THE

HE following letter Mr. Wilkes wrote to his daughter the day after his commitment to the Tower, and fent it to the earl of Halifax to be forwarded to Paris. It was afterwards printed in the public papers.

Tower, Sunday, May 1, 1763.

My dearest POLLY,

I have now full leifure to pay my compliments to you, and entirely to relieve you from the anxiety your kind affection for me will neceffarily give you at the hearing of my commitment to this place. Be affured that I have done nothing unworthy of a man of honour, who has the happiness of being your father.

for me.

You fhall never in life blush

I am only accused of writing the last North Briton, yet my fword has been taken from me, all my papers have been

ftolen

ftolen by ruffians, and I have been forcibly brought here. I have not yet feen my accufers, nor have I heard who they are. My friends are refused admitLord Temple and my

tance to me: brother could not be allowed to fee me yesterday. As an Englishman, I must lament that my liberty is thus wickedly taken away, yet I am not unhappy, for my honour is clear, my health good, and my spirit unfhaken, I believe indeed, invincible. The most pleafing thoughts I have are of you, the most agreeable news I can hear, will be the continuance of your health. I beg you not to write a word of public bufinefs, or of my public fituation-Can you get me made Membre du Parlement de Paris, for that of Westminfter is lofing all it's privileges?

**** ******

Continue to love me, and believe me with the greatest warmth of affection, Your obliged father,

VOL. I.

JOHN WILKES.

E

MY LORD,

HE king having judged it impro

THE

per, that John Wilkes, efq; fhould any longer continue to be colonel of the militia for the county of Buckingham, I am commanded to fignify his majefty's pleasure to your lordship, that

you

do forthwith give the neceffary orders for difplacing Mr. Wilkes, as an officer in the militia for the faid county of Buckingham.

SIR,

AT

T my return last night from the Tower, I received the enclofed letter from the earl of Egremont. In confequence of his Majefty's commands therein fignified, you will please to obferve, that you no longer continue colonel of the militia for the county of Buckingham.

I cannot at the fame time help expreffing the concern I feel in the lofs of an officer, by his deportment in command endeared to the whole corps.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient,

and most humble fervant,

Pall-Mall, May 5, 1763.

TEMPLE.

Directed to John Wilkes, cfq;

MY LORD,

HAVE this moment the honour of

your lordship's letter, fignifying his Majefty's commands, that I fhould not longer continue colonel of the militia for the county of Buckingham. I have only to return your lordship my warmest thanks for the fpirit and zeal you have fhewn in the fupport of that conftitutional measure from the very beginning. Your lordship will pleafe to remember, that I was among the foremost who offered their fervices to their country at that crifis. Buckinghamshire is fenfible, and has always acknowledged, that no man but your lordship could have given fuccefs to that meafure in our inland county. I am proud of the teftimony your lordship is pleased to give me, and happy,

*

* Mr. Wilkes fucceeded Sir Francis Dashwood, now Lord Le Defpencer, as Colonel. When Sir Francis refign'd, he wrote to the Officers of the Buckinghamshire