Item 48: Two Broadsides with Etching by Unknown, [1768 June-December], entitled “Arms of Liberty and Slavery,” with Address made by John Wilkes “To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County of Middlesex" (removed to Oversized Box #3), 1768 June 18
Item — Box: 6, Folder: 48
Dates
- Created: 1768 June 18
Creator
- Wilkes, John, 1725-1797 (address) (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:
Broadsides
Condition Note:
Fair. Tattered edges and browning present.
Measurements:
14 ¾ in x 8 ⅞ in.
Title:
To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County of Middlesex
Description:
The following items dated 1768 June to December, depict a broadside by an unknown creator, with etching at the header. The broadside shows an address by John Wilkes to “the electors of Middlesex from John Wilkes after his imprisonment. They are illustrated by mock coats-of-arms for Wilkes (supported by John Glynn and Earl Temple with the motto "Always Ready in a Good Cause") and Lord Mansfield (supported by Lord Bute and the Devil and with the motto "Justice Sans Pitie"). Letterpress title above and text below complaining of the injustice that Wilkes has suffered, blaming Lord Halifax and promising loyalty to his constituents” (British Museum).
An accompanying caption from an exhibit gives a brief history for these pieces “After his imprisonment by Lord Mansfield, Wilkes issued a broadside from King’s Bench prison on June 18, 1768. Mansfield is depicted at the top right with the motto “Justice without Pity.” He is surrounded by a seven-headed serpent on the bottom, a conventional snake at the top, and the devil on the right side. On the left, Wilkes appears and on the top left is a liberty cap, with a lion as counterpoint to Mansfield’s snake.” The newspaper clipping, as previously mentioned, is headed by a print of Wilkes and James Mansfield. Wilkes then goes on to describe throughout the body of the newspaper that he has been wronged, that he will “be ready to stand forwards and to risk all for what is nearest to my heart”, and that he is “determined to remain entirely independent, uncorrupted, even unbias[e]’d in an improper manner” and tyranny.
Transcription:
ARMS of LIBERTY and SLAVERY
Publish[e]’d according to Act of Parliament
To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County of Middlesex GENTLEMEN, After every kind of opposition from the tools of ministerial power, and every hour of delay which could be gained by the chicane of law, I find myself at aft happy, even under this day’s fever fentence, that by the unanimous determination of all the Judges of the Court of King’s Bench I am restored my birth-right, to the noble liberties and privileges of an Englifhman: The outlawry, which is now reversed, as appeared clearly to be an act of equal injustice and cruelty, from the very beginning erroneous and illegal. In the whole progress of ministerial vengeance against me for several years, I have shewn, to the conviction of all mankind, that my enemies have trampled on the laws, and been actuated by the spirit of tyranny and arbitrary power The General Warrant, under which I was first apprehended , has been adjudged illegal. Under the fizure of my papers was condemned judicially. The outlawry, fo long the topic of virulent abuse, is at last declared to have been contrary to law; and on the ground first taken by my learned counsil, Mr. Serjeant Glynn, is formally reversed. It frill remains in this public cause that is the justice of the nation should have place against the first and gread delinquent, the late secretary of State, Lord Halifax, not so much for the punishment he has merited, as for the example of terror to any present or future minister, who might otherwise tempted to invade the sacred liberties of our country I pledge myself to you that my strongest efforts shall be exerted to carry this through with a spirit and firmness becoming an affair on national consequence, yet without the smallest degree of private rancor or malice, which neither my long and hard imprisonment, nor the past provocation, shall make me harbor against any man. After this tedious and harsh {annotation} Wilkes
Publish[e]’d according to Act of Parliament
To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County of Middlesex GENTLEMEN, After every kind of opposition from the tools of ministerial power, and every hour of delay which could be gained by the chicane of law, I find myself at aft happy, even under this day’s fever fentence, that by the unanimous determination of all the Judges of the Court of King’s Bench I am restored my birth-right, to the noble liberties and privileges of an Englifhman: The outlawry, which is now reversed, as appeared clearly to be an act of equal injustice and cruelty, from the very beginning erroneous and illegal. In the whole progress of ministerial vengeance against me for several years, I have shewn, to the conviction of all mankind, that my enemies have trampled on the laws, and been actuated by the spirit of tyranny and arbitrary power The General Warrant, under which I was first apprehended , has been adjudged illegal. Under the fizure of my papers was condemned judicially. The outlawry, fo long the topic of virulent abuse, is at last declared to have been contrary to law; and on the ground first taken by my learned counsil, Mr. Serjeant Glynn, is formally reversed. It frill remains in this public cause that is the justice of the nation should have place against the first and gread delinquent, the late secretary of State, Lord Halifax, not so much for the punishment he has merited, as for the example of terror to any present or future minister, who might otherwise tempted to invade the sacred liberties of our country I pledge myself to you that my strongest efforts shall be exerted to carry this through with a spirit and firmness becoming an affair on national consequence, yet without the smallest degree of private rancor or malice, which neither my long and hard imprisonment, nor the past provocation, shall make me harbor against any man. After this tedious and harsh {annotation} Wilkes
Creator
- Wilkes, John, 1725-1797 (address) (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