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Poem
December 22, 1768
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A short epigrammatic poem posted on King's Bench prison lauding John Wilkes and liberty despite their confinement by venal judges and ministers. Describes mob pelting constables attempting to remove it, shouting anti-authority slogans, and threatening soldiers before Allen's killing at M'Quine's trial.
Merged-components note: The second component provides direct explanatory context for the political poem in the first, forming a single coherent literary unit about the Wilkes incident.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Let venal Judges, Ministers combine,
And here great WILKES and LIBERTY confine;
Yet in each English heart secure their fame is,
In spite of crowded levees at St. J--'s:
Then while in prison envy dooms their stay,
Here, grateful Britons, daily homage pay.
PHILO LIBERTATIS. NO. 45
The above are the lines which were stuck up against the King's Bench prison, and which Justice Gilliam ordered the constables to take down. In doing it they were severely pelted by the mob, who frequently cried out, The paper! Give us the paper! No Wilkes, no K--! Damn the K! Damn the P! Damn the Justices! And when the soldiers were ordered to prime and load, they cried scoffingly, No ball, no ball, and swore they would take the arms from the soldiers and kill them, and that it was the most glorious time for a revolution that had ever been seen. This happened immediately before Allen was killed.
Several witnesses of character swore to the above expressions, at M'Quine's trial.
And here great WILKES and LIBERTY confine;
Yet in each English heart secure their fame is,
In spite of crowded levees at St. J--'s:
Then while in prison envy dooms their stay,
Here, grateful Britons, daily homage pay.
PHILO LIBERTATIS. NO. 45
The above are the lines which were stuck up against the King's Bench prison, and which Justice Gilliam ordered the constables to take down. In doing it they were severely pelted by the mob, who frequently cried out, The paper! Give us the paper! No Wilkes, no K--! Damn the K! Damn the P! Damn the Justices! And when the soldiers were ordered to prime and load, they cried scoffingly, No ball, no ball, and swore they would take the arms from the soldiers and kill them, and that it was the most glorious time for a revolution that had ever been seen. This happened immediately before Allen was killed.
Several witnesses of character swore to the above expressions, at M'Quine's trial.
What sub-type of article is it?
Epigram
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Independence
Political
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Wilkes
Liberty
Kings Bench Prison
Mob Unrest
Political Satire
Revolution Cries
What entities or persons were involved?
Philo Libertatis. No. 45
Poem Details
Author
Philo Libertatis. No. 45
Subject
On Wilkes And Liberty Confined In King's Bench Prison
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Let Venal Judges, Ministers Combine,
And Here Great Wilkes And Liberty Confine;
Yet In Each English Heart Secure Their Fame Is,
In Spite Of Crowded Levees At St. J 'S:
Then While In Prison Envy Dooms Their Stay,
Here, Grateful Britons, Daily Homage Pay.