Item 56: Letter from John Wilkes to Jean Baptiste Suard, 1769 September 5

Item — Box: 6, Folder: 56

Staff Only

Letter from John Wilkes to Jean Baptiste Suard, 1769 September 5

Dates

Created: 1769 September 5

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:

Good, handwriting is in excellent condition and paper is only slightly discolored.

Measurements:

7 3/16 in. x 4 9/16 in.

Description:

The following letter dated September 5, 1769, is written by John Wilkes to his friend, Jean Baptiste Suard. The letter is written during his time serving a two year sentence in King’s Bench Prison. In the letter, Wilkes thanks Stuard for looking after his nephew, who he writes has been long neglected. He mentions having included a letter in this one and asks Stuard to seal and send it on for him if possible. He continues on to write that he has not heard of the book that Stuard asked for, History of Persecution by the late Dr Chandler, but that he does have a copy of Limborch’s History of the Inquisition. He concludes the letter by stating that he is happy to hear that their recent publications and others have been causing a response of late. There is an accompanying exhibition caption that gives a brief history.

Location:

King’s Bench Prison, London

Transcription:

[Page 1:]

King’s Bench Prison Sept[ember]. 5. 1769. I am extremely obliged to you my dear Sir, for the trouble you have so kindly taken about my nephew. I approve entirely, and if you like the enclosed letter, you will please to seal and send it. Some months hence I will venture to ask your opinion of my nephew, who has been much neglected, where he was. I have told him to consider you as his best friend at Paris, and I hope he will live to merit all your kind care and concern for him. He has been ill of an ague since he has been in the cold marshy ground of Calais. I do not yet hear of any History of Persecution by the late Dr Chandler. The doctor published a translation of Limborch’s History of the Inquisition. If that is the book you mean I will send it to you. The city is in alarm from the publication of Dr Musgrave’s letter in the St James’s Chronicle, and the other papers of saturday. Dr Roux made me often happy, and I cannot enough celebrate his many social virtues, for altho he will not sacrifice to Bacchus, he has to all the graces. The war against the partridges, which was declared the first of this month, still continues with great fury, but when it is a little abated, we shall begin the fox-chase. Time and I, dear Mr Suard, against any two. Adieu.

[Page 2:]

Blank

[Page 3:]

Blank

[Page 4:]

A Monsieur

Monsieur Suard. {Printed Annotation}

61. A.L. 1 full page 8vo, with addressed fly-leaf, to Monsieur Suard. €6. 10. 0 King’s Beach

Prion, Spet. 5, 1769 Written while serving a sentence of two years for publishing The North Briton, etc. He was released in April 1770, amidst general rejoicing which was shared by the Americans, who hoisted the union flag on the Liberty Tree. Jean Baptiste Suard was Wilkes’ principal friend when the latter was exiled in Paris (see no. 60 in this list.) In this letter WIlkes says that he has told his nephew also to regard Suard “as his best friend in Paris.” He refers to Chandler’s History of Persecution. Etc., and speaks of Dr. Musgrave’s letter in the St. James’s Chronicle which has alarmed the city. “Dr. Roux,” he says, “made me often happy’ and I cannot en-nough celebrate his many social virtues, for althou’ he will not sacrifice to Bacchus, he has all the graces.” The tedium of Wilkes’ imprisonment, it will be remem-bered, was often relived by orgies. After a reference to partridge-shooting and the “fox-chase” he concludes his letter, “Time and I, dead Mr. Suard, against any two. Adieu”