In the two next articles I think we are agreed. You candidly admit, that he often makes fuch promises as it is a virtue in him to violate, and that no man is more affiduous to provide for his relations at the public expence. I did not urge the last as an abosolute vice in his difpofition, but to prove that a careless difinterefted Spirit is no part of his character; and as to the other, I defire it may be remembered, that I never defcended to the indecency of inquiring into his convivial hours. It is you, Sir William Draper, who have taken pains to reprefent your friend in the character of a drunken landlord, who deals out his promifes as liberally as liquor, and will fuffer no man to leave his table either forrowful or fober. None but an intimate friend, who most frequently have feel him in these unhappy, difgraceful moments, could have defcribed him fo well.

The laft charge, of the neglect of the army, is indeed the moft 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 wish that in your future publications, you would pay a greater attention to the truth of your premises, before you fuffer your genins to hurry you to a

con

conclufion. Lord Ligonier did not deliver the army (which you, in claffical language, are pleased to call a palladium) into Lord G-by's hands. It was taken from him, much against his inclinations, fome two or three years before Lord Gy 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 inspectinn, are perhaps in fome tolerable order. But do you

know any thing of the troops in the Weft-Indies, the Miditerranean, and North America, to fay nothing of a whole army abfolutely ruined in Ireland? Inquire a little into facts, Sir William, before you publish your next panegyric upon Lord G―y, and believe me you will find there is a fault at head-quarters, which even the acknowledged care and abilities of the adjutantgeneral cannot correct.

Permit me now, Sir William, to addrefs mvfelf 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 G-y to have it deter

mined,

mined, whether or no the man, who has praised him fo lavishly, be himfelf deferving of praife. When you returned to Europe, you zealously undertook the cause 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 bustle, and all these clamours for justice to your injured troops, the name of the Manilla reafom 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 cause of his fellow-foldiers? Was it that blushing 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 it was 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 c-r in ch- directed to another regiment, which you may again difpofe of on the fame

fame honourable terms? We know your prudence, Sir William, and I fhould be very forry to ftop your preferment.

JUNIUS.

LETTER IV.

I

Received Junius's favour last night; he is determined to keep his advantage by the help of his mask; it is an excellent protection, it has faved many a man from an untimely end. But whenever he will be honeft enough to lay it aside, 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 discover his freedom and independency, or his fervility 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 defigns wicked or charitable, Junius fhould learn that it is poffible to condemn measures, without a barbarous and criminal outrage against men. Junius

nius delights to mangle carcafes with a hatchet; his language and inftrument have a great connexion with Clare-market, and, to do him juftice, he handles his weapon moft admirably. One

would imagine he had been taught to throw it by the favages of America. It is therefore high time for me to ftep in once more to shield 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 muft have culled all the flowers of St. Giles's and Billingfgate to have produced fuch a piece of oratory. Here the hatchet decends with tenfold vengance; but alas! it hurts no one but its master! For Junius muft not think to put words into my mouth, that seem 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 fhould be fo, can he affirm that he has always adhered to one fet of men and measures? Is he fure that he has never fided with those whom he

was