bis Majefty. The charge which this question plainly. conveys against you, is of fo fhocking a complexion, that I fincerely wish you may be able to answer it well, not merely for the colour of your reputation, but for your own inward peace of mind.

JUNIUS.

P. S. I had determined to leave the Commander in Chief in the quiet enjoyment of his friend and his bottle; but Titus deferves an answer, and shall have a compleat one.

LETT ER VI.

A LETTER OF SIR WILLIM DRAPER TO JU

NIUS.

SIR,

February 25, 1769.

I Have a very fhort anfwer for Junius's important

question: I do not either take an oath, or declare upon honour, that I have no place of profit, civil or military, when I receive the half pay as an Irish colonel. My moft gracious Sovereign gives it me as a penfion; he was pleafed to think I deferved it. The annuity of 200 l. Irish, and the equivalent for the half-pay together, produces no more than 3801. per annum, clear of fees and perquifites of office. I receive 1671. from my government of Yarmouth. Total 5471. per annum. My conscience is much at ease in these particulars; my friends need not blush for me.

Junius makes much and frequent use of interrogations: they are arms that may be easily turned against himself. I could, by malicious interrogation, difturb the peace of the most virtuous man

in the kingeom? I could take the decalogue, and fay to one man, Did you never fteal? To the next, Did you never commit murder? and to Junius himself, who is putting my life and conduct to the rack, Did you never bear false witness against thy neighbour? Junius muft eafily fee, that unless he affirms to the contrary in his real name, fome people who may be as ignorant of him as I am, will be apt to fufpect him of having deviated a little from the truth: therefore let Junius afk no more queftions. You bite against a file: cease viper.

WILLIAM DRAPER.

LET

LETTER VII.

TO SIR WILLIAM DRAPER, KNIGHT OF THE

BATH.

SIR,

March 3, 1769.

AN academical education has given you an’un

limited command over the most beautiful figures of speech. Masks, hatchets, racks, and vipers, dance through your letters in all the mazes of metaphorical confufion. Thefe are the gloomy companions of a difturbed imagination; the melancholy madness of poetry, without the inspiration. I will not contend with you in point of compofition. You are a fcholar, Sir William, and, if I am truly informed, you write Latin with almost as much purity as English. Suffer me then, for I am a plain unlettered man, to continue that ftile of interrogation, which fuits my capacity, and to which, confidering the readiness of your anfwers, you ought to have no objection. Even *Mr. Bingley promises to answer, if put to the

torture.

Do

* This man, teing committed by the court of King's Bench for a contempt, voluntarily made oath, that he would never answer interrogatories, unless he should be put to the

torture.

Do you then really think that, if I were to ask a moft virtuous man whether he ever committed theft, or murder, it would difturb his peace of mind? Such a question might perhaps difcompofe the gravity of his muscles, but I believe it would little affect the tranquillity of his confcience. Examine your own breast, Sir William, and you will discover, that reproaches and enquiries have no power to afflict either the man of unblemished integrity or the abandoned profligate. It is the middle compound character which alone is vulnerable the man, who, without firmness enough to avoid a dishonourable action, has feeling enough to be ashamed of it

I thank you for your hint of the decalogue, and fhall take an opportunity of applying it to fome of your most virtuous friends in both houfes of parliament.

You seem to have dropped the affair of your regiment; fo let it reft. When you are appointed to another, I dare fay you will not fell it either for a grofs fum, or for any annuity upon lives.

I am truly glad (for really, Sir William, I am not your enemy, nor did I begin this conteft with you) that you have been able to clear yourself of a crime, though at the expence of the highest indifcretion. You fay that your half-pay was given

you