[Corporation of London. Court of Common Council]. Addresses presented...to the King..., [1778]; Addresses, Remonstrances, and Petitions; commencing the 24th of June, 1769..., [1778] bound with Freeholders of the County of Middlesex. A Petition...presented to His Majesty, the 24th of May, 1769, together 3 works in 1 vol. (as often, the last mentioned bound second), first editions, bookplate removed from front paste-down, contemporary sprinkled calf, slightly rubbed, rebacked with gilt spine preserving old red morocco label, 8vo, Henry Fenwick

⁂ The Court of Common Council is the effective governing body of the City of London. The first two items include several references to the American colonies while the last relates to John Wilkes who was imprisoned for libel and barred from taking up his seat as a Member of Parliament. The radical Wilkes strongly supported the cause of the colonies against the Crown. The Lord Mayor of London, William Beckford, father of the author and art-collector, supported Wilkes and the rights of the City of London, accusing the King of interfering in the results of the election.