The Virginia Gazette

This morning, about a quarter before nine, Mr. Wilkes came into the court of King's Bench; and soon after, the court being sat, Mr. Justice Yates, after enlarging on the malignant nature and dangerous tendency of the two publications of which Mr. Wilkes had been convicted, proceeded to pronounce the judgment of the court: That for the re-publication of the North Briton No. 45, in volumes (of which two thousand copies had been printed for public sale) he should pay a fine of five hundred pounds, and be imprisoned ten calendar months; and for publishing the Essay on Woman (of which only twelve copies were printed, for the private use of so many particular friends) that he should pay likewise a fine of five hundred pounds, and be imprisoned twelve calendar months, to be computed from the expiration of the term of the former imprisonment; and that he afterwards find security for his good behaviour for seven years, himself to be bound in the sum of a thousand pounds, and two sureties in five hundred pounds each.

A writ of error returnable before the House of Lords was afterwards moved for, in order to reverse the judgment, on account of the alteration of the record; and the court recommended to the Attorney General to grant it on the first application.

This sentence, however heavy, was received with manly fortitude; after which, with composure of mind, he acquainted his Lordship that he should bring a writ of error into the House of Peers upon the alteration of the record; to which the Judge replied that if he thought himself injured he must follow such advice as counsel recommended to him for redress, but that the court of King's Bench had finally finished the cause, and no alteration could be admitted by that court.

We hear that Justice Yates displayed his talents so well in expatiating on the manifold evils which the Essay on Woman might have been productive of that the audience were of opinion he would grace the Spiritual Bench. And one of our poets has it.

That Kings can read,
And Kings we know can give.

It has been thought prudent, it seems, to put a padlock on the pen and tongue of a certain Gentleman during the usual period of one British Parliament.

Sorry are we to convey a piece of news to our readers that we are sensible will give the greatest part of them a heart-felt sorrow. They will deeply feel we know for a man who has been by many styled and thought the patriot of his country, who has already suffered a long exile and imprisonment, and must now undergo a heavy sentence; but the time may come that we may acquaint them of his having risen superior to all, like the celebrated Doctor Lucas of Ireland, who after being persecuted, exiled, and oppressed by every cruel act of unministerial tyranny, has, through the love and steadiness of the people, risen superior to all, proved himself to be one of the greatest patriots that ever Ireland produced, and has done his country the most essential services.