The Virginia Gazette

To the worthy LIVERYMEN of the City of LONDON.

Gentlemen,

GUILDHALL, April 6, 1772.

Having now completed more than six Months of the Year, which you assigned us for an important Office, we desire your Acceptance of our hearty Thanks for the Assistance we have received from you in the Discharge of our Duty, and entreat the Continuance of your Support and friendly Counsels. We have, from Time to Time, submitted our Conduct to you on a Variety of Occasions, and to the last Moment of our Sheriffalty are determined that every publick Transaction in which we may be concerned shall be given, in all its Circumstances, to our candid and discerning Constituents, to whose impartial Judgment we will always cheerfully appeal.

The new Freeholders Book for the County of Middlesex, and the Jurors Book for the City of Westminster, have been, from the Beginning of this Year, deposited in the proper Offices, and are now always used. The Jurors Book for the City of London is not yet completed, and we fear cannot be perfected before the End of Easter Term.

The Bailiffs, and other inferior Officers of Justice, have been strictly watched, and regularly kept within the Bounds of their Duty, except in some few Instances. The Parties aggrieved, have, in every such Case, found the most speedy Relief. We have the Satisfaction of reflecting, that, the Extent and Populousness of our Jurisdiction considered, the Applications for Redress, of any Kind, have not been numerous; and we owe it to the publick Character of your Sheriffs to declare, that not one has proved ineffectual, when the Complaint was well grounded. Few Grievances have come to our Knowledge, none have been left unredressed. We think it becomes us to make this Appeal to our Fellow Citizens, while the Power still remains in our Hands to do Justice to every Person.

Our particular Attention has been bestowed on the many unhappy Objects under our Care in Jails, Prisons, and lock-up Houses. We have Frequently, in Person, attended this essential Duty, and afforded every Alleviation in our Power to the Miseries of those who languish under the Loss of the noblest Blessing, and most valuable Enjoyment, personal Liberty. We may congratulate our Countrymen that the Number of these unfortunate Persons has not been attempted to be increased this Session, by any illegal Royal Proclamations, or Commitments during Pleasure, made by either of the two Houses of Parliament. Their late Usurpations on the personal Rights and Privileges of the People seem to be given up, and surrendered. The Lords have not dared so unconstitutional an Order of Imprisonment, nor to impose any Fines at their arbitrary Will for Offences cognizable by Juries. No Man has been committed at their Bar for what their Votes, not the Laws, declare seditious, nor for what they so readily find a Libel on a Brother Peer; nor have they ventured to condemn any Person on the first original Hearing of a Cause, which ought to come before them only by Appeal from the inferior Courts, after the Verdict of a Jury. The House of Commons have tacitly acquiesced in the Claim made by many of our worthy Fellow Citizens for the People at large, that the Constituents of this Kingdom have a Right to be fully informed of all the Proceedings of their Servants in Parliament. Their Votes, indeed, assert, "that it is an Indignity to, and a Breach of the Privilege of the House, for any Person to presume to give, in written or printed Newspapers, any Account or Minutes of the Debates or other Proceedings of the House, or of any Committee thereof;" but the Usurpation was apparent, as well as the Indignity to their Masters, and the Breach of the Privileges of their Constituents.

Among the Number of daily Offenders of this Kind, the Majority in the House of Commons have not presumed to commit a single Printer, although by the late Royal Marriage Bill they have invaded the primary inherent Rights of human Nature, and the divine Institutions, in the Persons of the Descendants of the late most excellent King; and, regardless of the Cries of the starving Poor, employed themselves this whole Session only to enslave the Family of a Prince whose Memory becomes every Day more dear and sacred to all true Englishmen. The People are now made the Judges of the Conduct of their Representatives; and the full Exertion of the Liberty of the Press, the great Bulwark of all our Liberties, in Support of the Constitution, with the other Acquisitions for the Publick, will render this Era ever memorable in our Annals. These Triumphs over the ministerial Faction we hold more important at this Period, because they have been gained when the chief Magistrate of the Capital had betrayed the Rights he was chosen to defend, and trampled upon the known Privileges of all the Electors of this great City, which his upright Predecessor vindicated with true Spirit and Courage. Many Friends of the Cause of Liberty we know are apprehensive that the late Usurpations will be soon renewed, or at least in the following Year. We entreat them not to despond, nor to indulge that gloomy Idea. During our Continuance in Office, we will stand forth the Protectors of the just Privileges of the Subject. Your Virtue, Gentlemen of the Livery of London, will, at the ensuing Midsummer, give us Successors equally zealous and undaunted in the Cause of Freedom and our Country. We are, Gentlemen, with great Deference, your obedient and faithful humble Servants,

JOHN WILKES.

FRED. BULL.