that cunning Scotchman, and verily believes him an honeft man. I fpeak to facts, with which all of us are converfant. I fpeak to men, and to their experience, and will not defcend to answer the little, fneering fophiftries of a collegian.Distinguished talents are not neceffarily connected with discretion. If there be any thing remarkable in the character of Mr. Horne, it is that extreme want of judgment fhould be united with his very moderate capacity. Yet I have not forgotten the acknowledgment I made him. He owes it to my bounty; and tho' his letter has lowered him in my opinion, I fcorn to retract the charitable donation.

I said it would be very difficult for Mr. Horne to write directly in defence of a ministeral meafure, and not be detected; and even that difficulty I confined to his particular fituation. He changes the terms of the propofition, and fuppofes me to affert, that it would be impoffible for any man to write for the news-papers and not be discovered.

He repeatedly affirms, or intimates at least, that he knows the author of these letters.With what colour of truth then can he pretend that I am no where to be encountered but in a newspaper?—I shall leave him to his fufpicions. It is not neceffary that I fhould confide in the honour

Cc 2

honour or discretion of a man, who already seems to hate me with as much rancour, as if I had formerly been his friend, But he afferts, that he has traced me through variety of fighatures. To make the difcovery of any importance to his purpose, he should have proved, either that the fictitious character of Junius has not been confiftently supported, or that the author has maintained different principles under different fignatures.I cannot recall to my memory the numberlefs trifles I have written; but I rely upon the concioufnefs of my own integrity, and defy him to fix any colourable charge of inconfiftency upon me.

I am not bound to affign the fecret motives of his apparent hatred of Mr. Wilkes; nor does it follow that I may not judge fairly of his conduct, though it were true that I had no conduct of my own.Mr. Horne enlarges, with rapture, upon the importance of his fervices ;--the dreadful battles which he might have been engaged in, and the dangers he has efcaped.In fupport of the formidable defcription, he quotes verfes without mercy. The gentleman deals in fiction, and naturally appeals to the evidence of the poets. -Taking him at his word, he cannot but admit the fuperiority of Mr Wilkes in this fine of fervice. On one fide we see nothing but

imaginary diftreffes. On the other we fee real profecutions; -real penalties;-real imprisonment;-life repeatedly hazarded; and, at one moment, almoft the certainty of death. Thanks are undoubtedly due to every man who does his duty in the engagement, but it is the wounded foldier who deferves the reward.

I did not mean to deny that Mr. Horne had been an active partizan. It would defeat my own purpofe not to allow him a degree of merit, which aggravates his guilt. The very charge of contributing his utmost efforts to fupport a minifterial measure, implies an acknowledgment of his former fervices. If he had not once been diftinguifhed by his apparent zeal in defence of the common caufe, he could not now be distinguished by deserting it.As for myself, it is no longer a queftion whether I shall mix with the throng, and take a single share in the danger. Whenever Junius appears, he muft encounter a hoft of enemies. But is there no honourable way to ferve the public, without engaging in perfonal quarrels with infignificant individuals, or fubmitting to the drudgery of canvaffing votes for an election? Is there no merit in dedicating my life to the information of my fellow-fubjects? What public queftion have I declined, what villain have 1 fpared? Is there no labour

in

in the compofition of these letters? Mr. Horne, I fear, is partial to me, and measures the facility of my writings, by the fluency of his

own.

He talks to us, in high terms; of the gallant feats he would have performed, if he had lived in the last century. The unhappy Charles could hardly have escaped him. But living Princes have a claim to his attachment and respect. Upon these terms, there is no danger in being a patriot. But, if he means any thing more than a pompous rhapsody, let us try how well his argument holds together. I prefume he is not yet fo much a Courtier as to affirm that the conftitution has not been grofly and daringly violated under the prefent reign. He will not say, that the laws have not been fhamefully broken or perverted; that the rights of the subject have not been invaded, or that redress has not been repeatedly folicited and refused. ——————Grievances like these were the foundation of the rebellion in the last century, and if I understand Mr. Horpe, they would, at that period, have juftified him to his own mind, in deliberately attacking the life of his Sovereign. I fhall not afk him to what political conftitution this doctrine can be reconciled. But, at least, it is incumbent upon him to fhew, that the prefent king

has

has better excufes than Charles the First, for the errors of his government. He ought to demon-, ftrate to us, that the constitution was better understood a hundred years ago than it is at prefent; that the legal rights of the subject, and the limits of the prerogative were more accurately defined, and more clearly comprehended. If propofitions like these cannot be fairly maintained, I do not fee how he can reconcile it to his confcience, not to act immediately with the fame freedom with which he speaks. I reverence the character of Charles the First as little as Mr. Horne; but I will not infult the memory of his misfortunes, by a comparison that would degrade him.

great state criminal

To-day he confines

It is worth obferving, by what gentle degrees the furious, perfecuting zeal of Mr Horne has foftened into moderation. Men and measures were yesterday his object. What pains did he once take to bring that Macquirk to execution? himself to meafures only.- -No penal example is to be left to the fucceffors of the Duke of Grafton.To-morrow, I prefume, both men and measures will be forgiven, The flaming Patriot, who fo lately fcorched us in the meridian, finks temperately to the Weft, and is hardly felt as he defcends.

1