No. 26.

Friday, 1 o'clock, Dec. 7, 1770.

I WISH it were possible for you to print the enclosed tomorrow1, observe the Italics strictly where they are marked. Why don't I hear from Guildhall.-If he trifles with me, he shall hear of it2. C.

No. 27.

SIR,

January 2, 1771.

I HAVE received your mysterious epistle, I dare say a letter may safely be left at the same place; but you may change the direction to Mr. John Fretley. You need not advertise it.

Yours,

C.

No. 28.

Jan. 16, 1771.

You may assure the Public that a squadron of four ships of the line is ordered to be got ready with all possible expedition for the East Indies. It is to be commanded by Commodore Spry. Without regarding the language of ignorant or interested people, depend upon the assurance I give you, that every man in administration looks upon war as inevitable3.

1 The paper here referred to, is Miscellaneous Letter, No. LXXIX. signed Domitian, and was printed as requested.

2 The allusion is to a communication between the writer and Mr. Wilkes, which had been promised by the latter, but had not been at this time received.

3 Inserted in the Public Advertiser, January 17, nearly in the same words. The predicted war, however, did not follow, but the preparation was actually made in the full belief, on the part of the cabinet themselves, that they would be compelled to go to war, by the existing temper of the people, irritated by the dishonourable negotiation concerning the Spanish seizure of Falkland Islands, and that they should be accused of indolence. and even cowardice, by the approaching Parliament. The session opened only four days afterwards, and the question of hostilities was so much upon a balance, that in the lower House not fewer than 159 members divided against the Minister, upon the address of thanks and approbation.

No. 29.

Thursday, Jan. 31, 1771.

THE paper is extremely well printed, and has a great ef fect'; it is of the utmost importance to the public cause that the doors of the House of Lords should be opened on Tuesday next, perhaps the following may help to shame them

into it.

We hear that the ministry intend to move for opening the doors of both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday next, in the usual manner, being desirous that the nation should be exactly informed of their whole conduct in the business of Falkland Island.

(Next Day.)

The nation expect, that on Tuesday next at least, both Houses will be open as usual, otherwise there will be too much reason to suspect, that the proceedings of the ministry have been such as will not bear a public discussion.

We hear that the ministry intend to move, that no gentleman may be refused admittance into either House on Tuesday next. Lord North in particular thinks it touches his character, to have no part of his conduct concealed from the nation.

The resolution of the ministry to move for opening both Houses on Tuesday next does them great honour. If they were to do otherwise, it would raise and justify suspicions very disadvantageous to their own reputation, and to the King's honour.

Pray keep it up.

C.

SIR,

No. 30.

Tuesday Noon, Feb. 5, 1771.

I DID not receive your letter until this day. I shall be very glad to hear what you have to communicate.

You need not advertise any notice.

C.

1 It refers to JUNIUS, NO. XLII. For the nature of the subject alluded to, see the Letter, and the Notes subjoined to it; as also Miscellaneous Letters, No. LXXXVIII. and the note in explanation.

No. 31.

(Private)

Monday, Feb. 11, 1771.

OUR correspondence is attended with difficulties, yet I should be glad to see the paper you mention; let it be left to-morrow without farther notice. I am seriously of opinion that it will all end in smoke1.

C.

No. 32.

Monday, Feb. 18, 1771.

If you are not grown too ministerial in your politics, I shall hope to see the enclosed announced to-morrow and published on Wednesday2.

SIR,

No. 33.

Feb. 21, 1771.

It will be very difficult, if not impracticable, for me to get your note. I presume it relates to Vindex3. I leave it to

1 In reference to a notice from the Attorney-General for publishing Letter of JUNIUS, No. LXII. but which was never farther proceeded upon.

2 This note accompanied No. xc. of the Miscellaneous Letters. The Printer had some scruples about publishing the whole of it; and in the Public Advertiser of Feb. 20, gave the usual mark, "A Letter," that a private letter was in waiting upon this subject. In consequence of which the subsequent note was received, dated Feb. 21.

3 The following is a copy of the letter which Mr. Woodfall addressed to the author under the feigned name of Mr. John Fretley, and directed it to him at the New Exchange Coffee-house, in the Strand.

"SIR,

"To have deserved any portion of your good opinion, affords me no small degree of satisfaction-to preserve it shall be my constant endeavour. Always willing to oblige you as much as lies in my power, I, with great avidity, open your letters; and sometimes, without reading the contents, promise the publication.-Such is my present situation, and I hope you will not be offended at my declining to publish your Letter, as I am convinced the subject of it must, if I was to insert it, render me liable to very

you to alter or omit as you think proper;-or burn it.-I think the argument about Gibraltar1, &c. is too good to be lost; as to the satirical part, I must tell you, (and with positive certainty,) that our gracious is as callous as stock fish to every thing but the reproach of cowardice. That alone is able to set the humours afloat. After a paper of that kind he won't eat meat for a week2.

You may rely upon it, the ministry are sick of prosecutions. Those against JUNIUS cost the Treasury above six thousand pounds, and after all they got nothing but disgrace. After the paper you have printed to-day, (signed Brutus3)

severe reprehension. That I am not grown too ministerial in my politics, every day's paper will, I hope, sufficiently evince; though I rather hope some little regard to prudence will not by you be deemed squeamishness, or tend to lessen me in your opinion, as I shall ever think myself your "Much obliged humble servant,

Feb. 19, 1771.

"HENRY SAMPSON WOODFALL. "P.S. I shall wait your directions what to do with the paper in question, as I did not chuse to trust it under cover till I was further acquainted with your pleasure."

1 For the explanation of this passage, see Miscellaneous Letters, No. xc. signed Vindex.

2 See p. 233 of this Vol. note.

3 This Letter was addressed to Lord North, and as it is short, it is here transcribed, in proof that JUNIUS was not severe in his opinion of it, nor singularly acrimonious in the phraseology originally adopted by himself.

MY LORD,

TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD NORTH.

I never address your Lordship but I feel the utmost horror and indignation; for I consider you as a man totally regardless of your own honour, and the welfare of your country.

The severity of a writer cannot be supposed to give your Lordship any uneasiness; a minister, whose schemes extend only to the exigencies of a year, but little regards his present or future reputation; yet it is a duty we owe to the public to trace out and expose the villain wherever we can perceive him working up the ruin of his country.

The choice of your friends is an eminent indication of your abilities and the blackness of your heart.

Nam quicumq; impudicus, adulter, ganeo, alea, manu, ventre, bona patria laceravit, quique alienum æs grande confiavit, immediately flies into your arms, and reimburses himself with the plunder of his country.

Such are the guardians of our liberties and law: such are the men to whom our constitution is entrusted: and cannot we then, without any par

ticular

one would think you feared nothing. For my own part I can very truly assure you that nothing would afflict me more than to have drawn you into a personal danger, because it admits of no recompence. A little expense is not to be regarded, and I hope these papers have reimbursed you. I never will send you any thing that I think dangerous, but the risque1 is yours, and you must determine for yourself. C.

All the above is private.

ticular discernment, or any remarkable acuteness of observation, trace out the origin of our present discontents?

It would be needless to follow you through that maze of villany, in which you have long delighted to wander; I shall only attack those measures which occur to our more immediate consideration.

In what manner can you answer to your King for the scandalous prostitution of his crown and himself?

In what manner can you answer to your country for the total disregard of its welfare and dignity?

After all these formidable preparations; after all this expensive armament, you have made shift to patch up a temporary ignominious compromise, at the trifling expense of about three millions, and the British honour.

You imagine yourself sufficiently secured in the pursuit of your infamous intentions, and in the practice of every illegal and unconstitutional measure, by the countenance of the King. Rely not too much on that protection. His Majesty must not be suffered, through a blind and ridiculous attachment to an individual, or through a filial obedience, which then becomes criminal, to ruin and subvert his infatuated kingdoms.

Your late acquisition of Lord Suffolk will not do you much honour: he is of the same stamp with the rest of your adherents. His Lordship has given the world a very strong impression of his character, and the disposition of his heart, by deserting his principal, and the cause in which he originally embarked, and by betraying that friendship, which in the more early and virtuous time of his life he had contracted. His former party need not regret the loss of him, for they are by his desertion disencumbered of a

But I will now leave you, my Lord, to that mature insensibility which is only to be acquired by a steady perseverance in infamy.

Every principle of conscience you have long ago been hardy enough to discard. There has not been an action in the last two years of your life but what separately deserves imprisonment. The time may come; and remember, my Lord, there is a very short period between a minister's imprisonment and his grave.

1 This peculiarity is the author's.

BRUTUS.