he would be expelled: of courfe therefore a vacancy would happen for the borough of Aylesbury which he reprefented; and fomebody put the following paragraph in the London Evening Post:

Extrait of a letter from Aylesbury, Dec. 1.

WE have had great canvaffing here fince there has been a talk of expelling Mr. Wilkes. Sir William L has been very bufy in behalf of his < friend Capt. —; but it is not believed he will 'fucceed, because it is very ungenerous and ungentleman like, in fuch a particular cafe as this,

.

to folicit intereft to fucceed a man before it is certainly known whether he will be expelled. Which occafioned the following letter.

To the printer of the London Evening Post.
SIR,

HAVING feen in your paper of last Saturday a re-
flection upon me, for having interefted myfelf in
behalf of a friend, upon the fuppofition of a va-
cancy likely to happen for that borough, I defire
you to inform your anonymous correfpondent, that
I have done nothing therein, or upon any occafion
whatever, that I am not ready to vindicate as a
gentleman to any one that fhall require it.
W. LEE.

Hartwell, Dec. 6, 1763.

Although Mr. Wilkes was very innocent of the paragraph alluded to, yet he could not help taking notice of fo extraordinary a letter; and immediately wrote the following anfwer.

· To

To Sir William Lee of Hartwell, in the county of Bucks, Bart.

SIR,

GIVE me leave to congratulate you on your hav ing commenced author, and the London Evening Poft, on the great acquifition made of fuch talents as your's for that paper. I doubt not of your foon diftancing all the other minifterial writers; and though you may not regularly on Saturday nights have your pay counted out to you, yet fome little fnug fine-cure, or a minifterial mandate to a county, for what you were very lately fo aukwardly gaping after, (though thank heaven, you were dif appointed,) may, in the end, recompenfe your labours.

I muft, however, recommend to you, rather more temper, you start too furioufly; you fhould first play with bended reins, therr urge by degrees more rapidly, and at laft try the whole fury of the course. As a young man, you are intitled to pardon, but you should have laughed at an idle paragraph in a news paper, in which your GREAT name is not at length. Did the confcientioufnefs of having merited that little fatire, fting you? I have a right to ask you; for in your curious letter, you fay I bave done nothing therein, or upon any occafion whatever (bravo! W. LEE de feipfo) that I am not ready to vindicate as a gentleman to any one THAT (not who) fhall require it. Now I will only remark, that, that that worthy baronet urges it the very pink of chivalry, and is that that is very brave. But do you mean to vindicate it by your pen or your fword? If by your pen, as you offer to vindicate it to any one, I, A. B. beg to afk you a few questions. Was it confiftent with honour and humanity to begin a canvafs in the borough of Aylesbury, when VOL. I.

I

there

there was no certainty of any vacancy, and the prefent member lay dangerously ill from an affair of bonour? Was this chriftian like, pouring oil into his bleeding wounds; or, was it not, as far as you could, planting thorns under a fick man's pillow? Was it fair, candid, or juft, ordering application to be made to one of the returning officers, who is Mr. W's tenant? Have you ever had any provocation from Mr. Wilkes? Have you not always been upon terms of civility with him? Juftify then to the world, the propricty, the decency, or even the humanity, of your conduct.

But, perhaps, I mistake you, and you meant to justify it by your fword. You have juft begun by inking your maiden pen, and you might poffibly mean at the fame time to contrive to flesh your maiden fword. Pray be explicit, and let me know if you meant to fend a challenge to all the world by the London Evening Poft. Was ever any thing fo truly noble and great?

But I tire you and myself: I shall therefore conclude, with only begging of you, that, instead of beginning any difturbances at Aylesbury, you would keep your own little parish of Hartwell quiet, and be reconciled to a worthy clergyman, who never offended you, and whom your good father cherished, and honoured.

White Hart, Aylefury,
Dec. 16, 1763.

The following papers relate to the attempt which one Mr. Dun, made on Mr. Wilkes's life.

In the King's in the county of Bucks, Efq; JOHN WILKES, of Aylesbury

Bench. Matthew Brown, fervant to the faid Mr. Wilkes, and Mathias Darly, of the parish of St. Anne, Soho, in the liberty of Westminster, engraver, severally make oath; and firft, the faid John Wilkes

for

for himself faith, That he this deponent verily believes that he is in danger of his life, from the wicked, malicious, revengeful, and unprovoked menaces of one Alexander Dun, who (this deponent is informed) is a Scotch officer; and between eleven and twelve of the clock laft Tuesday Evening demanded entrance into this deponent's houfe in Great George-Street, Westminster, and threatened violence to his perfon; and this deponent further faith, That about nine of the clock this morning he received the letter hereunto annexed, marked (A) which this deponent is informed, and verily believes, is of the hand writing of the faid Alexander Dun: and this deponent, Matthew Brown, for himself faith, that he faw a person at the time firft above mentioned make feveral very rude and violent endeavours to come into the houfe of the faid Mr. Wilkes; and upon his being refused by this deponent, threatened revenge to Mr. Wilkes, and alfo to this deponent; and by the best defcription and information which this deponent has been able to collect, he believes the faid perfon's name is Alexander Dun: and this deponent Mathias Darly for himself faith, That he this deponent did yesterday write to Mr. Wilkes the letter hereunto annexed (B) the contents of which are true, and that the Scotch officer therein alluded to is the faid Alexander Dun: and this deponent further faith, That he is not moved by any malice or refentment against the faid Alexander Dun, but thought it his duty as a member of fociety, to make the above intimations to Mr. Wilkes, in order that he might concert the necessary measures for his perfonal fafety. And therefore the faid John Wilkes craves fureties of the peace against the faid Alexander Dun, not out of hatred or malice, but merely for the prefervation of his life and perfon from danger.

I 2

JOHN WILKES, MATTHEW BROWN, MATHIAS DARLY.

The deponent John Wilkes fworn at his houfe in Great George-ftreet, Westminster, he being indifpofed, the 8th day of December, 1763, before me,

W. Mapelfden, by Commiffion. Matthew Brown and Mathias Darly, fworn in Great Ormond-street, the 8th day of December, 1763,

before

E. WILMOT.

SIR,

London, Dec. 8, 1763. AS I have fomething of confequence to communicate to you, I fhould be glad to know what time would be moft convenient for me to call upon you this day, I called once before and was refused admittance. Be fo good as fend me an answer by my fervant who will wait for it. Lieutenant Crockat of dragoons, who is now in Scotland, defires his compliments to you for the many civilities fhewn him when he was quartered near your country feat; you may be affured that many of the Scotch have still a regard for you, and none of them more so than your most humble and obedient servant, ALEX. DUN. Direct to me at Mr. Whyte's, perukemaker, lieutenant of marines.

To John Wilkes, Efq;

(A)

London Dec. 7, 1763.

SIR,

I SHOULD not do my duty if I did not acquaint you that the young Scotch officer, that wanted entrance at your house, is a villain, and his intentions are of blackifh dye. I had been in his company for near four hours. That part of our converfation that relates to you, confifted chiefly

of