WILKES COUNTY. 613 



basis of tyranny. Three millions of people to be taxed at the 

 arbitrary will and pleasure of this house, without a single per- 

 son present to represent them ! If the Americans could tamely 

 submit to this, they would deserve to be slaves." This great 

 friend of liberty was born in England, and completed his 

 studies at the Universit5'' of Leyden. In 1757, he obtained a 

 seat in parliament for the borough of Aylesbury. Through 

 the interest of his friend, Earl Temple, he was appointed 

 Lieut. Colonel of the newly raised county militia, and upon 

 the resignation of Sir Francis Dashwood, he succeeded to the 

 Colonelcy. At the dissolution of the parliament, on the death 

 of George the 2d, he was re-elected for Aylesbury. He first 

 appeared, as a political writer in 1762, by a tract entitled " Ob- 

 servations on the papers relative to the rupture with Spain.' 

 This production gave him considerable fame. In 1762, he 

 commenced a periodical paper called the " North Briton." 

 In the 45th number of this paper, he commented with much 

 acrimony upon the King'^ . speech, for which he was taken 

 into custody and committed to the Tower. Some time after 

 he was brought out by a writ of Habeas Corpus ; and Lord 

 Chief Justice Pratt (Earl of Camden) pronounced his com- 

 mitment illegal, and discharged him. He then established 

 a private press, and reprinted the North Briton. This led to 

 another prosecution and conviction, and he was expelled from 

 the House of Commons. His Essay on Woman was published 

 at this time, which gave so much offence, that he was not only 

 found guilty of a libel, but also of blasphemy. After this he 

 withdrew into France, and returned to England after a change 

 of the ministry had taken place, and offered himself as a can- 

 didate for parliament for Middlesex, and was elected ; but was 

 not allowed to take his seat, owing to his conviction on two 

 libels, and other causes. Being now regarded as the great 

 Martyr of Liberty, he was again re-elected ; but his election 

 was again declared void. Mr. Wilkes then commenced his 

 career of civil honours, being first elected, while yet in prison, 

 alderman of the most considerable ward in London. Whilst 

 in this office he embraced every opportunity of resisting what 

 he considered illegal authority. In 1772, he was chosen one 

 of the sheriffs for London and Middlesex; and in 1774, was 

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