The Brentford Rioters - 1769 Printed Report By The North Briton

6pp, dated January 18th 1769 (Number LXXXV “or XXXIX of the Continuation”). The text is signed at the end “E.B.” and the imprint at the foot of the final page reads “Sold by W. Bingley, opposite Durham Yard in the Strand. Where likewise may be had, any of the former Numbers, and Complete sets sewed in blue Paper.

George Clarke was bludgeoned on the head at an election meeting in the Market Place Brentford, Middlesex, on December 8th 1768 and died on December 14th. The two Irish chairmen of the election, Laurence Balfe and Edward McQuirk, were tried for murder, sentenced to death but afterwards pardoned by royal prerogative as Clarke had picked himself up after the attack and rejoined the drinking binge before fatally collapsing a few days later. The North Briton was founded in 1762 by the radical journalist John Wilkes (1725-1797), and was known for its incendiary content. In issue 12 he ridiculed William Talbot, 1st Earl Talbot who challenged Wilkes to a duel, when both men missed shooting each other, they repaired to an inn for a bottle of claret. Known as the ugliest man in Britain, he was a member of the famous Hellfire Club and once pranked his arch-enemy Lord Sandwich by dressing a large ape up in clothes, adding horns and phosphorus paint, passing him off as the devil. The issue of the North Briton here makes various claims, such as that McQuirk was hired by an agent of Lord Halifax and similarly Balfe was hired by Lord Broughton to start the trouble. The stories continued in further issues and its fair to say that Wilkes had numerous brushes with the law. 

Approx. 198x304mm., and in fine condition.