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tlemen were better foldiers, I am sure they would be better subjects. It is not that there is an internal vice or defect in the profeffion itself, as regulated in this country, but that it is the spirit of this particular corps to defpife their profeffion, and that, while they vainly affume the lead of the army, they make it matter of impertinent comparison and triumph over the braveft troops in the world (I mean our marching regiments) that they indeed ftand upon higher ground, and are privileged to neglect the laborious forms of military difcipline and duty. Without dwelling longer upon a moft invidious fubject, I fhall leave it to military men, who have feen a fervice more active than the parade, to determine whether or no I speak truth.

How far this dangerous fpirit has been encouraged by government, and to what pernicious purposes it may be applied hereafter, well deferves our most serious confideration. I know indeed, that when this affair happened, an affectation of alarm ran through the ministry. Something muft be done to fave appearances. The cafe was too flagrant to be paffed by abfolutely without notice. But how have they acted? Inftead of ordering the officers concerned, and who ftrictly speaking, are alone

alone guilty, to be put under arreft, and brought to trial, they would have it understood, that they did their duty compleatly, in confining a ferjeant and four private foldiers, until they should be demanded by the civil power; fo that while the officers; who ordered or permitted the thing to be done, escape without cenfure, the poor men who obeyed thofe orders, who in a military view are no way refponsible for what they did, and who for that reafon have been discharged by the civil magiftrates, are the only objects whom the miniftry have thought proper to expose to punishment. They did not venture to bring ever these men to a court martial, because they knew their evidence would be fatal to fome perfons, whom they were determined to protect. Otherwife, I doubt not, the lives of these unhappy, friendless foldiers would long fince have been facrificed without fcruple, to the fecurity of their guilty officers.

I have been accufed of endeavouring to enflame the paffions of the people.-Let me now appeal to their underftanding. If there be any tool of administration daring enough to deny these facts, or fhameless enough to defend the conduct of the miniftry, let him come forward. I care not un

der what title he appears. He fhall find me ready to maintain the truth of my narrative, and the justice of my obfervations upon it, at the hazard of my utmoft credit with the public.

4

Under the moft arbitrary governments, the common administration of justice is suffered to take its courfe. The fubject, though robbed of his share in the legislature, is ftill protected by the laws. The political freedom of the English constitution was once the pride and honour of an Englishman. The civil equality of the laws preferved the property, and defended the fafety of the fubject. Are thefe glorious privileges, the birthright of the people, or are we only tenants at the will of the miniftry ?But that I know there is a spirit of refiftance in the hearts of my countrymen, that they value life, not by its conveniences, but by the independance and dignity of their condition, I fhould, at this moment, appeal only to their difcretion. I should perfuade them to banish from their minds all memory of what we were; I should tell them this is not a time to remember that we were Englishmen; and give it as my laft advice, to make fome early agreement with the minifter, that fince it has pleafed him to rob us of thofe political rights,

which once diftinguished the inhabitants of a country, where honour was happiness, he would leave us at least the humble, obedient fecurity of citizens, and graciously condescend to protect us i our fubmiffion

JUNIUS.

LET.

LETTER XXXVI.

A LETTER OF MODESTUS TO JUNIUS.

SIR,

13 Nov. 1769

THREE

HREE weeks are elapfed fince you favoured the public with an effay on the arreft of a general officer. You wrested the circumstances with which it was attended, into a crime against administration. You told the story in your own way; you reafoned upon it in your own way also; you abused, you praised, you challenged, and you concluded. In all this it would be difficult to decide, whether the inveteracy of your malice, the abfurdity of your argument, the barbarity of your intention, or the dullness of your stile and composition, appeared most confpicuous.

But, Sir, waving .the reft, you challenged, and these are the precise terms of your defiance: I have been accufed of endeavouring to inflame the paffions of the people-let me now appeal to their understanding.If there be any tool of administration daring enough to deny these ⚫ facts, or shameless enough to defend the conduct of the miniftry, let him come forward.

care

⚫ not