As to my flattery, those who know me will judge of it. By the asperity of Junius's style, I cannot, indeed call him a flatterer, unless he be as a cynic or a mastiff: if he wags his tail, he will still growl, and long to bite. The public will now judge of the credit that ought, to be given to Junius's writings, from the falsities that he has insinuated with respect to myself.

I SHOULD justly be suspected of

acting upon motives of more than common enmity to Lord Granby, if I continued to give you fresh materials or occasion for writing in his defence. Individuals who hate, and the public who despise, have read your letters, Sir William, with infinitely more satisfaction than mine. Unfortunately for him, his reputation, like that unhappy country to which you refer me for his last military achievements, has suffered more by

his friends than his enemies. In mercy to him, let us drop the subject. For my own part, I willingly leave it to the public to determine, whether your vindication of your friend has been as able and judicious as it was certainly well intended: ard you, I think, may be satisfied with the warm acknowledgments he already owes you, for making him the principal figure in a piece, in which, but for your amicable assistance, he might have passed without particular notice or distinction.

In justice to your friends, let your future labours be confined to the care of your own reputation. Your declaration, that you are happy in seeing young noblemen come among us, is liable to two objections. With respect to Lord Percy, it means nothing; for he was already in the army. He was aid-de-camp to the King, and had the rank of colonel. A regiment, therefore, could not make him a more military man, though it made him richer; and probably at the expence of some brave, deserving, friendless officer. The other concerns yourself. After selling the companions of your victory in one instance, and after selling your profession in the other, by what authority do you presume to call yourself a soldier! The plain evidence of facts

7

is superior to all declarations. Before you were appointed to the 16th regiment, your complaints were a distress to government: from that moment you were silent. The evitable. You insinuate to us,

conclusion is inthat your ill state

of health obliged you to quit the service. The retirement necessary to repair a broken constitution, would have been as good a reason for not accepting, as for resigning, the command of a regiment. There is certainly an error of the press, or an affected obscurity in that paragraph, where you speak of your bargain with colonel Gisborne. Instead of attempting to answer what I do not really understand, permit me to explain to the public what I really know. In exchange for your regiment, you accepted of a colonel's half pay, (at least 2201. a year,) and an annuity of 2001. for your own and lady Draper's life jointly. And is this the losing bargain, which you would represent to us, as if you had given up an income of 8001. a year for 3801.? Was it decent, was it honourable, in a man who pretends to love the army, and calls himself a soldier, to make a traffic of the royal favour, and turn the highest honour of an active profession into a sordid provision for himself and his family? It were unworthy of me to press you farther. The contempt with which the whole army heard

of the manner of your retreat, assures me, that, as your conduct was not justified by precedent, it will never be thought an example for imitation.

The last and most important question remains.

your

half

When receive you do pay, you or do you not, take a solemn oath, or sign a declaration, upon your honour, to the following effect? That you do not actually hold any place of profit, evil or military, under his Majesty. The charge which the question plainly conveys against you, is of so shocking a complexion, that I sincerely wish you may be able to answer it well; not merely for the colour of your reputation, but for your own inward peace of mind.

LETTER VI.

*JUNIUS.

SIR,

TO JUNIUS.

February 27, 1769.

I HAVE a very short answer for Junius's important question. I do not either take an oath, or declare upon my honour, that I have no place of profit, civil or military, when I

:

receive the half pay as an Irish colonel. My most gracious Sovereign gives it me as a pension he was pleased to think I deserved it. The annuity of 2001. Irish, and the equivalent for the half pay, together, produce no more than 3801. per annum, clear of fees and perquisites of office. I receive 1671. from my government at Yarmouth. Total 5471. per annum. My conscience is much at ease in these particulars; my friends need not blush for me.

Junius makes much and frequent use of interrogations: they are arms that may be easily turned against himself. I could, by malicious interrogation, disturb the peace of the most virtuous man in the kingdom. I could take the decalogue, and say to one man, Did you never steal? To the next, Did you never commit murder? And to Junius himself, who is putting my life and conduct to the rack, Did you never "bear false witness against thy neighbour?" Junius must easily see, that, unless he affirms to the contrary, in his real name, some people, who may be as ignorant of him as I am, will be apt to suspect him of having deviated a little from the truth: therefore let Junius ask no more questions. You bite against a file: Cease, viper!

W. D.