think I already see other gods rising from the earth to behold it. But this language is too mild for the occasion. The king is determined that our abilities shall not be lost to society. The perpetration and description of new crimes will find employment for us both. My lord, if the persons who have been loudest in their professions of patriotism, had done their duty to the public with the saine zeal and perseverance that I did, I will not assert, that government would have recovered its dignity, but at least our gracious sovereign must have spared his subjects this last insult*; which, if there be any feeling left among us, they will resent more than even the real injuries they received from every measure of your grace's administration. In vain would he have looked round him for another character so consummate as yours. Lord Mansfield shrinks from his principles; his ideas of government perhaps go farther than your own, but his heart disgraces the theory of his understanding. Charles Fox is yet in blossom; and as for Mr. Wedderburne, there is something about him which even treachery cannot trust. For the present, therefore, the best of princes must have contented himself with Lord Sandwich. You would long since have received your final dismission and reward; and I, my lord, who do not esteem you the more for the high office you possess, would willingly have followed you to your retirement. There is surely something singularly benevolent in the character of our sovereign. From the moment he ascended the throne, there is no crime, of which human nature is capable, (and I call upon the recorder to witness it,) that has not appeared venial in his sight. With any other prince, the shameful desertion of him in the midst of that distress which you alone had created, in * The Duke was lately appointed Lord Privy Seal. the very crisis of danger, when he fancied he saw the throne already surrounded by men of virtue and abilities, would have outweighed the memory of your former services. But his majesty is full of justice, and understands the doctrine of compensations. He remembers with gratitude how soon you had accommodated your morals to the necessity of his service; how cheerfully you had abandoned the engagements of private friendship, and renounced the most solemn professions to the public. The sacrifice of Lord Chatham was not lost upon him. Even the cowardice and perfidy of deserting him may have done you no disservice in his esteem. The instance was painful, but the principle might please. You did not neglect the magistrate, while you flattered the man. The expulsion of Mr. Wilkes, predetermined in the cabinet; the power of depriving the subject of his birthright, attributed to a resolution of one branch of the legislature; the constitution impudently invaded by the House of Commons; the right of defending it treacherously renounced by the House of Lords; these are the strokes, my lord, which in the present reign, recommend to office, and constitute a minister. They would have determined your sovereign's judgment, if they had made no impression upon his heart. We need not look for any other species of merit to account for his taking the earliest opportunity to recall you to his councils. Yet you have other merit in abundance. Mr. Hine, the Duke of Portland, and Mr. Yorke: Breach of trust, robbery, and murder. You would think it a compliment to your gallantry, if I added rape to the catalogue; but the style of your amours secures you from resistance. I know how well these several charges have been defended. In the first instance, the breach of trust is supposed to have been its own reward. Mr. Bradshaw affirms, upon his honour, (and so may the gift of smiling never depart from him!) that you reserved no part of Mr. Hine's purchase-money for your own use, but that every shilling of it was scrupulously paid to Governor Burgoyne. Make haste, my lord; another patent, applied in time, may keep the Oaks * in the family. If not, BirnhamWood, I fear, must come to the Macaroni. The Duke of Portland was in life your earliest friend. In defence of his property he had nothing to plead but equity against Sir James Lowther, and prescription against the crown. You felt for your friend; but the law must take its course. Posterity will scarce believe, that Lord Bute's son-in-law had barely interest enough at the treasury to get his grant completed before the general election †. Enough has been said of that detestable transaction which ended in the death of Mr. Yorke. I cannot speak of it without horror and compassion. To excuse yourself, you publicly impeach your accomplice; and to his mind, perhaps, the accusation may be flattery. But in murder you are both principals. It was once a question of emulation; and, if the event had not disappointed the immediate schemes of the closet, it might still have been a hopeful subject of jest and merriment between you. This letter, my lord, is only a preface to my future correspondence. The remainder of the summer shall be dedicated to your amusement. I mean now and * A superb villa of Colonel Burgoyne, about this time advertised for sale. It will appear by a subsequent letter, that the duke's precipitation proved fatal to the grant. It looks like the hurry and confusion of a young highwayman, who takes a few shillings, but leaves the purse and watch behind him. And yet the duke was an old offender! then to relieve the severity of your morning studies, and to prepare you for the business of the day. Without pretending to more than Mr. Bradshaw's sincerity, you may rely upon my attachment as long as you are in office. Will your grace forgive me, if I venture to express some anxiety for a man whom I know you do not love? My Lord Weymouth has cowardice to plead, and a desertion of a later date than your own. You know, the privy-seal was intended for him; and, if you consider the dignity of the post he deserted, you will hardly think it decent to quarter him on Mr. Rigby. Yet he must have bread, my lord; or rather he must have wine. If you deny him the cup, there will be no keeping him within the pale of the ministry. JUNIUS. LETTER L. ΤΟ HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF GRAFTON. MY LORD, July 9, 1771. grace's fortune The genius of THE influence of your still seems to preside over the treasury. Mr. Bradshaw inspires Mr. Robinson*. able it is, (and I speak of it not as matter of reproach, How remark * By an intercepted letter from the secretary to the treasury, it appeared, that the friends of government were to be very active in supporting the ministerial nomination of sheriffs. but as something peculiar to your character) that you have never yet formed a friendship which has not been fatal to the object of it; nor adopted a cause, to which, one way or other, you have not done mischief! Your attachment is infamy while it lasts; and, whichever way it turns, leaves ruin and disgrace behind it. The deluded girl, who yields to such a profligate, even while he is constant, forfeits her reputation as well as her innocence, and finds herself abandoned at last to misery and shame. Thus it happened with the best of princes. Poor Dingley too! I protest I hardly know which of them we ought most to lament; the unhappy man, who sinks under the sense of his dishonour, or him who survives it. Characters, so finished, are placed beyond the reach of panegyric. Death has fixed his seal upon Dingley; and you, my lord, have set your mark upon the other. The only letter I ever addressed to the king was so unkindly received, that I believe I shall never presume to trouble his majesty in that way again. But my zeal for his service is superior to neglect; and, like Mr. Wilkes's patriotism, thrives by persecution. Yet his majesty is much addicted to useful reading; and, if I am not ill informed, has honoured the Public Advertiser with particular attention. I have endeavoured therefore, and not without success, (as perhaps you may remember,) to furnish it with such interesting and edifying intelligence, as probably would not reach him through any other channel. The services you have done the nation,-your integrity in office, and signal fidelity to your approved good master, have been faithfully recorded. Nor have his own virtues been entirely neglected. These letters, my lord, are read in other countries and in other languages; and I think I may affirm without vanity, that the gracious character of the |