they will not liften to thofe fubtleties, by which every arbitrary exertion of authority is explained into the law and privilege of parliament. It requires no perfuafion of argument, but fimply the evidence of the fenfes, to convince them, that to transfer the right of election from the collective to the repre. fentative body of the people, contradicts all thofe ideas of a houfe of commons, which they have received from their forefathers, and which they had already, though vainly perhaps, delivered to their children. The principles, on which this violent measure has been defended, have added fcorn to injury, and forced us to feel, that we are not only oppreffed but infulted.

WITH What force, my Lord, with what protection, are you prepared to meet the united deteftation of the people of England? The city of London has given a generous example to the kingdom, in what manner a king of this country ought to be addreffed; and I fancy, my Lord, it is not yet in your courage to ftand between your Sovereign and the addreffes of his fubjects. The inju-you have done this country are fuch as demand not only redrefs, but vengeance.

ries

In

In vain shall you look for protection to that venal vote, which you have already paid for

another muft be purchafed ; and to fave a minister, the house of commons must declare themselves not only independent of their conftituents, but the determined enemies of the conftitution. Confider, my Lord, whether this be an extremity to which their fears will permit them to advance; or, if their protection fhould fail you, how far you are authorised to rely upon the fincerity of those fmiles, which a pious court lavishes without reluctance upon a libertine by profeffion. It is not indeed the leaft of the thoufand contradictions which attend you, that a man, marked to the world by the groffeft violation of all ceremony and decorum, fhould be the first fervant of a court, in which prayers are morality, and knceling is religion. Truft not too far to appearances, by which your predeceffors have been deceived, though they have not been injured. Even the best of princes may at laft difcover, that this is a contention, in which every thing may be loit, but nothing can be gained; and as you became minifter by accident, were adopted without choice, trufted without confidence,

and

and continued without favour, be affured that, whenever an occafion preffes, you will be difcarded without even the forms of regret. You will then have reafon to be thankful, if you are permitted to retire to that feat of learning, which, in contemplation of the fyftem of your life, the comparative purity of your manners with those of their high steward, and a thoufand other recommending circumftances, has chofen you to encourage the growing virtue of their youth, and to prefide over their education. Whenever the spirit of diftributing prebends and bishopricks fhall have departed from you, you will find that learned feminary perfectly recovered from the delirium of an inftallation, and, what in truth it ought to be, once more a peaceful fcene of lumber and thoughtless meditation. The venerable tutors of the univerfity will no longer diftress your modefty, by propofing you for a pattern to their pupils. The learned dulnefs of declamation will be filent; and even the venal mufe, though happiest in fiction, will forget your virtues. Yet, for the benefit of the fucceeding age, I could wish that your retreat might be deferred, until your morals fhall happily

be

be ripened to that maturity of corruption, at which the worst examples ceafe to be contagious.

JUNIUS.

LETTER XVI.

OF THE PUBLIC

TO THE PRINTER

ADVERTISER.

SIR,

19. July, 1769.

A GREAT deal of useless

argument might have been faved, in the political conteft, which has arisen from the expulfion of Mr. Wilkes, and the fubfequent appointment of Mr. Luttrell, if the question had been once stated with precifion, to the fatisfaction of each party, and clearly understood by them both. But in this, as in almost every other difpute, it ufually happens that much time is loft in referring to a multitude of cafes and precedents, which prove nothing to the purpose, or in maintaining propofitions, which are either not disputed, or, whether they be admitted or denied, are entirely indifferent as to the matter in debate ;

bate; until at last the mind, perplexed and confounded with the endlefs fubtleties of controverfy, lofes fight of the main question, and never arrives at truth. Both parties in the difpute are apt enough to practise these difhoneft artifices. The man, who is confcious of the weakness of his caufe, is interested in concealing it: and, on the other fide, it is not uncommon to fee a good cause mangled by advocates, who do not know the real ftrength of it.

;

I SHOULD be glad to know, for instance, to what purpose, in the prefent cafe, fo many preceden's have been produced to prove, that the house of commons have a right to expel one of their own members; that it belongs to them to judge of the validity of elections or that the law of parliament is part of the law of the land *? After all thefe propofitions are admitted, Mr. Luttrell's right to his feat will continue to be just as difputable as it was before. Not one of them is at prefent in agitation. Let it be admitted that the house of commons were authorised to ex

*The reader will obferve that thefe admiffions are made, not as of truths unquestionable, but for the fake of argument, and in order to bring the real queftion to iffue.

pel