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When you send the above-mentioned proof sheets, return my own copy with them.

No. 46.

Dec. 10, 1771.

THE inclosed completes all the materials that I can give you. I have done my part. Take care you do yours. There are still two letters wanting, which I expect you will not fail to insert in their places. One is from Philo-Junius to Scævola about Lord Camden, the other to a friend of the people about pressing1. They must be in the course of October. I have no view but to serve you, and consequently have only to desire that the Dedication and Preface may be correct. Look to it. If you take it upon yourself, I will not forgive your suffering it to be spoiled. I weigh every word; and every alteration, in my eyes at least, is a blemish.

I should not trouble you or myself about that blockhead Scævola, but that his absurd fiction of my being Lord Camden's enemy has done harm.-Every fool can do mischief; therefore signify to him what I said.

Garrick has certainly betrayed himself, probably * * *** ****, who makes it a rule to betray every body that confides in him. That new disgrace of Mansfield is true':

1.These two letters are numbered Philo-Junius, LX. and LXII.

2 The allusion is to a cause which was tried at the Summer Assizes for the county of Surrey, in 1771, Meares and Shepley against Ansell, for a trespass, in which his Lordship was supposed to have given a very partial charge in favour of the Defendant, who hereby obtained a verdict. The Plaintiffs, however, on the Michaelmas Term following, moved the Court of Common Pleas for a new trial, on the ground of the misdirection of the judge. The judge was called upon for his report, which he could not make without sending to the Plaintiff's attorney for his affidavit of the transaction. He made his report at last, to which he subjoined that he was perfectly satisfied with the verdict of the jury.-The Court of Common Pleas was clearly of opinion, that Lord Mansfield had acted contrary to every principle of evidence both in law and equity, in admitting Matthews and Hiscox to give parol evidence, contrary to a clear explicit agreement in writing, which they had attested-and asserted that, if such a practice was to obtain, it would go a great way towards subverting the Statute of Frauds and Perjuries, and would be a most dangerous

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what do you mean by affirming that the Dowager is better? I tell you that she suckles toads from morning till night'. I think I have now done my duty to you, so farewell.

No. 47.

Dec. 17,1770.

MAKE your mind easy about me, I believe you are an honest man, and I never am angry.-Say to-morrow "We are desired to inform Scævola, that his private note was received with the most profound indifference and contempt3." I see his design. The Duke of Grafton has been long labour

dangerous inlet to perjury, and a means of rendering men's properties very precarious and insecure. The Court therefore set aside the verdict, and ordered a new trial; and it appeared to the Court to be so gross a misdirection, that it dispensed with the usual terms of payment of costs. Although Lord Mansfield, in his direction to the jury, represented the trespasses as small and insignificant, and the action as litigious, the Court of Common Pleas said the trespasses were obstinate, wilful, and malicious. Mr. Rowlinson, the Plaintiff's attorney, felt so dissatisfied with the conduct of Lord Mansfield upon the occasion, that in the same term a motion was made at his instigation, to have his name struck off the Rolls of the Court of King's Bench, which was, after some expressions of astonishment, acquiesced in, when he was immediately admitted into the Common Pleas.

1 He refers to the following paragraph in the Public Advertiser for December 6, 1771:—

"We have the pleasure to assure the public, from the most undoubted authority, that the repeated accounts of Her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales being very ill, and her life in great danger, are entirely false, such reports being only calculated to promote the shameful spirit of gambling, by insurance on lives." The Princess Dowager was at this time afflicted with a cancer, and died on the 8th of January in the following year.

1 He had received a note from Mr. Woodfall, vindicating himself from any improper motive in his communication to Mr. Garrick, which has been already referred to.

3 The information to Scævola was duly communicated in the Public Advertiser: and the flippancy of this writer's style, and the coquetry of his political attachments, fully merited the contempt here expressed for him. His first two or three letters were written as an apology for certain inconsiderate expressions which had fallen from Lord Camden, and were not deficient in merit. They were noticed by our author under the auxiliary

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ing to detach Camden. This Scævola is the wretchedest of all fools, and dirty knave.

Upon no account, nor for any reason whatsoever are you to write to me, until I give you notice.

When the book is finished, let me have a sett bound in vellum, gilt, and lettered JUNIUS I. II. as handsomely as you can-the edges gilt-let the sheets be well dried before binding. I must also have two setts in blue paper covers. This is all the fee I shall ever desire of you. I think you ought not to publish before the second week in January.

The London Packet is not worth our notice. I suspect Garrick, and I would have you hint so to him.

No. 48.

January 6, 1772.

I HAVE a thing to mention to you in great confidence. I expect your assistance, and rely upon your secrecy.

There is a long paper ready for publication, but which must not appear until the morning of the meeting of parliament, nor be announced in any shape whatsoever'. Much depends upon its appearing unexpectedly. If you receive it on the 8th or 9th instant, can you in a day or two have it composed, and two proof sheets struck off and sent me; and can you keep the press standing ready for the Public Advertiser of the 21st, and can all this be done with such secrecy that none of your people shall know what is going

signature of Philo-Junius, in LETTERS of JUNIUS, No. LX. Oct. 15, 1771. Scævola, whoever he was, became conceited by the attention thus bestowed upon him; and, more especially, as some other correspondent of the Public Advertiser had erroneously ascribed his letters to Lord Camden himself To prove, however, that he was not Lord Camden, he now, in the midst of his general admiration of his Lordship's political character, attacks him upon a variety of, what he ventures to denominate, capital errora, and that with, at least, as much violence as any of his Lordship's avowed adversaries of the day. In few words he became a perpetual, wearisome, and contemptible scribbler; and well deserved the chastisement here given him by JUNIOS.

1 Letter to Lord Mansfield. JUNIUS, NO. LXVIII.

forward, except the composer, and can you rely on his fidelity? Consider of it, and, if it be possible, say YES, in your paper to-morrow.

I think it will take four full columns at the least, but I undertake that it shall sell.-It is essential that I should have a proof sheet, and correct it myself.

Let me know if the books are ready that I may tell you what to do with them.

No. 49.

Saturday, January 11, 1772. YOUR failing to send me the proofs, as you engaged to do, disappoints and distresses me extremely1. It is not merely to correct the press (though even that is of consequence), but for another most material purpose. This will be entirely defeated, if you do not let me have the two proofs on Monday morning.

The paper itself, is, in my opinion, of the highest stile of JUNIUS, and cannot fail to sell. My reason for not announcing it was that the party might have no time to concert his measures with the Ministry. But, upon reflection, I think it may answer better (in order to excite attention) to advertise it the day before, JUNIUS to Lord Chief Justice Mansfield to-morrow.

Quoting from memory, I have made a mistake about Blackstone, where I say that he confines the power to the Court, and does not extend it to the Judges separately. Those lines must be omitted.-The rest is right.-If you have any regard for me or for the cause, let nothing hinder your sending the proofs on Monday.

No. 50.

January 16, 1772.

I RETURN you the proof, with the errata, which you will be so good as to correct carefully. I have the greatest rea

1 Of JUNIUS, No. LXVIII. referred to in the preceding letter.

2 He seems to allude to a promise, or expectation, of legal assistance from some friendly quarter.

VOL. I.

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son to be pleased with your care and attention, and wish it were in my power to render you some essential service.Announce it on Monday.

(Private)

No. 51.

Saturday, Jan. 18, 1772.

THE gentleman' who transacts the conveyancing part of our correspondence tells me there was much difficulty last night. For this reason, and because it could be no way material for me to see a paper on Saturday which is to appear on Monday, I resolved not to send for it.-Your hint of this morning, I suppose relates to this2.-I am truly concerned to see that the publication of the book is so long delayed.— It ought to have appeared before the meeting of Parliament. -By no means would I have you insert this long letter, if it made more than the difference of two days in the publication. Believe me the delay is a real injury to the cause. The letter to M.3 may come into a new edition.

Mr. Wilkes seems not to know that Morris published that letter. I think you should set him right.

No. 52.

January 25, 1772.

HAVING nothing better to do, I propose to entertain myself and the public, with torturing that *****

Barrington'. He has just appointed a French broker his de

1 Of this gentleman nothing is known.

2" Mutare necessarium est." Answer to correspondents, Jan. 18, 1772. 3 Letters of JUNIUS, NO. LXVIII.

4 Mr. Robert Morris was a barrister, who took a very active part in the city disputes, and on the popular side, and was secretary to the Bill of Rights Society. For a further account of him, see note to Miscellaneous Letters, No. xc111. Vol. II. p. 411. He occasionally wrote in the P. A. The publication of the letter alluded to, Wilkes had attributed to a Mr. Cawdron. See Private Letter, No. 82.

5 Lord Barrington was at this time Secretary for the War Department. He had uniformly exhibited himself unfriendly to the popular cause, and when in the lower House, made the motion in 1769, for expelling Wilkes,

which

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