Home > Back to Search Results > John Wilkes, a supporter of the American cause...
Click image to enlarge 679721
Hide image list »

John Wilkes, a supporter of the American cause...



Item # 679721

August 29, 1768

THE BOSTON CHRONICLE, Massachusetts, Aug. 29, 1768 

* John Wilkes - radical
* Pre Revolutionary War


The first half of the newspaper is taken up with the continuation of the "Narrative of the Hon. Commodore Byron" on his expedition around the world in the 1740's.
Near the back are reports from London noting in part: "...that most of the readers of our paper are such friends to liberty that they will receive with the most heart felt pleasure the news  we give them this week that Mr. Wilkes, the great assertor of the liberties of this country, is now restored to all the rights & privileges of it, of which he has been long deprived by an illegal proceeding...". John Wilkes was a radical member of Parliament who, during the Revolutionary War, was a supporter of the patriot rebels in the colonies.
Eight pages, 8 1/2 by 10 1/2 inches, some foxing, nice condition.

This newspaper published only briefly from December 21, 1767 until 1770. The publishers, John Mein and John Fleming, were both from Scotland. The Chronicle was a Loyalist paper in the time before the American Revolution. In its second year, Mein printed names in the paper that accused some colonial merchants of breaking a British non-importation agreement. In response, Mein's name appeared on a list of merchants who violated the trade agreement. Mein retaliated by accusing the Merchants' Committee of using the non-importation agreement for illegal profiteering. The irritated readership ransacked the offices of the Chronicle, and ultimately, it ceased operations in 1770. (credit Wikipedia)

Category: The 1600's and 1700's