The Virginia Gazette

ANNAPOLIS, May 12.

Captain Frost informs us, that Mr. Wilkes appeared publickly in London, having declared himself a candidate for the city, that his pardon was to be made out the day after he came away, and that it was generally believed he'd be returned one of the members, by a great majority. The following is a copy of one of his hand-bills:

TO THE WORTHY LIVERYMEN OF THE CITY OF LONDON.

Gentlemen, and Fellow Citizens,

"IN deference to the opinion of some very respectable friends, I presume to offer myself a candidate for my native city of London, at the ensuing general election. The approbation you have been pleased, on several occasions, to express of my conduct, induces me to hope, that the address I have now the honour of making to you, will not be unfavourably received.

"The chief merit with you, Gentlemen, I know to be a sacred love of liberty, and of those generous principles, which at first gave, and have since secured to this nation, the great charter of freedom. I will yield to none of my countrymen in this noble zeal, which has always characterized Englishmen. I may appeal to my whole conduct, both in and out of parliament, for the demonstration, that such principles are deeply rooted in my heart, and that I have steadily pursued the interests of my country without regard to the powerful enemies I created, or the manifest dangers in which I must thence necessarily be involved, and that I have fulfilled the duties of a good subject.

The two important questions of public liberty, respecting General Warrants and the Seizure of Papers, may perhaps place me among those, who have deserved well of mankind, by an undaunted firmness, perseverance and purity: These are the virtues which your ancestors never failed to exert in the same national cause of liberty, and the world will see renewed in their descendants on every great call of freedom and our country.

"The nature and dignity of the trust, Gentlemen, which I now solicit, strike me very forcibly. I feel the warmest zeal for your interests, and affection for your service. I am conscious how unequal my abilities are, yet fidelity and integrity shall in some measure compensate that deficiency, and I will endeavour, through life, to merit the continuance of your approbation, the most precious reward to which I aspire. If I am honoured with so near a relation to you, it will be my ambition to be useful, to dedicate myself to your service, and to discharge with spirit and assiduity the various and important duties of the distinguished station which I may be placed by the favour of Gentlemen, the Livery of London.

with the utmost respect,

GENTLEMEN,

Your most faithful
and obedient
humble Servant
London,
March 10, 1768.

JOHN WILKES."