The Virginia Gazette

LONDON, March 15.

We have been told, and we believe by pretty good authority, that the affair of Mr. Wilkes stands thus: He intended to stand a candidate for Westminster, and to have started at the post, which if he had done there would have been no doubt of his election. This the friends of the other candidates knew, and were determined to prevent, if possible. Accordingly Mr. Wilkes was sent for by a Noble Duke, and they had a conference on the subject, in which it was proposed and promised that if Mr. Wilkes would decline standing for Westminster, and at any future opportunity could get a borough or city, that then the Noble Duke, with his connections, would use all their interest with the King for a pardon. On this Mr. Wilkes declined Westminster, and told his friends the probability he had of a pardon, which was the occasion of its being given out that he had got it, in order to have weight in the city, for which he was advised to declare himself a candidate; in which, if he succeeds, or for any other place, he is then to have the interest of the greatest families in the kingdom to intercede for his pardon.