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table either forrowful or fober. None but an intimate friend, who muft frequently have feen him in thefe unhappy, difgraceful moments could have defcribed him fo well.

THE laft charge, of the neglect of the army, is indeed the most material of all. I am forry to tell you, Sir William, that, in this article, your firft fact is falfe, and as there is nothing more painful to me than to give a direct contradiction to a gentleman of your appearance, I could wifh that, in your future publications, you would pay a greater attention to the truth of your premises, before you fuffer your genius to hurry you to a conclufion. Lord Ligonier did not deliver the army (which you, in claffical language, are pleased to call a palladium) into Lord Granby's hands. It was taken from him much againft his inclination, fome two or three years before Lord Granby was commander in chief. As to the state of the army, I should be glad to know where you have received your intelligence. Was it in the rooms at Bath, or at your retreat at Clifton? The reports of reviewing generals comprehend only a few regiments in England, which, as they are immediately under the royal inspection, are per

haps in fome tolerable order. But do your know any thing of the troops in the WeftIndies, the Mediterranean, and North America, to say nothing of a whole army abfolutely ruined in Ireland? Inquire a little into facts,. Sir William, before you publish your next panegyric upon Lord Granby, and believe me you will find there is a fault at head-quarters, which even the acknowledged care and abilities of the adjutant-general cannot cor-rect.

PERMIT me now, Sir William, to address myself perfonally to you, by way of thanks, for the honour of your correfpondence. You are by no means undeferving of notice; and it may be of confequence even to Lord Granby to have it determined, whether or no the man, who has praised him fo lavifhly, be himself deferving of praise. When you returned to Europe, you zealously undertook the caufe of that gallant army, by whose bravery at Manilla your own fortune had been established. You complained, you threatened, you even appealed to the public in print. By what accident did it happen, that in the midst of all this buftle, and all these clamours for justice to your injured troops, the name

of

of the Manilla ranfom was fuddenly buried in a profound, and, fince that time, an uninterrupted filence? Did the miniftry fuggeft any motives to you, ftrong enough to tempt a man of honour to defert and betray the caufe of his fellow-foldiers? Was it that blufhing ribband, which is now the perpetual ornament of your perfon? Or was it that regiment, which you afterwards (a thing unprecedented among foldiers) fold to colonel Gifborne? Or was it that government, the full pay of which you are contented to hold, with the half-pay of an Irish colonel? And do you now, after a retreat not very like that of Scipio, prefume to intrude yourself, unthought-of, uncalled-for, upon the patience of the public? Are your flatteries of the commander in chief directed to another regiment, which you may again dispose of on the fame honourable terms? We know your prudence, Sir William, and I should be forry to stop your preferment.

JUNIUS.

LET

'SIR,

LETTER IV.

TO JUNIU S.

17. February 1769.

IRECEIV

RECEIVED Junius's favour last night; he is determined to keep his advantage by the help of his mafk; it is an excellent protection, it has saved many a man from an untimely end. But whenever he will be honest enough to lay it afide, avow himself, and produce the face which has fo long lurked behind it, the world will be able to judge of his motives for writing fuch infamous invectives. His real name will difcover his freedom and independency, or his servility to a faction. Difappointed ambition, refentment for defeated hopes, and defire of revenge, affume but too often the appearance of public fpirit; but be his designs wicked or charitable, Junius fhould learn that it is poffible to condemn measures, without a barbarous and criminal outrage against men. Junius delights to mangle carcafes VOL. I.

D

with

with a hatchet; his language and inftrument have a great connexion with Clare-market, and, to do him juftice, he handles his weapon most admirably. One would imagine he had been taught to throw it by the favages of America. It is therefore high time for me to step in once more to fhield my friend from this merciless weapon, although I may be wounded in the attempt. But I must first afk Junius, by what forced analogy and conftruction the moments of convivial mirth are made to fignify indecency, a violation of engagements, a drunken landlord, and a defire that every one in company fhould be drunk likewife? He must have culled all the flowers of St. Giles's and Billingfgate to have produced fuch a piece of oratory. Here the hatchet defcends with tenfold vengeance; but, alas! it hurts no one but its master! For Junius muft not think to put words into my mouth, that feem too foul even for his

own.

My friend's political engagements I know not, fo cannot pretend to explain them, or affert their confiftency. I know not whether Junius be confiderable enough to belong to any party; if he should be fo, can he affirm

that

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