LETTER LII. ADDRESSED TO THE LIVERY OF LONDON. GENTLEMEN, Sept. 30, 1771. IF you alone were concerned in the event of the present election of a chief magiftrate of the metropolis, it would be the highest prefumption in a stranger, to attempt to influence your choice, or even to offer you his opinion. But the fituation of public affairs has annexed an extraordinary importance to your refolutions. You cannot, in the choice of your magistrate, determine for yourselves only. You are going to determine upon a point, in which every member of the community is interested. I will not fcruple to say, that the very being of that law, of that right, of that constitution, fur which we have been fo long contending, is now at flake. They, who would enfnare your judgment, tell you, it is a common, ordinary cafe, and to be decided by ordinary precedent and practice. They artfully conclude, from moderate peaceable times, to times which are not moderate, and which ought not to be peaceable. While they folicit your favour, they in fift apon a rule of rotation, which excludes all idea of election. Let me be honoured with a few minutes of your attention.The queftion, to those who mean fairly to the liberty of the people, (which we all profefs to have in view) lies within a very narrow compafs.-Do you mean to desert that juft and honourable system of measures which you have hitherto purfued, in hopes of obtaining from parliament or from the crown, a full redrefs of paft grievances, and a fecurity for the future?-Do you think the cause defperate, and will you declare, that you think fo to the whole of England -If this be your meaning and opinion, you will act confiftently with it, in choofing Mr. Nafh.-I profefs to be unacquainted with his private character. But he has acted as a magiftrate,-as a public man. -As fuch I fpeak of him,-I fee his name in a protest against one of your remonstrances to the crown. He has done every thing in his power to destroy the freedom of popular elections in the city by publishing the poll upon a former occafion; and I know, in general, that he has diftinguifhed himfelf, by flighting and thwarting all thofe public measures, which you have engaged in with the greatest warmth, and hither to thought moft worthy of your approbation. From his past conduct, what conclufion will will you draw, but that he will at the fame part as Lord Mayor, which he has invariably acted as Alderman and Sheriff? He cannot alter his conduct, without confeffing that he never acted upon principle of any kind.-I fhould be forry to injure the character of a man, who perhaps may be honeft in his intention, by fuppofing it poffible, that he can ever concur with you in any political meafure, or opinion. If, on the other hand, you mean to perfe vere in thofe refolutions for the public good, which though not always fuccefsful, are always honourable, your choice will naturally incline to thofe men, who, (whatever they be in other respects,) are most likely to co-operate with you in the great purposes which you are determined not to relinquish :-The queftion is not, of what metal your inftruments are made, but whether they are adapted to the work you have in hand? The honours of the city, in these times, are improperly, because exclufively, called a reward. You mean not merely to pay, but to employ. Are Mr. Crosby and Mr. Sawbridge likely to execute the extraordinary, as well as the ordinary duties of Lord Mayor? Will they grant you common halls when it shall be neceffary ?-Will they go up with remonftrances to the King ?-Have they firmness enough to meet the fury of a venal I 3 house houfe of commons ?-Have they fortitude enough not to shrink at imprisonment?-Have they spirit enough to hazard their lives and fortunes in a conteft, if it should be necessary, with a prostituted legislature ?—If these ques tions can fairly be answered in the affirmative, your choice is made. Forgive this paffionate language.-I am unable to correct it.-The fubject comes home to us all. It is the language of my heart. JUNIUS. LETTER LIII. TO THE PRINTER OF THE PUBLIC ADVER TISER. SIR, 08. 5, 1771. No man laments, more fincerely than I do, the unhappy differences, which have arifen among the friends of the people, and divided them from each other. The caufe undoubtedly fuffers, as well by the diminution of that ftrength, which union carries with. it, as by the feperate lofs of perfonal reputation, which every man fuftains, when. his character and conduct are frequently held forth forth in odious or contemptible colours. Thefe differences are only advantageous to the common enemy of the country.-The hearty friends of the caufe are provoked and difgufted. -The lukewarm advocate avails himself of any pretence to relapse into that indolent indifference about every thing that ought to intereft an Englishman, so unjustly dignified with the title of moderation.- -The falfe, infidious partifan, who creates or foments the diforder, fees the fruit of his difhonef. industry ripen beyond his hopes, and rejoices in the promife of a banquet, only delicious to such an appetite as his own. It is time for thofe, who really mean the Caufe and the People, who have no view to private advantage, and who have virtue enough to prefer the general good of the community to the gratification of perfonal animofities, it is time for fuch men to interpofe. -Let us try whether thefe fatal diffentions may not yet be reconciled; or, if that be impracticable, let us guard at least against the worft effects of divifion, and endeavour to perfuade these furious puritans, if they will not confent to draw together, to be feparately useful to that cause, which they all pretend to be attached to.-Honour and honesty must not be renounced, although a thousand modes of right and wrong were to occupy the degrees |