File:The chronicles of crime, or The new Newgate calendar. Being a series of memoirs and anecdotes of notorious characters who have outraged the laws of Great Britain from the earliest period to the (14760540586).jpg

Identifier: chroniclesofcrim01pelh (find matches)
Title: The chronicles of crime, or The new Newgate calendar. Being a series of memoirs and anecdotes of notorious characters who have outraged the laws of Great Britain from the earliest period to the present time including a number of curious cases never before published. Embellished with fifty-two engravings, from original drawings by "Phiz" (pseud.)
Year: 1841 (1840s)
Authors: Pelham, Camden, pseud Browne, Hablot Knight, 1815-1882. illus. cn
Subjects: Crime Criminals
Publisher: London, T. Tegg (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh Library System

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Text Appearing Before Image:

JOHN WILKES, ESQ.

CONVICTED OF SEDITION AND BLASPHEMY.

The year 1768 will ever be memorable in the annals of English
history on account of the murders and mischief committed by a deluded
mob, stimidated by the writings and opposition to the government of
John Wilkes, Esq. an alderman of London, and member of parliament for Aylesbury.
The most scandalous and offensive of his writings were in a periodical
publication called the " North Briton," No. 45 ; and a pamphlet entitled
" An Essay on Woman*." The " North Briton" was of a political nature ;
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♦ The " Essay on Woman " was a parody on Pope's sublime work, called " An Essay on
Man."
A learned divine, the Rev. Mr. Kidgell, thus writes" On thee works of Wilkes:—
On the title-page is an obscene print, with a Greek inscription, signifying ' The Saviour of
the world.' We shall, the poison of the publication being long eradicated, merely quote a
commentantor on the :
" In this work ('An Essay on Woman') the lewdest thoughts are expressed in terms of
the greatest obscenity ; the most horrid impurity is minutely represented; the sex is vilified and
insulted ; and the whole is scurrilous, impudent, and impious, to an incredible degree. In the
variations and notes the inspired writings are perverted into the gross ideas of a libidinous blas-
phemer, with an invention new, wonderful, and horrid. Tho most solemn and important
passages of the Gospel are tortured into the oblique obseenity of double meanings, worthy only
of him who is at onco the enemy of God and men."
Text Appearing After Image:


WILKES' RIOTS

THE NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 221

the other a piece of obscenity : the one calculated to set the people against
the government ; the other to corrupt their morals.
Amongst the ministers who found themselves more personally attacked in
the " North Briton " was Samuel Martin, Esq. memher for Camelford. This
gentleman found his character, as secretary to the Treasury, so vilified,
that he called the writer to the field. He had before been engaged in a
duel with Lord Talbot, and had then escaped unhurt, but Mr. Martin shot
him ; and the wound proved so dangerous that he lay uncertain of recover-
ing durug several days, and was confined to his house for some weeks.
His sufferings, however, did not end lure, for the attorney-general filed
informations against him as author of " The North Briton," No. 45*, and
the pamphlet entitled " An Kssay on Woman." On these charges he was
apprehended ; and his papers having been seized and inspected, he was com-
mitted prisoner to the to the Tower, but was soon admitted to bail.

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