The Diaries of John Wilkes 1770-1797

摘要

The manuscript volume in the British Library which comprises the diaries of John Wilkes has been known to historians for many decades, but only now has a fully annotated scholarly edition been published. Robin Eagles has performed his task competently and well, providing a short but informative introduction, a continuous run of 628 footnotes throughout the text, a biographical register (Appendix 2) of 261 of the more important individuals who are mentioned in the diaries, and a thorough index. Of some interest is Appendix Ⅰ, Wilkes's separate 'Fragments relating to the Gordon Riots', where Wilkes recorded the counter-measures which he helped to organise against the rioters in his capacity as chamberlain of the City of London. There is a particularly revealing element to Wilkes's note of 7 June 1780, when, during the defence of the Bank of England, the former darling of London crowds recorded calmly 'fired 6 or seven times on the rioters at the end of the Bank towards Austin Friars, and towards the middle of the Bank - killed two rioters directly opposite to the great gate of the Bank - several others in Pig Street, and Cheapside' (p. 279).