neither does it escape his fagacity, that the lower they are degraded in the public efteem, the more fubmiffively they muft depend upon his favour for protection. This, I affirm upon the most solein conviction, and the moft certain know ledge, is a leading maxim in the policy of the clofet. It is unneceffary to purfue the argument any farther.

He

Mr. Horne is now a very loyal subject. laments the wretched ftate of politics in this country, and fees in a new light, the weakness and folly of the oppofition. Wheever, or whatever is Sovereign, demands the respect and support of the people*. It was not fo, when Nero fiddled while Rome was burning. Our gracious Sovereign has had wonderful fuccefs, in creating new attachments to his perfon and family. He owes it, I prefume, to the regular fyflem he has purfued in the mystery of converfion. He began with an experiment upon the Scotch, and concludes with converting Mr. Horne.-What a pity it is, that the Jews fhould be condemned by Providence to wait for a Meffiah of their own!

The priesthood are accufed of misinterpreting

the

* The very foliloque of Lord Suffolk, before he paffed the Rubicon.

the fcriptures. Mr. Horne has improved upon his profeffions. He alters the text, and creates a refutable doctrine of his own. Such artifices cannot long delude the underftanding of the people; and without meaning an indecent comparison, I may venture to foretel, that the Bible and Junius will be read, when the commentaries of the Jefuits are forgotten.

JUNIUS.

LE T

LETTER X.

FROM THE REVEREND MR. HORNE TO JU

NIUS.

I

SIR,

Auguft, 17, 1771.

Congratulate you, Sir, on the recovery of your wonted style, tho' it has coft you a fortnight. I compaffionate your labour in the compofition of your letters, and will communicate to you the fecret of my fluency. -Truth needs no ornament; and, in my opinion, what she borrows of the pencil is deformity.

You brought a pofitive charge against me of corruption. I denied the charge, and called for your proofs. You replied with abuse and re-afferted your charge. I called again for proofs. You reply again with abuse only, and drop your accufation. In your fortnight's letter there is not one word upon the fubject of my corruption.

I have no more to fay, but to return thanks to you for your condefcenfion, and to a grateful Public and honeft Miniftry for all their favours they have conferred upon me. The two latter, I am fure, will never refuse me any grace I shall folicit; and

fince you have been pleased to acknowledge that you told a deliberate lye in my favour out of bounty, and as a charitable donation, why may I not expect that you will hereafter (if you do not forget you ever mentioned my name with difrefpect) make the fame acknowledgment for what you have faid to my prejudice? - This fecond recantation will perhaps be more abhorrent from your difpofition; but fhould you decline it, you will only afford one more inftan ce how much easier it is to be generous than juft, and that men are fometimes bountiful who are not honeft.

At all events I am as well fatisfied with your panegyric as lord Chatham can be. Monument I fhall have none; but over my grave it will be faid, in your own words, "Horne's fituation did not correspond with his intentions.”*

JOHN HORNE

*The epitaph would not be ill-fuited to the chara&er ;At the best, it is but equivocal.

VOL. II.

P

LET

LETTER XI

TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF GRAFTON,

MY LORD,

T

Sept. 28, 1771.

HE people of England are not apprised of the full extent of their obligations to you. They have yet no adequate idea of the endless variety of your character. They have seen you distinguished and fuccessful in the continued violation of those moral and political duties, by which the little, as well as the great focieties of life, are collected and held together. Every colour, every character became you. With a rate of abilities, which Lord Weymouth very juftly looks down upon with contempt, you have done as much mischief to the conmunity as Cromwell would have done, if Cromwell had been a coward, and as much as Macchiavel, if Macchiavel had not known, that an appearance of morals and religion are ufeful in fociety. To a thinking man, the influence of the crown will, in no view, appear fo formidable, as when he obferves

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