fancied he faw the throne already furrounded by men of virtue and abilities, would have outweighed the memory of all your former fervices. But his Majefty is full of juftice, and understands the doctrine of compenfations. He remembers with gratitude how foon you had accommodated your morals to the neceffity of his fervice;

how chearfully you had abandoned the engagements of private friendship, and renounced the moft folemn professions to the public. The facrifice of lord Chatham was not loft upon him. Even the cowardice and perfidy of deferting him may have done you no differvice in his esteem. The inftance was painful, but the principle might please.

You did not neglect the magistrate, while you flattered the man. The expulfion of Mr. Wilkes pre-determined in the cabinet ;-the power of depriving the subject of his birthright, attributed to a refolution of one branch of the legiflature; -the conftitution impudently invaded by the House of Commons ;-the right of defending it treacherously renounced by the House of Lords: -Thefe are the ftrokes, my Lord, which, in the prefent reign, recommend to office, and conftitute a minifter. They would have determined your Sovereign's judgment, if they had made no impreffion upon his heart. We need not lock

for

for any other fpecies of merit to account for his taking the earlieft opportunity to recall you to his councils. Yet you have other merit in abundance. Mr. Hine,-the Duke of Portland, and Mr. Yorke.Breach of truft, robbery, and murder.

You would think it a compliment to

your gallantry, if I added rape to the catalogue ; -but the ftile of your amours fecures you from refiftance. I know how well these feveral charges have been defended. In the firft inftance, the breach of truft is fuppofed to have been its own reward. Mr. Bradshaw affirms upon his honour, (and so may the gift of finiling never depart from him!) that you referved no part of Mr. Hine's purchase-money for your own ufe, but that every fhilling of it was fcrupulously paid to governor Burgoyne. Make hafte, my Lord; - another patent, applied in time, may keep the OAKS* in the family. If not, Birnham. Wood, I fear, muft come to the Macaroni.

The Duke of Portland was your earliest friend. In defence of his property he had nothing to plead, but equity against Sir James Lowther, and prefcription against the crown. You felt for your friend; but the law must take

H: 2

its

A fuperb villa of Col. Burgoyne, about this time advertifed for fale..

its courfe. Pofterity will scarce believe that Lord Bute's fon-in-law had barely intereft enough at the treasury to get his grant compleated before the general election*.

Enough has been faid of that deteftable tranfaction, which ended in the death of Mr. Yorke,

I cannot speak of it without horror and compaffion. To excufe yourself, you publicly impeach your accomplice, and to his mind perhaps the accufation may be flattery. But in murder you are both principals. It was once a queftion of emulation, and if the event had not difappointed the immediate schemes of the closet, it might ftill have been a hopeful fubject of jeft and merriment between you.

This letter, my Lord, is only a preface to my future correfpondence. The remainder of the fummer fhall be dedicated to your amufement. I mean now and then to relieve the severity of your morning ftudies, and to prepare you for the bufinefs of the day. Without pretending to more than Mr. Bradshaw's fincerity, you may rely upon my attachment, as long as you are in office.

Will

It will appear by a fubfequent letter, that the Duke's precipitation, proved fatal to the grant. It looks like the hurry and confufion of a young highwayman, who takes a few fhillings, but leaves the purse and watch behind him.-.And yet the Duke was an old offender

Will your Grace forgive me, if I venture to exprefs my anxiety for a man, whom I know you do not love? My Lord Weymouth has cowardice to plead, and a desertion of a later date than your own. You know the privy feal was intended for him; and if you confider the dignity

of the poft he deferted, you will hardly think it decent to quarter him on Mr. Rigby. Yet he must have bread, my Lord;-or rather he must have wine. If you deny him the cup, there will be no keeping him within the pale of the miniftry.

JUNIUS.

LE T

LETTER V.

ΤΟ HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF GRAFTON.

MY LORD,

T

July 9, 1771.

he influence of your Grace's fortune still feems to prefide over the treafury.-The genius of Mr. Bradshaw infpires Mr. Robinfon*.

you

How remark

able it is, (and I fpeak of it not as matter of reproach, but as fomething peculiar to your character) that you have never yet formed a friendship, which has not been fatal to the object of it, nor adapted a caufe, to which, one way or other, have not done mifchief. Your attachment is infamy while it lafts, and which ever way it turns, leaves ruin and difgrace behind it. The deluded girl, who yields to fuch a profligate, even while he is conftant, forfeits her reputation as well as her innocence, and finds herself abandon ed

By an intercepted letter from the secretary of the treafu. ry it appeared, that the friends of government were to be very active in fupporting the minifterial nomination of Sheriffs.