London and the Kingdom - Volume 3: A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)
History
London and the Kingdom - Volume 3: A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.
Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)
London (England) -- History
With this signal triumph of the people, to which the city of London had
contributed so much, the present work is brought to a close. No good
end would be served by entering the domain of contemporary politics.
Enough has been set out in these pages to convince the impartial
reader that the city of London is no mean city; that it possesses a
record equal, if not indeed superior, to that of any other city in
the Universe, ancient or modern, and that its wealth and influence
have ever been devoted to the cause of religious, social and political
freedom. Notwithstanding anything its detractors may say, the City has
not only marched with the age, it has for the most part been a leader
of public opinion, and has shown itself in advance of the age. It
is to three notable aldermen of the city, viz., Oliver, Crosby, and
Wilkes, be it remembered, that the country is indebted for the liberty
of the press, and the freedom of reporting Parliamentary debates, so
long jealously withheld. Had it not been for the determined attitude
of these aldermen the country might have waited still longer for
Parliament to be brought to realise that its proceedings are (so to
speak) public property. It was Wilkes, again, and his brother aldermen
who made a successful stand against the pernicious, if lawful, custom
of pressing men for the king's service, the result being that whilst
the rest of the kingdom was over-run with press-gangs, the city of
London was quit of them, or if any ventured to seize the person of a
citizen, they were soon made to surrender their prey.
[Sidenote: Enfranchisement of Jews.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account