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 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 conclusion is inevitable. You insinuate to us, that 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 Gisborue. 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. When you receive your half pay, do 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, civil 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.

JUNIUS.

LETTER VI.

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 aunuity 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!

WILLIAM DRAPER.

LETTER VII.

SIR,

TO SIR WILLIAM DRAPER,

Knight of the Bath.

March 3, 1769.

AN academical education has given you an unlimited command over the most beautiful figures of speech. Masks, hatchets, racks and vipers, dance through your letters in all the mazes of metaphorical confusion. These are the gloomy companions of a disturbed imagination; the melancholy madness of poetry, without the inspiration. I will not contend with you in point of composition; you are a scholar, Sir William; and, if I am truly informed, you write Latin with almost as much purity as English. Suffer me then (for I am a plain unlettered man) to continue that style of interrogation which suits my capa

city, and to which, considering the readiness of your answers, you ought to have no objection. Even Mr. Bingley promises to answer, if put to the torture.

Do you then really think, that, if I were to ask a most virtuous man, whether he ever committed theft, or murder, it would disturb his peace of mind?' Such a question might, perhaps, discompose the gravity of his muscles, but I believe it would little affect the tranquillity of his conscience. Examine your own breast, Sir William, and you will discover that reproaches and enquiries have no power to afflict either the man of unblemished integrity, or the abandoned profligate. It is the middle compound character which alone is vulnerable; the man who, without firmness enough to avoid a dishonourable action, has feeling enough to be ashamed of it.

I thank you for the hint of the decalogue, and shall take an opportunity of applying it to some of your most virtuous friends, in both houses of parliament.

You seem to have dropped the affair of your regiment; so let it rest. When you are appointed to another, I dare say you will not sell it either for a gross sum, or for an annuity upon lives.

* This man, being committed by the Court of King's Bench for a contempt, voluntarily made oath, that he would never answer interrogatories, unless he should be put to the torture.