Thomas Tilbury of the Red Lion, Bagshot, Surrey Wilkes' Duel at the Inn; a Character based on T. Tilbury

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THOMAS TILBURY, HOST TO WILKES' DUEL AGAINST LORD TALBOT AT THE RED LION, BAGSHOT

From "The Correspondence of the Late John Wilkes" v.iii, 1805

 
WILKES TO COLONEL BERKELEY

Winchester, Sept. 30, 1762.

Sir,

Lord Talbot, by your message, has at last brought this most important question to the precise point where my first answer to his lordship fixed it, if he preferred that. As you have only seen the two last letters, I must entreat you to cast your eye over those preceding; because I apprehend they will justify an observation or two I made this morning, when I had the honour of paying my compliments to you at camp.

Be assured that if I am between heaven and earth, I will be on Tuesday evening at TILBURY's, the Red Lion at Bagshot; and on Wednesday morning will play this duet with his lordship.

It is a real satisfaction to me that his lordship is to be accompanied by a gentleman of colonel Berkeley's worth and honour.

This will be delivered to you by my adjutant, who attends me to Bagshot. I shall not bring any servant with me, from the fear of any of the parties being known. My pistols only, or his lordship's, at his option, shall decide this point.

I beg the favour of you to return me the letters as I mean to leave Winchester this evening. I have lord Bruce's leave of absence for ten days.

I am, with sincere regard, Sir, your very humble servant,
John WILKES.

I hope that we make a partie quarree for supper on Tuesday at Bagshot.

 
COLONEL BEREKELEY'S REPLY TO WILKES

I have read all the letters; and shall depend upon the pleasure of supping with you at TILBURY's, the Red Lion at Bagshot, on Tuesday evening. My servant will attend me, as going alone would give room for suspicion; but you may depend upon his following your direction at Bagshot, and that he shall not be seen where you would not have him.

I am much obliged by your favourable opinion; and am your very humble servant,
N. BERKELEY.

Camp near Winchester, Sept. 30, 1762.
 

WILKES' ACCOUNT OF THE DUEL, DATED FROM THE RED LION AT BAGSHOT

We left the inn, and walked to a garden at some distance from the house. It was near seven, and the moon shone very bright; both our fires were in very exact time, but neither took effect. I walked up immediately to Lord Talbot, and told him I now avowed the papers. His lordship desired that we might now be good friends, and retire to the inn to drink a bottle of claret together; which we did with great good humour, and much laugh.
 

[Subject of the duel: Lord Talbot's desiring to know whether or not Wilkes was the author of the North Briton (publication) of 21 August]

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In his book about Wilkes*, John Sainsbury recounts that Wilkes announced, on arriving at the Red Lion that he had come from a meeting of the 'Mad Monks of Medmenham' - this detail is reproduced in the fictional account of Wilkes' duel, set in the gardens of the White Conduit House.

* "John Wilkes: The Lives of a Libertine" (2006, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., ISBN-0754656268; page 72)

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THE CHARACTER OF THIS THOMAS TILBURY IN FICTION

From "The Grenville Papers" by Richard Grenville-Temple Temple, 1853

1767

...the author Junius ... in his paper entitled Grand Council upon the Affairs of Ireland, after Eleven Adjournments ... dated the 7th of October ... in his letter to Mre. Grenville of October 29, 1768 ... says, "the Grand Council was mine" ...

The Cabinet Ministers present at the Council are designated as follows:—

The business is commenced by 'TILBURY', who is appropriately introduced by a couplet (from Swift's Poem of The Problem: that my Lord Berkeley stinks when he is in love.) ... as coarse as the language in which Lord Northington is said to have habitually indulged. During the sitting of the Council, 'TILBURY' utters five short sentences, and there is an oath in each of them.

The name of TILBURY was supposed to have been applied to Lord Northington, because he had once put up at the house of a man of that name who kept the Red Lion at Bagshot*; but a more probable reason would seem to be, because the Lord President [Northington] may have been thought to resemble 'mine host' of the Red Lion in the habit of swearing ...

The name was not ... first applied ... by Junius: I find it in a letter from 'Gilly' Williams to George Selwyn, in December, 1764:

'Whenever OLD TILBURY** resigns the Seals, he [Charles Yorke] will most undoubtedly succeed to them.'

*  This explanation was given by Junius in 1812.
** No explanation is given of this reference.

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Fictional Version of Wilkes' Duel, with Mr. Tilbury styled Innkeeper of the White Conduit House, London

White Conduit House & Gardens

Thomas & Betty Tilbury of Bagshot, Windlesham: inns, brewery

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