I
EARLY LIFE
1798—1815
At the instigation of my wife & Children I am induced to give the Record of my life as stated in my various Diaries kept for my own satisfaction and reference to the events, often trivial in their nature, which may give them pleasure as a momento of the occupations and actions, mostly personal, the Record of which will be detailed rather voluminously of my younger days as elicited from those who had charge of my bringing up and what I myself have had impressed upon my memory. It all is reliable and truthful and is compiled from very many incidents and acts in which I was a participant.
There is no feeling that anything is existing in My mind to make it appear that I was at an early age considered a wonder or was looked upon as foreboding any distinguished Role to be played in after life, but will clearly show how far the circumstances incident to all childhood led to the future life of which a large part has been devoted to your Welfare and happiness. It may give you all pleasure or an interest.
The whole narrative will necessarily be somewhat egotistical, but how can one write about oneself, and those connected with our lives, without being in some measure So. I want you to bear in mind therefore I am writing for your amusement hereafter of Scenes and incidents that have been done and occurred to myself. These may appear somewhat trite and in many respects imperfect, yet they are faithful as far as they go. The description of places well known & well written of I have omitted to go into details as the fullest accounts are already in print & can be referred to easily on the shelves of any library. I have only touched such parts of the picture as I deemed required filling up and in which I have been an actor or participator.
It will be difficult for me at this time to give the genealogy of our family as I must do it from what has been narrated to me—principally by my sister who had, from being the oldest and the constant companion of my father in the latter years of his life, [become] the chronicler of the family History. I shall not go back very far to give an outline of my descent. My grandfather was Israel Wilkes—who was the eldest issue of Israel, a Brewer in the city of London and who had two Sons, Israel & Jno. Wilkes, or Wilkes No. 45[1] as he is often called, and a
- ↑ Reference here is to John Wilkes' attack on British government policy in issue Number 45 of The North Briton, 23 April 1763.
