Note 13 — JOHN WILKES, ESQ. CONVICTED OF SEDITION AND BLASPHEMY.

The paper entitled “The North Briton” was ordered to be burnt by the common executioner at the Royal Exchange. Mr. Alderman Harley, one of the sheriffs of London, attending in his official capacity to see this carried into execution, was assaulted and wounded by the mob. A man of the name of John Franklin was seized as one of the offenders, and committed to Newgate. On the day of the conviction of Wilkes he was tried for this outrage at the Old Bailey, and found guilty.

When the trial was ended, the worthy alderman addressed the Court in behalf of the prisoner. He said that, for his part, he had forgiven the affront offered to his own person; that justice required a prosecution: it had been, by the conviction of the offender, in part satisfied, and therefore he hoped the Court would mitigate his punishment. The Court complied with the prosecutor’s humane request, and sentenced the prisoner to a short imprisonment, to pay a fine of six shillings and eight pence, and to find security for his good behaviour for one year.