What was Sir William Blackstone’s position in the 1769 Middlesex election dispute involving John Wilkes?

During the 1769 Middlesex election dispute, Sir William Blackstone supported the expulsion of the political reformer John Wilkes from the House of Commons.1

Although Blackstone generally described himself as a man of moderation amid political conflict, his stance on this specific constitutional question drew significant criticism. Opponents argued that his position in the controversy was inconsistent with the legal principles he had previously established in his Commentaries.1