Item 49: Newspaper clipping on John Wilkes and engraving by J. June, (removed to Oversized Box#2), no date
Item — Box: 6, Folder: 49
Dates
- Created: no date
Creator
- June, John, 1744-1775 (Person)
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Newspaper clipping.
Condition Note:
Okay. Some Tattered edges, as well as creases and general browning.
Measurements:
13 ⅛ in. x 8 ¾ in.
Title:
Part of Mr. Wilkes’s Speech to the Court of Common Pleas
Description:
“This pro-Wilkes broadside describes part of Wilkes’ speech to the court when he surrendered to authorities after his middlesex election.
The outlawry of Wilkes was reversed by Lord Mansfield on June 8, 1768. Mansfield is England’s most celebrated judge. But Wilkes was found guilty of other charges, fined 1,000 pounds and sentenced to twenty-two months of imprisonment. He also had to post a 1,000 pound bond to guarantee seven years of good behavior.”
The newspaper clipping is headed by an engraving that depicts four women surrounding a portrait of Wilkes holding various weapons and shields described by the article as “Security for the Subject, against General Warrants & Seizure of Papers.”. Beneath this the article describes Wilkes’ “address of thanks to his electors”, which is in regards to the previously mentioned Middlesex election of 1768.
Transcription:
NB The Portrait of Mr. Wilkes, cut round the circle serves for a Watch Paper.
Security for the Subject, against General Warrants & Seizure of Papers.
Part of Mr. Wilkes.s Speech to the Court of Common Pleas. ---I pleaded not only the cause of all Peers and Gentlemen, but what touched me more sensibly, of the Lower and intermediate Clafs of the People, because they stood in most need of ---------------------------------- Mr. Wilkes’s. Adrefs of thanks to his Electors. To the Gentlemen, Clergy and Freeholders, of the County of MIDDLESEX, Gentlemen, Most gratefully sensible of these generous and patriotic Principles, which have induced you to Elect me your Representative in Parliament. I intreat you to accept of my best Endeavors to express the Joy, which inspires me on so interesting, so affecting an Occasion. The personal regard you have shown me, indeed, confers me an Obligation, the due Sense of which I too cordially feel to find words to describe. I cannot forbear congratulating you, as the most distinguished of Englishmen , on the honourable Proof you have given, that the genuine Spirit of Independency, & the true Love of our Country foe which the County of Middlesex has for Ages been so eminently conspicuous, still glow in your Breasts with unremitting Ardour; still shine forth with undiminished Lustre. Let the Sons of l’enality bow the Knee to the Idol of sordid Inter’rest. Let them sacrifice every Virtue at the Shrine of Corruption. Let them call their Pusillanimity. Prudence, while they ignominiously kifs the Rod of Power and tamely stoop to the Yoke, weh artfull Ministers insidiously prepare, and arbitrarily impose You, Gentlemen, have shewn that you are neither to be deceived nor enslaved. In proving yourselves Enemies to ministerial Persecution, the Eyes of the whole Kingdom, of the whole World are upon you, as the first and firmest Defenders of public Liberty. Happy shall I think myself if fired by your Example , the Efforts of my warmest Deal may be deemed an adequate return for the favors you have bestowed on me but however inefficient my Abilities, my Will to serve you is unbounded, as it is unalterable, Engaged as I have been in the glorious Cause of Freedom. I beg you to consider my past Conduct as an earnest of the future, and to look on me as a Man whose primary Views will ever regard the Rights and Privileges of his fellow Countryman in general and whose secondary Views shall be attentively fixed on the Dignity, Advantage, and Prosperity of the County of Middlesex. Let me therefore desire of you, Gentlemen, to favor me from time to time with such Instruction as may enable me to accomplish those Ends resting afsured as always finding me devoted to your Service, and that the happiest Moments of my Life will be those in which I am employed in maintaining the Civil and Religious Rights of Englishmen, and in promoting Interests of my Constituents. I am with Truest Respect, Gentlemen, Your Obliged, Tuesday, March 29 And faithful humble Servant, John Wilkes
Part of Mr. Wilkes.s Speech to the Court of Common Pleas. ---I pleaded not only the cause of all Peers and Gentlemen, but what touched me more sensibly, of the Lower and intermediate Clafs of the People, because they stood in most need of ---------------------------------- Mr. Wilkes’s. Adrefs of thanks to his Electors. To the Gentlemen, Clergy and Freeholders, of the County of MIDDLESEX, Gentlemen, Most gratefully sensible of these generous and patriotic Principles, which have induced you to Elect me your Representative in Parliament. I intreat you to accept of my best Endeavors to express the Joy, which inspires me on so interesting, so affecting an Occasion. The personal regard you have shown me, indeed, confers me an Obligation, the due Sense of which I too cordially feel to find words to describe. I cannot forbear congratulating you, as the most distinguished of Englishmen , on the honourable Proof you have given, that the genuine Spirit of Independency, & the true Love of our Country foe which the County of Middlesex has for Ages been so eminently conspicuous, still glow in your Breasts with unremitting Ardour; still shine forth with undiminished Lustre. Let the Sons of l’enality bow the Knee to the Idol of sordid Inter’rest. Let them sacrifice every Virtue at the Shrine of Corruption. Let them call their Pusillanimity. Prudence, while they ignominiously kifs the Rod of Power and tamely stoop to the Yoke, weh artfull Ministers insidiously prepare, and arbitrarily impose You, Gentlemen, have shewn that you are neither to be deceived nor enslaved. In proving yourselves Enemies to ministerial Persecution, the Eyes of the whole Kingdom, of the whole World are upon you, as the first and firmest Defenders of public Liberty. Happy shall I think myself if fired by your Example , the Efforts of my warmest Deal may be deemed an adequate return for the favors you have bestowed on me but however inefficient my Abilities, my Will to serve you is unbounded, as it is unalterable, Engaged as I have been in the glorious Cause of Freedom. I beg you to consider my past Conduct as an earnest of the future, and to look on me as a Man whose primary Views will ever regard the Rights and Privileges of his fellow Countryman in general and whose secondary Views shall be attentively fixed on the Dignity, Advantage, and Prosperity of the County of Middlesex. Let me therefore desire of you, Gentlemen, to favor me from time to time with such Instruction as may enable me to accomplish those Ends resting afsured as always finding me devoted to your Service, and that the happiest Moments of my Life will be those in which I am employed in maintaining the Civil and Religious Rights of Englishmen, and in promoting Interests of my Constituents. I am with Truest Respect, Gentlemen, Your Obliged, Tuesday, March 29 And faithful humble Servant, John Wilkes
Creator
- June, John, 1744-1775 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu