towards the faid John Wilkes; and hereof fail not at your peril.

Given under my hand and feal this eighth day of December, 1763.

To Richard Elfton my Tipftaff, and to all chief and petty conftables, headboroughs, tythingmen, and all others whom these may

concern.

Mr. Wilkes having appointed feven in the evening, on Thursday laft, for an interview with the faid Alexander Dun, he came punctually at the time, when he was apprehended in confequence of the above warrant.

[The following is taken from a paper that was circulated by Mr. Dun, with fome remarks

thereon.

As there is to be published by subscription, by lieutenant Alexander Dun of marines, a book entituled, The Hiftory of a Reduced Officer, with advice to half-pay officers, and to officers entering the army; a point explained concerning the fea and marine officers: interfperfed with various obfervations on the fair fex.

Quo femel eft imbuta recens furvabit,
Odorem Tefta diu.

To which is added, fome advices to, and ob

fervations

fervations on, Mr. Wilkes's behaviour to the Scotch nation.

+++ The author may be heard of at the Parliament-tavern, near Weftminster-hall, or at St. Clement's coffee-house in the Strand, if any gentleman chufe to fubfcribe,

Mr. Dun has had fo much encouragement already from the nobility and quality, both in Britain, and in foreign countries, in this publication, that he would not have made it public, had it not been for an accident which happened lately, now to be explained.

As Mr. Wilkes is mentioned in his treatise, he thought it incumbent upon him to wait upon Mr. Wilkes, to fee whether or not the diffentions betwixt the English and Scotch nations [What are thefe diffentions? Nobody ever heard of them] reported to be occafioned by him were from real or imaginary causes. He had an offer of being introduced to Mr. Wilkes by feveral different gentlemen, [WHO?] and on Tuesday night [near twelve o'clock] went for that purpose, but was refused admittance: was disappointed next day by breach of appointment [What appointment?] and on Thursday morning wrote Mr. Wilkes the following letter, which was sent by his fervant.

To JOHN WILKES, efq;

SIR,

London, December 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 refufed admittance. Be fo good as fend me an answer by my 'fervant, who will wait for it.

Lieutenant Crockat of dragoons, who is C 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 assured that many of the Scotch ⚫ have still a regard for you; and none of them C more fo than your most humble and obedient • fervant,

ALEX. DUN.'

This letter he fent at nine o'clock in the morning; a little after one o'clock, he received, by his fervant, the following card.

MR. DUN,

• Thursday.

• Mr. Wilkes's compliments to Mr. Dun, and defires to fee him at feven o'clock: is ⚫ obliged to him for the account of Mr. Crockat.'

In confequence of this defire, Mr. Dun went to Mr. Wilkes's lodgings [Who does Mr. Wilkes lodge with? This is the true Edinburgh ftile: has Mr. Wilkes a houfe or only a flat: two or three rooms they call a flat at Edinburgh] in George-street at the time appointed-When he came there he knocked gently at the door, and was admitted by a fervant, who called himfelf Mr. Wilkes's Butler; he asked Mr. Dun to walk into a parlour until Mr. Wilkes fhould come down; wanted to know if he had any covers [as he had defired by his boy] to be figned; and that he would carry them up to Mr. Wilkes : Mr. Dun then gave him a dozen, which he took away in order to carry up to Mr. Wilkes, who, he faid, was in the room above.

In a few minutes after, the butler came back, and in a mild manner defired Mr. Dun to walk above to his mafter, who was waiting for him: he immediately followed, and was fcarcely out of the parlour door, when five or fix men catched fast hold of him, and brought him down ; some of them were gentlemen, whose names Mr. Dun does not chufe to mention, who used him very well afterwards: that violence was offered is evident, becaufe one of the gentlemen had the joints of two of his fingers dislocated: they then fearched Mr. Dun, but found no deadly weapon about him; indeed he had a penknife in his waistcoat pocket, [loose in his left hand coat pocket] which they kept, and faid he had brought it with intention to kill Mr. Wilkes. D 4 That

That he may do impartial justice to all, he here declares, that in a little time they returned his pocket-book, papers, &c. and upon his observing that he was almoft ftrangled, they brought feveral different kinds of wine to chufe of; drank his health, and faid they believed they were all in the wrong; [not true] but that he must go to fome genteel house, and be confined a little, until he fhould clear up this matter, as Mr. Wilkes had a warrant against him on fufpicion of his intending to maffacre him [according to his own declaration.] They then asked him, if he did not think it proper for them to have acted this part? He faid not, as he thought it was taking hold of him under fhew of friendfhip, as the card expreffed. He asked, if his letter did not deserve civil treatment? To which Mr. Coates, juftice of peace [in Surry] was pleased to reply, that Mr. Wilkes had acted by his advice; that they found out he was a man of education from his letter, and therefore judged him the more dangerous. Mr. Coates told him, that Mr. Wilkes defired he would write to him and clear up the matter more fully, and he would fend him an answer [not true.] They then brought Mr. Dun, pen, ink, paper, and wax, and he wrote, directed to Mr. Wilkes in his lodgings; as Mr. Wilkes fent him a verbal anfwer, he will not infert a copy of this letter; he will only observe, that he procured him a dozen of franks from Mr. Fitzherbert; thanked him for what he wrote; and

faid,