Printers, Wheble and Thompson, in 1771. Yet İ have heard this day, and frequently of late, that very House of Commons, notwithstanding this and To Sir Septimus Robinfon, Knight, Gentleman Uber of the Black Rod attending this Houfe, his Deputy or Deputies, and every of them. Dominus Mansfield, Capitalis Jufticiarius Banci Regii, declaravit præfens Parliamentum continuandum effe ufque ad et in diem Mercurii, vicefimum quintum diem inftantis Januarii, hora undecima Aurora, Dominis fic decernentibus." This unconstitutional power of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, an iron rod, by which the Lords have frequently and forely chaftifed the nation, was destroyed by Mr. Wilkes in 1775. Although it may continue a rod of anger, it will be no longer a rod of firength or oppreffion, a fceptre to rule the people. It is broken, and like unto a reed. The Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, refolving, on the motion of Lord Sandwich, that Mr. Wilkes had published a poem, which he concealed from every friend, and they gave to the world, demonstrated a tolerable fhare both of folly and falsehood in their Lordships. It was properly indeed moved by the father of all fraud and treachery, but mankind deemed it in their Lordships a retaliation without the least colour of jus tice, very unbecoming the Supreme Court of Judi. cature in the kingdom, very becoming the Old Bailey. I fhall conclude this disgraceful business with the words of Mr. Wilkes at the Bar of the Court of King's Bench April 20, 1768. "As to the other charge against me for the publication of a poem, which has given just offence, I will af fert and many other violations of freedom, spoken Gentlemen, fir, of here with great applaufe. look much displeased. There is not, however, fir, I am fatisfied, one Gentleman of the law, who will now get up in his place, and juftify that illegal Proclamation, which VOL. II. G was fert that such an idea never entered my mind. Í blush again at the recollection that it has been at any time, and in any way, brought to the public eye, and drawn from the obscurity in which it remained under my roof. Twelve copies of a small part of it had been printed in my house at my own private prefs. I had carefully locked them up, and I never gave one to the moft intimate friend. Government, after the affair of the North Briton, bribed one of my fervants to rob me of the copy, which was produced in the House of Peers, and afterwards before this honourable Court. The nation was justly offended, but not with me, for it was evident that I had not been guilty of the leaft offence to the public. I pray God to forgive, as I do, the Fury, who have found me GUILTY OF PUBLISHING a Poem I concealed with care, and which is not even yet PUBLISHED, if precife meaning can be affixed to any word in our language." The deepest guilt was Lord Mansfield's, for the Jury were partly infnared by the subtleties and pretended legal diftinctions, partly cajoled by the nods, winks, and fmiles, of that arch enemy of freedom, the artful Scottish Chief Juftice, who hurried on, and tried this cause, while Mr. Wilkes was dangerously ill in his bed at Paris from the confequences of an affair of honour, was protested againft in this Houfe by fome of the ableft Lawyers among us before it iffued, and has fince been univerfally condemned. It was by me fet afide judicially, and a man apprehended under that Royal Proclamation difcharged.# I obferve The attack of the late House of Commons on the poor Printers, who were protected by Mr. Wilkes and two other magiftrates, is of so remarkable a nature, and has been attended with fuch happy confequences to the public, that it ought to be given at large. Since the beginning of that conteft to the present time, the people have regularly been informed of the proceedings of their fervants in the Houfe of Commons, in the making of laws to bind them. Almost every newspaper has during the Seffion of Parliament given us in a formal manner the Minutes and Debates of both Houfes, under their refpective heads, House of Lords, and House of Commons. This is an acquifition of no fmall importance to the public in a state, where the people have fo confiderable a fhare in the government. It was a victory obtained in the cause of liberty, not indeed fo glorious as that of Minden, nor fo important as that of Culloden, but me-riting civic crowns to three magiftrates. The following Refolution of the House of Commons however still : continues on their Journals.. Journals of April 13, 1738, vol. 23, p. 148. Refolved, "That it is an high indignity to, and a notorious breach of the privilege of, this Houfe, for any News writer, in letters, or other papers, (as Minutes or under any other denomination) or for " 66 any I obferve, fir, on all occafions a † Tenderhefs for the proceedings of that Parliament, G. 2 which ་ any printer or publisher of any printed Newspaper, "of any denomination, to prefume to infert in the the faid letters or papers, or to give therein, any account of the debates, or other proceedings of this Houfe, or any Committee thereof, as well during the recefs, as the fitting of Parliament; and that this Houfe will proceed with the utmost severity against fuch offenders." Did the court of Inquifition even at Goa ever endeavour to throw a more Stygian gloom over their horrid proceedings than the representatives of a free people did by the foregoing refolution? The glorious triumph of the friends of the people over the laft corrupt House of Com This is happily accounted for in thofe incompa rable lines of the "Epiftle to Dr. Shebbeare" published the last month, where the poet apoftrophizes the prefent Houfe of Commons. Thrice has the fun commenc'd his annual ride, Page 13. which is in no refpect merited. If however they had been guilty of no other outrage against Commons fhall be given from their own Journals. The chace of a brace of Printers, by the hounds of Lord North, and the grey-bounds of the King, as his Majesty's meffengers are called, with all the doublings and turnings, will perhaps be amufing. Lord North's pack of bounds are acknowledged to be the most staunch, and the beft-fed in Europe, as well as to have the most expert whipper-in. Journal of Feb. 8, 1771, vol. 33, p. 139. Complaint being made to the Houfe, of the printed Newspaper, intituled, "The Gazetteer and New Daily "Advertifer, Friday February 8, 1771, printed for R. Thompson;" and alfo of the printed Newspaper, intituled, "The Middlesex Journal, or Chronicle of Li"berty, from Tuesday, Feburary 5, to Thursday, Feb. cr 7, 3771," printed for J. Wheble; as mifreprefenting the fpeeches, and reflecting on feveral of the members of this House, in contempt of the order, and in breach of the privilege, of this Houfe. Ordered, That the said R. Thompson do attend this House upon Monday morning next. Ordered, That the said J. Wheble do attend this House upon Monday morning next. Journals, Feb. 11, 1771, vol. 335 P. 154. Ordered, that the faid R. Thompson and J. Wheble do attend this Houfe upon Monday morning next. Journals, Feb. 14, 1771, vol. 33, p. 162. Ordered, That the faid R. Thompson and J. Wheble do attend this Houfe upon Tuesday morning next. Journals, Feb. 19, 1771, vol. 33, p. 183′ & 184. The Order of the day being read, for the attendance of R. Thompson and J. Wheble; and the faid R. Thompson |