now appeal to their understanding. If there be any tool of administration daring enough to deny thefe facts, or thameless enough to defend the conduct of the ministry, let him come forward. I care not under what title he appears. He fhall find me ready to maintain the truth of my narrative, and the juftice of my obfervations upon it, at the hazard of my utmost credit with the public.

UNDER the most arbitrary governments, the common administration of justice is fuffered to take its course. The subject, though robbed of his fhare in the legiflature, is ftill protected by the laws. The political freedom of the English conftitution was once the pride and honour of an Englishman. The civil equality of the laws preferved the property, and defended the fafety of the subject. Are thefe glorious privileges the birthright of the people, or are we only tenants at the will of the miniftry ?-But that I know there is a spirit of refiftance in the hearts of my countrymen, that they value life, not by its conveniences, but by the independance and dignity of their condition, I fhould, at this moment, appeal only to their discretion.

I should perfuade them to banish from their minds all memory of what we were; I should tell them this is not a time to remember that we were Englishmen; and give it as my last advice, to make fome early agreement with the minifter, that fince it has pleased him to rob us of thofe political rights, which once diftinguished the inhabitants of a country, where honour was happiness, he would leave us at least the humble, obedient fecurity of citizens, and graciously condescend to protect us in our fubmiffion.

JUNIUS.

LETTER XXXI.

TO THE PRINTER OF THE PUBLIC

SIR,

ADVERTISER.

November 14, 1769.

THE variety of remarks,

which have been made upon the last letter of Junius, and my own opinion of the Writer, who, whatever may be his faults, is certainly not a weak man, have induced me to examine, with fome attention, the subject of that letter. I could not perfuade myself that, while he had plenty of important ma

terials,

terials, he would have taken up a light or trifling occasion to attack the Ministry; much lefs could I conceive that it was his intention to ruin the officers concern'd in the refcue of general Ganfel, or to injure the general himself. Thefe are little objects, and can no way contribute to the great purposes he feems to have in view by addreffing himfelf to the publick.-Without confidering the ornamented ftile he has adopted, I determined to look farther into the matter, before I decided upon the merits of his letter. firft ftep I took was to enquire into the truth of the facts; for if thefe were either false or mifreprefented, the moft artful exertion of his understanding, in reasoning upon them, would only be a disgrace to him.-Now, Sir, I have found every circumftance stated by Junius to be literally true. General Ganfel

The

perfuaded the bailiffs to conduct him to the parade, and certainly folicited a Corporal and other Soldiers to affift him in making his efcape. Captain Dodd did certainly apply to Captain Garth for the affiftance of his guard, Captain Garth declined appearing himself, but ftood aloof, while the other took upon him to order qut the King's guard, and by

main

main force rescued the General.

It is alfo

frictly true, that the General was escorted by a file of mufqueteers to a place of security. -These are facts, Mr. Woodfall, which I promise you no gentleman in the guards will deny. If all or any of them are falfe, why are they not contradicted by the parties themfelves? However secure against military cenfure, they have yet a character to lofe, and furely, if they are innocent, it is not beneath them to pay fome attention to the opinion of the public.

The force of Junius's Obfervations upon thefe facts cannot be better marked, than by ftating and refuting the objections which have been made to them. One writer says, "Admitting the officers have offended, they "are punishable at common law, and will "you have a British fubject punished twice "for the fame offence ?"-I answer that they have committed two offences, both very enormous, and violated two laws. The rescue is one offence, the flagrant breach of difcipline another, and hitherto it does not appear that they have been punished, or even. cenfured for either. Another gentleman

lays

lays much stress upo the calamity of the case, and, instead of difproving facts, appeals at once to the compaffion of the public. This idea, as well as the infinuation that depriving the parties of their commiffions would be an injury to their creditors, can only refer to General Ganfel. The cther officers are in no diftrefs, therefore, have no claim to compaffion, nor does it appear, that their creditors, if they have any, are more likely to be fatisfied by their continuing in the guards. But this fort of plea will not hold in any fhape. Compaffion to an offender, who has grossly violated the laws, is in effect a cruelty to the peaceable fubject who has obferved them and, even admitting the force of any alleviating circumftances, it is nevertheless true, that, in this inftance, the royal compaffion has interpofed too foon. The legal and proper mercy of a King of England may remit the punishment, but ought not to stop the trial.

BESIDES these particular objections, there has been a cry raised against Junius for his malice and injuftice in attacking the miniftry upon an event, which they could neither

hinder

;