discovery three days; or, if I did, they would attaint me by bill. Change to the Somerset Coffeehouse, and let no mortal know the alteration. I am persuaded you are too honest a man to representation of Jane Shore, and likewise in the public prints. Mr. Wilkes therefore thought it prudent to state the case by two or three gentlemen to Mr. Garrick himself, and said, he feared the part of Hastings might bring on many disagreeable consequences to the great actor himself as well as to Mr. Wilkes and his connections, if continued in the manner then stated. Mr. Garrick received the friendly admonition in the most friendly way, but declared that the gentlemen, who had given Mr. Wilkes the account of his acting Hastings, had greatly mistaken, that he had not made the least alteration in the usual manner of acting that part on account of the political disputes of the times, but been solely guided by his own feelings that he always had acted that part, and always should play it in the same manner, not however slavishly copying himself, but with all the variety which from time to time his genius might dictate, preserving still the cast and spirit of the original character. Nothing more passed on this subject between Mr. Garrick and me, nor has that gentleman ever expressed the slightest displeasure against Mr. Wilkes, or his friends; so far has he been from complaining exceedingly of the cruelty of an interdict, which never existed. "Did it escape your memory, Sir, that one of the objections made at that time by my friends, was the peculiar emphasis Mr. Garrick was said to give to the following lines of Hastings, which some thought applicable to your situation:Ill befall Such meddling priests, who kindle up confusion, "You contribute in any way to my destruction. Act honourably by me, and at a proper time you shall know me. I think the second page, with the widest lines, looks best. What is your essential reason for the change'? I send you some more sheets. -I think the paper is not so good as Wheble's,— but I may be mistaken-the type is good. The 'You say, 'I think with half his (Mr. Garrick's) merit I should have had twice his courage.' If you mean theatrical merit, I can tell you of some parts, in which you would infinitely exceed our great English actor. I mean all those parts from which-fugiunt Pudor, Verumque, Fidesque. In quorum subeunt locum Fraudes, Dolique, Insidiæque, &c. &c. You would act, and be Iago with success. Mr. Garrick has that in him, which must ever prevent his acting well in that character. You have that in you, which would make it easy and natural. Shylock too our Roscius must never attempt. The Christian priest of Brentford has no vain scruples to prevent his undertaking and being applauded in that part. He might then talk of dying his black coat red with blood in an innocent way on the stage, which at Brentford inspired a savage horror. "The pleasing hours, which Mr. Garrick gave me at the King's Bench, I have deducted from the injury of a long and cruel imprisonment, and I think of him as Cicero did of the great Roman Actor, cum artifex ejusmodi sit, ut solus dignus videatur esse, qui in scena spectetur : tum vir ejusmodi est, ut solus dignus videatur, qui eo non accedat. 'In allusion to a specimen of the intended genuine edition of the Letters. ཀྭ aspersions thrown upon my letter to the Bill of Rights' should be refuted by publication. Prevail upon Mr. Wilkes to let you have extracts of my second and third letters to him. It will make the book still more new. I would see them before they are printed, but keep this last to yourself'. N° 42. Nov. 11, 1771. think PRINT the following as soon as you proper, and at the head of your paper 3. I sent you three sheets of copy last night. When you send to me, instead of the usual. signal, say, Vindex shall be considered, and keep the alteration a secret to every body. In the correspondence which took place between Mr. Wilkes and JUNIUS, two of his letters related to the Bill of Rights Society, and were written in disapprobation of several of their measures. These letters were, in many respects, misrepresented to the public, and in his own opinion, purposely so by Mr. Horne. The explanatory extracts here referred to, were re-published at the close of the second volume of the genuine edition, and will be found in Vol. II. p. 444. The letters are given at length in the private correspondence between JUNIUS and Mr. Wilkes, post, pages 275 and 304. 2 On the outside of this letter was written" private and particular." 3 Certain paragraphs relating to the marriage of the late duke of Cumberland, inserted in the Preliminary Essay, p. 36. N° 43. About Nov. 15, 1771. IF you can find the date of the duke of Bedford's flogging, insert it in the note. I think it was soon after the Westminster election. The Philos are not to be placed as notes, except where I mention it particularly. I have no doubt of what you say about David Garrickso drop the note. The truth is, that in order to curry favour, he made himself a greater rascal than he was. Depend upon what I tell you ;the King understood that he had found out the secret by his own cunning and activity.-As it is important to deter him from meddling, I desire you will tell him that I am aware of his practices, and will certainly be revenged, if he does not desist. An appeal to the public from JUNIUS would destroy him. Let me know whether Mr. Wilkes will give you the extracts". I cannot proceed without answers to those seven queries. Think no more of Junius Americanus 3.-Let him reprint his letters himself. He acts most • See note to Letter XXII. of JUNIUS, post, p. 578. 2 Referred to in the last paragraph of No. 41. 3 Junius Americanus was a frequent writer in the Publie Advertiser during the years 1769, 1770, and 1771. His let ters dishonourably, in suffering JUNIUS to be so traduced; but this falsehood will all revert upon Horne. In the mean time, I laugh at him. With submission I think it is not your inte rest to declare that I have done. As to yourself, I really think you are in no danger. You are not the object, and punishing you (unless it answered the purpose of stopping the press) would be no gratification to the King. If undesignedly I should send you any thing you may think dangerous, judge for yourself, or take any opinion you think proper. You cannot offend or afflict me but by hazarding your own safety. They talk of farther informations, but they will always hold that language in terro rem. Don't always use the same signal-any absurd Latin verse will answer the purpose'. Let me know about what time you may want more copy. ters chiefly related, as his signature readily suggests, to the disputes of the cabinet with the American colonies; and, in the course of his strictures, he attributed to JUNIUS doctrines, in relation to their dependance on the legislature of Great Britain, which he had never avowed, nor even inclined to. At this time there was some idea of publishing them collectively. They were written by a Dr. Charles Lee, as may be seen by a reference to the private correspondence between JUNIUS and Mr. Wilkes, post, p. 300. 1 See Preliminary Essay, page 41. |