Important Question as to the Privilege of Parliament.--Liberty of the Press.--Scandalous Resignation of Privilege by the House of Commons.--Abandonment of General Warrants.--Debate on the proceedings against Wilkes.--“The Moderator,” a new scurrilous paper.--Lord Clive.--Riot on the attempt to burn “The North Briton.”--Debate on this subject in the House of Lords.--Triumph of Wilkes in his prosecution against the Under-Secretary of State.--Dismissals by the Court.--The Chevalier d’Eon.--Attempt to assassinate Wilkes.--The East India Company and Lord Clive.-- Wilkes and the Parliament.--Outlawry against Wilkes. On the 23rd of November came on the important question whether the Privilege of Parliament preserved the members from being taken up for writing and publishing libels. At first sight, a disinterested person would perhaps think it strange that it should be a question whether a seat in the Legislature should not secure the Legislators from the penalty of breaking the laws, for publishing a libel is undoubtedly illegal; but to those acquainted with our Constitution, it will perhaps appear more extraordinary that a House of Commons should suffer such a question to be proposed to them, and that they should condescend to agitate it. Will our posterity believe that a House of Commons gave it up? but it was _that_ House of Commons that had sold itself to approve the late Peace. Still it is to be admired that this cessation of their privileges should be wrung from them, after the Court of Common Pleas had declared that Privilege held against everything but treason, felony, and breach of the peace. A libel, at most, but _tended_ to a breach of the peace.