CHRONICLE.

thofe difinterelted and independent
friends, who have fo gcneroufly and
fieadily flood forth in my favour.
The want of fuccefs, out of your
power to command, has not in the
lealt abated my zeal for your fer-
vice. You cannot be unacquainted
with the various circumllances which
have Contributed to it. My friends
were of opinion that I lhould wait
a dilTolution of the lalt parliament,
while the other candidates had been
for many months foliciting your in-
terell. Minillerial influence, af-
filted by private malice, has been
exerted in the molt arbitrary and
unconllitutional manner, and by
means of the bafelt chicanery and
opprefiion.

“ But, though difappointed, I
am not in the lealt difpirited: on
the contrary, I reflect with pride
and gratitude on the many inftan-
ces of regard and affecliun I have
received from the livery of Lon-
don.

“ Ibeo leave to make my bell:
acknowledgments to the lheriffs,
who have lhewn the utmolt candour
and impartiality during the eleélion,
accompanied with a dignity of cha-
racter becoming their iiation in this
great metropolis.

“ And now, gentlemen, permit
me to addrefs you as friends to li-
berty, and freeholders of the coun-
ty of Middlefex; declaring my in-
tention of appearing as a candi-
date to reprefent you in parlia-
ment, and {till hoping, by your
means, to have the honour of
being ufeful to you in the Britilh
fenate.

“ Gentlemen of the livery, I re-
commend it to you in the lirongel‘:
manner, to exert yonrfelves to pre-

ferve the peace and quiet of this
great c1ty.”_

[83

The contefl: during this election
was very warm; and papers and
addrelTes to the public were every
day publilhed, as ufual, for and
againlt the feveral candidates. Mr.
Wilkes feemed to be the darling
of the mob, and fome indecen-
cies were committed by thofe gen-
try in and about the hall. A fub-
fcription was fet on foot, fuccefs-
fully, for paying that gentleman";
debts ; and there appeared the fol-
lowing copy of a letter from him,
to Meffrs. Nuthall and Francis,
folicitor and deputy folicitor of the
treafury.

“ London, March 22, 1768.
SIR,

I take the liberty of acquainting
you, that in the beginning of the
enfuing term, I (hall prefent myfelf
to the court of king’s bench. I
pledge my honour as a gentleman,
that on the very firlt day I will
there make my perfonal appear-
ance. I am, fir,

Your molt humble fervant,
Jot-m Witxss.”

James Gibfon, attorney at law,
for forgery, and Benjamin Payne, a
footpad, were executed at Tyburn.
Gibfon was carried to execution in
a mourning coach, and defired his
fellow fufferer might be permitted
to accompany him, but his requelt
was not granted.

'At fix this evening, the
ballot was declared at the
India-houfe on the queltion for de-
claring the next dividend, when it
was carried for 5 per cent. 24.7 to
4. The quellion for dropping all
profecutions, and for dropping all
offences committed by commanders
and ofticers of {hips in the compa-
ny’s fervice, palfed likewife in the
affirmative 217 to 8o.

The

25th.