86]

For john Wilkes, efq. Sir W. B. Proflor, 807 George Cooke, efq. 827

Accordingly George Cooke, efq. and Mr. Wilkes were declared duly elecited.

The mob behaved in a very out- rageous manner at Hyde-park- corncr, where they pelted Mr. Cooke, {on otithe city-marlhal, and knocked him from his horfe, took 0H: the wheels of one of the car- riages, cut the harnefs, and broke the glafles to pieces; feveral other carriages were greatly damaged. The reafon alligned for thefe pro- ceedings is, that a flag was carried before the procefiion oflVl r. W ilkes’s antagonilts, on which was painted, “ No Blafphemer.” There has not been f0 great a defection of. inhabitants from London and Weft- miniter, to ten miles difiance, in one day, fince the lifeguard-mama prophecy ofthe earthquake, which was to deltroy both thofe cities in the year 175».

In going there, feveral irregula- rities were committed. Befides the alfault made upon Mr. Cooke, (on to the city-marfhal, lome other gentlemen, arzd more particularly the two old members, were aflioi: ted by the populace.

At night liketvilie the rabble were very tumultuous; tome per- fons, who had voted in favour of Mr. Wilkes. having put out lights, the mob paraded the whole town from ealt to weilt, obliging every body to illuminate, and breaking the windows of fuch as did rot do it immediately. r

1292

The windows o. the manlion-houfe, in particular, were demolilhed all to pieces. to- gether with a large chandelier and {ome pier glaffes, to the amount of many hundred pounds. They de-

5

ANNUAL REGISTER, 176s.

molilhed alfo the windows oflord Bute, lord Egmont, fir Sampfon Gideon, fir \Villiam Mayne, and many.other gentlemen and tradef- men in moli of the public lireets of both cities, London and Welt. minlier. At one of the above- mentioned gentlemens houfes, the mob were in a great meafure irri- tated to it, by the imprudence ofa fervant, who fired a pifiol among them. At Charing-crofs, at the duke ofNorthumberlantPs, the mob alfo broke a few panes, but hi5 grace had the addrefs to get rid of them, by orderirg up lights imme. diately into his windows, and open- ing the Ship ale-houle, which (non drew them ofFto that fide. The following is the copy of a hand-bill diilributed by Mr. _Wilkes’s friends.

“ It is the humble requelt of Mr. Wilkes to his friends of all denominations, that they would not, by any means, cliflurb the peace. or molelt any perfon, or prevent the voters coming to the place of polling, to give their free votes for whatever candidate they think proper, that no exception may be taken to his conduct, or that of his friends, for the tranfac- tions ofthe day.”

Orders were given t0 the guards on duty at St. _]ames’s to be in readinel-s at the beat of drum, to march to liupprefs any riot that might happen. '

At a court of common- Council called on purpoie to confider of the molt proper and efietftual means to prevent for the future, as well as to punilh, all fuch as lhall be Found to have been guilty 0F the late riots and dif- turbanccs in this city; that court came to a refolution to profecute

29th.

30th.

with ,