respectable rights. Nothing appears to me more distinct, than declaring their right to jurisdiction, with regard to printers of their proceedings and debates, and punishing their member, and in him his constituents, for what he has done in discharge of his oath and conscience, as a magistrate.

With regard to leaving the House, I confess that, others having left it before, the period you took to leave it was the properest. At the same time, allow me to offer my opinion, that if the ministry proceed to punish Lord Mayor, the stand against such injustice and oppression cannot be made with too much firmness and vigour by the friends of liberty in the House.

The incident you mention, of Mr. Alderman Townshend's naming a great personage with so little effect, or seeming impression of any kind, does not much surprise me; there being more solutions than one to such a political phenomenon. As to that name being mentioned at all, I have ever thought it could produce no good effect.

my

May I beg you to assure Lord Shelburne of compliments and cordial wishes for his health. I agree entirely in thinking, that a visit from his Lordship to Mr. Oliver cannot be expected from him, or would be natural, in his Lordship's present situation. A thousand sincere thanks from an invalid, who mends very slowly. Believe me, with true esteem and distinguished consideration, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours,

JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Thursday morning, past one o'clock. [March 28, 1771.]

MY DEAR LORD,

AFTER a stranger scene than what I had last the honour to inform your Lordship of, the business is just ended in the Lord Mayor's commitment to the Tower. The motion first proposed was, to the the custody of the serjeant-at-arms, on account of his health. His Lordship told the House he was much recovered, and desired to go to his honourable friend in the Tower. Mr. Ellis, therefore, moved the amendment of the Tower. I opposed the punishment, on your Lordship's ground; Mr. Phipps rose after me, and took much larger. He denied the principles on which the House had proceeded. Dyson answered us. On this question little else was said. There was a division of 202 to 39. Barré, Cornwall, and Mr. James Grenville went away before the division, in consequence of Lord Mayor's last speech. The Rockinghams in general absented; Burke, Sir George Savile, and some others seceded.

Previous to this, there was a debate on Ellis's motion on the breach of privilege; which lasted till eleven o'clock, but no division. In the course of it, Mr. Wedderburne was fully paid for his insolence, by Barré and Serjeant Glynn. The former dressed him with dignity, propriety, and great severity. Lord North disclaimed going out, though

he wished much for ease and retirement. He added, that nothing but the King or the mob, who were near destroying him to-day, could remove him: he would weather out the storm; but his pathetic manner and tears rather confirmed, than removed, my suspicions of his very anxious, perplexed situation. (1)

The concourse of people who attended Lord Mayor is incredible. They seized Lord North, broke his chariot, had got him amongst them, and but for Sir William Meredith's interfering, would probably have demolished him. This, with the insults to other members, caused an adjournment of business for some hours. The justices came to the bar to declare they could not read the riot act, and that their constables were overpowered. The sheriffs were then called upon: they went into the crowd, attended by many members, and quieted them by five o'clock; when we proceeded on business. Mr. Ellis finished the evening by moving a select committee of twenty-one, to be chosen by ballot, to inquire into facts and circumstances relative to obstructions of the orders of the House. Mr. Wedderburne added a motion for an open one,

(1) In the course of his speech, Lord North expressed his conviction, that the mob who had attacked him were hired by the minority, to endeavour to effect without doors what they despaired of doing within. This brought up Mr. William Burke, who said that "it was a falsehood, a most egregious falsehood; that the minority to a man were persons of honour, who scorned such a resource; and that the charge could only emanate from a man who was hackneyed in indirect measures."

to inquire into the causes of the present riots and tumults. (1) About ten o'clock the people again assembled, and are gone to the Mansion House with their magistrate. He goes from thence as soon as the Tower gates are open. (2) I must conclude, being really worn out; but am, in all situations, with the warmest attachment,

Your Lordship's ever obliged, faithful, and affectionate friend,

JOHN CALCRAFT.

JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Ingress, April 7, 1771.

LITTLE intelligence has reached this place since the parliament adjourned.(3) Mr. Ellis's committee

(1) Mr. Wedderburne's motion was for a committee "to inquire into the causes and occasion of the riots and tumults of the persons who assembled on Monday last, yesterday, and this day, in the avenues leading to this House, and attacked the persons of the members coming to attend their duty in parliament."

(2) On the following day, Mr. Charles Fox complained to the House, that the mob in Palace Yard had insulted him, broke the glasses of his carriage, and pelted him with oranges and stones, &c., and proceeded to complain of the conduct of the sheriffs; but the debate was put an end to by Lord North, who moved the order of the day, which was carried by seventy-five against thirty-one.

(3) On the 30th of March, the Houses adjourned to the 9th of April; by which the order for the appearance of Mr. Wilkes on the 8th was evaded.

met on Friday for the first time. It was with dif ficulty that seven of them were collected: the only business proceeded upon was the examination of the messenger. No plan seemed to be established; report says, that violent measures are laid aside; that a declaratory bill as to privilege is the measure intended. Lord John Cavendish and his friends do not attend.

Mr. Wedderburne's committee being adjourned to Monday puts an end to it; the House not meeting till Tuesday. The world will have it, that Lord North goes out at the end of the session, and that there has been a treaty between Lord Camden and the Bedfords, but that 't is broken off.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. Hayes, Sunday, April 7, 1771.

MY DEAR SIR,

I HAVE a thousand thanks to return for the kind favour of your note. The two committees are completely ridiculous. I can easily believe that violent measures, in the present mode, are laid aside, and, at the same time, that a plan of des. potism is fixed. The misfortune is, that the city is wrong in the matter of the Speaker's warrants to bring the printers before the House. The House seems to be aware, that they have been wrong in all the rest: the House will desist from their wrong;