38 MEMOIRS OF JOHN WILKES, ESQ. I called at your brother Martin's; and, as he was not at home, left word that I had some papers of your writing to shew him any morning when he would do me the favour of calling in Prince's-court: but I have heard nothing, nor seen him since. Adieu, dear Petrie, adieu! MY DEAR PETRIE, LETTER X. Friday, May 5, 1780.. I BELIEVE that there will be no opposition to the chamberlain of London, either at Midsummer-day or at the general election. His prospect into futurity for the eve of life is pleasing; and he most ardently wishes to have as agreeable a perspective for the meridian and setting (after a long future unclouded period) of his dear friend at Paris. He hopes too for it in his native land, and in his engaging society. Parliamentary meetings, committees, and associations, engross our whole time. Adieu! PRESENTS TO MR. WILKES. I LETTER I. Basseterre, in the Island of St. Christopher, DEAR SIR, March 26, 1769. WROTE to you from Madeira, which I hope you received. The bearer of this, Mr. Roxo, is a gentleman who has the sincerest regard for you. There is a considerable sum actually subscribed for you in this island, and which Mr. Roxo will particularly inform you of. I shall not be wanting in my endeavours to get this money collected and remitted to you as soon as possible. Believe me, as ever, dear sir, your most sincere and faithful J. GARDINER. [This gentleman was a barrister of the Inner Temple, London. He was in Mr. Wilkes's house when all his papers were seized by the messengers acting under the general warrant. He wrote a statement of the transactions to which he was thus a witness, and affirmed the same upon oath; which he put into Mr. Wilkes's hands, because he was under the necessity of going to the West Indies.] DEAR SIR, LETTER II. Trowbridge, May 11, 1774. YOUR information is just with respect to the opposition I have met with in executing our friend Mr. Temple's will. One point I have resolved on, however, in spite of the united knavery of my competitors, and the chicane of the law; viz. that no efforts of this sort shall in the least retard your receipt of the testator's generous benefaction. With this view I shall combat every obstacle, in order to serve whom the defunct highly esteemed. I am, dear sir, your friend and servant, THOMAS CLARK. DEAR SIR, 1ETTER III. Trowbridge, May 26, 1774. I HAVE by this day's post dispatched full powers to my friend Mr. Edward Jeffries, Blackwellhall factor, in Lothbury; and he is accordingly commissioned to accept of your release, and to pay you a draft to the full amount of the late Mr. Temple's benefaction. I am, dear sir, your friend and servant, THOMAS CLARK. [Mr. Clark was executor to Mr. Temple.. The benefaction was three hundred pounds.] LETTER IV. To Messrs. Hankey and Partners, Fenchurch-street, GENTLEMEN, London. Charles-Town, South-Carolina, 9th of December, 1769. THE Assembly of this province having yesterday, in a very full house, voted ten thousand five hundred pounds this currency, to be remitted to Great Britain for the support of the interest and constitutional rights and liberties of the people of Great Britain and America, and applied to us to carry their resolution into execution: -We, being certain that it is their intention to present that sum to the supporters of the bill of rights; to assist them in carrying on the great and good intention, do enclose you the following bills of exchange for fifteen hundred pounds sterling (equal to the above-mentioned sum in currency), which you will please to pay to the order of that society. The bills are, a bill for one thousand pounds * Some account of this society has been given in vol. iv. p. 7, of the present work. |