hunted you feveral times, 
 but unfortunately to no purpofe. 
 This morning indeed I thought myfelf 
 fure of you at nine o'clock. But I 
 found you had been gone out an hour. 
 As I returned, I overtook Dr. Mark- 
 ham going to his morning tafk in Weft- 
 minfter fchool. What an example does 
 the man cf pleafure fet the man of bu- 
 finefs ? I wifli you would let me 
 know whether you intend being at the 
 Shakefpeare meeting to-night. For as 
 Churchill is out of town, unlefs I am 
 allured of your being there, I (hall be 
 a home-keeper. You talked of going 
 to the Weftminfter play if you are 
 not engaged ; their next exhibition is 
 on Friday. But what a conjurer I am 
 
 to
 
 [ 3 1 
 
 to tell you that which the enclofed 
 tickets will inform you of much more 
 learnedly ? 
 
 I mall hope for the pleafure of con-r 
 ducting you there, and am, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 Your very fincere friend, 
 
 and obedient, humble fervant, 
 
 R. LLOYD.
 
 [ 301 ] 
 
 MY DEAR WlLKES, 
 
 'tT'OUR letters have given me in- 
 - expreffible uneafmefs concerning 
 my friend Charles ; and your not giving 
 a direction, leaves me in ftill greater 
 anxiety that this may not reach you, 
 and I confequently hear nothing how he 
 does. Indeed we are all much alarmed ; 
 for though the feeming fpirits of your 
 letter to me gave us hopes it might not 
 be fo bad with him, that which Jack has 
 received, entirely quame"s them. Pray 
 let me hear from -you theearlieil oppor- 
 tunity, and direct to me at the Fleet 
 coffee- houfe. I hope I mail not be dou- 
 bly unfortunate in the lofs of my friends, 
 and be reduced to the comfortlefs necef- 
 fity of brooding over my own calamities 
 in this ungrateful fituation. DearWilkes, 
 give me all the information you can, and 
 what fervices I can do, a duty I owe to 
 you both, command. . I am, in the fin- 
 ce reft affection, 
 
 Your's ever, 
 
 R. LLOYD.
 
 I 
 
 [ 302 J 
 
 I 
 
 Tuefday, Nov. 20, Fleet. 
 
 DEAR WILKES, 
 
 WILL fpare your own feelings 
 and mine by any reflexions on our 
 irreparable lofs. You did not, I ima- 
 gine, receive my letter directed for you 
 at an uncertainty, at the poft, houfe, or 
 if you did, you returned no anfwer, I 
 fuppofe becaufe you could give no' 
 comfort. I am pleafed to find from 
 Mr. Cotes, who communicated your 
 letter to him this day to me, that 
 you will be kind to the remains of our 
 dear friend. What is in my power to 
 execute, you will direct and command. 
 And I could much wifh, you would as 
 early as you can bring your mind to 
 write on fuch a fubject ; give me your 
 opinion (which lhall be decifive) as to 
 
 the
 
 [ 33 1 
 
 the publication of the fragment of the 
 verfe preface to the Sermons, and that 
 other of the Journey. 
 
 The volume I have haftened, and 
 the Times, Parewel, and Independence -, 
 are only wanting to complete it. 
 Would it be improper that as a friend 
 I fhould fay a word or two before 
 this Tecond volume, which for the fake 
 of the family we apprehend fhould 
 be delayed for a further opportunity 
 of enlarging the fubfcription ? Do, if 
 it is only for the fake of my confola- 
 tion, who indeed mod truly want it, 
 \vrite to me, and as the memory of 
 Charles was dear to you, do not for- 
 get him, who is moft unfortunate in 
 the lofs of the living, and the clead 
 friend. 
 
 My
 
 My own affairs I forbear to mention. 
 Thornton is what you believed him. I 
 have many acquaintance, but now no 
 friend here. 
 
 I am, with the greateft fincerity of 
 friendship and affection, 
 
 Your's ever, 
 
 R. LLOYD. 
 
 Mr. Lloyd foon after died in the Fleet 
 prifon, abfokuely of a broken heart* 
 i grandeur, blufli I
 
 r 303 J 
 
 Letters of Mr. CHURCHILL. 
 
 My dear WJLK.ES, 
 
 T Am infinitely oblig'd to you for the 
 concern you exprefs for my health, 
 but what account to give you of it, I 
 can't well tell. I am better as to acute- 
 nefs of pain. 
 
 After having accus'd me on account 
 of my indolence, doft thou not now 
 tremble at the fight of a whole meet ? 
 Have you laid in a frock of patience, 
 or fufficiently prepar'd yourfelf for the 
 Chriftian duty of mortification ? I mail 
 try the ftrength of your virtues, and 
 the fmcerity of your converfion to 
 the doctrines of patience and forbear- 
 ance. 
 
 The affair of Lord Talbot ftill lives 
 in converfation, and you are fpoken 
 of by all with the higheft refpect. Lord 
 
 VOL. I. U Wcy-
 
 [ 306 ] 
 
 Weymouth gives you the greateft en- 
 comiums. Your friends at the beef- 
 ftake enquired after you laft Saturday 
 with the greateft zeal, and it gave me 
 no fmall pleafure that I was the perfon 
 of whom the enquiry was made. Colo- 
 nel * * * * * defires his compliments in 
 the warmed terms, and declares he muft 
 be known to you with the firft occafion. 
 Nothing ever gave me fo high an opinion 
 ofmyfelf, as not being envious of you. 
 
 Think not that the Scottifn eclogue 
 totally ftands ftill, or that I can ever be 
 unmindfull of any thing, which I think 
 will give Wilkes pleafure, and which I 
 am certain will do me honour in having 
 his name prenx'd. The prefent ft ate of 
 it however (lands thus it is fplit into 
 two poems the Scottim Eclogue, which 
 will be infcrib'd to you in the paftoral 
 way and another poem which I think 
 will be a ftrong one immediately ad- 
 
 dreffed
 
 drefted by way of epiftle to you this 
 way they will both be of a piece, other- 
 wife it wou'd have been, 
 
 Delphinum Jll'-uis appingit, JluSibus aprum. 
 
 The paftoral begins thus and I believe 
 will be out foon but nothing comes 
 out till I begin to be pleas'd with it 
 myfelf, 
 
 When Cupid firft inftrufts, &c, &c. f. 
 The other runs thus, 
 
 From falemn thought, &c, &c. f- 
 Gan Wilkes ? I know thou canft retreat a while, 
 Learn pity's leflbn, and difdain to fmile. 
 
 Oft have I heard thee, &c, &c. f 
 
 Hires the MORAL Hirco ftains the bed 
 Of that kind Matter, who firfl gave him bread, 
 Scatters the feeds of difcord thro' the land, 
 Breaks ev'ry public, ev'ry private band, 
 Beholds with joy a trailing friend undone, 
 Betrays a brother, and would cheat a fon. 
 
 f Vide the printed edition of TheProphecy of Famine* 
 
 Ua If
 
 [ 308 ] 
 
 If Hirco fuffers we are all content, 
 JJut fhould blind rage involve the innocent? 
 The faults of one (hall we to all impute? 
 Shall vicious Hirco injure virtuous Bute? * 
 
 Thus much for rhime. I have made 
 the N. B. entirely out of your letters. 
 There is a very decent Irilhifm, unlefs 
 for cautious of -avoiding you read careful 
 to avoid. 
 
 I am, with the utmofl fmcerity, 
 Tour's ever, 
 
 C. CHURCHILL. 
 
 * Compare this with the Conference in the printed edition, 
 Hires, who knows not Hirco, Sec.
 
 E 39 J 
 
 Aug. 3, 1763. 
 
 My dear Wilkes, 
 T Could not write fooner. Would it 
 
 not have been more for your com- 
 fort not to have wrote at all ? 
 
 News there is none, or, as Dr. Mark- 
 ham under Lord Stormont's name moft 
 Chrift-Churchically exprefTes it,0 notices 
 come here. 
 
 I am full of work, and flatter 
 myfelf my fpirits are pretty good I 
 live foberly enjoy health and could, 
 I believe, anfwer a bill on fight to any 
 woman but my wife. Next winter is 
 certainly ordained for the rifmg and 
 falling of many in Ifrael The Lord 
 forbid I mould be idle in fo great a 
 work, aut tanio cejjarim car dine re- 
 rum. Several poems I fhall have out 
 foon, but not, I hope, fo foon as to 
 eut them off from the advantage of 
 U 3 your
 
 your crhicifm. JVIr. * Pope ought furely 
 to feel fome inftindtive terrors, for 
 
 * Mr. "Churchill thought meanly of Pope's private cha- 
 racler, and was always difgufted with the extravagant compli- 
 ments paid by the minor critics to him, as the Jirft of our 
 poets. Shakefpeare, the iioaft of human nature, Milton, 
 the Engli/h Homer, and Dryden in Churchill's phrafe tin 
 great Higk-Prleft cf all the Nine, were in his opinion greatly 
 fuperior to Pope in all the creative powers, which are only 
 given to the truly infpired. Dryden likewife he thought ex- 
 celled Pope even in the magic of numbers. This is marked 
 very ftrongly in the sfpolopy. 
 
 In poiifh'd numbers, and majeftic found, 
 
 Where /hall thy rival, Pofe, be ever found ? 
 
 But whilft each line with equal beauty flows, 
 
 E'en excellence unvaried tedious grows. 
 Afterwards he fays of Dryden, 
 
 Numbers ennobling numbers in their courfe, 
 
 Jn -varied fweetnefs flow, in 'varied force. 
 
 The pow'rs of genius and of judgment join, 
 
 And the whole Art of Poetry is thine. 
 
 fSckairefaitf " that Pofe drove gently about town a neat, gilt 
 " chariot with a pair of bays, but>ry</epouredalongthep)ain 
 " a full gallop in a coach and fix fiery horfes." The writings 
 of Pope, almoft the only truly correct, elegant, and high-finiflied 
 poems in our language, breathe the pureft morality, the moft 
 perlcft humanity ai;d benevolence. In the commerce of life 
 however he fhewed himfelf not fcrupuloufly moral, and was 
 a vtry felfifli, fplenetic, malevolent being. The friends, 
 whom lie moft loved, were the fworn enemies of the liberties 
 of his country, Attcrbury, Oxford, and Bolingbroke, on 
 whom he laviflied U*e fyveet Incenfe of a delicate, exquifite 
 
 praife,
 
 [ 3*1 .J 
 
 againft him I have double pointed all my, 
 little thunderbolts, in which as to the 
 
 praife, which ought only to have been purchafed by virtue. 
 Bolingbroke thought for him. He might very well fay, 
 fpeaking of his Grotto at Twickenham, 
 
 IL;s, nobly -pen five, St. John fate and thought. 
 St. John continued in his exile the guide, fhilofipfar, and 
 frier.d cf Pope, fent him from France the plan of the EJj'ayon 
 Man, and even Iketched out the ornaments. The reafoning 
 part of it the poet did not at firft comprehend. Bolingbroke's 
 pofthumous works, and the firft edition of the EJJ'ay, fully 
 prove this. Inftead of 
 
 .Let us (fince life can little more fupply 
 
 Than juft to look about us and to die) 
 
 Expatiate free o'er all this fcene of Man ; 
 
 A mighty maze ! tut not without a plan, 
 it was at firft published, 
 
 A mighty maze ! of walks without a plan. 
 In the fourth Epiftle likewife thofe lines of the firft edition, 
 
 God fends not ill, 'tis nature lets it fall, 
 
 Or chance efcape, and man improves it all, 
 were in the later publications altered to the four following, 
 
 Cod fends not i'l; if rightly underftood, 
 
 Or partial ill is univerfal good, 
 
 Or change admits, or nature lets it full, 
 
 Short, and but rare, till man improv'd it all. 
 Crouzaz wrote againft the firll edition of the FJfay. \Var- 
 fcurton artfully defended the poem from the later editions. 
 
 To fuch a man as the poet was in private Mr. Churchill ne- 
 ver appeared very favourable, but he waited till the opinion of 
 the public had fixed the ftamlard ef Pope's poetical merit, and 
 ihsn intended to have lifted every part of the chamber cf 
 that fliarp fatinfl. We may now almoft yenture to fpeak of 
 U 4 ftf*
 
 t 3 12 -I 
 
 defign, I hope I fhall have your ap- 
 probation, when you confider his 
 heart, and as to the execution, if 
 
 Pope in the words of a great writer, when he fays of Fontinelle, 
 il a ere fans contreJit au-dejjtti de tous iesfavans (fcetes) qui 
 ii*ont fas eu IE DON DI L'INVENTION. 
 
 In that incomparable farewell to the Mufes in the third 
 book of Get ham were two very fevere lines againft Pope, con- 
 trailing him ftrongly with Dryden, which hewever Mr4 
 Chorchill did not think proper to print in the poem. 
 When the fun, beating on the parched foil, 
 Scem'd to proclaim an interval of toil, 
 When a faint languor crept thro' every bresft, 
 And things moft us'd to labour wiih'd for reft, 
 How often, underneath a rev'rend oak, 
 V/bere fafe, and fearlefs of the impious ftroke, 
 Some facred Dryad liv'd, or in fome grove, 
 Where with capricious fingers fancy wove 
 Her fairy bow'r, whilft nature all the while 
 Lock'd on, and view'd her mock'ries with a fmile, 
 Have we heki converfe fweet ! how often laid, 
 Fall by the Thames, in Ham's infpiring (hade, 
 Amongit thofe Poets, which make up your train, 
 And, after death, pour forth the facred ftrain, 
 Have I, at your command, in verfe grown grey, 
 But not impair'd, heard DRY DEN tune that lay, 
 Which might have drawn an Angel from his fphere, 
 And kept him from his office lift'ning here ; 
 WMlft POPE, with envy flung, inflam" d with prldt, 
 F:p'd te tt'ie vacant air on * ? other Jide, 
 
 * Twickenham* 
 
 you
 
 C 3 r 3 J 
 
 you approve it, I can fit down eafily, 
 and hear with contempt the cenfures 
 of all the half-blooded, prudim lords. 
 
 For fomething relative to. Pope take 
 the following lines, intended as an anfwer 
 to thofe, who becaufe I have (lightly 
 mention'd a few qualities of a goodly 
 nature of one of my friends, would 
 have me enlarge on his bad, and think 
 me inexcufable for not mentioning them. 
 
 Not fpare the man I love, not dare to feel 
 
 The partial glowings of a friendly zeal? 
 
 Nature forgives, nay juftifies the deed, 
 
 By friend (hip's firll and nobleft law decreed. 
 
 Shall I not do then, what in days of yore 
 
 Moil bitter fatyriits have done before ? 
 
 They faw the follies,, but they lov'd the men : 
 
 E'en Pope could feel for friendfhip now and then, 
 
 I take it for granted you have feen 
 Ecgartlis * Print againft me. Was ever 
 
 * Mr. Hogarth was one of the firft, who, in the pa- 
 per war begun by lord Bute on his acceflion to the trea- 
 lury, facrificcd private friendship at the altar of party 
 
 madnefs.
 
 [ 3M- ] 
 
 any thing fo contemptible ? I think he 
 
 madnefs. In 1762 the Scottifh Mimjrer took a variety 
 of hirelings into his pay, fome of whom were gratified 
 with penlions, others with places and reverfions. Mr. 
 Hogarth was only made ferje ant -fainter lo his Ma- 
 jefty, as if it was meant to infmuatc to him, that he 
 was not allowed to paint any thing but the wainicot of 
 the royal apartments. The term means no more than 
 houfe -painter, and the nature of the poft confined him 
 to that bufmefs. He was not employed in any other way. 
 A circumftance can fcarcely be imagined more hu- 
 miliating to a man of fpirit and genius, who really 
 thought that he more particularly excelled in portrait- 
 painting. 
 
 The new Minifter had been attacked in a variety of 
 political papers. The North Britcn in particular, which 
 commenced the week after the Briton, waged open war 
 with him. Some cf the numbers had been afcribed to Mr. 
 Wilkes, others to Mr. Churchill, and Mr. Lloyd. Mr. 
 Hogarth had for feveral years lived on terms of friend- 
 fhip and intimacy with Mr. Churchill and Mr. Wilkes. 
 As the Buckinghawfliire regiment of militia, which this 
 gentleman had the honour of commanding, had been 
 for fome months at Wlnchejter guarding the French 
 pr'iioners, the colonel was there on that duty. A friend 
 wrote to him, that Mr. Hogarth intended foon to .pub- 
 lifh a political print of THE TIMES, in which Mr. 
 Pitt, Lord I'&nple, Mr. CHURCHILL, and him(elf t 
 were held out to the public as objects of ridicule. Mr. 
 Wilkes on this notice remonftrated by two of their ccm- 
 jnon friends to Mr. Hogarth, that fuch a proceeding 
 would not only be unfriendly in the higheft degree, but 
 extremely injudicious ; for fuch a pencil ought to be uni- 
 
 verfiil
 
 [ 3'5 ] 
 
 is fairly felo de fe ; I think not to let 
 
 verfal and moral, to fpeak to all ages, and to all na- 
 tion-, not to be dipt in the dirt of the faction of a day, 
 of" nn inilsrnificant part of the country, when it might 
 command the admiration of the whole. An ar.lwer 
 \vas fent, that neither Mr. ffilkes nor Mr. Churchill 
 were attacked in THE TIMES, though Lord Temple 
 and Mr. Pitt were, and that the print fliould ;oon ap- 
 pear. A fecondmcfiage loon after toid Mr. Hogarth, 
 that Mr. Wilkes fhould never believe it worth his while 
 to take notice of any reflexions on himfelf, hut if his 
 friends were attacked, he mould then think he was 
 wounded in the moft fenfible part, and would, as well ' 
 as he was able, revenge their cnufe ; adding, that if he 
 thought the North Brit: ft would inlcrt what he fent, 
 he would make an appeal to the public on the very 
 Saturday following the publication of the print. THE 
 TIMES foon after appeared, and on the Saturday fol- 
 lowing No. 17 of the North Briton, which is a direct at- 
 tack on the King's ferjcant-painter. If Mr. Wilkes 
 did write that paper, he kept hrs word better with Mr. 
 Hogarth, than the painter had done with him. 
 
 It is perhaps worih remarking, that the painter pro- 
 pofed to give a feries of political prints, and that The 
 Times were marked Plate I. No farther progrefs was 
 however made in that defign. The public beheld the 
 firft feeble efforts with execration, and it is faid that the 
 taricaturift was too much hurt by the general opinion 
 of mankind, to pofiefs himfelf afterwards fufficiently for 
 the execution of foch a work. 
 
 When Mr. Wilkes was the fecond time brought from 
 the Tower to Weftminfter-hall, Mr. Hogarth flculked 
 'behind in a corner of the gallery of the Court of Com- 
 gwc PJeas, and while the Chief Juftice Pratt, with the 
 
 eloquence
 
 [ 3'6 J 
 
 him off in that manner, although I might 
 
 eloquence and courage of old Rome, was enforcing the 
 great principles of Magnet C/iarta, and the Englijh 
 Conftitution, while every bread from him caught the 
 holy flame of liberty, the painter was wholly employed 
 in caricaturing the pet-fen of the man, while all the reft 
 of his fellow-citizens were animated in his caufe, for. 
 they knew it to be their own caufe, that of their coun- 
 try, and of it's laws. It was declared to be fo a few 
 hours after by the unanimous fentence of the Judges of 
 that court, and they were all prefent. 
 
 The print of Mr. W~ilkes was foon after published, 
 drawn from the life by William Hogarth. It muft be 
 allowed to be an excellent compound caricatura, or a 
 taricatura of what nature had already caricatured. I 
 know but one fliort apology can be made for this gen- 
 tleman, or to fpeak more properly, for the perfon of 
 Mr. Wilkes. It is, that he did not make himfelf, and 
 that he never was felicitous about the cafe of his foul, 
 as Sliakejpcare calls it, only fo far as to keep it clean 
 and in health. I never heard that he once hung over 
 the glafly ftream, like another Narci/us, admiring the 
 image in if, nor that he ever ftole an amorous look at 
 his counterfeit in a fide mirrour. His form, fuch as it 
 is, ought to give him no pain, becaufe it is capable of 
 giving pleafure to others. I fancy he finds himfelf 
 tolerably happy in the clay-cottage, to which he is 
 .tenant for life, becaufe he has learnt to keep it in good 
 order. While the mare of health and animal fpirits,, 
 which heaven has given him, mall hold out, I can 
 fcarcely imagine he will be one moment peevifli about 
 the outfide of fo precarious, fo temporary a habitation, 
 
 or
 
 I 317 ] 
 
 fefely leave him to your Notes *. He has 
 broke into my pale of private life, and 
 fet that example of illiberality, which I 
 wifhed of that kind of attack which 
 is ungenerous in the firft inftance, but 
 juftice in the return I intend an elegy 
 on him, fuppofing him dead, but * * 
 tells me with a kifs he will be really 
 dead before it comes out, that I have 
 already kill'd him, &c. How fweet is 
 flattery from the woman we love, and 
 how weak is our boafted flrength when 
 
 or will even be brought to own, ingenium Galb<e male 
 habitat. Monjleur eft mal log/. 
 
 Mr. Churchill was exafperated at this perfonal attack 
 on his friend. He foon after publifhed the Epiftle to 
 William Hogarth, and took for the motto, ut pitfura 
 foe/Is. Mr. Hogarth's revenge againft the poet ter- 
 minated in vamping up an old print of a pug-dog 
 and a bear, which he published under the title of The 
 Bruifer C. Churchill (once the Re<vd. .') in the character 
 of a Ruffian Hercules, &c. 
 
 * In Mr. Churchill's Will is the following paflige, I defire 
 my dear friend, John Wtlkes cfa to cclleB and publifh my 
 Works with the Remarks and Explanations he has prepared, and 
 *ny ethers, he thinks proper to make. 
 
 oppofed
 
 [ 3'* ] 
 
 oppofed to beauty and good fenfe witfif 
 good nature ? Thofe who value them- 
 felves on the dignity of man may fcorn 
 fuch a fuppofition, but I wou'd rather 
 bear thatflavery (and it is the only flavery 
 I would tamely bear) than enjoy the 
 empire of mankind. 
 
 How is my little mufe ? how is Mifs 
 Wilkes ? 
 
 I have not, and I am afraid mail not 
 be able to fteal to Aylefbury. Some 
 inducement I find wanting to draw me 
 even to the plea{ures of that place. Can. 
 Wilkes at Paris guefs what it is ? As 
 little mall I be able to fee Mr. Dixon, 
 for your letter to whom I mall not thank 
 you, intending for my own eafe to bring 
 all your acts of civility and friendfhip to 
 one account^ which I hope is yet at a 
 great diftance. I have begun the fourth 
 Book of the Ghoft, and by the beginning 
 of next month hope to hear of it's being 
 
 received,
 
 received, where I moft wifh it mould 
 be approved. 
 
 Is Paris pleafant? Have the lively- 
 Gauls fuperior attractions to the En- 
 glifh ? The only thing I envy France 
 is you. For my own fake I could wilh 
 it was without pleafure-, for your's I 
 could wifh every pleafure doubled. 
 Col. * * * * * defires to be remembred 
 to you, with many others, and when I 
 reflect on the enquiries made after you 
 by the moil fenfible of this finking nation, 
 I cannot help feeling a vain fatisfaction,. 
 that I am the perfon of whom they enquire. 
 Lloyd talks of writing, and Fitzherbert 
 who is perfectly recover'd, of coming .in 
 at the heel of the letter, mean time 
 defiring his. bed refpects. The Poft 
 Chaife waits, and Charlotte cries, Away. 
 I beg you will not let me have an 
 opportunity of writing again. I am on 
 fire for Politicks, nor do I perceive one 
 
 jot
 
 r 320 ] 
 
 jot of difcouragement come from the 
 thought of the King's Bench, and the 
 ~*pale Mansfield. Come over, nor by ft ay- 
 ing there add one more triumph of peace 
 to France. Your friends long to fee you, 
 and none more than 
 
 Your's moft affectionately, 
 
 C. CHURCHILL. 
 
 * In the Epift/e to Hogarth he fays, 
 
 Doth not the voice of Norton ftrike thy ear, 
 And the f ale Mansfield chill thy foul with fear ? 
 The reafon of the epithet pale being fo particularly given 
 to Lord Mansfield is beft explained by a paffage in the laft 
 -book of the Ckejt.. 
 
 Palenefs, not fuch as on his wings 
 The mefienger of ficknefs brings, 
 But fuch as takes it's coward rife 
 From confcious bafenefs, confcious vice, 
 O'erfpread his cheeks. 
 
 The fame thing had been obferved by Salluft, " Animus 
 " impurus, Diis hominibufque infeftus, neque vigiliis, neque 
 *' quietibus fedari poterat : ita confcientia mentem excitant 
 *' vexabat. ' Jgitur vtlor cl txfanguis," &c
 
 C 3" ] 
 
 I have refolv'd, 
 
 Refolve not quick, but once refolv'd be Itrong, 
 to write an Epic Poem in four books. 
 The purport you may guefs by the 
 name, CULLODEX. 
 
 I enclofe you a copy of a paper, 
 which will foon be fent you by the 
 printers, &c. in gratitude for your late 
 labours. I hope you are recruiting to be- 
 gin more attacks againft the tyranny qf 
 our miniftry, which increases every day. 
 
 " We the underwritten, who were 
 " contrary to law imprifoned by th-e 
 " King's Meffengers, defire thus pub- 
 " lickly to return thanks to John W ilkes 
 " Elquire, for his fpirited endeavours, 
 " and fteady attention, to procure us 
 " that redrefs and fatisfaction, which we 
 " have at length obtain'd by theverdids 
 " of our countrymen." 
 
 Witnefs our hands this, &rc. 
 VOL. I. X
 
 I -3 3 
 
 My dear Wilkes, 
 T Am greatly oblig'd byyour's of this 
 
 morning, and the moment I have 
 occafion, there is no perfon in the world 
 to whom I wou'd fo ibon apply as your- 
 felf, and from whom I mould fo willingly 
 receive favours. I mail without fcruple 
 mew you what dependance I have on 
 your friendfhip. The plan of next N. 
 B. I have chang'd, and for this rea- 
 fon, on purfuing it I find it the beft 
 fubject for a poem I ever had in my life. 
 The Prophecy -of Famine you may re- 
 member took it's rife from a fimilar 
 circumftance, and if I may venture to 
 be prophetical in profe, this will be 
 a much better poem. 
 
 I admire exceedingly your * motto for 
 the iaft number of the Auditor. It will 
 
 * Dlfetdam, txthbt numtrvm^ nddarque tenebrh, 
 
 Virg. ^En. lib. vi. 
 
 make
 
 t 3*3 ] 
 
 make Murphy mad. My head is full of 
 Hogarth, and as I like not his company, 
 I believe I fhall get him on paper, not fo 
 much to pleafe the public, not fo much 
 for the fake of juftice, as for my own 
 eafe a motive ever powerful with in- 
 dolent minds. I have begun already^ 
 and feem to like the fubjecr.. I have been 
 fo long out of verfe, that it appears like 
 a new world, and has acquir'd freih 
 charms from dilufe. 
 
 Mr. * Legge enquired affectionately 
 
 * Mr. Legge was the firft political victim to Lord Bute. 
 Mr. Pitt, and the Dukes of Newcaftle, Devon/hire, &c. be- 
 held with great indifference his difmiflion. That able Fi- 
 nancier foretold that he was only the/r/? facrifice to the Fa- 
 vourite, and that all the reft would follow. He was diimifled 
 without any reafon being given to the public, or any charge on 
 his conduct. He obferved that was the moment of making 
 the oppofition to the Minion, and that it was necefiary for 
 the rr^lsrvation of all the other Whigs, who if they did not 
 make the ftand then, would attempt it in vain afterwards. 
 His words were prophetic. Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple 
 v.-ere foon obliged to refign. The Duke of Newcaftle was 
 dated at this event, but a few days da/hed all his joy, and a 
 f-jw weeks convinced him of the annihilation of his powr. 
 He gave up the Treafury, and all his friends went into direct 
 X- z "" oppofitiofi.
 
 
 
 t 324 ] 
 
 after you. He is in good fpirits, and 
 bears up nobly. 
 
 1 am ever your's, 
 C. CHURCHILL. 
 
 Should I have put my name to the 
 truth ? Is it not a libel ? 
 
 oppofition. The Duke of Devon/hire was foon after dlf- 
 unified with ftill ftronger marks of difguft. He was ftruck off" 
 the lift of Privy Councillors. 
 
 Perhaps a more remarkable inftance is not to be found of 
 the infatuation of ftatefmen, as well of the little harmony, 
 which generally prevails among them. If Mr. Pitt, the 
 Dukes of Newcaftle and Devonfhire, &c. had firmly fup- 
 ported fo unexceptionable a Minifter, and fo amiable a man, 
 as Mr. Legge, I am perfuaded the Favourite muft at firfl have 
 yielded, and they would have become a firm phalanx againft 
 all his further attacks, and all future enemies. But they 
 were fecret enemies, and falfe to each other. The facrifice 
 of one feemed to forward the views of the reft, whereas it 
 only hurried them all on to the period of their extinction. 
 The political death oflvlr, Leg^e foretold the fpecrfy dilu- 
 tion of the otherr.
 
 [ 3*5 1 
 
 My dear Wilkes, 
 
 ~[\ /TY not writing. to you fooner, and 
 *** my not giving you. earlier no- 
 tice of my inability to write the N. fe 
 for this week, arifes from my flattering 
 myfelf that I mould have been recovered 
 from my indifpofition, but I flill keep 
 my bed : when I fhall get out of it, I 
 do not guefs. Many things have I to fay 
 to you, but my head rambles too much 
 for recollection. I am quite cxhaufted, 
 for I have not been able to fleep for 
 the laft week. Would I had a * Mafon 
 here ! 
 
 * He fays in the to/I/.*/, 
 
 And waken tr.em'ry with zjltspirg ode. 
 
 The gentle Billy Mafia, whofe poetry runs like a fmooth, 
 (hallow Itrcam, fomnos tt invitat leves, tuned an Ode to Me- 
 ~--i'j', which beyond poppy, or tnavdragcra, or all the drtnvfyf.- 
 rups of theiuorid, could after ocular proof give an Othello the 
 fiveet Jleep of yefterday, Mr. Churchill has frequently paid 
 his compliments to Mr. Mafon. In the Prophecy of Famine 
 hs carries him to Keio, and introduces him to LurJ Bute, 
 For bards like thefe a wreath fhall Mafon bring, 
 Lin'd with the fofteft down of Fc//y's wing 5 
 
 X 3 In
 
 Lloyd tells me that you have wrote arc 
 anfwer to the fuppofed Letter from the 
 Pretender to the Earl of Bute in the North 
 Briton of February the igth. He fays you 
 have moft happily imitated all the quaint- 
 ne/es of Bute's flile, and inferted feveral 
 curious anecdotes from him to his dear 
 Coufin. Pray fend it to me. You are 
 again happy in your * motto to it. Pray 
 finifh the paper againft the Tories, which 
 
 In Lovers Pagoda fliall they ever dofe, 
 And Gijball kindly rock them to repofe ; 
 My Lord to letters as to faith moft true, 
 At once their patron and example too, 
 Shall quaintly fafhion his love-laboured dreams, 
 Sigh with fad winds, and weep with weeping Itreams. 
 In the Journey likewife he fpeaks of him not in a very fa- 
 vourable manner. 
 
 Let them, tho' mcdeft, Gray more modeft wooe j 
 Let them with Mafon bleat, and bray, and cooe. 
 And in feveral other parts of his works. 
 
 * The motto to this ironical letter of the Ear! of Bute to 
 the Pretender was from Ovid, 
 
 Nil mlhl refer ibasi attamen iffe venl.. 
 The letter vyas never publiflied. 
 
 you
 
 r 3*7 J 
 
 you mewed me. I mean that which has 
 the motto, 
 
 Per 'varios cafus, per tot difcrimina rerxm 
 Tendimus in Latium> 
 
 I. fear the damned -\ Ariftocracy is gaining 
 ground in this country. 
 
 I am your's moft flncerely, 
 
 C. CHURCHILL. 
 
 f Let not, whatever other ills aflail, 
 
 A damned Artftocracy prevail'. Tarewtlt. 
 
 The excellent D'jtlembert fays, " Dans le plan que le ce- 
 " lebre Chancelier Oxenftiern donna pour la regence, on re- 
 " marque un eloignement pour le defpotifme, qui doit bo- 
 " norer la memoire d'un Miniftre d'Etat. II paroit incliner 
 " pour un gouvernement mele du moharchique ef du Tepub- 
 " licain ; et Ton ne peut difconvenir que cettt forme n'ait 
 " plufieurs grands avantages, fans pretendre d'ailleurs tcu- 
 *' cher a la qaeftinn delicate du meilleur gouvemement pbf- 
 " fible, tiont la folution peut rectvoir diSerentes mcdifica- 
 " tions par la difference des climats, de la fr.uation, des cir- 
 " conftances, du genie des Rois et des PeupleSP Mais on ne 
 " fauroit fuf Conner un effrir aiijji eclaire qiiOxer.jliern cfai-'.ir 
 " dsnne la preference, comme qudjues-uns Vont cru, au gm- 
 " vernement AR ISTOCR AVIQ.UE, que. le droit nature/ et 
 " r experience de'montrent etre le fire de toui." 
 
 Melanges.de Literature, d'Hiftoire, et de Philo- 
 
 fophie. Amft. 1764, vol. ii. p. 237. 
 
 In the fame poem Mr. Churchill complains of Peer* gfftit 
 in fewer, of frincifles unfound, 
 
 Who look on freedom with an evil eye, 
 In whom the fprings of loyalty are dry, 
 Who wifli to foar on wild ambition's wings, 
 "Who hate the Common?, and who love not Kings,
 
 L 3*8 ] 
 
 Friday noon. 
 
 My dear Wilkes, 
 
 T Wifh it was in my power to fend you 
 * the next Saturday's N. B. according 
 to your defires, buttho' I expected that 
 you would depend on me, I have not as 
 yet wrote a letter of it, according to my 
 ufual maxim of putting every thing off 
 till the laft. You may be certain howe- 
 ver of it's being done in time. I have 
 the caufe too much at heart to let it be 
 out of my head. 
 
 I have juft received the following 
 epigram, built on the fuppofition of 
 my being the N. B. 
 
 While the Briton, true Scotfman, more cunning than, 
 
 wife, 
 
 Would cajole us good people with party and lies, 
 The North Briton fteps fortk like a Briton of old, 
 And tells us thofe truths, which we ought to be told. 
 Oh Patriot Divine, how I honour thy merit ! 
 Thou haft twice laid a* Ghoft, may'ft thou now 
 
 -raife a Spirit. 
 
 * The fMo firft books of the Ch*fl only were then publi/hed. 
 
 I am 

 
 [ 3*9 ] 
 
 I am very forry I cannot meet you 
 at Aylefbury, or come to you at Win- 
 chefter, but that which I at firft con- 
 fider'd as the amufement of a trifling 
 hour is become the ferious attention 
 and delight of my days. It has already 
 been fo of three weeks, and is likely 
 to continue as much longer. This uni- 
 verfum triduum. When we meet, which 
 I flatter myielf will be foon, you will 
 be amazed to fee how 1 am alter'd. 
 Breakfaft at nine two dimes of tea 
 and one thin flice of bread and but- 
 ter dine at three eat moderately- 
 drink a fober pint tumble the bed till 
 four tea at fix walk till nine eat 
 ibme cooling fruit and to bed. There. 
 is regularity for you. 
 
 Laft Saturday I heard the trial of 
 the confpirators relative to Mifs Fanny, 
 and was much entertained. They pro- 
 pofed to bring the Girl into Court, but 
 
 my
 
 [ 330 J 
 
 my Lord looking in that way which is 
 called looking we don't know how, and 
 apply ing his hand to thatpartof the body, 
 where fools they fay are better provided 
 than men of fenfe, fignifkantly declared 
 that he would advife them not to bring 
 her in, for, quoth my Lord, I find I 
 fhall certainly be at her. 
 
 I read the two laft papers with much 
 pleafure, and hear them well fpoken 
 of. There is one circumftanee in your 
 letter, which hurts me. You fay no- 
 thing when you mail be in town. I hope 
 foon. Neither do you mention Mifs 
 "Wilkes, whom I muft not forget. 
 
 The paper of the third will never be 
 forgotten,- and you will never be for- 
 given, as it is univerfally afcribed to 
 you. It has opened the eyes of many. 
 * Hated by knaves, and knaves to 
 
 * Vide Swift. 
 
 may
 
 [ 33' 1 
 
 may not be your motto, but will un- 
 doubted be your fate through life. 
 
 I defire you to take great care of your 
 health, and ftill more of your life. I 
 eannot bear to think that a life, which I 
 value almoft equally with my own,fhould 
 be facrificed to falfe principles of honour, 
 though ever ready to be devoted on a 
 true and noble plan. You feem fome- 
 times rather to live in romance, than un- 
 der the dire&ion of that well-tempered, 
 cool, diftinguiming reafon, in which no 
 man is generally more happy than you. 
 
 The pafiage you quote from -f- Homer 
 ought never one moment to be out of 
 your mind. 
 
 I am, my dear Wilkes^ 
 
 Your's moft fmcerely, 
 July 1 3 , i 7 6z. c. CHURCHILL, 
 
 ^oAox yt Y.OU 
 jj.tr/'j'jr^Sit e 
 E nbtffnt MM* Iliad a. ver. 80.
 
 [ 33* ] 
 
 oa. ii. 1764. 
 
 MydearWilkes, 
 
 are certainly the beft temper'd 
 fellow in the World , fo ready to 
 forgive the idlenefs of a friend, and yet 
 never giving him an opportunity of pay- 
 ing you in kind. I am now in the 
 fame fentence to thank you for feveral 
 letters, and likewife for the acquaint- 
 ance of f Goy, which I deem one of 
 the greateft obligations you have con- 
 ferred upon me. I have a thoufand 
 things to fay relative to fools and wife- 
 men, Englimmen in France, and Scotf- 
 
 * Monfieur Pierre Gey, a French gentleman of fine parts, 
 and excellent wit, whom he mentions in the laft poem he 
 publi/hed, Independance. 
 
 Horace loved mirth, Measnas lov'd it too, 
 They met, they laugh'd, as Coy arid I may do. 
 Dr. Armflrsng has likewife celebrated this gentleman in the 
 Ipiftle called A Day, 
 
 There lively, genial, friendly Coy and I, Sec, 
 
 men
 
 [ 333 J 
 
 men in England, but your own affairs 
 are in their own nature fo much more 
 prefiing, and as to time fo very cri- 
 tical, that I mall poftpone every other 
 confideration, and give them that pre- 
 ference in my letter they have in my 
 mind. 
 
 Shall you come over in November ? A 
 very pithy manner of afking a queftion, 
 on the decifion of which your whole 
 welfare turns, which you fubmit to 
 others, when you mould aflc it of your- 
 felf, concerning which your friends may 
 mean well, but you only from your own 
 feelings can judge rightly. But take my 
 thoughts thus. 
 
 If you ftay in France, you will un- 
 doubtedly be outlawed : (the confe- 
 quences of the outlawry are however no- 
 thing to a man not foolilhly mad after 
 this land of folly). You will not be abl 
 to go on now againft Halifax, the caufe 
 
 cannot
 
 t 334 1 
 
 cannot foon be tried. Yet, if I may ad- 
 viie, ftay in France. There is fcarcely a 
 confideration that could make me think 
 your return to England in November 
 defenfible in the eye of common fenfe. 
 
 Have I made out clearly what I mean ? 
 It is a caufe in which you have too near 
 a concern for me to be cool and difin- 
 terefted, and my heart is too much af- 
 fected to give my head fair play. As 
 there is no man, who is more ready to 
 afk advice, fo I am fure there is no one 
 more able to give it you than yourfelf 
 I mean your cool and rational lelf Con- 
 fult that, and you cannot do wrong. 
 
 Lend us Mifs Wilkes I long to 
 fee her and I am fure you will not 
 refufe her, when I tell you that every 
 true Englimman will be happy in feeing 
 her, and confider her (which I hope it 
 will prove) as a forerunner of him, to 
 
 whom
 
 t 335 J 
 
 whom every true Englifhman is molt 
 effentially indebted. 
 
 Friendfhip great as mine can fcarcely 
 forgive your inattention to the care of 
 your health. Reflect that your country 
 demands your life. The caufe of li- 
 berty is in your hands, and that blefiing, 
 fo much dearer than life, muft remain 
 precarious, if not fixed by you. No 
 one can try the Secretary of State, if you 
 do not, and though there is no doubt but 
 there may be arbitrary minifters in future 
 times, yet 'tis with me a matter of 
 queftion, whether there may ever be an- 
 other Wilkes. 
 
 There is a new print juft publifhed of 
 you very like. I have wrote under it 
 the four following lines from Pope, who 
 is happy in them. 
 
 A foul fupreme, in each hard inftance try'd, 
 Above all pain, all paffion, and all pride, 
 The rage of power, the blaft of public breath, 
 The luft of lucre, and the dread of death. 
 
 I am ever your*s, 
 
 C. CHURCHILL.
 
 CONTENTS of the FIRST VOLUME, 
 
 JL/ETTERS of Lord Talbot, &c. - page 5 
 Description of Medmenham Abby - - 34 
 - s Sir Francis Daftiwood's Seat at 
 
 Weft'Wycombe in Bucks - - 41 
 
 Lord Talbot's fpeech on Lord Byron's Trial 5 1 
 Letter of Mr. Legge - - 52 
 
 Letters of Dr. Tobias Smollett - - 58 
 Letter from the Tower to Mifs Wilkes - 64 
 Xord Egremont's Letter to Lord Temple - 66 
 
 Temple's Letter to Mr. Wilkes, &c. 67 
 
 Letters to the Secretaries of State, &c. - 70 
 
 . on the affair of Captain Forbes - 75 
 
 of Mr. Martin, &c. - 100 
 
 Vote of the Houfe of Commons for the attendance 
 
 of a phyfician and furgeon on Mr. Wilkes 108 
 Letters of the Dodlors Hebberden, Brocklefby, 
 
 &c. - 109 
 
 on the affair of Alexander Dun - 122 
 
 to Sir John Cuft, &c. 
 
 Letter to Lord Bute - - 143 
 
 on the King's birth-day - - 169 
 
 to the Electors of Aylelbury - -'179 
 Letters to the Duke of Grafton - - 220 
 Letter on a Latin prayer, &c. - - 262 
 of Mr. Andrew Baxter - 271 
 
 Letters of Dr. Brewfter - - 280 
 
 " the Revd. Dr. Douglas, &c. - 288 
 Mr. Lloyd - 292 
 
 Firft part of Mr. Churchill's letters - * 305 
 
 END of the FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 E R R A T U M. 
 , , Piige 161, line 15, for ivhich read w/VA.
 
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