The unfortunate fuccefs of the reverend Mr. Horne's endeavours, in fupport of the minifterial nomination of fheriffs, will I fear obftruct his preferment. Permit me to recommend him to your Grace's protection. You will find him copiously gifted with thofe qualities of the heart, which ufually direct you in the choice of your friendships. He too was Mr. Wilkes's friend, and as incapable as you are of the liberal refentment of a gentleman. No, my Lord,--it was the folitary vindictive malice of a monk, brooding over the infirmities of his friend, until he thought they quickened into public life; and feafting, with a rancorous rapture, upon the fordid catalogue of his diftreffes. Now, let him go back to his cloister. The church is a proper retreat for him. In his principles he is already a Bishop.

The mention of this man has moved me from my natural moderation. Let me return to your Grace. You are the pillow, upon which I am determined to reft all my resentments. What idea can the best of Sovereigns form to himself of his own government?-in what repute can he conceive that he ftands with his people, when he fees, beyond the poffibility of a doubt, that, whatever be the office, the fufpicion

of his favour is fatal to the candidate, and that when the party he wishes well to has the fairest profpect of fuccefs, if his royal inclination- fhould unfortunately be discovered, it drops like an acid, and turns the election. This event, among others, may perhaps contribute to open his Majesty's eyes to his real honour and interest. In spite of all your Grace's ingenuity, he may at last perceive the inconvenience of felecting, with fuch a curious felicity, every villain in the nation to fill the various departments of his government. Yet I should be forry to confine him in the choice either of his footmen or his friends.

JUNIUS.

LET

LETTER VI.

FROM THE REVEREND MR. HORNE TO Ju

NIUS.

SIR,

July 13, 1771.

FARCE, Comedy and Tragedy,Wilkes, Foote, and Junius, united at the fame time against one poor Parfon, are fearful odds. The two former are only labouring in their vocation, and may equally plead in excufe, that their aim is a livelihood. I admit the plea for the fecond; his is an honeft calling, and my clothes were lawful game; but I cannot fo readily approve Mr. Wilkes, or commend him for making Patriotism a trade, and a fraudulent trade. But what shall I fay to Junius, the grave, the folemn, the didactic, ridicule, indeed, has been ridiculously called the test of truth; but furely, to confefs that you lose your natural moderation when mention is made of the man, does not promise much truth or juftice when you speak of him yourself.

You charge me with " a new zeal in Support "of Adminiftration," and with " endeavours in

"Support

Support of the minifterial nomination of Sheriffs," The reputation which your talents have deservedly gained to the fignature of Junius, draws from me a reply, which I difdained to give to the anonymous lies of Mr. Wilkes. You make frequent use of the word Gentleman; I only call myself a man, and defire no other diftinction: if you are either, you are bound to make good your charges, or to confefs that you have done me a hafty injuftice. upon no authority.

I put the matter fairly to iffue.I fay, that fo far from any "new zeal in fupport of Adminiftra“tion,” I am poffeffed with the utmost abhorrence of their measures; and that I have ever fhewn myself, and am ftill ready, in any rational manner, to lay down all I have-my life, in oppofition to those measures. I fay, that I have not, and never have had any communication or connexion of any kind, directly or indirectly, with any courtier or minifterial man, or any of their adherents: that I never have received, or folicited, or expected, or defired, or do now hope for, any reward of any fort, from any party or set of men in administration or oppofition: I fay, that I never ufed any " endeavours in fupport of the minift erial nomination of Sheriffs." That I did not folicit any one liveryman for his vote for any one of the

can

candidates; nor employ any other perfon to folicit: and that I did not write one fingle line or word in favour of Meffrs. Plumbe and Kirkman, whom I understand to have been supported by the miniftry.

You are bound to refute what I here advance, or to lose your credit for veracity: you must produce facts; furmife and general abuse, in however elegant language, ought not to pafs for proofs. You, have every advantage, and I have every difadvantage: you are unknown, I give my name: all parties, both in and out of administration, have their reasons (which I fhall relate hereafter) for uniting in their wifhes against me: and the popular prejudice is as ftrongly in your favour, as it is violent against the Parfon.

Singular as my prefent fituation is, it is neither painful, nor was it unforeseen. He is not fit for public business who does not even at his entrance prepare his mind for fuch an event. Health, fortune, tranquility, and private connexions I have facrificed upon the altar of the Public; and the only return I receive, because I will not concur to dupe and mislead a fenfelefs multitude, is barely, that they have not yet torn me in pieces. That this has been the only return, is my pride; and a fource of more real fatisfaction that honours or

prof