LETTER VIII. Great Queen-street, 18th March. SIR ROBERT STRANGE presents his compliments to Mr. Wilkes, and begs his acceptance of the three prints which he has lately finished, and with which he closes his labours. I DEAR SIR, LETTER IX. AM very unhappy that I can't have the pleasure of meeting you to-day; but an unforeseen affair, which obliges me to be at home, will prevent me. If you knew (as I trust you partly do) how much I prefer good fellowship to business and ceremony, you would pity me. Had not the holiday nonsense confined me to the theatre, I should have made my excuses in person: but you must let me be no loser by this accident; and when I have the pleasure of see ing you, I must desire that a time may be ap pointed when we may Laugh and play, and tell old Folly, &c. I am, dear sir, yours most truly, D. GARRICK. LETTER X. DEAR SIR, As I flatter myself that Adelphi, Thursday Night, you have some regard for me, I will shew mine for you; and not take your friendship unawares, lest you indulge it (which, entre nous, you are likely enough to do) at the expence of your patriotism. My friends and neighbours, the Adamses, have solicited me to desire your interest with the lord-mayor, that they may be permitted to draw their lottery in Guildhall. Had my cold permitted me to leave home, I should have asked the favour in person; but for the reasons above, it is much better that I petition this way. Pray let me have a line from you, if agreeable, which I may shew to my neighbours. I am much yours, but miss Wilkes's more, D. GARRICK. Does miss Wilkes remember that Mrs. Garrick is to wait upon her to-morrow, between five and six, and to have the honour of her company in her box to the new play? There will be a place for your honour, if you are at leisure. THE CITY CUP. In the year 1772, the city of London pre sented Mr. Wilkes with a silver cup, value one hundred pounds; for his defence of freedom in the case of the printers, in the month of March last. This matter had its origin in a circumstance that happened some years before; and which, from its connection with this subsequent transaction, it will be proper to relate here. During the time of Mr. Wilkes's exile in France and other places, he corresponded with Mr. Almon*. In the progress of this intercourse Mr. Wilkes sent to his friend, besides several important papers, some minor pieces of wit and humour, which were printed in the public newspapers;. and among these was a short paragraph stating, "that although the earl of Hertford was the English ambassador at Paris, and David Hume was his secretary, yet his Scottish chaplain, the reverend James * Vol, iii. page 123, &c. of the present work. Trail, administered to the English subjects in spirituals there." No man upon earth would suspect that this silly thing could possibly become a subject of complaint in the house of lords: yet, upon the motion of the earl of Marchmont, it was resolved that this paragraph was a breach of privilege; and the printer of the London Evening Post, in which paper it had appeared, was fined one hundred pounds (besides fees, amounting to about sixty pounds more)*. On the meeting of the new parliament, in the year 1769, some occasional sketches of the proceedings of the house of commons were printed in the London Evening Post. Other newspapers, in a short time, followed the example; and this practice continued till March 1771. In that month colonel George Onslow made a formal complaint to the house, that several printers of newspapers had printed their debates and proceedings; particularly R. Thompson, printer * Mr. Almon was a proprietor of this newspaper. |