The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON, Feb. 23.

At a court of Common Council held at Guild hall, London, the 21 of February, 1764.

Resolved, that the thanks of this court be presented to Sir Robert Ladbroke, Knt. Sir Richard Glynn, Bart. William Beckford, Esq; and the Hon. Thomas Harley, Esq; the representatives of this City, for their zealous and spirited endeavours to assert the rights and liberties of the subject, and by their laudable attempts to obtain a seasonable and parliamentary declaration, "That a general warrant for apprehending and seizing the Authors, Printers, and Publishers of a seditious Libel, together with their Papers, is not warranted by law." And to express to them our warmest exhortations, that they steadily persevere in their duty to the crown, and use their utmost endeavours to secure the houses, papers and person of the subject from arbitrary and illegal violations.

Resolved, That "as the independency and uprightness of judges is essential to the impartial administration of justice, and one of the best securities to the rights and liberties of the subject," this court in manifestation of the just sense we entertain of the inflexible firmness and integrity of the Right Hon. Sir Charles Pratt, Lord Chief Justice of his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas, doth direct that the freedom of the city be presented to his Lordship, and that he be desired to sit for his picture to be placed in Guild Hall, in gratitude for his honest and deliberate decision upon the validity of a warrant, which had been frequently produced to, but so far as appears to this Court never debated in the Court of King's Bench; by which he hath eminently distinguished his duty to the King, his justice to the subject, and knowledge of the law.