Item 51: Letter from Unknown to “Sir", [Pos. 1763 November 16]

Item — Box: 6, Folder: 51

Staff Only

Letter from Unknown to “Sir”, [Pos. 1763 November 16]

Dates

Created: [Pos. 1763 November 16]

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

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Letter

Condition Note:

Fair. There are some tears along the edge of the page. Slight discoloration.

Measurements:

14 ⅜ in. x 9 in.

Description:

The following letter dated possibly November 16, 1763, written by an unknown author to an unknown recipient. In the letter, the author is writing to inform the recipient about Parliament’s recent consideration of John Wilkes’ writing, Essay on Woman. He writes that Lord Sandwich brought a complaint to the House, stating that the writing was so immoral and against what is proper that he could not find one sentence to bring as an example because it would shock all listeners. The author continues on to explain that the House voted in favour of burning the work, but that the decision kept being delayed to figure out privileges. In the final parts of the letter, the author explains having heard that John Wilkes challenged Describes some of the parliamentary proceedings against Wilkes and a duel that Wilkes engaged in. The result of the duel was Wilkes getting shot. In the conclusion, the author says that it is not believed that Wilkes will die but that Mr. Hawkins, another party, has not said he would live either. The complaint about Wilkes’ writing has gone out to the treasurer, Mr. Martin. The date of the letter has been dated possibly as November 16, 1763, the day of the duel between Wilkes and Martin.

Location:

[Pos. London].

Transcription:

Wensday. (sic) [Wednesday] Sir Immediately after the Mr. left the house Lord Sandwich got up to complain of a Breach of Priviledge (sic) [privilege] against the Bishop of Gloucester a member of that House, by a scandalous Poem wherein his Lord[shi]p & kindred everything that is sacred was treated in a most unparallel[e]’d manner the Title of it is an Essay on woman & is so fill[e]’d with obscenity & Blasphemy that Lord S could hardly pick out two or three sentences from the whole to found his complaint upon that would not so shock the ears of all present that he was sure they would call to him to stop, we unanimously voted it is an Impious libell (sic) [libel], a high breach of Priviledge (sic) [privilege], most scandalously reflecting upon the Holy scriptures & the Person of our Blessed savior it was incontestably prov[e]’d to be written

Page 2: by Mr. Wilkes, but as the House of Commons was upon the same subject, we put of[f] the farther consideration till [until] tomorrow, the House of Commons as usual with them, lost a good deal of time about a point of order, so did not begin upon it till [until] near eight o clock, I hear that sat till [until] part one & prepare it again today. They divided twice, the first was 300 to 111, which does not look very favourable for Wilkes, indeed it is impossible to defend such conduct, the House of Commons just now hear (sic) [here] voted the North Britton, scandalous false &ca [etcetera] & ordered it to be burnt, & today they go upon the matter of priviledge (sic), but whether they will or no now is matter of doubt, for I am just inform[e]’d that Mr. Wilkes this morning challeng[e]’d Mr. Martyn for some words he said yesterday in the House, they fought in Hide Park & Wilkes is shott (sic) [shot] in the body, two

Page 3: Balls have been retracted & I hear Mr. Hawkins says he may live but does not say he will, it is the Mr. Martyn of the Treasury. our address went very smoothly, very little said about it except about the Peace & that only by one person. I am a good deal satisfied & God bless you. Adieu