THE SPEECH OF A RIGHT HONOURABLE GENTLEMAN, ON THE MOTION FOR EXPELLING MR. WILKES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1769.
London: J. Almon, 1769. 54, [1], [1 blank] pp. Disbound, without advertising leaves at the end. Else Very Good.
In a trial for seditious libel at which Lord Mansfield presided Wilkes, publisher of the 'North Briton', was found guilty and jailed for 22 months. The House of Commons then expelled him. "Popular opinion favored Wilkes and, overnight, he became a champion of the freedom to criticize an unpopular government" [McCoy W266].
Grenville argues against expulsion, but not because he believes the verdict of guilty was unjust. Indeed, he agrees that Wilkes had committed "obscene and impious libels." Grenville reminds the House that expulsion will affect, not only Wilkes, "but the franchises of those who sent him hither as their representative." Examining each of the "complicated" arguments, he decides against expulsion, in the face of opposition from his electorate. "Consider that precedents of this nature are generally begun in the first instance against the odious and guilty, but when once established, are easily applied to and made use of against the meritorious and the innocent."
FIRST EDITION. Sabin 28772 [recording only the Fourth Edition of the same year]. ESTC T49627. Not in McCoy. Item #31046
Price: $450.00