1000 l. a year, to make him independent for the future; and should he, after all, instead of gratitude for thefe fervices, infolently forbid his benefactors to bestow their own money upon any other object but himself, and revile them for fetting any bounds to their supplies; Junius (who, any more than Lord Chatham, never contributed one farthing to thefe enormous expences) will tell them, that if they think of converting the fupplies of Mr. Wilkes's private extravagance to the fupport of public measures--they are as great fools as my grandmother; and that Mr. Wilkes ought to hold the ftrings of their purfes→→→→ as long as he continues to be a thorn in the King's fide! Upon these principles I never have acted, and I never will act. In my opinion, it is lefs difhonourable to be the creature of a court than the tool of a faction. I will not be either, I underftand the two great leaders of oppofition to be Lord Rockingham and Lord Chatham; under one of whose banners all the opposing members of both Houses, who defire to get places, enlift. I can place no confidence in either of them, or in any others, unless they will now engage, whilft they are OUT, to grant certain effential advantages for the fecurity of the public when they fhall fhall be IN adminiftration. These points they refufe to ftipulate, because they are fearful left they should prevent any future overtures from the court. To force them to thefe ftipulations has been the uniform endeavour of Mr. Sawbridge, Mr. Townfend, Mr. Oliver, &c. and THEREFORE, they are abused by Junius. I know no reason but my zeal and industry in the fame cause that should intitle me to the honour of being ranked by his abufe with perfons of their fortune and ftation. It is a duty I owe to the memory of the late Mr. Beckford to say that he had no other aim than this when he provided that sumptuous entertainment at the Manfion-House for the Members of both Houfes in oppofition. At that time he drew up the heads of an engagement, which he gave to me with a request that I would couch it in terms fo cautious and precife, as to leave no room for future quibble, and evasion, but to oblige them either to fulfil the intent of the obligation, or to fign their own infamy, and leave it on record; and this engagement he was determined to propofe to them at the Manfion-house, that either by their refufal they might forfeit the confidence of the public, or by the engagement lay a founda tion tion for confidence. When they were informed of the intention, Lord Rockingham and his friends flatly refused any Beckford as flatly fwore, to put engagement; and Mr. they fhould then 66 eat none of his broth ;" and he was determined off the entertainment: But Mr. Beckford to indulge them in the ridiculous parade of a popular procession through the city, and to give them the foolish pleasure of an imaginary confequence for the real benefit only of the cooks and purveyors. It was the fame motive, which dictated the thanks of the City to Lord Chatham, which were expreffed to be given for his declaration in favour of bort parliaments, in order thereby to fix Lord Chatham at least to that one conftitutional remedy, without which all others can afford no fecurity. The embarraffment no doubt was cruel. He had his choice either to offend the Rockingham party who declared formally against short parliaments, and with the affiftance of whofe numbers in both Houfes he muft expect again to be minifter, or to give up the confidence of the public, from whom finally all real confequence muft proceed, Lord Chatham chofe the latter, and I will venture to fay, that by his answer to thofe thanks he has given up the people without gaining the friendship or cordial affiftance of the Rockingham faction, whofe little politics are confined to the making of matches, and extending their family connexions, and who think they gain more by procuring one additional vote to their party in the House of Commons, than by adding their languid property and feeble character to the abilities of a Chatham, or the confidence of a Public. Whatever may be the event of the prefent wretched ftate of politics in this country, the principles of Junius will fuit no form of government. They are not to be tolerated under any conftitution. Perfonal enmity is a motive fit only for the devil. Whoever or whatever is Sovereign, demands the refpect and fupport of the people. The union is formed for their happinefs, which cannot be had without mutual refpect; and he counfels maliciously who would perfuade either to a wanton breach of it. When it is banished by either party, and when every method has been tried in vain to restore it, there is no remedy but a divorce: But even then he must have a hard and wicked heart indeed who punishes the greatest criminal merely for the fake of |