in a foothing turn of voice said, I have never, I believe, offended Mr. Wilkes; why has he attacked me? he must be forry to fee me unhappy. Fafked, upon what grounds his Lordship imputed the paper to me that Mr. Wilkes would justify any paper to which he had put his name, and would equally affert the privilege of not giving any anfwer whatever about a paper which he had not ; that this was my undoubted right, which I was ready to feal with my blood.. He then faid he admired me exceedingly, really loved me, but I was an unaccountable animal-fuch parts! but would. I kill him who had never offended me? &c. &c. &c.

"We had after this a good deal of conversation about the Bucks Militia, and the day his Lordship came to fee us on Wycombe Heath, before Lwas Colonel. He foon after flamed out again, and faid to me, you are a murderer, you want to kill me, but I am fure I shall kill you, I know I fhall, by God. If you will fight, if you kill me, I hope you will be hanged. I know you will. I afked, if I was firft to be killed, and afterwards hanged; that I knew his Lordship fought me with the King's pardon in his pocket, and I fought him, with a halter about. my neck; that I would fight him for all that, and if he fell I should not tarry here a moment for the tender mercies of fuch a Ministry, but would directly proceed to the next ftage, where my valet. de chambre waited for me, and from thence Lwould

make the best of my way to France, as men of honour were sure of protection in that kingdom. He feemed much affected by this. He then told me, that I was an unbeliever, and wished to be killed. I could not help fmiling at, this, and obferved that we did not meet at Bagfhot to fettle articles of faith, but points of honour; that indeed I had no fear of dying, but I enjoyed life as much as any man in it; that I was as little fubject to be gloomy, or even peevish, as any Englishman whatever; that I valued life, and the fair enjoyments of it fo much, I would never quit it by my own confent, except on a call of honour.

"I then wrote a letter to your Lordship, refpecting the education of Mifs Wilkes, and gave you my poor thanks for the fteady friendship, with which you have so many years honoured me. Colonel Berkeley took the care of the letter, and I have fince defired him to fend it to Stowe, for the fentiments of the heart at fuch a moment are beyond all politics, and indeed every thing else, but fuch virtue as Lord Temple's.

"When I had fealed my letter, I told his Lordship I was entirely at his fervice, and I again defired that we might decide the affair in the room, because there could not be a poffibility of interrup·tion; but he was quite inexorable. He then asked me how many times we fhould fire? I faid, that I left it to his choice: I had brought a flask of powder,

and a bag of bullets. Our feconds then charged the piftols, which my Adjutant had brought. They were large horse piftols. It was that we should fire at the word of command, to be given by one of our feconds. They toffed up, and it fell to my Adjutant to give the word. We then left the inn, and walked to a garden at fome distance from the houfe. It was near feven, and the moon fhone very bright. We stood about eight yards distant, and agreed not to turn round before we fired, but to continue facing each other, Harris gave the word. Both our fires were in very exact time, but neither took effect. I walked up immediately to his Lordship, and told him that now I avowed the paper. His Lordship paid me the highest encomiums on my courage, and faid he would declare every where that I was the nobleft fellow God had ever made. He then defired, that we might now be good friends, and retire to the inn to drink a bottle of claret together, which we did with great good humour and much laugh. His Lordship af-* · terwards went to Windfor, Colonel Berkeley and my Adjutant to Winchefter, and I continue here till to-morrow morning, waiting the return of my valet de chambre, to whom I have fent a meffenger. Berkeley told me, that he was grieved for his Lordship and paffion, and admired my courage and coolness beyond his fartheft idea; that was his expreffion.

* I have a million of other particulars to relate, but I blush already at the length of this letter. Your Lordship will foon fee Colonel Berkeley, and I hope in a few days to pay my devoirs at Stowe. I intend to be at Aylesbury quarter feffions by Thursday dinner.

My most respectful compliments always attend Lady Temple."

I am ever, my dear Lord,

Your Lordship's very devoted,
And obedient humble fervant,

JOHN WILKES.

[The following are the papers relating to the cafe of Mr. Wilkes and the 45th Number of the North Briton.]

MAGNA CHARTA,

Cap. 29.

ULLUS Liber Homo capiatur, vel imprifonetur, aut disseifiatur, de libero tenemento fuo, vel LIBERTATIBUS, vel LIBERIS CONSUETUDINIBUS SUIs, aut utlageter, aut exulet, aut aliquo modo deftruatur. Nec fuper eum ibimus, nec Super eum mittemus nifi per legale judicium parium fuorum, vel per legem Terra.*

No freeman may be apprehended or imprisoned, or diffeiffed of his freehold, or LIBERTIES OF FREE

C

As the apprehenfion and commitment of John Wilkes, Efq; member of parliament, to the Tower, must have raised the curiofity of many people, to know the circumstances attending it, the following detail of fimple facts (upon which every reader will make his own comments) cannot be unfeasonable, and are perhaps abfolutely neceffary to be laid before the public.

On Saturday the 30th of April 1763, early in the forenoon, three of his majesty's meffengers, by virtue of a warrant from the fecretary of state, feized on the perfon of the faid John Wilkes, Efq; member of parliament; of which warrant the following is a true copy.

George Montague Dunk carl of Halifax L. S. viscount Sunbury and baron Halifax one of the lords of his majesty's inoft honourable privy council lieutenant general of his majesty's forces and principal fecretary of state.

These are in his majefty's name to authorize and require you (taking a confiable to your affiftance) to make ftrict and diligent fearch for the authors printers and publishers of a fediticus and treafonable paper intitled the North CUSTOMS, or be outlawed or banished, or any wife deftroyed. Nor will we pass upon bim, nor condemn bim, but by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land.