A Faithful narrative of the proceedings in a late affair between the Rev. John Swinton, and Mr. George Baker, both of Wadham College, Oxford

By Britannia

Subjects: Wadham College, Trials, litigation, 1739, Child sexual abuse, Early works to 1800, Trials (Sodomy), Faculty, Sodomy

Description: This publication was created by friends of Baker, wishing to redeem his reputation as a libellor and to cast suspicion upon Swinton. From p. 1-2: "The Recantation of Mr. George Baker of Wadham College, Oxford, in respect of the Rev. Mr. Swinton [whom Baker accused of sexually molesting a servant boy] ... having been industriously published ... to the great, and seemingly deserved, Disgrace of the former; his [Baker's] friends, who were under the highest Amazement upon the Appearance of that Publication [the recantation], and no less Concern for a young Gentleman ... thought such a Concession under his Hand a kind of Prodigy worth enquiring into. Accordingly they spared no Pains to sift the Affair to the Bottom ... [T]heir love of Justice, as well as Compassion for him [Baker], whose Ruin they saw aimed at in so cruel a manner ... these Motives induced them to draw up the following faithful Narrative of the whole Affair."