constituents a right to know the parliamentary proceedings of their representatives? Parliament itself seems to have acknowledged the affirmative of this question. For, from this time, the debates in both houses have been constantly printed in all the London newspapers, and copied into all the provincial ones; and ministers have wisely drawn from this measure a very respectable article of revenue, by increasing the duties on the stamps and the advertisements, the circulation of those journals having been without doubt greatly extended by this head of their contents. To return now to our more immediate subject. At a court of common council of the city of London, held on the 24th of January 1772, the corporation voted a Silver Cup to Mr. Wilkes, for his defence of freedom in the case of the printers and left the design to his own direction. The death of Cesar in the Roman senate was the subject of his choice-as certainly one of the greatest sacrifices to public liberty recorded in history. The dagger was 64 MEMOIRS OF JOHN WILKES, ESQ. placed in the first quarter of the city arms: this furnished the hint of "The dagger wont to pierce the tyrant's breast." POPE. Julius Cesar is represented in the vase as he is described by all historians in that important moment; gracefully covering himself with the toga, and falling at the base of a pedestal which supports the statue of Pompey. Brutus, Cassius, and the other noble Romans who conspired to restore freedom to their country, form a circle around the body of Cesar. Every eye is fixed on Brutus; who is in the attitude of congratulating Cicero on the recovery of the public liberty, and pointing to the prostrate and expiring usurper. At the bottom of the vase is the following inscription, encircled with myrtle and oak leaves : May every tyrant feel CHURCHILL. *Vol. iii. pages 21, 22, of the present work. APPLICATIONS TO MR. WILKES. SIR, LETTER I. July 28, 1769. BARON SWIETON, imperial minister at the court of Poland, desires the honour of paying a visit to you. He is the son of the famous Van Swieton, physician to the empress-queen; and is a gentleman of extensive knowledge. I have accepted the charge of procuring him this pleasure, as I know how much you regard people of distinguished merit; therefore if you will be so good to let me know when it suits you to grant the baron this wished-for visit, I shall do myself the honour to conduct him. I am, most gratefully, sir, your most obedient humble servant, VINCENT MASTIVELLI. LETTER II. DEAR SIR, Aylesbury, Feb. 9, 1770. DR. STEPHENS's death has made a vacancy in the school, and I wish I could hope for the pleasure of your presence at the meeting of the trustees for the election of a master to succeed him. I hope your evil days are nearly at an end; and that, when you enjoy the goddess yourself you so ardently wish may be possessed by all others, you will visit this place, and make my house your home. I beg you will present my best compliments to miss Wilkes. LETTER III. SIR, London, May 25, 1773. THE late Mr. Temple, of Trowbridge, having in his will left 2000l. for the establishment of a professorship of trade, political agriculture, &c. and vested it, with the appointment of the professor, in the lord-mayor and court of aldermen; may I take the liberty of requesting your vote and interest upon the election of such professor? Not having the pleasure of being personally known to you, I must depend merely on that public character a man gains who ventures to publish his opinions. The design of Mr. Temple is entirely in my line of inquiry; and the works I have sent into the world are consistent with the principles laid down by that gentleman in his tract, "A Vindication of Commerce, and the Arts." If I am successful in my application, I shall be ready to undertake any public performance that may be thought |