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confequence to the profperity of the ward, as well as to the welfare of this free city, and the fupport of its trade and commerce, which are of the utmost importance to its own greatness, and to the whole kingdom. I will always take a publick-fpirited, decided, and difinterefted part; and I doubt not of fupport and affiftance in all my undertakings, for they fhall be directed folely by a regard to the intereft of the people of England, of this city in general, and of our ward in particular. The near relation in which I now stand to you, will, I hope, furnish me with frequent opportunities of knowing your fentiments in our common concerns, and every gentleman of the ward fhall have an easy access where they have lodged their power; for the juft exercife of which I fhall think myself in all inftances accountable to my conftituents.

I am, Gentlemen,

Freemen, and Fellow Citizens!
With gratitude and respect,

King's-bench Prifon,

January 2, 1769.

Your affectionate and obedient

Humble fervant, JOHN WILKES.

In confequence of Mr. Wilkes's being elected alderman of Farringdon ward without, a gentleman was fent with a meffage to him from the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, acquainting him of the fame and defiring him to appoint a day for his being fworn in. Mr. Wilkes received his Lordship's meffage with the highest regard, and begged the gentleman to return his moft grateful and fincere thanks to his Lordship for the great candour he had fhewn on the day of election, and hoped that he should have it in his power to pay his refpects to his Lordship at the Mansion House on Tuesday the 24th of the fame month, and to be fworn in at Guildhall that day.

On Thursday, January 12, at a very numerous and refpectable meeting of the freeholders of the county of Middlesex, held at the Mile-End affembly-room, the following instructions were unanimously agreed to, and directed to be tranfmitted to the Knights of the Shire:

то

JOHN WILKES, and JOHN GLYNN, Efqrs.

KNIGHTS of the SHIRE

For the COUNTY of MIDDLESEX.

GENTLEMEN,

We, the freeholders of the county of Middlesex, direct and instruct you our representatives in parliament. I. To endeavour to continue to us, and to confirm our old conftitutional and only rightful trial---by jury.

II. To promote a strict parliamentary enquiry into the tranfactions of the military in St George's-fields, on Tuefday the 10th of May laft.

III. To promote a like enquiry into the riot and murders committed at Brentford on the 8th of laft December.

IV. To examine into the administration of justice in this county; particularly into the present state of the commiffion of the peace.

V. And, as far as in your power, to promote an enquiry into the rights of the public to the territorial revenue arifing from the conqueft in India.

John Sawbridge, Efq. me:nber of parliament for Hithe in Kent, was by the general voice placed in the chair.

The

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The instructions relating to the trial by jury was moved by the Rev. Mr. Horne.

The three inftructions relative to inquiries into the tranfactions of St. George's-fields, the riot at Brentford, and the commiffion of the peace, were moved by James Adair, Efq. And,

The inquiry relative to the territorial revenue of the conquefts in India, was propofed by Benjamin Hayes, Efq.

The three gentlemen abovementioned were appointed to convey thefe inftructions to the Knights of the Shire, and defired to repeat to them the reafons (as well those advanced by themselves as by others in the courfe of the debate) and the motives which induce the county to form fuch inftructions at prefent.

January 17, a court of aldermen was held, to confider in what manner they should act with respect to the legality of the election of Mr. Wilkes, as alderman of Farringdon without; it appearing, that the cafting up of the poll after an adjournment had been mentioned, and declaring the candidate who had the majority after the other candidate kad declined, was an undue election. And

On the 21ft another court being held, Mr. Wilkes's election was declared to be illegal, and a wardmote was appointed to be held accordingly on the 27th inft.

On which account, Mr. Wilkes, in his ufual manner, addreffed himself

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To the Worthy Inhabitants of the Ward of Farringdon Without.

Gentlemen, Freemen, and Fellow-Citizens !

I ative

Cannot conceal my furprize at this day's refolution of the court of aldermen, relative to the high office which I now hold by your favour in this great city. The day after your choice an officer came to me from the Lord Mayor to congratulate me on my election, and to fay, that on account of the holidays no court of aldermen could be held till Tuesday the 17th, when his Lordship would declare my being elected your alderman; and he gave me notice that I must prepare to be fworn in on the Tuefday following, the 24th. I defired the officer to return my thanks to his Lordship for the obliging congratulation, as well as for the fair and candid proceedings at St. Bride's church; and I added, that as I did not doubt from the justice of the House of Peers, that the two fentences against me would be reversed on the 16th, I hoped to pay my personal duty to the first magiftrate of the city on the 17th, at the Manfion-house.

I am entirely convinced, gentlemen, that the late election was fair and legal. It was almost unanimous. My opponent, Mr. Bromwich, gave up the conteft under his hand at the time of election, and two days after, on Wednefday the third, he advertised in the public prints, "that finding the fenfe of the ward to be fo much in favour

of

* This day the writs of error brought by Mr. Wilkes against the two verdicts, for which he was fentenced to the King's-bench prison, were not allowed, but both the judgments were confirmed.

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 confider as an injury done to you, gentlemen, whofe rights and privileges I will ever fupport. 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 returned to them by your chief magiftrate. The act of common-council compels them to it. I will fupport 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 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 seek a pretence, however frivolous, to reject me, although I should be honoured a second time by your choice; but I beg leave to affure you of my steadinefs in the maintainance of your rights on this and every other important occafion, and that I am,

With true respect, Gentlemen,

Your obedient, and faithful

King's-bench Prison,

January 24, 1769.

Humble fervant,

JOHN WILKES.

N. B. The wardmote will be held at St. Bride's church,

on Friday next, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon.