The Correspondence of the Late John Wilkes (Volume 1); With His Friends, Printed from the Original Manuscripts, in Which Are Introduced Memoirs of His Life (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1805. Excerpt: ... THE GENERAL WARRANT. JL HE ministry immediately laid this Number (45) before the attorney and solicitor general, at that time Mr. Charles Yorke and sir Fletcher Norton, for their opinions upon it. They answered " that in their opinion the paper was an infamous and seditious libel; tending to inflame the minds, and alienate the affections of the people from his majesty, and excite them to traiterous insurrections against his government." The ministry were highly gratified by this; for, under the pretence of vindicating the throne, they had now an opportunity to revenge their own private injuries. They resolved to prosecutey with the utmost severity, the authors, printers, and publishers of this offensive paper. The secretary of state for the home department (lord Halifax) issued a general warrant, without any information upon oath, and in which only the publisher was mentioned by name, to seize "the authors, printers, and publishers," with their papers, and bring them before his lordship. The first person seized by the authority of this warrant was Mr. Dryden Leach; printer, in Crane-court, Fleet-street. The messengers entered his house in the night; and took him out of bed from his wife, while his The following is a copy of the warrant. "George Montagu Dunk, earl of Halifax, visLi. S. count Sunbury, and baron Halifax; one of the lords of his majesty's most honourable privy council, lieutenant-general of his majesty's forces, and principal secretary of state. These are in his majesty's name to authorize and require you (taking a constable to your assistance) to make sfrict and diligent search for the authors, printers, and publishers, of a seditious and treasonable paper intitled 'the North Briton, number ilv. Saturday April 23, 1763, printedby G. Kearsle...