ing the fenfe of the ward to be fo much in favour of John Wilkes, Efq; he declined the poll, not being willing to give any unneceffary trouble to his friends." The Lord Mayor published the numbers as foon as Mr. Bromwich gave up the poll and declared me duly elected. The proceeding to a new election, I coufider as an injury done to you, gentlemen, whofe rights and privileges I will ever support. I am informed there is no power in the court of aldermen to decide upon, or even to enquire into, the object of your choice, or the legality of your election. They are obliged to admit and to fwear in the perfon, who is return to them by your chief magiftrate. The act of common-council compels them. I will support this right, not only for the fake of our own ward, but as the clear privilege of the city, of every citizen of London: Upon this principle I fhall not ask any favour of them but but do lay claim to the being admitted into that court, in confequence of your free election of me as alderman of this refpectable ward. As I find, gentlemen, that another wardmote is fummoned for next Friday, I entreat you to attend early to affert your own independence, to fupport your former election, and to prevent, if poffible, all cavil. I am well informed, that a part of the court of aldermen are determined to feek a pretence, however frivolous, to reject me, although I should be honoured a fecond time by your choice; but I beg leave to affure you of my fteadinefs in the maintainance of your rghts on this and every other important occafion, and that I am, With true refpect, Gentlemen, Humble Servant, King's-bench Prison, January 24, 1769. Vol. II. No. II. L N. B. N. B. The wardmote will be held at St. Bride's church, on Friday next, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. Friday, January 27, pursuant to a precept from the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, came on at St. Bride's church, the re-election of an alderman, for the ward of Farringdon without, when John Wilkes, Efq; was unanimously chofen, no other perfon appearing as a candidate. At the opening of this bufinefs, the Lord Mayor, in a very polite and obliging manner affured the inhabitants, "that the reason of their having the trouble of attending a fecond time on the bufinefs of electing an alderman, was owing to a mistake of his own, in making the declaration at the former election after the books had been clofed." The fuccefs of this day, occafioned Mr. Wilkes's fecond addrefs To To the worthy Inhabitants of the Ward of Farringdon Without. Gentlemen, THE repeated exertions of the noble fpirit of independence which you have fhewn this day, does me the highest honour, and calls for my grateful acknowledgements. It now only remains for me to affert your rights, to carry into execution what you have determined in my favour, and to employ the power with which you have intrufted me, for your good. Whatever occurs, I fhall submit to my conftituents. I defire the gentlemen of the ward to be the judges of my conduct, and to try me by my actions, which, I promife you, fhall always be directed to the great commercial interefts, to the privileges and the franchises of this city, and all the citizens. It will be my ambition, as well as duty, in this new dignity to L 2 which which to have raised me, to affert the rights of all the freedmen of London, and to promote, on every occafion, the interefts of this refpectable and important ward. I am, Gentlemen, Your faithful and obliged JOHN WILKES Friday, Jan. 27, 1769. January 27, the petition of Mr. Wilkes came under the confideration of the House of Commons, when it was refolyed, that the council for Mr. Wilkes fhould not be admitted to be heard upon any of the allegations contained in the faid petition, except the complaint of the record's having been materially altered by Lord Mansfield's orders; and the charge against Philip Carteret Webb, Efq; for having fuborned and bribed, with the publie money, one Michael Curry, to give evidence against Mr. Wilkes, according to the directions of the faid Mr. Webb. X By |