think the argument about Gibraltar ', &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 stockfish 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 week 2.

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 Brutus ) 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

For the explanation of this passage, see Miscellaneous Letter, No. xc. Vol. III. p. 341, signed Vindex.

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.

TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD NORTH.

MY LORD,

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

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

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, ganco, alea, manu, ventre, bona patria laceravit, quique alienum as grande conflavit, 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 particular 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,

that I think dangerous, but the risque' is

and you must determine for yourself.

yours,

C.

All the above is private.

N° 34.

Friday Noon, April 19, 1771.

I HOPE you will approve of announcing the enclosed JUNIUS to-morrow', and publishing

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

2

grave.

BRUTUS.

* This peculiarity of spelling the word risk, is the author's. JUNIUS, Letter XLIV. Vol. II. p. 205, which was printed as requested.

it on Monday. If, for any reasons that do not occur to me, you should think it unadviseable to print it as it stands, I must entreat the favour of you to transmit it to Bingley', and satisfy him that it is a real JUNIUS, worth a North Briton Extraordinary. It will be impossible for me to have an opportunity of altering any part of it. I am, very truly, your friend,

C.

N° 35.

Thursday, June 20, 1771.

I AM strangely partial to the enclosed".

It is finished with the utmost care. If I find myself mistaken in my judgment of this paper, I positively will never write again.

C.

Let it be announced to-morrow, JUNIUS to

the duke of Grafton for Saturday.

I think Wilkes has closed well. I hope he will keep his resolution not to write any more 3.

2

The printer of the North Briton.

JUNIUS, NO. XLIX. Vol. II. p. 242, to the duke of Grafton. 3 In allusion to the dispute between Mr. Wilkes and Mr. Horne, conducted with great acrimony, till the former resolved, as here advised, not to answer after a definite period any additional letters, in consequence of the total occupation of his time in his canvass for the office of Sheriff of London, for which he was then a candidate, and to which situation he ulti

mately

N° 36.

July 16, 1771.

To prevent any unfair use being made

of the enclosed, I intreat you to keep a copy of Then seal and deliver it to Mr. Horne. know where he is to be found'.

it.

presume you

C.

mately succeeded. The following is the conclusion of the letter here spoken of, which was, of course, addressed to Mr. Horne.

"Whether you proceed, Sir, to a thirteenth, or a thirtieth letter, is to me a matter of the most entire indifference. You will no longer have me your correspondent. All the efforts of your malice and rancour cannot give me a moment's disquietude. They will only torment your own breast. I am wholly indifferent about your sentiments of me, happy in the favourable opinion of many valuable friends, in the most honourable connections, both public and private, and in the prospect of rendering myself eminently useful to my country. Formerly in exile, when I was urbe patriaque extorris, and torn from every sacred tie of friendship, I have moistened my bread with my tears. The rest of my life I hope to enjoy my morsel at home in peace and cheerfulness, among those I love and honour, far from the malignant eye of the false friend, and the insidious hypocrite.

* Note enclosing JUNIUS's Letter to the Rev. Mr. Horne, No. LII. Vol. II. p. 263.