L.S. George Montague Dunk earl of Halifax viscount Sunbury and baron Halifax one of the lords of his majesty's most honourable privy council lieutenant general of his majefty's forces and principal fecretary of state. Thefe are in his majesty's name to authorize and require you (taking a conftable to your affistance) to make strict and diligent fearch for the authors printers and publishers of a feditious and treafonable paper intitled the North Briton Number XLV Saturday April 23 1763 printed for G. Kearly in Ludgate Street London and them or any of them having found to apprehend and feize together with their papers and to bring in fafe cuftody before me to be examined concerning the premises and further dealt with according to law And in the due execution thereof all mayors fheriffs juftices of the peace conftables and all other his majefty's officers civil and military and loving fubjects whom it may concern are to be aiding and affifting to you as there fhall be occafion and for fo doing this fhall be your warrant Given at St. James's the twentyfixth day of April in the third year of his majefty's reign directed to Nathan Carrington John Money figned Dunk Halifax James Watson and Robert Blackmore Four of his majefty's meffengers in ordinary N. B. The officers had a verbal order to put this warrant in execution by entering forcibly into the houfe of John Wilkes, Efq; Member of Parliament, at midnight, and thofe officers are now threaten d with G 4 with the loss of their places for not complying with fuch verbal inftructions. On the intimation of Mr. Wilkes, Member of Parliament, being in cuftody, a motion was made in the court of common pleas then fitting in Weftminster Hall, for a Habeas-Corpus, which was granted; though by reafon of the Prothonotory's office not being open, fuch Habeas Corpus could not be fued out 'till four o'clock in the afternoon. Several gentlemen, friends and acquaintance of the faid John Wilkes, Efq; Member of Parliament, applied for admittance into his house, which was then peremptorily refused by a pretended order from the fecretary of ftate; which order, though repeatedly requested, was not or could not be produced. As no proper or legal authority appeared to countenance fuch refufal, the gentlemen thought themselves no ways obliged to obey the verbal commands of officers acting only under a verbal authority; and entered accordingly without further question or moleftation from thofe officers. Mr. Wood, the deputy fecretary of state, being fent for, demanded the reafon of fuch forcible entry: It was replied that no force had been used, and that the gentlemen thought themselves legally juftified in what they had done. Soon after this (whether fent for or not, does not appear) Philip Carteret Webb, Efq; folicitor to the treafury, came into the room, and fome private converfation between him and Mr. Wood having paffed, the latter afked, if any gentleman then prefent would attend or infpect the officers while they were fealing up all papers in the houfe of Mr. Wilkes, or ufed words to that or the like effect. Mr. Wilkes having declined accepting of the like offer, no perfon then prefent thought himself authorized to take upon him fuch infpection. Not Notwithstanding it was known, that the court of common pleas had granted an Habeas Corpus, of which fact, Philip Carteret Webb, Efq; folicitor to the treasury, at that time at Lord Halifax's, was then well affured; yet was the faid John Wilkes, Efq; member of parliament, committed to the tower of London. His folicitor and one of his council, foon after they heard of fuch commitment, went to the Tower in order to confult with the said John Wilkes, about the legal methods to be purfued for his enlargement; but were denied admittance; Major Ransford informing them, that he had received orders from the fecretary of State, not to admit any person whatfoever, to fpeak with or fee the faid John Wilkes : and further informed them, that he had just before refused the right honourable the Earl Temple fuch admittance. On Sunday, May the firft, the fame gentlemen between the hours of twelve and one, called again upon Major Ransford, on the fame occafion; but were again denied admittance, as were foon after many noblemen and gentlemen of the firft diftinction, and Mr. Wilkes's own brother. After fuch denial, Mr. Wilkes's folicitor demanded of the Major a copy of the warrant, under which Mr. Wilkes was committed to the Tower; whichwas readily granted by the Major, and of which the following is a true copy. Charles earl of Egremont and George Dunk earl of Halifax lords of his majef y's moft honourable privy council and principal fecretaries of state. These are in his majesty's name to authorize and require you to receive into your custody the body of John Wilkes, efq; herewith fent you for being the author and publisher of a moft infamous_and feditious libel intitled the North Briton number 45 tending to inflame the minds and alienate the affections of the people, from his majesty and to excite them to traiterous infurrections against the government, and to keep him fafe and close until he fhall be delivered by due course of law, and for fo doing this fhall be your warrant. Given at St. James's the 30th day of April 1763 in the third year of his majesty's reign. figned To the right hon. John Lord Berkeley of Stratton constable of his majesty's Tower of London, orto the lieutenant of the faid Tower or his deputy. Philip Carteret Webb, efq; folicitor to the treafury, then being prefent in the faid Major Ransford's room, Mr. Wilkes's council and folicitor applied to the faid Mr. Webb for admittance to the faid Mr. Wilkes. Philip Carteret Webb, efq; defired Major Ransford to allow fuch admittance, which he would indemnify; the Major, with a fpirit becoming a good officer, replied, he could not difobey orders. Philip Carteret Webb, efq; reanswered, he believed there must have been a mistake in the orders, and that, if either of the fecretaries of state were in town, he would apply to them, and obtain fuch admittance as aforefaid, and that he would either fend or bring an order for fuch admittance in the afternoon. Upon this affertion, the faid Mr. Wilkes's counsel and folicitor between eight and nine o'clock in the evening of the fame day, again went to the Tower and applied for admittance as aforefaid. The Major having received no inftructions from either the fecretaries fecretaries of state, or Philip Carteret Webb, efq; refused as before. On the morning of Monday, the fecond of May, the court of common pleas ordered a return to their writ of Habeas Corpus, which return not then appearing to the court to be fufficient, the court ordered, that the faid return fhould not at prefent be filed; but upon motion granted another Habeas Corpus directed to the conftable and fo forth of the Tower of London. Mr. Wilkes's folicitor and counsel the fame day, between the hours of two and three, again went to the Tower, and made application to Major Ransford for admittance to the faid John Wilkes, efq; but were refused fuch admittance, Major Ransford declaring that he received no orders from either of the fecretaries of ftate to that purpofe. There appeared upon the table of the faid Major Ransford a written order for him to take down the names of all perfons applying for admittance to Colonel Wilkes. MAGNA EST VERITAS. ORDERS iued by the lieutenant governor of the Tower refpecting the detention of John Wilkes, Efq; • That the warders appointed to keep a close prifoner, fhall not prefume to leave him for a moment alone, either night or day, or to change their duty, with other warders, but by particular leave or order from the conftable, lieutenant, deputy lieutenant, or in their abfence the major of the Tower. They are to permit no perfon to have admittance into the room he is confined in, or to fpeak to him, but by particular order brought them by the major, or gentleman gaoler.' The |