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 I'-' >:..* **-. ' *
 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD
 
 Eryrravedby W.Evans, from an origin 
 
 HUGH BOYD E 
 
 fubKducd. Deambcr 4-1799, fy &dea&.Davies, Strand.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 HUGH BOTD, 
 
 T H 
 
 of tfje lettei-0 of 
 
 WITH 
 AN ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS, 
 
 , B Y 
 
 LAWRENCE DUNDAS CAMPBELL 
 
 VOLUME THE FIRST. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR T. CADELI,, JUNIOR, AND w . DAV1E 
 
 IN THE STRAND ; 
 BY R. NOBLE, IN' THE OLD-BA1LEV. 
 
 J800.
 

 
 V. I 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 n unaccountable miftake of the perfon 
 employed to correcl the proof Jheets of the ift 
 volume of theft works, Mr. Boyd's letters, 
 which appeared in the Pubiick Advertifer in 
 the year 1779, have been called Democraticus, 
 in the running title, though they bear the Jig- 
 nature of Democ rates : and as the Editor 
 had unluckily mijlaid the original papers, it 
 'was impojfible for him exactly to determine 
 which of thefe titles to give them. But from 
 
 fome circumftances in his recollection, he con- 
 ceived Democraticus to be the right one, and 
 has therefore given tJie letters in quejlion that 
 title, wherever- he had occajlon to mention them 
 in Mr. Boyd's Life. The Editor expecls very 
 
 Jhortly to procure another copy of the original 
 
 papers; and in the additional volume to thefe 
 works, which he intends publifhing in the courfe 
 of this year, he will inform the publick whether 
 Democraticus, or Democrates, be the real 
 
 Jignature. 
 
 A 2 
 
 *
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Jl Now prefent to the publick fome part of 
 the Mifcellaneous Works of HUGH BOYD, 
 THE AUTHOR OF JUNIUS, together with 
 a full and accurate account of his Life and 
 Writings. The firft volume contains the 
 greatefl part of the political papers which 
 he wrote between the years 1776 and 1781, 
 his genuine Abftracls of two celebrated 
 Speeches of the Great Earl of Chatham, 
 and alfo a fewPoems, which I publifh merely 
 to (hew the verfatility of his mind. The 
 fecond volume comprifes the Journal of his 
 Embaffy from the Government of Madras 
 to the King of Candy, in the ifland of Cey- 
 lon,
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 Ion, with fome Letters relative thereto, and 
 his Eflkys in the Indian Obferver. 
 
 His political papers are extremely inter- 
 efling, not only from their (hiking fimilitude 
 to the letters of Junius, but from their own 
 intrinfick merit. The memorable Speeches 
 of the Earl of Chatham, are here rendered 
 the more valuable, from the uncommon 
 precifion with which they are given, and the 
 mafterly and eloquent Preface by which 
 they #re illuftrated. The Journal of his 
 Embaffy to Candy, is a tra6l of no incon- 
 fiderable importance in the hiftory of Britifh 
 India, and will therefore be ufeful to every 
 perfon connected with that country : nor 
 will it be unentertaining to the publick at 
 large, as well from the character of its au- 
 thor, as from the neatnefs and vivacity of 
 its ftyle. In the Preface to the Journal, I 
 have endeavoured to fupply that informa- 
 tion refpecling the ifland of Ceylon, which 
 it was Mr. Boyd's intention to have written, 
 
 and
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 and which will, I hope, be found no lefs in- 
 finitive than it is neceflkry. The Letter an- 
 nexed to the Journal, gives a lively account 
 of his capture by the French fleet, and of 
 his fubfequent imprifonment in the iflands of 
 Mauritius and Bourbon. This letter exhibits 
 a fpecimen of Mr. Boyd's familiar ftyle, which 
 is eafy, unaffected, and perfpicuous. The 
 Effays in the Indian Obferver, though not to 
 be compared in point of literary excellence 
 with the highly-finifhed produ&ions of his 
 early and more ftudious years, are never- 
 thelefs worthy of being ranked among them, 
 both on account of their principles and fen- 
 timents, and of the elegant, if not nervous 
 language, in which thefe are clothed. 
 
 Such are the Mifcellaneous Writings of 
 Mr. Boyd, contained in thefe volumes, and 
 fuch are their refpe&ive claims to the notice 
 of the publick. In the courfe of the pre- 
 fent year, I propofe to publifh an additional 
 volume, confiding of the Letters figned Lucius 
 
 and
 
 Vili PREFACE. 
 
 and Brutus, which Mr. Woodfall acknow- 
 ledges to have been written by Junius, and 
 of feveral others of Mr. Boyd's, that ap- 
 peared at different times in the Publick 
 Advertifer. 
 
 The Portrait that accompanies thefe 
 Works, was engraved from an original pic- 
 ture, for which Mr. Boyd fat (a few years 
 previous to his death) to Mr.'R. HOME*: 
 and as it is a fpirited and faithful reprefenta- 
 tion of a countenance, which many Readers 
 may be curious to fee, I have thought it 
 neceffary to publifh it. 
 
 With regard to the narrative of Mr. 
 Boyd's Life, it will be found to differ in 
 many particulars from the fhort account 
 prefixed to a former edition of the Indian 
 Obferver. When I wrote that account, my 
 materials were both fcanty and imperfect : 
 but the circumftances that are now related, 
 
 * Mr. HOME is a brother of Mrs. HUNTER'S, relift 
 ot the celebrated JOHN HUNTER. 
 
 have
 
 PREFACE.' IX 
 
 have been communicated to me from the 
 moft unqueftionable authorities. 
 
 The delineation of his character, written 
 at a time when all its minuted features were 
 diftinclly prefent to my mind, I have not 
 altered in any eflential part, though I have 
 corrected fome blemimes of ftyle, which in 
 the firft draught had efcaped my notice. 
 
 Of the inveftigation concerning Junius, 
 I deem it requifite, mofl folemnly to aver, 
 that I have not adduced a fingle facl or cir- 
 cumftance, but what I can fubftantiate on 
 pofitive and creditable evidence ; and I am 
 perfuaded that I have not drawn a fingle 
 inference but what is ItricUy jufl. 
 
 In the courfe of this inquiry, I have been 
 not a little indebted to Mr. ALMON, whofe 
 information and experience enabled him to 
 furnim me with fome interefting particulars, 
 which I could not have obtained from any 
 other perfon, and which ftrongly corrobo- 
 rate the teftimony of Mrs. Bo YD. 
 
 The
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 The whole together conftitutes a mafs of 
 evidence, than which nothing more con- 
 vincing can reafonably be expected, or per- 
 haps ever attained in this queftion. The 
 only additional proof that there is any pro- 
 bability of procuring, is the manufcript of 
 Junius, which if Mr. H. S. Woodfall (hall 
 choofe to produce, I will fubmit fac-fimiles 
 of it, and of Mr. Boyd's hand-writing, to- 
 gether, to the publick. This I conceive to 
 be a fair and candid propofal to Mr. Wood- 
 fall, which if he does not meet, every man of 
 fenfe will know what conclufion ;lo form; 
 but which if he does meet, will inconteflibly 
 prove to thofe, who have not leifure to con- 
 fider fa6ts and circumflances, and who can- 
 Dot confequently be fatisfied with the deduc- 
 tions of reafoning, that the manufcript of 
 Junius was actually written by Mr. Boyd. 
 
 As to thofe who have raifed an ignorant 
 and vulgar clamour againft his abilities, I 
 do not expect, much lefs do I defire, to 
 
 convince
 
 PREFACE. XI 
 
 convince them of a fatb> on which they 
 feem fo ill qualified to decide. Neither is 
 there much chance, that the proofs I have 
 brought forward, will be powerful enough 
 to influence another clafs of readers, whofe 
 minds are already (hut againft conviQion, 
 and whom a falfe prejudice has predeter- 
 mined not to believe this facl;, unlefs it (hall 
 be eftablifhed by abfolute demonftration. 
 Yet when Time, which refolves all things, 
 (hall have worn down thefe ftubborn opi- 
 nions, I cannot doubt but all men of 
 judgment will admit, that Mr. Bo YD WAS 
 THE AUTHOR OF JUNIUS. 
 
 In the mean while, however, I truft every 
 unbiafTed mind will agree with me on this 
 point ; and if I (hall, thereby, be enabled to 
 tranfmit the memory of myFriend to pofte- 
 rity, along with thofe literary honours which 
 his genius has won, I (hall look back with 
 a grateful remembrance to the inftruclive 
 
 hours
 
 Xll , PREFACE. 
 
 hours which I paffed in his fociety, and with 
 the heart-felt fatisfaftion of having proved 
 my felf worthy of his friendfhip. 
 
 Paddington, 
 February, 1800.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 Page 
 LlFE of Mr. Boyd 
 
 Preface to the Letters of the Freeholder 7 
 
 Letters of the Freeholder . 31 
 
 Letters of Democraticus 101 
 
 Letters of the Whig 161 
 
 Preface to the Genuine Abjlratts of Lord Chat- 
 ham 1 s Speeches 247 
 
 Genuine Abjlratts 255 
 
 Mifcellaneous Poems. 313
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 In Vol. I. p. 167, line 3, hrjilfcet, nrtfciltett. 
 p. l7O t line 10, for commit, read comes. 
 p. 171, line 17, for irttertia, read inertia.
 
 THE LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 HUGH BOY D, 
 
 B Y 
 
 LAWRENCE DUNDAS CAMPBELL. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 THE LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 HUGH B Y D. 
 
 HUGH BOYD was the fecond Ton of 
 ALEXANDER MACAU LEY, Efq. of the 
 county of Antrim, in Ireland, who had long 
 been the intimate friend of DEAN SWIFT*. 
 
 Mr. 
 
 * SWIFT appointed Mr. MACAULY one of the exe- 
 cutors of his Will, in which he fpeaks of him in the fol- 
 lowing terms : 
 
 ** Item 1 I bequeath to Alexander Macauley, Efq. 
 " the gold box in which the freedom of the city of 
 * Dublin was prefented to me, as a teftimony of the 
 ' efteem and love'l have for him, on account of his 
 " great learning, fine natural parts, unaffecled piety and 
 " benevolence, and his truly honourable zeal in defence 
 " of the legal rights of the clergy, in oppofition to all 
 " their unprovoked oppreflbrs." * 
 
 Set SwifT's WILL, in the izthvsl. of his works. 
 a 2 This
 
 4 LIFE OF 
 
 Mr. Macauley was bred to the law, and 
 having very early diftinguifhed himfelf at 
 
 This eulogium appears, from all accounts, to have 
 been very juftly merited. Few men of his time, were 
 more univerfally efteemed in Ireland, than Mr. Macau- 
 ley. Nor was he unknown to people of the firft diftinc- 
 tion in England. He had been patronized by FREDE- 
 RICK, PRINCE OF WALES, to whom he was introduced 
 by the good LORD LYTTI.ETON. As a practical lawyer, 
 he is faid to have been fo confcientibus, that he always 
 refufed to be retained in an iniquitous caufe. It is alib 
 related of him, that when BALDWIN was Provoft of 
 Dublin College, one of the fellows, a man of rank and 
 great influence, was to be expelled from it, for fome 
 very glaring impropriety. The gentleman knowing 
 Mr. Macauley 's intereft with Baldwin, folicited the 
 former, in the moft earneft manner, to intercede in his 
 behalf; promifing, that if he prevailed on Baldwin to 
 mitigate the punifliment, he fhould get him (Mr. Ma- 
 cauley) appointed a feaior judge on the firft vacancy, 
 and his wite's uncle made a bilhop. But Mr. Macau- 
 ley rejefted his offers, and refufed to interfere, faying, 
 " he had too high an opinion of Baldwin, to fuppofe he 
 would ever punim unjuftly." 
 
 The pen-knife, with which the afTaffin Guifcard at- 
 tempted to murder the celebrated HARLEY Earl of OX- 
 FORD, was given by his Lordftiip to Swift, fome years 
 after that event took place. Swift gave it to Mr. Ma- 
 cauley, who, after Swift's death, ufed to keep it in 
 the gold box mentioned above : but on Mr. Macauley's 
 demife, neither the box nor knife could be found. 
 
 the
 
 HUGH BOYD. 5 
 
 the Irifh bar, he was firft appointed one of 
 the King's counfel, and afterwards judge of 
 the confiftory court of Dublin. At the 
 time of his death he had a feat in the Irifh 
 Houfe of Commons, and was, through his 
 whole life, much efteemed for his talents 
 and virtues. He married Mifs Boyd, the 
 daughter of Hugh Boyd, Efq. of Bally- 
 caftle, in the fame county ; a gentleman of 
 plentiful fortune and great refpe&ability. 
 By this lady, Mr. Macauley had two fons and 
 two daughters. HUGH, the youngefl of his 
 fons, and the fubjet of this narrative, was 
 born at Ballycaflle, in the county of Antrim, 
 the family feat of his maternal grandfather, 
 in the month of October 1746, where he 
 continued during his infancy. 
 
 The circumftances of his being named after 
 his grandfather, of his living under his care 
 until he was four years old, and of his mew- 
 ing, even at that age, ftrong indications of 
 talents, endeared him to the old gentle- 
 man, who beheld the dawn of his geni- 
 us with mingled emotions of pleafure and 
 pride, and who ufed frequently to fay, 
 " Hugh will become a great man !" 
 
 The
 
 6 . LIFE or 
 
 The pleafure which every man of fenfi- 
 bility and reflection receives from contem- 
 plating the gradual expanfion of the infant 
 mind, renders him prone to magnify the 
 force and merit of thofe fmart, and often 
 juft obfervations, which fprightly children 
 occafionally make. And the parent, or 
 friend, who is employed in the delightful tafk 
 of " teaching the young idea how to fhoot/ r 
 views whatever is commendable, or fafcina- 
 ting in the darling objec~l of his care, with 
 an eye fo full of pride and affection, as to 
 be blinded to every defect, and to fee every 
 beauty through a microfcope. Hence pa- 
 rents are led to cherifh the flattering hope 
 of future excellence in their children, in 
 which they are fo frequently deceived. 
 And hence we are apt to miflake thofe 
 (harp flafhes of vivacity which, fometimes, 
 fparkle in the morning of life, for that broad 
 effulgence which precedes the afcenfion of 
 genius. That no accurate judgment of the 
 underftanding can be formed from the live- 
 ly fallies of youth, experience fufficiently 
 proves. Innumerable inftances might be 
 adduced, in which boys, who difplayed the 
 
 moil
 
 HUGH BOYD. 7 
 
 moft vigorous as well as brilliant parts at 
 fchool, became weak and frivolous when 
 they mixt with the world ; and in fome 
 cafes, indeed, forgetting their early acquire- 
 ments, have paITed through life, noticed 
 only for their ignorance, imbecility, or dul- 
 nefs. Few men have (hewn any real indi- 
 cations of abilities before the age of fixteen, 
 when the mind begins to reflect on its own 
 operations, and to arrange the ideas it has 
 received. 
 
 There are, however, two anecdotes re- 
 lated of Mr. Boyd, while he was a boy, 
 which deferve to be mentioned, as they 
 feem to juftify the opinion his grandfather 
 entertained of him ; and as they mark the 
 firft growth of that fpirit, and thofe fenti- 
 ments which animated and diftinguimed 
 him through life. 
 
 Mr. Boyd had an infatiable third for in- 
 formation, from his earlieft infancy; and 
 as foon as he was taught to read, which 
 was at five years old, he became fond of 
 books, arid ufed to read all he could lay his 
 hands on. He was fca^ce fix years old, 
 when reading Vertot's Hiftory of the Revo- 
 lutions
 
 8 LIFE OF 
 
 lutions of Sweden, one evening in a retired 
 corner of the drawing-room, he fuddenly 
 exclaimed, " I (hall never forgive Gufla- 
 vus !" The vivacity with which he expref- 
 fed his difapprobation, attracted the notice, 
 and excited the laughter and admiration of 
 the company, one of whom afked him,, 
 how the Swede had offended him ? " He 
 has taken the crown," anfwered Hugh ; " I 
 hope, Sir," anfwered his friend, (who was 
 an old fo'dier) " you do not diflike kings?" 
 " Not always," replied the boy, " but I 
 thought Guftavus had conquered for the 
 people, inftead of which I now find it was for 
 
 Soon after this occurrence, another little 
 incident took place, which, however trivial 
 it may feem to the generality of my readers, 
 merits attention as being highly charac- 
 tcriftic of Mr. Boyd ; and as ferving to 
 fhew, that the playfulnefs and humour with 
 which, during his whole life, he ufed to 
 affuage anger and parry an attack, and 
 which muft be ftill frefh in the recollection 
 of all who knew him, was a natural felicity 
 of difpofition, rather than an acquired polite- 
 
 nefs.
 
 HUGH BOYD. Q 
 
 nefs. He had been one day playing mar- 
 bles, and eager at his fport, did not obferve 
 the approach of the dinner hour, and had 
 neglecled to warn his hands. On being 
 called into the parlour, he was going to 
 place himfelf at table, when his mother, 
 obferving his brown knuckles, ordered him 
 to retire, for he had dirty hands. " It is 
 only a little duft, madam, (faid Hugh) for 
 my father and I have always clean hands, 
 uncontaminated by bafe bribes." He was 
 of courfe permitted to fit down ; and ob- 
 tained, in the approving fmiles of his pa- 
 rents, an earned of the future meed of his 
 large honour, the applaufe of the wife and 
 virtuous. 
 
 He began to pun while he was yet in his 
 childhood ; and he often punned fo aptly, 
 that he both furprifed and amufed his 
 friends. This propenfity fluck to him 
 through life. 
 
 He has himfelf told me of his early pre- 
 dilection for literature and politicks. That 
 he had made but little progrefs at fehool, 
 when he felt the infpirations of fancy ; 
 which he did not indulge like the common 
 
 run
 
 16 LIFE OF 
 
 run of fprightly boys, by making Latirt 
 verfes to his matter, but by writing po- 
 litical letters, and fending them to his 
 father. , , 
 
 " Not to name," fays Dr. Johnfon, " the 
 fchool, or the mailers of men, illuftrious for 
 literature, is a kind of hiftorical fraud, by 
 which honeft fame is injurioufly diminifhed." 
 I am therefore happy at being now able to 
 trace Mr. Boyd through the procefs of his 
 education. After being inftru&ed in the firft 
 rudiments of knowledge by his father, whofe 
 ample acquirements and mild authority fo well 
 fitted him for the tafk ; he was fent to the well-- 
 known and refpeclable fchool of Mr. Ball, 
 in Dublin. At this fchool he firft became 
 acquainted with the celebrated Mr. Henry 
 Grattan, who, though two years older, pur- 
 fued his ftudies in the fame clafs, where their 
 early admiration of each other's talents, gave 
 birth to that friendship which ever afterwards 
 fubfifted between them. It is worthy of be- 
 ing remarked, as an honour to the excellent 
 tuition of Mr. Ball, that the prefent Lord 
 Chancellor of Ireland, the late Mr. Forbes, 
 together with many other gentlemen, emi- 
 nent
 
 HUGH BOYD. II 
 
 nent for their literary acquirements, were 
 ulfo educated under his aufpicious care. 
 
 At this fchool Mr. Boyd made great pro- 
 ficiency in his ftudies ; and his aftonifhing 
 memory, no lefs than his prompt difcern- 
 ment, and fine tafte, excited the admiration 
 of all who knew him. Yet the praifes which 
 were lavilhed upon him, did not infufe into 
 his difpofition any thing of that vanity or 
 petulance, which eftranges a boy from the 
 love of his fchool-feilows : his unafluming 
 manner, together with his gentle but manly 
 and ardent fpirit, made him alike the favour- 
 ite of his companions, and his mafter. 
 
 So early as the age of fourteen he was 
 placed at the Trinity College, Dublin, and 
 was entered a gentleman commoner of that 
 feminary at the November term in 1760. 
 About this time he became known to the 
 late Mr. Flood, who was then the greateft 
 ornament of the Irifli Houfe of Commons ; 
 and whofe eloquence fird produced in Mr. 
 Boyd's mind that defire of attending par- 
 liamentary debates which fo much diftin- 
 guifhed his future life. The attention with 
 which he ufed to liftcn to Mr. Flood's pri- 
 vate
 
 12 LIFE OF 
 
 vate converfation, and the accurate reports 
 which he ufed to make of his publick 
 fpeeches, induced that accomplished man to 
 cherifh thofe rifing talents, which, in their 
 maturity, he continued to befriend. 
 
 At college, he was as much remarked for 
 his facility of acquiring, as for his power of 
 retaining knowledge. Without feeming to 
 attend to any thing but the pleafures of fo- 
 ciety, he made very confiderable advances 
 in literature and fcience ; and in clafiical 
 learning he was equalled by few, and fur- 
 paired by none of his fellow- flu dents. He 
 poffefled, indeed, many peculiar advantages 
 in the courfe of his ftudies. His father, 
 who was himfelf a man of great information, 
 attended to the cultivation of his fon's mind 
 with the utmoft care, and fpared no expence 
 whatever in his education ; for he appointed 
 as his tutors, firft Mr. Marten, and then 
 Mr. Kearney, both men of literary emi- 
 nence at that time in Dublin, and of great 
 refpeftability in private life. Mr. Marten 
 ufed to characterize his pupil, by faying, 
 " that he united the meeknefs of the lamb, 
 with the fpirit of the lion." 
 
 In
 
 HUGH. BO YD. 13 
 
 In 1765, he took his degree of Mafter of 
 Arts ; and his grandfather, Boyd, whofe 
 affection for ' im grew with his years, with j d 
 him to enter into the Church : but th^ at h 
 of that virtuous and venerable man, which 
 happened the fame year, induced him to 
 turn his thoughts to a profeflion more con- 
 genial to the native vivacity of his mind. 
 He accordingly fixed on the army ; but his 
 father being defirous he fhould go into the 
 infantry, and he preferring the cavalry, 
 fome delay in confequence took place, and 
 before the matter was decided, Mr. Macauley 
 died in 1760, of an illnefs of only a few 
 days : and no WILL being found among his 
 papers, Mr. Boyd was left totally unprovid- 
 ed for, the whole of the family eftate being 
 fettled by right of inheritance on the eideft 
 fon. 
 
 As this fudden and unexpected lofs darned 
 his hopes of rifing in the army, he relin- 
 quifhed his defign of purfuing that line of 
 life ; and his attachment to literature and 
 politicks led him to choofe the law, as the 
 profeflion, with which, above all others, his 
 favourite fludies were the moil intimately 
 
 connected.
 
 14 LIFE OF 
 
 connected, and in which, therefore, he could 
 attend to them, without neglecting his duty. 
 With thefe views, he left his native coun- 
 try, a few months after the death of his 
 father, and came to London, in fearch of 
 fortune and fame. In hopes of procuring 
 the patronage of the late Marquis, then Earl 
 of Hertford, to whom his father had ren- 
 dered many important and acknowledged 
 fervices, he called at his Lordfhip's houfe, 
 fhortly after his arrival. But that noble 
 lord was pofleffed of fuch peculiar delicacy 
 of feeling a.r\dfentime?it, that he (hrunk from 
 an interview with the fon of his deceafed 
 friend ; who frequently waited on him with- 
 out once gaining admittance to his prefence. 
 The worthy earl's behaviour, however, ap- 
 peared no way furp riling to Mr. Boyd, 
 whofe early acquaintance with the world had 
 enabled him to form a competent judgment 
 of the motives and aclions of men. He was 
 little difcouraged, therefore, by this circum- 
 flance ; and the refpeclability of his family, 
 together with the elegance of his deport- 
 ment, as well as the infmuating politenefs 
 of his addrefs, foon procured him an intro- 
 duction
 
 HUGH BOYD. 1$ 
 
 du6tion into the gay circles of famionable 
 life ; nor was he long unnoticed in the lite^ 
 rary fphere. He became acquainted with 
 Goldfmith, Doftor Armftrong, and David 
 Garrick, who had then reached the fummit 
 of their fame, and with whom he ever af- 
 terwards continued in habits of intimacy. 
 About this time he alfo became acquainted 
 with the celebrated Mrs. Macauley, to whofe 
 hufband he was related. Charmed with his 
 wit and talents, me frequently invited him 
 to her houfe, and there he had conftant 
 opportunities of mixing in the converfation 
 of the mod diftinguimed geniufes of the age. 
 In famionable fociety he was firft noticed 
 by Lord Effingham, Lord Verney, and Sir 
 Francis Delaval, and afterwards by the old 
 Duke of Ancafter, and the Earl of Afh- 
 burnham. His great {kill at the game of 
 chefs, added to his other acquirements, 
 made the two larl-mentioned noblemen 
 court his company with the utmoft folici- 
 tude ; and through them he was ele&ed a 
 member of the well-known chefs-club to 
 which they belonged, and of which he foon 
 became the next bejft player to Count Bruhl, 
 
 the
 
 l6 LIFE OF 
 
 the Saxon Envoy. He was fo great a 
 favourite of the old Duke's, that he was 
 always afked to the fplendid and fump- 
 tuous dinners, which his Grace took fuch 
 delight in giving. At one of thefe en- 
 tertainments, he chanced to fit next to 
 Soame Jenyns, with whofe converfation 
 he was fo much gratified, that when the 
 reft of the company adjourned at an early 
 hour to the chefs-room, as it was the Duke's 
 cuftom, he whifpered tojenyns, that a bot- 
 tle of old port might tend as much to make 
 them better known to each other, as a game 
 at chefs : Jenyns readily took the hint, 
 and the evening was fpeht very much to 
 their mutual fatisfaftion. 
 
 Yet this mode of life did not feduce him. 
 from his books. He cultivated politicks 
 and polite literature with the utmoft affidu- 
 ity : and if he beftowed not an equal atten- 
 tion on the feverer ftudies of the law, it is 
 to be attributed partly to the livelinefs of 
 his fancy, and partly to the neceflity he was 
 under of providing for the day that was 
 paffing over him, rather than to any want 
 of application. 
 
 The
 
 HUGH BOYD. IJ 
 
 The inborn generofity of his mind, to- 
 gether with his exquifite fenfibility, prompt- 
 ed him to a6ls of benevolence, which his 
 fcanty and precarious income was ill fuited 
 to fupply ; and before he had been a year 
 in London, he was involved in pecuniary 
 entanglements, from which, alas ! he was 
 never at any period of his life to be entirely 
 releafed. The perplexed ftate of his mind, 
 however, foured not the fweetnefs of his 
 difpofition, nor clouded his wonted gaiety. 
 All his forrows were locked faft in his bread, 
 and no one could difcover, either by his 
 countenance, or his manners, that he labour- 
 ed under the fmallefl uneafinefs. 
 
 This happy fuavity of temper, joined to 
 his dignified urbanity and chaftened hu- 
 mour, rendered him an univerfal favourite 
 among the fair fex. Nor was he unmindful 
 of their admiration. He paid his addreffes 
 to Mifs Mo R PHY, a young lady altogether 
 worthy of his noble mind, and after an ac- 
 quaintance of one year and fome weeks, he 
 married her in December 1767. By this 
 marriage his circumftances were made fome- 
 what eafier, as Mifs Morphy poflefled a 
 
 VOL. i, b handfome
 
 IB LIFE OF 
 
 handfome competency, and as her good fenfe 
 and many amiable qualities often availed to 
 moderate, if not to reftrain thofe extrava- 
 gancies to which he was unfortunately fo 
 prone. 
 
 Through his marriage he became known 
 to the three Mr. Nefbets, who were Mrs. 
 Boyd's guardians, and to their nephew the 
 prefent Mr. John Nefbet, member for Gatton, 
 as well as to the late Mr. Robert Cooper Lee. 
 To the two laft-mentioned gentlemen, Mr. 
 Boyd was under the greateft obligations, 
 and the aftive friendfhip which they on all 
 occafions manifefted for him, defer ves the 
 higheft praife. 
 
 About this period he alfo fell into the 
 acquaintance of the late Mr. JOHNSTUART, 
 of Hampftead, a gentleman who poffeffed a 
 mind congenial to his own, whofe ardent 
 and difintereftcd friendfhip knew no bounds 
 but virtue and honour, and whofe affeclion 
 for him continued to glow with undiminifhed 
 warmth to the laft moment of his life *. 
 
 Perhaps 
 
 *The talents, no lefs than the virtues of Mr. STUART, 
 would have entitled him to my particular praife, if grati- 
 tude
 
 HUGH BOYD. 1 
 
 Perhaps there never was a friendfhip 
 more durable and fincere, than that which 
 
 fubfifted 
 
 tude for his friendly attentions towards me did not call 
 forth the warmeft tribute of my heart. 
 
 He was defcended from the refpeclable family of Sir 
 Simeon Stuart, who were a branch of the royal flem of 
 the Stuarts, and who came to England with JAMES the 
 Firft, and fettled in Northamptonmire, in which county 
 his father refided, and he was born. He was fent to 
 fchool at Northampton, and afterwards ftudied phyfic at 
 Edinburgh, where he took his degree as Do6lor of Medi- 
 cine, On his return to England, he was appointed one of 
 the phyficians to the army in Canada, under General 
 Wolfe, and was prefent at the battle of Quebec. He had 
 lived on terms of tricndfhip with that diftinguifhed general, 
 and his regard for him was fo ftrong, that he never talked 
 of his eminent abilities, and early, but glorious death, 
 without tears in his eyes. Upon the conclufion of the 
 war in 1 763, he fettled at Philadelphia in the line of his 
 profeflion, and entered into partnerfhip with Mr. Lauchlin 
 Macleane, who was afterwards fecretary to Lord Shel- 
 burne. In this bufinefs they were very fuccefsful, and 
 would have acquired an immenfe fortune, if an affair of 
 gallantry betweenMacleane and one oi theirfair patients, had 
 not obliged them to make a precipitate retreat acrofs the 
 Atlantic. On their arrival in England they kept houfe 
 together in London, and lived for fome time in a very 
 fplendid ftyle : but Macleane, who was not yet fatisfied, 
 gambled both in the Alley and in St. James's-ftreet, and 
 not only fpent his own fortune, but fo feverely injured 
 b i Mr.
 
 2O LIFE OF 
 
 fubfifled between thefe two accomplifhed 
 men. 
 
 In 
 
 Mr. Stuart's, as to render it neceflary for him to retrench 
 his expences, and totally alter his mode of life. About 
 this time he travelled into France for the recovery of his 
 health, and while at Paris, he became acquainted with 
 David" Home and Adam Smith, who then refided there, 
 and who introduced him to the celebrated Literary Society 
 of which Voltaire and D'Alembert were the moft diftin- 
 guimed members. On his return to England he fell into 
 the acquaintance of Mr. Laurence Sullivan, who fo often 
 filled the chair at the India Houfe ; and through his in- 
 tereft was much employed in Indian affairs. He now re- 
 linquifhed his original profeflion ; and having flill a hand- 
 fome fortune, he took a houfe at Hampftead, with about 
 fix acres of ground adjoining to it, which he formed into 
 a garden, and laid out with exquifite tafte. To this place 
 he was extremely attached, and here he chiefly refided 
 during the remainder of his life, enjoying the fociety of 
 friends relpeclable for their underftanding, learning, and 
 virtues, and living with a degree of complacency and 
 happinefs which human frailty very rarely attains. In 
 December 1798, he was feized with a fevere complaint in 
 his lungs, which, after a few weeks, proved fatal, and he 
 died in the beginning of January following, in the 65th 
 year of age. 
 
 He was a man ol a tall and graceful figure, dignified in 
 his deportment, and elegant in his mien ; of a countenance 
 open, animated, and cheerful, uncommonly engaging 
 when relaxed by gaiety, pleafant even when overcaft 
 
 by
 
 HUGH BO YD. 21 
 
 In the fummer of 1768, Mr. Boyd went 
 to Ireland for a few months, on fome pri- 
 vate 
 
 by care. Thofe who knew him fifty years ago, ufed to 
 fay he was the handfomeft man they had ever feen ; and 
 though age and ficknefs had enfeebled his conftitution, the 
 alteration which they had made. in his appearance was 
 wonderfully flight. 
 
 He poflefTed a vigorous and highly cultivated under- 
 ftanding, a quick and accurate difcernment, a found and 
 difcriminating judgment, a lively fancy, a tenacious me- 
 mory, and a re6ned tafle. His acquirements were very 
 extenfive and various. He was equally fkilled in the 
 phylical and moral fciences, in abftrufe learning, and in 
 the fine arts. In moft fubjefts he was deeply read, of 
 every one he had a general knowledge. Having mixt 
 much with the world, he had attained great proficiency in 
 the important ftudy of human life, andhLsobfervations on 
 men and manners, though fometimes fevere, were, for the 
 moft part, juft, ftriking, and forcible. His eonverfation 
 was at once pleafing and inftmctive, and he ufed to relate 
 anecdotes, of which he had an inexhauftible (lore, with a 
 peculiar felicity and eafe. His manners were polifhed, 
 affable, and inlinuating, and though his temper was fome- 
 what irritable, yet was his difpofhion mild and placable, 
 and his heart fufceptible of the utmoft tendernefs. He 
 uniformly praftifed the moft prompt and liberal charity, 
 regulated by an enlightened prudence, and a dignified 
 oeconomy. In his mode of life he was alike diftant from 
 extravagance and parfimony ; he was too confederate to fall 
 into the one, too gcnerou* not to defpife the other. It 
 
 vrsw
 
 22 LIFE OF 
 
 vate bufmefs. During his (lay in Dublin, 
 he was conftantly in the company of Mr. 
 Flood, who, on that, as on every other 
 occafion, (hewed him the greateft poffible 
 attention, and who thought fo highly of 
 his abilities, that he every where talked of 
 him as a prodigy of genius. 
 
 At this period political parties ran very 
 high in Ireland, and the newfpapers were 
 filled with controverfies, in which men of 
 the firfl talents in the kingdom were en- 
 gaged. One evening, while Mr. Flood fat 
 at his own table, after dinner, entertaining a 
 large company, of which Mr. Boyd was one, 
 he received an anonymous note, enclofing 
 a letter on the ftate of parties, figned SIN- 
 DERCOMBE. The note contained a requefl:, 
 that Mr. Flood would perufe the enclofed 
 letter, and that if it met his approbation, he 
 
 was his chief ambition to maintain independence, to be of 
 ufe to his friends, and to relieve indigent merit wherever 
 he met it. And at the clofe of his long and well-fpent 
 life, it appeared to me, that his virtuous ambition was 
 completely fatisfied. Carefled by his friends, admired by 
 his acquaintance, and beloved by his fervants and depend- 
 ents, his death was deeply regretted by all who knew him, 
 and his memory lives in their eilirnation. 
 
 would
 
 HUGH BOYD. Q% 
 
 would get it publifhed. Mr. Flood read it 
 to the company, who declared, with one 
 burft of applaufe, that it mould be fent im- 
 mediately to the printer. It confequently 
 appeared in a morning paper*, and pro- 
 duced 
 
 * Notwithftanding my moft diligent inquiries, I have 
 not been able to find the particular Paper in which this 
 letter appeared ; and I have confequently A fpoken of its 
 merits from the opinion of others. 
 
 Thofe who were not particularly converfant with our 
 hiftory during the commonwealth, were at a lofs to dif- 
 cover what the author alluded to, by adopting the figna- 
 ture of Sindenombe, and Boyd ufed to (hew great anxiety 
 to explain it to them, whenever the fubjeft was talked of. 
 Sindercombe was a perfon who had undertaken to murder 
 OLIVER CROMWELL, but who was prevented from exe- 
 cuting his purpofe by feveral unaccountable accidents. 
 At laft CROMWELL difcovered him, and he was tried, 
 convicled, and condemned ; but the voice of the people 
 was raifed fo high in his favour, that the Protestor deemed 
 it prudent to difpatch him privately, and he was found 
 dead in his bed on the morning which had been appointed 
 for his execution. CROMWELL artfully gave it out, that 
 Sindercombe had poifoned himfelf, left the people (hould 
 take the alarm ; but it appears evident, from the concur- 
 rent teftimony of the moft refpe&able writers of that time, 
 that CROMWELL had given Barkftead pofitive orders to 
 fmother him in bed. HUME treats this fubjecT: rather 
 more lightly than it deferves, and gives credit to the ftory 
 
 of
 
 24 LIFE OF 
 
 duced a very flrong fenfation on the public 
 mind, as well from the clear and forcible 
 
 reafoning 
 
 of the poifon. The famous Colonel TITUS, in his fpirited 
 little pamphlet, intitled Killing no Murder, beftows the fol- 
 lowing eulogium on Sindercombe. 
 
 ft The brave Sindercombe has (hewn as great a mind, as 
 any old Rome could boafl of; and had he lived there, his 
 name had been regiftered with Brutus and Catt t and he had 
 his ilatues as well as they. 
 
 "But I will not have fofinifter an opinion of ourfelves (as 
 little generpfity as flavery hath left us) as to think fo great 
 a virtue can want its monuments even among us. Certain- 
 ly in every virtuous mind, there are ftatues reared to i$Y- 
 dercombe. Whenever we read the elogies of thofe that have 
 died for their country ; when we admire thofe great exam- 
 ples of magnanimity, that have tired tyrants cruelties ; 
 when we extol their conftancy, whom neither bribe nor 
 terrors could make betray their friends, it is then we ereft 
 Sindercombe ftatues, and grave him monuments; where 
 all that can be faid of a great and noble mind, we juftly 
 make an epitaph for him : and though the tyrant caufcd 
 him to be fmothered, left the people fliould hinder an 
 open murder, yet he never will be able to fmother his 
 memory, or his own villany. His poifon was but a poor 
 and common device, to impofe only on thofe that under- 
 ilood not tyrants practices, and are unacquainted (if any 
 be) with his cruelties and falfehoods. He may, therefore, 
 if he pleafe, take away the (lake from Sindercombe s grave, 
 and if he have a mind it mould be known how he died, 
 let him fend thither the pillows and feather beds with 
 
 which
 
 HUGH BO YD. 25 
 
 rcafoning it contained, as from the uncom- 
 mon beauty and energy of its ftyle. Every 
 endeavour was made, without effecl:, to dif- 
 cover the author. That Flood fufpefted 
 Mr. Boyd is extremely probable; but I 
 know not that he ever hinted fuch a fufpi- 
 cion to any one. Mrs. Boyd always thought 
 that Sindercombe was her hufband's pro- 
 duclion, from feveral circumftances which 
 no one elfe poffeffed the means of obferving ; 
 and many years afterwards, (he was fatisfied 
 that her conjecture was founded in facl: 
 though Mr. Boyd himfelf, never, either 
 acknowledged or denied, that he was the 
 author. This doubtlefs was his firft attempt 
 at preferving that fecrecy in his political 
 writings, in which he was always fo fuccefs- 
 ful, as well as his firft eflay in that fpecies of 
 literary compofition, in which he afterwards 
 fo much excelled. 
 
 which Bark/lead and his hangman (mothered him. But 
 to conclude, let not this monfter think himfelf the more 
 fecure that he has fupprefled one great fpirit, he may be 
 confident that hngus poft ilium fequitur ordi idem pctentium 
 
 A few
 
 26 LIFE OF 
 
 A few days fubfequent to the publication 
 of Sindercombe, Mr. Boyd returned to 
 London; and in the autumn of 1768, he 
 took a houfe in Great Marlborough-ftreet, 
 in which he lived for fome years in a very 
 genteel ftyle, though he never had yet 
 been fet free from the pecuniary encum- 
 brances with which, fince the death of his 
 father, he had been conftantly harrafled. 
 About this time, however, he received fome 
 fmall addition to his income, by the death 
 of his coufm Adam Boyd. His grandfather 
 Boyd, had, in his will, bequeathed to him, 
 failing of his coufm, a freehold edate, in the 
 county of Antrim, on the condition, en- 
 joined in the- drifted manner, of changing 
 his name from Macauley to Boyd. In con- 
 formity, therefore, with the will of his grand- 
 father, he now adopted the name of Boyd, 
 and became poffefled of this edate, the grofs 
 rental of which amounted to 600 per ann.; 
 but the feveral annuities with which it was 
 burthened, together with the litigations to 
 which fome of them gave rife, reduced that 
 fum to a mere trifle, and the edate being 
 
 entailed
 
 HUGH BOYD. 27 
 
 entailed to the heirs male of his body, he 
 could neither fell any part of it, nor even 
 grant a (ingle fecurity upon it, in order to 
 liquidate thofe debts that were in the firfl 
 inftance contracted by the unfortunate 
 neceflities, and peculiar hardftiips of his early 
 youth. 
 
 Yet thefe were matters which gave him 
 hardly any concern. He was ever more 
 anxious about the affairs of his friends, than 
 his own : and he has frequently plunged 
 himfelf into difficulties, to fave the credit, 
 or to relieve the diftrefs of the man he 
 loved. A mind fo conftituted, was not to 
 be ruffled by ordinary adverfities ; and 
 blefled beyond mod men in the matrimonial 
 connection he had formed, he enjoyed the 
 utmoft ferenity amidft the ilorms of life, 
 and the greateft content and happinefs, not- 
 withftanding the vexations and embarrafT- 
 ments by which he was furrounded. 
 
 It was this tranquil and eafy temper, no 
 lefs than his fanguine conditution, that en- 
 abled him to call into aftion all the fpirit 
 and vigour of his mind, whenever he 
 thought proper to exert them, and at the 
 
 fame
 
 28 LIFE OF 
 
 fame time to beftow the moil watchful at- 
 tention and pertinacious diligence, on what- 
 ever bufinefs he was induced to undertake. 
 But his early attachment to politicks be- 
 came every day more flrong, and neither 
 the hope of emolument, nor the earned en- 
 treaties of his friends, could ihcite him to 
 purfue the law prcfeffionally, though he had 
 attained confiderable knowledge both of its 
 principles and praclice. He, therefore, de- 
 dicated his whole time to politicks and lite- 
 rature ; and towards the latter end of the 
 year 1768, he commenced a correfpondence 
 with the daily paper, entitled the Publick 
 Advertifer, at that time conducted by Mr. 
 HENRY SAMPSON WOODFALL, which he 
 kept up with the greatefl caution, and the 
 moft impenetrable fecrecy, for three years 
 and fome months. The nature and pur- 
 port of this correfpondence he never dif- 
 clofed to any one of his friends, not even 
 to Mrs. Boyd ; and he died in poffeflion of 
 his fecret. Mrs. Boyd, however, has long 
 been convinced, from a variety of flrong 
 concurring circumflances, that this fecret 
 was nothing lefs than his being the writer 
 
 of
 
 HUGH BOYD. 29 
 
 of thofe celebrated Letters wHich appeared 
 in the Publick Advertifer, under the figna- 
 tureof JUNIUS, during the years 1769, 1770, 
 1771, and in January 1772. 
 
 This being a matter, not only of great 
 importance to Mr'. Boyd as a writer, but 
 alfo, of no fmall curiofity in the Hiftory of 
 Englifh Literature, I have thought it in- 
 cumbent on me to fathom it with the utmoft 
 attention, to inveftigate every channel of 
 intelligence connected with it, and finally, 
 to afcertain whether the fuppofition, that 
 he was the author of the letters of Junius, 
 be founded in truths' The fum of my inqui- 
 ries imprefTes me with the firmed conviclion 
 that Mr. Boyd was, in reality, the writer of 
 thofe letters ; for although there be no di- 
 reel; pofitive proof, yet are the internal, as 
 well as circumftantial evidence fo ftrong, 
 that no candid rnan of tafte or judgment 
 will deny me the conclufion I have drawn. 
 
 This fubjecl has already been noticed by 
 Mr. ALMON, in his " Biographical, Litera- 
 ry, and Political Anecdotes," and it has been 
 {lightly touched upon in the Preface to a 
 former edition of Mr. Boyd's Life. Since 
 
 the
 
 3O LIFE OF 
 
 the publication of thefe works, Mr. GEORGE 
 CHALMERS * has informed the public, that 
 " he has collected documents t "which com- 
 pletely fatisfy him that Mr. Boyd was the 
 author ofjunius;" and this declaration of 
 Mr. Chalmers gave rife to a J controverfy 
 in the newfpapers which has attracted fome 
 attention. 
 
 Thofe who have maintained that Mr. 
 Boyd was not the writer of the letters fign- 
 ed jfitnius, have produced only one argu- 
 ment in fupport of their opinion, which has 
 even the fainted colour of plaufibility. 
 They affirm, that his abilities and informa- 
 tion s were altogether unequal to the tafk of 
 compofing thofe letters, and that his eflays in 
 .the fi Indian Obferver," are every way fo 
 inferior to them, that it is not to be believed 
 they could both have been written by the 
 fame perfon. In the firft inftance, there- 
 fore, I mall meet them upon their own 
 
 * See the Poftfcript to his " Supplemental Apology." 
 t I underftand it is Mr. Chalmers's intention fpeedily 
 
 to publifh thefe documents. 
 
 J For an account of this controverfy, fee the Appendix 
 
 ,|o the Lite. 
 
 ground,
 
 HUGH BOYD. 3! 
 
 ground, and from internal evidence fatisfac- 
 torily eflablifh the facl:, that he was fully 
 capable of writing the letters of Junius. 
 And as to the inferiority of his papers in 
 the " Indian Obferver," admitting that in- 
 feriority, for the fake 1 of argument, in a 
 much wider latitude than truth obliges me 
 to grant, it is yet merely a vulgar error to 
 fuppofe, that becaufe a man has once writ- 
 ten well, he can never, under any circum- 
 ftances. write ill; and that becaufe a .great 
 genius has written with peculiar beauty and 
 energy on one particular fubjecl:, he mud 
 of neceffity always difplay, at leaft an obvi- 
 ous refemblance of the like excellence, in 
 all his fubfequent productions. Such a fup- 
 pofition, though fomewhat plaufible, is in 
 fa6l, utterly fallacious, and can be entertain- 
 ed only by thofe who have a very fuper- 
 ficial knowledge of the constitution of the 
 human mind, as well as a limited acquaint- 
 ance with literature. It is a fophifm, which 
 a due inquiry into the philofophy of criti- 
 cifm, and an examination of the different 
 writings of fome eminent men, would very 
 fully expofe, but which, in the prefent in- 
 
 ftance, 
 3
 
 32 LIFE OF 
 
 fiance, I think I cannot more fatisfaftorily 
 refute, than in the nervous language ' of 
 Doclor Johnfon. " There are," fays he, 
 " many poflible caufes of that inequality 
 st which we may fo frequently obferve iri 
 " the performances of the fame man, from 
 ** the influence of which no ability or induf- 
 " try is fufficiently fecured, and which have 
 " fo often fullied the fplendour of genius, that 
 " the wit, as well as the conqueror, may be 
 " properly cautioned not to indulge his pride 
 " with too early triumphs, but to defer to 
 " the end of his life, his eflimate of happinefs. 
 " ****** Though we fuppofe that a man 
 " by his fortune can avoid the neceffity of 
 " dependence, and by his fpirit can repel 
 " the ufurpations of patronage, yet he may 
 " eafily, by writing long, happen to write 
 " ill. There is a general fuccedion of 
 " events, in which contraries are produced 
 " by periodical vicifiitudes ; labour and 
 " care are rewarded by fuccefs, fuccefs pro- 
 " duces confidence, confidence relates in- 
 " duftry, and negligence ruins that reputa- 
 " tion which accuracy had raifed. 
 
 "He
 
 HUGH BOYD. 33 
 
 " He, that happens not to be lulled by 
 " praife into fupinenefs, may be animated 
 t( by it to undertakings above his ftrength, 
 " or incited to fancy himfelf alike qualified 
 " for every kind of compofition, and able 
 " to comply with the publick tafle through 
 " all its variations. By fome opinion like 
 " this, many men have been engaged at an 
 " advanced age, in attempts which they 
 " had not time to complete, and after a few 
 " weak efforts, funk into the grave with 
 " vexation to fee the rifing generation gain 
 " ground upon them. From thefe failures 
 " the higheft genius is not exempt ; that 
 "judgment which appears fo penetrating, 
 <; when it is employed on the works of 
 " others, very often fails where intereft or 
 '' paffion can exert their power. We are 
 " blinded in examining our own labours by 
 " innumerable prejudices. Our juvenile 
 " compofitions pleafe us, becaufe they bring 
 " to our minds the remembrance of youth ; 
 " our later performances we are ready to 
 " efteem, becaufe we are unwilling to think 
 " we have made no improvement ; what flows 
 " eafily from the pen charms us, becaufe 
 VOL. j. -c "we
 
 34 LIFE OF 
 
 " we read with pleafure that which flatters 
 " our opinion of our own powers ; what 
 " was compofed with great ftruggles of the 
 " mind we do not eafily reject, becaufe we 
 " cannot bear that fo much labour mould 
 " be fruitlefs. But, the reader has none of 
 <; thefe prepoffeffions, and wonders that the. 
 " author is fo unlike himfelf, without con- 
 " fidering that the fame JoiL will, with 
 " different culture, afford different pro- 
 "dutts*" 
 
 To demonstrate the truth of thefe obfer- 
 vations, many examples might be adduced ; 
 but I know of none more finking than 
 that which is afforded in the writings of 
 Mr. Boyd, now prefented to the publick. 
 Every one who compares the letters of the 
 Whig, or Freeholder, with the effays in the 
 Indian Obferver, mud not only be fatisfied 
 that the fame man, -on different fubje&s, and 
 in a different fituation, has written in ftyles 
 totally difTimilar, but alfo that the author of 
 thefe produclions poffeffed very uncommon 
 abilities, as well as great powers of lan- 
 guage and compofition. Thus the only 
 
 * See the Rambler, No. 21. 
 
 argument
 
 HUGH BOYD. 35 
 
 r ^iment of thofe, who have afTerted that 
 Mr. Boyd was not Junius, entirely falls to 
 the ground ; and they muft now take up a 
 pofition which they will find ftill lefs tena- 
 ble, and contend that the letters of the 
 Freeholder and Whig, are fo unlike thofe of 
 Junius, that they cannot be the productions 
 of the fame mind. 
 
 I believe every man of fenfe and obferva- 
 tion who has read the letters of Junius with 
 critical attention, and who will carefully 
 compare them with the Freeholder, will at 
 once admit, that in both, the principles and 
 opinions, the mode of reafoning, the ftyle, 
 and the fpirit, are, with a few trifling excep- 
 tions, fo exactly alike, that they muft either 
 have been written by the fame author, or 
 that the Freeholder is the beft imitation of 
 Junius that has yet appeared. I (hall, how- 
 ever, endeavour to mew, that the fimilarity 
 between Mr. Boyd's political writings, pub- 
 lifhed in this volume, and the letters of Ju- 
 nius, did not proceed from a vain defire tq 
 imitate, but from a natural partiality to that 
 caft of thought and ftrufture of language, 
 which he had chofen for the difcuffion of 
 c 2 political
 
 36 UFE OF 
 
 political fubjefts, of which he had fuccefs- 
 fully tried the effe6l on the publick mind, 
 and to which, therefore, he was induced to 
 adhere. At the fame time I do not fay it 
 was an abfolute habit of the mind which he 
 was unable to difguife ; for when it fuited 
 his fubjeft and purpofe, he could not only 
 difguife his general ftyle, butalfo reach per- 
 feclion in the particular one he adopted. 
 Of this we have an eminent and ftriking 
 inftance in the Preface* to his Abftrads 
 from Lord Chatham 5 Speeches, wherein he 
 has defcribed the eloquence of that great 
 man with a claffical force, animation, and 
 fublimity, which partake of the exalted 
 theme, and which, perhaps, have not been 
 often furpafled. Yet is ^the ftyle of this 
 compofition altogether fo different from 
 that of the Freeholder, or Junius, that the 
 moft difcerning 'critic, will, I believe, be 
 unable to difcover any refemblance between 
 them. But to enable the reader the more 
 readily to form a judgment on this point, I 
 beg leave to contrafl the following paffages 
 from the Freeholder and the Preface. 
 
 * Sec page 247, of this volume. 
 
 FREE-
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 37 
 
 FREEHOLDER. 
 
 {< We are no longer funk 
 in the dead repofe of defpo- 
 tifm and long parliaments. 
 Thofe ftagnations oi cor- 
 ruption and filth, fhall no 
 morepoifon the land. " dl- 
 banautnjlellarefulfit." The 
 returning day-ftar of the 
 conftitution again illumi- 
 nates the political hemi- 
 fpherc ; and, in fulnefs of 
 fplendour, difplays the glo- 
 rious moment which reftores 
 to us our original rights. 
 The power which we dele- 
 gated, and the truft which 
 we conferred, revert to us. 
 The conftitution regene- 
 rates. And the new birth 
 infpires new vigour. As the 
 giant' received renovation 
 of ftrength from touching 
 his mother earth, fo the 
 rights of the people acquire 
 new fpring and force, when 
 brought back to their origi- 
 nal and parent fource, the 
 people's voice." 
 
 ****** " Such, my friends, 
 are the invaluable bleflings 
 now within our grafp. Such 
 are the tranfcendant rewards 
 now prefented to us by the 
 opportunity of an election. 
 Power now returns to its 
 genuine centre, the will of 
 the people.- It is theirs, 
 and only theirs, again to 
 put it in action, and to pre- 
 fcribe its operations. The 
 vital blood ebbs back to 
 the heart of the conftitu- 
 tion. 
 
 PREFACE, &c. 
 
 " But the candourand im- 
 agination of the reader muft 
 fupply another deficiency in 
 our reprefentation of Lord 
 CHATHAM'S oratory, more 
 affecting our purpofe of ex- 
 hibiting its true likenefs, 
 than the partial imperfec- 
 tion we have mentioned. 
 Thofe who have been wit- 
 neffes to the wonders of his 
 eloquence who have lif- 
 tened to the mufick of his 
 voice, or trembled at its 
 majeftr who have feen the 
 perfuafi ve graceful nefs of his 
 action, or have felt its force; 
 thofe who have caught the 
 flame of eloquence from his 
 eye who have rejoiced in 
 the glories of his counte- 
 nance, or fhrunk from his 
 frowns, will remember the 
 refill lefs power with which 
 he jmpre{fed conviction. In 
 thefe flcetches of his original 
 genius, they will read what 
 thev have heretofore heard ; 
 ana their memory will give 
 due action to the picture, by 
 refiguring to their minds, 
 what they have with admi- 
 ration feen. But to thofe 
 who never heard nor faw 
 this accompliihed ontor, 
 the utrnoft effort of imagi- 
 nation will be neceflary to 
 form a juft idea of that coin- 
 binationot excel lence,whieh 
 gave perfeclton to his elo- 
 quence: his elevated afpcct 
 commanding the awe and
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 FREEHOLDER. 
 
 tion*. Let us imitate the wif- 
 dom of nature, and we (hall 
 attain its fuccefsful effecls. 
 Let us give the vital ftreams 
 again to flow> through their 
 conftitutional channels. So 
 fhall the health or" the whole 
 body be reftored, and its 
 ftrength eftablifhed. Every 
 part of it (hall revive and 
 flourish ; and the ghaflly 
 countenance of poverty and 
 fervitude (hall brighten in- 
 to the fmile of happinefs, 
 and the triumph of liber- 
 ty." 
 
 * This appears to have been a fa- 
 vourite figure of Mr. Boyd*s. In 
 the Indian Obferver he applies it no 
 kfs happily than in the prefent in- 
 ftance. In talking of the circula- 
 tion of commerce, he fays, " The 
 " rich ftreams that have flowed 
 " through the arteries of protected 
 " trade, return through the grateful 
 " veins, to fupport the fource from 
 " whence theyiifued." And it is 
 peculiarly delerving of obfervation, 
 that this metaphor is ufed by no other 
 author except^/i,who inexhortit g 
 the kingdom at large to Tollow the 
 ex-) triple which the city of London had 
 given them, by petitioning the King 
 todiflblve the parliament, obferves, 
 " That the noble fpirit .of the me- 
 " tropolis is the life-blood of the 
 " ftate, collected at the heart ; from 
 " that point it circulates with health 
 " and vigour through every artery 
 "* of the conftitution." 
 
 PREFACE, &c-. 
 
 mute attention of all who 
 beheld him : wh;! it a certain 
 grace in his manner, con- 
 fcious of all the dignities 
 of his fituation, of the fo- 
 lernn fcene he afted in, as 
 well as his own exalted cha- 
 rafter, feemed to acknow- 
 ledge and repay the refpec"l 
 he received: his venerable 
 form bowed with infirmity 
 and age ; but animated by a 
 mind which nothing could 
 fubdue : his fpirit filming 
 through him, arming his eye 
 with lightning, and cloth- 
 ing his lips with thunder ; 
 or if milder topicks offer- 
 ed, harmonizing his counte- 
 nance in fmiles, and his 
 voice in foftnefs ; for the 
 compafs of his powers was 
 infinite. As no idea was 
 too vaft, no imagination too 
 fublime, tor the grandeur 
 and majefly of his manner ; 
 fo no fancy was too playful, 
 nor any allufion too comic, 
 for the eafe and gaiety with 
 which he could accommo- 
 date to the occafion. But 
 the character of his oratory 
 was dignity: this prefided 
 throughout ; giving force, 
 becaufe fecuring refpeft, 
 even to his fallies of plea- 
 fantry. .This elevated the 
 mod familiar language, and 
 gave novelty and grace to 
 the moft familiar aUufions; 
 fo that, in his hand, even the 
 crutch became a weapon of 
 oratory. Ttlwn Oratoris." 
 Thus
 
 HUGH BO YD. % 39 
 
 Thus we perceive, that Mr. Boyd could 
 rife into eloquence and dignity in two very 
 different ftyles, and that he could infufe into 
 each that generous ardour which its fubjecl in- 
 fpired. In the Freeholder is to be obferved the 
 fameftru&ure of the fentences, the fame tran- 
 fitions, the fame fertility and happinefs of allu- 
 fion, the fame chafte application of meta- 
 phors, and the fame method of introducing 
 them ; the fame concife vigour, the fame bril- 
 liant animation, and above all, the fame terfe 
 phrafeology which are the chara&eriftick 
 features of Junius's ftyle. On the other 
 hand, we admire in the Preface, the eafe and 
 amplification of the periods, the fpirit with 
 which they are kept up, the rapid flow of 
 the fentiments, the copious energy of the 
 language, the boldnefs, yet corre6lnefs of 
 the figures, the critical accuracy of the dif- 
 crimination, and finally, the claffical beauty 
 and elegance of the defcription. In both 
 are difplayed very confiderable genius, ex- 
 quifite tafte, and great facility of compofi- 
 tion and it will be found on a perufal of 
 his political writings, that thefe qualities pre- 
 dominate throughout the whole of them. 
 
 .But
 
 4O LIFE OF 
 
 But in order to mew in the ftrongeft point 
 of view, the affinity between the reafoning and 
 compofnion of thofe writings and the letters 
 of JuniuSy I (hall cite a few pafTages from 
 both, and point out the model on which 
 their general ftyle was undoubtedly formed. 
 It is, however, necefiary to premife One or 
 two fafts, concerning the time and care 
 which were beflowed on the productions of 
 Junius, and the hurry or negligence with 
 which the other papers were written. Be- 
 fides, the internal evidence which the letters 
 of Junius themfelves afford of their being 
 compofed with great labour and attention, 
 we have his own declaration to that effecl, 
 expreffed in pretty plain terms. In his fe- 
 cond letter in reply to Mr. HORNE, he afks, 
 " Is there no merit in dedicating my life to 
 " the information of my fellow-fubjects ?" 
 " Is there no labour in the compo- 
 "Jtiion of thefe letters ? Mr. Home, I fear, 
 " is partial to me, and meafures the facility 
 " of my writings, by the fluency of his own/' 
 Now it is a pofitive facl, that the papers of 
 the Freeholder) on the contrary, were writ- 
 ten
 
 HUGH BO YD. 4! 
 
 ten in the mod hurried manner, on the very 
 fpur of the occafion they were defigned to 
 ferve, and in the midft of all the confufion, 
 diflipation, and riot, incident to an Irifli 
 election ; and it is alfo a fa6l equally well 
 authenticated, that the letters of Democrati- 
 cus, and of the Whig, were compofed without 
 the fmalleft preparation, ftudy, or attention: 
 for after the month of January 1772, he 
 never wrote for the publick with any 
 care, nor even with his accu domed fe- 
 crecy. The articles which he fent from 
 time to time to Mr. Woodfall and Mr. 
 Almon, were written merely to gratify his 
 ruling pafllon for politicks, and not with a 
 view to arreft the publick attention : they 
 cod him little time, and lefs labour. Thefe 
 writings are, therefore, by confequence, lefs 
 polifhed than the letters of Junius, and in 
 thefe he has almoft wholly abftained from that 
 pungency of farcafm and bitternefs of per- 
 fonal fatire, which, together with the replies 
 that they provoked, were unqueftionably the 
 true caufes of the unexampled popularity of 
 thofe letters. But the fame political princi- 
 ples,
 
 42 LITE OF 
 
 pies, the fame bold fentiments of liberty, 
 and precifely the fame opinions of publick 
 meafures and publick men, to which Junius 
 invariably adhered, will be found uniformly 
 avowed, and ftrenuoufly maintained in the 
 Freeholder, Democraticus, and the Whig. 
 And here I muft remind the reader, that 
 confiflency of opinion was Junius's greatefl 
 boaft. In his reply to Mr. Home already 
 quoted, he fays, " But he (Mr. Home) 
 " affer.ts that he has traced me through a 
 " variety of fignatures. To make the dif- 
 ". covery of any importance to his purpofe, 
 ^ he mould have proved, either that the 
 " fictitious character of Junius has not been 
 " confidently fupported, or, that the author 
 "has maintained different principles under 
 " different fignatures. I cannot recal to my 
 " memory the numberlefs trifles I have writ- 
 " ten; but I rely on the confcioufnefs of 
 " my own integrity, and defy him to fix any 
 " colourable charge of incon/iftency upon 
 me." 
 
 That this uniformity of principles is fled-' 
 faftly preferved in the political letters now 
 
 publifhed,
 
 HUGH BOYD. 43 
 
 publiihed, will be bed proved by a compa- 
 rifon of the following pafTages. 
 
 FREEHOLDER. JUNIUS. 
 Let me in the firft place ThepowerofKing,Lords, 
 conjure you never to lofe and Commons, is not an ar- 
 fight of the great fundamen- bitrary power. They arc 
 tal principle, that You are the truftees, not the owners 
 the origin of pawir. Govern- ot the eft ate. The fee-fimpit 
 ment was conftituted by and is in us. They cannot all- 
 far the people. This is the enate, they cannot wajle. 
 voice of reafon and the right When we (ay that the legif- 
 of humanity: and applies in lature is fupreme, we mean 
 theory to all the nations of that it is the higheft power 
 the world. But it is our pe- known to the Confutation ; 
 culiar felicity to realize the that it is the higheft in 
 fpeculation, and to feel its comparison with the other 
 atiual bleflings. We are fuborclinate powers eftablifh- 
 de facia, as well as de jure, ed by the laws, 
 free. 
 
 So far we find the fundamental principles 
 of civil government laid down byJtiniuS and 
 the Free /wider, are exactly the fame : and in 
 another place the Freeholder further fays, 
 " Remember, my friends, that in the mo- 
 " ment of election, you ftand forth the im- 
 " mediate guardians of your country." *** 
 " To her you owe an original, unalitnable, 
 " eternal duty. You are, therefore, abfo- 
 " lutely, and unconditionally, free. Except 
 " in the fenfe, in which Omnipotence itfelf 
 " is limited ; by wifdom and virtue" 
 
 With
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 With regard to the difpute between 
 Great Britain and the American Colonies, 
 jfunius and the Freeholder exprefs themfelves 
 in the following terms. 
 
 FREEHOLDER. 
 
 **** I maintain the in- 
 nocence of America as to 
 independent views ; which 
 if fhe now entertains, we 
 can only blame our own in- 
 fatuation that has compelled 
 her. The point of view I 
 \vifh to take, is the ftate of 
 America previous to the re- 
 peal of the ftamp-aft. She 
 was then, according to the 
 language of parliamentary 
 journals, " in outrageous re- 
 bellion.'' Xo reftore the 
 happinefs and connexion of 
 both countries, a repeal of 
 that aft was propofed.**** 
 It was reftored ; and would 
 have been eftablifhed, but 
 for our fatal relapfe into our 
 former foily. About two 
 years afterwards, the at- 
 tempt at internal taxation 
 was revived ; and what was 
 perhaps ftill more vexatious, 
 was continued, at a memo- 
 rable period which foon fol- 
 lowed, though Lord Hilfbo- 
 rough had, in the name of all 
 the minifters, exprefsly dif- 
 claimed it, in his publick 
 letter to the Colonies. The 
 violence and folly which 
 have ever fince difgraced 
 our 
 
 JUNIUS. 
 
 A feries of inconfiftent 
 meafures has alienated the 
 Colonies from their duty as 
 fubjets, and from their na- 
 tural affection to their com- 
 mon country.**** Under 
 one admimftration the 
 itamp-acl is made ; under 
 the fecond it is repealed ; 
 under the third, infpiteof 
 all experience, a new mode 
 of taxing the colonies is in- 
 dented, and a queftion re- 
 vived which ought to have 
 been buried in oblivion. In 
 thele circumftanccs a new 
 office is eftablifhed for the 
 bufinefs of the plantations, 
 and the Earl of Hilfborough 
 is called forth at a moft cri- 
 tical feafon to govern Ame- 
 rica.**** Since that period 
 they (meaning the Colonies) 
 have been driven into ex- 
 cefles little mort of rebel- 
 lion. Petitions have been 
 hindered from reaching the 
 throne ; and the continu- 
 ance of one of the principal 
 aflemblies rcfted upon an ar- 
 bitrary condition, which, 
 confidering the temper they 
 were in, it was impoflibfe 
 they fhould comply with ; 
 and
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 45 
 
 FREEHOLDER. JUNIUS. 
 
 our councils and our arms, and which would have 
 are not to our prei'ent pur- availed nothing as to the 
 pofe; which is only to prove general queftion, if it had 
 the peaceful and obedient been complied with, 
 difpofition of America, from 
 which (he was ^driven by 
 the revival of our oppref- 
 fions. 
 
 Thefe extrafts fufficiently (hew, the con- 
 formity of opinion between Junius and the 
 Freeholder to the fa&s they have dated. 
 Let us fee how well their opinions and lan- 
 guage tally upon a very material point in the 
 American queftion. 
 
 FREEHOLDER. 
 
 It is particularly obfer- 
 vable that the Colonies only 
 complain of the arbitrary 
 prafiice of univerfal taxa- 
 tion, and not of the general 
 principle. For in all their 
 applications, either to King 
 or Parliament, they never 
 require the repeal of the De- 
 claratory A&, which efta- 
 blifhes that principle: but 
 it intends it, however, as 
 all principles ought to be 
 intended, to be afcted upon 
 with equity and moderation. 
 The lupreme power and 
 right of Great Britain is 
 there declared, in all cafes 
 whatever. And it may be 
 
 JUNIUS. 
 
 Junius confiders the right 
 of taxing the Colonies by 
 an aft of the Britifh Legifla- 
 ture, as a fpeculative right 
 merely, never to be exerted, 
 nor ever to be renounced. To 
 hisjudgmentit appears plain, 
 that the general reafonings 
 which wereemployedagainft 
 that power, went direclly to 
 our whole legiflative right; 
 and that one part of it could 
 not be yielded to fuch argu- 
 ments, without a virtual fur- 
 render of all the reft, 
 
 This
 
 46 LIFE OF 
 
 FREEHOLDER. 
 
 admitted to exiji in all cafes, 
 either external or interne I. But 
 the Declaratory Aft does 
 not, cannot fay, that it equal- 
 ly exifts at all times, and for 
 
 This is a point upon which there was 
 much contrariety of opinion among the moft 
 ftrenuous oppofers of the American war. 
 LORD CHATHAM confidered the Britifh 
 legiflature as not fupreme over the colonies 
 in the fame fenfe in whicli it is fupreme 
 over the mother-country. Mr. BURKE 
 and the Roc KING HAM party fupported the 
 entire fupremacy of the imperial legiflature 
 of Great Britain, as Rated in the Declaratory 
 Acl, while they condemned the exercife of 
 that fupremacy for the purpofe of internal 
 taxation ; and foine other gentlemen of great 
 talents poiitively denied the exiflence of any 
 fpeculative right whatever in the Britifh 
 parliament to levy taxes in the colonies. 
 The diftinftion, dated with fo much preci- 
 fion, by Junius, is, fomewhat peculiar ; it 
 was ftrongly combated at the time ; and as 
 far as I have had an opportunity of examining 
 
 the
 
 HUGH BOYD. 47 
 
 the different fpeeches and writings on this ' 
 fubjeft, I have not found it exactly main- 
 tained any where elfe but in the Freeholder. 
 The Freeholder fpecifically declares, that 
 the right to tax the Colonies exifis in all 
 cafes either external or internal, but that it 
 does not exift for all purpofes, and fhould 
 never be arbitrarily exercifed. This is, in 
 other words, the very diftinftion made by 
 jfunius. The fpirit of the two paflagcs 
 above quoted is precifely the fame. 
 
 Upon another queftion of the utmofl deli- 
 cacy, Junius delivered an opinion which was 
 then, and is now extremely unpopular, 
 which excited a great deal of clamour among 
 thofe who flyled themfelves the friends of 
 the People, but to which the Freeholder im- 
 plicitly fubfcribes. " I have a claim," fays 
 JuniuSt " to the candid interpretation of 
 " my country, when I acknowledge an in- 
 " voluntary compuljivt affent, to one very 
 " unpopular opinion. I lament the unhappy 
 " neceflity, whenever it arifes, of providing 
 t for the fafety of the ftate, by a temporary in- 
 " vafionof the perfonal liberty of the fubjecl. 
 " Would to God ! it were prafticable to 
 
 " reconcile
 
 48 LIFE OF 
 
 " reconcile thefe important objects, in every 
 " poflible fituation of publick affairs ! I 
 " regard the legal liberty of the meaneft 
 " man in Britain as much as my own, and 
 " would defend it with the fame zeal. I 
 " know we mud (land or fall together. But 
 " I never can doubt that the community has 
 " a right to command, as well as to purchafe 
 " the fervice of its members. I fee that right 
 " founded originally upon a neceffity which 
 " Jiiperfedes all argument. I fee it eftablifh- 
 " ed by ufage immemorial, and admitted by 
 " more than a tacit affent of the legiflature. 
 " I conclude there is no remedy in the na- 
 " ture of tilings for the grievance com- 
 " plained of; for, if there were, it mufl 
 " long fmce have been redrefied. Though 
 " numberlefs opportunities have prefented 
 " themfelves, highly favourable to publick 
 " liberty, no fuccefsful attempt has ever 
 " been made for the relief of the fubjecl in 
 " this article. Yet it has been felt and 
 " complained of, ever fmce England had a 
 " navy. The conditions which conftitute this 
 " right, muft be taken together, feparately 
 " they have little weight. It is not fair to 
 " argue from any abufe in the execution, 
 
 "to
 
 HUGH BOYD. 49 
 
 " to the illegality of the power; much lefs 
 " is a conclufion to be drawn from the navy 
 " tot he land fervice. The only cafe in 
 " which the King can have a right to arm 
 " his fubjecls in general, is that of a foreign 
 " force being actually landed on our coatt. 
 " Whenever that cafe happens, no true 
 " Englifhman will inquire, whether the 
 " King's right to compel him to defend his 
 " country, be the cuftom of England, or a 
 " part of the legiflature. With regard to 
 " the prefs for feamen, it does not follow 
 " that the fymptoms may not be foftened, 
 " although the diftemper cannot be cured. 
 " Let bounties be increafed as far as the 
 " publick purfe can fupport them. Still 
 " they have a limit ; and when every rea- 
 " fonable expence is incurred, it will be 
 " found in faft, that the fpur of the prefs is 
 " wanted to give operation to the bounty." 
 I have been induced to cite this paffage 
 at full length, on account of its intrinfick 
 good fenfe, and found policy. In the Free- 
 holder this opinion is upheld in fewer words, 
 but with as much force and clearnefs. Talk- 
 ing of the rights of the executive govern- 
 VOL. i. d ment,
 
 5O LITE OF 
 
 ment, it is obferved, " That a right may 
 " lofe its nature, and become the moft odious 
 " wrong, by unjuft exertions. The King, 
 " for inftance, may have a right to prefs his 
 " fubjefts, or a particular part of them, into 
 " the fea-fervice. And the moft conftitu- 
 " tional lawyers decide Jo. But even the 
 " moft hardened lawyer would blufh to af- 
 " fert, and the tamed flave would rife to 
 " refift, a perpetual, unnecefTary, and op- 
 " prem've abufe of it. *" 
 
 Thus it is manifeft that the Freeholder 
 entirely coincides with Jum'us, in every po- 
 litical principle, as well as on every politi- 
 cal queftion, which it fuited his particular 
 purpofe to mention, or difcufs. His ob- 
 fervations are, for the moft part, confined 
 to the main fubjecl of his letters, the right 
 of free election ; and on that important to- 
 pick, he not only agrees with Junius, but 
 takes from him the mottos for his two firft 
 papers, and with admirable finefle com- 
 mences his firft one with the follow- 
 ing feafonable panegyrick. " The great 
 " writer whofe words I have placed at the 
 
 * See the Preface to the Freeholder, p. 18, of this vol. 
 
 " head
 
 HUGH BOYD. 1 
 
 " head of my paper, is juftly acknowledged 
 " to excel in fplendour of imagery, and in 
 " ftrength of diclion. But his excellence 
 " extends to points ftill more important. 
 " No writer has invefligated with fuch fa- 
 " gacity, nor with fuch clearnefs pointed 
 " out the true nature of our admirable 
 " conftitution. The wifdom and learning 
 "of LOCKE had afcertained fome great 
 " fundamental maxims, which constituted, 
 " or at leaft contributed to form the bafis 
 " of our liberties. But it remained for the 
 " fucceeding addrefs and eloquence of Juni- 
 " us, to encounter and to fubdue, at leaft 
 " in the fields of argument, the more re- 
 (t fined corruptions of later times." It may, 
 at firfl fight, feem irreconcileable with that 
 modefty which Mr. Boyd poffeffed, to be- 
 ftow fuch high praife on his own produc- 
 tions. But if we inquire a little into the 
 motives of human aftion, as well as into 
 the peculiar circumftances of the cafe before 
 us, we (hall be fatisfied, that the above en- 
 comium is no way inconfiftent with any of 
 the qualities of his mind, and was in itfelf 
 at once judicious and neceflary. 
 
 4 2 Modefty
 
 52 LIFE OF 
 
 Modefty has been beautifully called, " the 
 " grace of all the other virtues," and undoubt- 
 edly in proper time and place it is both be- 
 coming and falutary. When it arifes from 
 a native meeknefs of difpofition, it gives a 
 pleafing hue to the bloom of genius, as well 
 as an infinuating foftnefs to the countenance 
 of virtue. This true modefty is perfeclly 
 compatible with that ingenuous pride which 
 proceeds from a confcioufnefs of our own 
 talents and integrity, and which difdains 
 the ridiculous affectation of forbearing to 
 fpeak of ourfelves, as we think and feel we 
 deferve, more efpecially when we conceive 
 the doing fo will be productive of a publick 
 benefit. But mankind are fo much accuf- 
 tomed to that falfe modefty which is made 
 up of unmanly diffidence, vanity, and hy- 
 pocrify, that we are extremely apt to attri- 
 bute to arrogance, that which flows from 
 the moft generous motives ; and to re- 
 proach a man for felf-fuffieiency, becaufc 
 he has had the frank nefs to avow his opinion 
 of his own merits. In truth, there is often 
 much more vanity in concealing, than in 
 openly aflerting our own claims to publick 
 
 applaufe :
 
 HUGH BOYD. 53 
 
 applaufe: for as men, who are poflefled 
 of fhining abilities, feldom under-rate them 
 in their own eftimation, and as well-earned 
 praife is generally grateful to the mind, 
 there is furely lefs oftentation in a candid 
 and dignified acknowledgment of the opi- 
 nion we entertain of our own endowments, 
 than in the {trained prudery too commonly 
 praftifed, of talking humbly of them, and 
 of affefting not to deferve thofe praifes, for 
 which, at the fame moment, our hearts are 
 fecretly panting. The man who is prompt- 
 ed to great undertakings by a generous 
 ambition, and who is guided in his purfuits 
 by a love of glory and truth, ought not to 
 confider it in any degree inconfiftent with 
 real humility, to tell the world what he 
 thinks of himfelf. So thought and fo acl- 
 ed* the illuftrious HUME, whofe amiable 
 and unaffuming manners were as much 
 efteemed in private life, as his great talents 
 have been admired by all mankind. And 
 it was upon thefe principles that Mr. Boyd 
 acted, when he made Junius praife his own 
 
 * See HUME'S Life of himfelf, prefixed to the ift vol. 
 of his Hiftory. 
 
 productions
 
 54 LIFE OF 
 
 productions in the following terms. " When 
 " kings and minifters are forgotten, when 
 " the force and direction of perfonal fatire 
 " are no longer underflood., and when mea- 
 " fures are only felt in their remoteft confe- 
 " quences, this book will, I believe, be found 
 " to contain principles worthy to be tranf- 
 " mitted to poflerity." ******* This is 
 " not the language of vanity. If I am a 
 " vain man, my gratification lies within a 
 " very narrow circle. / am the fole depoji- 
 " tory of my own fecret, and it Jhall peri/h 
 tl with me" In another place he fays 
 * * without meaning an indecent compa- 
 " rifon, I may venture to foretel, that the 
 " BIBLE and Juntas will be read, when 
 " the commentaries of the Jefuits are for- 
 " gotten." 
 
 But the eulogium on Jjinius in the Free- 
 holder, may be defended on other grounds. 
 He was well perfuaded of the efficacy of 
 commencing thofe letters, which were ad- 
 drefled to the freeholders of the county of 
 Antrim, by openly profeffing the fame prirK 
 ciples and opinions with the moft popular 
 political writer of the age : and at the fame 
 
 time
 
 HUGH BOYD. 55 
 
 time he no doubt conceived that his high 
 praife of Junius would do away the fuf- 
 picion, to which the fimiiitude of his ftyle 
 and fentiments, to thofe of the letters under 
 that fignature might very poflibly give rife. 
 The aftoniming impreflion which his letters 
 made on the minds of the people of Antrim, 
 fully evinced both the utility and prudence 
 of the plan he adopted. They were uni- 
 verfally admired ; and the Freeholder was 
 called ajecond Junius, by the moft compe- 
 tent judges. Very diligent inquiries were 
 made to find out the author ; but as he 
 was in this inftance a^fo the "fo/e depofitory 
 " of his ownfecret" he was not difcovered 
 till many years afterwards, when a fheet of 
 the manufcript which the printer had neg- 
 lefted to deftroy was accidentally found, and 
 in which fome of Mr. Boyd's friends de- 
 tecled the hand- writing, although it was very 
 much difguifed. He then acknowledged to 
 Mrs. Boyd, that he had written the Free- 
 holder. 
 
 With regard to publick characters, he 
 has principally confined himfelf in the Free* 
 holder, to the three gentlemen who flood 
 
 candidates
 
 56 LIFE OF 
 
 candidates for the county of Antrim, at the 
 general election in 1776; but his mode of 
 examining the claims of each of thefe can- 
 didates, fo much refembles the general man- 
 ner of Junius, as well as the caft of his lan- 
 guage, that I irmft point out two or three 
 paffages to the particular notice of the 
 reader. He begins by quoting from BLACK- 
 STONE, "that no lord of parliament hath 
 tf any right to interfere in the elttlion of com- 
 " moners"" This," fays he, " is the law 
 " of the land. Remember it, my coun- 
 " trymeti ! revere it : maintain it. It is the 
 " grand barrier of the conftitution. While 
 " it (lands firm, you remain fafely and in- 
 " vincibly intrenched in your own privi- 
 " leges. But if ever you furrender it to 
 " the enemy, ,you are irretrievably ruined. 
 " The democratick eftate will be annihi- 
 " lated out of the conftitution : and you will 
 " be melted down into a vile vaffalage ; the 
 " devoted prey and plunder of your defpo- 
 " tick conquerors." The three candidates 
 were the Hon. Henry Seymour Conway, 
 the Hon. Hugh Skeffington, and James 
 Wilfon, efq. Of the firft he obferves, " that 
 
 "he
 
 HUGH BOYD. 57 
 
 " he refides in England ; fixed there by con- 
 " nexion, by inclination, and by duty. His 
 " father is an Englifh Earl, Lord Chamber- 
 " lain to his Majefty's houfehold, and unalie- 
 " nably attached to the court. PofTefTed of 
 " an ample fortune in Ireland, he remem- 
 " bers that country only in the large remit- 
 " tances which he draws from her exhaufled 
 " bofom : unlefs indeed his attention be reviv- 
 " ed at the polite period of o&ennial conde- 
 " fcenfiont." ****** Befides he is indif- 
 (l penfibly fattened to England, by his feat 
 " in the Britifh Houfe of Commons. * * * * 
 " How then can he reprefent our county in 
 " an Irifh parliament. He is not only, not 
 " an inhabitant of this place, and therefore an 
 " unconftitutional candidate, but he is an ac- 
 " tual abfenteefrom this kingdom, and there^ 
 " fore an impoffible, reprefentative. The ob- 
 " jeftion is infuperable. It is not an intricate 
 " deduction of argument, to which perhaps 
 " fpecious fophiftry might be oppofed. It 
 
 t The length of this paffage prevents me from quoting 
 the whole of it : But the reader is referred to pages 44, 
 45, and 46, of this volume. 
 
 " is
 
 58 LIFE OF 
 
 " is an unanfwerable point of fa6t. He 
 " cannot reprefent you." 
 
 Of Mr. Skeffington he fays, " It is ob- 
 " vious that I ftudy to fpeak gently of 
 " this gentleman. Content with a negative 
 ts argument againft his fufficiency, I do not 
 " alledge pofitive charges of betraying trufl. 
 " I do not refer to venal majorities, blank 
 " lifts, and the obedient aye, or no, the ut- 
 " moft eloquence and fervice of fome repre- 
 " fentatives : I fpeak not of uniform devo- 
 " tion to the court, and to courtly connexions: 
 " I only fubmit to my countrymen, that in- 
 " dependent of fuch pojitive guilt, their duty 
 " as freeholders obliges them to reject a can- 
 " didate, who is obvioufly, and totally defti- 
 " tute of all requifite qualifications. 
 
 tf Permit me, in fome meafure to atone to 
 my own feelings, for the difagreeable ne- 
 " ceflity of thefe publick truths, by a juft 
 " tribute to the private character of this 
 " gentleman. As far as my knowledge of it 
 " reaches, I gladly bear teftimony to its be- 
 " ing amiable, good-humoured, and friend- 
 " ly. Nay, there is a fpecies of delicacy in 
 
 "it,
 
 HUGHBOYD. $Q 
 
 " it, which reflects fome honour on him as 
 "a man; accompanied, alas! with an in- 
 " firmity of mind which difgraces him as a 
 " fenator. For I have good authority to 
 " fay, that he laments the fervitude of his 
 " fituation. We all know too well that he 
 " cannot (hake it off. He has fenfibility to 
 " feel the chain ; without the fpirit, the en- 
 " terprize of mind, that mould caft it away, 
 " and dare to be free." 
 
 " Reflecl now, my countrymen ! No- 
 " thing can be wanting to your free exer- 
 " tion of your privileges, and vindication of 
 " your rights, on this great occafion ; if 
 " you give it deep and due attention. You 
 " will then be convinced that your grandeft 
 " happinefs, the truefummum bonum, which 
 " the ancients puzzled for in vain, your li- 
 " berty, is at ftake. Founded as it is, in 
 * every virtue, you will confefs it paramount 
 " to every blemng. To point out the path 
 " that leads to this glorious object, (hall be 
 " the more pleafing bufmefs of my fucceed- 
 " ing letters. Long enough have our eyes 
 " ached over this barren profpeft : where no 
 " verdure of virtue quickens no publick fer- 
 
 " vice
 
 60 LIFE OF 
 
 " vice is feen to bloflbm *. We will with 
 " pleafure turn our view and our choice 
 " to a more fertile foil, pregnant with the 
 " richeft feeds ; which wait only for the cul- 
 '* tivation of our favour to ripen into the 
 " happieft harveft." . 
 
 After recommending Mr. Wilfon to the 
 freeholders of Antrim, as the only conftitu- 
 tional candidate of the three gentlemen who 
 have been named, he proceeds to obferve, 
 " * * that in Mr.Wilfon's addrefs, two points 
 " ftand remarkably confpicuous ; the inde- 
 " pendent teft, which he propofes to take 
 *' on the day of election ; and the plan which 
 " he fuggefls, to collecl; the fenfe of his con- 
 " ftituents, for the regulation of his parlia- 
 " mentary conduct. Thefe are eminent 
 " features, and demand the niceft attention 
 " of the political phyfiognomift, who wifhes 
 
 * This is precifely the fame figure, with which Junius 
 begins his letter to Lord CAMDEN. 
 " My Lord, 
 
 " I turn with pleafure from that barren wafte^ in 
 14 which no falutary plant takes root no verdure qulck- 
 " ens, to a character, fertile, as I willingly believe, in 
 " every great and good qualificatioa." 
 
 See Junius's Letter to Lord Camden. 
 " tO
 
 HUGH BOYD. 6l 
 
 * to trace the true lines of liberty, and to 
 " afcertain the genuine fon of the conftitu- 
 tion." 
 
 " Parliamentary tefts were always proper. 
 
 " Even in the purer days of ancient liberty, 
 
 " it was not unwife to enforce, by additional 
 
 " obligations, the faithfulnefs of the fervant. 
 
 " It would never be thought unreafonable, 
 
 " or ungenerous, to require from the agent, 
 
 " at lealt a promife that he would acl: faith- 
 
 " fully for his employer. But what was 
 
 " right and reafonable, in the moft virtuous 
 
 " days, modern degeneracy has made abfo- 
 
 " lutely necefTary. For, it is notorious, 
 
 " that not only the fubftance of patriotifm 
 
 " is melting avay, but its very name and 
 
 " memory are falling into obloquy and con- 
 
 " tempt. This noble quality, the fublimeft 
 
 " of moral virtues, as it approaches to the 
 
 " facred nature of religion herfelf, fo muft 
 
 " it expe6l to fliare her abufe, and fuffer her 
 
 " misfortune. Hypocrites are daily deteft- 
 
 " ed, who do not blufh to proftitute the 
 
 " facred character of both. Mifcreants are 
 
 " daily heard, who deny the exiftence of 
 
 " either ; and who do not tremble to vilify 
 
 "and
 
 62 LIF O? 
 
 " and betray their God and their country Iri 
 
 " this fhamelefs flate of publick profligacy, it 
 " is necefTary to adopt every caution, to im- 
 " pofe every fanftion, to infill on every fe- 
 " curity, for the fidelity of their reprefenta- 
 " tive. The honed candidate for any truft, 
 " never objecls, will rather anxioufly defire, 
 " to undertake in the moil folemn manner, 
 " for the honeft execution of it. For fuch 
 " an undertaking only anticipates in a 
 " profpecl; pleafing to the mind, the courfe 
 " of its own integrity. The virtuous man's 
 " promife is a draught on the bank of truth. 
 " He makes it with confidence, for he knows 
 " it will be paid with honour. Thofe only 
 " hefitate to offer the fame fund as a fecurity, 
 ff who are confcious that they have no cor- 
 <c refpondence with it." 
 
 Such are the mofl prominent paffages in 
 the Freeholder ; and I cannot doubt that 
 every man of tafte will admit, they bear an 
 obvious refemblance to the letters of Juni- 
 us, both in matter and ftyle. But as there 
 are many points difcufled, and many pub- 
 lick characters attacked, by Junius, that are 
 not even mentioned in the Freeholder, I mail 
 
 make
 
 HUGfl BOYb. 63 
 
 make a few extra&s from the letters of DC- 
 mocraticus, and of the Whig, to (hew how ex- 
 aftly Mr. Boyd's political fentiments corre- 
 fpond with thofe of Junius, in every parti- 
 cular inftance. 
 
 The letters of Democraticus appeared in 
 the Pub lick Advertifer, in the year 1 779. Mr. 
 Boyd fent them to Mr. Woodfall, in his 
 ordinary hand-writing, and he did not con- 
 ceal from Mrs. Boyd that he was the author 
 of them. They were compofed in the mod 
 carelefs and hurried manner, like common 
 paragraphs for newfpapers ; and many of 
 them were committed to paper late at night, 
 after he had returned home greatly fatigued 
 from having attended a long debate in 
 one of the houfes of parliament. Under 
 thefe circumftances, to fay nothing of the 
 numberlefs difficulties by which, at this pe- 
 riod of his life, much more than at any other, 
 he was unceafingly teazed and perplexed, it 
 will not, I prefume, be denied, that it required 
 a mind of great natural itrength, as well as 
 one long praclifed in the habits of literary 
 composition, to have produced thefe letters. 
 As to their ftyle, though it be in general of 
 
 a different 
 3
 
 64 LIFE OF 
 
 a different mould from that of Junius, yet 
 in fome particular parts there is fo evident 
 a likenefs between them, that k is hardly 
 credible it could have efcaped the obferva- 
 tion of Mr. Henry Sampfon Woodfall *. 
 For to me, at leaft, it appears perfectly clear, 
 that the writer of Democratic us, in thofe paf- 
 fagesofhis letters that^ave an affinity*to the 
 compofitions of Junius, has through hurry 
 and inattention lapfed into a ftyle to which 
 he had been long accuflomed, but which he 
 was defirous to avoid. I mail, however, 
 leave the publick to judge for themfelves. 
 
 As the letters of Deinocraticm are chiefly 
 addrerfed to Lord NORTH, it is neceffary 
 to remind the reader of the particular ex- 
 preflions in which Junius has delivered his 
 fentiments concerning the publick conduct 
 of that nobleman. In a letter to the Duke 
 ofGRAFTON, dated February 14th, 1770, 
 fhortly after his Grace had refigned his feat 
 in the cabinet, he obferves " The palm of 
 
 * I {hall prefently (hew, that there is fome reafon to 
 fufpeft Mr. WooHfall did obferve this likenefs, as well 
 as one or two other circumftances which tend to prove 
 that Mr. Boyd was Junius" 
 
 " minifterial
 
 HUGHBOYD. 65 
 
 " minifterial firmnefs is now transferred to 
 "- Lord North. He tells us fo himfelf, and 
 " with the plenitude of the ore 'rotunda * ; 
 " and I am ready enough to believe, that, 
 " while he can keep his place, he will not 
 " eafdy be perfuaded to r'efign it. Your 
 " Grace was the firm minifter of yefterday; 
 " Lord North is the firm minifter of to-day. 
 " To-morrow, perhaps, his Majefty, in his 
 " wifdom, may give us a rival for you both. 
 " You are too well acquainted with the tem- 
 " per of your late allies, to think it poflible 
 " that Lord North mould be permitted to 
 " govern this country. If we may believe 
 " common fame, they have (hewn him^ their 
 " fuperiority already. His Majefty is in- 
 " deed too gracious to infult his fubjecls by 
 " choofing his firft minifter from among the 
 " domefticks of the Duke of BEDFORD; 
 (! that would have been too grofs an outrage 
 " to the two kingdoms. Their purpofe, 
 " however, is fufficiently anfwered by pujh- 
 " ing forward this unhappy figure, and forc- 
 
 * This eloquent perfon has got as far as the difoiplifte of 
 Demofthenes. He conftantly fpeaks with pebbles in his 
 mouth to improve his articulation. Junlus. 
 
 VOL. I. e " ing
 
 66 LIFE OF 
 
 Si ing him to bear the odium of meafures 
 <( which they in reality direcl. Without im- 
 " mediately appearing to govern, they pof- 
 " fefs the power, and diftribute the emo/u- 
 " merits of government as they think pro- 
 " per." In another letter to the Duke of 
 Grafton, he fays, " to them who know Lord 
 " North, it is unneceffary to fay, that he 
 " was mean and low enough to fubmit to 
 " you. 1 ' And in his letter to Lord North 
 himfelf, after reprobating in fevere terms 
 the appointment of Lieut. Colonel LUT- 
 TRELL, to the pofl of adjutant general to 
 the army in Ireland, he concludes by telling 
 his Lordfhip " As for you, my Lord, who, 
 " perhaps, are no more than the blind un- 
 " happy inftrument of Lord BUTE, and her 
 ; Royal Highnefs the Princefs of WALES, 
 ts be allured that you fliall be called upon to 
 " anlwer for the advice which has been 
 " given, and either difcover your accomplices, 
 f or fail a facrifice to their fecurity." 
 
 After Lord North had been ten years in 
 office, Democratic^ entertained the very 
 fame opinion of him ; and he exprefles it 
 in language equally explicit, and if poflible 
 
 more
 
 HUGH BOYD. 6j 
 
 more contemptuous and bold. " The dif- 
 " grace and ruin of the prefent moment," 
 fays he, " we owe to his Lordfhip, and his 
 " accomplices in office. This, they may de- 
 " ny ; for what will they not deny or 
 " aflert ? But their country challenges them 
 " to the proof. It is a truth demonftrable 
 "in argument. His Lordfhip has been 
 " ten years in power ; in office at Lea/I : for 
 " T^am aware of the defence under which 
 " his friends would fhelter him ; and will 
 " admit to him every reafonable degree of 
 " infignijicance, as to his honour, both as a 
 " minifter and a man. But he has not been 
 " filfficiently contemptible to be fafe. He 
 " has had power enough to ruin his coun- 
 " try. All its refources have been at 
 " the command of adminiflration. Never 
 " was government fo ftrongly fupported. 
 " The pubiick purfe has been poured into 
 " their coffers, almoft without queftion, or 
 " account. The pubiick fword was placed 
 " in their hand without controul, and fharp- 
 " ened at their pleafure ; and the flag of 
 i: England was committed to their care un- 
 is ftained. Monftrous majorities in parlia- 
 e 2 " ment
 
 68 LIFE OF 
 
 " ment obeyed their mandates ; and even 
 " the people, till their late bitter experience, 
 " were deluded, and inflamed into a kind of 
 " concurrence in their violences. Such was 
 " the fulnefs of power intruded to our mi- 
 " nifters." *******# You, my Lord, 
 *' and the exclufive partners of your gratifi- 
 " cations, have the exclufive praife of all 
 " our preterit fituation. And if minifters can 
 <c yet be refponfible in this finking country, 
 " you and your aflbciates have an exc/ujive 
 " title to publick vengeance!' In another let- 
 ter, perfonally addrefled to Lord North, he 
 oberves, " If any doubt could remain on the 
 " fate of fuch a minifter, left to himfelf, the 
 '' hiftory of your militia will remove it. 
 " Let us gratefully recollect the political 
 " juftice of that fcene, in which you fo fuc- 
 " cefsfully plotted your own tragi-comic 
 " cataftrOphe. It is almoft too ludicrous 
 " to be gravely treated ; and yet it may be 
 " too ferious in its confequences for ridicule 
 " or contempt. It is impoflible not to laugh 
 " at Faljlajf, buffeted by his own friends, 
 " and outwitted in his own knavery ; but 
 " indignation checks our mirth, when wfe 
 
 " remember
 
 HUGH BOYD. p 
 
 ** remember that the fat man has mi/led the 
 <( frincc, and pillaged the exchequer." 
 
 It is obfervable, that this pafTage is pecu- 
 liarly in the ftyle of Jumus ; and perhaps 
 there is not even in the moft highly finished 
 of the letters under that fignature, a more 
 happy or appropriate allufion. But there 
 are ftill a few more paragraphs in thofe let- 
 ters, which, though not exactly in the lan- 
 guage, are fo much in the fpirit of Jumus, 
 that I mud beg leave to point them out. 
 
 In his letter to Lord North, already 
 quoted, Democraticus obferves, " In times 
 " of rebellion, it was in common obfervation, 
 t: that the traitor was hated^ though the 
 " treafon was loved. You, my Lord, per- 
 " haps (land acquitted from crimes fo ex- 
 " alted. But levelling the argument to 
 " your official fituation, it may be prudent 
 " to confider that the tools of power are 
 " firft defpifed, and at laft thrown afide, by 
 " thofe who have employed them. Recol- 
 " lecl:, my Lord, and feel, if you can, the 
 ft real relation in which you Hand to a 
 * f great connexion of power, under which you 
 " have been prime minifter. The degree 
 
 of
 
 70 LIFE OF 
 
 " of refpecl: that you receive from the dig- 
 " nity of the lord prefident, cannot now be 
 " ambiguous even to your infenfibility. 
 " Lord Weymouth tells the fecret every 
 " evening. Mr. Rigby entertains the Houfe 
 " of .Commons with it ; and no wonder that 
 " he thinks it an excellent joke ; for he 
 " gets both the laugh and the vote on his 
 " fide. But, indeed, my Lord, your per- 
 " fonal eflimation feems alike in all. * * * 
 a * * From numberlefs inflances of infigni- 
 " ficance, and of danger, confequently, in 
 " which you ftand, when left to your own 
 " weaknefs, I have felecled the defeat of 
 " your militia, and your confeffed impo- 
 " tence of every national refource, becaufe 
 " it is the moft inftant in its confequence. 
 " I would warn you in fober fincerity of 
 " your imminent peril. You have not quite 
 " benumbed the country. The people of 
 " England have feeling, my Lord, if they have 
 " not forefight. The hour of trial, perhaps of 
 " ruin, is at hand." It will be recollecled 
 in what terms Junius talks of Lord Wey- 
 mouth and Mr. Rigby in various parts of 
 his letters ; and it will be found, that they 
 
 are
 
 HUGH BOYD. 7! 
 
 arc always mentioned by Mr. Boyd in lan- 
 guage nearly fimilar. Of Mr. Wedder- 
 burne Junius obferves, " that there is fome- 
 " thing about him which even treachery 
 " cannot trujl" And in another place he 
 fays of him, " to facrifice a refpe&ed cha- 
 " rafter, and to renounce the eiteem of 
 " fociety, requires more than Mr. Wedder- 
 " burne's refolution : and though in him it 
 " was rather a profeflion than a defertion 
 " of his principles (I [peak tenderly of this 
 " gentleman, for, when treachery is in quejlion, 
 " I think we Jhould make allowances J or a 
 tl Scotchman) yet we have feen him in the 
 " Houfe of Commons overwhelmed with 
 " confufion, and almoft bereft of his facul- 
 " ties." Democraticus talks of him in terms 
 more guarded, but not on that account the 
 lefs fevere. Speaking of Lord North, he 
 afks, " Did his Lordfhip referve his defence 
 " for this day, when again, perhaps, the 
 " charge (hall be urged againft him ? Or 
 " will he continue contumacious at his 
 "peril? Even the found discretion of Mr. 
 " Wedderburne will difgrace its definition, 
 *< and will hefitate at the tyrannous and 
 
 " traitorous
 
 72 LIFE OF 
 
 " traitorous profcription of the befl and 
 " bravefl * men of our fervice, though kis 
 " nature was amply indulged in their ground- 
 ". lefs and malicious profecution" 
 
 In another letter Democraticus reflects 
 upon the character of Lord Sandwich, in 
 the warmed language of indignation and 
 reproach- Addrefling himfelf to Lord 
 North, he fays, "Self-defence, my Lord, 
 " may be the law of art, as it is of na- 
 " ture. We will not wonder, therefore, 
 " that you and your friends mould drain 
 " every artifice to ruin the nobleft honour, 
 " and the moft approved virtue in the king- 
 " dom ; becaufe that virtue is too pure, and 
 " that honour too illuftrious, to mix with 
 " rneannefs, malice, and difgrace; becaufe 
 " thofe honourable and injured men \v T ill 
 '** not ferve their country, while you prefide 
 " at the treafury ; while your affefTor holds 
 " the department that- was American, and 
 " continues his baleful influence with the 
 ghofts of the departed colonies ; and 
 " while the Jlain of office t, that reproach 
 
 * Trie here alludes to the trial of Admiral Keppel. 
 t Meaning my Lord Sandwich. 
 
 "and
 
 HUGH BOYD. 73 
 
 cf andjligma of every thing decent in private 
 "life, or dignified in puUick conduffi, ufurps 
 " the care of the BRITISH FLAG." Jumus's 
 fentiments with regard to this noble Lord, 
 are fufficiently explained in 'one of his let- 
 ters to the Duke of Grafton, wherein he 
 obferves, " We can eafily account for your 
 " violating your engagements with men of 
 " honour ; but why fhould you betray your 
 " natural connexions? Why feparate your- 
 " felf from Lord Sandwich, Lord Gower, 
 " and Mr. Rigby ? With all the fafhion- 
 " able indulgence of the times, this country 
 " does not abound in characters like theirs ; 
 t( and you may find it a very difficult mat- 
 " ter to recruit the black catalogue of your 
 "friends" No man, I mould imagine, can 
 read the above paflages attentively, with- 
 out being forcibly ftruck with the fimilitude 
 of their fentiments, fpirit, and manner. But, 
 I (hall now proceed to mew, in a few ex- 
 tracls from the letters of the Whig, not only 
 that Mr. Boyd's principles were the fame as 
 thofe of Junius, but alfo that he harboured 
 in his mind the fame peculiarity of political 
 attachments and antipathies, as well as the 
 
 fame
 
 74 LITE OF 
 
 fame daring fpirit ; and if the Whig be more 
 diffufe in his ftyle, and lefs keen in his fatire, 
 than Junius, his language is at leaft equally 
 nervous and elegant, and his reproaches 
 equally dignified and fevere. 
 
 The letters of the Whig appeared in Mr. 
 Almon's paper, the London Courant, in the 
 winter of 1779, and in the fpring of 1780. 
 Mr. Boyd confefled to Mrs. Boyd, that he 
 was the author of them ; nor did he keep 
 the fecret from Mr. Almon, who had long 
 before that period been fully convinced, 
 from feveral flrong circumftances*, that he 
 was in reality the writer of Junius's, letters. 
 Some part of the MSS. of the Whig is ftill 
 extant, and I have feen it : it is written in 
 Mr. Boyd's ordinary hand-writing, though 
 perhaps in fomewhat of a larger letter, and 
 it bears every appearance of having been 
 executed in great hade. Xn faft, he com- 
 pofed the letters of the Whig, nearly in the 
 fame negligent manner that he did thofe of 
 the Freeholder, and of Democraticus ; and 
 they exhibit the fame range of mind, to- 
 
 * See Mr. Almon's Letter on this fubjedl, in the Ap- 
 pendix to the Life. 
 
 gether
 
 HUGH BO YD. 
 
 75 
 
 gether with the like eafe and perfpicuity of 
 diclion. 
 
 The opinion of Junius, with regard to 
 our conftitutional maxim, that the King can 
 do no wrong, is well known. But let us 
 compare the language in which he has deli- 
 vered it, with that of the Whig, on this deli- 
 cate fubjecl. 
 
 WHIG. 
 
 When it is truly faid, 
 that the King can do no wrong, 
 the office is intended, and 
 not the perfon ; and this 
 true conftruclion is the per- 
 feft praife of our admirable 
 conftitulion. The King of 
 England can do no wrong; 
 for it is not the office of the 
 King to do any thing. The 
 cautious \vifdom of our 
 policy will not permit the 
 King to aft. ***** The 
 office of King being thus 
 confidered, I truft with due 
 refpeft: ; for I think it re- 
 ceives the highelt, when de- 
 fined as part of the confti- 
 tution; it remain" to remind 
 the perfon appointed to that 
 office, that he is a man ; 
 that in his perfonal capacity 
 he may, he muft do wrong; 
 for error is effential to hu- 
 manity. It remains to de- 
 monftrate to him, that who- 
 ever confounds his perfon 
 with his office, is a fatal ene- 
 my 
 
 JUNIUS. 
 
 If it be really a part ol 
 our conftitution, and not a 
 mere ditfum of the law, thai 
 the King can do no wrong, it is 
 not the only inllance, in the 
 wife/i of human injiitutions, 
 where theory is at variance 
 with practice. That the 
 Sovereign of this country is 
 not amenable to any form 
 of trial known to the laws, 
 is unquefticnable. But ex- 
 emption from punifhment is 
 a (ingular privilege annexed 
 to the royal character, and 
 no way excludes the pojjibi- 
 lity of deferving it. How 
 long, and to what extent, a 
 King of England may be 
 protected by the forms, 
 when he violates the fpirit 
 of the conftitution, deferves 
 to be confidered. A miftake 
 in this matter proved fatal to 
 Charles and his fan,\ 
 
 In another place, he fays, 
 
 The do8rine inculcated by 
 
 our laws, thattbeKing can do no 
 
 wrong,
 
 76 LIFE OF 
 
 WHIG. JUNIUS. 
 
 my to both ; for that they wrong, is admitted without 
 are fo perfectly diftindl in reluctance. We feparate 
 their nature, attributes, and the amiable good-natured 
 intcrefts, that the abufe oi prince from the folly and 
 one is expiable only by the treachery of his fervants, 
 punifhment of the other, and the private virtues of 
 The conftitution will not the man from the vices of 
 admit that tbt King did his government. Were it 
 wrong; and the law fays not for this difiinclion, I 
 that the King never dies : but know not whether your Ma- 
 Charles Stuart was an olfti- je/ifs condition, or that of the 
 nate tyrant ; and Charles Englifh nation, would defervc 
 Stuart loft bis bead. mo/i to be lamented. 
 
 Thus we find that the opinions of Junius 
 and the Whig, on this queftion, moft per- 
 fectly agree ; and it is obfervable that the 
 Whig explains himfelf with the greateft free- 
 dom of the two. 
 
 Junius's antipathy to the Scotch is too 
 generally known, to render it any way necef- 
 fary for me to cite the various pafiages in 
 his letters, in which it is expreffed. Every 
 perfon will obferve the ftriking fimilarity 
 between the following extract from a letter 
 of the Whig's, and thofe parts of J unius' s 
 writings, wherein the Scotch are mentioned. 
 In the Whig's letter to Lord Thurlow, after 
 having- fpoken of Lord North, and Lord 
 Hilfborough, with great bitternefs and afpe- 
 
 rity*
 
 HUGH BOYD, 77 
 
 rity, he fays, e: I afk pardon from my reader 
 " for defcending to fuch mifery ; rendered 
 '" worthy of publick notice only from your 
 " fingular fupport. No nobleman, except 
 " your Lordfhip, has (looped to it ; no 
 " Englifhman, except yourfelf, has fo in- 
 " fulted his country. Even in the Houfe 
 " of Commons, none but Scotch lawyers 
 " were found hardy enough on that day, to in- 
 "Jiilt this kingdom. And even they, with all 
 " the fervility of their country 9 and venality 
 "of their profejfion, (Mr. ADAM, indeed, 
 " is but a young practitioner) were forced to 
 " confefs the fluggimnefs of Lord North. 
 " They did not poji from Scotland, to ap- 
 " plaud the minifter, whofe irrefoludon has 
 " renewed rebellion in their kirk, and whofe 
 " continued power will add depopulation and 
 ft famine to their country. No, my Lord, 
 " they were too difcreet. They crojjed the 
 " Tweed according to the diftindion fuggeft- 
 '* ed by their countryman, and pretty fteadily 
 "adopted fince, not to defend mini- 
 "Jlers, but fupport government. And the 
 " doftrine is now eftablifhed in practice by 
 <{ an immediate proficient from Lord MANS- 
 
 "WELD'S
 
 ^8 LIFE OF 
 
 " FIELD'S fchool; that the only mode offufi* 
 " porting government, is to (lander the peo- 
 " pie ; to demonflrate, that we have neither 
 * e virtue, talents, nor fpirit among us ; that 
 " we ought, therefore, to endure difgrace 
 " and defeat as our neCeflary lot, and hew 
 " our wood, and draw our water, without 
 " repining." 
 
 " The exclitjive infamy of fuch auxiliaries, 
 " were itfelf fufficient to drag down the dig- 
 " nity of any character. Firmer fame, even 
 " than yours, if it rifqued fuch ruin, could 
 " not efcape it. When the Lord High 
 " Chancellor of England defcends from his 
 " prefiding feat in the affembly of the no- 
 " bles, to mix with impudent mercenaries, in 
 " a caufe which every man of honour fhrinks 
 '* from, he forfeits every reputation, and his 
 " glory will fet more rapidly than it rofe. 
 " Defcent and fall, which, with the fpirits of 
 " MILTON, we thought adverfe, at leaft to 
 . " the magnanimity of his character, will grow 
 " natural, neceffary, and inftant to its abafe- 
 " ment. He finks for ever." In feveral 
 other parts of thefe letters, the Whig fpeaks 
 of the Scotch in fimilar terms of reproach ; 
 
 but
 
 HUGH BOYD. 79 
 
 but particularly in his letter addrefled to 
 the Majority of the Houfe of Commons, 
 who divided with minifters againft Sir 
 GEORGE SAVILLE'S motion for a lift of all 
 the fubfifting penfions granted by the crown, 
 he obferves, " England will fee, that thofe, 
 " and almoft only thofe, who either hold 
 " places under the crown, receive penfions 
 (t from the minifter, or have invaded us 
 " from the northern part of the ijland, are 
 " the perfons who confpire againft the pro- 
 " perty and Liberty of the people" He then 
 proceeds to point out to them, the danger- 
 ous and dreadful confequences that may 
 probably follow a too obftinate adherence 
 to the corrupt and pernicious counfels of 
 Lord North ; and concludes by exhorting 
 them to affert the dignity of their ftation, 
 and to throw off their fervile dependence on 
 minifters. " Break," fays he, " the difgrace- 
 " ful chains, that have fo long bound you to 
 " an abandoned adrniniftration ; and retain 
 " from the forgivenefs of the people, what you 
 " cannot longer withhold from their indig- 
 " nation. Not the gifts, but the givers, have 
 " di/graced you. Your places, yourpenfans,
 
 o LIFE OF 
 
 " even the country offome of you, cannot juft* 
 " ly fubjecl: you to pofitive reproach. It is 
 " only as they have inclined and dtbaftd, you 
 " into infamous fervility, that they have 
 "grown proverbial in the contempt* of man- 
 " kir^d. But in prudence, if not in honour t 
 ** 'affume the virtue if you fiave it not;' nor 
 w longer devote yourfelves to common rum 
 " with the falling edifice of corruption. It 
 e makes already to its foundation ; the 
 " breath of the people will level it for 
 "ever." 
 
 Thefe cenfures of the Scotch, it may be 
 faid, are nothing more than the popular 
 language of the times in which they were 
 written ; and that therefore their refem- 
 blance to the fentiments of Junius on this 
 fubjecl:, furnifhes no argument in the pre- 
 fent difcuffion. But, it is not fo much to 
 the parity of particular fentiments or phrafes, 
 as to the famenefs of the general fpirit by 
 which they are animated, that I wifh to fix 
 the reader's attention. The hoftility of 
 Junius towards the Scotch, proceeded no 
 lefs from an utter abhorrence of the politi- 
 cal principles upon which the leading men 
 
 of
 
 HUGH BOYD. 8l 
 
 of that nation then aled, than from an en- 
 tire convi&ion, that if thofe principles were 
 permitted to take root in England, they 
 would ultimately branch out, and grow 
 above the legal liberties of the people. 
 Whether or not his opinion was well found- 
 ed, it is no way incumbent on me to in- 
 quire ; I only mean to date, that it is mani- 
 fed from the fpirit of the remarks made on 
 the national character of the Scotch, both 
 by Junius and the Whig, that at lead much 
 of their apparent enmity arofe from a defire 
 to rouze the indignation and point the ha- 
 tred of the people againd the toryifm intro- 
 duced into his Majedy's councils by Lord 
 Bute and Lord Mansfield, and to keep alive 
 in the breads of Englishmen, that watchful 
 jealoufy of their rulers, which is eflential 
 to the confervation of publick freedom. 
 But the juflnefs of thefe obfervations will 
 be bed proved by comparing the fpirit 
 of the following paffage from Junius, with 
 that of thofe of the Whig above quoted. In 
 Junius's firft letter to Lord Mansfield, he fays, 
 " Permit me to begin with paying a jufl 
 " tribute to Scotch fmcerity wherever I find 
 VOL. i. / " it.
 
 82 LIFE OF 
 
 " it. I own I am not apt to confide in the 
 " profellions of gentlemen of that country ; 
 " and when they fmrle, I feel an involuntary 
 " emotion to guard myfelf againft mifchief. 
 ' With this general opinion of an ancient 
 " nation, I always thought it much to your 
 * Lordfhip's honour, that in your earlier 
 **" days you were but little infefted with the 
 " prudence of your country." ****** The 
 " liberal fpirit of youth prevailed overjy0wr 
 " native difcretion" * * * * There was 
 " fomething generous in your attachment to 
 " the banifked Houfe of Stuart. We lament 
 " the miftakes of a good man, and do not 
 " begin to deteft him until he affecls to re- 
 '* nounce his principles. Why did you not 
 * ; adhere to the loyalty you once profefled? 
 " Why did you not follow the example of 
 '' your worthy brother * ? With him you 
 " might have Jhared in the honour of the 
 5f Pretender's confidence ; with him you 
 ts might have preferved the integrity of 
 
 * This man was always a rank Jacobite. Lord Ravenf- 
 worth produced the moft fatisfadlory evidence of his 
 having frequently drank the Pretender's health on his 
 'knees. Juntas. 
 
 i " your
 
 HUGH BOYD. 83 
 
 " your chara&er; and England, I think, 
 " might have fpared you without regret. 
 " Your friends will lay, perhaps, that al- 
 " though you deferted the fortune of your 
 " liege Lord, you have frmly adhered to the 
 <: principles which drove his father from the 
 "throne; that, without openly fupporting 
 " the perfon, you have done eflential fer- 
 " vice to the caufe ; and confoled yourfelf 
 (: for the lofs of a favourite family, by re- 
 " viving and ejlabli/hing the maxims of his 
 " government. This is the way in which a 
 " Scotchman's underftanding corrects the 
 " errors of his heart. My Lord, I acknow- 
 *' ledge the truth of the defence, and can 
 " trace it through all your conduct. I fee 
 " through your whole life one uniform plan 
 " to enlarge the power of the crown, at the 
 " expence of the liberty of the fubjett. To 
 " this objecl: your thoughts, words, and ac- 
 " tions, have been conftantly directed." It 
 were needlefs to quote this pafTage any fur- 
 ther. The conformity of its fpirit to that 
 of the farcafms of the Whig, on Lord Mans- 
 jfield and the Scotch, muft already be fuffi- 
 ciently evident. 
 
 /2 With
 
 84 LIFE OF 
 
 With regard to Lord Bute, it is well 
 known that Junius heaps reproaches upon 
 him with abundant liberality. In a note to 
 the moft celebrated of all his letters, after 
 defcribing the manner in which the King 
 was placed under the care of Lord Bute, be 
 obferves, " That was the falient point 
 '< from which all the mifchiefs and difgraces 
 " of the prefent reign took life and mo- 
 " tion." The Whig exprefles the fame fen- 
 timent, by a figure equally illuftrative. 
 fi The early exclufion of Mr. Pitt, and in- 
 '" troduclion of the Earl of Bute, were the 
 '' firft bitter waters of that fatal fountain 
 " which has almofl deluged the rights and 
 " power of the people." 
 
 EveYy one will recollect, that Junius was 
 an enemy to feptennial, and an advocate for 
 triennial parliaments. In his letter to Mr. 
 WJLKE-S, he entered at large into the fub- 
 jec\ and exprefsly declared himfelf to that 
 effecL On this queftion the Whig curforily, 
 but forcibly obferves, that the " opportu- 
 "nities and temptations to defpotifm, feem- 
 -" : ed to have attained their full maturity, at 
 <; the commencement of the prefent. reign. 
 
 The
 
 HUGH BOYD. 85 
 
 " Thefepttnnia! atl offuicide, abhorrent cer- 
 " tainly from the popular nature of par- 
 ts liament, and deftrudive of its due inde- 
 " pendence on the crown, had long been 
 <' perpetrated," 
 
 Speaking of the popularity with which 
 his Majefty afcended the throne, Junius 
 and the Whig have exprefTed the fame fen- 
 timents, in language very much alike. 
 
 fufi 
 
 WHIG. 
 
 The time of his Majefty's 
 afcenfion to the throne, was 
 full of fuch peculiar circum- 
 ftances of popularity, as 
 
 ve unlimited, becaufe un- 
 ufpefted, power. Into that 
 aufpicious moment was 
 crowded all the promife of 
 his youth, founded in the 
 fond memory of all the vir- 
 tues of his anceftors ; of his 
 youth rifing, as it feemed, 
 to renew the race of glory 
 that they had run, even up 
 to the recent goal of uni- 
 verfal conquelt. Nature 
 and fortune confpired to 
 give the young monarch of 
 that day an empire the beft 
 and mo ft permanent that 
 monarchs can enjoy, if they 
 wifh to maintain it, an ab- 
 folute power in the hearts 
 of his lubjecls. 
 
 JUNIUS. 
 
 You afcended the throne 
 with a declared, and, I doubt 
 not, a fincere refolution of 
 giving univerfal fatisfaftion 
 .to your fub lefts. You 
 found them pleafed with 
 the novelty of a young 
 prince, whofc countenance 
 promifed even more than 
 his words ; and loyal to 
 you not only from principle 
 but paffion. It was not a 
 cold profemon of allegiance 
 to the firft magiftrate, but a 
 partial animated attachment 
 to a favourite prince, the 
 native of their country. 
 They did not wait to exa- 
 mine your conduct, nor to 
 be determined by experi- 
 ence, but '_;ave you a gene- 
 rous credit" for the future 
 bleflings of your reign, and 
 paid you in advance the 
 dearelt tribute of their af. 
 feclions. 
 
 Many
 
 S6 LIFE OF 
 
 Many other parallel paffages might b 
 pointed out in the Whig and Junius, were I 
 not fearful of fatiguing the patience of my 
 readers, by increafing thefe citations which, 
 perhaps, they already think too numerous. 
 But there are two more paragraphs in the 
 letters of the Whig, which fo peculiarly re- 
 femble the general fpirit and manner of 
 Junius, that I mould deem it unpardonable 
 not to notice them. Talking of the changes 
 which corruption and mifgovernment have 
 introduced into the Britifh conftitution, he 
 fays, "The Britifh conftitution.hath chang- 
 " ed its form, and is lofing its fpirit. Some 
 " magick has metamorphofed the ancient 
 " pyramid into the deformity of a Ghinefe 
 " pagoda. The beautiful ftrength of its 
 " order is gone; and we now tremble for 
 " the narrowed bafe ; oppreffed by the mid- 
 " die ; with rrionfters at the top !" 
 
 In another letter, wherein he reprobates 
 the ferviiity of minifters, and the corruptions 
 of the court, he fays, " Weaknefs alone 
 " were not a fufBcient qualification for a 
 " modern minifter He mufl be atlively 
 " contemptible if he expect honour at court. 
 
 * # * * Q c .
 
 HUGH BOYD. 87 
 
 " * * * * Occafions are ftudioufly contrive4 
 " to bend and fubdue the fpirits of men : 
 " and thofe are advanced the higheft in the 
 "fervice, who have beft learned the discipline 
 " of dif grace. There mould be little won- 
 " der that commanders in fuch a fervice are 
 " fought for from the ranks" 
 
 " I trull I have now fully demonftrated, 
 that Mr. Boyd's political principles, opi- 
 nions, and fentiments, were precifely the 
 fame as thofe of Junius ; and that his politi- 
 cal writings bear a more linking refemblance 
 to the general ftyle and fpirit of the cele- 
 brated letters under that fignature, than any 
 other compofitions which have hitherto been 
 prefented to the publick. It remains, how- 
 ever, to {hew, that this refemblance did not 
 proceed from a ftudied imitation, but from a 
 predilection for that caft of thought, and of 
 language to which his mind had been long 
 accuftomed. Tomakeadiflinctionof this na- 
 ture, in general, perhaps requires one of the 
 niceft and moft refined operations of critical 
 tafte ; but in the particular inftance before 
 us, it is to be determined by a few plain 
 facls, and by an argument fo fimple and 
 
 obvious,
 
 88 LIFE OF 
 
 obvious, that I doubt not it will be intelli- 
 gible and fatisfa6lory to every underftand- 
 ing. 
 
 It has been very generally imagined that 
 the ftyle ' of Junius is perfe&ly original; 
 that it was formed upon no model ; and 
 that in the ftru&ure of it the author was 
 indebted to no matter. But an examination 
 of the ftyle, manner, and fpirit, of two 
 performances, that in the time of Junius 
 were rather fcarce, and that are ftill little 
 known but by name, will inconteftibly prove 
 the utter fallacy of fuch a fuppofition. One 
 of thefe performances, which I have already 
 had occafion to quote, is intitled, Killing no 
 Murder*. It was written by the famous Co- 
 lonel TITUS, while in clofe confinement in 
 the Tower, by the order of CROMWELL. 
 It is a remonftrance to the people of Eng- 
 land againfl the tamenefs with which they 
 fubmitted to the ufurpation of the Proteftor ; 
 and its main argument is defigned to (hew, 
 that fo far from being a crime, it would be 
 
 * In 1792, this pamphlet was reprinted for Ridgeway, 
 with a dedication to the late Emprefs 
 
 an
 
 HUGH BOYD. 89 
 
 an aft of heroick virtue to murder him by 
 whatever means the nature of circumftances 
 might render the mod effe&ual. It com- 
 mences with a dedication to Cromwell, 
 which is no lefs remarkable for its unexam- 
 pled boldnefs, than for a claflical flrength 
 and elegance of diftion, very uncommon in 
 the age in which it was written, and that 
 would do honour to the more polilhed pe- 
 riods of Englifh literature. 
 
 The other performance is Lord Bo LIN G- 
 BR ORE'S political letters, which he originally 
 publifhed in the Craftsman under the figna- 
 ture of Caleb D'Anvers, and fome of which, 
 together with his letters on the Hiftory of 
 England, and his dedication to Lord Ox- 
 ford, are now to be found in Vol. 1L of his 
 Mifcellaneous Works. 
 
 From thefe productions, but efpecially 
 Lord Bolingbroke's, the writer of the letters 
 of Junius unqueftionably formed his ftyle : 
 and it is a fa&, as curious in itfelf, as it is in- 
 terefling in this difcuflion, that both Colonel 
 Titus's tracl, and Lord Bolingbroke's letters, 
 were fo familiar to Mr. Boyd, that he could 
 almoft repeat the whole of them. Of Killing 
 
 no
 
 no Murder he had, when I knew him, a 
 copy of the original edition, upon which he 
 fet a great value ; and the dedication to 
 Cromwell, as well as feveral other parts of 
 that performance, he has very frequently 
 repeated to me. Of Lord Bolingbroke's 
 letters on the Hiftory of England I have of- 
 ten heard him exprefs his high admiration ; 
 but the philofophical works of that noble- 
 man he always reprobated in the fevered 
 terms. When thefe circumftances are com- 
 bined with the faft, that the letters of the 
 Freeholder and Whig have in many paflages 
 a peculiar affinity both to the reafoning and 
 manner of Lord Bolingbroke's writings, we 
 muft conclude in argument, that it was up- 
 on thofe writings Mr. Boyd modelled his 
 political flyle ; and that therefore the lan- 
 guage of jfunius, and that of the Freeholder 
 and Whig, were caft in the fame mould. 
 But in order to fubftantiate the truth of 
 this inference, I (hall cite one or two paf- 
 fages, both from Colonel Titus and Lord 
 Bolingbroke. 
 
 It is neceflary to premife that, in Colonel 
 Titus's performance, it is the dignified ani- 
 mation
 
 HUGH BOYD. 9! 
 
 mation and energy of the language; rather 
 thai: me ftructure of the fentences, which 
 Mr. P>oyd has imitated. Of this, the reader 
 e enabled to judge, from the manner 
 in T -vhich the dedication to Cromwell com- 
 mences. 
 
 " May it pleafe your Highnefs, 
 " How I have fpent fome hours of the 
 " leifure your Highnefs has been pleafed to 
 <e give me, this following paper will give 
 ''your Highnefs an account; how you will 
 * f pleafe to interpret it, I cannot tell ; but I 
 " can with confidence fay, my intention in 
 " it is, to procure your Highnefs that juftice 
 " nobody yet does you, and to let the peo- 
 " pie fee the longer they defer it, the greater 
 " injury they do both themfeJves and you. To 
 " your Highnefs juftly belongs the honour 
 " of dying for the people ; and it cannot 
 " chufe but be an unfpeakable confolation 
 " to you in the laft moments of your life, 
 <f to confider, with how much benefit to 
 " the world you are like to leave it. It is 
 " then only, my Lord, the titles you now 
 " ufurp will be truly yours. You will then 
 " be indeed the deliverer of your country, 
 
 " and
 
 O.2 LIFE OF 
 
 " and free it from a bondage little inferior 
 " to that from which MOSES delivered his. 
 " You will then .be that true reformer 
 ({ which you would now be thought ; re- 
 " ligion (hall be then reftored, liberty affert- 
 <s ed, and parliaments have thofe privileges 
 " they have fought for. We (hall then 
 .' hope that other laws will have place, be- 
 " fides thofe of the fword, and that juftice 
 '" fhall be otherwife defined than the will 
 " and pleafure of the ftrongeft ; and we fhall 
 " then hope/ men will keep oaths again, 
 et and not have the neceflity of being falfe 
 " and perfidious to preferve themfelves, and 
 .*' be like their rulers. All this we hope 
 " from your Highnefs's happy expiration, 
 " who are the true father of your country ; 
 " for while you live, we can call nothing 
 " ours : and it is from your death we hope 
 ** for oiir inheritances : Let this confidera- 
 *' tion arm and fortify your Highnefs's mind 
 " againft the fears of death, and the terrors 
 " oi your evil confcience, that the good you 
 " will do by your death, will fomewhat ba- 
 " lance, the evils of your life." The fame 
 fpirit is kept up throughout the remainder 
 
 of
 
 HUGH BO YD. 93 
 
 of the dedication, which is in every refpeft 
 equally admirable. 
 
 After the dedication follows an addrefs to 
 the officers and foldiers of the army, in which 
 the following pafTage is deferving of notice 
 in this inveftigation. , 
 
 " Could ever England have thought to have 
 " feen that army, that was never mentioned 
 " without the titles of religious, zealous, 
 " faithful, courageous, the fence of her 
 " liberty at home, the terror of her ene- 
 ff mies abroad, become her gaolers ? Not 
 " her guard, but her oppreflbrs ? Not her 
 " foldiers, but a tyrant's executioners, draw- 
 " ing to blocks and gibbets all that dare be 
 " honefter than themfelves ? This you do, 
 " and this you are ; nor can you ever re- 
 " deem your own honour, the truft and 
 " love of your country, the eflimation pf 
 " brave men, or the prayers of good, if you 
 " let not fpeedily the world fee you have 
 " been deceived ; which they will then only 
 " believe, when they fee your vengeance on 
 " the faithlefs head that did it. This, if you 
 " defer too long to do, you will find too 
 " late to attempt ; and your repentance will 
 
 " neither
 
 {J4 LIFE OF 
 
 ct neither vindicate you, nor help us. To 
 " let you fee you may do this as a lawful 
 ** aftion, and to perfuade you to it as a 
 " glorious one, is the principal intent of 
 " this following paper ; which, whatever 
 " effects it hath upon you, I {hall not abfo- 
 " lutely fail of my ends ; for if it excites 
 " not your virtue and courage, it will yet 
 " exprobrate your cowardice and bafenefs." 
 
 The whole of the pamphlet is written in 
 the fame ardent and nervous language: but, 
 there is one fentence in particular, fo much 
 in the general ftyle of Junius, that I think 
 it material to cite it. Talking of the virtue 
 of murdering a tyrant, and enforcing the 
 neceflity of putting Cromwell to death, he 
 fays '' This firebrand, I would have any 
 '* way extinguifhed ; this ulcer, I would 
 " have had any hand to lance ; and I can- 
 " not doubt but God will fuddenly fanlify 
 ft fome hand to do it, and bring down that 
 " bloody and deceitful man, who lives not 
 " only to the mifery, but the infamy of our 
 " nation." 
 
 Throughout the whole of thefe pafTages, 
 the fpirit of Junius may be traced: but 
 
 in
 
 HUGH BOYD. 95 
 
 in the following extracts from the aforefaid 
 letters of Lord Bolingbroke, we (hall im- 
 mediately perceive the form and type of 
 yunius's compofition. 
 
 The Dedication to Lord Oxford con- 
 tains fome ftriking paffages in which the 
 critical pbifiognomift will obferve the fea- 
 tures of Junius. The dignified air and 
 manner with which it begins, merits peculi- 
 ar notice. 
 
 " My Lord/' 
 
 " Of the whole legion once in your pay, 
 " perhaps not one writer continues in your 
 " fervice ; as they followed you for the 
 " loaves and fifhes only, their zeal failed 
 " with their appointments, and they found 
 " it neceflary to take up fome other trade." 
 
 " But though, like them, my Lord, I at- 
 " tended your meridian, I Jhatl not like them 
 " forfake you at your decline / on the con- 
 " trary, I am ftill as much at your devotion 
 " as ever, and it is notorious, you have 
 " now as much to beftow as I expected 
 " then. 
 
 " As therefore I make my approach with 
 '* the fame fincerity, I depend on the fame 
 
 " reception
 
 g6 LIFE OF 
 
 "reception; more efpecially when I far- 
 " ther aflure you, that if I happen to be 
 " the longeft liver, I will be as juft to your 
 " memory, as I have been to your admini- 
 " ftration." 
 
 In another paragraph he proceeds to fay, 
 " The old jingle of honor es mutant mores, 
 ff you have the glory, my Lord, to be an il- 
 " luftrious exception to ; however enlarged 
 " with ftyle and titles, you continue to be 
 " within the very fame ; and thereby (hew 
 " the eminent infignificancy of fuch vani- 
 " ties. 
 
 " That you condefcended to accept of them, 
 " loilt ever tofome be matter of wonder; that 
 "you condefcended to folicit them will never 
 *' perhaps be believed. Why mould a man 
 " who defpifed the eflence, be fond of the 
 " name ? And that you always had the 
 " magnanimity to be above opinion, is ma- 
 " nifeft by every action of your life. 
 
 " But what labyrinth is there fo intri- 
 " cate, that if you follow the thread, may 
 " not be explored ? A peerage was the 
 " only means, a quietus was the end : you 
 " had performed your voyage, your bark 
 
 "was
 
 HUGH BOYD. 97 
 
 " was crazy, the ftorm was up, and the 
 " firft port welcome. While the helm was 
 " worth holding, you held it; when only an 
 " incumbrance, you refigned it ; equally 
 " pleafed with your own efcape, that your 
 " enemies fucceeded to the danger, and 
 " that your own crew continued to navi- 
 '' gate the veffel as before." 
 
 In the preface to the letters, the follow- 
 ing pafTage is obfervable. " if ever a teft 
 <f for the trial of fpirits can be necefTary, it 
 ' is now; if ever thofe of liberty and fac- 
 " tton ought to be diftinguifhed from each 
 " other, it is now; if ever it is incumbent 
 " on the people to know what truth is, and 
 (f to follow it, it is now. 
 ; " Hitherto, perhaps, liberty like oil hath 
 s; only covered the furface, while the vine- 
 <: gar of faction hath corroded the confti- 
 f< tution underneath, though good hath re- 
 " fulted from both; for even faftion muft 
 " be at' fir ft popular, and popularity can- 
 " not be acquired without the evidence of 
 " fome good deeds, which like Abraham's 
 (S faith, may hold the place of righteouf- 
 <f nefs. 
 
 VOL. i. f "There
 
 0,8 1IFE OF 
 
 " There is a time, when factions by the 
 "vehemence of their own fermentation, 
 " flun and difable one another ; and this is 
 " the time when plain fenfe, and downright 
 *'" honefty, have the only chance to get 
 Si uppermoft, and introduce reformation. 
 
 " Perhaps that time is now ; perhaps 
 ** party leaders of all kinds are equally in 
 " difgrace ; and the publick may be grown 
 *' wife enough to judge of the tree by its 
 " fruits/' ********* Let but one great, 
 " brave, difinterefted, aclive man arife, and 
 *" he will be received, followed and almoft 
 " adored as the guardian genius of thefe 
 '* kingdoms. Without a foundation of fo- 
 " lid virtue and publick fpirit, the nobleft 
 t: accomplifhments lofe their importance; 
 " with it common fenfe grows venerable, 
 " and the dove triumphs over the ferpent." 
 
 Many paiTages iimilar to thefe might be 
 cited both from the letters on the Hiftory 
 of England, and from thofe of Caleb UAr^ 
 vers; but, I truft, I have fufficiently illuf- 
 trated and confirmed my proportion, that 
 both the ftyle of Junius, and that of Mr. 
 Boyd's political writings now publimed, 
 
 were
 
 HUGH BOTD. 99 
 
 were formed in the mould of thefe letters of 
 Bolingbroke's, and that they have imbibed 
 the fpirit of Colonel Titus's produ6Hon. 
 And taking this along with the facT already 
 dated, that Mr. Boyd had fo much fa- 
 miliarized his mind to the writings of thofe 
 authors that he had almoft the whole of 
 them by heart; and remembering at the 
 fame time that he is the only writer hither- 
 to known, who at once refemb!es Boling- 
 broke, Colonel Titus, and Junius, the 
 fair and natural prefumption is, that Mr. 
 Boyd was in reality the author of Junius. 
 
 But it may be contended, that Boyd was 
 only an induftrious imitator of thofe wri- 
 ters ; and that though Junius copied Bo- 
 lingbroke, it does not follow, becaufe Boyd's 
 ftyle refembles theirs, that he therefore was 
 Junius'. for another perfon might have 
 admired Bolingbroke's letters as much as 
 Boyd did, and have thought proper to 
 model his ftyle by them. To this, I an- 
 fwer, that to imitate the ftyle of a great 
 writer fuccefsfully, that is, both in matter 
 and language, requires riot 9nly a genius 
 nearly equal to the original, but alfo much 
 time and labour. Now, though I think 
 2 Mr.
 
 100 LIFE OF 
 
 Mr. Boyd's genius was equal to any literary 
 undertaking of this nature, however ardu- 
 ous, yet the facl is, that the hurry and con- 
 fufion in which the letters of the Freeholder, 
 in particular, were written, precluded the 
 poffibility of any fludy or labour in the 
 compofition of them: and in truth they 
 carry the flrongefl internal evidence along 
 with them, both that the author muft have 
 been habituated to the flyle in which he 
 writes, and that he muft have fent them to 
 the prefs, as he fays himfelf, without " cor- 
 <( reclion or even revifal*." As to the objec- 
 tion, that another perfon might have imitated 
 Bolingbroke, as well as Boyd, it is plaunble, 
 enough, but .certainly of no weight in this 
 difcufiion, unlefs the perfon could be named, 
 and his avowed writings produced. I am 
 therefore authorized to conclude, that when 
 Mr. Boyd published the Freeholder, he was 
 an experienced writer, who had long be- 
 fore that time formed his ftyle from the 
 political letters of Bolingbroke; and that 
 Junius is the only writer befides, who has 
 made thofe letters his model. 
 
 * See the Advertisement to the Reader prefixed to the 
 Fretbolder. 
 
 Thus
 
 HUGH BOYD. 101 
 
 Thus I have eftablifhed the truth of 
 fafts, which may be confidered as eflential 
 preliminaries in this inveftigation ; namely, 
 that Mr. Boyd's talents were fully Compe- 
 tent to the faTk of writing the letters ofjunius, 
 and that his avowed political writings bear, 
 in every refpecV fo- obvious a fimilitude 
 to thofe letters, that we mu'ft prefume they 
 were written by the fame hand. 
 
 But as it has been attempted to run down 
 Mr. Boyd's abilities ; as the publick have 
 been repeatedly told that (I have over-rated 
 them; and as I have been called upon to 
 produce the teiKmonies of more competent 
 and lefs partial judges than myfelf, in fup- 
 port of my opinion, I am defirous that 
 my/r/2 faff, that he was qualified to have 
 written the letters of Junius, mould not 
 reft wholly, even upon the ftrong in- 
 ternal evidence which I have adduced to 
 prove it. For, I am perfectly well aware, 
 that this kind of evidence, even upon a point 
 like this, where it is undoubtedly the mofl 
 unexceptionable that can be given, does not 
 always enforce conviclion, unlefs it be fup- 
 ported by collateral aid. 
 
 Before it can be accurately determined 
 
 whether
 
 1O2 HFE Or 
 
 whether Mr. Boyd's capacity was equal to 
 the tafk of competing the letters of Juniw, 
 it is neceffary to examine the merits of thofe 
 letters, and to afcertain, what in,jreality were 
 the qualifications requifite for the author of 
 them to have poflelfed. 
 
 The fame of Junius's letters has now out- 
 lived the memory of the particular occur- 
 rences, which gave them birth. The in- 
 tereft in thern is no longer kept up by the 
 effervefcence of party zeal, or the enthufiafra, 
 of publick liberty : for the parties they 
 praifed, or cenfured, are now no more, and 
 the genuine fpirit of liberty, from a variety 
 of caufes, has become flat and infipid. Yet 
 are thofe letters ftill read by all defcriptions 
 of people throughout the country ; they 
 are confidered merely as, literary compoli- 
 tions, and as fuch they are univerfally ad- 
 mired. Their fame, therefore, mult in a 
 great meaiure depend on their own excel- 
 lence; and it behoves us to inquire what 
 that excellence qpnfifts in. 
 
 I mail not, I truft, be underftoqd as de- 
 tracting from the true merit ofjumus, when 
 I apply to his writings in general, what was 
 faid of them by Mr. Horne Tooke^ mate- 
 
 riem
 
 HUGH BOYD. K>3 
 
 riem faperabat opus. It is the exquifite 
 beauty of his workmanfhip, rather than the 
 value of his materials, that deferves the ap- 
 plaufe of mankind. His letters undoubtedly 
 abound with ftriking thoughts, juft obferva- 
 tions, noble fentiments, and comprehenfive 
 views ; but they no where difplay much 
 folidity of argument, or depth of reflection : 
 on the contrary, his reafoning, though 
 often ingenious, is more fpecious than 
 conclufive; and his remarks, though often 
 accurate, are often more dazzling thari 
 profound. His chief excellencies then will 
 be found to confift, in the clearnefs of his 
 conceptions, in the precifion with which 
 every faft is ftated, and idea expreffed, in 
 the nervous clofenefs and captivating ele- 
 gance of his ftyle, in the Attic fpirit and 
 poignancy of his fatire, in the admirable fe- 
 licity of his illuftrations, and in the rich, but 
 lively and chafte colouring with which every 
 thin? is touched and adorned *. 
 
 if 
 
 * Of Juntas it may be truly fa'ul, " Nullutn quod tttegit 
 " non arnavit." Nor (hall I be deterred from beflowing 
 this juft praife on his ftyle, on account of the trivial errors 
 vhich Mr. Chalmers has pointed out, and ceniured. " Such 
 " violations of rules merely pofiiivt become the comprehea- 
 
 " five
 
 104 
 
 If .this be admitted to be a juft character 
 of Juniuss writings, it follows as a necefc 
 fary confequence, that he who coinpofed 
 them, required not to have been gifted, with 
 any other endowments, than an enlarged, 
 vigorous, and fubtle understanding, a (juick 
 apprehenfion, ^fertile imagination, a very 
 considerable knowledge of claifical learning 
 and civil hiftory, a general acquaintance 
 with the moral fciences, particularly : that 
 of jurifprudence, .and of" the cqnftitution 
 and laws of England, a thorough infight in- 
 to Jbuman life and manpers, a perfect inti- 
 macy with party politicks, as well as with 
 the private and publick hiftories. of eminent 
 men, and diftinguifhed families, a,nd above 
 all, a ftrong and retentive memory, ever 
 ready to call up in the, mind all the informa- 
 tion it had received, a correcl; judgment to 
 employ it fuccefisfvilly. and a refined taile to 
 polifh and beautify the whole. Every compe- 
 tent judge whoperfeffi/y knew Mr. Bqyd, wijl, 
 I am fure, allow, that he pofleffed all thofe 
 endow r ments in a very eminent degree. Bu.t 
 in order, Xo convince the publick, that my 
 
 opinion of his abilities is not fmgular, I beg 
 
 * 
 
 " five genius of Boyd t and fuch cenfures are fuitable to the 
 '*' minute and flender criticilrn of Chalmers. , 
 
 leave
 
 HUGH BOYD. 105 
 
 leave to cite the following paragraph of a 
 note, which I received from the celebrated 
 Mr. GRATTAN, in the courfe of lafl fum- 
 mer. " Mr. Boyd's underftanding," fays 
 he, " was very confiderable, his memory 
 " aftonifhing, and his literary powers very 
 " great ; but, whether he thought proper to 
 "give them the fly le and caft of/^wniaji 
 " compofition, is what Mr. Grattan cannot 
 <( poffibly undertake to fay. Mr. Grattan 
 " wifhes every fuccefs to Mr. CAMPBELL'S 
 " work, as it is the account of a perfon 
 " (whether Junius or not) whofe life and 
 " talents were an ornament to letters, and 
 (( whofe death an irretrievable lofs." 
 May \6th, 1799. 
 
 The opinion entertained of Mr. Boyd's 
 talents, as well as of the letters of the Free- 
 holder, by his friends in Ireland, may be 
 collected from the following extract of an 
 addrefs to the freeholders of the county of 
 Antrim, publiihed in the Belfaft News Let- 
 ter, fome years after he had gone to India. 
 
 " I conclude, my countrymen, in the 
 if words of a man" (Mr. Boyd) " whofe 
 " fervices to you CAN NEVER BE SUFFI- 
 
 " CIENTLY
 
 1O6 LIFE OF 
 
 9e CIENTLY PRAISED: Who pointed out 
 
 " IN LANGUAGE WHICH WILL BE RE- 
 *' MEMBERED WHILE THERE IS GRATI- 
 '* TUDE LEFT IN HIS NATIVE COUNTRY, 
 
 ** the glorious moment which reftored you 
 " to your original rights. In a period lefs 
 t ominous to freedom than the prefent, he 
 " left this country when he thought he could 
 " no longer ferve it. He looked for an- 
 " other, and became a citizen of the world. 
 ** If afked where that lay ? He might, like 
 " Anaxagoras, have pointed to the heavens. 
 '* Had he journeyed to the weft inftead of 
 " the eaft, he might there have found a 
 *' region more congenial to his noble mind. 
 (t Whatever perils he has encountered, 
 " whatever hardfhips he has fuffered, and 
 " I fear difappointment and difafter have 
 " been his lot, could he now contemplate 
 '1 through the opaque veil of Afiatick def- 
 w potifm, the fituation of his native country; 
 " even at this diftance he would addrefs a 
 ts prayer to the God who rules the univerfe, 
 ** for the confervation of its liberties." 
 
 Almoft all the literary friends that Mr. 
 Boyd had in England, are now dead; but 
 
 it
 
 HUGH BOYD. 1O7 
 
 it is a pofitive fact, the truth of which, if 
 called in queftion,. I can fatisfaclorily prove, 
 that Mr. Edmund Burke, and his brother Mr. 
 Richard B'irke, that Sir Jofhua Reynolds, 
 Mr. Wilkes, Doclor Armftrong, Mr. Serjeant 
 Adair, Mr. Lauchlin Macleane, Mr. David 
 Garrick, and Doctor Goldfmith, all entertain- 
 ed the very higheft opinion of the uncommon 
 powers of Mr. Boyd's mind. And the late 
 Mr. John Stuart, of Hampftead, of whom 
 I have already given a particular account, 
 has frequently declared to me, " that Boyd 
 " poflefled a clearer underftanding, a more 
 ** fertile imagination, and a more ready and 
 " refined wit, than any other man he ever 
 " knew : that he thought his talents fupc- 
 " rior to the abilities difplayed in the letters 
 ' of yunius ; but that he could eafily be- 
 " lieve him to have been the author of thofe 
 " letters, if he were once aflured, that 
 " Woodfall was not indemnified againft the 
 " pecuniary penalties, which he was liable 
 11 to incur as the publisher of them * : for," 
 
 faid 
 
 * This objeHon is now completely done away, by the 
 declaration which Mr.William Woodfall recently made in 
 
 the 
 1
 
 1O8 LIFE Of 
 
 faid Mr. Stuart, " if an indemnity of that 
 " kind had been required, you know our 
 " friend Boyd had it not to offer." 
 
 With Mr. Edmund Burke, Mr. Boyd 
 was long in habits tof the clofeft intimacy. 
 He was firft introduced to him by then- 
 common friend the late Governor PATTER- 
 SON, of the Ifland of St. John's. Mr. 
 Burke admired him fo much * upon their 
 firfl acquaintance, that. he. immediately, in- 
 vjted;him to. Beaconsfield, where he palled 
 fome' time, and whither afterwards he often 
 went. Mr. Burke, his brother. Richard, 
 and his coufm William Burke, alfo vifited 
 frequently at Mr. Boyd's houfe. But the 
 great confidence that Edmund Burke placed 
 in Boyd's political fagacity and talents, is 
 beft proved by the following faft, which came 
 within my own knowledge. From the year 
 1788 till 1793, both Edmund Burke and his 
 fpn kept up a conftant correfpondence with 
 
 -Boyd, although during that time he was at 
 
 .1 
 
 tae publick papers, by the authority of his brother Mr. 
 H. S. Woodfall ; namely, " that the printer of the Pub- 
 " lick .Advertifer never ajked for any indemnity, nor was any
 
 HUGH "BO YD. 10Q 
 
 16 great a diflance from them *. Some of 
 Mr. Burke's letters I have feen. The fub- 
 jet of them was the French Revolution ; 
 and they were written in his beft ftyle, and 
 with .that fpirit of philofophy which per- 
 vades all his writings. He alfo wrote to him 
 on the affairs of India; but-thefe letters, 
 for whatever reafon, Boyd thought proper 
 to deftroy. The letters which he received 
 from young Burke were chiefly on the af- 
 fairs of Ireland, particularly as they related 
 to the emancipation of the Catholicks : and 
 on all thofe fubjefts Boyd, with a few 
 inconfiderable exceptions, agreed with the 
 Burkes. 
 
 - The only one of Mr. Boyd's old and very 
 intimate literary friends, befides Mr. Grat- 
 tan, who is ftill living, is the learned Mr. 
 FRANCIS HARGRAVE; and he has told 
 me, "that he always thought Mr. Boyd's 
 " abilities were of the very firfl rate, and 
 " that he held his literary endowments in the 
 " higheft eftimation." 
 
 Mr. Boyd was likewife acquainted with 
 Mr. Richard B. Sheridan. He ufed fome- 
 
 * Mr. Boyd was then at Madras. He went to India 
 in 1781. 
 
 times
 
 HO LIFE OF 
 
 times to meet him at Mr. STR AFFORD 
 CANNING'S, and at a club at the Globe 
 Tavern in Fleet-ftreet : and I have reafon 
 to believe that Mr. Sheridan conceived a 
 high opinion of his wit and talents. In 
 fhort, every perfon of tafle and judgment 
 who knew Mr. Boyd, confidered him as a 
 very extraordinary man, and as one endowed 
 with the nioft brilliant parts and extenfive 
 acquirements. 
 
 Yet, it may be faid, that Mr. Boyd was 
 too young to have been the author of Ju- 
 nius's letters ; for, that at the age of twenty 
 three *, he cannot be fuppofed to have 
 gained the political experience, and the 
 knowledge of the world, which they every 
 where difplay. This objection is more 
 plaufible than folid ; and is moreover abun- 
 dantly refuted by fome eminent examples 
 of the like prematurity of mind. 
 
 The name of Congreve will occur to 
 every reader acquainted with literary hifto- 
 ry, as an inftance of one who had attained 
 
 * This was Mr, Boyd's age, when the letters oijunmt 
 commenced. 
 
 at
 
 HUGH BOYD. HI 
 
 at a very early age an extenfive knowledge 
 of life and manners. This extraordinary 
 man had written his three beft comedies, 
 and the tragedy of the Mourning Brid, be- 
 fore he had pafled his twenty-fifth year. 
 ts Among all the efforts ~ ~ o xly genius," 
 fays Doftor Johnfon, " >rary hif- 
 
 " tory records, I doubt wnetner any one 
 " can be produced, that more furpafles the 
 " common limits of nature than the plays 
 " of Congreve." But, Congreve was not a 
 politician. In the political world, how- 
 ever, there are examples equally ftriking. 
 The two greateft orators of the prefent day, 
 Mr. Fox, and Mr. PITT, came into parlia- 
 ment at the age of twenty two t : and 
 the friends of thefe gentlemen will allow, 
 that at no period of their political lives, 
 have they ever exhibited ftronger proofs of 
 fagacity, knowledge, and eloquence than 
 when they firft commenced their career. 
 Mr. Fox, before he reached his twenty- 
 fixth year, was the leader of a party the 
 
 t It has indeed been faid that Mr. Fox was not of age 
 when he procured a feat in parliament. 
 
 moft
 
 112 LIFE OF 
 
 moft illuflrious for talents of every kind, 
 that was ever known in England; and the 
 wonderful ability and addrefs with which 
 he managed that party, bcfl (hews how 
 deeply he had fearched into the human 
 heart, hov ' ' 611 y he underflood the 
 motives, paflions, and weaknefles of men, 
 and how attentively he had obferved the 
 habits and praclices of the world. Mr. 
 PITT formed a party at the fcme age, 
 which he has held together ever fince ; 
 while he attended to the various interefts, 
 and conducted the affairs of the Britifh 
 empire. 
 
 It is not my intention to inftitute any 
 comparifon between the talents of thefe 
 great men, and thofe of JuniUs. I only 
 mention their early attainments, in order 
 to (hew that very young men, may acl; or 
 write like very experienced politicians ; 
 for, the Scripture faith truly " that wif- 
 " dom is the grey hair unto men." 
 
 Of Mr. Boyd's great proficiency at 
 fchool, I have already given an account: 
 And his early knowledge of mankind,, and 
 of political affairs, will appear the lefs fur- 
 
 prifmg,
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 prifing, when it is known that his father had 
 made a pracliee of bringing him into compa- 
 ny at eight years old ; that he encouraged by 
 every means in his power, his fon's propen- 
 fity to mix with fociety, and to liften to 
 the converfation and obferve the manners of 
 men; and that feeing his turn for politicks, 
 he beftowed the greater! pains in inftilling 
 into his youthful mind the genuine princi- 
 ples of freedom, in inflrucling him in the 
 fcience of civil government, . and in im- 
 preffing him with juft notions of the ex- 
 cellence of the Britifh conftitution. How 
 well his father was qualified to do all this, 
 has been (hewn, upon the teftimony of 
 Dean Swift : and when we couple fuch 
 circumflahces -with the, facl, that almoft 
 every man, in, Dublin, diftinguimed either 
 for his rank or talents, ufed to vifit at Mr. 
 Macauley's houfe,! truft the caufes of the- 
 prematurity of Mr. Boyd's mind,, will ap- 
 pear fufficiently explained. 
 
 Upon the whole, combining the. concur- 
 rent opinions of the diftinguifhed charac- 
 ters who have been: named, as to Mr. Boyd's 
 intellectual powers and literary . q&alifica- 
 
 VOL. i. h lions,
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 tions, With the ftrong internal evidence in 
 proof of them, which the fele&ions I have 
 made from" his political writings afford, it 
 muft, upon every principle of fair reafoning 
 be concluded, that he was a man of genius and 
 knowledge, of confiderable fagacity and 
 great acutenefs ; and that he was an able 
 politician, as well as a mafterly and elegant 
 writer : and, therefore, according to my 
 idea of the qualities that conftitute the ex- 
 cellence of Junius's letters, which the beft 
 judges will, I believe, admit to be corre6l a 
 I am amply juflified in laying it down as an 
 indubitable truth, that Mr. Boyd's talents 
 were fully adequate to the tafk of writing 
 thofe celebrated epiftles. 
 
 But, it may flill be contended, that 
 though Mr. Boyd was gifted with great abi- 
 lities, he did not pofiefs fufficient means of 
 information with refpeft to the interior po- 
 liticks of the cabinet, and the private lives 
 of men in power, to have written the let- 
 ters of Junius; for, that the author of 
 thofe productions muft have been intimate- 
 ly connected with government, as well as in 
 the conftant habit of aflfociating with the 
 2 firfl
 
 HUGH BOYD. 115 
 
 firft circles of rank and fafhion. To this I 
 anfwer, That a ftricl: fcrutiny of thofe letters 
 will convince every man of found fenfe, that 
 they contain no political information what- 
 ever, but fuch, as a perfon of Mr. Boyd's pe- 
 netration and tenacious memory might very 
 eafily have acquired, from the converfation 
 of thofe very gentlemen, with whom, as it 
 has been dated, he lived on terms of famili- 
 arity and friendfhip. And to thofe who im- 
 agine that the writer of Junius's letters 
 mufl of neceflity have mixed much with 
 people of rank and fafhion, I reply, that it 
 is a facl; weil known to Mr. Boyd's relations, 
 that not only during the time of Junius, 
 but throughout his whole life, he kept com- 
 pany with the higheft orders of fociety, and 
 was familiarly acquainted with feveral fami- 
 lies of diftinftion. It is alfo an equally well 
 authenticated facl;, that when Junius was 
 making fo much noife in the world, Boyd 
 made a conftant practice of attending the 
 levees and drawing-rooms at St. James's. 
 He went to them as a man of fafhion ; and 
 with his inquifitive mind, insinuating ad- 
 drefs, prompt apprehenfion. and wonderful 
 h 2 memory.
 
 Il6 LIFE OF 
 
 memory, we cannot doubt that he collected 
 a vaft deal of curious information, both of 
 a publickand private nature. In truth, no 
 man knew the politicks of the day better 
 than Mr. Boyd ; and there was not a fa- 
 mily of any confequence, either in Great 
 Britain or Ireland, with whofe hiltory he 
 was not thoroughly acquainted. 
 
 I fhall, however, endeavour more parti- 
 cularly to point out the channels through 
 which he received his political information. 
 Thofe who are beft acquainted with the 
 hiftory of the Duke of Grafton's adminiftra- 
 tion, know perfectly well, how very pofli- 
 ble it was, in the time of Junius, to obtain 
 intelligence of what paffed in the cabinet, 
 without being any way connected with it ; 
 and it is well known that few men had more 
 early notice of what pafled there than Mr.; 
 Wilkes, with whom Boyd conftantly affo- 
 ciated. But he had yet another channel of 
 information, more fure at leaft, if not more 
 direcl;, than this one. 
 
 The late Mr. Lauchlin Macleane, who 
 was fecretary to Lord Shelburne, (now 
 Marquis of Lanfdown) when his Lordfhip 
 
 was
 
 HUGH BOYD. 117 
 
 was fecretary of ftate, was Mr. Boyd's par- 
 ticular friend. They firft became known to 
 each other in Dublin, in the year 1764. 
 On Macleane's return from America, they 
 met in London, and renewed their acquaint- 
 ance. Boyd then got very intimate with 
 Harry Madeline, Lauchlin's younger bro- 
 ther ; and he took a warm interefl in what- 
 ever concerned them or their family. 
 Both the Macleanes were men of abilities, 
 but Lauchlin pofTeffed an uncommon de- 
 gree of fagacity and penetration, and to ufe 
 the words of Johnfon, " he knew the mind 
 " of man, from the depth of ftratagem to the 
 " furface of affeftation." During the time 
 he was in office, Boyd was regularly inform- 
 ed of all the fecret tranfaftions of that mon- 
 grel adminiftration, of which Lord Shel- 
 burne was then a member. When the 
 Duke of Grafton compelled that noble Lord 
 to relinquim his place, it is well known that 
 Macleane was difmrfied along with him. A 
 few months fubfequent to their difmiffion, 
 
 the letters of Junius commenced. At this 
 i j 
 
 period Boyd conftantly aflbciated with the 
 Macleanes. With Lauchlin he ufed fre- 
 quently
 
 11$ , LIFE OF 
 
 quently to dine ; and Harry called on him al- 
 moft every day to communicate the political 
 news, which he and his brother had employ- 
 ed their moft ftrenuous induftry to coUecl;. 
 
 From his old friend Mr. G rattan alfo, 
 who lived in London in the time of Junius, 
 he may be fuppofed to have received much 
 afliftance in obtaining information refpe6l- 
 ing fecret politicks ; and during the years 
 1769 and 1770, while Boyd lived in Marl- 
 borough-ftreet, he and Mr. Grattan were 
 perpetually together. 
 
 With regard to the affairs of Ireland, he 
 had feveral fources of intelligence ; but it 
 was chiefly through his friend Mr. Flood he 
 received his earlieft information. 
 
 It were fuperfluous to ftate any thing fur- 
 ther on this part of the inveftigation : for it 
 muft be evident to every candid mind, that 
 there is no kind of. knowledge mjfunius's let- 
 ters, which Mr. Boyd did not poffefs ; and 
 that Jie was in faft amply qualified in every 
 refpe6t, to have been the author of fuch 
 productions. 
 
 There are, however, one or two things 
 which it feems requifite to account for, be- 
 fore
 
 HUGH BOYD. lig 
 
 fore I ftate the circumftances in proof of 
 Boyd having adually written the letters of 
 Junius. 
 
 It has been afked, what could have in- 
 duced the author of Junius to conceal his 
 name, after the fame which his papers 
 acquired, was firmly eftablifhed in the pub- 
 lick opinion, and after the animofity of thofe 
 whom he attacked may be fuppofed to have 
 fubfided? Nothing certainly is more ex- 
 traordinary than that difpofition of mind, 
 which in the author of Junius enabled him 
 to Men to the applaufe of his admirers, 
 and to the cenfures of his enemies, with 
 equal indifference, and never once to be 
 betrayed by flattery, or thrown off his guard 
 by provocation ; to keep his fecret even from 
 her to whom he confided every thing elfe; fi- 
 lently to fuffer the praifes which he had earned 
 by his abilities, induftry, and labour, to be 
 beftowed upon others, to be fatisfied with 
 the felf-gratification and confctoufnefs of 
 having gathered thofe laurels which he daily 
 faw fo many great men willing to accept, 
 and finally to refufe to his memory that 
 honour which an admiring world was 
 
 felicitous
 
 120 LIFE or 
 
 felicitous to beftow. That this difpofition 
 of mind belonged, in a peculiar manner, to 
 Mr. Boyd, thofe who thoroughly knew him, 
 and who had pried into the deepeft recefles 
 of his heart, will not hefitate to acknow- 
 ledge. For, in truth, few men united fo 
 much ardour of mind, with fo much gentle- 
 nefs of manners ; fo much generofity of 
 heart, with fo much evennefs of temper ; 
 fo much fecrecy and refolution, with fo 
 much franknefs and eafe; fo much noble 
 pride, with fo little idle vanity; and fuch 
 high paffions, with a command over them 
 fo entire, that fuperficial obfervers of his 
 habits have abfurdly imagined he had no 
 pafiions at all. What his motive was for 
 carrying his fecret with him to the grave, it 
 is impofiible to determine, and therefore 
 ufelefs to inquire ; but it is probable, that 
 having once found it neceffary, in order to 
 check inquiries concerning Junius y to tell 
 the world that he was the fole depojitory 
 of his own fecret, and that it Jliould per'ijh 
 -with him, he deemed it improper to retracl 
 his declaration. His motive for not avow- 
 ing himfelf before he left England, is eafily 
 
 explained.
 
 HUGH BOYD. 121 
 
 explained. He was involved in the great- 
 eft embarrafTments, and looked for aflift- 
 ance from men in power, who he knew 
 would not only withdraw their patronage, 
 but become his moft inveterate enemies, if 
 they had the fmalleft fufpicion of his being 
 the writer of Junius^ letters ; while on the 
 other hand, he had little to expect from 
 fuch friends, as the knowledge of the faft 
 might poflibly have procured him. And 
 after he went to India, it would have been 
 fomething more than imprudence to have 
 avowed he was Junius. 
 
 Every reader will recollect that yunius 
 had very few political friends ; for he at- 
 tacked either openly, or indirectly, all par- 
 ties, but the Grenvilles. Of Lord Chat- 
 ham, indeed, he always fpeaks in the higheft 
 terms, to fay nothing of his beautiful pane- 
 gyrick on him ; but there are fome of his 
 Lordfhip's meafures and opinions, which he 
 unequivocally objecls to. The Rocking- 
 ham party he frequently cenfures, though 
 jn the moft refpe&ful terms, and though he 
 praifes, " the mild, but determined integrity 
 of Lord Rockingham." But Lord Tem- 
 ple,
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 pie and his brother Mr. Grenville he never 
 mentions, except in the warmeft language 
 of approbation : and it is a pofitive facl 
 that Mr. Boyd always fpoke of them in a 
 fimilar manner, perhaps, from an expecta- 
 tion of being patronized by Lord Temple, 
 as Mr. Almon fuppofes*; or it may be 
 from a conviclion that they richly merited 
 the applaufe of every man who fought 
 only to promote the true interefts, and to 
 uphold the legal liberties, of England. 
 
 With regard to thofe whofe characters 
 Junius moft feverely attacks, I have already 
 {hewn that Mr. Boyd entertained the fame 
 opinion of them ; and in that opinion I am 
 firmly perfuaded he was confirmed from a 
 fincere belief, (whether juft or not I do not 
 pretend to determine), that it was founded 
 in the flri&eft veracity, and that therefore 
 he conceived he was doing a fignal fervice 
 to his country by expofing their private 
 vices together with their publick crimes to 
 the contempt and indignation of every ho- 
 neft heart. He knew that when civil focie* 
 
 * See Mr. AJmon's fccond Letter, in tfye Appendix to 
 rhe Life.
 
 HUGH BQYD. 423 
 
 ty arrives at a high pitch of refinement, the 
 corruption and degeneracy which ever ac- 
 company its progrefs, render general fatire 
 of but little avail ; becaufe men whofe 
 fenfes are dulled by luxury and venality 
 cannot be touched by any general cen- 
 fures ; fuch correclives however ftrong 
 they do not feel ; nothing but the fight 
 of their own deformity can fhaiae them 
 into righteoufnefs *. I will not fay, that 
 
 Junius 
 
 * On this point it is obferved by yunius, in his reply ta 
 one of Sir William Draper's letters, " that mecfures, ani. 
 " not men, is the common cant of affefted moderation; a 
 *' bafe counterfeit language, fabricated by knaves and 
 " made current among fools. Such gentle cenfure is net 
 ' fitted to the prefent degenerate ftate of foctety. What 
 " does it avail to expofe the abfurd contrivance and per- 
 " nicious tendency of meafures, if the man wK6 advifej 
 " or executes them be fuffsred, not only to efcape with 
 " impunity, but even to preferve his power, and infult us 
 " with the favour of his foyercign." He then quotes a 
 letter of Mr. Pope's to Doclor Arbuthnot, wherein Pope, 
 fays, " To reform and not to chaftife, 1 am afraid is im- 
 " poffible; and that the beft precepts, as well as the bcft 
 " laws, would prove of fraall ufe, if there were no exam- 
 u pies to enforce them. To attack vices in the abftraft 
 < without touching perfons, may be fafe fighting, indeed, 
 ** but it is fighting with fliadows. My greateft comfort 
 
 " and
 
 124 LIFE OF 
 
 jfunius has always drawn his pi&ures faith- 
 fully, much lefs will I contend that they are 
 not often too highly coloured ; but I am 
 fully fatisfied that he, for the moft part, be- 
 lieved them to be juft reprefentations of the 
 originals. I know that he is miftaken in 
 fome of his flatements, and I think fome 
 of his afperities and farcafms highly blame- 
 able ; but I am neverthelefs convinced that 
 his intentions were always pure, and that 
 his chief motives were, a truly noble zeal in 
 the caufe of liberty, and a generous ambi- 
 tion of raifing the literary reputation of his 
 letters, and of being ranked, under the fig- 
 nature he adopted, among the firft political 
 fatirifts, of any age or nation. 
 
 His determined and unrelenting hoftili- 
 ty to the Duke of Grafton, has, however, 
 been fuppofed to have arifen from fome 
 private motive; and the fuppofition is cer- 
 tainly juftified by the bitternefs of his re- 
 marks upon his Grace's conduct. But, the 
 
 " and encouragement to proceed has been to fee, that 
 " thofe who have no fhame, and no fear of any thing elfe, 
 " have appeared touched by my fatires." 
 
 motive
 
 HUGH BOYD. 125 
 
 motive is eafily pointed out. I have al- 
 ready noticed the friendfhip that fubfifted 
 between Mr. Boyd and the Macleanes, and 
 the warm intereft he took in their affairs. 
 Now, it is a facl, that after Mr. Lauchlin Mac- 
 leane was difmiffed, by the Duke of Grafton, 
 from the office of under fecretary of (late, 
 he conceived a mortal hatred for his Grace, 
 and indulged his refentment by painting 
 him in the blacked colours. From this 
 circumftance, I infer, that Mr. Boyd form- 
 ed his opinion of the noble Duke's conduct 
 from the reprefentations of Mr. Macleane 
 and his brother ; that his friendfhip for 
 them, together with the conviclion that the 
 meafufes of his Grace's adminiftration were 
 inconfiftent with the true principles of the 
 conflitution, and ruinous to the empire, in- 
 duced him to hold him up to the nation 
 as a. weak and dangerous minifler ; and 
 that his conftant habit of converting with 
 them on the fubjecl; had fharpened and 
 envenomed the point of his fatire. 
 
 Such are the motives which may be fup- 
 pofed to have influenced Mr. Boyd in writ-" 
 ing the letters of Juntas. And having now 
 
 (hewn,
 
 126 tlFE OF 
 
 ftiewn, that he was not only qualified in 
 every refpeft to have been the writer of 
 thofe letters, but alfo that his other political 
 writings refemble them fo exaclly, as to 
 afford the ftrongeft preemptive proof, that 
 they are the compofitions of the fame per- 
 fon,~I (hall proceed to ftate the facls and 
 circumflances, which in conjunction with 
 the internal evidence that has been adduc- 
 ed, have fully convinced me, and will, I 
 think, convince every unbiaffed mind, that 
 he was in reality the author of Junius. 
 For, in this inveftigation, poiitive evidence 
 cannot reafonably be expected; as Junius 
 has declared to the world, " that he was 
 " the folc depofitory of his fecret," and 
 " that it mould perifh with him" and as 
 Mr. H. S. Woodfall has lately permitted 
 his brother to acknowledge for him, that 
 he does not know who was the author of 
 Junius*. The only evidence, therefore, 
 
 of 
 
 * Mr. William Woodfall in one of his letters, which 
 appeared laft autumn in the Morning Chronicle, tells the 
 publick, " that the writer of Junius premlfed hit brother^ 
 " t/jat be would one day let him into bis ficret" and that when 
 
 that
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 of which Mr. H. S. Woodfall can be 
 poflefied, is the manufcript of Junius, 
 which if he has got, he does not choofe to 
 produce, becaufe he perfeElly well knows, 
 that there is Jome iimilitude between it, and 
 the common hand-writing of Mr. Boyd, 
 and becaufe from thence he apprehends 
 that if it were compared with Mr. Boyd's 
 difguifed hand, fome proofs of which Mrs* 
 Boyd has in her poffeflion, the refemblance 
 would appear too ftriking, to admit of a 
 doubt, that the manufcript of Junius was 
 written by Mr. Boyd. But Mr. H. S. 
 Woodfall has informed me, that he did not 
 prefervc the MSS. of Junius*', and as I 
 have certainly no right to queftion the 
 truth of this declaration, I truft the publick 
 
 that' day comes, he will expofe all our errors ! ! Junlui 
 then, in Mr. Woodfall's opinion, is ftill living: but* 
 what fignifies the opinion of Mr. Woodfall on this fub- 
 jeft, when he does not acquaint us with the grounds on 
 which he has formed it ; and when he confefles he Joes 
 not knew who was the writer of Junius. 
 
 9 This he told me, in the courfe of a convention I had 
 wrth him bh'thfc fubjeft, at his own houfc, at Chelfea, in 
 May I7 8:-Mftr. William Woodfall, and a young lady, 
 were prefent. 
 
 will
 
 128 LIFE OF 
 
 will be fatisfied with the opinion of thofe 
 who had opportunities of examining 
 Junius's hand writing, and who mufl be 
 perfectly difmterefted in the prefent difcuf- 
 fion. 
 
 With regard to Mr. H. S. Woodfall 
 having faid, "that he did not believe Mr, 
 " Boyd was Junius *," I fhall only ob- 
 ferve, that his belief in this matter is of 
 little confequence, as he has doubtlefs very 
 fufficient reafons for wifhing to keep the 
 publick in the dark refpe6Hng the author 
 of Junius, and as I prefume he will not 
 upon his honour deny, that he once 
 thought Mr. Boyd was that very perfon, 
 nor that he did not notice in the letters of 
 Dcmocraticus, fome of the chara&eriftical 
 features of Junitiss* compofition. The fol- 
 lowing anecdote will at once refrefh Mr. 
 Woodfall's memory, and juftify th forego- 
 ing obfervations. 
 
 . 
 
 
 * In the Preface to the former edition of Mr. Boyd's 
 Life, I ftated, that Mr. H. S. Woodfall had declared to 
 me, that he did not .believe Mr. Boyd was the author of 
 Junius. 
 
 In
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 % In the year 1780, when Mr. Almon's pa- 
 per, entitled the London Courant, was in 
 agitation., the late Mr. Stratford Canning, 
 (uncle to the prefent under fecretary of 
 ftate) by defire of many diftinguifhed per- 
 fonages, folicited Mr. Boyd to conduct it, 
 which he refufed, promifing, however, to 
 write for it. A few days after he had made 
 this promife, walking the ftreet with a 
 friend or two, they met Mr. H. S. Wood- 
 fall, (lopped, and entered into conversation, 
 which turning upon the new paper, Wood- 
 fall looked Mr. Boyd full in the face, and 
 then faid, f: Almon expefts to overfet all 
 " the other papers, for he fays Junius is to 
 " write for the Courant." The gentlemen 
 who were prefent on the occafion, were 
 ftruck fo forcibly with the imprefTive man- 
 ner in which Woodfall fpoke, that they 
 were convinced, he confidently believed 
 Mr. Boyd to be the author of Junius. 
 
 Thus every reader will know what weight 
 
 to give to the late declaration of Mr. H. S. 
 
 Woodfall on this fubjecl ; and thus have I 
 
 endeavoured to clear my argument from an 
 
 VOL. i. i objelign
 
 ago LIFE OF 
 
 objection of fome apparent, though not of 
 any real, tfrength. 
 
 As moll of the fafts which I am now go- 
 ing to fubmit to the publick, reft on the 
 teftimpny of Mrs. Boyd, it js very effential 
 to mention, that fhe is living, and that every 
 one who has f any knowledge of her character 
 will admit, that fhe. is in every refpeft the 
 very beft evidence that can be wifhed for, 
 in a difcinTion of this kind. And I can with 
 truth affirm, that with regard to the contro- 
 yerfy about the author of jfunius's letters, 
 {he is entirely free from that partiality by 
 which (he may be fuppofed to be influenced, 
 though her reverence for truth obliges her 
 to avow, that (he is convinced Mr. Boyd 
 muft have been the real writer of thofe 
 papers. 
 
 In the latter end of the year 1768, the 
 3uthpr of Junius's letters commenced his 
 correfpondence with the Puttick Advertifer ; 
 and on the 2ift of January 1769, the firft 
 letter under,, the fignature of Junius ap* 
 peared in . that paper. During the years 
 1769 and 1770, he alfo wrote occafionally 
 
 in
 
 HUGH fiOYD. 
 
 in the fame paper under the fignatures of 
 Lucius and Brutus, and he fometimes fent 
 communications to Mr. H. S. Woodfall, 
 without any fignature at all. The letters 
 under the fignature of Philo Junius, he has 
 hi mfelf acknowledged *, were his own pro- 
 ductions. He likewife wrote private letters 
 to fome diftinguifhed perfons, under the 
 fignature of Junius, which were tranfmitted 
 to them through Mr. H. S. Woodfall. 
 
 Now it is a certain fa6t, that Mr. Boyd 
 commenced his correfpondence with the 
 Pub tick Advertifer, precifely at the fame 
 period of time with Junius. In the winter 
 of 1768, he fent feveral letters to Mr. 
 Woodfall ; the contents of which he kept 
 a fecret from Mrs. Boyd. In the beginning 
 of January 1769, he was at great pains in 
 accuftoming himfe]f to difguife his hand- 
 writing. He ufed frequently in the courfe 
 of a forenoon, to come from his fludy, in 
 which he had locked hi mfelf up, into the 
 parlour; and mewing Mrs. Boyd fome flips 
 
 * See the Preface to Junius, in page I, of Woodfall's 
 edition. 
 
 12 gf
 
 132 LIFE OF 
 
 of paper on which he had written, would 
 afk her, whether (he thought he had dif- 
 guifed his hand? She told him, that he 
 had difguifed it fo completely, that none 
 but thofe. who were very well acquainted, with 
 his common hand would fufpett the writing 
 to be his. 
 
 When the controverfy between Sir Wil- 
 liam Draper and Junius took place in the 
 month of February 1769, and when the 
 letters of Junius thereby became the con- 
 11 ant converfation in all the literary, politi- 
 cal, and fafhionable circles in London, Mr. 
 Boyd evinced the greatejt anxiety, about 
 the letters which he was at that time writing 
 for the Publick Advertifer, and he praftifed 
 a peculiar fecrecy, both with regard to their 
 contents, and to the mode of tranfmitting 
 them to Mr. Woodfall. In the courfe of 
 the controverfy, Mrs. Boyd begged of him 
 to take in the Publick Advertifer, as fhe was 
 defirous to read the letters of Junius as they 
 came out; but this requejl, notwithftanding 
 her repeated entreaties, he thought it prudent 
 to decline : and it was not till two years 
 afterwards, that by mere dint of importunity, 
 
 fhe
 
 HUGH BOYD. 133 
 
 Ihe overcame his fcruples, and prevailed on 
 him to take in that paper. Yet he himfelf 
 always manifefled much folicitude to fee the 
 letters of Junius -, and frequently, on the 
 day after he had fent a letter to Woodfall, 
 he would walk out pretty early, and upon 
 returning home to dinner, tell Mrs. Boyd 
 with an animated countenance, " That Junius 
 " was announced for to -morrow" 
 
 With Sir William Draper, and every 
 thing that concerned him, Mr. Boyd was 
 well acquainted : and he often fpoke to 
 Mrs. Boyd about Sir William's controverfy 
 with Junius, obferving, that the Knight 
 richly merited the laming he received, and 
 that he had compelled Junius to fay more 
 of Lord Granby's character than he origi- 
 nally wimed, for, that Junius refpe&ed 
 Lord Granby *. 
 
 In the fummer of 1769, when the letters 
 of PhUo-Junius firft appeared, Mr. Boyd 
 repeatedly told Mrs. Boyd, in confidence, 
 
 * When the letters of Juntas were publifhed in vo- 
 lumes, the very fame obfervations appeared in a note to 
 Junius's reply to Sir William Draper's letter of the ayth 
 February 1769. 
 
 that
 
 134 
 
 that flie migljt rely upon fr they were written 
 by Junius himfelf, for thab it was necelfary 
 to make the publick fuppofe he had an 
 auxiliary *. 
 
 During the autumn and winter of 1769, 
 Mr. Boyd continued to fend letters to the 
 Publick Adverlifer, almoft every week, fu- 
 perfcribed in his difguifed hand, and with 
 the aforefaid fecrecy. And at this time, he 
 ufed eagerly to feek opportunities of intro- 
 ducing the fubjecl; of Junius, in his private 
 converfations with Mrs. Boyd. He would 
 afk her opinion of different letters, and de- 
 fire her to point out the paffages in them 
 (he moft admired ; and he always feemed 
 gratified with her remarks upon them, whe- 
 ther of cenfure, or praife. (i In fhort," 
 fays Mrs, Boyd, in a letter to me, in which 
 {he has detailed thofe converfations, " what- 
 4t ever fubjecl: our private converfations be- 
 " gan with, we always ended with Junius ; 
 " and it js not credible that a perfon, wholly 
 " unconcerned with that produ61ion, could 
 
 * This, as it has been already ftatjed, turned out to be 
 trr.e. 
 
 have
 
 HtJGH BOYD. 135 
 
 " have (hewn, for fo many years, fuch an 
 " extraordinary degree of inter eft about it." 
 This circumftance is greatly ftrengthened 
 by the fa&, that Mrs. Boyd was the only 
 perfon in whofe prefence he ever betrayed 
 any of thofe fymptorns x>f paternal regard 
 for the letters of Junius, which have been 
 mentioned ; and that in company with his 
 literary friends, particularly with Mr. Wi/kes, 
 he talked of Junius with the moft perfect 
 indifference. 
 
 On the igth of December 1769, Junius's 
 letter to a GREAT PERSONAGE, made its 
 appearance, and fet the whole town in a 
 ferment. Minifters fpared no ex pence, no 
 trouble, no fecret arts, no means whatever 
 that either their ingenuity could fuggeft, or 
 the publick purfe fupply, to difcover the 
 author. Treafury fpies were Rationed in 
 every place where there was the fmalleil 
 likelihood of gaining intelligence refpefting 
 him ; and every exertion was made to inter- 
 cept his correfpondence with Woodfalf, 
 whofe office, at the corner of Ivy-lane, was 
 for that purpofe clofely watched. 
 
 Mr.
 
 13)6 LIFE OF 
 
 Mr. Boyd at this time carried on his cor- 
 refpondence with the Publick Advertifer, 
 with a caution fo ftudicd, and a fecrecy fo 
 impenetrable, as to furprife Mrs. Boyd, and 
 make a lading impreflion on her mind. 
 After writing in his ftudy for feveral days 
 together, he would afk Mrs. Boyd to take a 
 walk with him, often in the dufk of the even- 
 ing, and fometimes at night ; and after hav- 
 ing conducted her to fome by-way, or un- 
 frequented ftreet, would flop, as if fuddenly 
 recollefting himfelf, and faying, " he had a 
 (t letter to fend to Wood/all" took a large 
 packet from his pocket, and put it into a 
 remote penny poft-office. At other times 
 he would give it to Mrs. Boyd, and defire 
 her to carry it to the corner of Ivy-lane, 
 and. put it into Woodfall's letter-box. When 
 they returned home, Mrs. Boyd often hint- 
 ed to him, that fhe fufpeded he was Junius, 
 to which he made no reply, but would in- 
 genioufly change the converfation. Once 
 or twice, when he was afking her opinion of 
 fome favourite pajfages in Junius, fhe has 
 told him, that fhe wifhed he was Junius, at 
 
 which
 
 HUGH 3OYD. 137 
 
 which he would fnr.le, and only fay 
 " Should you?"" Unfortunately," fays Mrs. 
 Boyd, in a 'etier to me, " I always added, 
 " that if he v/as actually Junius, I mould 
 " never forgive him, for keeping the fecret 
 " from me ; and this I imagine was one 
 " ftrong reafon for his not difclofing it to 
 " me, after all the buftle about Junius had 
 " fubfided." " Sometimes," continues Mrs. 
 Boyd, " on going to dinner, or fupper, and 
 " finding him writing in his ftudy, I have 
 (t gone to the delk, afking queflions, on 
 * f which he would immediately cover his 
 " writings, and fay fomething lively about 
 " female curiofity. Sometimes he wrote 
 " under other fignatures, and would afk me to 
 * c copy what he had compofed,and which were 
 " fent in my hand-writing to Woodfall, In 
 " particular, I copied a letter addrefied to Sir 
 *' FLETCHER NOR TON, on his being chofen 
 ff Speaker of the Houfe of Commons *." 
 This took place in the month of March 
 
 * This letter, together with feveral others of Mr. 
 Boyd's that appeared at different times in Mr. Woodfall's 
 paper, fhall be prefented to the publick in the courfe of 
 th,is year, as a third volume t9 thefe works. 
 
 1770.
 
 138 MFE OF 
 
 1770. Throughout the remainder of that 
 year, and during the fpring of '1771, Mr. 
 Boyd continued to write, with the moft unre- 
 mitting diligence and fecrecy, and to tranfmit 
 what he had written to Mr. Woodfall, by the 
 fame methods that I have already men- 
 tioned. 
 
 In April 1771, he was under the neceffity 
 of going to Ireland, for ten 'days, on very 
 urgent bufinefs. Yet, his correfpondence 
 with Mr, Woodfall was of too much im- 
 portance to be neglefted : for, in that fhort 
 fpace of time he fent Mrs. Boyd three large 
 packets,, with the mojl particular injunEtions, 
 to put them immediately, into Woodfall's 
 letter-box. 
 
 In the month of June 1 7 7 1 , he took a houfe 
 at Kenton-Green, near Harrow. In the courfe 
 of this fummer, it is well known that the con- 
 troverfy took place between Mr. Home and 
 Junius. Refpecling that controverfy, Mr. 
 Boyd manifefted the utmoft eagernefs ; and 
 while it lafted, he ufed, for feveral days to- 
 gether, to lock himfelf up in his ftudy im- 
 mediately after breakfaft, and never make 
 his appearance again until dinner was an- 
 nounced.
 
 HUGH BOYD. 139 
 
 nounced. When he had finifhed what he 
 was writing, he would walk into London 
 with it, and walk back the fame day *. In 
 talking to Mrs. Boyd about Mr. Home's 
 long letter to Junius, he con fr (Ted " that 
 " Mr. H. was an ingenious and able rea- 
 " foner, but that JurJus, 'notwithstanding 
 " this, had the better of him/' obferving at 
 the fame time, that Junius's expreffion that 
 (l Mr. Wilkes Jkould be fupported while he 
 " was a thorn in the Kings Jide" was both 
 very unguarded and unfortunate. 
 
 In the beginning of November 1771, 
 Mr. Boyd borrowed from a neighbour of 
 his at Kenton-Green, a great many folio 
 books of law, and Rate trials, which he ufed 
 daily to examine with the moft fedulous 
 attention, and from which he made feveral 
 extracts, for the purpofe, Mrs. Boyd thinks, 
 of fupporting the charge that Juriius had 
 too haftily made againft Lord Mansfield, 
 on account of his Lordfhip having bailed 
 Mr. JOHN EYRE. It is neceflary here to 
 remind the reader, that Junius in a fhort 
 
 * Mr. Boyd was a great walker. He would often 
 walk thirty miles in a day, without being fatigued. 
 
 i letter
 
 14O LIFE OF 
 
 letter to Lord Mansfield, dated the 2d No- 
 vember 1771, concludes in the following 
 words. "If ever Mr. Eyre fhould be 
 " brought to trial, we (hall hear what you 
 " have to fay for yourfelf ; and I pledge my- 
 " fdf before God and my country, in proper 
 " time and place, to make good my charge 
 " againft you." About eight days after the 
 publication of this letter, the following 
 notice appeared in the Publick Adver- 
 tifer. 
 
 November the gth, 1771. 
 
 " Junius engages to make good his charge 
 <s againft Lord Chief Jujiice Mansfeld, fome 
 * 6 time before the meeting of parliament, in 
 ** order that the Houfe of Commons may, 
 " if they think proper, make it one article 
 " in the impeachment of the faid Lord Chief 
 " Jujlice." 
 
 Now between the date of this notice, and 
 the 2ift of January 1772, the only letter 
 from Junius which appeared in the Publick 
 ddvertifer, was a fhort one to the Duke of 
 Grafton, and the laft one indeed that he ever 
 addrefTed to his Grace. It is dated the 27th 
 November 1771. From this time till the 
 
 20th
 
 HUGH BOYD. 14! 
 
 20th of January following, Mr. Boyd's whole 
 time was occupied in examining the law 
 books and ftate trials above mentioned, and 
 in writing with his ufual fecrecy for the Pub- 
 lick Advertifer. jfwiius's elaborate letter to 
 Lord Mansfield, in which he ftrove hard to 
 make good his charge again/I him, is dated the 
 sift January 1772 : about three weeks after 
 the publication of this letter Mr. Boyd went 
 to Ireland ; and Junius ceafed to write 
 under that fignature for the Publick Adver- 
 tifer. 
 
 The abrupt manner in which Junius con- 
 cluded his letters, occafioned much obferva- 
 tion at the time, and many a plaufible con- 
 jelure has been made concerning it. The 
 general opinion, however, was, that he 
 had either died, or quitted the country ; and 
 hence one or two gentlemen have beenfup- 
 pofed to have written thofe letters, who, I 
 believe, never in their lives wrote a line for 
 Mr. Woodfall's paper. But, when we know 
 that Mr. Boyd was Junius, the matter is 
 eafily accounted for. On his return from 
 Ireland in March 1772, he found his friend 
 Mr. Lauchlin Macleane had made an amica- 
 ble
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 ble adjustment of his differences with the 
 Duke of Grafton, and had gone over to the 
 miniflry ; he was therefore induced to de- 
 cline all further hoftility towards his Grace, 
 and to abandon his intention, as it is con- 
 veyed in JuniusS tad letter to him, of at- 
 tacking him again upon tkefale of the patent 
 to Mr. HIXE. And it is obfervable, that 
 though Mr. Boyd, in his political writings 
 now publimed, pointedly attacks all the 
 other perfons who are fatirized by Juniu-s, 
 he never once mentions the name of Graf- 
 ton. Befides this motive for his difcontinu- 
 ing to write tinder the fignature of Junius, 
 there was another which, perhaps, operated 
 flill more powerfully on his mind. In the 
 beginning of 1772, his pecuniary misfor- 
 tunes and difficulties crowded upon him from 
 every quarter ; and this circumftance, to- 
 gether with his being obliged at this period 
 to go frequently to Ireland, abfolutely dif- 
 abled him from bellowing that time and at- 
 tention on his literary purfuits, which he 
 had fo fuccefsfully employed during the 
 three preceding years, and without which 
 he felt he could neither fupport with his 
 
 wonted
 
 HUGH BOYD. 143 
 
 wonted vigour, fo arduous a conteft, nor 
 preferve that fecrecy which he was well 
 aware his perfonal fafety required. And 
 doubtlefs he alfo confidered that by conti- 
 nuing to write as Junius he might, from 
 thofe caufes, poflibly lower, but could not, 
 under fuch circumftances, eafily heighten 
 the reputation which his talents had gained 
 to that fignature. 
 
 Still, however, he carried on his corre- 
 fpondence with Woodfall during fome part 
 of the year 1772, with the fame caution he 
 had before obferved. But, after the letters 
 of Junius were publifhed colle6iively for 
 Woodfall with the Dedication^ Preface, and 
 Notes by the author, he feemed as if his 
 mind had been relieved from a burden, and 
 he never again was at fo much pains to con- 
 ceal from Mrs. Boyd the contents of the 
 letters he occafionally tranfmitted to the 
 Publick Adveriifer. 
 
 On the very day that the above men- 
 tioned edition of Junius was publifiied, he 
 brought home a copy of the work, and 
 prefented it to Mrs. Boyd, with an anima- 
 tion in his countenance that befpoke a kind 
 
 of
 
 144 LIFE OF 
 
 of regard for it, which none but its author 
 could be fuppofed to have felt. In look- 
 ing over the letters Mrs. Boyd was much 
 flruck, with finding an anecdote related in 
 one of the notes, relative to Lord IRNHAM 
 and one of her guardians, which fhe had in 
 confidence communicated to Mr. Boyd, and 
 which fhe knew had been very ftudioufly 
 kept fecret by the parties concerned. This 
 note was added to the lafl letter which 
 Junius addrefTed to the Duke of Grafton; 
 and in order that the reader may the more 
 clearly comprehend the circumftance it re- 
 cords, I beg leave to cite it verbatim. 
 " There is a certain family in this country," 
 fays Junius, " on which nature feems to 
 '* have entailed an hereditary bafenefs of dif- 
 " pofnion. As far as their hiftory has been 
 " known the fon has regularly improved 
 " upon the vices of his father, and has 
 " taken care to tranfmit them pure and 
 " undimiriifhed into the bofom of his fuc- 
 " ceffor. In the fenate their abilities have 
 " confined them to thofe humble fordid fer- 
 " vices, in which the fcavengers of the mi- 
 " niflry are ufually employed. But in the 
 
 " memoirs
 
 HUGH BO YD. 145 
 
 " memoirs of private treachery they (land 
 " fwft and unrivalled. The following {lory 
 " will ferve to illuftrate the character of 
 (i - this refpedable family, and to convince 
 " the world, that the prefent pofleffor has 
 " as clear a title to the infamy of his an- 
 " ceftors as he has to their eftate. It de- 
 (< ferves to be recorded for the curiofity of 
 " the fad, and mould be given to the pub- 
 e< lick as a warning to every honeft mem- 
 '*" her of fociety* 
 
 " The prefent Lord Irnham, who is now 
 " in the decline of life, lately cultivated the 
 " acquaintance of a younger brother of a fa- 
 " mily with which he had lived in fome degree 
 " of intimacy and friendihip. The young 
 " man had long been the dupe of a mod 
 " unhappy attachment to a common profti- 
 " tute *. His friends and relations forefaw 
 " the confequences of this connection, and 
 " did every thing that depended on them to 
 " fave him from ruin. But he had a friend 
 " in Lord Irnham. whofe advice rendered 
 :S all their endeavours ineffectual. This 
 
 * The noted PPU.Y DAVJS, 
 i. k "hoary
 
 14.6 LIFE OF 
 
 " hoary letcher not contented with the en- 
 " joyment of his friend's miftrefs, was bafe 
 " enough to take advantage of the paflions 
 " and folly of the young man, and perfuad- 
 " ed Kim to marry her. He defcended even 
 " to perform the office of father to the 
 " proftitute. He gave her to his friend 
 " who was on the point of leaving the king- 
 * e dom, and the next night lay with her 
 " himfelf." 
 
 " Whether the depravity of the human 
 * heart can produce any thing more bafe 
 if and deteftable than this fa6l, mud be left 
 " undetermined until the fon Jkall arrive at 
 s< his father's age and experience." 
 
 The family herein alluded to, (the name 
 I forbear to mention) confifted of three bro- 
 thers, who were Mrs. Boyd's guardians, and 
 in whofe welfare and happinefs (he and Mr. 
 Boyd were by confequence much interefted. 
 It was the youngeft of the three who was Lord 
 Irnham's particular friend, and whofe friend- 
 fhip his Lordfliip fo faithfully and honour- 
 ably requited. The noble Lord, however, had 
 yet decency enough to conceal the circum- 
 ftancepf the marriage from the cenforious 
 
 eye
 
 HUGH BOYD. 147 
 
 eye of the publick ; and he therefore ex- 
 atled a promife from the parties, never to 
 mention the particulars of it to any one. 
 But the brothers of the unfortunate young 
 man fufpefting what had happened, impor- 
 tuned him fo clofely about it, that he at lafl 
 confefled the whole of the tranfaftion, and 
 minutely related to them every thing con- 
 cerning it. Yet they fuppreffed their re- 
 fentment towards Lord Irnham, becaufe 
 they could not make the matter publick, 
 without expofmg the weaknefs of their bro- 
 ther : and for this reafon, they adopted 
 every poflible precaution to prevent the 
 ftory from going beyond the family. Ne- 
 verthelefs, Mrs. Boyd having been always 
 confidered as one of the family, it was not 
 concealed from her ; and fhe told it in con- 
 fidence to Mr. Boyd, with precifely the 
 fame minutenefs with which it is detailed in 
 the note above quoted, a fliort time before 
 the author's edition of Juni us was publifhed. 
 Shocked at the infamous conduct of Lord 
 Irnham, and feeling for the unhappy fitu- 
 ation of the young man himfelf, no lefs 
 than for the difhonour which had been put 
 k 2 upon
 
 148 LIFE OP 
 
 upon a family with which Mrs. Boyd was 
 fo intimately connected, he was naturally 
 defirous of refenting the injury his Lord- 
 fhip had done them, and he well knew that 
 his pen was the only weapon, by which a 
 heart like his Lordfhip's could be rendered 
 fore. 
 
 " If then we confider, that it was not only 
 Lord Irnham's intereft, but his wifh, to bury 
 the (lory in oblivion, that it was peculiarly 
 the interefl of Mifs DAVIS to conform to 
 his wifhes, and that in fa6l his Lordfhip 
 was fo well convinced of Junius having re- 
 ceived his information from the other par- 
 ty, that lie fent the young man a challenge, 
 it amounts, I think, to a moral certainty,, 
 that the (lory was communicated to Junius, 
 by the family themfelves: and, therefore, 
 calling to mind all the foregoing evidence 
 in proof of Mr. Boyd having been the au- 
 thor of Junius, and at the fame time cou- 
 pling the circumitance of Mrs. Boyd hav- 
 ing minutely related to him all the particu- 
 lars of this ftory, with the fact, that (lie was 
 the only perfon not immediately living in 
 the family to whom thefe particulars were 
 
 told, 
 2
 
 HUGH BOYD. 149 
 
 told, and with the motive, as above ex- 
 plained, for his making them publick, it 
 muft at Leaft be admitted, that there is die 
 very ftrongeft probability, of his having 
 written the note in queftion. 
 
 There are yet fome other circumftances, 
 which I conceive it to be of importance to 
 (late. When the information was filed 
 againft Mr. Almon, for having fold fome 
 of the monthly magazines, into which 
 Junius's addrefs to His Majefty had been 
 copied, Mr. Boyd (hewed great anxiety 
 about him, but did not however attend his 
 trial, for a reafon which I think Mr. Almon 
 has fatisfa&orily explained in his firft letter 
 to me on this fubjecl*. But when Mr. 
 Woodfall's trial commenced, a few weeks 
 afterwards, he attended it with the utmoft 
 folicitudet. 
 
 In Junius's Dedication, the author ob- 
 ferves, t: that the King may poffibly be 
 
 * See the Appendix to the Life. 
 
 t Mr. Boyd ufed to relate, that when Woodfall afked Sir 
 John Day, (then Mr. Day), his opinion of his cafe, the 
 learned gentleman replied, " There was only a hair's 
 breadth between it and treafon, bat that it was a borje 
 kair.'' 
 
 " advifed
 
 Lli'L OF 
 
 " advifed to diflblve the prefect parliament 
 tf a year or two before it expires of courfe, 
 ** and precipitate a new election, in hopes 
 " of taking the nation by furprife." Now 
 Mr. Boyd went over to Ireland in Septem- 
 ber 1774, and on the 3Oth of that month a 
 proclamation was very fuddenly and unex- 
 peEledly iflued for diffolving the parlia- 
 ment ; upon which he immediately wrote 
 to Mrs. Boyd, triumphantly reminding 
 her, that Junius had predicted the diflblu- 
 tion. 
 
 From this period, until the year in which 
 he left England for India, he ufed occafion- 
 ally to converfe with Mrs. Boyd refpecling 
 Junius ; and in thofe converfations he al- 
 ways afked her to point out to him the 
 .paflages (he mod admired. A few weeks 
 before he embarked for India with Lord 
 Macartney, he burnt, with his own hands, 
 feveral large bundles of manufcript papers, 
 which, fmce the time that Junius ceafed to 
 write, he had kept carefully locked up ; and 
 he was fo very particular in deltroying 
 them, that he flood over the fire, until they 
 were entirely confumed, taking the greatefl 
 
 poffible
 
 HUGH BOYD. 15! 
 
 pofTible care, that not even the (mailed 
 fhred of them mould efcape the flames. 
 
 Some years after Mr. Boyd had gone to 
 India, a paragraph * appeared in a morn- 
 ing paper, entitled the General, Advertifer, 
 purporting, " that Jurims had certainly ac- 
 " companied Lord Macartney to Madras, that 
 " he pofTeffed the moft retentive , memory, 
 " and that he was an Irifhman." When Mrs. 
 Boyd faw this paragraph, (he knew it al- 
 luded to Mr. Boyd, and fearful, left the dif- 
 covery of his having written the letters of 
 Jurims, might be prejudicial to his profpe6ls 
 in India, me fent a friend to the printer of 
 the General Advertifer, to requeft he would 
 not in future infert in his paper any para- 
 graph alluding to Mr. Boyd. And at the 
 fame time (he wrote to Mr. Boyd, enclofing 
 him this paragraph, and urging him, if what 
 it ftated was not true, to contradict it with- 
 out delay ; as he muft be fenfible, if fuch a 
 report gained credit, it would materially in- 
 jure his beft intereft. But, to this requeit, 
 though (he frequently re-urged it to him. 
 
 * See this paragraph in Mr. Almon's firft letter in the 
 Appendix. 
 
 (he
 
 OF 
 
 fhe never obtained a reply. He anfwered 
 all the other parts of her letters ; but that 
 which related to Junius he conftantly paffed 
 over in filence. Can it then be believed, 
 that if he were not Junius t he would have 
 perfifled in not attending to Mrs. Boyd's 
 earneft intreaties, when they fo forcibly ap- 
 pealed to his feelings ? If he were not 
 Junius, by what motive could he have been 
 actuated, in remaining deaf to a folicitation, 
 at once proper and neceffary, and coming 
 from her to whom he never in his life denied 
 any thing elfe ? If he were not Junius, 
 furely he would have either complied with 
 her requeft, or treated the above mentioned 
 paragraph with ridicule. It may indeed be 
 faid, that he only wrfhed to gratify an idle 
 vanity, by endeavouring to make her be- 
 lieve he was Junius ; but vanity is ever 
 too aftive and reftlefs, to Confine itfelf with- 
 in fo narrow a circle : had he been defirous 
 of being looked upon as the author of 
 Junius, his vanity would infallibly have 
 prompted him to hint his wifhes to others, 
 as well as to Mrs. Boyd. Befides, his mind 
 was far above that little fordid felfifhnefs, 
 
 which
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 which induces Tome men fecretly to wifh, 
 that they might be confidered by their 
 friends as the authors of fuch anonymous 
 writings as have attained celebrity. In truth, 
 he was always defirous to conceal, even from 
 Mrs. Boyd, that he had written thofe per- 
 formances which we now know to be his, 
 but which he never acknowledged, until the 
 proofs agairift him were too ftrong to be 
 denied. Even the love of fame, that fine 
 incentive of generous minds, could not be- 
 tray him into an oftentatious difplay of vir- 
 tue, nor induce him to pralife thofe arts 
 that court applaufe *. 
 
 Such are the circumftances which reft 
 upon the evidence of Mrs. Boyd ; and 
 from this plain ftatement of them, the truth 
 of the following fads, which are effential 
 to the point at iffue, appears to be fully 
 eftablifhed. 
 
 3 ft. That Mr. Boyd kept up a conftant 
 correfpondence with Mr. Henry Sampfon 
 Woodfall, during the three fucceflive years 
 
 * Ne famam quidem, cui etiam fsepi boni indulgent, 
 oftentanda virtute, aut per artem quaslivit. Tacit, in Vita 
 Agrkola. 
 
 in
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 in which the letters figned Junius appeared 
 in his paper, intitled the Publick Advertifer. 
 
 2d. That almoft the whole of Mr. Boyd's 
 time and attention, during thofe years, were 
 occupied in that correfponderice. 
 .. gd. That both before the commencement, 
 and during the continuance of that corre- 
 fpondence, Mr. Boyd took great pains in 
 accuftoming himfelf to difguife his hand- 
 writing. 
 
 4th. That from the time the firft letter 
 under the fignature of Junius appeared, 
 until the . author of Junius publifhed the 
 whole of his letters in volumes, the numerous 
 letters which Mr. Boyd Tent to Vv'oodfall, 
 were written with the mod impenetrable 
 fecrecy; that thofe letters were fuperfcribed 
 in his difguifed hand- writing; and that they 
 were conveyed to Woodfall's office, very 
 often by Mrs. Boyd herfelf, and always 
 with a caution and fcrupuloufnefs, propor- 
 tioned to the degree of activity with which 
 government at different periods endeavour- 
 ed to difcover the writer of Junius. 
 
 5th. That at the precife time Junius dif- 
 continued to write, Mr. Boyd likewife ceaf- 
 
 ed
 
 HUGH BOYD. 155 
 
 ed to write for the Publick Advertifer, with 
 that conftancy, fecrecy, and attention which 
 from the very week, that Junius began to 
 correfpond with it, he had invariably ob- 
 ferved. 
 
 6th. That the anecdote refpe&ing Lord 
 Irnham and Polly Davis, which is related 
 in a note to one of Junius's letters, muji 
 have been written by Mr. Boyd. 
 
 yth. That he always (hewed, when in 
 company with Mrs. Boyd, a degree of anx- 
 iety and care about the writings of jfunius, 
 which no one but the author himfelf can be 
 fuppofed to have felt ; though in the pre- 
 fence of every other perfon he liftened 
 to whatever was faid about jfumus with the 
 greateft apparent indifference. 
 
 8th. That Mrs. Boyd repeatedly told 
 him, (he had ftrong fufpicions he was Ju- 
 nius ; but that to all (he faid on that fubjecl 
 he was totally filent. 
 
 This is the fum of Mrs. Boyd's evi* 
 dence ; and the only part of it which feems 
 to require explanation, is that which relates 
 to Mr. Boyd having carried on his corre- 
 
 fpondence
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 fpondence with Woodfall in a difguifed hand- 
 writing. 
 
 We are extremely apt to imagine, that a 
 difguifed hand-writing muft neceffarily be 
 a cramped one, or muft at leaft (hew fome 
 diftinguifhing mark, by which a perfon who 
 is in the conftant habit of examining a va- 
 riety of manufcripts, mall know it to be 
 feigned, although he mould not be acquaint- 
 ed with the writer's ufual hand-writing. But 
 this notion is, furely, very fanciful and erro- 
 neous : for, in the firft place, it is not true, 
 that a difguifed hand- writing has always a 
 cramped appearance ; being an attainment 
 which can be acquired only through con- 
 ftant practice, practice will render it eafyy 
 and eafe will of courfe free it from every 
 thing like labour or reftraint : and, in the 
 next place, before any perfon can determine 
 whether or not a hand-writing be difguifed, 
 it is abfolutely neceffary, either to be fami- 
 liarly acquainted with the writer's common 
 hand-writing, or to have an opportunity of 
 attentively comparing the one with the 
 other, Now, with refpeft to the cafe in 
 
 qtieftion,
 
 HUGH BO YD. l^J 
 
 queftion, the facl is, that Mr. Boyd's dif- 
 guifed hand-writing has not any finking pe- 
 culiarity diftin.51 from his common hand- 
 writing ; there is nothing in the one, which 
 would attract the notice of a perfon who 
 had not been in the conftant habit of feeing 
 the other ; but, a perfon who had been in 
 that habit, would immediately difcern the 
 refemblance between them ; or a perfon of 
 penetration, to whom the difguifed hand- 
 writing had once been familiar, would, 
 upon a dofe infpeftion of the common 
 one, be fatisfied, that they were very much 
 alike. 
 
 The following evidence, fully ju Rifles 
 this account of Mr, Boyd's hand- writing, 
 and at the fame time proves that the 
 manufcript of Junius (irongly refembled 
 it. 
 
 Mr. Almon was very familiarly acquainted 
 with Mr. Boyd's common hand-writing, at 
 the time of the original publication of 
 yunius's letters ; and he declares that at that 
 period he had an opportunity of feeing the 
 ' manufcript of Junius, which to him ap- 
 peared
 
 158 LIFE OF 
 
 peared to have a ftrong fimilitude to Mr. 
 Boyd's hand-writing *. 
 
 Mr. T. BURTON, of Gate-flreet, Lin- 
 coln's-inn-fields, a very refpeclable mafter- 
 printer, has declared to me in the prefence 
 of another gentleman, that he was a jour- 
 neyman printer in Mr. H. S. Woodfall's 
 office, at the time of the original publication 
 of Junius's letters ; that he was one of the 
 compofitors employed on thofe letters; and 
 that he ufed frequently to remark to his 
 fellow-journeymen, how much the hand- 
 writing of jfuniits refembled his own; and 
 he moreover told me, that if he faw the 
 hand-writing again, he was confident he 
 mould know it. I then (hewed him fome 
 of Mr. Boyd's difgiiifed hand-writing, which 
 he inftantly faid, " he fincerely believed to 
 " be the fame hand as the manufcript of 
 " Junius : ; ' I alfo compared Mr. Burton's 
 own hand- writing with Mr. Boyd's, to which 
 it certainly bears an obvious affinity. Con- 
 fidering Mr. Burton's evidence of fome im- 
 
 ,* For the detail of this evidence, fe,e Mr. Almon's firft 
 letter in the Appendix to the Life. 
 
 portance,
 
 HUGH BOYD. 1/59 
 
 portance, I have examined him twice very 
 clofely on the fubjecl:, and have found him 
 perfectly confident and accurate. 
 
 The evidence of Mr. Almon, and Mr. 
 Burton, in itfelf -very flrong, is corroborated 
 by the tcftimony of Woodfall's foreman, 
 who fuperintended the printing of the letters 
 of Junius, and v/ho fays he has a perfecl re- 
 collection of the manufcript of thofe letters, 
 and that it refembled the hand-writing of 
 Mr. Boyd. 
 
 Upon the whole, therefore, it appears clear, 
 that the inanufcript of Junius bore fuch a 
 refemblance to Mr. Boyd's common hand- 
 writing, as that thofe, but thofe only *, who 
 
 were 
 
 * Mr. William Woocifall has publickly declared, " that 
 " his brother Mr. H. S. Woodtall mewed him the whole 
 " of the letters of Junius,\n rnanufcript, and that they did 
 " not bear the appearance of being written in a difguifed 
 " hand." But to have made his declaration of any im- 
 portance in this investigation, he mould have proved that 
 the common hand- writing of Mr. Boyd had been familiar 
 to him, before he faw that of Junius, and that they bore 
 no refemblance to each other. Now the facl is, that Mr. 
 IV. Woodfall knew very little either of Mr. Boyd, or his 
 hand-writing ; and that he is confequently incompetent to 
 determine, whether or not the MSS. of Ju nius was Mr. Boy d ; s 
 
 difguifed
 
 l6d LIFE OF 
 
 were very familiarly acquainted with the 
 one, would, upon an examination of the 
 other, fufpeft that they were both written 
 by the fame perfon. And the evidence of 
 Mr. Burton of itfelf affords a flrong proba- 
 bility, that the letters of Junius were writ- 
 ten in Mr. Boyd's difguifed hand. 
 
 That the author of Junius did in facl 
 difguife his hand-writing, muft be evident 
 to every man of obfervation. Would a 
 man of his acknowledged fagacity, have 
 voluntarily placed himfelf at the mercy of 
 Mr. Woodfall, by carrying on an important 
 correfpondence with him in his ordinary 
 hand-writing, which it was neceffary for his 
 perfonal fafety to conceal ? Would a per- 
 fon fo well acquainted with mankind as he 
 was, have put fuch implicit confidence in 
 Mr. Woodfall, as to carry on that corrc- 
 
 difguifed hand-writing. His declaration then only proves, 
 that the MSS. of Junius refembleu the difguifed hand of 
 Mr. Boyd, inafmuch as that there was nothing in it fo pe- 
 . culiar as to attract, the notice even of a perfon who was 
 accuftomed to examine different manufcripts. For his ex- 
 preflion, " that it did not bear the appearance of If ing dif- 
 " guifed" muft mean, that the hand-writing in queftion 
 had i\Q ftrik'itjg peculiarity. 
 
 fpondence
 
 HUGH BOYD. l6l 
 
 ipondence in the fame hand-writing in which 
 he tranfa&ed his private bufmefs, and there- 
 by to furnifh him with a key to that fecret 
 which it was his avowed intention never to 
 divulge ? If jfunius had written his let- 
 ters in his common hand, would he not 
 have expofed himfelf to unneceflary ha- 
 zard ? By writing his letters in his common 
 hand,, would he not have run a great rifque 
 of being detected, if any perfon well ac- 
 quainted with it had chanced to have feen 
 the manufcript of jfunius, or if Mr. Wood- 
 fall, or any of his printers had chanced to 
 have met with any of his private letters or 
 cards? How can it be imagined, that 
 Junius was a man of fo little forefight, as 
 to run thefe rifques, when, by difguifing his 
 hand- writing he could completely fecure 
 himfelf from them, and even from being 
 fufpecled on account of his manufcript, 
 except fome one fhould chance to fee it, 
 to whom his common hand- writing was per- 
 fe&ly familiar ? Now the fa ft upon this 
 point, fatisfaftorily (hews, that the author 
 of Juwus would certainly have laid him- 
 felf open to detection, if by writing his letters 
 VOL. i. I in
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 in his common hand, he had imprudently 
 relied on the caution and fecrecy of Mr. 
 Woodfall : For, Mr. Woodfall not only 
 made a practice of {hewing the manufcript 
 of J-utnius to his brother, and fome other 
 of his friends, but alfo of reading it, before 
 publication, to people with whom he was 
 very flight Jy acquainted : and in one in- 
 ftance in particular, he took one of Juni- 
 us's letters from his pocket, which he faid 
 he hadjujt received, and placing it on the ta- 
 ble of a tavern, at a meeting compqfed of 
 Bookfcllers, and Printers of News-papers, 
 read it aloud to the company *. 
 
 The laft evidence which I {hall bring 
 forward, is that of Mr. Henry Sampfon 
 Woodfall himfelf ; as his negative tejlimony 
 tn this queftion, is not wholly unworthy of 
 obfervation. 
 
 I have already itated, that Mr. H. S. 
 Woodfall has permitted his brother to con- 
 iefs for him, t/uit he never did, nor does not 
 now, know -who in reality was the author of 
 Junius-, that it appears, he at one time fuf- 
 
 * See this circumftatKe detailed, and its truth eflablifh- 
 
 | 
 
 peeled 
 
 rd in Mr. Almon's firft lertpr in the Appendix.
 
 HUGH BOYD. 163 
 
 peeled Mr. Boyd to be that very perfon; 
 and that he has now an evident intereft in 
 concealing his fufpicions from the world. 
 Thefe are facls unqueflionable; and which, 
 therefore, I have too great a refpecl for 
 Mr. H. S. Woodfalis charafter, to fuppofe 
 he would upon his honour deny. 
 
 In the beginning of May 1798, I wrote 
 to Mr. H. S. Woodfall, informing him, that 
 I was authorized by Mrs. Boyd, to collect 
 and publifh Mr. Boyd's political writings, 
 and that I fhould therefore be greatly 
 obliged to him, for his opinion with regard 
 to Mr. Almon's affertion that Mr. Boyd 
 was the real author of Junius. To this re- 
 queft I received no written anfwer; but in 
 the courfe of a few days Mr. H. S. Wood- 
 fall called at my apartments in Leicefter- 
 fquare, when I chanced to be from home. 
 I then called on him at his houfe at Chel- 
 fea, when he diitin&ly told me in the pre- 
 fence of Mr. William Woodfall and a 
 young lady, " that he did not believe 
 " Mr. Boyd was the author of Junius - % 
 " although he was certainly a man of great 
 " abilities:' I afked him, if Mr. Boyd had 
 / 2 at
 
 164 LIFE OF 
 
 at any time fent letters to the Publick Ad- 
 vcrtifcr? He replied " that Mr. Boyd had 
 " fent him feveral communications on the 
 " affairs of India, in 1776, or 1777; but 
 " that he did not recollett he had ever fent 
 " him any Letters for the Publick Advertijer. 
 " before thofe years, or that he had ever writ- 
 " ten on any other fubj efts, than fuch as re- 
 tf lated to India." To this I made no an- 
 fwer ; but proceeded to afk him, if he had 
 preferved any of the manufcript vtjunius? 
 He faid he had not. I afked him, if he 
 thought Mr. W. G. Hamilton was the au- 
 thor ofjunius f He faid, " No, mojt ajffur- 
 " edly HE was not; and as to the ftory about 
 " Hamilton quoting Junius to the Duke 
 " of Richmond, he knew it to be a mifcon- 
 . " ception." Such was the firft converfation 
 I had with Mr. H. S. Woodfall refpeQing 
 Mr. Boyd ; and I have related it verbatim, as 
 I took it down on paper a few minutes af- 
 ter I left his houfe. 
 
 Nothing further palled between us, till 
 the beginning of March 1799, when I 
 again wrote to Mr. H. S. Woodfall, telling 
 him, that as I knew it to be a fa6l, that Mr. 
 
 , Boyd
 
 HUGH BO YD. 165 
 
 Boyd had kept up a conftaht and uninter- 
 rupted correfpondence with the Publick Ad- 
 vertifer from January 1769, till the fpring 
 of 1772, and that as I was authorized by 
 Mrs. Boyd to requeft he would point out 
 any one of the numerous letters which Mr. 
 Boyd had tranfmitted to him during that 
 period, I begged he would favour me by 
 doing fo. He returned a polite verbal an- 
 fwer by my fervant, faying I might rely on 
 hearing from him in the courfe of ten days. 
 After having waited upwards of two 
 months for his anfwer, I called on him on 
 the loth of May 1799, at his houfe at 
 Chelfea, in company with a friend of mine, 
 whom I had purpofely brought along with 
 me, and upon whofe accuracy in recollect- 
 ing what mould pafs between Mr. Wood- 
 fall and me, I could place the mod implicit 
 reliance. 
 
 We found Mr. Woodfall alone: he feern- 
 ed not a little difconcerted at our vifit; and 
 immediately told me " that he could recol- 
 " left nothing whatever, of any letters fent 
 " by Mr. Boyd to him, during the years 
 "1769, 1770, 1771, and part of 1772 ; 
 
 that
 
 j66 
 
 " that Mr. Boyd was unquejlionably a very 
 t( able writer, though at the fame time he 
 " could not give in to the idea of his hav- 
 " ing written the letters of Junius" I 
 waved the dire ft queftion about Junius, 
 and told him " I only wifhed him to point 
 st out to me any one of the letters which 
 " Mr. Boyd fent to him in the courfe of 
 " the years above mentioned." He repeat- 
 ed, " that he had no recollection whatever of 
 " any fuch letters" We then withdrew, 
 fully fatisfied that Woodfall had more 
 knowledge of the letters I inquired for, 
 than he chofe to avow. 
 
 Thus then Mr. H, S. Woodfall declines 
 to give any account whatever of , that Jong 
 and clofe correfpondence between him and 
 Mr. Boydj which I have incontrovertibly 
 proved to have commenced and ended pre- 
 cifeiy at the fame points of time, with that 
 which fubfifled between him and Junius. 
 Mr. Woodfall has indeed permitted his bro- 
 ther to declare for him *, " That it is con- 
 trary to all cuilom to break into the confi- 
 
 * See Mr. William Woodfall's letter, in the Morning 
 Chronicle, of the i6th of Auguft 1799. 
 
 dential
 
 HUGH BOYD. l? 
 
 dential fecrecy of a News- pa per printer; and 
 that I ought not therefore to be furprifed, 
 that he never anfwered queftions, the avow- 
 ed object of which was, to invite him to be- 
 tray the confidence Mr, Boyd had placed in 
 fern." What is this but a pretty plain ad- 
 miffion of the faft, that the letters which he 
 thinks (Mr. H. S. Woodfall has faid he did 
 not know that Mr. Boyd had written for the 
 Publick Advertifer before 1776) Mr, Boyd 
 wrote during the years 1769, 1770, I77l> 
 and part of 1772, and which appeared in 
 the PMick Advertifer, in thofe years, were 
 not intended by him to be acknowledged 
 as his own produ&ions, and that he (Mr. 
 Woodfall) confiders it would be betraying 
 the confidence repofed in him, to point out 
 to the public k the letters in queftion. 
 This conduct on the part of Mr. H. S. 
 Woodfall I am not at all difpofed to blame. 
 I am fure I did not wifh him to deviate 
 from what he conceived to be his duty, 
 much lefs to betray any thing which he 
 thought himfelf bound to conceal. I knew 
 he had very fujficient motives for being re- 
 ferved with refpe6l to the author of Junius, 
 
 and
 
 l68 LIFE OF 
 
 and I did not, therefore, imagine he would 
 ha\e told me the purport of that feries of 
 letters which were fecretly tranfmitted to 
 him in the above mentioned years, more 
 efpecially when I affured him, that there 
 was pqfitive evidence of Mr. Boyd having 
 written them. In truth, Mr. H. S. Wood- 
 fall has acknowledged as much concerning 
 them as I expe&ed, if not as much as I 
 could have defired; and his acknowledge- 
 ments, together with Mrs. Boyd's evidence, 
 have brought the general queftion within a 
 very narrow compafs. For, as it is now 
 afcertained beyond all doubt, that Mr. 
 Boyd wrote a continued feries of letters, 
 with the greateft poflible fecreey, for the 
 Pub/id Advertifer, during the years 1769, 
 1770, 1771, and part of 1772, it remains 
 only to determine what thofe letters were, 
 and under what fignatures they appeared. 
 Now the fa6l is, that there was no other wri- 
 ter but Junius, who fent gratuitous contri- 
 butions to the Publick Advertifer uninter- 
 ruptedly and fecretly during the whole of 
 thofe three fucceffive years. How this facl 
 came to my knowledge it is no way necef- 
 
 fary
 
 HUGHBOYD. 169 
 
 iary to inform the publick, becaufe Mr. H. 
 S. Woodfall will not cannot, IN TRUTH, 
 deny it. As Junius, therefore, was the only 
 writ r who fent letters to the Publick Ad- 
 ver lifer within the period of time above 
 ftated, and according to the manner herein 
 defcribed; and as it has been proved that 
 Mr. Boyd did conftantly fend letters to the 
 Publick Advertifer, during the whole of that 
 time, and exactly according to that manner, 
 it inevitably follows, that the letters which 
 Mr. Boyd tranfmitted to that paper, in the 
 courfe of that time, were thofe very letters 
 which then appeared in it, under the figna- 
 tures of Junius and Philo- Junius, of Lucius 
 and Brutus. 
 
 Such then is the detail of the whole of 
 the evidence in this inveftigation. Let the 
 reader weigh well the fafts that have been 
 eftablifhed. In one view, let it be confi- 
 dered that Mr. Boyd was perfectly qualified 
 in every refpecl to have been the writer of 
 the letters of Junius ; that his avowed po- 
 litical writings bear fo ftriking a fimilitude 
 to thofe letters, not only in the principles 
 they inculcate, in the opinions they fupport, 
 
 and
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 and in the characters they praife or cenfure, 
 but alfo in the energy and elegance of their 
 ftyle, and in the flrength and refinement of 
 their fpirit that it muft be prefumed they 
 are the compofitions of the fame mind; 
 'that his motives in writing the letters of 
 Junius, and in concealing from the world 
 that he was the author of them, were per- 
 fectly confident with the political principles 
 he profefied, as well as with the political 
 connexions he had formed ; that he actu- 
 ally kept up an uninterrupted correfpon- 
 dence with the Pub lick Advertifcr during 
 the three fucceflive years that Junius wrote 
 for that paper; that he carried on that 
 correfpondence with the moft impenetrable 
 fecrecy ; that the letters which he fent to 
 the Publick Advertifcr were fuperfcribed in 
 a difguifed hand, and were conveyed to Mr. 
 H. S. Woodfall's office often by Mrs. Boyd 
 herfelf, and always with the moft extraor- 
 dinary degree of caution ; that he at all 
 times manifefted to Mrs. Boyd, but to her 
 only, an intereft and anxiety about the let- 
 ters of Junius, which no one but the author 
 of them can be fuppofed to have felt ; that 
 
 often,
 
 HUGH BOYD. 1J I 
 
 often, when Mrs. Boyd told him, (he ftrong- 
 ly fufpefted he was Junius, he invariably 
 evaded the queftion ; that when it was re- 
 ported in a publick paper, that he was 
 Junius, though he knew that fuch a report 
 might very materially injure his profpefts 
 in life, and though Mrs. Boyd mod earneftly 
 urged him to contradicl it, he never took 
 the fmalleft notice of it, and obferved the 
 moft cautious filence with regard to all Oie 
 fa id on the fubjecl. In addition to thefe 
 ftrong prefumptive proofs, let it allo be 
 confidered, that the refemblance between 
 Mr. Boyd's difguifed and common hand- 
 writing, though not difcernible by perfons 
 who were little acquainted with them, was 
 perfectly obvious to thofe to whom either 
 the one or the other was familiar; that Mr. 
 Almon, who was in the confront habit of fee- 
 ing Mr. Boyd's common hand-writing, and 
 who faw the manufcript. of Junius 3 pofitively 
 declares there was a ftrong fimilkude be- 
 tween them ; that on the other hand, the 
 perfon who fuperintended the printing of 
 the letters of Junius, who was confequently 
 familiarized with the hand in which they 
 
 were
 
 172 LIFE o 't- 
 
 were written, and to whom Mr. Boyd's com- 
 mon hand-writing has been (hewn, declares 
 there is a ftriking likenefs between them ; 
 that a refpe&able printer, who was employed 
 in printing the letters ot Junius, declares that 
 the manufcript of thofe letters, and the dif- 
 guifed hand of Mr. Boyd appear to him to 
 have been written by the fame perfon : but 
 above all let it be confidered, that Mr. 
 Boyd mujl in faEl have written, that anec- 
 dote related by Junius refpecling Lord 
 Irnham; that he in fa6l commenced and 
 ended his correfpondence with the Publick 
 Advertifer, which he carried on with fuck 
 fecrecy, and without interruption, precifely at 
 the fame points offline at which Junius began 
 and ceafed to write for that paper ; and 
 finally as Junius was in faff the only writer 
 who wrote for the Publick Adver lifer, fecretly 
 and uninterruptedly, during the whole of the. 
 period thai has been Jlated, Mr. Boyd and 
 Junius muft confequently have been one 
 and the fame perfon. Let all thefe fafts 
 be duly weighed, and let the reader bear in 
 mind the evidence that has been adduced, 
 as well as the arguments that have been 
 3 urged
 
 HUGH BOYD, 173 
 
 urged in fupport of them, together with the 
 declaration of Junius, that he was thejb/e 
 depojitory of his ownjtcret, and that itJJwuld 
 perijh with him, and with the confeffion of 
 Mr. H. S. Woodfall, that he does not know 
 who Junius was, and with the facl: that no 
 well-founded objection has been made to 
 the affertion that Mr. Boyd was the un- 
 doubted author of Junius, although two 
 years have now elapfed fince it was firft 
 broached ; and laftly, with the equally im- 
 portant facl;, that all the other perfons to 
 whom the letters of Junius have been attri- 
 buted, are now dead, and that not a fingle 
 circumftance has come to light, to juftify the 
 furmifes upon which the belief of their 
 having written Junius altogether refted. 
 Let the whole be calmly and maturely taken 
 into the reader's view, and I confidently 
 truft that he will pronounce with me, that 
 HUGH BOYD, AND HUGH BOYD ONLY, 
 WAS THE REAL AUTHOR OF JUNIUS. 
 
 It remains, to fay a few words relative to 
 thofe' to whom the letters- of Junius have 
 at different times been afcribed ; in order 
 to (hew that the fuppofitions which have 
 
 been
 
 174 LIf OF 
 
 been entertained as to their having written 
 thofe letters, are not only unfupported by 
 any onefaft, but are, in truth, highly im- 
 probable. 
 
 Were I to enumerate all the perfons 
 whom vague conje&ure has occafionally 
 named, as the probable authors of Junius, 
 I mould fill, at leaft, a couple of pages to 
 very little purpofe. I {hall, therefore, con- 
 fine myfelf to thofe only, whofe talents, 
 opinions, and connexions, gave a plaufible 
 colour to the rumours, that they had writ- 
 ten the letters of Junius. 
 
 Thofe letters have been attributed to 
 Lord Sackville, to Lord George Germain, 
 to Mr. John Dunning, to Mr. Richard 
 Burke, to Mr. W. G. Hamilton, to Mr. 
 Edmund Burke, and, by a few people, to 
 the learned Mr. Samuel Dyer. Of thefe 
 gentlemen, the three lad mentioned are 
 the only ones refpecting whom I conceive 
 it neceflkry to make any obfervation. 
 
 Mr. W. G. Hamilton was unqueflionably 
 a man of confiderable abilities, nor do I 
 doubt, that he was fully capable of writing 
 the letters of Junius, and I know his poli- 
 tical
 
 HUGH BOYD. 175 
 
 tical principles and opinions differed very 
 little from thofe which they invariaby main- 
 tain. But the only circumftance which 
 gave rife to the fuppofition of his being 
 Junius, was his having quoted, in conver- 
 fation with the Duke of Richmond, a paf- 
 fage from one of Juniuss letters, before it 
 appeared in the Pub lick Advertifer. For the 
 exaft truth of this circumftance I cannot 
 take it upon me to vouch. I have, how- 
 ever, good reafon to believe, that Mr. Ha- 
 milton had more than once heard a letter of 
 yunius's read to him before it was publifhed, 
 which furficiently explains the feeming myf- 
 tery, refpe&ing the quotation he made to the 
 Duke of Richmond. Thofe who may not 
 be fatisfied with this explanation, will at lead 
 give credit to Mr. Hamilton's own words ; 
 and it is a pofitive facl, that \\zfolcmnly de- 
 clared on his death-bed, " That he was not 
 " the author ofjunius" 
 
 With regard to the fuppofition that Mr, 
 Burke was Junius, it would be needlefs to 
 fay much. A thorough knowledge of the 
 chara&eriftick qualities of his great mind r 
 and of his incomparable writings, as well as 
 
 of
 
 176 LIFE OF 
 
 of thofe of the letters of Junius, were alone 
 fufficient to convince every judicious reader, 
 that he was not the writer of thofe perform- 
 ances. Of Mr.'Burke's unrivalled talents, it 
 has been well obferved by the moft eloquent 
 philofopher, and one of the firft writers of 
 the prefent day, that he was " a writer who 
 ft was admired by all mankind for his elo- 
 " quence, but who is, if poffible, ftill more 
 " admired by all competent judges for his 
 <e philofophy ; a writer of whom I may juft- 
 " ly fay, that he was GRAVISSIMUS ET DE- 
 
 " CENDI ET INTELLIGENDI AUCTOR ET 
 
 <e MAGISTER *." This character may with 
 perfect truth be given to every thing that 
 Mr. Burke has written. Throughout all 
 his various productions, the fober dignity 
 of true philofophy prevails over every other 
 excellence, brightening the dried details 
 with the clear light of reafon, and controul- 
 ing the loftieft flights of imagination with 
 the fovereign majefly of wifdom. Junius, 
 though often grave, is never profound: 
 
 * See Mr. MACKINTOSH'S admirable Difcourfe on the 
 Study of the L:ny of Nature and Nations, introduftory 
 to a courfe of leisures on that fcience. 
 
 though
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 though he often prefents moral and politi- 
 cal truths in the moft alluring drefs, he 
 never examines their flence; though his 
 precepts are often wife^ his fentiments noble, 
 and his obfervations acute, he never pene- 
 trates beyond the furface of things: his pre- 
 vailing excellencies are the precifion and 
 clearnefs of his reafoning, the vigour, pun- 
 gency, and terfenefs of his ftyle. In his 
 argument he always confines himfelf to the 
 point at i/uie, and even in his declamations 
 he feldom digrefles. Whereas Mr* Burke 
 never wrote on any fubjecl whatever, with- 
 out fearching it to the bottom, examining it 
 thoroughly in all its minuted bearings, and 
 finally tracing it to its remotefl confe- 
 quences. It may indeed be faid, that Mr. 
 Burke could have reftrained the natural 
 bent of his genius, and that he poffibly 
 thought popular letters, like thofe of Jy,nius t 
 fhould touch only upon thofe fimple and 
 obvious principles by which men are actu- 
 ated in common life, and fhould therefore 
 be addreffed to the heart and the afFe&ions., 
 rather than to the underftanding. That he 
 could have adopted any ftyle and manner he 
 VOL. i. m thought
 
 178 LIFE OF 
 
 thought proper, his admirable imitation of 
 Bolingbroke very fufficiently proves ; but 
 that he (hould have " laboured " inceflantly* 
 for three whole years to write letters of a 
 fort fo different from his other productions, 
 as well as fo inferior to them, in point of 
 genuine and fubftantial merit, and that at a 
 time when he had fuch a multiplicity of 
 important concerns to attend to, appears to 
 me fo very improbable, that, I confefs, I am 
 fomewhat furprifed that his friends mould 
 ever have given the final left degree of cre- 
 dit to the report ; more efpecially as the 
 opinion ofjfunius on two material queftions, 
 was totally different from that which Mr. 
 Burke and the Rockingham party firenu- 
 oufly fupportedt. 
 
 If any thing be yet wanting to fhew the 
 improbability of Mr. Burke having written 
 
 * I have already (hewn, that Junius himfelf acknow- 
 ledges the labour which the composition of his letters had 
 coft him. 
 
 t Mr. Burke was, throughout his whole life, a decided 
 and firm fupporter of the feptennial aft ; whereas Jmim 
 was a zealous advocate for triennial parliaments. Mr. 
 Grenville's Colonial Laws were approved of by Junius t 
 butfevenly condemned by Mr, Burke. 
 
 the
 
 HUGH BOYD. 179 
 
 the letters of Junius, let it be recollefted 
 that he himfelf fpontaneoufly declared to 
 Doftor Johnfon, " that he had no concern 
 " whatever in thofe letters *." 
 
 The conjecture that Mr. Samuel Dyer 
 was the writer of Junius 's letters, is, I think, 
 flill lefs plaufible than that which has been 
 entertained refpecling Mr. Hamilton or Mr. 
 Burke. 
 
 * Mr. Dyer was a citizen of London. He 
 was the fon of a refpeclable jeweller in 
 Cheapfide, who having acquired a compe- 
 tent fortune, liberally employed it in the 
 education of his children. The father be- 
 ing himfelf a zealous diffenter, intended his 
 fon Samuel for the difTenting miniftry ; and 
 for that purpofe placed him at Dr. Dod- 
 deridge's academy at Northampton: He 
 was afterwards fent to the college of Glaf- 
 gow under the immediate care of the cele- 
 brated Dr. Hutchefon, and he completed 
 his ftudies at Leyden, under the famous 
 Schultens. 
 
 Mr, Dyer was eminently qualified to 
 fliine in the profeflion for which his father 
 
 t See BofwcH's Life of Johnfon. 
 
 m 2 intended
 
 180 LIFE OF 
 
 intended him ; but having in the courfe of 
 hjs phiiofophical purfuits, become a fcep- 
 tick in religion, he relinquifhed all thoughts 
 of afcending the pulpit, and launched at 
 once into all the pleafures and diffipa- 
 tions of London. Being, however, a man 
 of , great talents, and of very extenfive 
 learning, as well as of a refined tafle in lite- 
 rature, he negle&ed not to cultivate the ac- 
 quaintance of thofe whofe minds were con- 
 genial to his own. He foon. became 
 known to Doctor Johnfon, Mr. Burke, and 
 Sir Jofhua Reynolds, with the former of 
 whom, he lived for fome years on terms of 
 great intimacy; and it is related by Haw- 
 kins and Bofwell, that the Doftor always 
 looked up to him, on phiiofophical fub- 
 je6ls*. He feems to have been cpnfidered 
 by Johnfcn as a profound metaphyfician, 
 an4 as a man deeply read in every branch 
 
 * Johfiforr, in his Life of Watts, quotes the opinion of 
 Mr. Dyer, refpetllng Watts's mtftaphyfical difquifitions. 
 " It was obferved," fays he, " by the late learned Mr. 
 " Dyer >; that Wat;s confounded the idea otfpace with thai 
 <{ of empty /pace, and did not conficlcr that, though fpace 
 " might be without matter, yet matter being extended 
 *' could not b^,^th[u^fgace." 
 
 of
 
 HUGH BOVD. l8l 
 
 of fcholaflick knowledge ; and it is obferv- 
 ed by Hawkins, " that he eonverfed very 
 " ably on moft topics." But his abilities 
 were rendered ufelefs to himfelf and to the 
 world by an habitual indoknce, which his 
 diflipated courfe of life originally brought 
 on, in which it was his delight to indulge, 
 and which neither the felicitations of 
 friendihip, nor the calls of poverty could 
 induce him' to ufe 1 any endeavours to con- 
 quer. The fmall patrimony which his fa- 
 ther had left hinl, being inefficient to fup- 
 port his expences, he was reduced to the 
 greateft diftrefs ; and Johnfon, in order to 
 procure him fome relief, ftrongly prefled* 
 him to write the Life of Erafmus, but all 
 his perfuafions were of no avail, he would 
 not undertake it. He was, however, at laft 
 prevailed on to revife the old tranflation of 
 Plutarch's Lives, which he executed after 
 mafcy heavy complaints of the labour of 
 the taik, and for which he received from 
 Draper, the partner of Tonfon, the fum of 
 
 * See Hawkins's Life of Johnfon, from which the 
 greateft part of my information refpetiing Mr. Dyer is 
 derived. 
 
 two
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 two hundred pounds. By the death of his 
 mother he became pofleffed of Soool. which 
 he inverted in India flock ; and offered him- 
 felf as a candidate for a feat in the court of 
 Directors. But his profperity was fhort- 
 lived. He entered into engagements for 
 the purchafe and fale of flock ; and from 
 his total ignorance of bufmefs, he at once 
 injured his reputation and loft the whole of 
 his property. This difafter he did not 
 long furvive; and he died in the utmofl in- 
 digence, ' ' leaving not/' fays Hawkins, " in 
 " money or effects fufficient to defray the 
 " expence of a decent funeral." 
 
 How a perfon of this defcription, whom 
 the flrongeft pofllble incitements could 
 never prevail upon to write any thing but 
 a fhort Preface to a tranflation of Plu- 
 tarch's Lives, mould have been fufpefted 
 of having written the letters of Jumus y 
 might feem a little flrange, if we did not 
 know from what very flight and trivial cir- 
 cumflances, fufpicions of this nature arife. 
 I underfland, however, that Sir Jofhua Rey- 
 nolds fuppofed Mr. Dyer to have been 
 Junius, becaufe he heard Mr. Dyer and 
 
 Mr.
 
 HUGH BOYD. 183 
 
 Mr. Burke make the fame remarks in con- 
 verfation, which he afterwards found in 
 Junius's letters; becaufe Mr. Dyer's death 
 happened a few months fubfequent to the 
 period at which Junius ceafed to fend let- 
 ters to Mr. Woodfall ; and becaufe Mr. 
 Richard Burke went in great hafte to Mr. 
 Dyer's apartments, the inftant he heard of 
 his death, and requefled as a very particular 
 favour of his executors, that he might be 
 permitted to deftroy a fealed box of papers 
 belonging to the deceafed, which he faid 
 was of the utmoft importance to him, but 
 could be of no fervice to any one elfe. As 
 thefe circum fiances were related to me, 
 merely on report, I cannot pretend to fay 
 whether they are authentic or not ; but if 
 they had any influence with Sir Jofhua, he 
 muft furely have been unacquainted with 
 the true character of Mr. Dyer, which pre- 
 cludes the belief of Mr. Burke and his bro- 
 ther having connected themfelves with him 
 in a literary undertaking, which required 
 fuch unremitting attention, as that of the 
 letters of Junius. 
 
 I hope
 
 JLIFE OF 
 
 I hope the reader is fully fatisfied, that 
 neither Mr. W. G. Hamilton, Mr. Edmund 
 Burke, nor Mr. Samuel Dyer, had any con- 
 cern whatever, in compofing the letters of 
 Junius\ and that the faft of HUGH Bo YD 
 having been the true and only author of 
 thofe productions, will by confequence ap- 
 pear the more evident. And I now clofe 
 this inveftigation, with the entire confciouf- 
 nefs that every part of the evidence which 
 I have brought forward, is founded in the 
 ftr-icleft veracity ; and with the firm convic- 
 tion, that the fafts eftablimed by that evi- 
 dence will bear me out in the conclufion I 
 have drawn. 
 
 IT has been already mentioned that Mr. 
 Boyd took a houfe at Kenton- Green, near 
 Harrow, in the fummer of 1771. At this 
 place he refided for upwards of five years, 
 both with a view to avoid the expences of 
 a town life, and to be near the fons of a 
 deceafed fifter, who were, during that pe- 
 riod, at Harrow fchool. For thefe youths 
 
 he
 
 HUGH BOYD. 185 
 
 he fhewed all the tendernefs, anxiety, and 
 provident care of a father. He never 
 miffed an opportunity of having them at 
 his table, when he had company calculated 
 either to improve their minds, or to afford 
 them innocent amuiement : and he was par- 
 ticularly attentive, in preventing them from 
 coming to his houfe, when he had parties' 
 with him who were either too jovial in 
 their pleasures, or too free in their conver- 
 fation, forgetting not the admonition of 
 JUVENAL 
 
 Nif diftu fcedum> vifuque hart limina tangat, 
 
 Intra quae puer eft.-! 
 
 Maxima debetur puero reverentia k 
 
 Some months after the letters of Junius 
 were publifhed collectively, Boyd met Sir 
 William Draper at the tennis-court, where 
 their acquaintance was originally formed in 
 the year 1769, and where (being both great 
 tennis-players) they ufed often to meet, the 
 converfation turjning upon Junius, Sir Wil- 
 liam obferved, " that though Junius had 
 " treated him with extreme feverity, he now 
 " leaked upon him as a very honeft fellow, 
 <e that he freely forgave him for the bitter- 
 i nefs
 
 i86 LIFE OF 
 
 " nefs of his cenfures, and that there was no 
 " man with whom he would more gladly 
 " drink a bottle of old Burgundy *." Boyd 
 took no notice of the obfervation ; but after 
 playing at tennis till a late hour, he pro- 
 pofed to Sir William, that they mould dine 
 together at a favourite tavern. The Knight 
 readily confented to the propofal ; and he 
 enjoyed his Burgundy, while Boyd had the 
 inward fatisfa&ion of doing juflice to his 
 candour, as well as to his wifhes. 
 
 Mr. Boyd at this time ufed to be much 
 in the fociety of Armftrong and Goldfmith, 
 efpecially with the latter, whofe ill ftate of 
 health had induced him to take a country 
 lodging at the Hide, on the Edgware-road, 
 about three miles diftant from Kenton- 
 Green. Goldfmith often walked acrofs the 
 fields to Mr. Boyd's, and would pafs feveral 
 days with him. Their converfation, as may 
 be readily expefted, was always on literary 
 and critical topicks ; and Goldfmith ufed to 
 inform Boyd of the different works he had 
 
 * This was Sir William's favourite wine. The le- 
 witching fmilcs of Burgundy, had an irrefiftible influence on 
 his heart. 
 
 in
 
 HUGH 3OYD. 187 
 
 in contemplation, and to relate to him all 
 that patted at the celebrated Literary Club, 
 in Gerrard-ftreet. On thefe occafions, Boyd 
 obferved, " that his friend Goldfmith never 
 " committed any of thole abfurdities, nor 
 " betrayed any of that idle and clumfy af- 
 " feftation of wit, which too frequently ren- 
 " dered him the fport of Richard Burke, 
 " Garrick, and the other wicked wags at the 
 " Club *." Goldfmith ufed to criticife Pope's 
 epiftolary ftyle ; and once that he dined at 
 Boyd's, he condemned it in fevere terms, 
 and gave a fpecimen of what a familiar 
 letter mould be. 
 
 A few months before Goldfmith's death, 
 Boyd having heard from Richard Burke, 
 that little Noll, as they ufed to call him, had 
 been feverely attacked at the Club, and that 
 he meditated a poetical reply, immediately 
 went to him, in order to difluade him from 
 an attempt, in which he conceived there was 
 little chance of his fucceeding. He found 
 
 * Goldfmith had no talent for repartee : yet he could 
 not diveft himfelf of that ridiculous notion, too prevalent 
 in the learned world, that when a man of genius is in 
 company, // is necefl'ary he ihould be a wit. 
 
 him
 
 l88 LIFE OF 
 
 him bu.fily employed in giving the laft polifh 
 to fome parts of his well-known and admi- 
 mirable poem of Retaliation, which the 
 Doctor read to him in great triumph, re- 
 quefting his opinion as to its merits. Boyd 
 told himuhat he thought the aggrefibrs ex- 
 tremely reprehenfible, and that they were 
 entitled to no quarter ; but fearful left the 
 feverity with which he had drawn the cha- 
 racters of the Burkes, would not only put 
 an end to the friendfhip which fubfifted be- 
 tween them and Goldfmith, but likewife 
 difturb the harmony which prevailed in the 
 Club, induced him to foften feveral expref- 
 fions, and intirely to call anew the character 
 of William Burke. As- Goldfmith had an 
 high opinion of Boyd's critical tafte, he was 
 much pleafed with the emendations he had 
 fuggefted ; and he begged of him to call 
 again in a few days, when the poem mould 
 be completed, that he might fubrnit the re- 
 mainder of it to his perufal, and that they 
 jnight read the whole of it over attentively 
 together. But Goldfmith did not live to 
 carry his plan into execution. He died, Un- 
 expectedly, of a nervous fever; and when 
 
 his
 
 HUGH BOY D. 189 
 
 his friend Boyd, who had not heard even 
 of his illnefs, called on him at the appointed 
 time, a fmgular circumfiance occurred. He 
 inquired of the maid-fervant who opened the 
 door at Goldfmith's lodgings, whether the 
 Do&or was at home? (he anfwered, yes. . 
 He aiked, if he might fee him? and (he 
 made the fame reply ; upon which he ran 
 jup flairs, when on entering his apartment 
 he was (hocked beyond defcription, at fee- 
 ing poor Goldfmith extended in his coffin. 
 
 This event took place in March 1774* 
 In the courfe of this year Boyd paid greater 
 .attention than he had yet done to the fludy 
 of the law ; and though he difliked the 
 practice of that profeffion, his pecuniary ne- 
 ceffities, together vrith the advices of his 
 friends, feemed for a while to prevail over 
 his natural inclination. Neverthelefs, he 
 did not withdraw himfelf, either from th$ 
 literary, or fafhionable circles with which 
 hq had been accuftomed to affociate; and 
 his arcjour for politicks ilill continued una- 
 bated. He conftantly attended the Houfes 
 of Parliament, but merely for his own gra- 
 tification
 
 1CJO LIFE OF 
 
 tification and amufement : and the day after 
 an important debate, he ufed to write down, 
 intirely from memory, the fpeeches of thofe 
 great men, whofe political opinions accorded 
 with his own, and whofe eloquence he moil 
 admired. Some of thofe fpeeches he occa- 
 fionally publimed ; and the extraordinary 
 accuracy with which they were reported, 
 aftonifhed all who had heard them. There 
 was, in particular, one fpeech of Lord Cam- 
 den's in the Houfe of Lords, on the difpute 
 with the American Colonies, of which, when 
 it was publimed, Mr. Burke, who had heard 
 it, declared in Boyd's prefence, that not only 
 the fentiments, but the expreffions were fo 
 exaft in every part, that his Lordfhip mufl 
 have written it himfelf. He was afterwards 
 informed that Boyd had reported it. ' 
 
 Mr. Boyd was fuch an enthufiaft in poli- 
 ticks, that he actually facriftced both his 
 private pleafures and perfonal convenience, 
 in attending the proceedings in parliament. 
 At a particular time, when the orders of the 
 Houfe of Commons were extremely ftricl;, 
 in excluding all. ftrangers, except Irifh 
 
 mem-
 
 HUGH BOVD. 
 
 members*, he attempted to gain admittance, 
 by pafTmg for one ; but the door-keeper 
 
 knew 
 
 
 
 * Before the year 1770, Grangers were feldom or ever 
 admitted into the gallery of the Houfe of Commons; and 
 no regular accounts of the proceedings in Parliament 
 were fuffered to be printed in the newfpapers until the 
 year following, when a circumftance occurred that in- 
 duced Parliament to comply with the wifhes of the people, 
 by allowing their debates to be published in the daily 
 papers. The Printer of the London Evening Poft, having 
 been ordered to attend at the bar of the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, for a breach of privilege, in having printed a report 
 of their proceedings, he pofitively refuied to obey their 
 fummons, upon which they fent a meffenger to take him 
 into cuftody. But the Printer, forefeeing what would 
 happen, applied to Mr. Wilkes, then an alderman ot 
 London, to afford him his protection, in cafe the metTen- 
 ger mould attempt to take him by force. As it was ex- 
 peeled, the meffenger infilled on taking the Printer into 
 cuftody; the Printer charged him with an, affault, and a 
 conftable inftantly appeared, who took the meffenger to 
 the Manfion-houfe, before the Lord- Mayor, (Crofby) Al- 
 derman Oliver, and Mr. Wilkes, who w r ould have com*- 
 mitted him without helitation, had he not been bailed by 
 the Deputy Serjeant at Arms. The Houfe of Commons, 
 in confequence of this, fent the Lord-Mayor and Alder- 
 man Oliver to the Tower, not chufing to touch Mr. 
 Wilkes ; but finding the fpirit of the people rife high 
 againft their proceedings, they deemed it prudent to re- 
 leafe the Lord- Mayor and Oliver, to give up the conteft, 
 
 and
 
 10,2 LlI-E OF 
 
 knew him too well to be deceived by the 
 ftratagem, and refufed to let him enter the 
 Houfe. Boyd, as it was his cuflom, endea- 
 voured to foften the man into compliance, 
 when GEORGE DEMPSTER, (then one of 
 the Directors of the Eaft-India Company) 
 happening to pafs at the time, and over- 
 hearing what was faid, rebuked the door- 
 keeper, and afked Boyd his name. Having 
 gone too far to recede, he replied, Wilfon, 
 member for Antrim, which name Mr. 
 Dempfter gave to the Speaker, and then 
 ufhered Boyd up to the gallery, where he 
 of courfe remained unmolefted. The next 
 morning he went to breakfaft at Mr. Lauch- 
 lin Macleane's, where he had hardly fat 
 down, when Mr. Dempfter was announced ; 
 and fearful of being difcovered, he thought 
 it prudent to make a precipitate retreat, to 
 the no fmall furprife of Macleane, who 
 knew nothing of the circumftance that had 
 taken place the preceding evening. Boyd 
 and Dempfter afterwards became acquainted. 
 
 and. in future to fuffer their debates to be published. 
 See' a particular Account of this Affair In Mr. Almw's Lite- 
 rary, Biographical, and Political Anecdotes. 
 
 Yet.
 
 HUGH BO YD. 193 
 
 Yet he was not fo much occupied with 
 politicks, as to neglect the elegant purfuits 
 of polite literature, or the tender duties of 
 private friendfhip. He had formed an in- 
 timate acquaintance with Mr. HARTSON, 
 (author of the tragedy of the Countefs of 
 Salifbury, a piece which dill holds its place 
 on the flage) a young man of fine parts, 
 great accomplifhments, and amiable man- 
 ners ; and who, before the age of thirty, 
 had made the tour of Europe three times. 
 Being of a confumptive habit, and at this 
 time in extreme ill health, Mr. Boyd in- 
 vited him to his houfe at Kenton-Green, 
 that he might have the benefit of change of 
 air : but his malady was too far advanced to 
 admit of any cure ; and neither the power 
 of medicine, nor the foothing, but cheerful 
 friendfhip of Boyd, could afford him any 
 effectual relief. After living many weeks at 
 Kenton-Green, Mr. Hartfon returned to 
 town, and died in a few days, without leaving 
 any other effects, than a few manufcript 
 poems and plays, to GRIFFIN the book- 
 feller, whom he had appointed his executor, 
 and to whom he had probably been-indebt- 
 
 VOL. i. n ed.
 
 194 LIFE OF 
 
 ed. Boyd knowing Hartfon's diftrefled clr- 
 cumftances, called on Griffin the moment 
 he heard of his death, and generoufly offered 
 his fervices. Griffin begged he would order ' 
 and manage the funeral, which he did, and 
 for which Griffin afterwards refufed to pay, 
 fcandaloufly, if not falfely, pleading in ex- 
 cufe, that the manufcripts were of no value. 
 Boyd's friendship for the deceafed, would 
 have amply compenfated in his mind for the 
 lofs he had thus fuftained, if his own wants 
 had not been already fo numerous, and at 
 the fame time fo rapidly increafmg. For 
 this was not the only inflance in which he 
 met with ftill heavier lofles, through his ar- 
 dent and unbounded generofity, through 
 ,his love of literature, and his admiration of 
 genius : and once or twice, indeed, by al- 
 lowing artful, needy, and falfe friends to 
 take advantage of the eafinefs and modera- 
 tion of his temper, he reduced himfelf to the 
 greateft diftrefs, in order to refcue them 
 .from that doom, the utmoft rigours of 
 which, their bafe and fhamelefs ingratitude 
 fubfequently proved them to have de- 
 ferved. 
 
 On
 
 HUGH BOYD. 195 
 
 On all thofe occafions, however, he had 
 many real friends, whofe prompt and aftive 
 kindnefs foon extricated him from his diffi- 
 culties. 
 
 With his friend Mr. Stuart, of Hamp- 
 flead, he ufed at this period, very conftant- 
 ly, to affociate; and at his cheerful and hof- 
 pitable table he enjoyed the fociety of his 
 old friends Lauchlin Macleane and the ex- 
 cellent Doclor Armftrongj together with 
 many other gentlemen, diftinguifhed for 
 their genius and learning. Thefe literary 
 parties, after paffing fome days at Hamp- 
 ftead, would often, at the fuggeftion of Arm- 
 ftrong, remove their fittings to the Devil- 
 Tavern, in Fleet-ftreet, a houfe much noted 
 as the refort of the wits of thofe days, where 
 they concluded their claflick revels, with the 
 fame fpirit and harmony with which they 
 had commenced them. 
 
 Mr. Stuart told me, that Armftrong and 
 Boyd ufed to have long critical difcuflions 
 about the flyle of Juriius, which the Doftor 
 always cenfured, as being too affecled and 
 fententious, and which Boyd invariably, but 
 calmly, defended, as being the beft adapted 
 n 2 to
 
 196 LIFE OF 
 
 to the fubjetl to which it was applied. Yet 
 I have often heard him exprefs his high opi- 
 nion of Armftrong's ex aft critical difcrimi- 
 nation, and fine tafle; though on political 
 fubjecls he faid they never agreed, as the 
 Doclor was a {launch Tory, but he ufed 
 to add, he was a liberal Tory. 
 
 It was his practice, however, to avoid 
 politicks as much as poflible in private 
 company, and he was always particularly 
 cautious in what he faid of publick charac- 
 ters ; but for Lord Chatham's abilities and 
 virtues, his veneration was fo high, that he 
 could not fupprefs his indignation, when he 
 heard any attempt made to lower them. 
 
 In January 1775, he publifhed the firft of 
 thofe fpeeches of Lord Chatham's, which 
 are inferted in this volume. His Lordfhip 
 delivered it on the 2Cth of that month, on 
 Lord Dartmouth's motion for an addrefs to 
 his Majefty, " befeeching him to open a way 
 " towards the fettlement of the troubles in 
 " America." Of this fpeech, the wonderful 
 powers of his memory, together with his 
 having long accuflomed his mind to Lord 
 Chatham's " peculiar energy of ftyle and 
 
 " fentiment,"
 
 HUGH BOYD. 197 
 
 " fentiment," enabled him to retain the mod 
 perfect recollection ; and Lord Temple, and 
 many others who heard it, ufed to fay, 
 that Mr. Boyd's report was verbatim as it 
 was fpoken : but it is, if pofiible, flill more 
 extraordinary, that after eighteen years had 
 elapfed, I have heard him repeat the greateft 
 part of it. Mr. Boyd's mode of writing 
 down fpeeches from memory, was -altogether 
 peculiar, and therefore deferves to be re- 
 corded. He never took any notes of the 
 fpeeches he had heard ; but after attending 
 a long debate in parliament, he would fup 
 at a tavern with fome friends, return home 
 at two or three in the morning, go to bed 
 direclly, rife about feven, and write down 
 fuch fpeeches as he had moft admired in the 
 courfe of the debate, without once looking 
 at any of the newfpaper reports, to facilitate 
 his recollection. This is an abfolute fat, 
 which many of his friends have often wit- 
 neffed. 
 
 It may perhaps be afked, how a man of 
 
 fuch uncommon abilities, never got any 
 
 publick employment in this country ? And 
 
 how he came to be overlooked by his friends 
 
 3 in
 
 198 LIFE CU 
 
 in high life ? But thofe who beft know the 
 road to preferment, will eafily refolve thefe 
 queftions, when they are informed, that 
 there was nothing he fo much difliked, as 
 foliciting favours from the great; and that 
 there was nothing fo repugnant to his feel- 
 ings, as the idea of being politically con- 
 necled with men whom. he defpifed. And 
 every man of the world knows full well, by 
 what flow degrees, unaffuming genius, or 
 indigent virtue, obtain the patronage of the 
 powerful and the rich 
 
 HAUD facile emergunt, quorum virtutibus obftat 
 Res angufta domi. 
 
 Yet, though Boyd was fo little anxious, 
 it may be fo blameably carelefs, about the 
 advancement of his own private fortune, he 
 was indefatigably zealous in promoting the 
 views of his friends, and the interefts of his 
 country ; no man ever loved the one with 
 more fmcerity, or the other with greater 
 ardour. 
 
 Nor in attending to thefe home-felt con- 
 cerns, did he overlook the leffer duties of 
 humanity. Every aclion of his life, be- 
 
 fpoke
 
 HUGH BOYD. 1^9 
 
 ipoke the benevolence of his mind. Po- 
 verty never came to his houfe unaided, vir- 
 tue unhonoured, nor vice un reproved. 
 
 The following anecdote will place, in a 
 confpicuous point of view, the mild cou- 
 rage, the manly tendernefs, and the digni- 
 fied liberality that marked his character. 
 
 He was walking alone one day, acrofs 
 Kilburn-Fields, on his way from Kenton- 
 Green to Hampftead, when he was flopped 
 by a footpad, with a crape over his face. 
 The manner in which the footpad accofted 
 him, induced Boyd to fuppofe it his firft 
 offence ; and inftead of being difconcerted 
 or alarmed at the piflol which he had pre- 
 fented at his breaft, he harangued him in 
 gentle but ftrong terms on the impropriety 
 of his conduct, till the man, fenfibly touched 
 with his language, withdrew the pittol. 
 Boyd then gave him his money, but endea- 
 voured to difTuade the man from taking his 
 watch, as it was a prefent from a particular 
 friend, which would be of little value to 
 him, and by which he would run the rifque 
 of being detected. The footpad, how- 
 ever, pleaded the extreme poverty of his 
 
 family,
 
 2OO LIFE OF 
 
 family, and Boyd at lad gave him the watch, 
 together with a folemn injunction regarding 
 his future conduct. 
 
 On giving notice fome days afterwards, 
 at Fielding's office, he found the man was a 
 new offender, as he had conjectured ; not- 
 withftanding which, he foon forgot the ad- 
 vice that he had given him, committed other 
 robberies, and was at laft taken up, tried, 
 and condemned, as Mr. Boyd had foretold, 
 by the evidence of the pawnbroker with 
 whom he had pawned the watch. 
 
 The dread of approaching death at lafl 
 foftened the unhappy culprit into repentance 
 and contrition, and called forcibly into his 
 recollection Mr. Boyd's injunction, which 
 he had difregarded ; but. having ftill fome 
 hopes in that tendernefs which had been 
 before exprefied for him, he fent his wife to 
 Mr. Boyd, who fell on her knees, begging 
 him to fave her hufband, as he had been a 
 man of good character, whom nothing but 
 the miferies of his family could have tempted 
 to go on the highway, and who fincerely 
 intended, when he had procured a fum of 
 money fufficient to relieve him from his 
 
 misfortunes,
 
 HUGH BOYD. 2O1 
 
 misfortunes, to return to his bufmefs of car- 
 penter in Woolwich-yard, whither (lie re- 
 ferred Mr. Boyd for a character of her huf- 
 band, and whither he immediately went. 
 The character he got of the man was excel- 
 lent ; and he brought away a petition in his 
 favour, figned by the curate, and fome of 
 the principal workmen in the yard. Two 
 friends of Mr. Boyd's, Mr. GLEN NY and 
 Mr. JOHN BOWMAN, joined him in his ex- 
 ertions to fave this unfortunate man, and 
 were no lefs afiiduous about the matter than 
 himfelf. Boyd wrote to Sir John Day, 
 who fent him a letter to Sir George 
 Wombwell, from whom he procured an in- 
 troductory letter to Lord Sandwich. He 
 loft not a moment in calling on his Lord- 
 (hip ; but finding he had gone to Woolwich, 
 Boyd purfued him thither, was defired to 
 call the next day in town, which he did, 
 when his Lordfhip received him with great 
 politenefs, promifed to intercede for the de- 
 fired pardon, and accordingly obtained it. 
 Boyd then, accompanied by his friend Mr. 
 Glenny, vifited the man in Newgate-cells, 
 who manifefted great forrow for Jiis crime, 
 
 and
 
 2O2 LIFE "OF 
 
 and abundant gratitude towards his benc- 
 faftor. Boyd returned from the cell, deep- 
 ly imprefied with the horror of the fcene 
 he had witnefled. 
 
 The footpad, however, was pardoned, 
 but not reclaimed. In the courfe of a few 
 years, he betook himfelf to his former prac- 
 tices ; was firft condemned to the hulks for 
 burglary, and at /aft hanged for having been 
 concerned in robbing the dock-yard at 
 Portfmouth ; affording a ftriking example 
 of the inefficacy of clemency towards the 
 prevention of crimes, in thofe who have 
 once been initiated in the practices of vice, 
 and of the difficulty of bringing back to the 
 ways of honefty, he who has once been im- 
 mured in the cells of Newgate. 
 
 Shortly after this event, an affair hap- 
 pened, which for a while greatly interefted 
 the publick mind, and which gave Mr. Boyd 
 another opportunity of exercifing his hu- 
 manity. 
 
 In the month of June 1775, the famous 
 trial of the two brothers ROBERT and 
 DANIEL PERREAU, for forgery, com- 
 menced at the Seffions-houfe in the Old- 
 Bailey.
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 Bailey. They were indicted for being con- 
 cerned in forging feveral bonds and notes 
 in the name of Mr. AD AIR, the agent. It 
 were tedious to enter into the particulars of 
 this curious cafe, which will be found very 
 fully detailed in Dodfleys Annual Regifter, 
 VoL zoth. It is fufficient to ftate here, that 
 Mrs. RUDD, the miftrefs of Daniel Perreau, 
 a woman of exquifite charms, but of great 
 art and wickednefs, was, by her own con- 
 feffion, the perfon who forged the bonds ; 
 but the jury, being fully fatisfied of the 
 Perreaus being privy to the forgery, or that 
 they at lead had connived at it, brought in 
 their verdict, " Guilty of publifhing and 
 " uttering the bond, knowing it to be 
 " forged." Though thefe unfortunate young 
 men were found guilty, they were not men- 
 tioned in any report to his Majefty, till the 
 month of December following, probably, 
 becaufe fome doubts had arifen on the le- 
 gality of trying Mrs. Rudd, who claimed the 
 privilege of having become King's evidence, 
 notwithftanding her not having been called 
 upon at the trial. This queftion involved 
 points of fo much importance, that it was 
 
 deemed
 
 2O4 LIFE 01 * 
 
 deemed requilite to take the opinion of the 
 twelve Judge^ upon it, who after fome de- 
 liberation determined, that Mrs. Rudd was 
 not intitled to the advantages of King's 
 evidence. She was accordingly tried, and 
 for want of fufficient evidence, acquitted. 
 Her trial lafted from nine in the morning 
 till near eight in the evening : and when 
 the jury brought in their virdicl of Not guilty, 
 the audience teftified their approbation by 
 the loudefl applaufes that were ever known 
 in a court of juftice ; excited, I (hould ima- 
 gine, rather from a fympathy with the fuf- 
 ferings of penitent beauty, than from a con- 
 viftion of her innocence : for it is a fact, 
 that many circumflances of unheard-of de- 
 ception came to light, after her acquittal. 
 Thefe circumflances induced Mr. Boyd, as 
 well as many others who had attended the 
 trials, to believe the Perreaus were innocent ; 
 and their dignified firmnefs, and pious refig- 
 nation, had fo great an effecl; on Boyd, 
 that he warmly interefted himfelf i:i their 
 favour. 
 
 A mod moving petition was prefented 
 to her Majefty, in favour of Robert Perreau, 
 
 by
 
 HUGH BOYD. 205 
 
 by his wife and three -children, in deep 
 mourning 1 , and another in hi% favour like- 
 wife by feventy-eight capital bankers and 
 merchants of the city of London. Refpect- 
 ing thefe petitions, the Privy-Council were 
 divided in opinion ; and Lord Suffolk was 
 faid to be in favour of the petitioners. 
 To that noble Lord, therefore, Mr. Boyd 
 uddrefled feveral letters on this afflicting 
 fubjeft, which appeared in the Publick Ad- 
 vertifer, which are written with his ufual 
 force and elegance, and which were much 
 noticed and admired at the time. Yet not- 
 withftanding all that was urged in extenu- 
 ation of the mifconduft, if not in proof of 
 the abfolute innocence of the unhappy cul- 
 prits, they were included in the next report 
 to his Majefty, and ordered for execution 
 on Wednefday the 2yth of January 1776. 
 They accordingly fuffered death at Tyburn 
 on that day with calm and manly fortitude, 
 and after the moft folemn affirmations con- 
 tained in two papers, which each delivered 
 to the Ordinary, that they were intirely 
 innocent of the crime for which the\ 
 died. 
 
 'Mr.
 
 206 LIFE OF 
 
 Mr. Boyd's regret and difappointment at 
 this melanchojy cataftrophe, feemed propor- 
 tioned to the ftrenuous zeal with which he 
 had endeavoured to avert it. 
 
 In the courfe of the year 1775, he had 
 vifi ted Cambridge, where he had an oppor- 
 tunity of enlarging his acquaintance with 
 men of fcience and literature; and where 
 he received from St. John's College the de- 
 gree in A. M. adeundem, as being a Matter 
 of Arts of Trinity College, Dublip. He 
 here became acquainted with the prefent 
 Marquis of ABE R CORN, with whom he 
 afterwards lived on terms of great inti- 
 macy. 
 
 In January 1776, he was called to the 
 bar, where, however, he never praclifed, 
 as well for the caufes which I have before 
 explained, as on account of the many ex- 
 trinfick difficulties which were thrown in 
 his way. But politicks ftill continued to 
 occupy a great part of his attention. 
 
 He went to Ireland in the fpring of 1776, 
 for the exprefs purpofe of attending the 
 general election, as well as of giving his 
 vote in the county of Antrim, to his friend 
 
 Mr.
 
 HUGH BO. YD. 207 
 
 Mr. Wilfon, and of managing the canvafs 
 on his fide. Previous to the election, he 
 publifhed the Freeholder, of which I have 
 already given an account, and which had 
 fuch an aftoniftiing influence on the electors 
 of Antrim, that he found little difficulty in 
 carrying the caufe of his friend, notwith- 
 standing the weighty andjierling arguments 
 of the oppofite party. 
 
 Mr. Wilfon and the prefent Lord Henry 
 Seymour Conway, were chofen for the 
 county, and Mr. Skeffington was thrown 
 out. The contefl was conducted with pe- 
 culiar difcretion : and it was remarked at 
 the time, that it was the only county-elec- 
 tion in that part of Ireland, which had ever 
 been concluded without a duel ; and which 
 was attributed to the mild and polifhed 
 manners of Lord H. S. (then Mr.) Conway,, 
 and of Mr. Boyd, who after oppofmg each 
 other the whole day, with the utmpft ar- 
 dour and animation, would retire from the 
 conteft in perfect good fellowfhip. . 
 
 On Mr. Boyd's return to London, he 
 . found parties in parliament running high, 
 
 and
 
 2O8 LIFE OF 
 
 and the politicians without doors in a fer- 
 ment, refpe&ing the memorable DECLARA- 
 TION, by the reprefentatives of the United 
 States of America, in general Congrefs af- 
 fembled, wherein they afligned their reafons 
 for withdrawing their allegiance to his Ma- 
 jefty. He loft no time in fending a few 
 letters to the Publick Advertifer, on that im- 
 portant fubjecl: ; which, however, he wrote 
 with little care, owing to the multiplicity of 
 private affairs in which he was then engaged. 
 He alfo drew up a fpirited manifefto in the 
 name of GENERAL WASHINGTON, which 
 was inferted in the Publick Advertifer, 
 which attracted a vail deal of attention, 
 and which was for fome time believed 
 to be genuine. Thofe who are converfant 
 in the party politicks of that time, will 
 remember this manifefto, as well as the 
 credit, which, for a while, it obtained with 
 the publick. 
 
 In the beginning of 1777, he gave up his 
 country refidence at Kenton-Green, and 
 took a houfe in Norfolk-ftreet in the Strand. 
 And about this time, at the particular defire 
 
 of
 
 HUGH BOYD. 2CX) 
 
 oF his friends Mr. Lauchlin Macleane* and 
 Mr. Stuart, he wrote one or two letters re- 
 lative to the difpute between the Eaft-India 
 Company and Mahommed Alii Khaan, the 
 Nabob of Arcot, which he fent to Mr. Wood- 
 fall, and which appeared in the Publick 
 Advertifer. Thefe letters are written in a 
 plain eafy flyle, fetting forth in a perfpicu- 
 ous and forcible manner, the claims of his 
 Highnefs the Nabob, but occasionally throw- 
 ing farcaftick reflections on the conduct of 
 forae gentlemen then at Madras, who had 
 borne a considerable fhare in the bulinefs 
 alluded to, as well as of the, odium which 
 was attached to it. He likewife wrote a 
 pamphlet f, explanatory of the conduct of 
 the Nabob, both as it regarded the depofi- 
 tion of the Rajah of Tanjore, and the im- 
 prifonment of LORD Pi GOT J, Governor 
 
 of 
 
 * Mr. Macleane was the Nabob's accredited agent in 
 England. 
 
 t This pamphlet I have not yet been able to find : but 
 Mr. Stuart informed me it was a very ingenious and maf- 
 terly performance. 
 
 On the 24th of Auguft 1776,. Lord Pigot was arrefted, 
 
 with circumftances of peciiliar violence, by order of 
 
 VOL. I. Meflrs,
 
 21O LIFE OF 
 
 of Madras ; fhewing his Highnefs's right of 
 fovereignty over the former, whom he con- 
 fidered as his vafial, and exonerating him 
 from the charge of having been concerned 
 in the hoftile proceedings of the Council at 
 Madras againft the latter. 
 
 Soon after this Mr. Macleane went to 
 India, for the purpofe of accommodating 
 matters between the Company and the Na- 
 bob, and of bringing his Highnefs's debts 
 into a train of liquidation. Before his de- 
 parture, he made fome arrangements with 
 Boyd, in refpeft to the means of fupporting 
 the Nabob's caufe in this country, and of 
 keeping alive the publick intereft concern- 
 ing it : and he found himfelf under fo many 
 
 Mefirs. George Stratton, Henry Brooke, Charles Floyer, 
 and George Mackay, then members of the council at 
 Madras, and confined under a military force in his own 
 government, in which degrading fituation he died, after a 
 rigorous imprifonment of nine months, and a fhort time 
 before the 6rder of the Court of Directors for his releafe, 
 arrived at the-Prefidency. See the particulars of this extra- 
 ordinary tranjaflion, impart tally t though not fully, nor 
 altogether accurately detailed, In Dodjleys Annual Regifler, 
 V'oL 20, and an authentick Account of Lord Ptgot's Death in 
 Vol. 21, ofthefamcff'irk. 
 
 obligations
 
 HUGH BOYD. 211 
 
 obligations to Boyd, that he faithfully 
 promifed him he woald, upon his return 
 from India, aflift in clearing him from all 
 his pecuniary difficulties. This promife did 
 great honour to Macleane's heart, and I 
 doubt not he would gladly have fulfilled it ; 
 but he never again faw him. The (hip on 
 which he had embarked at Madras for Eng- 
 land, was never heard of, after (he left 
 the Cape of Good Hope, and muft confe- 
 quently have foundered at fea. 
 
 The attention which Boyd thus paid to 
 Indian politicks, did not, however, occupy 
 any great part of his time ; for he neglecled 
 not his ufual amufements. 
 
 As he now relided in town, he conflantly 
 frequented the chefs club, and during this 
 year aflbciated very much with his old friends 
 the Duke of Ancafter, the Earl of Afliburn- 
 ham, and Count Bruhl. 
 
 At this period, too, he was more in the 
 fociety of the Burkes, than he had hereto- 
 fore been ; as he not only was much at their 
 own houfes, but alfo met them at Sir Jofhua 
 Reynolds's, to whofe literary parties he was 
 often invited, and by whom, as I have be- 
 o 2 fore
 
 2X2 LIFE OF 
 
 fore dated, he was greatly admired. At Sir 
 Jofhua's he once or twice met Johnfon ; 
 and notwithftanding the Doctor's toryifm, 
 and his fevere attack on Junius, no man 
 held his genius and virtues in greater reve- 
 rence than Boyd ; which circumftance, in 
 my mind, fuffieiently accounts for the filence 
 of Junius, refpecling Johnfon's animadver- 
 fions on his writings. 
 
 Boyd's fine tafte in Painting peculiarly 
 recommended him to the notice of Sir 
 Jofhua Reynolds, who ufed to have fre- 
 quent eonverfations with him on the fub- 
 }etk 9 and who ufed to afk his opinion of the 
 pieces on which his own mafterly pencil 
 was employed. And his difcriminating 
 judgment in this delightful art, the following 
 anecdote will ferve to (hew. 
 
 He went once with a party to Audley- 
 End, the feat of Sir John Griffin, to fee a 
 collection of very fine paintings, and parti- 
 cularly forae figures of Venus, in different 
 attitudes, by an eminent artift. On view- 
 ing the fir ft, he obferved, " that there was 
 " an extraordinary degree of animation in 
 " the countenance," adding, " that the Ve- 
 3 nus's
 
 HUGH BOYD. 213 
 
 if nus's of fancy generally wanted that qua- 
 " lity." On examining the other figures of 
 the goddefs, he made the fame remark ; when 
 the conductor told him with a fmile, " You 
 " are very right, Sir, the dairy-maid, a 
 " beautiful young woman, fat for ail thofe 
 " pi&ures." The Painter fell in love with 
 his Venus, and carried her off with him. 
 
 Nor was Mr. Boyd's tafte in literary com- 
 pofition lefs exquifite, than in painting. At 
 the memorable trial of the unhappy DODD, 
 he was fo much ftruck with the eloquence 
 of his defence, and fo much perfuaded that 
 it muft have been written by Johnfon, that 
 when he returned home, he committed it to 
 paper. A few days afterwards it was pub- 
 liflied, with a notification of its being the 
 compofition of Dr. Johnfon ; and when the 
 original was compared with Boyd's report, 
 from memory, they were found to be word 
 for word the fame. A more convincing 
 proof of an acute difcernment, a refined 
 tafte, and a moft tenacious memory, will not, 
 I believe, be found in the whole range of 
 biographical hiftory. 
 
 He
 
 214 LIFE OF 
 
 He was extremely fond, as I have (hewn, 
 of being prefent at all interefting trials ; but 
 he never allowed that amufement to inter- 
 fere with his attendance in the Houfes of 
 Parliament ; for the love of politicks flill 
 fwayed his mind. 
 
 On November the 2Oth, 1777, he attended 
 the debate in the Houfe of Lords, at the 
 opening of the feflion ; and when he went 
 home, he wrote down Lord Chatham's 
 celebrated fpeech on that occafion, toge- 
 ther with the noble Earl's reply to Lord 
 Suffolk, which, however, he did not publifh 
 till the year 1779. 
 
 He was alfo below the bar of the Houfe 
 of Lords, on that MEMORABLE DAY in 
 1778, when the wifeft STATESMAN, and, 
 perhaps, the moll; accomplimed ORATOR, 
 either of ancient or modern times, made 
 his dying exertions, in fupport of the free- 
 dom, the honour, and the glory of his 
 country, and whofe voice was no more 
 heard in the fenate-houfe Illud immortali- 
 tate dignum ingenmm, ilia humanitas, ilia 
 virtus Craffi morte extinttafubita eft, vix die- 
 bus dccem pojl eum diem, qui hoc ct fuperiore 
 
 libro
 
 HUGH BOYD. 215 
 
 libro continetur. Ilia tanquam cycnea fuit 
 divini hominis vox, et oratio, quam quafi ex- 
 petlantes, pojl ejus interitum, veniebamus in 
 curiam, ut veftigium illud ipfum, in quo ille 
 pojlremum inftitiffet, contueremur * . 
 
 When Lord Chatham fainted, the Houfe 
 was thrown into the utmoft confufion. Af- 
 fi fiance was called for from behind the bar, 
 and Mr. Boyd immediately offered his fer- 
 vices, which, however, were not afterwards 
 required. The noble Earl was conveyed to 
 his feat at Hayes in Kent, and expired on 
 the 1 1 th of May. 
 
 In 1779, ^ r - Boyd publimed his Genuine 
 Abjlra&s of the aforefaid Speeches of the 
 Earl of Chatham, with a Preface and Notes. 
 They were printed in the form of an oEiavo 
 pamphlet, for J. Dodfley. Before the 
 pamphlet was put to prefs, he apologized 
 to his old acquaintance Mr. Almon, for not 
 giving it to him ; faying, " that as he (Mr. 
 Almon) had been perfonally known to 
 Lord Chatham, the publication by him 
 
 * Cic. deOrat. lib. iii. f. I. 
 
 might
 
 2l6 LIFE OF 
 
 might feern to infinuate it was with the con- 
 currence of his Lordfhip's friends, which 
 not being the facl, his delicacy would not 
 permit to be inferred." 
 
 The fame year he was recommended by 
 Mr. Stuart and Mr. James Macpherfon *, 
 to the five depofers t of Lord Pigpt, not 
 only to plead their caufe in Weftminfter- 
 Hall, but al/b to write a pamphlet to endea- 
 
 * The Tranflator of the celebrated Poems of OSSIAN, 
 and at this time agent to the NABOB of ARCOT. 
 
 tOn the i6th of April 1779, Admiral Pigot, brother to 
 the unfortunate nobleman in queftion, moved, in the Houfe 
 of Commons, an Addrefs to his Majefty, praying "that 
 " he would be gracioufly pleafed to give directions to his 
 " Attorney General to proiecute the five depofers of Lord 
 '* Pigot," whole names have been already mentioned. 
 Mr. Stratton, the principal perfon concerned in that 
 affair, being a Member of the Houfe, and prcfent in his 
 place on the occafion, entered into a long vindication oi 
 his own, and of his colleague's conduft, which, however, 
 did not fatisfy the Houfe, and the Admiral's motion was 
 carried without a divifion. Mr. Stratton and his friends 
 were accordingly profecuted. The trial came on in the 
 Court of King's Bench, before Lord Mansfield, on the 2th 
 of December 1779, at nine in the morning, and lafted till 
 feven the next morning, when the jury returned their 
 verdift GUILTY. They were, however, fentenced only 
 to pay a trifling fine. 
 
 vour
 
 HUGH B6YD. 217 
 
 vour to efface the odium which had been 
 thrown upon their characters. But Mr. 
 DUNNING, being their leading Counfel, they 
 thought it unneceffary to employ any one 
 elfe : arid owing to a particular circum- 
 flance, which it is not material to relate, 
 Boyd declined writing the pamphlet. 
 
 But he had now a profpecl: of procuring a 
 fituation, which would have opened the road 
 to his ambition, and for which his great abi- 
 lities were peculiarly well fuited. Governor 
 Patterfon and Mr. Flood ufed their utmoft 
 intereft to get him appointed under- fee retary 
 of ftate, in Lord George Germaine's depart- 
 ment ; and for that purpofe, he was recom- 
 mended in the ftrongeft terms to his Lord- 
 fhip, by a friend who had great influence 
 with him. Neverthelefs, all the efforts that 
 were made in his favour, proved unfuccefs- 
 ful, owing to fome hidden caufe *, of which, 
 as I know not the exaft truth, I (hall not at- 
 tempt to develop. The failure of this bufmefs 
 
 * This caufe, I ftrongly fufpeft, will be explained, 
 when Mr. Chalmers publifhes his documents, in proof of 
 Mr. Boyd having written the letters of Junius. 
 
 gave
 
 2l8 LIFE Oi 
 
 gave infinitely more concern to his friends, 
 than to himfelf ; for as his political fenti- 
 ments differed widely from thofe of the ad- 
 miniftration, it was with the greateft diffi- 
 culty Mr. Flood perfuaded him to agree to 
 the application being made ; but the deplo- 
 rable condition of his affairs, and the hopes 
 of ferving his family, at lafl induced him to 
 yield to his friends intreaties. 
 
 After this affair dropped, he fent feveral 
 letters to the Publick Advertiser figned De- 
 mocraticus, fome of which I have inferted 
 in this collection of his writings, and have 
 already fpoken of much at large. 
 
 In the winter of 1779? and the fpring of 
 1780, he wrote the letters of the Whig, which 
 he addreffed to the PEOPLE OF ENGLAND, 
 and which, as has been ftated, appeared in 
 Mr. Almon's morning paper, intitled, the 
 London Courant. Thefe were his laft politi- 
 cal productions which merit any attention ; 
 but he afterwards publifhed, in the fame pa- 
 per, a few letters figned Kitty Back-pinch, 
 in ridicule of the Scotch, which, although 
 they would be uninterefting now, furnifhed a 
 yaft deal of amufement at the time. 
 
 Having,
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 Having, by fome accident, fnapt the muf- 
 culus plantaris of his leg, he was defired by 
 his friend Jo H N H u N T E R , to recline daily 
 on a fopha ; and although he was in extreme 
 pain, it was in this (ituation that he wrote 
 thofe humorous letters. After his reco- 
 very, he dined at Mr. Lee's, where there 
 was a hoft of Scotchmen at table. The con- 
 verfation turned upon Kitty Backpinclis, 
 epiftles, which occafioned much laughing 
 and many pleafantries. Several conjectures 
 were made about the author, but the fufpi- 
 cion never fell upon Boyd, who profefled 
 himfelf equally anxious with the reft of the 
 company to difcover the wicked wit that had 
 taken fo many liberties with \\isfriends. 
 
 He dill continued to be a conftant attend- 
 ant in the houfes of parliament. In the 
 gallery of the Houfe of Commons he 
 often fat near Mr. PITT, the prefent CHAN- 
 CELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, before 
 that Right Hon. gentleman became a mem- 
 ber of the houfe. They at laft got well ac- 
 quainted ; and once, after a long debate on 
 the affairs of Ireland, they retired together 
 to a late dinner, and over their wine jointly 
 
 committed
 
 22O LIFE OF 
 
 committed to paper the fubftance of the 
 debate, and tranfmitted it to Ireland. When 
 the bill was called for, Boyd chanced not 
 to have cam enough about him to pay his 
 {hare, and Mr. Pitt lent him a few millings 
 to make up the deficiency. 
 
 Of thefe favourite amufements, however, 
 he was now obliged to take leave. The 
 exigencies of his fituation engrofled all his 
 attention; and the experience of the incon* 
 veniencies he fuffered from them, determin- 
 ed him to attach himfelf to fome fixed pur- 
 . tu.it, whereby he might be enabled to repair 
 'his fortune. With this view he got his in- 
 timate friend Mr. Lawrence Sullivan to re- 
 commend him to Lord Macartney ; and on 
 his Lordfliip's nomination to the- govern- 
 ment of Madras, he appointed him his 
 'fecond fecretary. 
 
 With this appointment, he left England, 
 (though with much reluctance) embarked for 
 India with Lord Macartney's fuite, and ar- 
 rived at Madras in the autumn of the 
 year 1781. 
 
 After his arrival at that iettlement, he de- 
 voted his leifure hours very feduloufly to 
 
 the
 
 HUGH BOVD. 
 
 the ftudy of eaftern politicks, in which he 
 was not long in attaining confiderable know-^ 
 ledge. 
 
 An opportunity foon occurred to call 
 that knowledge into action. A powerful 
 confederacy was at this time formed againft 
 the Britifh pofleflions in India, which aimed 
 at nothing lefs than their total deftruftion, 
 and which the aftive genius of a H AS T i x G s, 
 and the daundefs heroifm ofaCooxE, per-* 
 haps could have alone fubdued. 
 
 Thus fituated, a plan was propofed, and 
 fpeedily adopted, by the government of 
 Madras, of forming an alliance with a 
 people, with whofe manners and country 
 we were very (lightly acquainted ; but from 
 whom much affiftance might be derived, 
 in reducing the power of a great com- 
 mercial rival, with whom we were then at 
 war. 
 
 The Dutch had long remained in tin 
 difturbed pofleflion of the trade of the ifland 
 of Ceylon ; but the time was now arrived 
 when they had to encounter in an enemy an 
 intelligent and adventurous rival, and when 
 all that energy was required to be called 
 
 for tli.
 
 222 LIFE OF 
 
 forth, which in their better days repelled the 
 arms of Spanifh tyranny. 
 
 After the reduction of Negapatam, and 
 the fall of the other Dutch fettlements on 
 the Coaft-of Coromandel, an expedition was 
 planned and executed againft Trmcomallee, 
 in Ceylon, under the direction of Admiral 
 Sir Edward Hughes. 
 
 Mr. Boyd accompanied this expedition, 
 being deputed, by the Governor in Council 
 of Madras, on a fpecial miflion to the King 
 of Candy. He embarked on board the 
 Admiral's (hip, the Superb, and was on 
 (hore at the ftorming of Trincomallee, a few 
 days fubfequent to which he fet out on his 
 embaiTy to Candy. 
 
 A particular account of this miflion will 
 be found in Mr. Boyd's Journal *, which is 
 
 -now 
 
 * This. Journal was written by Mr. Boyd, during his 
 embafTy, and the copy of it which is now published, to- 
 gether with the letters contained in the Appendix to the 
 KmbaiTy, were tianfmitted by him to Mrs. Boyd, when 
 he was a prifoner in the iflc of Bourbon, and have by her 
 been carefully preferved lince that time. The account I 
 gave of this Embafly in a former edition of Mr. Boyd's 
 Life, is in fonie parts inaccurate, owing to my not having, 
 
 when
 
 HUGH BO YD. 
 
 now printed for the firft time, and inferted 
 in the fecond volume of thefe works, to- 
 gether with a Preface, that comprifes an 
 hiftorical account of Ceylon, and that points 
 out the importance of Mr. Boyd's embafly, 
 as well as the ability with which it was 
 conducted. 
 
 The objecl: of this embafly was to con- 
 clude a treaty of alliance between the Go- 
 vernment of Madras and the King of Candy, 
 by which the latter was to be required, not 
 only to fupply the Britifh troops in Ceylon, 
 with the effential article of provifions, butalfo 
 to fend a powerful army to co-operate with 
 the Englifh in the reduction of Columbo. 
 The King of Candy, after much perfuafion, 
 agreed to fupply the Englifh with provi- 
 
 whcn I wrote that account, any other information con- 
 cerning it, than what I had collected from fome cafual 
 converfations with Mr. Boyd on the fubjeft. One or two 
 of thofe inaccuracies it may be neceffary to point out. Jt 
 ftated, that Mr. Boyd had only an efcort of an havildar 
 and twelve fepoys, and that he was only twelve days on 
 his journey from Trinccmallee to Candy] whereas it appears 
 from his own account, that he had a whole company of 
 icpoys, commanded by a Britifti officer, and that he was 
 cxaclly one month between TrincomaUie and Candy. 
 
 (Ions,
 
 24 LIFE OF 
 
 fions, but he pofitively refufed to take any 
 part in the war againft the Dutch, or to con- 
 clude a treaty of alliance., except with an am- 
 baflador commiffioned by theKing of England 
 hirnfelf. It was in vain that Mr. Boyd re- 
 prefented to his Highnefs, that the Governor 
 of Madras was the reprefentative of the 
 King of England, in India, that he confe- 
 quently had full powers to negotiate with 
 foreign ftates, and that he had in fa6l con- 
 cluded treaties with many other princes in 
 Hinduftan. The Candian monarch remain- 
 ed inflexible, and Mr. Boyd wasat laft 
 obliged to depart from his court, without 
 having obtained the mod material purpofe 
 of his miflion. 
 
 On his return to Trincomallee, he hired a 
 fmall veflel to carry him to Madras, with all 
 poflible expedition ; the frigate that had been 
 appointed by the Admiral to carry him thi- 
 ther, having put to fea. This proved an un- 
 lucky circumftance to Mr. Boyd ; for the 
 day after his departure from Trincomallee, he 
 fell in with the French fleet, commanded by 
 Monf. de Suffrein, was made prifoner, and 
 fent on board La Fine frigate. The Captain 
 
 of
 
 HUG,H BOYD. 225 
 
 of this fhip was a polite companionable man, 
 and (hewed him great refpecl and kindnefs. 
 Such manners, under misfortune, are pecu- 
 liarly conciliating. 
 
 The morning after his capture, the lively 
 Frenchman told him, with a fmile, that the 
 Englifh fleet was in fight, and that their fitu- 
 ations might probably be foon feverfed, 
 " Les armesfontjournalieres" faid he, with 
 much vivacity, and giving him his hand, 
 " a qudque. chofe malheur eft bon mon 
 arniT but fortune was unkind to his pri- 
 foner. 
 
 The fleets engaged, and the aftion, as is 
 well known, laded till night. La Fine, by 
 fome mifmanagement, got into the Englifh 
 line, and fell fo clofe on board the Ifis, a fifty 
 gun (hip, that the French commander 
 thought it folly to attempt getting off, and 
 hailed that he had ftruck ; upon which fe- 
 veral Englifh prifoners went on board the 
 Ifis, but Mr. Boyd, being rather indifpofed, 
 declined quitting the Frenchman till the 
 morning ; in the mean time, however, a frefii 
 breeze fprung up, and before the Ifis, in her 
 difabled condition, could take poffellion of 
 i. p her
 
 226 LIFE OF 
 
 her prize, the frigate took the advantage, 
 and got clear off. Mr. Boyd remonltrated 
 againfl this proceeding of the French cap- 
 tain's in terms fo pointed and ftrong, that 
 he was ordered into clofe confinement. The 
 next day, the French captain releafed him, 
 apologized for the manner in which he had 
 treated him, and endeavoured to extenuate 
 the impropriety of his conducl towards the 
 Ifis. 
 
 When La Fine arrived at the ifland of 
 Mauritius, Mr. Boyd was made a clofe pri- 
 foner, and was kept there feveral months. 
 He was afterwards fent to the ifle of Bourbon, 
 (for what reafon he never could learn) where 
 he lived at the Governor's table, and was 
 treated with the utmoll kindnefs and libe- 
 rality. 
 
 Captivated with that generofity and po- 
 ]itenefs for which the people of this ifland 
 are peculiarly diftinguifhed, he felt not the 
 inconveniences, much lefs the hardfhips, of 
 imprifonment. Such focieties he was born 
 to animate, felicitate, and delight : in them 
 he gave grace to learning, cheerful nefs to 
 wifdom, and elegance to wit. 
 
 But
 
 HUGH BOYD. 
 
 But the liberality of the Governor put a 
 period to the pleafures which he enjoyed in 
 this beautiful ifland: he offered Mr. Boyd 
 his parole, which refpeft for his fituation 
 obliged him, however reluctantly, to ac- 
 cept* 
 
 On his return to Madras, he folicited Lord 
 Macartney for an appointment, by which he 
 could advance his fortune ; but his Lord- 
 (hip having none at his immediate difpofal, 
 Mr. Boyd went for a few months to Cal- 
 cutta, where he lived on terms of intimacy 
 with Sir JOHN MACPHERSON, then Go- 
 vernor of Bengal, and where his talents, wit, 
 and humour, together with the fuperlative 
 fprightlinefs of his convivial qualities, will be 
 long remembered with pleafure* 
 
 His flay at Calcutta was fhorter than he 
 intended. Being appointed mafter-attend- 
 ant at Madras, he was recalled to that pre- 
 fidency. The duties of this fituation were 
 ill fuited to the delicacy of his mind ; but 
 as the emoluments appertaining to it were 
 fo great as to open to him the profpecl of 
 ultimate wealth, he cheerfully overlooked 
 every leffcr confideration. Nor was this 
 p 2 profpeci
 
 228 LIFE OF 
 
 profpeft fo diflant, or the avenue that 
 led to it fo difagreeable as may be fup- 
 pofed ; though Prudence, unqueftionably, 
 was the only gukle that could conducl him 
 through it : but, alas ! with her he was ever 
 at variance, for he aflbciated too conftantly 
 with Senfibility, to relifh much the cold 
 counfels of Prudence; yet is it to be lamented, 
 that Prudence did not find an early entrance 
 into his breaft, that with her protecting 
 (hield, (he might have covered, from the 
 rude ravages of precarious fortune, the fine 
 polifh of virtuous fenfibility. 
 
 He now lived in his ufual ftyle, the orna- 
 ment of general fociety, and the life of every 
 company. 
 
 During the Myfore war, which terminated 
 in 1792, he conducted a paper, intitled, the 
 'Madras Courier: it was very juftly admired 
 for precifion in detail, and tafte and judg- 
 ment in feleclion. 
 
 In June 1793, he firft conceived the idea 
 of publifhing periodical effays on morals and 
 literature. At this time I accidentally be- 
 came acquainted with him. " I was then 
 '" only not a boy ;" and the manly dignity 
 
 of
 
 HUGH BOYD. 229 
 
 of his countenance, the fafcinating courtefy 
 of his addrefs, the rich eloquence of his lan- 
 guage, the variety of his knowledge, and the 
 facility with which he communicated infor- 
 mation, at once commanded my refpecl and 
 admiration. We often met, and our con- 
 verfations chiefly took a literary turn. He 
 liftened to my opinions, however much they 
 differed from his own, with the kindeft con- 
 defcenfion, and anfwered them with a frank- 
 nefs that befpoke the generofity of his mind. 
 A gradual increafe of mutual fondnefs, foon 
 grew into friendfhip ; a friendfhip not to be 
 impaired by place, fortune, or calamity, nor 
 ever effaced from my mind. 
 
 " If e'er from me thy loved memorial part, 
 " May fhame afflict my alienated heart. 
 
 *' Oh, if fometimes thy fpotlefs form defcend, 
 " To me, thy aid, thou guardian Genius, lend! 
 " When rage mifguides me, or when fear alarms, 
 " When pain diflrelTes, or when pleafure charms, 
 " In filent whifp'rings purer thoughts impart, 
 " And turn from ill a frail and feeble heart ; 
 " Lead through, the paths,- thy virtue trod before, 
 " Till blifs (hail join, nor death can part us more." 
 
 I was now his inmate, and feldom or ever 
 abfent from his company. His acquaint- 
 ance
 
 230 LIFE OF 
 
 ance formed the whole fociety of Madras, 
 and to that little circle he gave peculiar 
 grace. Every man of judgment admired, 
 and every man of fenfibility loved him. If 
 there were thofe that fnarled at his irregula-r 
 rities, they were at leaft foothed by his gen- 
 tlenefs ; and if at times they had the bold' 
 nefs to bite, they had not often the refolution 
 to continue the conflict : for churlifh cen- 
 fure is always impotent when oppofed to 
 humour and mildnefs. 
 
 His plan for the " Indian Obferver" was 
 made known to the publick fome time in 
 Auguft 1793, and foon obtained a very libe- 
 ral encouragement. The novelty of the 
 attempt in that country, excited univerfal 
 curiofity, which it was known the great ta- 
 lents of the Conductor were well qualified 
 to gratify. In the courfe of a month, the 
 fubfcription amounted to four hundred 
 names. 
 
 The work was now to commence ; but 
 Mr. Boyd very properly judging it would 
 give greater fatisfaclion by appearing 
 through the channel of a weekly paper, in 
 which the politician and merchant, if they 
 
 reliflied
 
 HUGH BOYD. 231 
 
 relifhed not the literary treat, might refort 
 to more homely repafts, propofed this mode 
 to his friends, by whom it was highly ap- 
 proved. 
 
 This paper he intitled the Hircarrah *, 
 the firft number of which appeared on the 
 9th of September 1793, and which, before 
 the publication of the fecond, procured 
 nearly one hundred additional fubfcribers. 
 The Obferver was now in high repute, and 
 the Bceviad race of India, (for there are 
 thofe fongflers there as well as in other 
 countries) were all on wing {training their 
 lungs to heave the cumbrous load ! 
 
 Scribimus inclufi> numeros ille, hie pede liber, 
 Grande aliquid quod pulmo animee pralargus anhelet^. 
 
 The Obferver with confident dignity flea- 
 dily advanced in his purfuit, gratified by the 
 voice of publick approbation, and undif- 
 turbed by thofe literary reptiles whom the 
 rays of his genius had called forth into a 
 momentary exiftence. 
 
 In February 1794, Mr. Boyd advertifed 
 propofals for publifhing by fubfcription his 
 
 * An Hircarrah fignifies a meflenger. t Perf. Sat. I. 
 
 EmbafTy
 
 232 LIFE OI 
 
 Embafly to Candy, with particulars of that 
 country, and of the iflands of Mauritius and 
 Bourbon t in two volumes 8vo. The fub- 
 fcription did not increafe fo rapidly as might 
 have been expefted. It was certainly a 
 work from which the wT>rld would have de- 
 rived much entertainment and information. 
 The tardinefs of the publick damped the 
 ardour with which he had embraced the 
 project ; and he delayed taking up his pen 
 till a fufficient fum was fubfcribed to bear 
 the charges of the prefs. But in September 
 following, urged by fome friends, he refolved 
 to begin, and partly on that account clofed 
 the Obferver, with a poftfcript, in which 
 there is a conditional promife to renew the 
 eflays at a future period, and to print, in a 
 collective form, thofe that had appeared. 
 
 He now undertook the work with zeal, 
 and confidently hoped to fmifh it within fix 
 months ; but this hope was never realized, 
 he was feized with a fever which carried him 
 to his grave. 
 
 The thread of this narrative has now 
 brought me to an awful, afflicting, and in- 
 terefting fcene, of which, though I was my- 
 
 felf
 
 HUGH BOYD. 233 
 
 felf a melancholy fpeftator, I would much 
 rather decline the defcription ; but reve- 
 rence for truth, and juftice to the memory 
 of my departed friend, oblige me to dif- 
 clofe it. 
 
 That prodigality of all worldly benefits, 
 and perpetual carelefTnefs of pecuniary con- 
 fiderations, which mifguided the early years 
 of Mr. Boyd, attended him to that bed of 
 ficknefs, on which, whatever were his crimes, 
 or whatever his failings, he was to make a 
 final expiation. Though imprudence muft 
 be acknowledged to be a great defect, yet 
 that mind can boafl of little liberality, which 
 magnifies it to a crime : moft men, never- 
 thelefs, by judging of characters from ap- 
 pearances in common life, and by being ua- 
 acquainted with the latent fprings of human 
 action, are apt indifcriminately to confider 
 continued imprudence in the light of fraud. 
 Mr. Boyd, who had attentively ftudied 
 the great volume of life, muft have known 
 the truth of this obfervation ; but perhaps 
 he never experienced it until the approach 
 of his diflblution. 
 
 Bleffed
 
 234 LIFE OF 
 
 Blefled with a vigorous conftitution and 
 an even flow of fpirits, he pafTed through a 
 chequered and buttling life without having, 
 till now, been confined with any ferious ill- 
 nefs. The fever therefore, which, from its 
 beginning, preyed upon his vitals, he felt 
 with an anguifh, imbittered by reflection on 
 the embarraifraent of his affairs, and exaf- 
 perated by the calls of difappointed credi- 
 tors. Yet his mind, fuperior to misfortune, 
 difdained the language of forrow ; and his 
 heart, warmed by the recollection of bene- 
 volent actions, folaced itfelf in the exercife 
 of religious duties. 
 
 Some days previous to his death, during 
 a paroxyfm of his fever, I was called to 
 take my laft farewell, to tear myfelf from 
 that bofom in which my affections had fo 
 long repofed ! My friend was extended on 
 his bed, his once expreffive vifage pale and 
 emaciated, his eyes hollow and languid, and 
 his voice feeble and low. He ftretched out 
 his hand to receive me, and only whifpered 
 he was ill ; but the big tear that rolled down 
 his flill animated countenance, was more 
 
 intelligible
 
 HUGH BOYD. 235 
 
 intelligible than ail the figures of lan- 
 guage. 
 
 This is a fcene in which friendfhip difco- 
 vers every fecret goodnefs, and at the fame 
 time finds palliations for every fault ; in 
 which power lofes all its influence, and rival- 
 ftiip all its envy ; in which diflipation and 
 folly tremble, and vice and impiety ftand 
 appalled. " Whoever would know how 
 " much piety and virtue furpafs all external 
 " good, might here have feen them weighed 
 " againft each other ; where all that gives 
 " motion to the active, and elevation to the 
 " eminent ; all that fparkles in the eye of 
 " hope, or pants in the bofom of fufpicion, 
 " at once became duft in the balance, with- 
 " out weight and without regard." But it 
 did not fall to my lot to attend him in his 
 laft hour. His life was prolonged for a few 
 days more, and he expired in the arms of a 
 virtuous and enlightened friend, whom he 
 had always regarded with tendernefs, and 
 whofe ablilities he had always admired. 
 With this friend I was fitting in the fick 
 room, (the laft time I ever fat in it) when 
 fuddenly raifing himfelf in his bed, he called 
 
 us
 
 236 LIFE OF 
 
 .us near him, and with a tremulous voice, 
 though with a, com pofure and clearnefs, fel- 
 dom attainable in fuch fituations, fpoke the 
 following lines : 
 
 In life's gay flow, when all obey 
 
 The fprightly notes of Pleai'ure's call ; 
 
 Can then the faithful mirror fay, 
 I fhewa juft original? 
 
 In fcenes of pow'r, of pomp, and place, 
 Where proud Ambition's vot'ries bow; 
 
 Can there the mirror's fhining face, 
 Of life a true refemblance (hew ? 
 
 No! 'tis not where Ambition's hand 
 Sweeps o'er the polifh roughly warm ; 
 
 Nor where keen Pleafure's fighs demand 
 Her flatt'ring images to form. 
 
 3 Tis there, where with Reflection's aid, 
 
 And purified by Pain, 
 Man contemplates his fickly bed, 
 
 The mirror then (nines plain ! 
 
 He would have proceeded, but his feel- 
 ings were unable to bear thofe reflections 
 which lie had already conjured up. He 
 burft into a flood of tears^ and reclined again 
 on his pillow. 
 
 As
 
 HUGH BOYD. 237 
 
 As his fate approached, he told the friend 
 to whom I have above alluded, that fome 
 friends had abandoned him : yet, though 
 he felt this defe&ion with the keeneft regret, 
 no expreflion of refentment, no emotion of 
 anger, not even a look of unkindnefs, fullied 
 the purity of his dying fentiments ; but in 
 forgiving his enemies, and in offering up his 
 prayers to the Almighty, for his kindred, 
 his friends, his country, and all mankind, 
 with intire refignation, and the moft perfect 
 calmnefs, he breathed his laft ! Thus ended 
 the life of this great and extraordinary man, 
 at once remarkable for the moft brilliant 
 talents, and the moft exalted virtues, for 
 the misfortunes which obfcured the one, 
 and for the follies which furrounded the 
 other. 
 
 His death happened on the ipth of Octo- 
 ber 1794, in the FORTY-EIGHTH year of 
 his age ; a-nd he was interred, the day fol- 
 lowing, in the New Burying Ground at 
 Madras. 
 
 Among the number who mourn the lofs 
 of Mr. Boyd, are his widow, a fon and 
 daughter, who by all accounts (hew that the 
 
 genius
 
 238 LIFE O* 
 
 genius of their father furvives ; his brother 3 
 Alexander Macaulay, Efq. who lives on the 
 family eftate in the county of Antrim, and 
 who is married to a fitter of the prefent 
 Lord Vifcount Gosford ; and his filler, 
 Mrs. Godley, a lady of great accomplifh- 
 ments 1 , and many virtues. 
 
 1 nrl 
 
 The perfon of Mr. Boyd was tall and 
 graceful, formed with the moft exacl; fym- 
 metry ; his mien noble and elevated; 
 his countenance animated and command- 
 ing, and his deportment exceedingly ele- 
 gant. 
 
 He poflefled great ftrength and agility of 
 body, and was particularly fond of all ath- 
 letick exercifes, in many of which he ex- 
 celled. 
 
 In the hours of mirth and conviviality he 
 was too defirous of difplaying his fuperiority 
 in trifles ; and ufed at times to relax his dig- 
 nity, and mew his fkill at a trick. But in 
 thofe practices he was guided much by his 
 company ; for it was one of his maxims, 
 2 " that
 
 HUfcH BOVD. 
 
 " that a man mould always endeavour to 
 *' adapt his converfation and manners to 
 " the prevailing tafte of his company, pro- 
 t( vided the doing fo did not violate the rules 
 " of morality or decorum." 
 
 In focial life he poffeffed, in an eminent 
 degree, thofe qualities which give confidence 
 to fellowfhip, and zeal to benevolence ; 
 which give incitement to charity, and a6H- 
 vity to friendmip. His manners were fo 
 captivating, that they at once interefled 
 every affection of the heart. His pleafantry 
 and humour extorted fmiles from the in- 
 flexible mifanthrope, and infufed cheer ful- 
 nefs into the breafts of the difconfolate; 
 The perfualive mildnefs of his language 
 conciliated the boifterous, and fubdued the 
 rude. But in the practice of thefe virtues 
 he was not unaccompanied by the neigh- 
 bouring pafiions. Regular men were dif- 
 pleafed with his deviation from order, and 
 prudent men were offended with his total 
 neglect of economy. His boundlefs pro- 
 fufion was generally condemned, and his 
 munificence often got the name of in- 
 juftice. 
 
 Yet
 
 24O LIFE OF 
 
 Yet if his generofity gave that in charity j 
 which juflice demanded as a right, the un- 
 deferving, at leaft, never fhared in the dona- 
 tion : for wifdom, which feemed to have 
 forfaken him in the common affairs of life, 
 directed his mind in its more exalted opera- 
 tions, and always guided him in his chari- 
 table diftributions. Though from diftrefs, 
 in whatever form it appeared, he never 
 could withhold immediate relief, yet to vice 
 or idlenefs he never deliberately gave encou- 
 ragement. Under his roof, where every 
 man who wanted a home, found a ready 
 admittance, hofpitality was by confequence 
 fometimes mifapplied ; which although his 
 penetration foon perceived, his exceffive de- 
 licacy and politenefs would not allow him to 
 remedy. Let not, therefore, thofe immenfe 
 fums of money which he lavifhed away, 
 be intirely placed to the account of his own 
 extravagance ; for they were at times aug- 
 mented by the folly or fordid nefs of others, 
 and, in a few inftances, by thofe vultures of 
 office, who prey on the unfufpecling can- 
 dour and generofity of their mailer's difpo- 
 fition. 
 
 In
 
 HUGH BOYD. 24! 
 
 In his friendly attachments he was lefs 
 frequently miftaken ; for he founded them 
 on the broad bafis of difinterefted principle. 
 Difference of fentiment, diftruft, and jea- 
 loufy, the moft formidable enemies to friend- 
 fhip, found no place in his bread : there, all 
 was equable, fmooth, and gentle. 
 
 The warmth of affection which he bore 
 his friends, feemed at times to border on 
 prejudice ; and he was too apt to hide their 
 blemifhes, by magnifying their perfections : 
 yet, if his applaufes were fometimes unqua- 
 lified, his cenfures were always fparing. Of 
 him it may be faid, in the words of that great 
 flatefman and orator, whofe eloquence and 
 patriotifm have been fo long the pride of his 
 country, and the admiration of Europe, 
 " that his enmities were placable his friend- 
 " (hips eternal *." 
 
 In private company Mr. Boyd never in- 
 dulged in perfonal ridicule. Scandal he 
 defpifed with becoming dignity : he always 
 endeavoured to Rifle every petty whifper of 
 
 malevolence; and m his converfation he 
 
 . 
 
 * " Amititiaftmpiterna, inlmlcitta placabiles." 
 I 
 
 VOL. I. was
 
 2|2 LIFE Of 
 
 was fo particularly cautious and corret, that 
 I do not remember ever to have heard him 
 infinuate, much lefs openly exprefs, any 
 thing injurious to a private character. 
 
 Entering early into life with a mind dif- 
 curfive and powerful, and a judgment pe- 
 netrating, definite, and clear, he attained a 
 very extenfive and accurate knowledge of 
 mankind ; which important advantage, aided 
 by a vivid imagination, embellifhed with all 
 the graces of learning, gave him a pre-emi- 
 nence in familiar converfation, that cannot 
 eafily be equalled, and has been feldom fur- 
 pafled. 
 
 He could accommodate himfelf to every 
 company and to every mind, and poflefled 
 the rare quality of diffufing pleafure where- 
 ever he appeared. In mixt fociety, the 
 quicknefs of his apprenenfion allowed no- 
 thing to efcape his notice: his mind was 
 always prefent, and his whole powers ready 
 at every call. He could vary his fubjefts 
 with the utmoft promptitude, and examine 
 each with equal precifion ; with the ferious 
 he could be moral ; with the fludious he 
 could be learned ; with the polite he could 
 
 be
 
 HUGH BOYD. 243 
 
 be elegant ; with the gay he could be witty ; 
 with the frolickfome he could be humor- 
 ous ; and with the unlettered he could be 
 plain. 
 
 At his convivial board his wit fparkled 
 with every glafs, and his jocularity flowed 
 as plentifully as his wine; but it was the 
 charms of the one, rather than the excel- 
 lence of the other, that allured his guefts, 
 and detained them till a late hour ; for even 
 his meals were a feaft for the underftand- 
 ing*. 
 
 On thefe occafions, he, at times, became 
 a keen polemick, and engaged warmly in 
 literary and political difputes : but his argu- 
 mentative powers were not commenfurate 
 with his other qualifications. His imagina- 
 tion was greater than his judgment ; and his 
 reafoning, therefore, though dextrous and 
 fpecious, had little folidity or depth. His 
 hearers, however, were always delighted, if 
 not always convinced. 
 
 In the warmth of difputation, he oc,ca- 
 fionally mewed fome flight degree of arro- 
 
 * Ut voluptates quoque ftudiis condlantur. PUNV. 
 
 g 2 gance.
 
 244 LIFE OF 
 
 gance. To maintain a Favourite pofition, 
 he would pour forth a torrent of learning, 
 and dare the confutation of his antagonift : 
 and in fcrutinizing publick chara&ers he 
 was, perhaps, too much influenced by his 
 feelings. Yet in the heat of difcuffion, he 
 was always agreeable : he never foiled his 
 lips with the breath of animofity, far lefs 
 with the meannefs of perfonal allulion. 
 The fuavity of his manners he preferved 
 inviolate. In his converfation, there was no 
 violence, no harfhnefs, no afperity ; nothing 
 loud, nor coarfe, nor rude ; all was mild, 
 and eafy, and elegant. 
 
 When argument at any time ran high, 
 or tended to produce any ferious difcord, 
 he would ingenioufly change the converfa- 
 tion by a humorous fally ; and if any angry 
 difputant mould not yet be difpofed to yield, 
 he would with admirable quicknefs turn his 
 fyllogifms into an epigram, and tell him 
 with an irrefiftible pleafantry, " Now, my 
 " friend, do indulge us with an armiftice." In 
 turning thofe epigrams he was often parti- 
 cularly happy ; and although he was too fond 
 of interlarding them with puns, which, like 
 
 other
 
 HUGH BOYD. 245 
 
 other puns, were frequently infipid, yet they 
 feldom failed to excite applaufe, and pro- 
 mote cheerfulnefs. 
 
 In female fociety, he preferved his mer- 
 riment with delicacy, and his wit with 
 graceful nefs, without lofing its point, ,Qf 
 the Belle AJfcmblee, he was an ardent admirer, 
 and he joined the fprightly circle with fre- 
 quent delight : but the licentioufnefs of the 
 drawing-room he unrefervedly condemned. 
 That reftlefs propenfity to game that Ca- 
 coethes akatorium, which renders morbid 
 every generous principle in youth, and 
 pollutes the hoary honours of age ; which 
 difgraces the faireft forms, and corrupts the 
 pureft hearts, found an enemy in Boyd, 
 who, though goaded by a wild extravagance, 
 had never been driven into its fnares. He 
 admoniflied its deluded votaries, not lefs by 
 precept*, than example. 
 
 Of .his intellectual elements, his imagina- 
 tion was the moft powerful and active. His 
 
 * Whoever wifhes to know his deteflation of this vice, 
 will find the fubjeft treated in a very mafterly and ele- 
 gant manner, in the ninth number of the Indian Obferver, 
 Vol. II. page 152, of thefe works. 
 
 2 genius
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 genius bold, afpiring, and adventurous, form 
 ed conceptions beyond the bounds of fub- 
 lunary nature ; and his judgment was only 
 not vigorous, when it endeavoured to re- 
 ftrain his fancy. His mind in all its opera- 
 tions was aflifted by a curiofity perpetually 
 awake, and a comprehenfive capacity of ob- 
 fervation ; by an intuitive perception, a te- 
 nacious memory, and an underftanding that 
 could aflbciate the remote and the familiar 
 the beautiful and the grand. 
 
 But the diftinguifhing qualities of his mind, 
 were memory, clearnefs, and perfpicacity, 
 What he had once heard, or read, he never 
 forgot. He could repeat all the paffages 
 that he mod admired, and thefe were of 
 courfe very numerous, in the writings of 
 Demoflhenes and Cicero, of Thucydides 
 and Tacitus, of Bacon, Machiavel, and 
 Montefquieu. In poetry, his favourite au- 
 thors were Homer and Milton, and he could 
 repeat feveral books of the Iliad, and of 
 Paradife Loft, from the beginning to the 
 end. The fpeeches that he had heard in 
 parliament, or in the courts of law, he air 
 ways remembered, not only in fubftance, 
 
 but
 
 HUGH BOYD. 247 
 
 but in the very form and phrafe in which 
 they were fpoken. And even in familiar 
 converfation, whatever interefled his mind, 
 never again efcaped it. 
 
 The ftrength of his memory, and the 
 clearnefs of his underftanding were fuch, 
 that he could make arithmetical calculations 
 of confiderable length and intricacy intirely 
 in his mind : without taking down a fingle 
 unit, he could in a fhort fpace of time mul- 
 tiply nine given figures, by other nine, and 
 give the produci; and in the fame manner 
 he could, in the courfe of an hour, refolve 
 any queftion in the Rule of Three, or in 
 Vulgar FraBions. In playing at his favour- 
 ite game of chefs, he would walk about the 
 room, and while he was converling with 
 feeming attention on other fubje&s, dictate 
 the moves to another perfon, from being 
 told the fituation of his adverfary's pieces, 
 and the moves he had made, without once 
 looking at the board himfelf. 
 
 Yet, notwithftanding thefe uncommon 
 inftances of a piercing and vigorous intel- 
 lect, notwithftanding the logical precifion 
 and arrangement of his thoughts, he pof- 
 
 feflW
 
 OF 
 
 fefTed not that flrong reflecting faculty by 
 which the human mind is enabled to invef- 
 tigate the whole procefs of its own opera- 
 tions, to follow up the chain of abftracl 
 reafoning, and to explore the fources of 
 metaphyfical truths. But his mind had an 
 extenfive grafp. He contemplated the uni- 
 verfe with the poetick eye of philofophy, 
 and embraced at once all the various orga- 
 nizations, not only 'of the moral, but the 
 material world. 
 
 His learning, like his genius, was more 
 fplendid than profound. He feafled on all 
 the 'fruits, but had not thoroughly Cultivated 
 the foil of the literary garden. He had 
 made a general furvey of every region of 
 human knowledge ; but his particular re- 
 fearches were confined to claflical learning, 
 morals, and politicks. 
 
 With 'the belles lettres, and with the lite- 
 rary 'and civil hiftories of every age and 
 nation, he was familiarly acquainted. He 
 read the clafficks, both of ancient and mo- 
 dern Europe, in their original drefs. In the 
 Latin and 'French languages he was emi- 
 nently fkilful ; and his knowledge^of Greek 
 
 was
 
 HUGH BOYD. 249 
 
 was fo confiderable, that one would have 
 imagined he had been all his life a re- 
 clufe fcholar, rather than a man of the 
 world. 
 
 Endowed with a tafte, by nature moil 
 exquifitely delicate, and refined by the ele- 
 gancies of the Attick fchool, he was nice in 
 polite criticifm, without being faftidious, 
 and fevere in philology, without being pe- 
 dantick. 
 
 Of the ftage he was an enthufiaftick ad- 
 mirer, and on dramatick poetry, as well as 
 on dramatick reprefentations, a critick of 
 great acumen, judgment, and tafte. On 
 this fubjecl:, his opinions were not formed 
 from the polifhed models of the Grecian, 
 ftill lefs from the forced correftnefs of the 
 Parifian ftage ; they were drawn from the 
 originals of nature, as reprefented in the 
 diverfified fcenery of the immortal genius 
 of Britain. 
 
 To talents fo polifhed, wit fo refined, 
 learning fo amplified, and tafte fo chaftened, 
 had Mr. Boyd applied himfelf to the cul- 
 tivation of dramatick poetry, he would, 
 doubtlefs, have added ornaments to the 
 
 Englifli
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 Englifh ftage, which, with its declining ele- 
 gance and morality, could have alone de- 
 cayed. 
 
 HAVING already faid fo much re- 
 fpefting Mr. Boyd's political writings, I 
 Ihould not now offer another word on the 
 fubjecl; of them, but that I conceive it 
 neceffary to expofe the abfurdity, if not the 
 malignity, of Mr. Chalmers's attempt, to 
 calumniate the memory of my friend. 
 
 Mr. Chalmers has told the publick, 
 " that Mr. Boyd was an UNITED IRISH- 
 "MAN, by birth, by habit, and by practice." 
 To have eftablifhed the truth of this affer- 
 tion, it was in the firft place requifite for him 
 to prove, that a Republican CONSPIRACY 
 actually exifted in IRELAND at the time of 
 Mr. Boyd's birth, that is, in Oftober 1746; 
 and in the next place, it was effential to 
 fhew, that Mr. Boyd's political principles, 
 opinions, and connexions, were the fame as 
 thofe of an United Irijhman. Now, with re- 
 gard to a republican confpiracy in Ireland, 
 
 in
 
 HUGH BOYD. 251 
 
 in the year 1746, 1 believe it never did exift, 
 except in the imagination of Mr. Chalmers ; 
 for it is an undeniable fad, that no mention 
 is made by any cotemporary writer, of any 
 fuch confpiracy. And as to the idea of 
 tracing the origin of the recent rebellion in 
 Ireland, to fome petty Catholick plot that 
 may have happened fifty years ago, it is too 
 ridiculous to merit a fingle obfervation. 
 
 With regard to Mr. Boyd's political con- 
 nexions, the reader already knows, that 
 they were of the firft refpe&ability in the 
 kingdom, not only for their rank and ta- 
 lents, but for their fteady loyalty to his 
 Majefty's family, and their confequent at- 
 tachment to the genuine principles of the 
 Britifh conftitution. Thefe principles are 
 fleadfaftly maintained throughout the whole 
 of Mr. Boyd's writings, and though there 
 are a few infulated expreffions in tjunius, 
 which may be thought feditious, and which, 
 therefore, I am very far from defending, I 
 do believe that Junius was a much fincerer, 
 and furely he was a more able friend to 
 the Crown of England, than Mr. George 
 Chalmers// He who truly loves his KING, 
 
 muft
 
 252 LIFE OF 
 
 muft firft love his COUNTRY. 'No man 
 can really regard the rights of the one, 
 who does not cherifh the liberties of the 
 other. 
 
 But Mr. Boyd, fo far from having afted 
 upon the principles of an United Irijhman, 
 was in facl a profefled enemy to a republi- 
 can form of government. Let him fpeak 
 for himfelf " I can more readily admire," 
 -fays Junius, " the liberal fpirit and inte- 
 -" grity, than the found, judgment of any 
 *' man, who prefers a republican form of 
 " government, in this, or in any other empire 
 '" of equal extent, to a monarchy, fo qualified 
 " and limited as ours. I am convinced, that 
 (t neither is it in theory the wife/I fyftem of 
 " government, nor practicable in this country. 
 " Yet, though I hope that the Englifh con- 
 -*' ftitution will for ever preferve its original 
 " monarchical form, I would have the man- 
 " ners of the people purely and ftriftly re- 
 " publican. I do not mean the licentious 
 "fpirit of anarchy and riot. I mean a ge- 
 " neral attachment to the common weal, 
 " diftincl: from any partial attachment to 
 t: perfons or families ; an implicit fubmiffion 
 
 "to
 
 HUGH BQYD.' 253 
 
 " to the laws only ; and an affection to the 
 " magiftrate, proportioned to the integrity 
 " and wifdom with which he diftributes juftice 
 " to his people, and adminifters their af- 
 fairs." 
 
 This I know Mr. Chalmers will not ad- 
 mit to be found conftitutional do&rine, but 
 this I know was the good old-fafhioned 
 doftrine of our anceftors, and that to which 
 England owes all her profperity and glory 
 all her power and greatnefs. This too 
 was the rational doftrine which Mr. Boyd 
 taught to the people of Ireland, and not, 
 as Mr. Chalmers malicioufly and unjuftly 
 inlinuateSj thofe wild and dangerous chimeras 
 by which they have been lately deluded. 
 "RATIONAL, LEGAL LIBERTY," .fays 
 Mr. Boyd, in the Freeholder ; " and ONLY 
 " THAT, is intended to be praifed ; which 
 " differs as effentially from the rude riot of 
 " licentioufnefs, as wifdom is diftincl; from 
 " madnefs, or as reafon excels brutality. 
 " The admirable Milton has well diftm- 
 " guifhed, where he inveighs againit the 
 " hypocrites of this virtue in the extreme. 
 " As the paffage well expofes the falfe pre- 
 
 " tenfions
 
 254 LIFE OF 
 
 " tenfions to it, and in the fame proportion 
 " extols the truth, permit me to clofe thefe 
 " obfervations with it." 
 
 " They bawl for FREEDOM in their fenfelefs mood, 
 *' Yet quarrel with the hand that makes them free. 
 " Licence they mean, when they cry LIBERTY ; 
 
 " FOR WHO LOVES THAT, MUST FIRST BE WISE AND 
 " GOOD." 
 
 In another place he declares" I do not 
 " beat the drum of faElion, nor found the 
 " trumpet off edition: for I do moft pojitwtly 
 " and folemnly protejl myfelfa zealous friend 
 " to the CONSTITUTION as ESTABLISHED 
 " IN CHURCH AND STATE." 
 
 Such is the language in which Mr. 
 Chalmers s United Irifhman addrefles the 
 people of Ireland, and fuch the principles 
 which he inculcated : and if the reader mould 
 require an expolition of thefe principles, 
 I recommend to him to perufe with atten- 
 tion the fecond letter of the Freeholder, in 
 which he will find an abftracT: of the Britifh 
 conftitution, not adapted, perhaps, to Mr. 
 Chalmers's political tafle, but ftriftly con- 
 formable to the theory of oqr government. 
 
 Refpea-
 
 HUGH BOYD. 255- 
 
 Refpe&ing the RE VOLU TION in FR AN c E, 
 Mr. Boyd faw, at its very commencement, 
 the falfe and definitive principles of thofe 
 extravagant fpeculations by which it was 
 effected, and which prefumptuoufly talked 
 of diforganizing and new modelling the whole 
 frame of civil fociety : and he thought them 
 altogether fo inconfiftent with any fyftem 
 of rational and practicable freedom in any 
 country, that an attempt to realize them in 
 France, would madden the deluded people, 
 produce the moft ferocious anarchy, and 
 inftead of eftablifhing a free government, 
 would ere6l a military defpotifm. He alfo 
 thought, that the French poflefled not that 
 fteadinefs and fobriety of character, by which 
 liberty can alone be preferved. In the year 
 1791, he received a letter on this important 
 fubjeft from his friend Mr. Edmund Burke, 
 together with a copy of his celebrated RE- 
 FLECTIONS, the perufal of which, ofcourfe, 
 confirmed Mr. Boyd's opinions : and of 
 thofe opinions he has fortunately left a fuf- 
 ficient record. 
 
 In the 21 ft No. of the Indian Obferver, 
 which was publifhed in January 1794, after 
 
 making
 
 256 LIFE OF 
 
 making fome obfervations on the powerful 
 effe&s of eloquence in the free ftates of 
 antiquity, he fays, "From thefe premifes, 
 " the modern eye naturally turns to that 
 " unhappy country, which for four fatal 
 " years has been the theatre of national ca- 
 " lamity. And he who traces the progrefs 
 " of that calamitous drama, from the firft 
 " aft of depontion of royalty in the national 
 " fenate, to the murderous cataftrophe on 
 " the national fcafFold, will fee how the 
 <s abufe of popular eloquence prevailed to 
 " madden the multitude ; and if not intend- 
 " ed to effect the final mifchief, as lately has 
 " been fuggefted in fome poflhumous proofs, 
 " yet how fatally powerful it was to light a 
 " flame which could not be extinguimed. 
 "The extraordinary talents of Mirabeau, 
 " and their omnipotent erfecl in the Aflem- 
 " bly of France, are too well known. And 
 " though it may be fome confolation to 
 " thofe, whofe love of human nature revolts 
 " from the unnatural aff^ciation of the 
 " blacked vices with the brighteft abilities, 
 " to find that his were not the principles 
 
 " which
 
 HUGH BOYD. 257 
 
 " which have been fince afted .upon to the 
 " horror of mankind* 
 
 " But to turn to the more pleafing view 
 " of the fubjecl:, where the fined talents 
 " combat on the fide of truth, we have feen 
 " their triumph in the nobleft caufe, in the 
 
 f: CAUSE OF RELIGION, LAW, AND OR- 
 
 " D E R ; in defence of every facred poft and 
 te barrier, ESSENTIAL, not alone to the SE- 
 " CURITY and HAPPINESS OF MANKIND, 
 " but to the very EXISTENCE OF SOCIETY. 
 " The fublime comprehenfion of that pene- 
 " trating genius *, who in the early dawn 
 " of democracy, faw the deftru&ive princi- 
 " pie of general conflagration that was to 
 " flame in its meridian, gave the alarm to 
 " the world ; and his warning voice was 
 " heard. The baleful influence, threatening 
 " every confine of humanity, was averted; 
 " and the portentous meteor, confumed in 
 " its own fires, will pafs away for ever." 
 
 Thus then it appears that the aflertion of 
 Mr. Chalmers is at once groundlefs and 
 abfurd ; and he has, therefore, thought 
 
 * Mr. Burke. 
 
 VOL. j. r it
 
 258 LIFE OF 
 
 it becoming his character to propagate an 
 idle calumny, to endeavour to revile the 
 memory of one who never injured him, to 
 violate the fanftity of the tomb, and to 
 rake up the ames of the dead, to gratify 
 his refentment againft the living. What 
 morality is this ? - Is / this the man who 
 cenfures the morals of Junius? Is this 
 the man who complains fo bitterly of the 
 malevolence of Mr. MATHIAS ? Is this 
 the man who is conftantly profeffing his 
 regard for candour and truth ? Is this the 
 man who takes Do6tor Johnfon for his mo- 
 del ? Or is it only thejlyle * of that 'great 
 man, which he thinks worthy of imitation? 
 
 But with his tafle in morals, or in litera- 
 ture, I have no other concern, than as it 
 regards my friend. Dulnefs may be de- 
 fpifed, though malignity cannot be excufed ; 
 but when we find them united, difguft and 
 indignation rum irrefiftibly on the mind. 
 If, however, I had not judged of his calumny 
 
 * See Chalmers's Life of Rudiman, a work, which, to 
 any man well acquainted with Johnfon's ftyle, will afford 
 as much amufcment as one of Foote's belt farces. 
 
 : 2. by
 
 HUGH BOYD. 259 
 
 by the rancour which gave it birth, rather 
 than by the manner in which it is expreffed, 
 I fhould have allowed it to die forgotten and 
 unremoved, along with the learned lumber 
 of his Supplemental Apology. 
 
 The other productions of Mr. Boyd, 
 which I have prefented to the publick, re- 
 quire little apology or explanation ; they 
 are written with lefs ardour of ftyle and fen- 
 timent, than his political competitions, but 
 they are neverthelefs highly worthy of pre- 
 fervationj and no way derogatory from his 
 genius. 
 
 The Journal of his EmbafTy to Candy 
 will be found extremely entertaining. It is 
 written with that unaffected naivete of lan- 
 guage, which is the greateft beauty of fuch 
 a performance; and there is an agreeable 
 and unclouded cheerfulnefs throughout the 
 whole of it, which appears extraordinary 
 amidft the difficulties and fatigue of a toil.- 
 fome and vexatious journey ; and which il- 
 luftrates the peculiarity of his genuine hu- 
 mour, as well as of the mild but intrepid 
 r 2 refolution,
 
 260 1,1 F OF 
 
 refolution, that dignified and diftinguifhed 
 his character. 
 
 The few Poems which appear at the end 
 of the firft volume, were the amufements of 
 an idle hour ; and I publifh them merely to 
 fhew the never-failing playfulnefs of his 
 difpofition, as well as the cordial tendernefs 
 of his heart. If they difplay not any thing 
 of that brilliancy and animation which 
 might have been expecled from him, they 
 at leaft contain very elegant and pleafing 
 lines. 
 
 In his E flays in the Indian Obferver, if 
 there be not any novelty of fubjecl;, or nice 
 diftinftions in morals and criticifm, they at 
 leaft reprefent the pure and immutable prin- 
 ciples of private ethics in a lively and 
 pleafing manner, and enforce the efficacy of 
 virtue and religion with the fimple energy 
 of truth. And when the reader is informed 
 that thefe Eflays were generally compofed 
 amidft the buftle of bufinefs, or the frolicks 
 of hilarity, without either care or prepara- 
 tion, he will be indulgent to the blemifhes 
 which he may find they contain, 
 
 It
 
 HUGH BOYD. 26l 
 
 It has indeed been objected to the Indian 
 Obferver, that he is not fufficiently Afiatick ; 
 that his obfervations do not embrace fo wide 
 a fphere of life as might have been expe&ed; 
 for that he mould have delineated the cha- 
 racter of the native inhabitants of India. 
 But it fhould be recolle&ed that this was 
 foreign to Mr. Boyd's purpofe; which was 
 to inftrucl; and amufe the Englifli fociety at 
 Madras, on thofe fubje&s to which he 
 conceived they paid too little attention. His 
 grand object was to animate the provinces 
 with the fpirit of the mother-country ; by 
 the inculcation of moral truths, by roufing 
 the paflions on the fide of virtue, by infufing 
 a defire for the purfuits of polite literature, 
 and a tafte for the curiofities of art. He 
 lamented, that in India fo great a portion of 
 time was devoted to the avocation of office, 
 and laudably endeavoured to infpire his 
 countrymen with more elevated fentiments. 
 He told them in the words of Moliere, 
 
 A de plus hauls objets elevez vos defirs, 
 
 Songez a prendre un gout des plus nobles plaifirs. 
 
 That he has executed his defign with dig- 
 nity, will not, I believe, be denied ; though 
 
 from
 
 262 LIFE OF 
 
 from negligence on fome fubjecls, he is lax 
 and undefined. On morals, as on litera- 
 ture, his fentiments are liberal, his tafte is 
 pure, his judgment exacl, and his diction 
 always perfpicuous, eafy, and elegant. 
 
 Throughout the whole of his writings he 
 may, with a few exceptions, be faid to have 
 preferved the medium fo elegantly defcribed 
 by the Abbe MAURY, "that keeps be- 
 " tween the extreme of neglecting applicar 
 " tion, which adds to the defects of tafte, 
 (t and the excefs of labour, which deadens 
 " the tranfports of genius." And in the 
 letters of Junius, as well as in his other poli- 
 tical productions, he has attained that ner- 
 vous fimplicity of language, which is at 
 once familiar without being common, eafy 
 without being feeble, concife without being 
 forced, energetick without conftraint, rapid 
 without irregularityp fpirited without vehe- 
 mence, and fevere without harfhnefs. 
 
 Verba togafequeris, junflura callldus acri^ 
 Ore teres modico, paHentes radere mores 
 Defius y ingenuo culpam defigere ludo* . 
 
 * Perf. Sat. V. 
 
 SUCH
 
 HUGH BOYD. 263 
 
 SUCH is the Life and Charader of 
 HUGH BOYD, delineated, I hope, with the 
 integrity of truth, though it may be, I have 
 at times imperceptibly leaned to the fide of 
 friendship. If for this I mould be con- 
 demned by the auflerity of Juftice, I have 
 yet an appeal to Benevolence, from whom I 
 fhall expecl a milder fentence. But let not 
 even" Juftice too rafhly frown, for mature 
 reflection may foften her decree. 
 
 In eftimating the qualities of Boyd, much 
 candour and confideration is required. It is 
 neceflary to diftinguim his foibles from thofe 
 of others. Moft men only (hew to the world 
 their fair fides, concealing, under a dazzling 
 varnifh, innumerable faults ; whereas his 
 frailties, however great, appeared open as 
 day, whilft fome of the nobleft virtues, like 
 diamonds in the mine, were impervious to the 
 fight of the fuperficial obferver. If there are 
 thofe who mould tax the juftnefs of this ob- 
 fervation, and who to his imperfections fhould 
 give a harfher name, let them reflect on the 
 frailties incident to nature, and the muta- 
 bility of their own condition ; let them ' 
 
 learn,
 
 264 LIFE OF 
 
 learn, in the fublirne language of Shake- 
 fpeare, the duty of fellowmip, and the ami- 
 ablenefs of candour. 
 
 Ho\y would you be, 
 
 If he who is the top of judgment fiiould 
 But judge you as you are ? Oh! think on that, 
 And mercy will then breathe within your lips f< 
 Like man new made. 
 
 If in tracing the wanderings of a friend's 
 life, I have been led into greater length than 
 I forefaw, I requefl my readers to examine 
 their own hearts, and if there they find no 
 apology for that fondnefs which deludes 
 reafon, and " bathes the fpirits in delight," 
 in contemplating the genius and virtues of 
 a departed friend, even the eloquent fenfibi- 
 lity of a Jaffier may plead in vain. The 
 firft duty of a Biographer is to lay open the 
 lights and {hades of his hero's character, 
 and by the ftrong effect of finifhed colour- 
 ing, to encourage the modefly of virtuous 
 indigence, and reprefs the infolence of prof- 
 perous vice. How well I have performed 
 this duty, it remains for the publick to de- 
 termine. I fhall wait 1 their decifion with 
 
 anxiety,
 
 HUGH BOYD. 265 
 
 anxiety, but not without confidence; for 
 having contributed my mite to the caufe of 
 Friendfhip, Virtue, and Truth, I (hall at 
 leaft be intitled to the praife of having 
 endeavoured well. 
 
 APPENDIX.
 
 A PPEND I X 
 
 T O 
 
 THE LIFE, 
 
 A Letter from Mr. J. ALMON, to L. D. CAMPBELL, Efq, 
 containing form Jlrong circumftantial Proofs of Mr, BOYD 
 having been the real Author 0/"JuNius. 
 
 Box-Moor, near Hemel-Hempftead, Herts, 
 December 10, 1798. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 reafons for believing that the letters figned Juniu$> 
 were written by the late Mr. Hugh Boyd, are founded 
 upon the following circumftances. 
 
 During the autumn of the year 1769, I believe in the 
 month of O&ober, a meeting of the Proprietors of the 
 London Evening Poji was held at the Queen's-Arms, St. 
 Paul's Church-yard, a houfe which at that time was much 
 frequented by Jx>okfellers. The perfons prefent were, 
 
 John '
 
 268 APPENDIX 
 
 John Gretton, Efq.* Mr. Rivington, bookfel!er,"i n St. 
 Paul's Church-yard; Mr. Longman, bookfdler, inPater- 
 nofter-row ; Mr. Owen, bookfeller, at Temple-bar ; Mr. 
 Miller, Printer of the. London Evening Pofl; Mr. Wood- 
 fall, Prihter of the Publick Advert if er, (in which the letters 
 of Junius were originally publifhed) myfelf, and I think 
 one more. After the bufinefs was over, there was a ge- 
 neral converfation concerning newfpapers, and other to- 
 picks, in the courfe of which fomething was remarked, 
 which caught Mr. Woodfall's attention, for he immedi- 
 ately faid, that he had a letter from Junius in his pocket, 
 which he had juft received, in which there was a paflage, 
 or paragraph, that related to the fubjecl we were then 
 talking of, and he would read it ; then taking the letter 
 out of his pocket, he read the part he had fpoken of. The 
 letter confifted of three or four meets (or more) in fmall 
 folio, fuch as we technically call fool's cap. As the other 
 fhcets, which Mr. Woodfall was not reading from, lay 
 upon the table, I faw them in common with the reft of 
 the company, but did not take them into my hands. The 
 moment I faw the hand-writing, I had a Jlrong fufpicion 
 that it was Mr. Boyd's, whofe hand-writing I knew, having 
 received feveral letters from him concerning books. I took 
 no notice of the matter at that time. But the next time 
 that Mr. Boyd called on me, for he was in the habit of 
 frequently calling on me in Piccadilly, I faid to him, that 
 I had feen a part of one of Juniuis letters, in manufcript, 
 which I believed was his hand-writing he changed colour 
 inftantly, and after a fhort paufe, faid, " the ftmilitude of 
 " hand-writing is not a conclujlve fat?." Though thefe 
 words do not acknowledge the truth of the fufpicjon, they 
 
 * Now of Belmont-Place, Vauxhall. 
 
 do
 
 TO THE LIFE. 269 
 
 do not, however, pofuively deny it. Thefe were my firft 
 grounds of fufpicion; whether juftly or not, this letter is 
 defigned to explain. 
 
 About a month, or fix weeks afterwards, Lord Temple 
 aiked me, if I knew the writer of the letters figned Junius ? 
 I told his Lordfliip that I did not, but that I had my fuf- 
 picions. His Lordfhip faid, he had his fufpicions alfo ; 
 but they did not go to Mr. Burke, yet he had no doubt of 
 the writer being an Irimman. 
 
 Upon this feemingly indifferent circumftance, I cannot 
 avoid making two remarks : one is that every reader of 
 Juniuis letters muft have obferved, that the affairs of Ire- 
 land form a very prominent feature in them. The other 
 is that though all parties were at this time abufing Lord 
 Temple Lord Rockinghanv s friends, becaufe he had re- 
 fufed to accept of the adminiftration, when that' noble 
 Lord implored him almoit upon his knees the miniftry, 
 becaufe he oppofed their meafures the court, from pure 
 hatred, becaufe he would not be duped by Lord Bute's 
 machinations : and though thefe parties hated each other, 
 yet they united in the abufe of Lord Temple. Juntas 
 joins not with any of thefe parties, refpefting Lord Tem- 
 ple. On the contrary, whenever he {peaks of that noble 
 Lord, it is of his firmnefs, perfeverance, patriotifm, and 
 virtue ; and I can add, from my own know ledge, -that; 
 whenever Mr. Boyd fpoke of Lord Temple, it was always 
 in fimilar terms. Junius fays of himfelf, " to write tor 
 " fame, and to be unknown to fupport the intrigues of 
 '* faftion, and to be difowned by every party in the king- 
 " dom, are contradictions which the minifter mull recon- 
 " cile, before I forfeit my credit with the publick." 
 
 On the nineteenth of December 1769, was published 
 Junius's addrefs to the King, for which feveral of the print- 
 
 ers
 
 270 APPENDIX 
 
 ers were profecuted, together with myfelf, who had not 
 concern whatever in the printing of it. The cafe was 
 fhortly this : on the firft day of January 1770, fome of the 
 monthly magazines, into which this letter of Junius was 
 copied, were fold by my fervants ; for which act of felling, 
 in the common courfe of bufinefs, the attorney-general 
 (Mr. De Grey, afterwards Lord Walfingham) filed an in- 
 formation, exofficioy againft me, as a publifher ; although 
 the true publifher 's name was on the title-page of the ma- 
 gazine, and I had no kind of connexion with it, immedi- 
 ately or remotely, dire&ly or indireftly, and he might, 
 with the fame juftice, have profecuted all the bookfellers 
 in England, for all of them fell the monthly magazines. 
 
 At the time of finking the fpecial jury, which I attend- 
 ed, I objected to thofe gentlemen being on the jury who 
 held places under the crown. Mr. Burrows, at that time 
 mafter of the crown office, where the jury was ftruck, 
 faid that my objection was frivolous. I replied, that this 
 being a profecmion in which the crown was party, I could 
 not think it proper that a fervant of either party mould be 
 on the jury. He made no anfwer, but went on ; and not- 
 withitandi'ng my utmoft endeavours, I could not prevent 
 a placeman being foreman of the jury, viz. Mr. Morfe of 
 the war-office. When the bufinefs was over, Mr. Nuthall's 
 clerk (Nuthall was folicitor to the treafury) came up to 
 me, and faid, " We are certain you know the author, we 
 " only want to come at him ; if you will give us the pro- 
 " per information, I am authorized by Mr. Nuthall to 
 4t affure you, that this profecution (hall not go on." My 
 anfwer was, that I did not know the author. The profecu- 
 tion was made as expenfive as poilible. The information 
 was extended to one hundred and thirty-feven fheets. My 
 own attorney's bill exceeded one hundred and forty-nine 
 
 pounds.
 
 TO THE LIFE. 2J 1 
 
 pounds. This was diftincl: from the other heavy ex- 
 pences. The late Sir Herbert Mackworth, who was one 
 of the jury, made a ftrong affidavit in my favour, as did 
 fome other gentlemen : but all was of no avail. A tew 
 weeks afterwards, the trials of the real printers and pub- 
 lifhers came on, when they were all acquitted. Several 
 months after thefe acquittals, I was fentenced to pay a 
 fine, and put under an interdiction, or fecurity for good 
 behaviour, in the fum of eight hundred pounds. The 
 hardfhip of this is, that nobody can afcertain what is the 
 precife meaning of this expreffion, " tor good behaviour" 
 a breach of it may be any thing the attorney-general 
 pleafes to call fo. I can fay with truth, that there is no 
 man, now alive, who has been fo vindictively profecuted 
 and perfecuted, during a long feries of years, as I have 
 been, nor fo unjuftly. 
 
 During the whole time that this profecution was going 
 on, Mr. Boyd never once called upon me ; which I could 
 not help obferving, becaufe betore this time, he commonly 
 called twice or thrice a week ; and I thought it not lefs 
 remarkable, that after the profecution was totally at an 
 end, he refumed his former cuftom. 
 
 In the month of January 1772, the laft letter figne'd 
 Junius was publimed. A fhort time after, Mr. Boyd left 
 London ; I cannot fay the exaft date, nor to what place 
 he went. But, in your Preface to the Indian Obferuer, in 
 the laft paragraph but one, 'you fay, that the Freeholder, 
 known to be written by Mr. Boyd, was publimed in Ire- 
 land, (at Belfaft) in 1772 *. I have already obferved, 
 that the affairs of Ireland make a prominent feature in 
 Juniuis letters. If the date, therefore, of the laft of Jun'.its 
 
 * This was a miftake. Mr. Boyd went to' Ireland in 1772, but 
 did not publifh the Freeholder till 1776". Ed.
 
 272 APPENDIX 
 
 in England, and the date of the firjl paper of the Free- 
 holder in Ireland, do not fhew a ftrong improbability of 
 their coming from the fame inkftand, there will not feem 
 any violent impropriety in conne6ling them ; as coming 
 from the fame writer. The eulogium on Junius in the Free- 
 holder, may be judicious to give immediate currency to 
 his new paper. Some modeit people may perhaps imagine, 
 that a capital writer would not praife himfelf. Junius 
 was not fo delicate : witnefs the letters figned Pbilo-Junius, 
 avowedly written by himfelf; what are they but eulogi- 
 ums on Junius? and under his own fignature, did he not 
 once fay, that the BIBLE and Junius would be read, when 
 the Jefuits were forgotten ? Junius knew the utility of a 
 feafonable eulogium, as well as any man. All men are not 
 alike in apprehenfion and'difcernment; it is often necef- 
 fary that fome things fhould be pointed out ; what is la- 
 tent, or not prominent, fhould be made obvious ; and this 
 is bell done by collateral afiiftance. Periodical writers 
 have been allowed the ufe of this kind of fupplementary 
 aid, to fupport their credit with the publick. Lord Chef- 
 terfield praftifed it, when he wrote in the paper called 
 Common Senfe: and Mr. Wilkes pra&ifed it, when he wrote 
 North Briton. 
 
 1 know there are fome perfons, who are not difpofed to 
 give credit to the account of Mr. Boyd being the author 
 of the letters figned Junius; and they found their doubts 
 upon their own opinion of his talents, which they fay were 
 not equal to the abilities difplayed .in thofe letters. Every 
 candid perfon will obferve, that this objection refts upon 
 opinion only ; and it may further be obferved, that men, 
 and fometimes great men, differ widely in their opinions 
 upon the talents of writers. Far be it from me to offer an 
 opinion upon the fubjecl ; but I hope I may, without in- 
 curring
 
 TO THE LIFE. 273 
 
 (furring the guilt of prefumption, be allowed to recommend 
 A comparifon between the letters of Junius and the papers 
 avowedly written by Mr. Boyd. Whoever will be at the 
 trouble of reading the Introduction to two Speeches of 
 Lord Chatham, written and taken by Mr. Boyd, will pro- 
 bably fay, that there is not ' any part of Junius's letters, 
 which excels the language of that introduction, in beauty 
 and fublimity. Of the Whig, alfo written by Mr. Boyd, I 
 have heard very good judges fay, that there are paffages in 
 thofe papers, equal in force and elegance to any thing in 
 the writings of Junius. 
 
 Another objection has been made to the fuppofition of 
 Mr. Boyd being the author of Juniuis letters. It is of a 
 kind lefs rude than the former, but more frivolous. The 
 former was to his talents, this was to his fituation. Thofe 
 who urged the objection, faid That the letters of Junius 
 mufl have been written by a perfon of profound erudition, 
 of high political connexions, and in habits of familiarity 
 amongft the higheft ranks of fociety. 
 
 To Mr. Boyd's claflical education, no man who knew 
 him, will hefitate to give the fulled credit to the great 
 extent of it. The reft of the objection, if tranflated into 
 plain Englifh, is no more than this ; that the writer ofjunt- 
 us's letters muft have been agentleman, ornobleman of high 
 birth and fafhion. This is fo childifli, that one need only 
 be acquainted with the manners of the prefent day, to pro- 
 nounce it filly in the extreme. Do gentlemen, or noble- 
 men, in thefe times, fit down to the laborious exercife of 
 writing a long feries of political letters for the news- 
 papers ? The letters of Junius continued three years, 
 viz. from January 21, 1769, to January 21, 1772. Mr. 
 Wilkes found it a heavy talk to produce only forty-five 
 numbers of the North Briton; and every one who knew 
 
 VOL. I. s him>
 
 274 APPENDIX 
 
 him, muft remember how "often he complained of the 
 weight of it ; though fix of the numbers were not written 
 by him. The writer tofjimiut'* letters muft, unqueftion- 
 ably, during the time of their publication, have fefided in 
 London, in the vortex of politicks, at the fountain of in- 
 formation. This is an indifputable fai ; it is proved by the 
 immediate replies given to other writers. Befides thefe, 
 there were, I may almoft fay, an infinite number of other 
 letters, to which he did not affix the fignature of Jun'nts ; 
 fome few en mifcellaneous fubjecls, but they were chiefly 
 political, and in fupport of Junius ; together with many 
 paragraphs, feveral of them particularly temporary. How 
 I know the fa& is not material. Mr. Woodfall will not, 
 upon his honour, contradi me. All that I mean to in- 
 fer from it, is, that during the publication of Junius's let- 
 ters, the writer muft have refided on the fpot ; and that 
 no gentleman of rank and famion, would live three fuc- 
 ceflive complete years in London, for the fake of writing 
 'political letters, and anfwering anonymous antagonifts. 
 
 As to the other part of the cbje6Hon, that Junius muft 
 be a nobleman, or perfon of high confideration, it is an- 
 fwered by the next queftion, Can no man write like a gen- 
 tleman, unlefs he is of high birth, or great fortune? 
 
 But there is another objection of more confequence 
 than any of the foregoing. It confifts, it it true, of only 
 a fingle aflertion, but this affertion is made by Mr. Wood- 
 fall himfelf ; and that gives it weight and importance in- 
 this invert igation. He fays, " that the letters- figned ^K- 
 " B/HJ were not written by Mr. Boyd." 
 
 A few weeks after the Biographical, Literary, and Politi- 
 cal Anecdotes were published, Mr. Woodfall and I met, by 
 accident. He immediately complimented me on the pub- 
 li cation;* faid, " it was a very entertaining work, he had 
 
 " read
 
 tO THE LIFE. 275 
 
 ** read it with great pleafure, &c. but there was one thing 
 *' in which I was miftaken, and that was, in fuppofing 
 " Mr. Boyd to have been the author of Junius's letters ;" 
 and then he added, with an emphafis, " that Mr. Boyd 
 "was not the author of them." Thefe I think were his 
 words* My reply was, I think in thefe words, (C That I 
 " had no doubt of Mr. Boyd being the author of thofe 
 " letters ; that he (Mr. Woodf'all) never knew the au- 
 " thor ; and that as he never knew who was, he could 
 " not undertake to aflert who was nof the author." 
 
 I fhall make no comment on this little colloquy. I 
 have put Mr. Woodfall's words in the full extent of their 
 meaning, and my own I have put in the oppofite fcale. 
 
 I refpeft Mr. Woodfall's character as much as any man 
 can ; at the fame time I cannot depart from a confidera- 
 tion of my own. I am not co'nfcious, that throughout 
 the three volumes of the Biographical, Literary, and Politi- 
 cal Anecdotes, there is one untruth. To the beft of my 
 knowledge and belief, every expreffion and affertion, in 
 that work, are founded in the drifted veracity. My only 
 motive in writing thefe volumes was, that as moft of the 
 fadts they contain, though very generally known at the 
 time they happened, had not, to my knowledge, been by 
 any perfon committed to paper, they would probably pe- 
 rim with the few now alive, who are acquainted with 
 them ; and I hope that the tafk I thus impofed on myfelf, 
 will not be deemed frivolous or invidious. There are 
 many matters left untold, which do not relate fo nearly to 
 the biography, as to the hiftory of our times. They will 
 form a work of more conliderable extent. 1 have devoted 
 my leifure to it for feme years paft ; and it has been, an4 
 fliali be, my moft anxious defire and care, that no falfe- 
 hood iliall appear in it. 
 
 j 2 There
 
 276 . APPENDIX 
 
 There is one more circumftance, concerning Jun'mfs 
 letters, that is proper to mention. It is of equal import- 
 ance with any one that has been already adduced. It is 
 this. On the fifteenth day of April 1786, there appeared 
 the following paragraph in the General Advertifer. 
 
 " When Lord Macartney went to Madras, it is well 
 " known that Junius went with his Lord(hip. He made 
 " himfelf ufeful to his Lordfhip, by taking fome fpeeches 
 " at the India-IIoufe. -No man ever had a better merno- 
 *' ry, or a better knack at taking fpeeches than Junhts- 
 " He was happy in, an accurate retention of all ftrong ex- 
 " preiTions. He went to. India, becaufe his circumftances 
 " were very circumfcribed. Being a Whig in principle, 
 " it was no* probable that he would differ with General 
 " Dalling, who was bred under the old Duke of Cumber- 
 *' { land : but it is very probable that he will not agree with 
 11 Sir A. Campbell. He is a native of Ireland, and re- 
 " ceived his education in the college of Dublin." 
 
 Who can infer from this paragraph that Mr. Boyd was 
 the author ofjunius's letters ? None but thofe who knew 
 the fa 8. Mr. Boyd was not the only gentleman who went 
 with Lord Macartney to India; feveral other gentlemen 
 went with his Lordfhip, whofe circumftances, perhaps, 
 might not materially differ, and who might have attended 
 the debates at the India-Houfe, as well as Mr. Boyd. 
 The paragraph is not conclufive upon Mr. Boyd ; and 
 none but a perfou, who knew the connexion between 
 Juniui and Mr. Boyd, would perceive theallufion. If Mr. 
 Boyd depofited the fecret with any body, who was the moft 
 'probable? undoubtedly Mrs. Boyd*. 
 
 * It has been already ftated, that Mrs. Boyd was not intrufted 
 with the fecret; but her anxiety on this'occaiion arole fiom a belief 
 that Mr. Boyd was JUNIUS . Ed. 
 
 At
 
 TO TJIE LIFE. 277 
 
 At the time that this paragraph was publimed, Mrs. 
 Boyd refided at Hampflead. The moment (he faw the 
 paragraph, which was the morning of publication, (he im- 
 mediately fent a gentleman to the printer, to requeft that 
 no more paragraphs, alluding to Mr. Boyd, might appear 
 in the paper ; becaufe (he feared, that fuch information 
 might eflentially injure Mr. Boyd's intereft in India. Her 
 requeft was obeyed. Nothing more on the fubjed was 
 publifhed. A common obfcrver, would read the para- 
 graph with indifference ; and many of thofe who knew 
 Mr. Boyd, would fcarcely find their attention attached by 
 it. But Mrs. Boyd is alive to the allufion the moment (he 
 fees it. She underftands it in all its force, and inftantly 
 wifties to deprecate its effeft. Had the allufion been to- 
 tally falfe, perhaps Mrs. Boyd might not have been Co 
 quickly alarmed. Jum'us's letters had often been afcribed 
 to many perfons, without any of them feeling hurt by the 
 report becaufe it was falfe. Mr. Boyd was not at that 
 time fufpecled, I believe, by any body, except mylelf. 
 
 I have now vindicated, I hope fufficiently, the account 
 given in the Biographical, Literary, and Political Anecdotes, 
 of the writer of Juniuss letters. 
 
 My fincere opinion is, that thofe letters were written by 
 the late Mr. Hugh Boyd ; and I fhall continue to be of 
 that opinion, until I am undeceived by fome better autho- 
 rity than any I have yet feen. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient fervant, 
 
 J. ALMON. 
 
 A CONCISE
 
 278 APPENDIX. 
 
 A CONCISE ACCOUNT of a Jhort CONTROVERSY, which 
 was carrlcdon through the Medium of the MORNING CHRO- 
 NICLE, in the Month ofAuguJii'jgg, relative te tie >uejlion, 
 #$/$*rMr. HUGH BOYD %vas in Reality the AUTHOR 
 OF JUNIUS ? 
 
 JL HIS CONTROVERSY having attracted the notice of the 
 pubKck, I think it no lefs due to thofe concerned in it, 
 than to the memory of Mr. Boyd, to explain the caufe from 
 which it arofe, as well as the motive which induced me to 
 engage in it, and likewife to give an impartial ftatement of 
 the leading points on both fides of the queftion. 
 
 In the beginning of July 1799, Mr. George Chalmers 
 publjfhed a book, entitled, A Supplemental Apology for the 
 Believers in the Shakefpeare MSS. together with a Po/ifcripf, 
 addreffed to Mr. T. J. Mathias. In this Pojlfcript he 
 takes occafion to give fome account of Mr. Boyd, to .de- 
 clare it to be his firm belief, that Mr. Boyd was the author 
 of Junius, and to aflert, that " he was an United Irijhman, 
 " by birth, by habit* and by pra&ice." The laft part of this 
 fiatement of Mr. Chalmers, namely, that Mr. Boyd was 
 an United Iri/hman, being totally void of all foundation in 
 truth, and being a filly, but malicious attempt todefame his 
 character, I felt myfelf called upon to expofe the fallacy 
 of the afiertion, and to fhield the memory of my friend 
 from the poifoned arrows of his (lander. I therefore ad- 
 dreffed a letter to the Editor of the 'Morning Chronicle, to 
 that effect ; and at the fame time dated a few leading facls 
 in proof of Mr. Boyd having written the letters of Junius, 
 in order to prevent the publick from being milled on that 
 point, by fome plaufible, but erroneous circumftances re- 
 fpetling it, which had appeared in the True Briton. 
 
 *>- The
 
 TO THE LIFE. 279 
 
 The following is the fubftance of the principal fa&s 
 which I flated in that letter, with regard to Mr. Boyd 
 having written the letters of Junius, viz. 
 
 " That Mr. Boyd, from his abilities and political con- 
 nexions, was fully qualified for the tafk of writing fuch 
 letters." 
 
 4 That previous to the appearance of Jumuis letters, 
 Mr. Boyd had accuftomed himfelf to write in a difguifed 
 hand." 
 
 "That during the whole of the three fucceflive years that 
 Juntus wr ic i i the Pubtick Adverttfer, Mr. Boyd conftant- 
 ly fent leuc s to that paper, which he wrote with themoft 
 impenetrable fecrecy, which he fuperfcribed in 'his feigned 
 hand- writing, and which he chiefly employed Mrs. Boyd to 
 carry to Mr. H. S. Woodfall's letter-box, with the moft 
 fcrupulous caution." 
 
 "That there was POSITIVE EVIDENCE, in contradiction 
 to what was ftated in the TrueBriton *, that Mr. H . S. Wood- 
 fall never knew that Mr. Boyd had written for the Publick 
 Advertifer, before the year 1777, until he was requeued by 
 Mr. Boyd's friends to point out fhofe letters, which they 
 knew Mr. Boyd had written for that paper, in the years 
 1769, 1770, 1771, and part of 1772." 
 
 " And laftly, that the writer in the TrueBrlton, when he 
 faid, " That Mr. Boyd's contributions to the Pubiick Ad- 
 " verfifer, in the time oljunius, are not to be held in com- 
 " parifon with the productions of that admirable writer," 
 cenfured writings which he had never read, and which I 
 defied him or any other man to produce. I gave this defi- 
 ance with a confidence founded on the FACT, that no let- 
 
 * It was ftated in the True Briton, " That Mr. Boyd was known 
 " to have written for the fublick AdvertiftrduTing the time ofjunius." 
 
 ter
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 ters of Mr. Boyd's were publifhed in the PublickAdvertifer, 
 during the three years above mentioned, except thofe which 
 are fo well known under the fignatures of Junius and Phils- 
 Junius, thofe that appeared under the fignatures of Lucius 
 and Brutus, and thofe that he fent to Mr. H. S. Woodfall 
 in Mrs. Boyd's hand-writing. 
 
 Thefe facts had no fooner been publifhed, than Mr. 
 William Woodfall Hepped forward to deny their validity, 
 and to juftify the affertion above quoted of the writer in 
 the True Briton. In his letter, which appeared in the 
 Morning Chronicle of the I2th of Auguft 1799, which pro- 
 feffes to be an anfwer to my faffs, he aflferts, " That no 
 " man living knows more of the conduit ot Junius, in the 
 *' management of his correfpondence in all its relations, 
 *' than he does, his brother alone excepted." 
 
 *' That be knows the whole of the affertion, that Mr. Boyd 
 *' was the author of the letters figncdjunius, to be founded in 
 *' mifapprehenfion." 
 
 " That Mr. Boyd was not capable of compofing fuch 
 " letters ; becaufe his Effays, in the Indian Obferver, are 
 " greatly inferior to them in point oi ftyle and fenti- 
 " ment." 
 
 " That he (Mr. William Woodfall) can fafely affert, 
 " that his brother Mr. H. S. Woodfall, fliewed him every 
 " one of Junius's letters in manufcript, previous to publi- 
 " cation, and that not one of them bore the appearance of 
 " having been written in a difguifed hand *." 
 
 'That 
 
 * What Mr. W. Woodfall obferves here, is perfelly true. The 
 MSS. of Junius did not bear -the appearance of a difguifed hand- 
 writing, to perfons like Mr. W. Woodfall, who had not feen Mr. 
 Boyd's common hand-writing. But I have already proved, that 
 thcfe who were well acquainted with the one, would upon an in- 
 
 fpe&ion
 
 TO THE LIFE, 28l 
 
 c That Mr. Eoyd might poffibly have difguifed his hand- 
 *' writing, fufficiently to efcape the detection of common 
 " obfervers, but that he could not eafily deceive the acute 
 " difcernment of anewfpaper printer's eye." 
 
 *' That even fuppofing Mr. Boyd could difgu'tfe his hand- 
 " writing, it muft be admitted on all hands, he could not dif- 
 " guife his ftyle, and haft of all in that moft extraordinary 
 " way of writing above his own reach of literary talent." 
 
 " That the writer in the True Briton was, therefore, 
 " amply juftified in faying, that Mr. Boyd' s contributions to 
 " the Publick Advertifer, in the time of Juntas, were not to be 
 " held in comparifon with the productions of that admirable 
 f< writer." 
 
 " That his brother, Mr. H. S. Woodfall never njked 
 "for any indemnity for publijhing the letters ofjunius, nor was 
 tl any offered Jjim." 
 
 " And that tor all thefe reafons, I had committed a grofs 
 *' error in lending a willing ear to Mr. Almon's affertion, 
 " that Mr. Boyd was the author ofjunius; an aflertion which 
 " he (Mr. William Woodfall) for all thefe reafons, declares 
 " to be founded in ignorance, and broached in prefumption" 
 
 Such is Mr. W. Woodfall's anfwer to my faffs refpefl:- 
 Jng Mr. Boyd, the different parts of which, lor the fake of 
 order and concifenefs, I have been obliged to tranfpofe and 
 condenfe : but the author will find, that although his per- 
 
 fpeftion of the other, difcover a ftrong refemblance between them. 
 And Mr. W. Woodfall muft be fenfible, that as there was no Jinking 
 peculiarity in the MSS. of Junius, he could not poffibly know, whe- 
 ther it was a feigned hand or not ; for, in order to afcertain whether 
 a hand- writing of that kind be difguifed, it is neceflaryto be fami- 
 liarly acquainted with the fame writer's hand in his private letters, 
 or in the common concerns of life. 
 
 formancc
 
 282 APPENDIX 
 
 formance has been ftripped of its rhetorical flouri/hes, it has 
 loft nothing either of its beauty orjtrengtb. 
 
 To this letter of Mr. William Woodfall's, I thought it 
 peceflary to reply ; becaufe the unqualified affertions re- 
 fpefting Juntas, under the fignature of Wood/all, if uncon- 
 tradi&ed, might have carried fome weight with them, al- 
 though they were unfupported by a finglefaff, or any thing 
 like argument or juft obfervation. 
 
 I went over the fame ground that I had taken in my 
 iirft letter ; becaufe I only wifhed to fubjlantiate the few 
 fadts I had Hated, not at that t'tme to prove, that Mr. Boyd 
 was in reality the author of Jurrius. 
 
 lobferved, " that as to Mr. W. Woodfall's aflertion, that 
 *' the manuscript ofjunius did not appear to him to be a dif- 
 *' guifed handy \ could only fay, it was noway furprifing 
 " Mr. Boyd mould have eluded the detection of a news- 
 ** paper printer's eye, when even the perfpicaeity and 
 " acutenefs of Mr. W. Woodfall had been fo egregioufly 
 ft deceived by the hand-writing of Junitis. For that to 
 " fay nothing of the fact itfelf, that all the letters fent to 
 " the Publick Advert'ifer, under the fignatures oijunius and 
 " PhUo-Jwrius, of Lucius and B tutus, were actually written 
 *' in a difguifed hand, it muft be evident to every man of 
 " common obfervstion, that Juniuf would have forfeited 
 *' all claim to fagacity, and would infallibly have been dif- 
 ," covered, if he had written his letters in^his common 
 ** hand-writing." 
 
 tl That with regard to his affertion, that Mr. Boyd could 
 " not difgutfe hisjlylf, he (Mr. W. Woodfall) muft be igr 
 *' norant indeed of literary hiftory, if he did not know an 
 '< hundred inftances, of men of lefs talents than he allowed 
 " to Mr. Boyd, having deceived thepublick by difguifing 
 *' their ftyle." 
 
 ^ That
 
 TO THE LIFE. 283 
 
 " That his afiertion, that Mr. Boyd was in the habit of 
 ff correfpanding with the /-*: )Yt Advertifer in the time ofju- 
 *' ntus, but not as ajludionfly concealed writer, was utterly un- 
 " founded in truth, for that Mr. Henry Sampfon Woodfall 
 " had told me, in the preience of a gentleman whom I had 
 ' purpofely brought along with me to his houfe, that he 
 ** knew not of any contributions of Mr. Boyd's to the 
 " Publick Advertifer, in the time of Junius; that he had no 
 tf recolleftion whatever of any letters of Mr. Boyd's at 
 " that time. And I reminded Mr. W. Woodfall, that 
 " his brother Mr. H. S. Woodfall had exprefsly told me 
 " in his own (Mr. W. Woodfall's) prefence that he did 
 *' not recollect that Mr. Boyd had ever written for the Publick 
 '* Advertifer before the year 1777, when he had fent him fame 
 ** letter 3 on the affairs of India; and that although he could 
 " not give in to the idea of his having written Junius, that he 
 tl notwithstanding thought him a very able writer." 
 
 l< That it clearly appeared, therefore, Mr. H. S. Wood- 
 " fall could give no account whatever of upwards of one 
 *' hundred and fifty letters, which Mr. Boyd had actually 
 " fent to the Publick Advertifer, in the time of Junius; 
 " and that as a man of his talents, fentjments, and habits, 
 " could not be fuppofed to have laboured gratuitovjly for a 
 *' newfpaper for three fuccejffive years, unlefs his writings 
 " had received the continued encouragement and applaufe 
 " of the publick, the fair prefumption was, that the letters 
 " which Mr. Boyd fent to the Publick Advertifer, in a dif- 
 "guifedhand, and with fuch fcrupulous caution and fe- 
 " crecy, are thofe very letters which were publjfhed in 
 " that paper, under the fignatures of Junius and Philo- 
 ft Junius, of Lucius and Brutus." 
 
 The day after the publication of my fecond letter, there 
 appeared in the Morning Chronicle a letter from Mr. Almon, 
 
 replying
 
 284 APPENDIX 
 
 replying in ftrong, but moderate and refpe&ful terms, to 
 Mr: W. Woodfall's unprovoked and wholly unfupported 
 attack on him, and pafling over in total filence the coarfe- 
 nefs of his language. 
 
 Mr. W. Woodfall, however, had now waxed warm in 
 the caufe lie had efpoufed, and he loft not a moment in 
 replying both to Mr. Almon's letter and mine. On the 
 l6th of Auguft, a iecond letter from him appeared in the 
 Morning Chronicle, in which he anfwers Mr. Almon, by 
 fhortly telling him, " that it is natural for the father of a 
 " falfehood to proletl his offspring; and at the very fame time 
 *' complains bitterly of abufe and fcurrility, as well as of my 
 " angry and arrogant letter*." 
 
 Mr. W. Woodfall, upon finding my facls were not to 
 be controverted, declined all further difcuffion concerning 
 them ; but faid, " that he ivas convinced on grounds not within 
 " my reach, that Mr. Boyd was not the author of Junius." 
 Thefe grounds, however, he has not deemed it advifeable 
 to ftate to the publick ; and all that he urges in his fecond 
 letter, relative to the point at iflue, amounts merely to 
 this, " that Mr. Boyd could not have written the letters 
 " of Juntas, becaufe his Eflays in the Indian Obferver are 
 " inferior to thofe performances, and becaufe he (Mr. W. 
 " Woodfali) is of opinion that the manufcript of Junius 
 " was not a difguifed hand." As both thefe objelions 
 have been fully conlidered and refuted in Mr. Boyd's Life, 
 it is unneceflary to notice them again : but there are one 
 
 * I know not that I was arrogant', I am fure I was far from be- 
 iug angry. But Mr. W. Woodfall was probably aware, that anger, 
 like wine, frees the mind from refiraint, and leads us on to fpealf 
 truth boldly; and therefore judged of theftaleofmy mind, from the 
 truth of my obfervations. 
 
 or
 
 TO THE LIP.E. 285 
 
 x>r two more obfervations in Mr. W. Woodfall's letter, 
 which for the fake of impartiality I mail briefly mention. 
 
 He accufes me of having quoted him unfairly, in the 
 following fentence, becaufe I omitted the words printed 
 in Ilalicks, viz : "That it muft be admitted on all hands 
 " that Mr. Boyd could not difguife his ityle, andleaft of all 
 " in that moft extraordinary way of writing above bis own reach 
 " of literary talent," for, fays he v the words in halicks con- 
 vey the whole force 6/:-:e argument! ! Now I certainly did 
 omit thefe words , not bscaufe J wifhed to treat him un- 
 fairly, but becaufe I thought their abfurdity too obvious 
 to require to be pointed out. Cannot Mr. W. Woodfall 
 perceive that when he fays, " Mr. Boyd could not write 
 " above his own reach of literary talent" it is mo ft miferably 
 begging the queftion ; as it is taking for granted the very 
 point in difcuffion. The queftion was, Whether Mr. 
 Boyd's talents were, or were not equal to the tafk of wri- 
 ting the letters of Junius ? And it was therefore neceffary to 
 have refolved that queftion in the cieareft and mod fatis- 
 faftory manner, before he called on all bands to admit that Mr. 
 Boyd, by having Written the letters of jFunius, would have 
 gone beyond his rrwn reach of literary talent. Mr. W. Wood- 
 fall might have called on thofe, who had previoufly agreed 
 with him to allow this ; but to commence an argument 
 with declaring that all t Jides mv ft admit, as a matter beyond 
 difpute, the very point which that fame argument is in- 
 tended toleltablim, is furely the very acme of abfurdity. 
 
 Mr. William Woodfall next obfervcs, " That the 
 ** writer of Junius fent feveral private letters to his bro- 
 " ther, fome of them containing letters to individuals of 
 " diftinguifhed character, which he requefied'liis brother 
 " to convey." And he then calls upon me to point out the 
 perfons to whom thefe letters were adcfrefled. Now I 
 
 candidly
 
 286 APPENDIX 
 
 candidly confefs I do not exactly know either the addrefs 
 or the purport of aft thofe letters ; nor is fuch a piece of 
 knowledge necefTarily connected with this queftion, which 
 is not to difcover to whom Junius addrefled private letters? 
 but who wrote the letters figned Junius, But, if Mr. 
 Woodfall choofes to point out to whom they were written, 
 I am fully perfuaded they will have a tendency dill far- 
 ther to confirm the pofitive faft that MR. BOYD WAS Ju- 
 
 NIUS. ', . 
 
 The laft letter which appeared in the Morning Chronicle 
 immediately relating to this controverfy was one from 
 Mr. Almon, wherein he juftly obferves, " that Mr. W. 
 " Woodfall has left the 'difpute about the perfon of Juni- 
 " us precifely where he began it; and has been compelled 
 " to acknowledge that neither he, nor his brother ev&r 
 *' knew any thing about the real author of Junius. And 
 "* that when one obferves Mr. W. Woodfall's boafting of 
 '* his brother having fhewn him every letter of Junius in 
 '*' the manufcript, previous to publication, one cannot help 
 " faying > that Junius was perfectly right in keeping them 
 *' both in a ftate of total ignorance of him." 
 
 " Of two interefting fafts concerning Junius, neither of 
 " the Woodfalls had ever the leaft information, and I fay 
 it with confidence, notwithftanding Mr. Woodfall's un- 
 *' founded afTumption: one is the reafon, or caufe of Ju- 
 *' nius attacking the Duke of Grafton in a manner fo 
 * pointedly and bitterly. It muft have arifen in fome 
 *' provocation real or imaginary. The other is, Junius 
 <f never attacking the Grenvilles." 
 
 Such are all the material points* of this controverfy, 
 
 * There are one or two circuniftances mentioned in Mr. Wta,, 
 Woodfall's letters which having had occafion to quote in the Life 
 of Mr. Boyd, I have not thought it neceffary to repeat here. 
 
 which
 
 TO THE LIFE. 287 
 
 which it will be found I have ftated with ftrift impar- 
 tiality, and from which I (hall leave the reader to draw 
 his own conclufion. 
 
 I beg leave to clofe this account with the following let- 
 ter from Mr. Almon, which I received'a few weeks after 
 the controverfy had ceafed, and which will be found to 
 throw additional light on the general queftion. 
 
 Box-Moor, near Hempftead, Herts, 
 
 Sept. 2d, 1799, 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Y OUR having poftponed the publication of Mr. Boyd's 
 Life to another feafon, affords me an opportunity to add a 
 few oblervations to thofe contained in my letter of laft 
 year. 
 
 The principal objection made to Mr. Boyd's being the 
 writer of the letters figned Junius, is, that his talents 
 were inferior to the compofition of thofe papers. This i* 
 putting the whole objcilion into as few words as poflible. 
 There are two things necefiary to fupport this objection; 
 one is, that the perfon who makes it mould be well ac- 
 quainted with Mr. Boyd's talents ; and the other is, that 
 he mould be a ^W^'w^ of literary compofition. 
 
 Of Mr. Boyd's literary talents I have already fpoken irt 
 my letter above mentioned ; and therefore I mall only 
 add, that Mr. W. Woodfall, who has brought this ob- 
 jection forward into the public prints, knew very little of 
 Mr. Boyd, confequently he does not poflefs the firft qua- 
 lification neceflary to fupport his objection. 
 
 '3 In
 
 288 APPENDIX. 
 
 In a letter, which he has publifhed in one of the pub- 
 lic prints, dated on the 2ift of laft month, he fays, " With 
 ** regard to what Mr. Almon fays of the poffible envy I 
 *' might entertain of Mr. Boyd's fuperior capacity as a 
 " parliamentary debate reporter, I will fairly tell him, 
 " that I do not believe^tbat Mr. Boyd pofleJJ'ed any fuck talent" 
 
 Every one of Mr. Boyd's friends know very well, that 
 he pofleffed this talent in a more eminent degree than ahy 
 other perfon, hitherto heard of. It was no fecret ; he 
 never concealed it. In his ordinary converfation, he 
 would frequently repeat, with aftonifhing accuracy, whole 
 paffages from fpeeches he had heard yi both houfes of 
 parliament. It was impoflTible to know Mr. Boyd, and 
 not to know the wonderful powers of his memory. This 
 is the ftrongeft proof Mr. Woodfall could give, that he 
 knew nothing of Mr. Boyd's talents. 
 
 As to Mr. Wood Fall's judgment on literary competition, 
 I (hall not difturb it : but I believe that thofe who know 
 him beft, will be inclined to doubt it moft. His pre- 
 tended knowledge of Junius ; or who was not Junius, 
 amounts to nothing. He never knew who was Junius. I 
 faid it before, and I repeat it now. 
 
 My reafons for believing the letters of Junius to have 
 been written by Mr. Boyd, you have in my former letter. 
 But fince fending you that letter, further reafons have oc- 
 curred to me; Which I (hall now fubmjt to you. 
 
 During the time of the original publication of Julius's 
 letters, it was common amongft perfons'of diftinftion, to 
 afk each other, what could be the caufe of the writer's fo 
 particularly attacking the Duke of Grafton ? At this time 
 Mr. Boyd refided in London, and lived on the moft friendly 
 terms of intimacy, and even confidence, with Mr. Harry 
 Macleane, the younger brother of Mr. Lauchlin Macleane, 
 
 who
 
 TO THE LIFE. 29 
 
 who was fecretary to Lord Shelburne, when that noble 
 Lord was fecretary of ftate. About three months before 
 the publication of thefe letters commenced, Lord Shel- 
 burne was removed from his office of fecretary of ftate, 
 and confequently Mr. Macleane loft his place. This was 
 a great difappointment to Mr. Macleane, who had fair 
 profpefts. The removal of Lord Shelburne, was the aft 
 of the Duke of Grafton ; or rather (in our confteutional 
 language) it was done by the advice of the Duke of Graf- 
 ton, who was then firft lord of the treafury. I fear this 
 will be thought a prefumptuous aflertion ; but when a 
 man puts his name to a writing, he mould be pretty cer- 
 tain, that what he fays is true. Whoever has accefs to the 
 India Papers, will find, in the Minutes of Confultation on 
 the twenty-fecond day of January 1776, * A fhort Memo- 
 ' rial of Services rendered to the Nabob of Arcot, by 
 
 John Macpherfon, Efq. whom he (the Nabob) fent 
 
 * upon a fecret '"commiflion to his Majefty's firft mini- 
 ' fter of ftate in 1767.' The Memorial fets/out with 
 faying, "Upon my arrival at the court of Britain to- 
 " wards the latter end of the year 1768, I found two im- 
 " portant changes had happened in adminiftrafion ; the 
 ' Earl of Chatham had re'ired in fuch a manner from 
 " power, as convinced the moft intelligent upon thefe fub* 
 " jecls, that there was but little profpeft of his ever again 
 " poffefling a lead in ad mini ft ration ; the Earl of Shel- 
 " burne had been difmifled, at the Infit gallon of the Duke 
 
 " of Grafton. from the office of fecretary of ftate*." 
 
 The 
 
 * This memorial contains fsveral curious fa&sj and amongft 
 others, the following: 
 
 I obtained from my friend the Earl of Warwick, a letter of in- 
 troduction to his Grace [the Duke of Grafton]. 1 waited upon 
 his Grace, and prefented him with a general ilate of India, and a plan 
 by which the concerns of that country nii^ht be turned to the pub- 
 VOL. I. / lick
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 The difmijjlon of Lord Shelburne fas it is called in the 
 Memorial) took place in the month of Oftober 1768, and 
 the firft letter of Junius was published in the month of 
 January 1769. At this time fcarcely a day paffed, that 
 Mr. Harry Macleane did not call upon Mr. Boyd, to de- 
 tail the news and politicks, communicated to him by his 
 brother, with whom Mr. Boyd often dined. At this time 
 Mr. Grattan was alfo in London, and they aflbciated to- 
 gether in the years 1768, 1769, 1770, and 1771; particu- 
 larly Mr. Grattan and Mr. Boyd, who were always on 
 terms of the ciofeft friendfhip. 
 
 Mr. Lauehlin Macleane was patronized by Lord Shel- 
 burne, Mr. Grattan by Lord Charlemont, who brought 
 him into the Irifh parliament; but Mr. Boyd had no pa- 
 tron ; he was felicitous of the friendfhip of Lord Temple, 
 and he would have obtained it, if that noble Lord had 
 lived a little longer. 
 
 lick advantage. The letter [from the Nabob] and credential 
 
 prefents were then prefented : the anfwer of the Duke of Grafton, 
 did honour to the beft of kings, and the firft of nations.' 
 
 " Si R, 
 
 4t It is my fincere difpofition, that the Nabob fhould have every 
 fupport that, is confident with the power and interefts of the 
 crown to give. I will gladly receive from you every propofal upon 
 that fubjedt, and warmly reprefent them to my Sovereign ; and I 
 defire you to believe, that the Nabob's intereftruns no rifk from my 
 want of cautio'n j if you write to him, inform him of my wiflies for 
 his profperity, and explain to him, that I will not accept his pre- 
 fents, however great any refpect for him is j I will have no return 
 for the juft regard I owe him as a man, but my own fenfibility. It 
 is from my fidelity to my.mafter, and duty to my country, that I 
 will only ferve him as minifter. " 
 
 * Overwhelmed with the noblenefs of this anfwer, I took up the 
 prefents, and offered them in the name of the Nabob to his Grace's 
 fecretttry, Mr. Brad/haw, who alfo refufed them.' 
 
 Previous
 
 TO THE LIFE. 29! 
 
 Previous to the publication of Junius's letters, the 
 Grenvilles were all reconciled to each other, and to Lord 
 Chatham. It was at this time the general opinion of all 
 ranks, that thefe perfons muft fucceed to the higheft de- 
 partments of the ftate, whenever a change of minifters 
 took place. , 
 
 In this fiiort narrative, it may be prefumed, that two 
 points are explained, which have often excited furprife ;' 
 one is, the apparent, or probable caufe of attacking the 
 Duke of Grafton; the other is, the apparent, or probable 
 motive for fparing the Grenvilles. 
 
 Whether Meflrs. Macleane and Mr. Grattan contribu- 
 ted to the compofition of thefe letters, is a matter only 
 known to themfelves. Perhaps they did not, otherwife 
 than by conversation. Perhaps Mr. Boyd did not choofe 
 to trufl them with his fecret, and therefore he might truly 
 fay, "That he was the SOLE depofitory of his own fecret, 
 " and it fhould perifh with him." If we admit this 
 declaration to be true, and hitherto there has been no rea- 
 fon to doubt it, ciraunftancet are the only proofs which can 
 be offered : zndfuch circumjlances as have fallen within my 
 knowledge, I have produced. They are fufficient to con- 
 vince me. If any perfon has better proofs, that fome other 
 gentleman was the author of thofe letters, let him produce 
 them ; but until they are produced, I (hall continue in my 
 prefent opinion. 
 
 I am, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 Your moil obedient fervant, 
 
 J. ALMON.
 
 POLITICAL 
 
 ESSAYS. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 A SERIES OF LETTERS, 
 
 ADDRESSED TO 
 
 The ELECTORS of the COUNTY of ANTRIM, 
 (In IRELAND,) 
 
 PUBLISHED AT BELFAST, 
 
 Previous to the General EleQion in the Year 1776. 
 Concordid res parvce crefcunt* 
 
 B 2
 
 
 T '> 
 
 . 
 
 ' 
 
 '
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 To the firft Edition publifhed by the Author 
 in 1776. 
 
 -I H E flattering partiality with which the 
 following LETTERS have been received by 
 the Publick, even in their detached ftate, 
 it is hoped will juftify the Author in this 
 collective publication. He is confcious that 
 they are not fufiiciently prepared to encoun- 
 ter the feverity of criticifm. But they are 
 intended to gain the concurrence of- Patriots, 
 not the approbation of Criticks ; and though 
 their competition mould not be correct, he 
 is perfuaded their principles \arejuft. 
 
 The urgency of the occafion prefles for 
 their publication, without time for correc- 
 tion, or even revifal. He thinks it neceffary 
 
 however
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 however to advert, in a Preface, to a few 
 points, either omitted in the Letters, or not 
 fufficiently explained. The Series then fol- 
 lows, as they at firft appeared in the publick 
 Paper. The indulgence with which they 
 were read, he trufts, will continue to attend 
 them ; and is not without hopes that their 
 efficacy may be now increafed. 
 
 PREFACE.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 JL H E writer, whofe unfortunate neceflity 
 it is to inculcate felf-evident truths, has a 
 delicate, and often a thanklefs office. For 
 it implies an extraordinary fufpicion either 
 of the dulnefs of his readers which cannot 
 underftand, or their obftinacy that will not 
 confefs. They, however, will probably have 
 room to retort ; and to complain that he, 
 who perfifls in prefiing obvious propofi- 
 tions, grows either dull or didaclick. The 
 man, for inftance, who goes about to de- 
 monftrate that two and two make four, muft 
 have a very contemptuous opinion of the 
 talents of his friends, or a very high one of 
 his own, if he ex peel: to render the fubjeft 
 agreeable. Equally felf-evident are the pro- 
 pofitions, that duty to our country is the 
 
 higheft
 
 8 PREFACE TO 
 
 higheft under heaven, that independence is 
 more honourable than flavery, and liberty 
 a happier flate than bondage ; with many 
 others which the following Letters urge and 
 repeat : the neceffity of this repetition may 
 be worth inquiring into. It is fomewhat 
 curious as well as ufcful to examine why 
 doftrines indubitably true, are fo doubtfully 
 received, and require to be fo particularly 
 preffed. 
 
 Cuftom has been called the tyrant of 
 fools. But it is more. It is too often the 
 fanftion of bad, and the deceiver of good 
 men. A natural refpeft, an obedient fort 
 of veneration is paid to the habits, the dif- 
 pofitions, and even to the errors, which 
 have long prevailed. Every thing done 
 appears to be right; whatever has been 
 fuffered is thought to be neceflary. If, for 
 a moment, a few finer fpirils attempt to ftem 
 the torrent, their effort is overwhelmed in 
 the multitude of contempt and ridicule with 
 which the willing fufferers affecl to treat it. 
 Ignoble precedent prevails ; and we fit down 
 the contented heirs of fervile calamity and 
 paflive obedience. 
 
 Thus
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 9 
 
 Thus thought and thus fuffered the fpirit- 
 lefs race of Cappadocia ; whofe blotted 
 name for ever ftains the page of hiftory. 
 She blufhed while fhe records their depravity 
 in rejecting the glorious boon of liberty, 
 offered to them by their too generous con- 
 querors. They preferred their ufual fervi- 
 tude, and hugged their accuftomed chains. 
 Warned by this infamous example, let na- 
 tions guard againit precedents of flavery. 
 Human nature is every where the fame ; 
 and is always fubjecl to degeneracy : and 
 the fame difgraceful caufes neceffarily pro- 
 duce the fame ruin. Acquiefcence to op- 
 preflion is an admiffion of its right; and 
 this admhTion daily enfeebles the opprefled, 
 whilft it more than in the fame proportion 
 ftrengthens the oppreffor ; for it adds opinion 
 to his caufe. Ufurpation fwells and tri- 
 umphs in its eafy conqueft, till at length the 
 little remains of fpirit in the people are an- 
 nihilated. They at firft neglecled, next they 
 are unable, and at' lad they (ink into an 
 unwillingnefs to claim their rights. Their 
 (lavery is decreed : and the tyrants are qui- 
 eted in poffeflion of their power. 
 
 3 In
 
 IO PREFACE TO 
 
 In thefe countries, where liberty was the 
 peculiar boaft, and, as fome of our old writ- 
 ers emphatically exprefs it, congenial to the 
 very foil, the proper element of the free 
 inhabitants, it is equally to be wondered at 
 and lamented that any caufe fhould avail to 
 its decay ; but particularly that the fervile 
 prefcription of cuftom fhould be fet up 
 againft it. But in truth it is unfairly plead- 
 ed. For it is not the genuine ancient cuftom 
 of the country. This fervile fubjeQion to 
 fuperiours, as they are called, but who are 
 really fuperiour in nothing but the accidents 
 of rank and title, is the fpurious and cor- 
 rupted ufage of modern times ; and as dif- 
 ferent in nature as in authority from the 
 exemplary practice of former ages. The 
 learned and virtuous Selden well explained 
 this fubjecl to the firft James. The arbi- 
 trary Pedant afked that eminent lawyer, 
 what law there was to juftify the right 
 .which the people claimed to refift his 
 power? " It is not authorized in the 
 books," faid Selden. I thought fo," 
 cried James, in triumph. " But pleafe 
 your majefty," returned Selden, " there is 
 2 a law
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 11 
 
 a law fuperiour to the books ; it is the 
 cujlom of England'' 
 
 This country furely will not relinquifti 
 her fitter-claim to rights To refpe6tably juf- 
 tified. Rival of the liberties and the glories 
 of her fifter-kingdom, (he will feel and (he 
 will exert her duty to refift the violations of 
 her conftitution, whether attempted by mo- 
 narchy on the throne, or ariftocracy around 
 it. Confcious of the national importance 
 of the prefent crifis, (he will not pervert 
 nor neglect it. Neither the tamenefs of 
 modern cuftom, nor the ariftocratick influ- 
 ence of titled ufurpers, (hall lull nor intimi- 
 date her into a defertion of her rights ; 
 particularly her primary fundamental right 
 of free election. Nor will her fpirit fuffer 
 her to adopt the defpondency of fome of 
 her degenerate fons. 
 
 For befides the difgraceful plea of cuf- 
 tomary fervitude, there are certain whining 
 reafoners who affect to defpair of the con- 
 ftitution. To what purpofe, they afk, are 
 individual exertions of patriotifm? Majo- 
 rities in parliament, they complain, are cer- 
 tain ; government invincible ; penfions and 
 
 places
 
 12 PREFACE TO 
 
 places numerous and decifive; and rotten 
 boroughs an incurable evil. Thence they 
 infer that it matters not whether it be well 
 or ill reprefented ; that all is vanity and 
 vexation of fpirit ; and that no advantage 
 can be derived from any candidate whatever. 
 But this is wifer or jufter in political, than it 
 would be in moral reafoning, if the rich man 
 were to fay to the wretch who folicited 
 alms, " My good friend, thou art miferably 
 poor ; therefore I will give thee nothing : 
 I fee you have been ftripped, robbed, and 
 abufed, and ftand in the extremeft need of 
 my affiftance ; and for that reafon, thou 
 malt have none from me?" For, in the 
 prefent inftance, the electors are the rich 
 "and powerful men of the realm. They 
 have in their voices the real conflitutional 
 wealth ; which, if they rightly difpenfe it to 
 relieve the necefiities of their country, will 
 return through her enriched channels with 
 immeafurable intereft ta themfelves. But 
 it is to invert all principles of common 
 fenfe and common juftice, to argue that we 
 ought not to fupport our country becaufe 
 me is opprefled. The very reafon which 
 
 mould
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 13 
 
 fliould fpur us on to the moft a&ive exer- 
 tions, is impudently manufactured into a 
 deceitful opiate to dull and blunt our fpirits. 
 And in this inftance it would be peculiarly 
 fpiritlefs and abfurd for electors to defpair 
 of a caufe, which is immediately their own, 
 and folely in their own power. 
 
 Surely this great and refpe6lable County 
 will not incur the reproach of deferting 
 fuch a caufe, and facrificing both the rights 
 and power of the people. Other northern 
 counties, for liberty, with her two fup- 
 porters induftry and the proteftant religion, 
 is a native of the north, exhibit a condu6l 
 more honourable. Derry, Donegall, Ar- 
 magh, fland forward in the lift of the af- 
 fertors of publick freedom. Independence 
 has ftruck a deep root in the land ; and 
 will branch out and flourifh over the coun- 
 try. Some of the moft confiderable cities 
 and boroughs, with the metropolis at their 
 head, concur in the caufe. The electors of 
 Ireland begin to feel their fituation, and to 
 know themfelves ; that without whining 
 their defperate prayers to Jove or Hercules 
 for afliftance, they need only apply their 
 
 own
 
 24 PREFACE TO 
 
 own fhoulders to the wheel ; and that their 
 own efforts will certainly avail, to extricate 
 the political machine from the bogs and 
 filth which have hitherto clogged its opera- 
 tions. 
 
 But facl, as well as argument, is againft 
 this unmanly defpair. The defeat of the 
 mortgage-bill, the repeal of the veftry-bill, 
 and other fignal fucceffes in parliament, are 
 memorable proofs of the advantages to be 
 derived to the country from conftitutional 
 reprefentatives. Thefe eminent fervices 
 plead unanfwerably in favour of the at- 
 chievers of them ; and inculcate, beyond 
 contradiction, as well to our intereft as our 
 gratitude, the neceflity of electing the fame 
 victorious patriots to oppofe with equal 
 fuccefs the revival of thofe dangerous de- 
 figns, and the innovation of other mifchiefs 
 which impend. For, let this country be 
 timely warned. 'The fpirit of defpotifm is 
 gone forth. Oppreffion her object, devaf- 
 tation her means, famine, fword, and fire 
 her inflruments, even now (he ravages the 
 new world. If Heaven, for ultimate pur- 
 pofes beyond human reach, permit fuccefs 
 
 to
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 15 
 
 to the oppreflbr ; and if that mighty con- 
 tinent mud fink to flavery, can this little 
 ifland hope for a happier doom ; unlefs fhe 
 call forth all her virtue, and exert all her 
 fpirit, to deferve and to obtain it ? Flufhed 
 with the falfe glories of her unnatural con- 
 queft, will the power of England fpare her 
 paflive fitter-kingdom, when fhe has crufhed 
 the active and juft exertions of her fons ? 
 This unhappy country will then feel, and 
 will lament too late, the mifchiefs of her 
 voluntary folly, in abetting the tyranny of 
 the parent-ftate over her dependencies. For, 
 what better name than tyranny can be given 
 to a fyftem of arbitrary exaction, fupported 
 by the fword ? What other principles can 
 actuate our rulers to the profecution of fuch 
 a war ? What is its object ? Not taxation. 
 That the miniflers have publickly difclaimed 
 in parliament: and General Burgoyne in 
 his letter to Lee exprefsly abandons it. 
 " If," fays he, "relief from the uncom- 
 mercial taxes, (tea, &c.) be the object of 
 the quarrel, the war is at an end." Why 
 then was not that relief afforded them, in 
 order to end the war ? Becaufe the minifters 
 
 pretended
 
 l6 PREFACE TO 
 
 pretended it would not have fatisfied Ame- 
 rica. " She aims at independence, and 
 total difconnexion from Great-Britain !" 
 The minifters fay fo ; perhaps they think 
 fo. But (hall the random or malicious 
 gueffes of ignorant men, for fuch they have 
 been proved, be admitted as conclufive evi- 
 dence againft the peace and happinefs of the 
 empire. Certainly not : even if no anfwer 
 were given to them. For to accufe, is not 
 to condemn ; and adminiftration are not yet 
 participant of the infallibility of their new 
 ally at Rome ; fo as- to command implicit 
 aflent to their affertions, becaufe they are 
 theirs. But America can give up this ad- 
 vantage of throwing the proof on her accu- 
 fers ; aud can difprove this only charge 
 againft her, even to demonftration. There 
 are but three ways to difcover the intentions 
 of men ; viz. their declarations, their aftions, 
 and their intereft. When thefe concur, my 
 pofition is, that they prove the intention. 
 I aflert then, and it is plain matter of faft, 
 that they do concur to (hew the earneft in- 
 tention of America to continue her accuf- 
 torried dependence on the mother-country. 
 
 Their
 
 THE FREE HOLDER. 17 
 
 Their declarations to that effeft have been 
 uniform, folemn, and full. In all the votes, 
 refolutions, petitions, publications of the 
 Congrefs, that obedient idea of naval and 
 commercial dependence is anxioufl.y main- 
 tained. That admirable a(fembly, which in 
 wifdom, virtue, and fortitude, truly repre- 
 fents its condiments, deprecates only the 
 monftrous and mad proceeding, which 
 would add to the monopoly of their trade 
 and manufacture an arbitrary taxation of 
 their internal property. And it is particu- 
 larly obfervable, that they only complain 
 of the arbitrary practice of univerfal taxa- 
 tion ; and not of the general principle. For 
 in all their applications, either to King or 
 Parliament, they never require the repeal 
 of the declaratory aft, which eflablifhes that 
 principle : but it intends it however, as all- 
 principles ought to be intended, to be acled 
 upon with equity and moderation. The 
 fupreme power and right of Great-Britain 
 is there declared " in all cafes whatfoever." 
 And it may be admitted to exift in all cafes, 
 either external or internal. But the decla- 
 ratory a6l does not, cannot fay, that it 
 VOL. i. c. equally
 
 l8 PREFACE TO 
 
 equally exifts at all times, and for all pur- 
 pofes ; to be exercifed arbitrarily either to 
 glut corruption, to indulge caprice, or to 
 fatiate revenge. There may be a right ; 
 but it may lofe its nature, and become the 
 mod odious wrong, by unjuft exertions. 
 The King, for inftance, may have a right 
 to prefs his fubjefts, or a particular defcrip- 
 tion of them, into the fea-fervice. And the 
 moil conflitutional lawyers decide fo. But 
 even the mod hardened lawyer would blufh 
 to affert, and the tameft flave would rife to 
 refill, a perpetual, unneeeflary, and oppref- 
 live abufe of it. But, to return. We have 
 feen the declarations of America conflantly 
 in proof of their dutiful dependent inten- 
 tions. Let us try them by the next crite- 
 rion, their attions. 
 
 The fair point of view to judge thefe in, 
 is a fituation fimilar to the prefent ; or, at 
 leaft, to what was lately the fituation of 
 both countries ; when I maintain the in- 
 nocence of America as to independent 
 views : which if (he now entertains, we can 
 only blame our own infatuation that has 
 compelled her. The point of view I wifli 
 
 to
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 19 
 
 to take is the (late of America, previous to 
 the repeal of the {tamp-aft. She was then, 
 according to the language of parliamentary 
 journals, " in outrageous rebellion." To 
 reftore the happinefs and connexion of both 
 countries, a repeal of that act was propofed. 
 Then, as now, it was objected to by the 
 falfe dignity of fome, and the mort-fighted 
 prudence of others. It was then, as now, 
 urged, " We mufl not give up the rights of 
 the mother-country : America will take 
 advantage of our conceflions, and will pro- 
 ceed to difpute our commercial authority, 
 and to throw off her dependence." 'Juftice, 
 however, and good policy, prevailed againft 
 thefe injurious prejudices ; and. the flamp- 
 al was repealed. The actions of America 
 then evinced the fincerity of her dutiful dif- 
 pofitions : for (he fell back to her obedient 
 and fubordinate ftation with an alacrity 
 which extorted acknowledgment and praife 
 even from her enemies ; and the only ad- 
 vantage flie made of our wife conceffion, 
 was to co-operate in refloring the harmony 
 and happinefs of the empire. It was re- 
 ftored ; and would have been eftablifhed, 
 c 2 but
 
 2O PREFACE TO 
 
 but for our fatal relapfe into the former 
 folly. About two years afterwards, the at- 
 tempt at internal taxation was revived ; and 
 what was perhaps flill more vexatious, was 
 continued, at a memorable period which 
 foon followed, though Lord Hilfborough 
 had, in the name of all the minifters, ex- 
 prefsly difclaimed it, in his publick letter to 
 the Colonies. The violence and folly which 
 have ever fmce difgraced our councils and 
 our arms, are not to my prefent purpofe ; 
 which is only to prove the peaceful and 
 obedient difpafition of America ; from 
 which (he was driven by the revival of our 
 oppreffions, Thefe are unanfwerable facls ; 
 which however are either unknown, or rnif- 
 underftood, by thofe who decide rather by 
 opinion than argument ; and who judge 
 more by their own paflions, than the actions 
 of thofe whom they condemn. 
 
 As to the inter eft of America, little need 
 be faid to prove how much her ftrength, 
 her wealth, her fecurity, and happinefs, de- 
 pend on Great-Britain. It is undeniable in 
 argument that infinite advantages muft be 
 derived to Colonies from the protection of
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 21 
 
 a powerful Mother-country, while (he dif- 
 penfes to them a participation of her laws 
 and her freedom, as far as the nature of 
 Colonies can admit, and is content with their 
 honourable dependence on her, without 
 ftraining it to total flavery. The happy ex- 
 perience of ages confirms this theory. Our 
 Colonies grew and flourimed under our wing. 
 Their commerce expanded under our regu- 
 lations ; their wealth encreafed by our per- 
 million. Their manners took a polim from 
 our example ; and the affection of the fuperi- 
 our ftate indulged to them the means of ele- 
 gant felicity. They knew the happinefs, the 
 itrength of their fituation ; and they anx- 
 ioufly wifh its return. They deprecate the 
 idea of difconnexion from Great-Britain, or 
 independence, as it is called, as a fevere 
 calamity ; to be exceeded by none but fla- 
 very. The alternative to them is terrible : 
 and nothing can drive them to adopt the 
 former part of it, but our perfifting to prefs 
 the latter. So think, and fo have argued, 
 their bed and wifeft writers. The famous 
 author of the Farmer's Letters has amply 
 explained the inttrejl of America to require 
 
 a depen-
 
 22 PREFACE TO 
 
 a dependence on Great-Britain. The ftill 
 more famous Dr. Franklin, whofe name 
 mall for ever rank, not only with the wifefl 
 politicians of his time, but with the moft 
 'eminent philofophers of any age or coun- 
 try, has thoroughly proved the mifchiefs in 
 which this dreaded independence muft in- 
 volve America. In his very able argument,, 
 publifhed in fupport of Lord Bath's pamph- 
 let above thirty years ago, the fubjecl; is 
 fully difcuffed. The claming interefts of 
 twelve or fourteen rival Powers, different in 
 religion, government, manners, refembling 
 only in an hoftile jealoufy each of the other, 
 are mod formidably dated by him. And 
 it is certain that fuch a ftrife of elements 
 muft produce almoft an incurable chaos of 
 confufion. No fuperintending power to 
 prefide, and to pacify ; no omnipotence 
 of legiflation to quell the turbulent fcene, 
 and bid order rife; the univerfal tumult muft 
 continue : and a fortuitous concourfe in the 
 political creation of the new world would 
 be as defperate, as it is incredible in the 
 natural account of the old one. Againft 
 this pofition. no argument can be drawn 
 2 from
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 23 
 
 from the prefent union of the Colonies. It 
 is a fudden, fingular, miraculous event. 
 Quod divum promittere nemo auderet.T\\e 
 minifters pronounced it impoffible. We 
 had their awful and frequent afTurances that 
 it could not happen; or if it happened, that 
 it could not laft. And I will admit to them 
 that every appearance was probable that it 
 could not : except, perhaps, the aflertion 
 of the miniftry. That being agaihft its pof- 
 iibility, induced many, who bed knew the 
 wifdom and truth of the Cabinet, certainly 
 to expert it. But it mud be remembered 
 that this extraordinary flate of things has 
 been produced, and is protracled, by caufes 
 equally extraordinary. The unheard-of 
 opprefiions attempted by one country have 
 called into aftion and into union, an un- 
 heard-of fpirit in the other ; a fpirit, com- 
 pounded of liberty, virtue, and valour, fup- 
 porting an union unrivalled in the annals of 
 mankind. And while the attempted op- 
 preflion lads, the fpirit will fpread and ac- 
 cumulate, and the union ftrengthen. Till, 
 when at laft the feeblenefs of defpotifm (hall 
 fail, and the vis con/tit expert mole mat fud, 
 
 this
 
 24 PREFACE TO 
 
 this 'extraordinary fabrick of united intents 
 {hall alfd diffolve. When the cement which 
 held them together is withdrawn, they natu- 
 rally fink and feparate. It was the common 
 enemy that made common caufe , among 
 them. With that powerful motive, the effecl 
 would alfo ceafe : for their interefts would 
 ceafe to be common ; or, at leaft to appear 
 fo. And they muft foon realize one of 
 the dreams of the Prieft of Gloucefler, by 
 falling into confufion and ruin : but nothing 
 under omnipotence could realize his vifions 
 of profperity to thefe countries ; or reftore 
 the ftrength of the difmembered empire. 
 
 If therefore the declarations, the actions, 
 and the intereft of men, be the means of 
 collecting their intentions, and I know no 
 other ; and if thefe methods concur to 
 vindicate America from aiming at indepen- 
 dence, as I maintain they do ; me ftands 
 acquitted from the charge : and this mini- 
 fterial affertion, avowedly the only bafis of 
 the war, has no foundation in fa 6r.. My 
 inference is, that the avowal of the miniftry 
 is a pretence to cover the blacked defigns. 
 For defigns cannot be fair, that are carried 
 
 on
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 25 
 
 on through deception, and enforced by vio- 
 lence. Taxation is not the object of the 
 war. The miniflers difclaim it. To check 
 the independent views of America, was not 
 the motive ; for no fuch views were enter- 
 tained, and therefore no fuch motive could 
 exift. But liberty exifted, flourHhed, in 
 that great continent ; and that is a crime of 
 the deepeft dye in the ethicks of modern 
 polity. Certainly and confidently fo ; for 
 our miniflers have the merit of uniformity 
 in oppreftion. They have a fyflem to fup- 
 port; and they muft reduce to it the irre- 
 gular wanderings of fpirit, or of virtue. It 
 is not at all wonderful that fuch a fyftem 
 mould exift. It has, in different propor- 
 tions, exifted often in thefe countries ; and 
 conftantly in others. But it is rather ex- 
 traordinary that it mould ever find fup- 
 porters fufficiently hardened to avow and 
 to glory iu it : that even Mr. Rigby fhould 
 not blufh to maintain the neceffity of ty- 
 ranny. " We muft crufh America," fays 
 this humane and modeft gentleman. " We 
 muft not propofe, nor accept any terms of 
 accommodation ; we muft enforce from 
 
 them
 
 26 PREFACE TO 
 
 them a total, unconditional, abfolute fubjec* 
 tion." To this doctrine, and thefe meafures, 
 let Ireland ferioufly attend : for, through 
 the amiable medium of this gentleman's ten- 
 dernefs, the argument and the danger come 
 home to us. It is his favourite theme, and 
 no doubt would be his fpeedy practice, and 
 that of his powerful connexion, as part of 
 the fyftem they purfue, to rule Ireland with 
 the fame rod of iron with which they fcourge, 
 or attempt to fcourge, America. And why 
 (hould they not? It is their fyftem. They 
 claim a right to crujh us : and we feem to ad- 
 mit their claim. Precifely the fame principle 
 of arbitrary dominion over the property and 
 liberty of America, unlimited and uncondi- 
 tional, which fome of the publick bodies of this 
 kingdom have applauded, will operate again ft 
 the liberty and property of Ireland. And 
 it will indubitably be enforced againft us ; 
 for our politenefs will yield a much richer 
 and cheaper fpoil, than the rugged refiftance 
 of the continent. Then, when the land-tax 
 is let loofe againft us to devour the country ; * 
 when the excife rifes like a peftilence to 
 grind the faces and penetrate the vitals of 
 
 the
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 2J 
 
 the poor ; when the unfparing hand of 
 power wrings from us the uttermoft far- 
 thing to purchafe the little light of Heaven 
 that (hall be able to pierce through the 
 clouds of our miferies ; when the whole 
 region of revenue-plagues fhall come upon 
 us like an armed man; (hall we dare to 
 complain ? fhall we prefume to murmur ? 
 " No," we (hall well be told, "you have 
 " approved our principle, and encouraged 
 " our proceedings. If the principle were 
 <e unjuft, why have you juflified it ? If the 
 " proceedings be violent, why did you vin- 
 " dicate them ? You have applauded and 
 <f fanftified our do&rine and our meafures : 
 " and have offered your lives and fortunes 
 " in their fupport. We now demand 
 '* them ; but, we tell you for your com- 
 " fort, we mould have taken them whether 
 " you offered them or not :" "For, we have 
 " a right to crufh you into "unconditional 
 " fubjeftion." 
 
 I have been thus particular in ftating the. 
 great American queftion, to warn my coun- 
 trymen of the critical fituation of my country : 
 to roufe them to a fenfe of their danger and 
 
 their
 
 28 PREFACE TO 
 
 their duty ; and to inculcate a correfpondent 
 conduct of fpirit and virtue. Their oppor^ 
 tunity, and their only opportunity, is at 
 hand. They may now give their honed 
 voice in parliament ; and afFeft the interefls 
 of their country there, through a real confti- 
 tutional reprefentative ; who dedicates him- 
 ielf folely to them, and to their caufe ; and 
 who has given decifive proofs of his ability, 
 as well as uncorruptible inclination, to ferve 
 them. 
 
 The fignal inftance of patriotifm in reject- 
 ing the offer of a feat in parliament, becaufe 
 he would not for a moment detach himfelf 
 from the caufe of the people, is adverted to 
 in the following Letters., The equally noble 
 and difmterefted refignation of his military 
 emoluments, deferve equal praife, gratitude, 
 and fupport, from his aflbciates in the caufe of 
 liberty ; and extorts 'reluftant applaufe even 
 from the adverfary. To. all the world he 
 proves the generofity of his principle, which 
 difdained the wages that might inflitute a 
 claim upon him for a fervice, which he 
 thought a fervice of oppreffion. To the 
 judicious and the juft, who knew it to be fo, 
 
 he
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 29 
 
 he evinces the wifdom, as well as the difm- 
 tereftednefs, of his patriotifm. Thefe are 
 folid and fubftantial demonftrations of fin- 
 cerity. Appearances may feem to flatter ; 
 probabilities may tend to perfuade ; but 
 fafts convince. Sacrifices, of this ferious 
 import, are not made for nothing. They 
 argue a decided and confirmed opinion ; and 
 eftablifh a certainty of its orthodox conti- 
 nuance. Except indeed with thofe political 
 fceptics, who doubt the poffibility of pub- 
 lick virtue. This libel on mankind was 
 firft publifhed by Sir Robert Walpole. And 
 it came properly from him. It cannot be 
 wondered that corruption and vice fhould 
 vilify virtue v Or it may be admitted that 
 they mean not to calumniate, but really 
 miftake the point : as the drunken wretch, 
 looking with diflorted opticks through the 
 medium of his own fituation, imagines every 
 other perfon in the fame (late of intoxica- 
 tion with himfelf. The malice or the blind- 
 nefs of fuch men knows no bounds ; nor dif- 
 tinguifhes any character. Even the facred 
 manes of John Hampden, are violated by 
 
 the
 
 gO PREFACE, ETC. 
 
 the injurious infmuations of the Scotch hif- 
 torian. 
 
 To fuch aflaflins of character, let us leave 
 the ungenerous calumny. Capable of con- 
 ceiving, becaufe confcious in our own breafts 
 of its exiflence, let us approve ourfelves anx- 
 ious to reward difmterefted publick virtue. 
 Let us coolly and unbiafledly compare the 
 perfonal merits and the conftitutional claims 
 of our candidates ; and let us effectually 
 fuppprt the man, who mall be found to 
 have an undifputable preference. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 FREEHOLDER. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 They are the Truftees, not the Owners* of the EJiate. 
 I'he Fce-fimple is in Us. JUNIUS. 
 
 A HE great writer whofe words I have 
 placed at the head of my paper, is juftly 
 acknowledged to excel, in fplendour of 
 imagery, and in flrength of diclion. But 
 his excellence extends to points ftill more 
 important. No writer has inveftigated with 
 fuch fagacity, nor with fuch clearnefs point- 
 ed out, the true nature of our admirable 
 conftitution. The wifdom and learning of 
 Locke had afcertained fome great funda- 
 mental maxims, which conftituted, or at leaft 
 contributed to form, the bafis of our liberties. 
 
 But
 
 2 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 But it remained for the fucceeding addrefs 
 and eloquence of Junius to encounter and 
 to fubdue, at leaft in the fields of argu- 
 ment, the more refined corruptions of later 
 times. 
 
 The gradual decay of the democratical 
 part of our conflitution, gives more ferious 
 alarm to every man, who knows how to 
 value the legal freedom, of regulating his 
 actions by his own reafon; and of dijpofmg his 
 property according to his own will, for his 
 own, and his country's advantage. Thefe 
 fignal, and godlike, privileges have hitherto 
 blefled thefe happy kingdoms. To fecure, 
 to perpetuate the bleffing, is the duty of 
 every man in them. It is peculiarly ours, 
 
 my countrymen and fellow-freeholders. 
 
 It is indifpenfibly ours : for, " the fee-fimple 
 is in us." 
 
 Permit therefore one ofyourfelvts, thus to 
 fulfil his duty to his country, by fubmitting 
 to you, with no other confidence than what 
 truth infpires, his thoughts on this moft im- 
 portant fubje6t; and at this critical oppor- 
 tunity, which alone has been given to us, 
 by the virtue of perfevering patriotifm, to 
 
 emancipate
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 33 
 
 emancipate our freeholds, and to vindicate 
 the conftitution. 
 
 We are no longer funk in the dead repofe 
 of defpotifm, and long parliaments. Thofe 
 ftagnations of corruption and filth, (hall no 
 more poifon the land. "Alba nautis Jlella, 
 if refulfit." The returning day-ftar of the 
 conftitution again illuminates the political 
 hemifphere; and, in fulnefs of fplendour, 
 difplays the glorious moment which reftores 
 to us our original rights. The power which 
 we delegated, and the truft which we con- 
 ferred, revert to us. The conftitution rege- 
 nerates. .And the new birth infpires new 
 vigour. As the giant received renovation 
 of ftrength from touching his mother earth, 
 fo the rights of the people acquire new fpring 
 and force, when brought back to their 
 original and parent-fource, the people's 
 voice. 
 
 Surely my brethren will not be fo blind 
 to their moft effential interefts, as to negleft, 
 or abufe, this only opportunity of protecting 
 them. Is there a man amongft you, who 
 will not praife and honour that truly confti- 
 tutional meafure, the bill for fliortening the 
 
 VOL. i. D duration
 
 34 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 duration of parliaments ? Shall there then be 
 found a (lave, fo fottifhly dull, or fo fhame- 
 lefsly bafe, as to thwart the glorious pur- 
 pofe intended by that admirable bill ?-r-The 
 purpofe of independence the caufe of li- 
 berty ! 
 
 Such, my friends, are the invaluable blef- 
 fings now within our grafp. Such are the 
 tranfcendant rewards now prefented to us 
 by the opportunity of an election. Power 
 now returns to its genuine centre, the will 
 of the people. It is theirs, and only theirs, 
 to put it in action, and to prefcribe its ope- 
 rations. The vital blood ebbs back to the 
 heart of the conjlitution. Let us imitate the 
 wifdom of nature, and we (hall attain its fuc^ 
 cefsful effects. Let us give the vital ftreams 
 again to flow through their conftitutional 
 channels. So mail the health of the whole 
 body be reftored, and its ftrength eflablifhed. 
 Every part of it mall] revive and flourim. 
 And the ghaftly countenance of poverty and 
 fervitude, (hall brighten into the fmile of 
 happinefs and the triumph of liberty. 
 
 I have faid, that the opportunity of attain- 
 ing thefe glorious objects is now prefented 
 
 to
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 35 
 
 to us* To prove this important truth, 
 and to inculcate the ufe we mould make of 
 this important crHis, mail be the bufmefs of 
 my future letters. 
 
 In the mean time, permit me to add a word 
 relative to myfelf. If the caufe of truth re- 
 quired afliftance, perhaps fome might be de- 
 rived to it, from the difmterefted character of 
 her advocate. To begin then negatively, 
 I am not actuated to this undertaking by an 
 idle ambition, of applaufe in general, nor of 
 the particular approbation of any of your 
 candidates : for my name is unknown, and I 
 hope will remain fo. I am not a great man, 
 nor a placeman, nor a penfioner, nor a 
 Jacobite, nor a Tory, nor a flave ; nor do 
 I afpire to any of thofe honourable appella- 
 tions, either jointly or feverally. I do not 
 on the other hand, " beat the drum of fac- 
 tion, nor found the trumpet of fedition." 
 For I do moft pojitively and fokmnly proteft 
 myfelf, a ZEALOUS FRIEND TO THE CON- 
 STITUTION, as eftablifhed in CHURCH and 
 STATE. I am religioufly attached to the 
 palladium of all our liberties, the liberty of 
 the prefs. In fhort, I am a FREEMAN ; and, 
 D 2 a title
 
 3 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 a title which I would not exchange for 
 a French dukedom, nor the higheft feat in the 
 
 Turkifh divan 
 
 lam, 
 
 Fet. 5/ 1776. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 / cannot doubt that you will unanimoufly affert the 
 freedom of elettion, and vindicate your exdujivc 
 right to choofeyour reprefentatives. JUNIUS. 
 
 U R fuffrages are folicited by four can- 
 didates,, for the reprefentation of our county 
 in parliament. The nature therefore of this 
 great objecl:, the truft of reprefentation. 
 demands our moft ferious attention. Duly 
 imprefled with an awful conviction of its 
 magnitude, we (hall proceed, with a due 
 proportion of anxiety, to fcrutinize the 
 merits of thofe who afpire to it. 
 
 Let
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 37 
 
 Let me, in the firft place, conjure you, 
 my countrymen, never to lofe fight of the 
 great fundamental principle, that You are 
 the origin of power. Government was con- 
 ftituted by, and for, the people. This is 
 the voice of reafon, and the right of huma- 
 nity : and applies in theory to all the na- 
 tions of the world. But it is our peculiar 
 felicity, to realize the fpeculation ; and to 
 feel its aclual bleffings. We are de jatto, 
 as well as de jure, free. 
 
 The fuperiour freedom of our conftitu- 
 tion, refults from the admirable difpofition 
 of its component powers. Thefe are ex- 
 a6lly competent to the pureft purpofes of 
 liberty. For as the natural tendency of 
 each, is to the benefit of all, that is, to ge- 
 neral liberty ; fo this difpofition is confirm- 
 ed, and confined to its object, by the relative 
 controul of each power over the others. 
 The people deliberate, the peers approve, 
 and the king aflents. This triple authority 
 makes the law. The execution of which is 
 entrufted to the royal arm, merely for the 
 fake of decifion and dif patch. For if the 
 executive power abufe its truft, the controul 
 
 both
 
 38 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 both of Peers and People impends, to reftify 
 the abufe, and to punifh its author. If the 
 peers, forgetful of the trujl which their coun- 
 try repofes in their wtfdom, Jhould violently 
 aJJ'ume new privileges ; or, BY GRADUAL 
 
 ENCROACHMENT ON THE RIGHTS OF 
 
 THE PEOPLE, Jhould grafp at arijlocracy ; 
 the dignity of the crown (hould difcoun- 
 tenance their attempts : ^THE SPIRIT OF 
 THE PEOPLE WILL SUPPRESS THEM. If, 
 laftly, the deliberations of the people fwell 
 intofaclion and fedition, a gentle but CER- 
 TAIN REMEDY is entrufted to the executive 
 power. Thus thefe three powers conftitute 
 that fyflem of government, fo peculiarly 
 the boaft of thefe kingdoms ! fo juflly the 
 wonder of the world ! 
 
 But it is particularly obfervable, that the 
 very eflence of this fyftem, is the jealous 
 relation which the component parts bear, 
 each to the other. This is the ruling prin- 
 ciple ; which, by checking the exceffes of 
 each, fecures the juft power and happinefs 
 of all. If this be in any degree relaxed, 
 the general liberty fo far fuffers immediate 
 injury, and incurs the danger of abfolute 
 
 ruin.
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 39 
 
 ruin. For inftance ; if the people (hould 
 ceafe to be the jealous guardians of their 
 own rights ; and, inftead of controuling the 
 executive, fhould implicitly acquiefce to it ; 
 that power, whole duty it was to execute 
 the laws, will gradually grow above them. 
 Furnifhed with the means of exercifing def- 
 potifm, the inclination will at lead keep 
 pace with the power. Manoeuvres of go- 
 vernment will then be pra&ifed with fuc- 
 cefs, becaufe without restraint ; and, though 
 the fpirit of the conftitution be fled, the 
 forms of it may be preferved. Advances 
 will be made with caution, left too violent 
 a tranfition mould roufe the (lumbering 
 people. Their affemblies may be continued, 
 as they ceafe to be troublefome ; for cor- 
 ruption is an eafier engine than violence, 
 and more furely fuccefsful. New offices are 
 created, and great falaries annexed. Old 
 ones are continued, and receive great addi- 
 tion. Seduftion afTumes every (hape, of 
 penfion againft law, office without employ- 
 ment, and falary without fervice. Till, at 
 laft, the corrupt a6ts of uncontrouled am- 
 bition (hall have undermined that conftitu- 
 
 tion,
 
 40 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 tion, which had for centuries repelled its 
 open and avowed attacks : an'l our expiring 
 liberty fhall fatally verify the prediction of 
 the fagacious Montefquieu, " It will perifn 
 " when the legislative power fhall be more 
 " corrupt than the executive." 
 
 This fhort abftraft of our conftitution in 
 its genuine ftate, and of the dangers to 
 which it is expofed in its abufe, will fuggeil: 
 to you many reflections. But none more 
 important than this ; that as the People, 
 from their numbers, are obliged to aft by 
 reprefentation ; their department of liberty 
 is therefore more endangered. For the 
 common maxim faith truly, that every man 
 does his own bufmefs befl. The crown has 
 a fingle, and therefore a clear attention to 
 its own interefts. And Jfrom the mighty 
 increafe of influence arifing from number- 
 lefs caufes, fome perhaps neceffary, and all 
 powerful, the rights of royalty are certainly 
 in no danger of diminution, The Nobles 
 are equally fecure. Their wealth and ho- 
 nours, whether defervedly poffeffed or not, 
 give them great aftual weight in the fcale. 
 And the jealous diflant fpirit, characteriftick 
 
 of
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 4! 
 
 of that proud body, enfure to them the 
 prefervation of it. But the People cannot 
 take an immediate part in legislation. They 
 are obliged to delegate their power. And 
 delegation necelforily weakens the origi- 
 nal force. Your neceffary fituation, there- 
 fore, in the political fabrick, expofes you to 
 danger ; even though you endeavour to 
 take your poft with wifdom, and with ho- 
 nefty. But if blindly you defcrt your fta- 
 tion, and dishonourably entruft its defence 
 to weak or wicked mercenaries, ruin muft 
 inevitably overwhelm the whole magnificent 
 ftrufture of our liberties. The glorious arch 
 which had fupported them, miSi! fall to the 
 ground ; if its key-done, the independence 
 of the people, be permitted to moulder 
 away. 
 
 Roufe then, my friends and fellow-free- 
 holders ! Again, and again, agitate in your 
 minds the extenfive importance of the pre- 
 fent moment. The truft you are to repofe, 
 is the truft of legiflation. -In it, are involved 
 your property, your lives, and your liberties. 
 If you efteem them worth preferving, " af- 
 fert the freedom of eleclion," and, " vin- 
 dicate
 
 42 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 dicate your exclufive right to choofe your 
 reprefentatives." 
 
 Who they fhould be, I (hall, with due 
 deference to your integrity and better judg- 
 ment, fubmit to you in my future Letters. 
 In which, if I freely and thoroughly difcufs 
 the pretenfions of our prefent candidates; 
 J trufl the notoriety of the fubjecl:, and its 
 infinite importance, will amply excufe me. 
 At all events, I can truly fay with the phi- 
 lofopher of Geneva, " I (hall find my apo- 
 " logy and comfort at the bottom of my 
 heart." 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 Ffb. gth, 1776. 
 
 LETTER
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 43 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 4U Members ought to be inhabitants of the places for 
 which they are chofen. BLACKSTONE. 
 
 i 
 
 No Lord of Parliament hath any right to interfere in 
 the election of Commoners. BLACKSTONE, 
 
 1 T is perhaps unnecefiTary, but I find it 
 fatisfaftory to my own feelings, to premife 
 an obfervation, concerning the difcuflion of 
 public characters. 
 
 Every man who folicits public favour, 
 ipfo fado, fubmits himfelf to public trial. 
 As the confidence of his country is the ob- 
 ject, merit to his country mould be the 
 means : and he cannot hope to gain his 
 fuit, until his title be thoroughly examined. 
 In the moft vulgar inftances this preliminary 
 prevails. The bailiff, who propofes to fu- 
 perintend your farm ; the fervant, who pe- 
 titions for a menial place in your family ; 
 produces credentials of former good be- 
 haviour : and gives fecurity for its continu- 
 ance.
 
 44 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 ance. When, therefore, higher trulls arc 
 folicited ; the foundations of confidence 
 mould be more deeply laid. Let us, my 
 countrymen, examine them to the bottom. 
 
 The Hon. Heny Seymour Conway, the 
 Hon. Hugh Skeffington, John O'Neill, efq.* 
 and James Willfon, efq., are our candi- 
 dates. As a compliment due to the Jlran- 
 ger, let us begin with Mr. Conway. 
 
 Mr. Conway refides in England ; fixed 
 there by connection, by inclination, and by 
 duty. His father is an Englifh Earl, Lord 
 Chamberlain to his Majefty's houfehold, and 
 unalienably attached to the court. Pof- 
 fefled of an ample fortune in Ireland, he 
 remembers that country only in the large 
 remittances which he draws from her ex- 
 hauPced bofom : unlefs indeed his attention 
 be fometimes revived at the polite period of 
 oclennial condefcenfion. All his great ta- 
 lents (conftrue the word if you will, only as 
 the Romans ufed it) his univerfal fervices, 
 his numerous connexions as far at leaft as 
 
 * Since the writing of this Letter, Mr. O'Neill has 
 declined {landing candidate for reprefenting the county 
 of Antrim. 
 
 he
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 45 
 
 he can fway them are conftantly employed 
 in England ; and are implicitly devoted to 
 Englifh adminiflration. But inclination, as 
 well as connection, naturally attaches a 
 young gentleman of Mr. Conway's rank 
 and figure, to London-refidence. Befides 
 he is indifpenfably faftened to England, by 
 his feat in the Britifh Houfe of Commons. 
 Whether he fits there, an independent fena- 
 tor, or a mere expletive of his father's in- 
 tereft, is not now inquired. He does fit 
 there; and he muft remain there. How 
 then can he reprefent our county in an Irifh 
 parliament ? He is not only not " an inha- 
 bitant of this place," and therefore an un- 
 conflitutional candidate, but he is an actual 
 abfentee from this kingdom, and therefore 
 an impoflible reprefentative. The objec- 
 tion is infuperable. It is not an intricate 
 deduction of argument, to which perhaps 
 fpecious fophiftry might be oppofed. It is 
 an unanfwerable point of fact. He cannot 
 reprefent you. Weigh then the confe- 
 quence, my friends ! I was going to fay, 
 my fellow-freeholders ! But that glorious 
 title would no longer be yours. You would 
 
 in
 
 46 TfcE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 in effect disfranchife yourfelves. Every 
 vote given to a man, who cannot aft for 
 you, is felony to your freeholds. It would 
 be high-treafon to your moft glorious pri- 
 vilege, the characleriftick of a free people ! 
 for you would furely ceafe " to give your 
 confent to laws," when you withdraw your 
 voice, that is your reprefentative, from the 
 legiflative afifembly. If then, no other ob- 
 jeclion prevailed ; if his fituation and fenti- 
 ments were perfectly independent and in- 
 corrupt ; if in fhort, inftead of the prefent 
 exiftence of things, every circumftance uni- 
 ted in his favour ; this {ingle objection of 
 abfence is invincibly decifive againft his 
 claims. 
 
 A vague obfervation is fometimes ad- 
 vanced, that though abfent from the Irifh 
 Houfe, it is good to have a reprefentative 
 in the Britifh Houfe of Commons ; where 
 his fervices may compenfate for his Irifh 
 omnTions. This is hardly the fhadow of 
 argument. But as even fhadows may 
 alarm, it may be worth while to difpel it. 
 In the firft place, I beg the blunder may be 
 rectified. Let him be called any thing but 
 
 an
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 47 
 
 an Irijh reprefentative in an Englifh Houfe of 
 Commons. And as to his fer vices there, and 
 the inference drawn from them, they are 
 overturned both by facl: and argument. 
 Firft, what fer vices, eflential important fer- 
 vices, have been performed for Ireland, by 
 any of thefe Irifh-Englifti reprefentatives ? 
 None; that they mould not blufh to men- 
 tion : becaufe fo trifling, and fo inferiour. 
 But I (hall hereafter, perhaps, prefs more 
 particularly on this topick. Next, if they 
 had done real fervice to Ireland; would 
 they not have done it, ought they not to 
 have done it, without infulting us with 
 this mock-reprefentation ! It is an extra- 
 ordinary claim to our favour, to tell us that 
 nothing (hall induce our candidate to ferve 
 us, but a furrender of our moft valuable 
 privileges. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 Feb. iyh t 1776. 
 
 LET-
 
 48 THE FREEHOLDER, 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 It is ejfential to the very being of Parliament, that 
 Elections JJiould, be abfolutely free. BLACKSTONE. 
 
 For thus to regulate Candidates and Electors, and 
 new-model the ways of Election; what is it, but to 
 cut up the Government by the roots, and poifon the 
 very fountain of Publick Security ? LOCKE. 
 
 .LET me again, and again, urge to you 
 the motto of my third Letter. " No Lord 
 of Parliament hath any right to interfere in 
 the election of Commoners." This is the 
 law of the land. Remember it, my coun- 
 trymen! revere it; maintain it. It is the 
 grand barrier of the conftitution. While it 
 Hands firm, you remain fafely and invincibly 
 entrenched in your own privileges. But if 
 ever you furrender it to the enemy, you are 
 irretrievably ruined. The democratick 
 eftate will be annihilated out of the confti- 
 tution, and you will be melted down into 
 a vile vaflalage ; the devoted prey and plun- 
 der of your defpotick conquerors. 
 
 I am
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 49 
 
 I am the more warmly incenfed to thefe 
 remonftrances, and I doubt not but you 
 will catch the flame, from a flagrant infult 
 which I have SEEN offered to your rights ; 
 a direcl violation of your mod valuable pri- 
 vilege. I have read a letter from the Earl 
 of Hertford, who, you know, is a PEER in 
 both countries, written with his own hand 
 and fubfcribed with his title, "begging the 
 vote and inter eft of a freeholder, "for his 
 Jon Henry, at the next General Eleclion" 
 This I have feen ; and this I will prove in 
 proper time and place, if the fatal fuccefs of 
 any unconditional confpiracy (hall make 
 it neceffery for the independent freeholders 
 to appeal to an independent tribunal. In 
 the mean time, I fubmit the faft to your 
 juft indignation. 
 
 The claims of Mr. Con way were perhaps 
 more than fufEciently refuted, in my laft 
 
 Letter. I cannot, however, forbear a fhort 
 / 
 
 comment on his advertifement. It is really 
 an unique ; and I hope will juflify^any tau- 
 tology I may commit. 
 
 " My brother, Lord Beauchamp, being 
 " detained by bufmefs in England, does not 
 
 VOL. i. i: " prefume
 
 50 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 " prefume again to offer his fervices," &c. 
 Detention in England, it feems is an infur- 
 mountable objection againft the offer of 
 fervice to a county in Ireland. I heartily 
 concur with the honourable gentleman. It 
 is an infuperable obflacle. Why then does 
 he, detained as he knows he muft be in Eng- 
 land, why does he " prefume" to offer 
 fervices which he cannot give ; and to fo- 
 licit trufl which he cannot execute ? But, 
 " Lord Beauchamp will not again offer his 
 fervices." Does Mr. Conway infinuate, 
 that his brother ever gave us his fervices ? 
 If fo, we have reafon to thank him for his 
 candid confeflion of his principles. - Accord- 
 ing to him, the country will be excellently 
 ferved, by "the abfence of its fervants : and 
 the duty of parliament completely attended 
 to, by being totally neglected. 
 
 The Hon. Mr. Hugh Skeffington next 
 prefents himfelf to our confideration. It is 
 obvious that much of what has been faid, 
 and proved, againfl the unconflitutional in- 
 terference of Peers in our elections; will ap- 
 ply as decifively againft this gentleman, as 
 Mr. Conway ; or, if poflible, more fo. 
 
 The
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 5! 
 
 The immediate prefence of the noble 
 Peer, who takes his title from your county, 
 may have more immediate effeft ; unlefs, 
 my countrymen, we fteadily purfue the con- 
 duel, prefcribed to us by every confideration 
 that can actuate freemen. Our duty as free- 
 holders, inculcates the neceffity of repelling 
 thefe lordly encroachments on our privi- 
 leges ; even when they threaten from afar. 
 But we are bound to the mod aftive vigi- 
 lance, when the danger aflails our doors ; 
 when the mifchief is actually amongft us. 
 Let every heart confent to abhor it : let every 
 hand concur to cad it forth. Let us think 
 as becomes rational beings, that liberty is 
 the mod tranfcendent blefling: Let us a6l 
 like men of virtue, and p refer ve it : 
 
 " O ! let it never perifh in your hands* 
 " But pioufly tranfmit it to your children." 
 
 I mall, in my next Letter, conlider the other 
 grounds of Mr. Skeffington's public preten- 
 lions. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 Ft/-. 1 7/, 1776, 
 
 c 
 
 2 LET-
 
 52 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 The great advantage of reprefentatives, is their capa- 
 city of dif cuffing Public Affairs. MON TESQU I E u , 
 
 A H E neceflity of reprefentation in par- 
 liament, arifes from the impoilibility of af- 
 fembling there collectively. Or, though 
 this colle&ive aflemblage were poflible, yet 
 might we for convenience, prefer the mode 
 of afting by reprefentatives. For a great 
 advantage accrues, from " their capacity of 
 difcufTmg publick affairs/' 
 
 Let us examine in what this capacity 
 confifts. Two qualifications are neceffary 
 to form it ; publick integrity, and publick 
 ability. By publick integrity I mean, a 
 temper of mind fuperiour to all private 
 views whatever; which equally fpurns the 
 allurements of corruption, the mandates of 
 power, and the influence of connections ; 
 fleadily and folely intent on one great ob- 
 ject, the Publick Weal. Publick ability. 
 
 implies
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 53 
 
 implies the faculty of attaining this object. 
 An enlarged mind, to comprehend the pub- 
 lick bufinefs, an enlightened understanding to 
 agitate anddifcufs it; and an undaunted fpirit, 
 to carry it into execution ; are all involved 
 in this extenfive term. It is, indeed, a qua- 
 lity of the higheft nature and ufe. And, 
 ftanding on the foundation of publick inte- 
 grity, constitutes that moft glorious charac- 
 ter, the capacity of reprefenting a free 
 people. 
 
 In comparing Mr. Skeffington's publick 
 pretenfions with thefe various requifites, I 
 really find myfelf embarraffed. For, even 
 in this publick difcuflion, feverity mould if 
 poflible be avoided. I (hall argue, there- 
 fore, only negatively ; leaving to your judg- 
 ments, and your knowledge, to fupply what 
 delicacy fuppreffes. 
 
 To communicate to you, therefore, what 
 I have not difcovered ; I am forry-to confefs, 
 that my ftricleft inquiry into this gentle- 
 man's publick capacity, hath not been able 
 to trace any one of the qualifications which 
 I have enumerated. It is, therefore, a mat- 
 ter of fome furprize to his friends, that he 
 
 mould
 
 54 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 fhould refer us, in the firft paragraph of his 
 publick addrefs, to " the honour formerly 
 conferred on him, in being chofen our repre- 
 fentative." For, they argue, that he never 
 was really in that capacity. The component 
 parts were totally wanting. How then could 
 the compound fubfift ? A reference, there- 
 fore, to that miftaken aera, ferves only to 
 warn us againft a fecond errour. Efpecially 
 an errour of fuch fatal importance. If he 
 had never been in that fituation ; we might 
 have thought it poflible, that he mould at 
 leaft feem to fill it. But unfortunately 
 for his prefent pretenfions, experience con- 
 firms the dictate of our judgment ; and 
 realizes the beautiful allufion of Lord Bo- 
 lingbroke, " that a little ftatue placed on a 
 mighty pedeflal, looks lefs, dwindles into 
 nothing from its elevation." 
 
 It is obvious that I ftudy to fpeak gently 
 of this gentleman. Content with this nega- 
 tive argument againft his fufficiency, I do not 
 alledge pofitive charges of betraying truft. 
 I do not refer to venal majorities, black 
 lifts, and the obedient aye or w<v--the utmoft 
 eloquence " and fervice/' of fome repre- 
 
 fentatives :
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 55 
 
 fentatives : I fpeak not of uniform devo- 
 tion to the court, and to courtly connec- 
 tions ; I only fubmit to my countrymen 
 that, independent of fuch pofitive guilt, 
 their duty as freeholders obliges them to 
 rejecl: a candidate, who is bbvioufly and 
 totally deftitute of all the requifite qualifica- 
 tions. 
 
 Permit me, in fome meafure to atone to 
 my own feelings, for the difagreeable necef- 
 fity of thefe publick truths, by a juft tribute 
 to the private character of this gentleman. 
 As far as my knowledge of it reaches, I 
 gladly bear teftimony to its being amiable, 
 good-humoured, and friendly. Nay, there 
 is a fpecies of delicacy in it, which reflects 
 fome honour on him as a man; accompa- 
 nied, alas ! with an infirmity of mind that 
 difgraces him as a fenator. For I have 
 good authority to fay, that he laments 
 the fervitude of his fituation. We all 
 know, too well, that he cannot make it 
 off. He has fenfibility to feel the chain ; 
 without the fpirit, the enterprize of mind, 
 that (hould call it away, and dare to be 
 free. 
 
 Reflea
 
 56 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 Reflect now, my countrymen ! Nothing 
 can be wanting to your free exertion of your 
 privileges, and vindication of your rights, 
 on this great occafion ; if you give it deep 
 and due attention. You will then be con- 
 vinced that your grandeft happinefs, the 
 true fummum bonum, which the ancients 
 puzzled for in vain, your LIBERTY is at 
 (lake. Founded, as it is, in every virtue ; 
 you will confefs it paramount to every blef- 
 
 fing : For, 
 
 / 
 
 " Wanting virtue, life is pain and woe; 
 " But, wanting Liberty, even virtue mourns, 
 " And looks around for happinefs in vain." 
 
 To point out the path that leads to this 
 glorious object, (hall be the more pleating 
 bufinefs of my fucceeding Letters. Long 
 enough have our eyes ached over this 
 barren profpect ; where no verdure of 
 virtue quickens,--- -no publick fervice is feen 
 to bloffbm. We will with pleafure turn 
 our view, and our choice, to a more fer- 
 tile foil, pregnant with the richefl feeds : 
 which wait only for the cultivation of 
 
 our
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 57 
 
 our favour, to ripen into the happieft 
 harveft. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER, 
 
 Feb. l^th, 1776. 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 He hath no employment under the crown; nor is 
 likely to get or folicit for any ; He hath hitherto 
 been above temptation to ad wrong; and> therefore 
 is the moft likely to aft right, as a Reprefentative. 
 
 SWIFT. 
 
 1 whom, my countrymen ! doth this glo- 
 rious defcription apply? To whom would 
 the immortal writer himfelf have given it ? 
 who ftudied, underftood, and promoted the 
 interefls of this country, more perhaps than 
 any patriot me ever enjoyed ! Moft afTu- 
 
 redly
 
 58 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 redly not to the devoted connexions of fa- 
 milies, uniformly and univerfally enflaved to 
 court-corruptions, and gaping for " court- 
 employments." But as if the reverend cham- 
 pion of our liberties had forefeen the contefl 
 of this day, he almoft exprefsly defcribes to 
 your choice, your prefent CONSTITU- 
 TIONAL CANDIDATE; JAMES WILLSON, 
 Efq. 
 
 -" He hath no employment under the 
 crown ; nor is likely to get or folicit for 
 any :" for, his own voluntary virtue hath 
 precluded him from the poflibility. " He 
 hath hitherto been above temptation to aft 
 wrong:" Not only years of genuine and 
 applauded fervice, with the conftant exer- 
 tions of uncorrupt abilities, confpire to 
 prove it; but let us, with admiration, re- 
 flect on the immediate effort of virtue, which 
 gives him to our choice : It is not only " a 
 fuperiority to the temptation of acting 
 wrong," but a refinement in affling right; 
 unparalleled, I will be bold to fey, in elec- 
 tion annals. He hath " entirely rejected a 
 feat in Parliament for a borough in another 
 county/' offered to him by a gentleman 
 
 and
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 59 
 
 and a friend ; devoting himfelf folely to 
 your fervice, in the purefl fpirit of liberty ; 
 while there is a man among you, whp will 
 co-operate with him to reftore it. 
 
 However ambitious of a feat in parlia- 
 ment, he is more ambitious of the moft 
 honourable means of obtaining it. And let 
 me repeat, with an unexampled virtue re- 
 fufes the fmooth and certain acquisition of 
 it, through a private medium ; trufting, 
 nee vana fides ! that his publick exertions 
 againfl the grand confpiracy, may con- 
 tribute to refcue the liberties of his coun- 
 try. 
 
 This is a facl, which it is good to confi- 
 der. Confidering, we muft admire. Ad- 
 miring, we (hall learn to imitate, and unite 
 to reward it. For, let us reflect, my^coun- 
 trymen! it eftablifhes a claim on our juftice, 
 as well as our honour. PoffefTed of fo va- 
 luable a certainty, and fo coveted a rank, 
 the objeft of ambition to all, and the means 
 of emolument to moft ; he refigns it. Why 
 is this facrifice? confidered as a thing of 
 intereft, the honefty of his mind fpurned it. 
 But, in its fairer light, as a rank of the 
 
 mod
 
 60 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 moil honourable elevation, why did he tear 
 himfelf from the poffeflion of his darling 
 objecl ? Evidently, for the ftill nobler and 
 purer purpofe of vindicating, at lead in this 
 fphere of action, the liberties of his coun- 
 try ; and of refloring to you, the freeholders 
 of the county of Antrim, your moft im- 
 portant and tranfcendent privilege, Freedom 
 of Election. Not to fee this, were more 
 than blindnefs. Not to reward it, were 
 worfe than ingratitude. 
 
 But we will not admit, even for a mo- 
 ment, fuch unworthy fufpicions. We turn 
 our eyes with pleafure, to the more becom- 
 ing, and profperous flate of virtue amongft 
 us. For it is with the fincereft joy, I con- 
 gratulate my countrymen, on the encreafmg 
 vigour of our juft and generous fpirit of in- 
 dependency. What thanks do we not owe, ' 
 what fupport (hall we not give, to THE 
 MAN who hath rouzed this (lumbering 
 fpirit, and called it into action ? devoting 
 himfelf to fall, or to conquer, with it : and 
 who hath facrificed to it, the very advan- 
 tages, which other men make the primary 
 object of their wifhes ! 
 
 He
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 6l 
 
 He who hath acled fo eminently right as 
 a candidate, is furely " mofl likely," in the 
 words of rny great authority, " to aft right 
 as a reprefentative." It is therefore our in- 
 difpenfable duty to him, to ourfelves, and 
 to our country, to elecl: him to that facred 
 fituation. Thefe truths are prefled on 
 my countrymen, not from any doubt of 
 their fpirit, or their virtue, on this great 
 crifis. But as it was well faid by an eminent 
 politician, " that the Britifh conftitution was 
 the bujinefs of every Briton," which I hope, 
 at leaft equally applies to Ireland ; I there- 
 fore take the liberty of fubmitting to my 
 partners in, this great bufinefs, the plain 
 maxims of honour and, hone fly, which muft 
 make every bufinefs thrive and flourifh. 
 
 I fhall, in my next, trouble you with a few 
 comments on fome conflitutional points, 
 which occur in Mr. Willfon's publick ad- 
 dreffes ; and which defer ve our mod ferious 
 confideration. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 Pel. 2gtb, 1776. 
 
 LET-
 
 62 THE FREEHOLDER, 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 The integrity of parliament is a kind of palladium, a 
 tutelary goddefs, who protects ourjlate. Whenjlit 
 is once removed^ we may become the prey of any 
 enemies* BOLINGBROKE. 
 
 1 N Mr. Willfon's addrefs to you, two 
 points ftand remarkably confpicuous ; the 
 independent teft which he propofes to take 
 on the day of election ; and the plan which 
 he fuggefts, to collect the fenfe of his con- 
 ftituents, for the regulation of his parlia- 
 mentary conducl. Thefe are eminent fea- 
 tures ; and demand the niceft attention of 
 the political phyfiognomift : who wifhes to 
 trace the true lines of liberty, and to afcer- 
 tain the genuine fon of the conflitution. 
 
 Parliamentary tefls were always proper. 
 Even in the purer days of ancient liberty, 
 it was not unwife to enfure, by additional 
 obligations, the faithful nefs of the fervant. 
 It could never be thought unreafonable, or 
 
 ungenerous,
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 63 
 
 ungenerous, to require from the agent, at 
 leaft a promife that he would aft faithfully 
 for his employer. But what was right and 
 reafonable in the moft virtuous days, mo- 
 dern degeneracy hath made abfolutely ne- 
 ceffary. For it is notorious, that not only 
 the fubflance of patriotifm is melting away, 
 but its very name and memory are falling 
 into obloquy and contempt. This noble 
 quality, the fublimefl of moral virtues, as 
 it approaches to the facred nature of religion 
 herfelf, fo mufl it expeft to (hare her abufe, 
 and fuffer her misfortune. Hypocrites are 
 daily detected, who do not blufh to profti- 
 tute the facred character of both. * Mif- 
 creants are daily heard, who deny the ex- 
 iftence of either ; and who do not tremble 
 to vilify and betray their God and their 
 country. In this fhamelefs ftate of public 
 profligacy, it is necelfary to adopt every 
 caution, to impofe every fanclion, to infift 
 on every poffible fecurity, for the fidelity 
 of the reprefentative. The honed candi- 
 date for any truft, will never object, will 
 
 rather 
 
 * Mefcreant, or Mefcroiant, Fr. an unbeliever ; a holdcr 
 of a falfe faith.
 
 64 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 rather anxioufly defire, to undertake in the 
 mod folemn manner, for the honeft execu- 
 tion of it. For fuch an undertaking only 
 anticipates, in a profpeft pleafing to the 
 mind, the courfe of its own integrity. The 
 virtuous man's promife, is a draught on the 
 bank of truth. He makes it with confi- 
 dence; for he knows it will be paid with 
 honour. Thofe only hefitate to offer the 
 fame fund as a fecurity, who are confcious 
 they have no correfpondence with it. 
 
 Thejentiment of Mr. Willfon's propofed 
 left, was adverted to in my lafl Letter. You 
 there find it fanftified by the higheft au- 
 thority this country can boaft, the ever- 
 memorable Dean of St. Patrick's : who makes 
 it the ftrongeft recommendatory argument, 
 throughout his whole Paper ; " Advice to 
 the freemen of Dublin, in the choice of a 
 reprefentative :" a title, and fubjeft, precifely 
 appofite to our prefent purpofe ! 
 
 The point which next claims our atten- 
 tion, is the method propofed for collecting 
 our fentiments, which Mr. Willfon folemnly 
 aflures us, " (hall regulate his parliamentary 
 conduct." As to the mode, I do not pre- 
 
 fume
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. ^ 
 
 fume on its fufficiency. But it Teems inge- 
 nioufly imagined, and is certainly moft ho- 
 neftly fubmitted. And this is obvious ; that 
 if any plan, more effectual, can be devifed 
 by the wifdom of the county, the fame prin- 
 ciple which binds him to your fentiments, 
 will gladly adopt it. 
 
 This principle of " obligation to the fen- 
 timents of conftituents," now deferves our 
 peculiar confideration and applaufe, when 
 the modern arts of refiners in politicks, arc 
 attempting to fritter it away. It is become 
 the fafhionable boaft of our mock-reprefen- 
 tatives, that they owe no fort of duty or 
 obedience to the people. " My confti- 
 * f tuents !" fays a courtly member of par- 
 liament ; " what are they ? a wretched rab- 
 " ble ; ignorant and impudent, to prefume 
 " to lay their commands on me: A vulgar 
 " herd ; not fit to converfe with,, much lefs 
 " to dictate to, Gentlemen fo much their fu- 
 " periours. No : I dine to-day with my 
 " Lord, and to-morrow with his Excellen- 
 (! cy, and there I mall receive my inftruc- 
 " tions." And there, if you pleafe let us 
 leave him ; for I am fure he is notfajor us. 
 
 VOL. i. F We
 
 66 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 We (hall at leafl enjoy Swift's fatisfaclion ; 
 who comforted himfelf very pleafantly and 
 very wifely too, when great men affected airs 
 of haughtinefs : " Aye," fays he ; " if they 
 " make me keep my diftance, I make them 
 " keep theirs: 1 
 
 When difficulties occurred in the councils 
 of Spain, the ftatefmen ufed to fay, the 
 genius of old Philip the fecond mould be 
 confulted. Happy for us, my countrymen ! 
 that we have a wifer guide to direct us in 
 any constitutional inquiry the genius of 
 our free conflitution. Let us confult this 
 infallible oracle, on the queftion before us. 
 And the awful voice (hall anfwer in hal- 
 lowed founds : " Government was confti- 
 " tuted in thefe free iflands by the people, 
 " for the benefit of the people. To effec- 
 8 tuate this facred purpofe, it was eftablifhed 
 " as a fundamental maxim, ' that no man 
 " (hould be governed by laws, made againfl 
 " his content.' This, it was impoffible for 
 '" all the individuals collectively to give. 
 " A fek-ct number, therefore, muft be 
 " FREKI.Y CHOSEN ; who mall collect the 
 ' general (eiiiiments, and fpeak the general 
 
 " voice :
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 67 
 
 " voice ; for the benefit of All, with the 
 " confent of All. And they (hall be called 
 " reprcfentatwes of the people ; becaufe 
 " they are deputed by them to aft for them, 
 " as if themfelves were prefent. Such re- 
 (: prefentatives therefore can aB only as the 
 " creating power enjoins : or they tranfgrefs 
 " their nature, and lofe their name. 
 
 " It is too certain that this beautiful fyf- 
 " tern will be deformed by human frailty. 
 " Overweening pride will fometimes fwell 
 " above the voice of the elector ; and too 
 " often will fordid intereft feduce, contrary 
 " to the call of the conftituent. But thefe 
 " are treafons to the conftitution. And he 9 
 " and he only, is her loyal fon; who devotes 
 " himfelf totally to her interejls s and to the 
 t( commands of the people" " Nor let the 
 *" arrogance of modern pride objecl to fuch 
 " obedience, as im poling illiberal fetters on 
 " reprefentatives, and enflaving them to the 
 " vulgar. Let them learn, that to enjoy 
 " legal liberty, they muft fubmit to legal 
 " reflraint. Let them know, that a real 
 " reprefentative, afting^r and -with the 
 " people ; enjoys a fituation the moil liberal 
 r 2 " and
 
 68 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 " and exalted, of which humanity is capa- 
 " ble." For, let them be taught, Then- 
 country is a matter, whofe feruice is per fed 
 freedom. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 March i\th y 1776. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 not of your engagements and promifes to an- 
 other. Your promifes wtrejins of inconjideration, 
 at bejl ; and you are bound to repent and annul 
 them. SWIFT. 
 
 W E have examined the leading features 
 of Mr. Willfon's claim ; and we find them 
 flriftly conftitutional. Thefe were certainly 
 more than fufficient to eftablifli his preten- 
 fions in an infinite preference to thofe of 
 his competitors. But it is a juftice due to 
 fuch fingular merit, to give it fingular and 
 
 particular
 
 THE FREEHOLDER 69 
 
 particular attention. For the more we ana- 
 lyze the fubjecl, the more we mall admire 
 its fymmetry and perfection. He re/ides 
 among/I us. An indifpenfable qualification : 
 for furely the refidence of a reprefentative in 
 another country, is the grofleft mockery of 
 the conftituent. Jurors are, by law, fum- 
 moned from the neighbourhood : and (hall it 
 be endured, that the infinitely higher trufl 
 of reprefentation, whofe very name implies 
 ihepre/ence of the agent, (hall be burlefqued, 
 annihilated ? not only turned out of the 
 neighbourhood, but banifhed from the king- 
 dom ! Law, decency, common fenfe, and 
 common juftice forbid it. He builds his ex- 
 peftations only on the free fupport of the people. 
 A truly conflitutional foundation; which 
 will not fail him ; while we have under- 
 ftanding to value, and fpirit to defend, our 
 freeholds, our privileges, and our liberties. 
 Slave to no court-conneclion, nor family-in- 
 fluence, " he hath no employment under the 
 crown, nor is likely to get or folicit for 
 any." A mod powerful recommendation 
 to your preference : for, fuch men, the 
 fame great authority whom I have quoted, 
 
 aflures
 
 70 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 afTures you, "are already engaged againft 
 you." Happily gifted by nature, liberally 
 cultivated by education, independent in 
 fpirit, and incorrupt in principle ; he pof- 
 fefles that rare union of admirable qualities, 
 which fully conftitute " the capacity " of 
 reprefenting a great and a free people. 
 
 So peculiarly qualified, fo unanfwerably 
 recommended by his intrinfick merit, it 
 may be wondered that fuch repeated argu- 
 ments are ufed to urge it; for it would 
 feem unnecefTary to inculcate and re-recom- 
 mend to your choice, the man who is in 
 himfelf fo evidently and infinitely preferable! 
 Certainly, my friends, it were fuperfluous ; 
 if you be confcious of your fituation ; if 
 you know, that your voice on this facred 
 fubjeft, is and mufl be free ; even up to the 
 moment of election : that no power on 
 earth hath a right to anticipate or dire6l it : 
 that you yourfelves cannot engage it ; 
 and that if an unwary word or promife have 
 efcaped you, it hath no force whatever ; " it 
 is a fin of inconfideratior>, and you are bound 
 to repent and annul it." 
 
 This
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 71 
 
 This is indifputably true. But as it is a 
 point not fufficiently underftood, permit me 
 to add a few words upon it. 
 
 My pofition is, that promifes, rafhly and 
 indifcreetly given, the performance of which 
 violates the higheft duties, and tends to the 
 deepeft mifchiefs, impofe not the leaft obli- 
 gation on the giver : unlefs it be an obli- 
 gation, to "repent and annul them." The 
 concurring authorities of the wifefl writers 
 and mod virtuous men, were fufficient to 
 prove the point, ad vericundiam, as logicians 
 fay, if it did not carry conviction in itfelf. 
 Without recurring, therefore, to the exprefs 
 approbation of it by Cicero or Seneca, by 
 Lord Bacon, or the reverend name at the 
 head of my paper ; let us fimply confider 
 the nature of a promife. 
 
 A promife is a voluntary declaration of a 
 fettled intention ; and always implies fome 
 real benefit to be conferred on the perfon 
 to whom it is made. If any of thefe ingre- 
 dients be wanting, there is no promife ; and 
 therefore no obligation. For inftance : if 
 involuntarily I am forced to make a decla- 
 ration to another, it does not bind me; for 
 
 it
 
 72 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 it is not mine : I am not bound to conform 
 to words, which a ruffian's piftol at my 
 bread, forces from my mouth ; for they are 
 his words ; and come to me only through 
 the medium of his piftol ; which, I prefume, 
 does not fan&ify them. Again : the inten- 
 tion muft be fettled and rational. For, if I 
 fuddenly throw out abfurd declarations, it is 
 my duty to myfelf, as a rational being, to 
 rectify them. The wild gufts of madnefs or 
 intoxication, or the heedlefs folly of thought- 
 lefs precipitance, inftitute no claim on our 
 fobered mind. Reafon will refume her of- 
 fice, and vindicate her right to the fortrefs, 
 which pafiion or weaknefs had taken by 
 furprize. Laftly, fome real benefit is to be 
 conferred ; or the obligation ceafes. If I 
 have undertaken to a man in a fever, to feed 
 his third with fpirituous liquors ; am I, 
 therefore, obliged to murder the delirious 
 wretch ? 
 
 Let us apply tliefe obfervations to the 
 promifes, as they are called, of votes at elec- 
 tions. Are they always entirely voluntary? 
 Are they always fettled, well-weighed inten- 
 tions ? founded on a thorough difcuflion of 
 
 the
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 73 
 
 the merits of the candidates, and a convic- 
 tion that no worthier can poflibly arife? 
 Do they always confer real, genuine advan- 
 tage, on all candidates who folicit them ? 
 Or do they not fometimes feed the fever of 
 corruption ; and, in the general calamity of 
 the conftitution, deftroy the very men, 
 whofe intemperate delirium fo greedily quaffs 
 the poifon ? 
 
 Remember, alfo, my friends ! that in the 
 moment of election, you ftand forth the 
 immediate guardians of your country. Your 
 facred duty to her, our univerfal parent, is 
 a free, unbiafTed, difengaged 'exertion of 
 your right of fuffrage. To her you owe 
 an original, unalienable, eternal duty. You 
 are therefore abfolutely, and unconditionally, 
 free. Except in the fenfe, in which omni- 
 potence itfelf is limited by wifdom and 
 juftice. 
 
 Acl only as thofe guides direcl, and fulfil 
 your duty to your country and your pof- 
 terity. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 March 9/&, 1776, 
 
 LET-
 
 74 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Hail, Independence^ hail f Heaven's next beft gift 
 that of liffy and an immortal foul. 
 Ihe Ift of life ! which to the banquet high 
 Andfoler meal gives tafte; to the bow'd roof 
 fair-dream'd repofe> and to the cottage charms. 
 
 THOMSON, 
 
 Great and a wife king of Macedon 
 ordered his attendants daily to repeat to him 
 this falutary memento ; " Philip, thou art a 
 man." He knew the frailty of his nature; 
 and thought it expedient to guard againft 
 its errors, by being thus conftantly reminded 
 into the duties of humanity. Let us not 
 blufh to imitate fo refpeftable an example. 
 Let us rather triumph in furpamng it ; and 
 daily, and hourly, inculcate to each other, 
 the fuperiour dignity and duty of our fitua- 
 tion: Friends/ YE ARE FREEMEN. 
 
 It was beautifully faid by the Roman ora- 
 tor and philofopher, " Virtue is in herfelf fo 
 
 lovely,
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 75 
 
 lovely, that to be loved, (he needs only to 
 be feen." Her native, genuine charms, he 
 reprefents as irrefiftible ; and which could 
 not fail of univerfal adoration, only if men 
 would open their eyes and behold her. 
 Such alfo, is the intrinfick beauty of li- 
 berty ; rivalling, as (he does, or perhaps 
 even furpaffing in lovelinefs, her lovely fitter. 
 For Liberty is the refinement of Virtue. 
 The ftrong point of preference has been be- 
 fore obferved ; that as virtue is effential to 
 the true happinefs of life, fo liberty is ne- 
 ceflary to the happinefs of virtue. And 
 the reafon is convincing. For liberty 
 is founded in, and refults from, all the good 
 and great qualities united. Her nature muft 
 therefore be fuperlatively noble ; and, to 
 recur to Cicero's allufion,, the pofleflion of 
 her charms muft be the higher! happinefs. 
 
 I hope it is unneceflary here to difclaim 
 the excefs, or the abufe of this glorious 
 principle. RATIONAL, LEGAL LIBERTY, 
 
 AND ONLY THAT, IS INTENDED TO BE 
 PRAISED; WHICH DIFFERS AS ESSEN- 
 TIALLY FROM THE RUDE RIOT OF LI- 
 CENTIOUSNESS, AS WISDOM IS DIS- 
 TINCT FROM MADNESS, OR AS REASON 
 
 EXCELS
 
 76 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 EXCELS BRUTALITY. The admirable 
 Milton has well diitinguimed, where he in- 
 veighs againft the hypocrites of this virtue 
 in the extreme. As the paflage well expofes 
 the falfe pretenfions to it, and in the fame 
 proportion extols the truth, permit me to 
 clofe thefe obfervations with it. 
 
 te They bawl for freedom in their fenfelefs 
 
 " mood, 
 " Yet quarrel with the hand that makes 
 
 " them free : 
 
 " Licenfe they mean, when they cry Liberty ; 
 " For, who loves that, mujl Jlrjl be wife and 
 
 good" 
 
 That genuine liberty, in its true temper- 
 ate perfection, is the fcope of our happy 
 conftitution ; that Parliaments, fairly repre- 
 fenting the people, are the only effectual 
 guardians of this ineftimable object ; that 
 publick integrity and publick ability are 
 neceffary to execute the truft of reprefenta- 
 tiori ; and above all, that abfolute freedom 
 of election is neceffary to its very being ; 
 that, therefore, abfentees from the country, 
 nominees of Lords, and devoted to lordly 
 
 influence
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 77 
 
 influence and court-corruptions, are un- 
 conftitutional candidates : are the leading 
 points, which have been fubmitted to you 
 in thefe Letters. I will not infult your 
 understanding, or your honefty, fo far as 
 to doubt that thefe pofitions required my 
 feeble aid to prove them. They are felf- 
 evident truths ; and, to be admitted, need 
 only to be feen. Let me then only claim 
 the humble mechanical merit of having dif- 
 played them to your view : your own fym- 
 pathies of virtue have the praife of inftantly 
 feeling their full force ; and, in effect, giving 
 them due attention. 
 
 Agreeing thus in the nature of thefe grand 
 principles, a very important consideration 
 remains for us, as to the mode of giving 
 them due and effective operation. And I 
 beg the particular attention of my coun* 
 trymen to one very material and effential 
 point. 
 
 Three candidates now folicit our fuffrages. 
 Two of them we fee are profcribed, by 
 every conftitutional confideration. The third, 
 we with pleafure adopt, as recommended 
 to our choice in the fame powerful pro- 
 portion.
 
 78 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 portion. The friends, therefore, of inde* 
 pendence, and of their country, will cer- 
 tainly give their fupport to Mr. Willfon. 
 But, let them remember that the only method 
 to do fo effectually, is to withhold all pofli- 
 ble afliftance from the others, his unconfti- 
 tutional antagonifls. The danger is, that 
 \yell-meaning electors might collaterally and 
 unintentionally deftroy the effect of their 
 firft fuffrage, and their honeft wifhes. For 
 inftance ; a voter thoroughly confcious, as 
 he muft be, of the infinite preference of 
 Mr. Willfon's claims, refolves to vote for 
 him. He does fo; and fo far fulfils his 
 duty to his country. -But, he has a fecond 
 vote to give ? And for this he is folicited 
 by acquaintances, by friends, by landlords, 
 &c. c. in favour of one of our honourable 
 candidates. " Well," thinks he, " I have 
 t% given one vote to fatisfy my confcience ; 
 " why mould I not give the other to fatisfy a 
 <? friend ? I wifh Mr. Willfon fuccefs with 
 " all my heart ; and I gave him my firft 
 '" vote ; but as I have a fecond, I mutt give 
 " it : fo you (hall have it, Sir." But the 
 misfortune is, that this fecond vote weighs 
 
 juft
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 79 
 
 juft as heavy as the firft ; and thrown into 
 the oppofite fcale of the adverfary, totally 
 annihilates the intended friendly effect of the 
 preference given. So that at bed it reduces 
 the voter to a ftate of non-entity. But it 
 may, it muft, be worfe. He will become 
 the inftrument of the mifchief his heart ab- 
 hors. For if the independent wifh be thus 
 fruflrated by the annihilation of the inde- 
 pendent vote, the confederated enemy muft 
 prevail. Their coalition and mutual fup- 
 port are certain ; and are the very grievance 
 we complained of. We do not now in- 
 quire whether the trained bands, who march 
 in fupport of this lordly league, be allies or 
 mercenaries in the caufe. But of this we 
 may be fure ; that they will march to an 
 inglorious victory over their country, unlefs 
 her independent fons firmly and effectually 
 unite in her defence. 
 
 I hope it is obvious, that the only method 
 of doing fo, is to refolve either on giving a 
 fmgle vote to Mr. Willfon, or to felecl an- 
 other gentleman of constitutional principles 
 and independent fpirit, on whom to beftow 
 our iecond voice. Let us be deeply im- 
 
 preffed
 
 So THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 prefled with the neceflity of confining our 
 fupport to conftitutional merit. Let us 
 anxioufly remember, that the duty of a free- 
 holder as powerfully precludes him from 
 voting for an unworthy candidate, as it 
 urges him to the choice of a proper one. 
 
 I (hall trouble you with perhaps only an- 
 other letter ; in which I propofe to fubmit 
 to your confideration a few hints relative to 
 the teft, by which we are to try our candi- 
 dates. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 March 13^, 1776. 
 
 LETTER
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 8l 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 A Patriot is always ready to countenance the jujl 
 claims, and animate the reafonalle hopes, of the 
 People. He reminds them frequently of their 
 rights; and Jlimulates them to refenf encroach- 
 ments, and tO MULTIPLY SECURITIES. 
 
 JOHNSON. 
 
 X H E latter branch of this patriotick 
 duty is the only one which remains for our 
 attention. My countrymen and fellow- 
 freeholders are fufficiently apprized of their 
 rights; and, convinced that abfolute free- 
 dom of election is the eflence of them all, 
 they refent and will repel all attempted 
 encroachments on it. Confiding, therefore, 
 in your virtue to value your liberties, and 
 your fpirit to fupport them, permit me to 
 appeal to your underftanding, for the mod 
 effectual method to multiply fecurities in 
 their defence. 
 
 In all negociations where truft is repofed, 
 
 the leading and principal fecurity is the 
 
 VOL. i, c character
 
 82' THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 character of the perfon trufted. This is 
 difcovered, either by reference to his conduft 
 in fimilar fituations, or by a nice fcrutiny 
 into his principles, whether they be fuch as 
 juflify a future confidence: and inafmuch 
 as experience is fuperiour to experiment, 
 the former ground of confidence is more 
 certain. But if both unite in his favour, 
 we gladly receive him into ours ; and con- 
 fer that confidence which his tried integrity 
 has earned, and his honourable principles 
 deferve : and thefe confpiring proofs of cka- 
 r after form no mean fecurity to thofe, who 
 feel in their own breafls the force of virtue, 
 and entertain a fympathy of honour. 
 
 Hut as human imperfection for ever for- 
 bids an abfolute certainty in human virtue, 
 and as the folicitude for an object mould ever 
 be in proportion to its importance, it is our 
 duly anxioufty to afcertain, as far as is pof- 
 fible, the prefent merits and future virtue 
 of our candidates for the truft of reprefenta- 
 uon; to multiply fecurities, and " to make 
 afllirance double fure." - 
 
 One of the gentlemen who fubmit them- 
 felves to our choice, more than meets us in 
 
 this
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 83 
 
 this idea. With the prompt alacrity of 
 publick virtue, he fteps forward ; and by 
 the propofal of a folemn previous engage- 
 ment, for the afcertainment of his future 
 conduct, he anticipates our wifhes ; and 
 gives, before we a(k, the additional multi- 
 plied fecurity. This meafure has been dif- 
 cufled in a former Letter ; and its propriety 
 eftablifhed, as far as relates to parliamentary 
 conduct, to enfure the virtue of reprefenta- 
 tives : let us now examine whether it be not 
 equally expedient in a preliminary point of 
 view, to difcover the principles and difcri- 
 minate the merits of candidates. 
 
 The name, by which this meafure is 
 generally known, leads us to its nature and 
 its ufe. It is called a T E s T ; a criterion ; 
 a touchftone ; by which we may know, be- 
 fore we approve ; and try, before we truft. 
 When a candidate propofes his fervices to 
 electors, it furely is not very unnatural nor 
 unwife in them to examine into his princi- 
 ples, to fettle the import of the covenant 
 between them, and to afcertain the fervices 
 he is to perform. Without a precaution of 
 this fort, an inlet is given to the mod pre- 
 G 2 pofterous
 
 84 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 poflerous and abfurd confufion. A gentle- 
 man may be fent to parliament, pofleffing 
 perhaps the beft intentions in the world ; 
 for, to flate the argument in the faired 
 manner, we will fuppofe him at leaft ethi- 
 cally right. But unfortunately thefe inten- 
 tions and fentiments are not the intentions 
 and fentiments of his conftituents. They 
 think and wifh, in a manner diametrically 
 oppofite to the man whom they have chofen 
 to exprefs their thoughts, and effect their 
 wifhes : and the mod ridiculous contradic- 
 tion enfues ; their agent a6ts againfl them, 
 their reprefentative mifreprefents them. 
 
 It is obvious that this confufion, contra- 
 diction, and mifchief might be decifively 
 prevented, by a full and conftitutional teft : 
 a teft which might fufficiently difcriminate 
 the publick principles of candidates ; and, 
 in confequence, eftablim an additional fecu- 
 rity of their virtue as reprefentatives. 
 
 When I fpeak of a full and conftitutional 
 teft, you perceive that I mean one more 
 comprehenfive, and more effectual for the 
 above-mentioned purpofes, than that which 
 has been propofed to your approbation by 
 
 Mr.
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 85 
 
 Mr. Willfon. As far as his goes, it is excel- 
 lent in its fan6iion ; and, in the fulled de- 
 gree, difmterefted in principle : and for him 
 in particular, the freeholders to whom he 
 fubmits it, would certainly think it fuper- 
 fluous to infert additional matter. But I 
 conceive it will be found infufficient to cover 
 the general extent of this great queftion ; or 
 to fecure the particular purpofes, which it 
 certainly is his and every freeman's wifh to 
 promote. Effectually to do fo, it will be 
 neceffary to enter more into the detail ; to 
 fpecify fome leading particular points to 
 the candidate,-r-fome indifpenfable articles 
 of political faith, to which he mud conform, 
 before we admit him to our political com- 
 munion ; or at lead, before we confer on 
 him its honours and dignities. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 March zyth, 1776. 
 
 LETTER
 
 86 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 Rcfolved, That the engagement now read, be de- 
 manded on the part of the Livery of London, to be 
 figned by every candidate -who /hall be put in 
 nomination to reprefent this city in the enfuing 
 Parliament. 
 
 ELECTORS OF LONDON, IN GUILDHALL 
 
 ASSEMBLED, OB. ^d, 1774. 
 
 1 Have not prefumed to fubmit, much lefs 
 to urge to you, any opinions which are not 
 fan&ified by the greateft authorities. The 
 principles of the conftitution, as they have 
 been defcribed in thefe Letters, are incul- 
 cated by the greateft writers. The mode of 
 giving them effeft, we fee, at the head of 
 my paper, eftablifhed by the wifeft prac- 
 tice. 
 
 The city of London hath ever flood fore- 
 mofl in the caufe of freedom. From the 
 days of Magna Charta, when her Mayor 
 was the firft to fix that glorious land-mark 
 of our liberties ; to eftablifh on a rock the 
 
 original
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 87 
 
 original rights of the people ; to controul, 
 with a patriot-hand, the tyranny of kings ; 
 and for ever to teach them this awful truth, 
 that as the foundation of their throne is laid 
 in the confent and for the benefit, fo its 
 fecurity can only be found in the affe6tion, 
 of their fubjecls : from that memorable 
 period of triumphant patriotifrn to the pre- 
 fent hour, alas not equally triumphant! 
 in the various courfe of the molt trying and 
 important fituations, hiftory confpires to 
 prove, what is evident, exclufive of hiftory, 
 that the city of London is jultly raifed to 
 her prefent imperial fummit by the virtues, 
 as well as the valour, of her citizens ; that 
 fhe is not more eminent for wealth than for 
 wifdom, not more renowned for power than 
 for juftice, defervedly the metropolis of 
 extended empire, becaufe confefledly the 
 centre of eftablifhed liberty. . 
 
 Infpired by fuch an example, (hall we 
 not imitate its wifdom, and partake its fuc- 
 cefs? Flowing from fuch a facred fource, 
 fhall we not revere the hallowed dreams ; 
 and with a pious zeal purify them from the 
 venal filth and rubbifli, with which the facri- 
 2 legious
 
 88 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 legions invaders endeavour to pollute and 
 pervert them ? 
 
 To effect this falutary purpofe, and re- 
 ftore the conftitution to its original purity, 
 it feemed good to the great authority which 
 I have quoted, to propofe to their candi- 
 dates a certain folemn engagement, fpeci- 
 fying to them many important conflitutional 
 meafures, the fignature and adoption of 
 which (hould be an indifpenfable prelimi- 
 nary to their election. And the efficacy of 
 the meafure has been amply approved in the 
 virtue of their reprefentatives. The elec- 
 tors of that great city are really reprefented ; 
 arid have, as all electors ought to have, a 
 voice in legiflation. They are not mocked 
 with an abfent representative, nor infulted 
 with a wooden one. No Lords interfere to 
 rob them of their rights, by the nomination 
 of one, whofe abfence precludes him from 
 the poffibility of acting for them, though 
 his connections fhould give him leave ; or 
 by the imposition of another, whofe fervile 
 fituation for ever difqualifies him, even if 
 his natural difabilities were removed. They 
 a.ve neither cheated nor intimidated out of 
 
 their
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. O 
 
 their privileges : but, (landing on the firm 
 ground of ele&ion -independence, they fend 
 their chofen delegates, tried by the teft, and 
 approved by their judgment, to reprefent 
 them in parliament, honourably, obediently, 
 faithfully, and effe&ually ; exhibiting to 
 thefe kingdoms an eminent example of the 
 good policy of virtue; the general adoption 
 of which muft, in the words of their noble 
 ftatefman and orator, "fix us fecurely on 
 the fummits of freedom and profperity." 
 
 Permit me now to offer to your candid 
 and ferious judgment, for your approbation, 
 improvement, or alteration, or whatever 
 may feem good to you, the following fketch 
 of a teft for our candidates ; as containing 
 the grand defiderata of our conftitution. 
 
 " I A. B. do moft folemnly promiie and 
 engage myfelf to my conftituents, if I (hall 
 have the honour of being chofen to repre^ 
 fent this county in parliament, that J will 
 endeavour to the utmoft of my power, to 
 promote and procure, and having procured, 
 to maintain and continue, a6ts of the legi- 
 flature, 
 
 " For
 
 90 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 <e For eftablifhing a more fair and equal 
 reprefentation of the people in parliament. 
 
 " For vindicating all the legal rights of 
 the people; efpecially their grand privi- 
 lege, abfolute freedom of election. 
 
 " For fubjefting each candidate for a feat 
 in parliament to an oath againft his having 
 ufed bribery, or any other illegal or uncon- 
 ftitutional means of gaining his election. 
 
 " For excluding penfioners from fitting 
 in the Houfe of Commons ; and for reducing 
 the number of placemen there, as much 
 as is confident with the public fervice. 
 
 " For explaining the many revenue acls, 
 which intend the great parts of the revenue 
 for the fervice of the kingdom ; which parts 
 of the revenue it is therefore illegal to 
 charge with penfions; and for diftinguifli- 
 ing them from thofe a6ts, whereby the King 
 is inve'fted with a private property in a few 
 particulars : in order to reduce the pecu- 
 niary power of the crown within law ; and 
 conform it to liberty. 
 
 " For explaining, amending, or if it (hall 
 be found neceffary to the freedom of the 
 
 country.
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. gi 
 
 country, for repealing the law of Henry 
 the yth, commonly called Poyning's law * ; 
 in order to vindicate Ireland from the hard- 
 fhips (he fuftains under the mifconftrucliou 
 and oppreflion of that law, obliging her as 
 is pretended, to tranfmit, through the uncon- 
 ftitutional medium of the privy-council, all 
 her bills to England, for the previous appro- 
 bation or alteration, or rejection of the King 
 in council there, and originating many of her 
 laws in the illegal fource of that privy- 
 council, thereby depriving her of her rights 
 as a free country, and fubjugating her to the 
 arbitrary caprice and corruption of powers 
 unknown to the conftitution, Lord Lieu- 
 tenants, Secretaries, Privy Councils, and 
 Englifh Attorney Generals. 
 
 " I do alfo mod folemnly promife not to 
 accept from the crown, or its minifters, 
 during the exiftence of the enfuing parlia- 
 ment, nor as long as I mall have the honour 
 of reprefenting this county, place, penfion, 
 contract, title, gratuity, or emolument of any 
 kind, nor in any mode whatfoever : unlefs 
 the extraordinary exigence of publick affairs 
 
 * This law, as is well known, vas repealed, by the 
 Al of Settlement in 1782. 
 
 mould
 
 2 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 fhould render it neceffary for his Majefly to 
 call for the general afliftance of his fubjefts 
 in ajuft caufe; which juflice, however, and 
 exigence, I (hould entirely fubmit to my 
 conftituents to determine : For, 
 
 " I do further promife, and bind myfelf 
 to my conftituents, by every afiurance that 
 a man of honour can give or expect, that 
 I (hall at all times and all occafions exaftly 
 purfue fuch inftruftions as they fhall think 
 proper to give me." 
 
 Is there an idea in this teft, to which a 
 conftkutional candidate can take exception? 
 None. I afiert, not one. Is the mode of 
 taking it objeclionable ? Certainly not. For 
 it is the mildeft, and moft gentle. We only 
 require our candidates to fign it. Preferved 
 in our county records, their fignature fhall 
 be fufBcient. Litera fcripta manet. We 
 will not prefs them to fwear. We need not, 
 with the elegant Otway, " violate their deli- 
 cacy by fo rude a bond." 
 
 " No, not an oath according to Brutus, 
 fpeaking through Shakefpeare * 
 
 " If that the fate of men* 
 
 " The fufferance of our fouls, the times abufe ; 
 " If thefe be motives weak-break off betimes." 
 
 -But
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 93 
 
 But I have exceeded my ufual limits : and 
 will therefore defer a few further thoughts 
 as to the mode of the county's adoption of 
 this, or any other teft, till my next, which 
 (hall be my concluding letter. 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 April fflb, 1776. 
 
 , 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 Our friends are dear to us ; our relations are dear ; 
 dear are our families, our parents, and our chil- 
 dren ; but all thefe affeclions, thefe tender chari- 
 ties, are comprehended in the fuperlative love we 
 owe to our country; for the advantage of which, 
 what good man would hefitate to die? CICERO. 
 
 jDEFORE we proceed to the mode of 
 publickly adopting a teft, it may be necef- 
 fary to premife a few words in explanation 
 
 of
 
 94 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 of fome parts of that, which I took the 
 liberty of propofing, not fo much to your 
 adoption as your confideration. Penfioris 
 and places, in a constitutional light, are 
 evils of great magnitude. For they attach 
 a great interefl to the crown, pjepondera- 
 ting already, from other caufes, againfl the 
 weight of the commons. But fome evils 
 are neceffajy, in the political, as well as the 
 natural, fyftem. And we mud learn to bear 
 our constitution with its natural and necef- 
 fary infirmities. Of this defcription are 
 placemen in the Houfe of Commons ; with- 
 out a certain number of whom, to open 
 and explain the publick accounts, and to 
 ftate the neceflities of publick fervice, the 
 bufmefs of the Houfe muft ftagnate, and 
 the neceffary intercourfe be interrupted be- 
 tween the executive and the legiflative. 
 Pensioners, on the other hand, haVe no 
 bufinefs there. Thofe publick beggars of 
 the ftate are at leaft as unqualified to fit 
 in parliament, as the private beggars of the 
 flreet. Let them then enjoy their alms, 
 without the ambition or abfurdity of being 
 the legiflators of the kingdom. But a cer- 
 tain
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 95 
 
 tain number of men, with the knowledge, 
 and the reponfibility too, of office, are ne- 
 ceffary to wife and effective legiflation. In 
 the teft therefore, a limitation of placemen, 
 not an exclufion, was ftipulated ; fanftified 
 however by the controul of the conftitu- 
 ents, as to the neceflity and degree of that 
 limitation, and the propriety of the repre- 
 tentative ever becoming fo., 
 
 Signature of the teft was propofed, in- 
 ftead of an oath ; as well from the great 
 authority there cited, and a confidence that 
 fuch an a6l would be fufficiently obligatory ; 
 as from a wifh to difarm every poflible ob- 
 jection to the meafure, which fome too 
 fcrupulous reafoners might advance. There 
 is a fort of ftrained nicety, a prudery in 
 confcience and religion, which objects to 
 the ufe of oa"ths, unlefs particularly pre- 
 fcribed and authorized. If however any 
 eonftituents think that fanftion necefTary, 
 the candidate who mail adopt it muft with 
 them have additional merit. 
 
 To agree on tfre propriety of this great, 
 publick meafure, and to eftablifli it both in 
 principle and form, the moft publick con- 
 
 fultation
 
 96 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 fultation and concurrence are fequifite, 
 Publick meetings are held for this purpofe ; 
 announced to the county by the meriff, on 
 the application of a fufficient number of 
 freeholders. It then becomes his duty to 
 convene them in the mod convenient place* 
 Our prefent worthy {heriff, it is fuppofed, 
 would not hefitate in advancing any mea- 
 fure for the publick advantage ; which a 
 county-meeting, preparatory to an election, 
 has been always confidered to be ; and is 
 mod refpe&ably recommended to this coun- 
 try, by the uniform practice of all the free 
 counties in England. But though a {heriff 
 refufe his concurrence, the meafure pro- 
 ceeds. Bodies of freeholders advertife ; and 
 call on their brother-electors to meet, to 
 deliberate, to decide, on the moft import- 
 ant fubjecl which can occur to them. A 
 fheriff is called upon, only as the principal 
 officer of the county ; and the natural chan- 
 nel through which publick notice fnould be 
 conveyed to them. But if that channel 
 be {lopped up, the publick defire will find 
 a vent, will make itfelf a way. And, I 
 have heard, that in fuch cafes its prbgrefs 
 
 is
 
 THE FREEHOLDER. 97 
 
 is more impetuous and irrefiftible. Strength- 
 ened by oppofition, the increafmg ftream of 
 patriotifm fwells into a victorious torrent, 
 and bears down or overflows every obftacle 
 that endeavours to withstand it. 
 
 The neceflity of this meafure, its wifdom, 
 a form in which it may be drawn up, and 
 the method for its county adoption, have 
 been fubmitted to you. It is yours to adopt 
 that form, or a better one ; and to purfue 
 the moft effectual method to give it publick 
 fanftion. The fubjecl; is of the deepeft na- 
 ture, and the moft ferious tendency. It 
 requires all our attention to fathom it; and 
 calls for all our fpirit to do it juftice. Let 
 me conjure you, to lay it to your hearts with 
 the cordiality it deferves. 
 
 I much apprehend that the detached ap- 
 pearance of thefe Letters, their interrup- 
 tion and imperfection, have rendered them 
 very inadequate to the caufe I have under- 
 taken. Confident, however, in the goodnefs 
 of that caufe, and of the principle with 
 which I undertook it, let me hope that the 
 merit of both will plead for and fupply the 
 deficiency of the advocate. Magna eft veri- 
 
 VOL. i. H tas 9
 
 98 THE FREEHOLDER. 
 
 tas, et prcevalebit. It will, it muft prevail. 
 Liberty (hall triumph over her confederated 
 enemies. The fallen haughtinefs of hum- 
 bled power, and the bafenefs of groveling 
 corruption (hall lick the dufl together. In- 
 dependence and publick virtue fhall erecl; 
 the ftandard of freedom high in this happy 
 land: under her victorious banners, peace 
 fhall fmile and indufi ry fhall flourifh. Efteem, 
 confidence, and affettion, the free gifts of 
 grateful liberty, (hall wait -upon our rulers ; 
 who (hall be popular in proportion to their 
 power ; and fhall find their firmeft fupport, 
 as it will be their chief happinefs, to prefide 
 
 over an united and free people. 
 
 
 
 A FREEHOLDER. 
 
 dprilgtb, 1776.
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 
 
 A SERIES OF LETTERS, 
 
 ORIGINALLY PRINTED IN 
 
 MR, WOODFALL'S Daily Paper, 
 
 PUBLICK ADVERTISER, 
 
 In the 
 
 II 2
 
 DEMOCRATICUS, 
 
 For the PUBLICK ADVERTISER. 
 
 ADHERE is that God of Finance; 1 
 exclaims our modeft minifter *, (t who mall 
 " better fupport the credit of the country 
 w than myfelf ?" (f Who will undertake for 
 " all the fupplies neceflary in this exigent 
 " moment, without great lofs to the publick, 
 " and the impofition of taxes onerous to 
 " the people ? When H E mail be found, 
 " I will cheerfully retire from my ftation ; 
 " happy in my country's profperity from fo 
 " fimple a meafure as the difmiflion of a 
 " Chancellor of the Exchequer ! !> Let us 
 
 * Lord North. 
 
 examine
 
 102 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 examine this rant. His Lordfhip declares 
 he is ready to give place, not to any 
 able financier that may be pointed out, (for 
 then indeed his date of power were mort) 
 but to any who (hall pofitively undertake 
 immediate and eafy relief of the publick ne- 
 ceffities, imminent and ruinous as they are 
 at the prefent difgraceful moment. But, 
 the difgrace and the ruin of the prefent mo- 
 -ment we owe to his Lordfhip, and his ac- 
 complices in office. This they may deny ; 
 for what will they not deny or affert ? But 
 their country challenges them to the proof. 
 It is a truth demonftrable in argument. 
 His Lordihip has been ten years in power; 
 in office, at lead : for I am aware of the 
 defence under which his friends would (hel- 
 ler him ; and will admit to him every rea- 
 fonable degree of infignificance, as to his 
 honour, ^both as a minifler and a man. 
 But he has not been fufficiently contempti- 
 ble to be fafe. He has had power enough 
 to ruin his country. All its refources have 
 been at the command of adminiftration. 
 Never was government fo flrongly fup- 
 ported. The publick purfe has been poured 
 
 into 
 3
 
 DEMOCRATLCUS. 1O3 
 
 into their coffers, almoft without queftion 
 or account. The publick fword was placed 
 in their hand without controul, and fhar- 
 pened at their pleafure ; and the flag of 
 England was committed to their care un- 
 ftained. Monftrous majorities in parliament 
 obeyed their mandates ; and even the peo- 
 ple, till their late bitter experience, were 
 deluded and inflamed into a kind of con- 
 currence in their violences. Such was the 
 fulnefs of power entrufted to our minifters. 
 What poflible pretence, therefore, can they 
 oppofe to the inference, which I maintain 
 is inevitable from the prefent (late of things? 
 The difgrace of our arms ; the fall of our 
 finance ; die bankruptcy of commerce ; 
 Jofs of friends and acceflion of enemies ; ali- 
 enation of loyalty and confirmation of dif- 
 affeclion, to the utter difmemberment and 
 imminent ruin of the empire; thefe are the 
 pofitive fa6ts of the prefent time, which 
 prefs and overwhelm every man in the 
 country who has not loft the ufe of reafon 
 and the affections of fenfe. What do the 
 minifters anfwer ? They cannot fay WE did 
 it. No, my Lord, The hands of the 
 
 publick,
 
 104 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 publick, and efpecially of that part of it 
 which you attempt to vilify for their deter- 
 mined oppofition, are as guiltlefs of the 
 fword which you plunge in the vitals of the 
 country, as of the proftituted purfe ex- 
 haufted to pamper every department of the 
 ftate. You, my Lord, and the exclufive 
 partners of your gratifications, have the ex- 
 clufive praife of all our prefent fituation. 
 And if minifters can yet be refponfible to 
 this finking country, you and your aflb- 
 ciates have an exclufive title to publick ven- 
 geance. 
 
 How then ftands the argument of this 
 reafoning placeman ? Exaftly confiftent 
 with his financial calculations. The expofal 
 of the latter, of his ignorance even in the 
 value of annuities, of his confounded argu- 
 ment of gratifications and fupplies, and of 
 his hopes and guefles about the finance of 
 France, can receive no addition either of 
 acutenefs or eloquence to thofe abilities 
 which detected his miferable budget. But 
 his place, it feems, he will not refign, till 
 fome god (hall arife, equal to the miracu- 
 lous talk of inftantly reftoring order, vigour, 
 
 and
 
 DEMOCRATICUS, 105 
 
 and happinefs to the country which he and 
 his friends have governed ! However we 
 may doubt the decency, no man can dif- 
 pute the prudence of this argument; which, 
 by making the tenure of his power equal to 
 the weaknefs, if not wickednefs, with which 
 he has ufed it, would indeed eftablifh his 
 intereft to him and his heirs for ever. 
 
 I humbly recommend to his Lordfhip to 
 confider, that men now begin to feel ; and 
 therefore to think for themfelves : that bom- 
 baft fo unplaufible can no longer deceive ; 
 but will juftly cover with contempt and 
 punifhment, him who dares to ufe it. I 
 would therefore fubmit to him, whether he 
 ought not, in fafety, to reverfe his lan- 
 guage, and fpeak truth. The following 
 fample of it is at his fervice, which I would 
 iincerely advife him to pronounce as the 
 epilogue to his taxes this day. 
 
 ". Where is that demon of difappointment 
 " and diftrefs, who (hall better ruin the 
 " credit of the country than myfelf ? Who 
 " will with more confidence undertake for 
 " all the fupplies towards a war, wicked in 
 fe its principle, and impracticable in its 
 
 progrefs ?
 
 1OS DEMOCRATICU5. 
 
 " progrefs ? Or who, with lefs fhamc, will 
 " fail in every undertaking, and violate 
 " every promife ; with greater lofs to the 
 " publick, or taxes more intolerable ? As 
 " none fuch can be found, I will inftantly 
 <e retire from my ftation ; too happy if my 
 <f country's lenity (hall be content in fo 
 <f fimple a punifhment as my difmiffion from 
 all my offices." 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 Your mofl obedient fervant, 
 
 DEMOCRATES, 
 
 March i t 1779. 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PRINTER of the PUBLICK ADVERTISER. 
 SIR, 
 
 1 T is hoped that the publick has paid 
 due attention to the ingenious ref )urces, as 
 well as the ingenious logic of its minifler. 
 
 Indeed
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. - 
 
 Indeed it is almoft impoflible to feparate 
 them ; fo congenially do they intermix and 
 illuftrate each other. When he reafons, his 
 argument is founded on his taxes ; which 
 his own meafures have rendered at once 
 neceffary and impracticable : " therefore," 
 fays our treafury-logician, " I (hall continue 
 " in office." When he taxes, his reafoning 
 repays his finance with abundant theory: 
 and firft he hopes ; then he promifes ; and 
 at lad he aflerts : This climax of confidence 
 is peculiarly obfervable. For it is not, as 
 may at firft appear, an attempt at additional 
 credit. He only takes in order to retain 
 what he has, by preferving an aggregate 
 proportion of influence. It becomes necef- 
 fary, therefore, to grow ftrong in words, as 
 he fails in fa&. He thus repairs his defici- 
 ency of matter, by the force of arfurance ; 
 and fecures the requifite parliamentary mo- 
 mentum to move at will the purfe of the 
 publick. 
 
 His late experiments have been wonder- 
 fully fuccefsful, if we confider the compli- 
 cation of machinery and novelty of fituation 
 that might naturally have difconcerted his 
 
 moving
 
 K)S DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 moving powers. Acknowledged impotence 
 was the ground they flood on ; and former 
 difappointment was prefent encouragement 
 Thus founded, he proceeded to hope for 
 the future poverty of France, becaufe (he 
 had now no debt ; and for the future riches 
 of England, becaufe (he had now no credit. 
 His hopes then expanded to infinite practi- 
 cal benefits, from lefs than fpeculative 
 pamphlets. He expatiated on the facility 
 of obtaining much, becaufe little could not 
 be obtained : arid on the wifdom, in effect, 
 of a produ&ive tax, which mould deflroy 
 the productive principle* This hopeful 
 minifter then, infpired with the fpirit of 
 promife, engaged to relieve the finking 
 fund, by continuing its burthen ; underta- 
 king that the taxes, whofe failure had over- 
 whelmed it, mould now produce, becaufe 
 experience proved them unproductive. He 
 promifed but what did he not promife? 
 Nothing is too arduous for his magnani- 
 mous imagination. He promifed even the 
 continuance of the war .in America. He 
 pledged his honourable perfeverance in it, 
 becaufe he had fludied its relinquifhment 
 
 through
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 109 
 
 through every difgrace to himfelf and his 
 accomplices ; and he vows vengeance on 
 the rebels, becaufe he had been a beggar at 
 the feet of America, that they would forgive 
 him. He urges war becaufe he cannot wage 
 it ; and becaufe the greateft total exertions 
 of his country have been baffled ; -he pro- 
 mifes fuccefs from diftrafted efforts, and lit* 
 tie battles ; from operations of lefs extent, 
 and ftruggles of wafted vigour. And he 
 defends this monftrous mafs of abfurdity 
 and calamity, by the offence of truth 
 and honour; by libelling the moft honoured 
 names in the country ; endeavouring to tear 
 from the brow of valour and well-earned 
 fame, its eftablifhed laurel ; fairly won in 
 the fame fields of glory that gave immortal 
 crowns to Wolfe, to Saunders, and to 
 Hawke ; planted by Mr. Pitt, and gathered 
 by thofe brave men, who are now traduced 
 for not adding to their wreaths in the defart, 
 where thorns and thirties only grow ; who 
 are devoted for the failure of impoflible 
 meafures, and calumniated for^the difap- 
 pointment of couniels, which as no wifdom 
 qr juftice had contributed to form, no 
 
 valour
 
 T1O DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 valour or conduct could avail to effec-. 
 tuate. 
 
 Self-defence, my Lord, may be the law 
 of art, as it is of nature. We will not won- 
 der, therefore, that you and your friends 
 fhould ftrain every artifice to ruin the noblefl 
 honour, and the moft approved virtue in 
 the kingdom ; J^ecaufe that virtue is too 
 pure, and that honour too illuftrious to mix 
 with meannefs, malice, and difgrace ; be- 
 caufe thofe honourable and injured men 
 will not ferve their country, while you 
 prefide at the treafury ; while your afleflbr 
 holds the department that was American, 
 and continues baleful intercourfe with the 
 ghofts of the departed colonies ; and while 
 the ftain of office, that reproach and ftigma 
 of every thing decent in private life, or dig- 
 nified in publick conduft, ufurps the care 
 of the Britifh flag. 
 
 DEMOCRATS^ 
 
 March 5, 1779. 
 
 For
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. Ill 
 
 For the PUBLICK ADVERTISER. 
 
 IF the noble Lord in the blue ribbon, or 
 s: the noble Lord at the head of the Admi- 
 <s ralty, have difmantled the naval fervice 
 " of its beft and bravefl officers, they are 
 " traitors ; more criminally traitorous to 
 " their country, than the wretch who at> 
 " tempts to fire your dock-yards !" Truth 
 is bold. The Right Honourable Colonel * 
 did not fear to urge home the charge. HE 
 did not difgrace his aflertion with the fub- 
 terfuge of Shakefpeare's clown. HE did 
 not whine out that it all depended on an If; 
 nor falfify his words with an auxiliary Almoft. 
 He maintained his hypothefis, and proved 
 the faft. What fays the culprit in the blue 
 ribbon ? Guilty or not guilty ? Nothing ? 
 Mute, abfolutely mute ! But he fpeaks 
 by his counfel : who is alfo his witnefs, and 
 aflures us " that his Lordfhip is the mo/l 
 
 * Colonel Barre. 
 
 popular
 
 112 DEMOCRATICUS, 
 
 popular mmijler the country ever had !'* 
 We all know the tender ties that have at- 
 tached this young gentleman and this noble 
 Lord to a common centre. When weeping 
 beauty fues, a Lord is but a man. And 
 who will not admire the interchangeable 
 delicacies of love and gratitude ? This beau- 
 tiful fyftem was not, as Montefquieu fays of 
 the Englifh conftitution, found in the 
 
 woods ; but as Mr. St. J hopes will be 
 
 completed there : and in the woods of Ame- 
 rica too; where indeed the completion of 
 our conftitution, rather than of Mr. St. 
 J - . .'s hopes, is only to be looked for. 
 
 Did his Lordfhip referve his defence for 
 this day, when again perhaps the charge 
 {hall be urged and proved againft him ? or 
 will he continue contumacious, at his peril ? 
 Even the found difcretion of Mr. Wedder- 
 burne will, difgrace its definition, and will 
 hefitate at the tyrannous and traitorous pro- 
 fcription of the beft and braveft men from 
 our fervice, though its nature was amply 
 indulged in their groundlefs and malicious, 
 profecution. 
 
 Mv
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 113 
 
 My Lord, the honour of the fervice, and 
 involved in it. the fafety of the country, 
 demand, and will every day more urgently 
 demand, your anfwer or your punimment. 
 Serioufly, my Lord : for be aflured your 
 Barnacle-jokes fhall not fuffice for the for- 
 mer, nor merely the difmiflion of you and 
 your Brother-barnacles for the latter. Did 
 you, or did you not, with your accomplices 
 in government, commit the honour of the 
 Britim flag into an hazard, from which no- 
 thing could have redeemed it but the mag- 
 nanimity of Mr. Keppel ? Did you, or did 
 you not, ever fignify a fentiment from go- 
 vernment on that important and mod con- 
 fequential tranfaclion ? which if meritori- 
 ous, deferved the loudeft praife ; if blame- 
 able, the fevered ptmifhment. Did you, or 
 did you not, fend him again, to fea, at laft 
 with a force almofl equal to the French, 
 entangled and endangered by your filence 
 and malevolence ? On his return, victori- 
 ous in fpite of treachery or malice, did you, 
 or did you not, congratulate him ? On his 
 honeft triumph, victorious over a ground- 
 Jefs and malicious accufation, which had'~ 
 
 VOL. i. I wickedly
 
 PEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 wickedly aimed at his life and honour, did 
 you, or did you not, join the general joy 
 of your country ? Or were you, and your 
 compeers the exception of the age, the joint 
 Therfites of the time, envious of his virtues, 
 and fiekening at his glory ? 
 
 Of the wretched man whom the favour 
 of government has conduced to his fate, 
 even fatire fhall be filent. Perhaps not an 
 object of pity : but no man is an object of 
 cruelty. But of the illuflrious Admiral 
 whofe virtues are beft rewarded by the ap-, 
 plaufe of his country and mankind, have not 
 you, and your abettors, been affiduous tra^ 
 ducers ? in private fcandals-* in publick 
 libels ? Under your fanftion, in your pay, 
 does not the prefs groan with calumny againft 
 him ? The prefs, my Lord, is honeft as well 
 as free. It owes you much, and {hall not 
 remain in your debt. 
 
 DEMOCRATES. 
 
 March 2, 1779.. 
 
 TO
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PRINTER ofthePuBLicx. ADVERTISER. 
 SIR, 
 
 VxN that memorable occafion, when Go- 
 vernor Johnftone was to atone for his vote 
 againft adminiflration by his fpeech againft 
 Lord Howe, it cannot be wondered that 
 the delicacy of fituation mould a little em- 
 barrafs a man, whofe characleriftic is cer- 
 tainly not refinement or addrefs. That 
 fuch a man floundering between his convic- 
 tion and his commiflion, mould incur a little 
 abfurdity, will not create furprife. His 
 aukward efforts at confiftency have hitherto 
 provoked no paffion but pity. They have 
 attracted little notice, and lefs refentment. 
 But when the Governor grows mifchievous ; 
 when he contrails a league with minifters, 
 offenfive as well as defenfive; and not 
 content with extolling the wifdom of their 
 deliberations, and his own glorious fucceffes 
 i 2 under
 
 H6 DEMOGRATICUS. 
 
 under their banner, proceeds to arraign 
 the beft chara&ers in the country, charging 
 the mod eminent officers in the naval fer- 
 vice with defertion of duty, and growing too 
 great for the Jlate; and indirectly imputing 
 to one of them, deficiency of conduct or 
 courage in his American command ; he 
 then deferves fome thing lefs than compaf- 
 iion, and more than contempt. The gen- 
 tleman who infinuates againfl the honour or 
 delicacy of another, deferves rebuke : the 
 captain who depreciates the character and 
 conduct of his fuperior officer, deferves 
 chafti femem ; though the commijfioner who 
 rails at minifters, and then flatters them, 
 who flatters " the worthy char afters" in Ame- 
 rica, and than rails at them ; who ftigma- 
 tifes the country which employs him, and 
 his royal mailer whofe cornmiffion he holds, 
 for " their conduct in the hour of their info- 
 knce" may perhaps deferve his falary. 
 
 I flated in my former letter a Jew of the 
 notorious fafts which more than vindicate 
 Admiral Keppel from Governor Johnftone's 
 imputation; which demonflrate that injured 
 officer, not only guiltlefs of deferting the 
 
 Jlate,
 
 DEMOCRATICU9. : ll/ 
 
 Jiate, but eminently meritorious in his zeal 
 to ferve it ; in a&ually having ferved it 
 through all the dangers of adminirlration, till 
 confirmed injuries rendered his further fer- 
 vice utterly impoflible as a man of honour, 
 fpirit, or common-fenfe, under the prefent 
 minifters. 
 
 If we confider Lord Howes principles and 
 conduct, it will appear at leaft equally extra- 
 ordinary that fuch an imputation mould be 
 imagined againft him. His political fenti- 
 ments were well known ; and the firmnefs, 
 as well as the goodnefs of his underflanding, 
 is univerfally acknowledged. He never 
 adopted no*r deferted his opinions lightly. 
 Pofiefled, however, of the fteadieft difappro- 
 bation of fome of the principles of fome of 
 our rulers, he did notwithstanding accept 
 the command in America. This is a pofitive 
 facl, direclly in proof that merely a differ- 
 ence of political fentiments from the minifter 
 did not, could not, induce him to defert the 
 Jlale. It would be the groffeft perverfion 
 of argument, to infmuate a contrary infer- 
 ence from this admitted fa6t, to argue, that 
 becaufe he actually engaged in the fervice 
 
 of
 
 M8 DEMOCRAT1CUS. 
 
 of the flate, he was virtually to defert it ; 
 that becaufe he difliked fome of the opinions 
 of the minifter, he was to betray the whole 
 truft of his country. If fuch were the fair 
 inference, what will his advocates fay for 
 the minifter himfelf, who has fignalized a 
 diflike of his own opinions by a proof which 
 Lord Howe cannot give, by a violation 
 of the word of honour ; folemnly pledged 
 by this honourable minifter to the country 
 (and efpecially the country gentlemen) " that 
 he would never depart from his opinions, 
 nor make concejfions to America!" Yet he 
 has found his opinions fo defer ving of diflike , 
 that he has departed from every one of 
 them. The neceflities of his folly have been 
 fo much ftronger than the obligations of his 
 honour, that he has facrihced the latter to 
 appeafe the former ; and has been forced to 
 fupplicate every thing, where he was bound 
 to concede nothing. 
 
 Lord Howe, no lefs than Admiral Kep- 
 pel, experienced from the firft moment of 
 his appointment the cold and difcouraging 
 neglecl: of adminiflration. That dilatory 
 diflruft which marks the indecifion of little 
 
 minds,
 
 &EMOCRATICUS. 
 
 minds, difappointed the hopes of the coun- 
 try, and of Lord Howe, in the effed of the 
 commiflion to which he was named. The 
 powers granted to him were imperfect, as 
 he in vain remonftrated before he went out; 
 and the delay was fatal, as every man, except 
 the minifters, forefaw. Seven months had 
 elapfed between the declared intention and 
 the appointment of that commiflion. What 
 could be ex peeled by any reafonable man, 
 but that the minifter!s prohibitory-bills, pi- 
 racy-bills, "Jlarvation-billsy" (for barbarous 
 epithets beft fuit barbarous meafures) 
 (hould in the mean time have driven the 
 Americans to independence. 
 
 Lord Howe did notwithftanding, for the 
 pofTibility of ferving his country in fpite of 
 her minifters, accept the commiOlon and 
 the command : and though the deceitful 
 delays of adminiftration in granting the firft, 
 and their continued nfgle&s and blunders in 
 fupporting the laft, made it impoflible to 
 fucceed effectually in either, his fervices 
 in both have confirmed to him what he had 
 before amply earned, the grateful voice of his 
 country, and the impartial praife of hiftory. 
 
 To
 
 12 ^ DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 To thofe who know the parties, the un- 
 ceafing efforts of miniflry to detraft from 
 his character, would be fufficient proof of 
 its eminent merit, profeffionally or perfon- 
 ally, from which they have not endeavoured 
 to detract? They have flandered Sir Guy 
 'Carleton and Sir William Howe ; they have 
 perfecuted General Burgoyne, and they 
 have confpired againft Admiral Keppel. 
 Our oldeft and beft acknowledged officers, 
 .of veteran fame, have not efcaped, becaufe 
 they interpofed in the caufe of honour. The 
 .facred character of courts martial, and the 
 unanimous honour of the Britifh navy, have 
 been aflailed. In fuch a maffacre of ho* 
 nourable character, it would be extra- 
 ordinary indeed if Lord Howe were a fa- 
 vourite. 
 
 But hitherto the fcandals of miniftry have 
 moved in a humbler fphere, -in paragraphs 
 and whifpers ; not lefs mifchievous, per- 
 haps, circulated as they are with malicious 
 induflry, but certainly lefs bold than the 
 avowal of Governor Johnflone. 
 - From his avowed imputations, I mall in 
 another letter feleft three ideas, and fhall 
 
 take
 
 DEMOCRATICUSi 121 
 
 take the liberty of adding Lord Howe's (hort 
 but decifive comments on them. With 
 what has been already faid, and what is uni- 
 verfally admitted as to refpeftive reputation, 
 they will probably be fatisfaftory to the 
 publick. 
 
 DEMOCRATES. 
 
 April i, 1779. 
 
 TO THE 
 
 ' 
 
 PRINTER of the PUBLICK ADVERTISER. 
 SIR, 
 
 JDEFORE I proceed to obferve upon the 
 imputations and do6lrines of Governor 
 Johnftone, and the manner in which Lord 
 Howe treated them, as I propofed in my 
 laft letter, it may not be improper to advert 
 a little to the long and laborious fpeech 
 which the Governor has thought proper to 
 
 publifh.
 
 publifh. The mifreprefentation of Admiral 
 Keppel's fentiments with which it begins, is 
 a clue to the intention of the whole* The 
 Admiral is there made to give his fanclion 
 to the conduct of minifters,-^" that in his 
 " opinion they had done every thing in 
 " their power to aflift Lord Howe; and 
 <f that they had not force fufficient to fend 
 " a fleet to the Mediterranean.' 1 Direftly 
 contrary to faft, and the Admiral's declared 
 opinion, is the firfl aflertion ; and grofsly 
 fallacious is the fecond, as deduced from the 
 former: for it would thence be inferred, 
 that having done every thing for Lord 
 Howe, they therefore had not force fufficient 
 for the Mediterranean. Now, what was the 
 fact ? They h&d done nothing for Lord 
 Howe, and they could do nothing for the 
 Mediterranean. And what was Admiral Kep- 
 peFs opinion, demonflrated in the Houfe of 
 Commons ? Not as the Governor would 
 echo to the mifreprefention of minifters, that 
 they had done every thing in their power, 
 and therefore that they were innocent as 
 to fubfequent infufficiency of force ; but, 
 that their original neglect and ignorance 
 
 throughout
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 123 
 
 throughout had left them finally deficient, 
 even in defence of the kingdom: Not that 
 they had affijled Lord Howe, but that his Lord- 
 fhip's own incomparable conduct, "for tJic 
 ic glory of which he would gladly have exchang- 
 " ed all the attions of his life" had fupported 
 himfelf throughout the moft dangerous cir- 
 cumftances of inferiority to the enemy to 
 which minifters had devoted him, and had 
 faved the fleet and army in America. 
 
 So much for that mifreprefentation, which 
 one would hardly have expected to fee for- 
 mally in print, detected and expofed as it 
 had been in the debate. 
 
 Some other points of lefs importance oc- 
 cur in the printed fpeech of the Governor, 
 which thofe who heard Lord Howe's reply 
 will wonder to fee retrained, being not im- 
 mediately neceffary to the caufe of admini- 
 ftration. The infmuation, for inftance, in 
 terms as liberal as the idea, that Lord Howe 
 had fome Jhare in the publication of the 
 pamphlet relative to the tranfaftions of the 
 fleet, might have been fpared (it is a little 
 foftened) in the printed fpeech ; as it would 
 nave been better not repeated, and urged 
 
 with 
 3
 
 124 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 with fome argument about an allufion to 
 inftruclions contained in it, in the Gover- 
 nor's reply and debate. The manner in 
 which Lord Howe obferved upon it, might 
 have convinced his fenfibility, if not his 
 candour. His Lordmip had declared upon 
 his honour he knew nothing of the pamph- 
 let till it was fent to him, in a cover, to his 
 houfe in the country ; nor had at the mo- 
 ment he was fpeaking, any certain know- 
 ledge of the author : That as to the pro- 
 priety, the decency, of imputing to him 
 any fJiare of a pamphlet, " loading him," as 
 the gentleman chofe to exprefs it, " with 
 the moft fulfome flattery," he would leave 
 fuch infmuations to the gentleman to recon- 
 cile to his own ideas of Liberality. 
 
 The other more important imputations, 
 which however feebly urged, were aimed 
 at all his character, profeffional, perfonal, 
 or political, his Lordmip repelled with a 
 force and dignity of conviction, not eafily 
 imagined by thofe who had not feen fuch a 
 man in fuch a fituation. Befides the many 
 collateral facls of " the quantity of provi- 
 fions in Philadelphia," of " fix months fub- 
 
 fiftence
 
 DEMOCRATICUS.- 125 
 
 fiftence for the troops by driving Long- 
 Ifland, &c." which the Governor chofe to 
 offer t, ("as he had been informed") in 
 contradiction to the pofitive ftate of things, 
 and the imminent danger, as Lord Howe 
 had flated, from aRual knowledge, of the 
 army and fleet being ftarved and deftroyed! 
 The governor proceeded to his grand 
 argument to prove Lord Howe's fleet fupe- 
 rior to Count D'Eftaing's. The object of 
 this argument, evidently to vindicate admi- 
 niftration, by derogating from Lord Howe, 
 deferved the kind of proof that he advanced 
 to effect it. He worked the fhips of the 
 line and his frigates, as a fchool-boy works 
 his pounds, (hillings, and pence ; adding and 
 fubtracling, and drawing up a line of figures 
 inftead of a line of battle. An intention fo 
 illiberal, and proofs fo ridiculous, would 
 hardly have demanded ferious refutation, if 
 they had not been accompanied by an im- 
 pofing parade of profeflional minutenefs ; 
 for the Governor has been a Captain in 
 the fervice. 
 
 Lord Howe was aftonifhed, that any man 
 who had ever feen or heard of the fervice, 
 
 fhould
 
 126 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 fhould advance fuch ftrange and ignorant 
 imaginations. " He underftood, indeed/' 
 he went on to fay, " that the gentleman had 
 " quitted the profeffion jor fome time; but 
 " that a man who had ever been in it, 
 " fhould have fo totally loft all ideas of it, 
 " as to talk of piecing out a line of battle 
 Si with frigates / againft a great heavy line 
 Sf of the enemy of much fuperior {hips ! 
 " He did not know what term to give to 
 ft fuch argument." ff The gentleman had 
 " talked of fifty and fixty-gun (hips being 
 " equal to feventy-fours ! and that a fmall 
 fe (hip, fupported by a frigate, could beat a 
 large (hip ! ( Poflibly/ his Lordfhip ad- 
 " mitted, ' in a fingle engagement : and 
 ff poflibly, alfo, a fmaller fhip might fmgly 
 " engage a much larger one with fuccefs, by 
 " the fuperior gallantry of commander and 
 " men; but to transfer this reafoning, un- 
 <f certain even in the cafe of fingle mips, to 
 <c a general engagement in a great line of 
 " battle ! No man could argue fo who 
 " knew what a line of battle was ; for that 
 " in fuch a cafe, the frigates probably could 
 " not aft at all; and the fmaller veflels 
 
 '* certainly
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 127 
 
 " certainly with encreafed difadvantage, 
 " againft the combined and greatly-multi- 
 " plied force of the fuperior line." Every 
 one who has feen or heard Lord Howe, muft 
 have obferved with admiration the peculiar 
 rnodefty and delicacy which chara&erife 
 the genuine foldier. Coriolanus wifhed 
 " Rather to have his wounds to heal again, 
 ^ than hear how he got them." Whenever 
 profeflional fubjeclis occur, Lord Howe 
 avoids every poflible mention of himfelf ; 
 or if the debate require it, he fpeaks on 
 that fubjeft with a diffidence and modefty, 
 equalled only by the applaufe and triumph 
 with which his country crowns it. No^ 
 thing, therefore, can more ftrongly mark 
 his fullnefs of conviftion on this occafion, 
 mixed with fome juft indignation, than the 
 juft perfonality which was extorted from 
 him. " I feel myfelf profeffionally called 
 " upon ; but I mould not mention my 
 " rank in the fervice, nor allude to any 
 " little abilities or experience I may pofiefs 
 '" in it, if I could not fupport my opinion 
 " by argument, and appeal for its undenia- 
 " ble certainty to every feaman who knows 
 
 " what
 
 128 DEM OCR A TIC US. 
 
 (e what fervice is. I can, therefore, aflurc 
 "the gentleman, that Admiral Howe will 
 " not apply to Captain John/lone to in{lru61 
 * c -him 'in the elements of his profeflion." 
 
 But we muft now leave the Captain to 
 attend the Commiffioner. For in his politi- 
 cal capacity he proceeded to the imputation, 
 which has already been pretty amply refu- 
 ted, both as to Admiral Keppel and Lord 
 Howe, of their " growing too great for 
 " the date." His Lordfhip aflured the 
 houfe, with a zeal well confident with a 
 whole life of the braveft and mofl ho- 
 nourable patriotifm, " That no man felt 
 " more ardour to ferve his country than he 
 " did ; but he, begged, that as men of 
 ft confideration and honour, they would 
 " weigh the circumftances of the cafe he 
 " mould fuppofe to them. If an officer 
 te who accepts a command, in America fup- 
 " pofe, is thwarted, difappointed, and de- 
 " ceived in that command by the minifter 
 " for the American department : If an 
 " officer, who is appointed to a naval com- 
 " mand, meets with nothing but- neglefts 
 " and injuries from the admiralty ; if the 
 
 firft
 
 DEMOCRAT1CUS. 129 
 
 " firft Lord of that department fets all his 
 te power againft all the credit and chara&er 
 " of that officer. I can prove what I fup- 
 " pofe, and will go into the proof when- 
 " ever the houfe pleafes." What is an offi- 
 cer fo circumftanced to do ? Can heferve 
 his country under fuch minifters ? Can any 
 man hefitate to anfwer ? Will any man, for 
 a moment, endure the injurious imputation 
 that .fuch officers grow too great for thejlate 
 *-- inftead of the true an4 melancholy fa6l, 
 that the itate is grown too corrupt and 
 wicked for the poffibility of being ferved, 
 under the prefent mal-adminiftration, by 
 men of character and honour. 
 
 DEMOCRATES. 
 
 1779. 
 
 VOL. I. K TO
 
 130 DEMOCRATICU&, 
 
 " 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PRINTER of the PUBLICK ADVERTISER, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 . 
 
 IHOUGH Lord North omitted on laft 
 Thurfday his expefted renewal of attack on 
 the committee of inquiry, the public are 
 not to conclude that he has abandoned a 
 meafure fo decent and refpe&ful to parlia- 
 ment, and fo incumbent on himfelf as par- 
 liament minifter. On the contrary, thofe 
 who befl know him, and his parliamentary 
 fyftem, are aflured that he will on Tuefday 
 object to the continuance of the inquiry, 
 becaufe on the preceding Thurfday he had 
 acquiefced in its beginning, and himfelf 
 taken part in it. But befides this fyftemati- 
 cai reafon, other urgent motives occur to 
 flimulate the feelings of his Lordfhip. The 
 evidence already in poflefiion of this it regu- 
 lar committee is of the moft dangerous ten- 
 dency ; and contrary to all order and cuf- 
 
 tom
 
 DfcMOCRATICUS. 131 
 
 torn of parliament it has been entertained, 
 though it criminates minifters. It cannot 
 be imagined that the houfe will endure fuch 
 unparliamentary proceedings. It was in> 
 proper enough to vindicate the character of 
 Sir W. Howe ; for from the demonftration. 
 of his meritorious conduct of the war, as far 
 as depended on him either for plan or exe- 
 cution, an alternative of fome danger might 
 arife againft thofe, whofe counfels he was 
 Called upon to execute, with the means 
 they mould be pleafed to fupply. -But* 
 without waiting for this deduction of cen- 
 fure, which poflibly might be evaded, or at 
 leaft delayed, the detection all at once of 
 the abfurdity and ignorance of our great 
 ftatefman will be, as Lord Nugent folemnly 
 declares and " vows to God," a prodigious 
 inconvenience to them. It cannot be doubt- 
 ed, therefore, that this unfeemly proceeding, 
 which has already produced fufficient fport, 
 ought now to be checked. Mr. Rigby him- 
 felf begins to confefs that the joke may be 
 carried too far; and the clamour even of 
 the Lord Advocate feems to fubfide into 
 the Jilent difcretion of Mr. Weddcrburne. 
 K 2 Some
 
 132 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 Some management, however, will be ne- 
 ceflary in changing the ground with fafety; 
 and for this important confideration it may 
 be advifeable to change the commander. It 
 certainly is not reafonable always to put 
 Lord North in the van on fuch a6live fer- 
 vice. Though he has fucceeded wonderfully 
 hitherto in Jhi/ting his fio/ttion, and in his 
 late famous retreat covered his rear fo pow- 
 erfully, that even Mr. Burke's rangers could 
 fcarcely aflail him ; his evolutions have been 
 fo frequently repeated, they can no longer 
 deceive. But if a certain noble Lord will 
 accept the command, we may indeed expeft 
 fome mafterly manoeuvres in the fervice 
 propofed : An honour that feems to de- 
 volve on him, from the gallantry with which 
 he has already taken the field : For we can 
 hardly doubt that the zeal with which he 
 has already charged the enemy will be at leaft 
 as confpicuous, in a6ling on fuch honour- 
 able motives to decline the charge. To en- 
 fure the brilliancy of the day, his Lordfhip 
 fhould be careful in the appointment of his 
 officers. Mr. De Grey certainly deferves 
 an advanced poft in the retreat; from the 
 
 retrograde
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 133 
 
 retrograde (kill he exhibited in his fkirmifh 
 with Lord Cornwallis, at Brooklyn : Ge- 
 nerals Pownall and Sutton {hall " turn the 
 flank," and " get into the rear of the line's,'"' 
 provided always " that they do not extend 
 to the water" and " that they have room 
 to tower the breeches of the cannon : And 
 laft and leaft, Colonel Onflow will take fpe- 
 cial care, " if the rain does not blow in his 
 face," to fave from its fury the powder and 
 provifions. 
 
 Previoufly, however, to this retiring con- 
 queft of his Lordfhip, turning, as his friend 
 Governor Johnftone faid of the minifters, 
 (before he was a cOmmiflioner) his '"-mcto- 
 rious back upon the foe ; as I confefs my- 
 felf an enemy to the minifterial mode of 
 warfare, I wifh to warn the people of the 
 country where it is carried on, that if they 
 exert their force, with fpirit, to maintain 
 the important advantages they have gained, 
 they may and will fubdue their trembling 
 enemy. The advantages are thefe : It is in 
 official proof before the public, that minifters 
 rejected all the information, and refufed all 
 the requifuions, of the commander in chief, 
 
 as
 
 104 DEMOC^ATICUS. 
 
 as to the neeeflary force for carrying on the 
 war rrelying themfelves, and deceiving par- 
 liament with that reliance, on guefles with- 
 out knowledge, and intelligence without 
 truth, In confequence of fuch reliance and 
 fuch deception, it is in profeflional and un- 
 doubted proof, at the bar of the Houfe of 
 Commons, that they have not now, nor ever 
 had, a force in America capable offubduing 
 it; that is, ^ They have expended forty 
 " millions of money, they have facrificed 
 " forty thoufand lives, they have ruined 
 " the trade and the naval refources of 
 " England, they have degraded their coun- 
 " try from her ftation in the world, enflaving 
 " her to the fear of France and the love of 
 " Spain, they have loft thirteen provinces 
 " and three millions of people, IN AT- 
 
 *' TEMPTING AN IMPOSSIBILITY." 
 
 May 8, 1779. 
 
 For
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 135 
 
 For the PUBLICK ADVERTISER. 
 
 the 12th of lad January, a letter with 
 the fignature Lucius, addrefled to Sir W. 
 Howe, appeared in the Publick Advertifer. 
 ~^On the 3d of the prefent June, Agricola* 
 appears in the fame paper, addrefling him- 
 felf alfo to Sir W. Howe, with the fame confi- 
 dence of affertion, in the fame inflated ftyle, 
 and in precifely the fame degree as his Cale- 
 donian predeceflbr, mercilefs both to Sir 
 William and the publick ; for he alfo writes 
 four columns, and expefts they (hall be 
 read; full of the fame falfehoods and the 
 fame illiberal language, 
 
 Whether fuch circumftance of famenefs 
 be fufficient to identify the writer of both 
 thefe compofitions, or whether the fimilar 
 bitternefs of the dreams may not be traced to 
 the fame fountain-head through different 
 channels, will appear not unworthy the 
 reader's confideration, when he recollects 
 the original principle of the parliamentary 
 
 inquiry.
 
 136 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 inquiry. Perfonal propriety of conduft, as 
 to arraigning or defending perfonal charac- 
 ter, became a real objecl: of publick atten- 
 tion, when from its relation to publick men 
 it produced effects fo important to the ftate. 
 Parliament did accordingly, in defpight of 
 the power that ufually controuls it, admit 
 Sir William Howe's claim to a publick 
 vindication of his character. It is not 
 extraordinary that the vindication of truth 
 fhould produce much collateral advan- 
 tage to the publick, and much mifchief to 
 minifters. Such has certainly been the effe6l 
 of the prefent inquiry; and it cannot be 
 wondered at, perhaps it is excufable on 
 principles of felf-defence, that men endan- 
 gered by the difcovery of truth and the vin>- 
 dication of honour, mould now refort for 
 protection to calumny and falfehood. But 
 it was not perhaps quite fo juftifiable to have 
 commenced hoflilities againft their general 
 with thefe offenfive meafures ; unlefs they 
 be juftified on the amicable ground of mo- 
 defly and fagacity. They were modefl 
 enough to be confcious of their folly ; and 
 fufficiently wife to forefee its misfortunes. A 
 
 fpecies
 
 DEMOCRATIC ITS. 137 
 
 fpecies of prudence congenial to fuch cha- 
 racters, early fuggefted to them the necefiity 
 of precautionary malice. They endeavour- 
 ed, therefore, while they enjoyed the prefent 
 fruits of their crime, to alienate their rever- 
 fion of the punifhment ; and to fecure a re- 
 treat for their own infamy in the ruin of 
 others reputation. 
 
 But the interefts of our miniflers and of 
 the publick being directly oppofite, this ca- 
 lumnious fyftem fo fafe to them, is exactly 
 in the fame proportion dangerous to the 
 country. Being, therefore, of the utmoft 
 publick importance, let the publick furvey 
 it at length. It is the more worthy their 
 contemplation, as it is indeed the only plan 
 of the prefent adminiftration, which feems 
 to have been attended with any fuccefs. 
 
 In every great and publick queftion, we 
 mufl refer to the fatal aera of thefe times. ' 
 The date of the American war is the date of 
 every publick mifchief. Befides the noto- 
 rious and incurable calamities it has entail- 
 ed on the country, this peftilent fpirit of 
 calumny which has infe&ed and ahnoft poi- 
 foned the national vigour, feems to have 
 
 iflued
 
 138 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 iflued from the fame fource. In other wars, 
 and under other counfels, the counfellor 
 and the commander of the publick force 
 fhared its misfortune, or fympathifed in 
 its fuccefs. The head and the hand united 
 in one great purpofe ; and valour effected 
 what wifdom planned and confidence con- 
 ducted. If difafters difappointed, or necef- 
 fary difficulties thwarted the fervice, they 
 were juftly eftimated by an honourable mi- 
 nifter and a generous people. General 
 Wolfe's almoft defperate diftrefs and choice 
 of difficulties, were felt and acknowledged 
 at home with the fame magnanimity of can- 
 dour that afterwards bore ample teftimony to 
 the glory of his condu6l ; a conduct which he 
 was the more incited to purfue, from confi- 
 fidence in the guardian of his fame, from 
 fympathy with the magnanimous flatefman 
 who then prefided in the counfels of the 
 flate. In the prefent war, under the pre- 
 fent counfels, what is the lot of every man 
 who attempts the publick fervice ? Of 
 thofe very men whofe fame had flourimed, 
 whofe merit had been ratified, under the 
 aufpices of Mr. Pitt, and in the glories of 
 
 their
 
 DEMOCRATICU3. 139 
 
 their country? Their character, rooted in 
 the confidence of the people, calls them in- 
 to publick command in fpite of the people's 
 enemy and theirs : and then are feen and 
 felt the monftrous effects of fuch a monfter 
 in politicks, as an unpopular adminiftration 
 in a popular government. They encounter 
 the diftruft and difcountenance of the mini- 
 fters in proportion to the confidence and 
 favour they enjoy from the people. On 
 the fame fcale, the malice of office rifes from 
 treachery to violence, till at lad all the art 
 and power of the governors is openly exer- 
 cifed againft the beft fervants of govern- 
 ment. The hardieft and moft veteran re- 
 putations can fcarcely withftand the calum- 
 nies of the cabinet. The moft valued and 
 honoured lives of the time, that have been 
 often hazarded againft the foreign enemy, 
 are aflfailed by the domeftick foes of their 
 country. Failure of fuccefs is charged to 
 the men whofe valour and conduct would 
 have fucceeded, if fuccefs had been poflible 
 under fuch counfels ; and the charge is fup- 
 ported by every invention that malice and 
 guilt can di&ate. The glory which our 
 
 commanders
 
 140 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 commanders have fnatchecTfrom the midfl 
 of the difficulties and dangers which fuch 
 
 o 
 
 counfels had involved them in, is fullied by 
 the miniflers and their minions, who would 
 belye it into difgrace. When Lord Howe, 
 with a much inferior force to the enemy, 
 oppofed and foiled them, and by a feries of 
 conduct and abilities that added even to his 
 character, faved the army and the hopes of 
 the ftate, he is cenfured in parliament by 
 Governor John/lone. When Admiral Kep- 
 pel, by an effort of courage fignal even in 
 him, faved the dominion of the fea to Eng- 
 land, by correcting the blunders of admini- 
 flration ; and when on return to port, having 
 at laft acquired an equal force, he defeated 
 the enemy ; Lord Mulgrave and Lord Sand- 
 wich deny the praife of his return, and the 
 fact of his victory : and under their inftant 
 fanction, their friend, Sir Hugh Pallifer, 
 inftitutes five capital charges againft him. 
 
 It is difguflful to decency, and (hocking 
 to honour, to dwell upon fuch inftances. 
 To enumerate all that might be adduced, 
 would be to tranfcribe the whole life and 
 'converfation of our minifters 3 and all their 
 
 followers,
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 141 
 
 followers, for the laft four years. Lord Chat- 
 ham refented fuch bafenefs with an indigna- 
 tion fuitable to the fympathy of honour that 
 warmed his mind. "But minijlers cenfure 
 '" General Gage for his inactivity ! Let them 
 i! cenfure him. It becomes their juftice and 
 ' ' their honour. My Lords, it is a prudent and 
 " a neceffary inaction : but it is a miferable 
 " fituation, where difgrace is prudence, and 
 " where it is neceffary to be contemptible." 
 Such indeed is the mifery of fituation to 
 which every man devotes himfelf, who un- 
 dertakes publick truft under fuch minifters. 
 If they left the perfons they employ, 
 merely to ftruggle with the difficulties inci- 
 dent to the employment which their folly 
 dictates, the danger were then almdft fuffi- 
 cient to deter any man who had the anti- 
 quated ambition of a Decius or a Curtius. 
 But when, I beg leave to repeat it, for it 
 is the crying fin of the times, when every 
 fpecies of private and publick calumny is 
 fed by minifters againft all thofe whom they 
 employ, becaufe they do not approve ab- 
 furd meafures, or execute impoffible ones,* 
 it would be romantick beyond Roman ex^ 
 
 ample
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 ample to devote life and honour in fuch a 
 caufe. Decorum pro patrid mori; but love 
 of country can never fuperfede love of 
 honour: arid the mofl rigid devotee to 
 patriotifm would hardly fubmit to be facri- 
 ficed at the fhrine of Nemefis by the hands 
 of Therfites. 
 
 So much for the perfonatity againjl cha- 
 raffer, which Lucius and Agricola, and all 
 their tribe, exhibit by order of minifters. 
 It is of little moment to the publiek who 
 they are, if they be aware what they are ? 
 Publiek indignation will probably be equally 
 ilrong, whether they be one and the fame ; 
 or whether, inftead of another poftfcript to 
 Sir John Dalrymple's ftate papers, Agricola 
 be traced to the venomous den tfCalypfo. 
 " Oui bavium non odit, amet tua carmina 
 mcevi." 
 
 DEMOCRATES. 
 
 June 9," ^1779, 
 
 A few of the grofs mifreprefentations, and 
 aflertions contrary to faft, with which thofe 
 papers abound, fhall be expofed in another 
 ktter. 
 
 TO
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PRINTER of the PUBLICK ADVERTISER. 
 SIR, 
 
 EVIDENCE of Sir W. Howe's condua 
 of the American war being now before the 
 publick, as well as evidence of the counfels 
 at home approving it from firfl to laft, 
 and ratifying the whole with the fan&ion 
 w of his Majefty's ftrongeft approbation;" 
 it would be impertinent to tranfcribe the 
 fa&s and proof which every reader will find 
 there ; and it would be equally abfurd and 
 unfair to folicit his judgment to any other 
 conclufion than what they muft produce. 
 Let them be fairly confidered and canvafled. 
 Let no man pronounce without having read 
 them ; and let him not read without due 
 attention, as well to the intrinfick force of 
 the teftimony, as to the credibility or com- 
 petency of the witnefles. And in the latter 
 confiderations, let him recollect that every 
 
 circumftance
 
 144 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 circumftance of themfelves and their fitua- 
 tion is involved ; their rank, their charac- 
 ter, their particular departments of office 
 and of fervice ; their profeffional (kill to 
 form general judgment, and their perfonai 
 opportunities to acquire aclual knowledge ; 
 and above all, their particular circumftance 
 as to any interefl whatever that might warp 
 teflimony, either in having received any 
 recent boon, or actually receiving and ex- 
 pecting the continuance of any benefit, from 
 any of the perfons by whom they are called 
 to give evidence. Let all the merits of 
 things and perfons be exactly examined; 
 and the parties who folicited and gained the 
 inquiry, in contempt of every fubterfuge 
 and artifice of their adverfary, cannot fear 
 the final concurrence of the juftice of their 
 country with the honourable fanlion they 
 originally received, derived to them from 
 the fountain of honour itfelf ; however the 
 ftream may have been fince polluted. 
 
 But juftice is imperfect, if only innocence 
 be acquitted, or merit rewarded. The fword 
 has its function as well as the balance ; and 
 guilt muft be pum'fhed, Not, however, in 
 
 this
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 145 
 
 this inftance, according to the old, and, in 
 genera], the juft rule," Arte perire fud" 
 Thefe artifices of difgrace are fuperior to re- 
 taliation. No more can be feared from in- 
 famy, where dishonour has already buried 
 her fling. But other punifhments, and to 
 fome minds more fenfible punimments than 
 difgrace, await the publick delinquent : Pu- 
 nifhments which the refentment of the peo- 
 ple muft foon inflict on the authors of their 
 calamities* 
 
 The prime author, for he will not con- 
 fent to be called the prime minifter, of his 
 country's ruin, I hope will permit me now 
 and then to communicate to him fome of 
 the caufes of that refentment, towards pre- 
 paring his mind for its certain confequences. 
 This I (hall do with the freedom of a man 
 who loves the people, and does not fear the 
 minifter, even though his power were per- 
 manent. But his Lordfhip knows that ene- 
 mies need not fear him whom friends de- 
 fpife. 
 
 DEMOCRATES. 
 July 7 > 1779- 
 
 VOL. r. L For
 
 146 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 For the PUBLICK ADVERTISER. 
 
 To the PRIME MINISTER. 
 MY LORD, 
 
 JL ERMIT an attentive admirer to offer 
 you His congratulations on the event which 
 has at lafl occurred, the favourite objeS of 
 your indolence and your fenfibility, your 
 difmiffion from daily labour and daily dif- 
 grace. You know, my Lord, that I mean 
 the prorogation of parliament ; for you feel 
 that I defcribe it truly. But you are fur- 
 prifed that the people, or a friend of the 
 people, mould congratulate you on any 
 fuccefs of any wifh of yours ! We are a 
 generous enemy, my Lord, and will expound 
 to you this perilous aenigma ; of which, like 
 GEdipus, you are yourfelf the theme and 
 the conditioned viftim. Your moft danger- 
 ous foe, and therefore the object of publick 
 congratulation, is Lord North. It is with 
 
 him,
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 147 
 
 him, my Lord, that the people of England 
 confpire againfl the minifter. It is in his 
 wifh that your avowed opponents concur ; 
 becaufe they know his difpofition fatal to 
 your power : and they rejoice to confign 
 you folely to his difpofal. 
 
 While parliament continued to fit, you 
 attended to fome duty in fpite of yourfelf. 
 " The MACE inexorable and. the torturing 
 hour called you to penance:' The conftant 
 debate returned, and you rolled to it, and 
 through it, with the blind mechanifm of a 
 man that walks in his deep, and the pain 
 that he feels on being awakened. When 
 parliament is prorogued, what (hall fave 
 you from the precipice? Your lethargy 
 returns and prevails. You do nothing ; 
 and you fuffer every thing. 
 
 If any doubt could remain on the fate of 
 fuch a minifter left to himfelf, the hiftory 
 of your militia will remove it. Let us 
 gratefully recoiled the political juftice of 
 that fcene, in which you fo fuccefsfully 
 plotted your own tragi-comic cataftrophe. 
 It is almoft too ludicrous to be gravely 
 treated ; and yet it may be too ferious in 
 L 2 its
 
 148 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 Us confequence, for ridicule or contempt 
 It is impoflible not to laugh at FALSTAFF, 
 buffeted by his own friends, and outwitted 
 in his own knavery ; but indignation checks 
 our mirth, when we remember that the fat 
 man has milled the prince, and pillaged the 
 exchequer. 
 
 When the Spaniard had denounced the 
 war which you had not even dreamed of, 
 but which every man in the ufe of his fenfes 
 did certainly forefee, in the imminence of 
 invafion to which you and your accomplices 
 have betrayed our coails, the defperate 
 diilrefs of the publick fufpended for a mo- 
 ment all inference of experience; and the 
 publick defence, the care of our exigence 
 as a country, was unanimoufly confided to 
 you. Then flood forth the prime minuter 
 of England, in all his impotence. You had 
 not a fmgle idea, not one refource in 
 yourfelf. In the humblenefs of your own 
 phrafc, and of your own fpirit, my Lord, 
 you picked up the crumbs from the eloquence 
 of your adverfary. You caught a curfory 
 hint of the poffible propriety of doubling 
 the militia. Without inquiry or precau- 
 tion
 
 DEMOCRAT 1C US. 1.JQ 
 
 tion towards giving ftrength or poflibility of 
 tffeft, you fell upon it at once as your fole 
 fupport ; and you cruihed it to the ground. 
 And how have you defended your failure ? 
 As ungratefully, as meanly, my Lord ; you 
 juftify your impolicy by your plagiarifm. 
 " Mr. Fox propofed fomdhing like it!" 
 Yes, my Lord; and (b did the Duke of 
 Richmond, in another afiembly, which you 
 think it decent to rail at. You forgot to 
 add to your exculpation, that they would 
 have conducted their propofition in a man- 
 ner Jbmething unlike that, in which -you 
 neglected and fquandered yours. Some vi- 
 gour and activity, at leafl, would have been 
 found in their exertions. But I do not re- 
 collect that even Mr. Wedderburne cele- 
 brated thofe qualities in you. The mod 
 callous of your friends, who have longeft 
 known you and your fubterfuges, were 
 painfully aftonifhed at this. That a firll 
 minifler of England mould defend himfelf 
 on the difappointment of a great publick 
 meafure, "becaufe a gentleman adverfe to 
 him had propqfcd fomething Like it. r But 
 
 enough of fuch littlenefs. 
 
 What
 
 150 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 What is the fituation of the kingdom ac- 
 cording to your argument, and in confe- 
 quence of your conduct ? That meafure of 
 doubling the militia, for the vain agitation 
 of which, you protracted the fitting of par- 
 liament a fortnight beyond the time you had 
 argued and decided by your majority to be 
 necefTary for it to rife in ;-^-that meafure 
 which you Urged as abfolutely eflential to 
 publick fafety \-that meafure, is now totally 
 rejected ! The time which you ftated to be 
 indifpenfably critical and precious, you to^ 
 tally loft ! And the kingdom, according to 
 your firft argument and your laft exprefs 
 confeflion, extorted from you by Sir George 
 Young, when you pronounced your funeral- 
 oration on your departed militia, I appeal 
 to the memory and aftonifhment of every 
 man that heard you, " is left without any 
 defence that can be relied on /" 
 
 Such has been the fuccefs, fuch is the 
 fafety, which the prime minifter's unembar- 
 raffed wifdom and uncontrouled power have 
 eflablifhed for the publick. But on that 
 obfolete fubjecl of the publick intereft I have 
 
 digrefied too long. I return, my Lord, 
 
 to
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. l$l 
 
 to the only confideration that can keep 
 you awake. Let us examine what you 
 have gained for yourfelf by this indul- 
 gence from your enemies ; how you have 
 conciliated them by the (kill, or confirmed 
 your friends by the magnanimity of your 
 conducl. 
 
 In that aweful hour when your country 
 was to be informed through you of the 
 acceffion of Spain to the war, which under 
 her prefent counfels {he has fcarcely fuftain- 
 ed againft America and France ; in that 
 perilous moment when every man, not cal- 
 lous for his country, deeply felt what you 
 could truly defcribe, ({ When/' in your own 
 words, "we were fo burthened, fo loaded, 
 (t fo embarraflfed with difficulties and intri- 
 " cacies, fuch as we have never before 
 " known* T How did your feelings corre- 
 fpond with your understanding ? Or " what 
 " was the confident decency of your con- 
 " duel?" Were you imprefled with the 
 magnitude of the publick danger ? Did you 
 enter on its grave difcufliori ? Pid you 
 
 * Lord North, verbatim, in debase on his militia-bill. 
 
 prepare
 
 152 CEMOCRATICUS; 
 
 prepare for firm defence againft it, as if you 
 knew that your country was in the forlorn 
 hope? No, my Lord. You chofe that 
 happy opportunity to indulge your mirth. 
 You laughed at the reprefentatives of the 
 people; while you convinced them they 
 were the dupes of their own credulity, and 
 victims of the ignorance or the treachery of 
 their rulers. 
 
 It is not my prefent purpofe to inquire 
 into Nero's enjoyment of 'the ruin he had 
 fpread. Roman flory better tells us, how 
 good men felt for the calamities which they 
 would 'have prevented and could not fur- 
 vive. The floic was melted in the patriot ; 
 and CATO wept for his country. The tears 
 of your hyfterick, my Lord, were referved 
 for another fubjecl. But I afk pardon. Any 
 allufion to that fubjecl efcaped me. I did 
 not mean, I hope no man can be fo bafe, 
 to ridicule the fond weaknefs of a father who 
 has loft his child : but every man, my Lord, 
 will relent the infulting fwagger of a minilter 
 who has ruined his country. 
 
 Your feelings of the publick calamity 
 were well fucccedccl 'by 'your care of the 
 
 public
 
 -DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 publick defence. You confefs, you argue, 
 in parliament, as prime minifter of the 
 country, that the publick danger is fuch as 
 zee had never before known ! You introduce 
 a plan which you {late on the moment, 
 (never having thought of it before) to be 
 eflential to publick fafety. Many men 
 judge differently, as is natural, on a new 
 fubjecl:. Alterations are fuggefted. You 
 think they may be very proper; for you 
 know nothing of the matter. Further 
 changes are propofed. They are alfo very 
 proper, and for the fame reafon. When 
 the annihilation of the whole meafure is 
 recommended, '" You have no objection, if 
 gentlemen think it necejjary" At laft, after 
 declaring and denying your opinion four 
 times in four hours, you have the jufl mor- 
 tification of feeing your firft idea refumed, 
 and fent up to the Lords to difgrace you. 
 For there the fubjecl was underftood ; and 
 it appeared lately that you are not wholly 
 unknown to their Lordfhips. The elor 
 quence of LORD SIIELBURNE has left you 
 on record. The filence of the whole houfe 
 confented to. the fentcnce. And you cannot 
 
 wonder,
 
 154 PEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 wonder, my Lord, that not a voice was 
 heard againft it. The nobles there, how- 
 ever differing in fome political fentiraents, 
 retain a common fenfe of their dignity, and 
 the fpirit of their fituation. But every fpark 
 of fpirit, of dignity, and honour, muft revolt 
 from the meannefs that fubmits to all the 
 odium of office, without any of its authority 
 or effeft. 
 
 In times of rebellion, it was in common 
 obfervation, that the traitor was hated, 
 though the treafon was loved. You, my 
 Lord, perhaps ftand acquitted from crimes 
 fo exalted. But levelling the argument to 
 your officiaWituation, it may be prudent to 
 confider that the tools of power are firft 
 defpifed, and at laft thrown afide, by thofe 
 who have employed them. Recolleft, my 
 Lord, and feel if you can, the real relation 
 in which you (land to a great connection of 
 power, under which you have been prime 
 minifter. The degree of refpeft that you 
 receive from the dignity of the Lord Prefi- 
 dent, cannot now be ambiguous even to 
 your infenfibility. Lord Weymouth tells 
 the fecret every evening. Mr. Rigby enter- 
 tains
 
 DEMOCRATICUS, 155 
 
 tains the Houfe of Commons with it ; and 
 no wonder that he thinks it an excellent 
 joke; for he gets both the laugh and the 
 vote on his fide. But indeed, my Lord, 
 your perfonal eflimation feems alike in all. 
 J do not fpeak of the rabble without doors, 
 who fpeak only as they feel, the cqffee-houfe 
 mobs, as your Lordfhip calls them in juft 
 retaliation ; I appeal to every man who 
 fees the ftatue on the pedeftal. The higher 
 the ground you attempt to take in parlia- 
 ment, the lefs dimenfion of power you ex- 
 hibit; and if the bufmefs be arduous indeed, 
 you are elevated into nothing. 
 
 From numberlefs inftances of infignifi- 
 cance, and of danger, confequently, in which 
 you (land when left to your own weaknefs, 
 I have felefted the defeat of your militia, 
 and your confeffed impotence of every na- 
 tional refource, becaufe it is the mofi; inftant 
 in its confequence. I would warn you, in 
 fober fmcerity, of your imminent peril. 
 You have not quite benumbed the country. 
 The people of England have feeling, my 
 Lord, though they have not forefight. The 
 hour of trial, perhaps of ruin, is at hand. 
 
 The
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 
 
 The legions of France, which are at this 
 moment arrayed on their coafts in greater 
 force than the channel ever faw, when the 
 united navies of France and Spain fhall 
 fwoop at ours, difmantled of its beft flrength, 
 - when all the war fhall pour into this 
 country, and all its miferies deface and 
 defolate it,- then, my Lord, how fhall you 
 appeafe the late-roufed fpirit of the people ? 
 Thus, I imagine, you will foothe them, and 
 fave yourfelf. " I was prime minifler of the 
 " Britifli empire. I had no information of 
 " the publick danger. I would not liften to 
 " thofe who had certain knowledge of it. 
 " When it burft upon the country, I laughed 
 * f at it. The people, however, were almoft as 
 " infatuated as myfelf ; for they unani- 
 " moufly confided the care ' of the ftate to 
 " me. I took no care ; I prepared no 
 " publick defence. I borrowed fomdhing 
 " like a hint from other,?, of what appears 
 " to be a conftitutional defence for the 
 " country ; and therefore, perhaps it wither- 
 fe ed in my hands. I confulted no man 
 " who could inftrucl: me in it, towards 
 ." giving it life or effecl ; and in indolence 
 
 " and
 
 DEMOCRATICUS. 157 
 
 f: and ignorance it became nothing. A moft 
 " critical period of time ; part of which I 
 " had refufed to publick juftice, and publick 
 " honour ; to the injured characters of our 
 " higheft commanders ; whom, therefore, I 
 " have banifiied from the commonwealtli 
 " in the hour of her danger : that time I 
 **' employed in preventing the poflibility of 
 " any meafure being taken for the publick 
 " fafety. And, in fine, as you fee, and feel, 
 " my countrymen, and as I honeftly con- 
 " feffed to fome country -gentlemen who had 
 " a ftrange anxiety, on the fubjecl:, /, your 
 " prims minifter, left the kingdom without 
 " any defence that could be relied on.'' 
 
 DEMOCRATES, 
 
 July 20, 1779.
 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 A SERIES OF LETTERS, 
 
 ADDRESSED 
 
 TO THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Publimed in Mr. ALMON'S Morning Paper, The London 
 Courant, in the Months of November and December 
 *779 and in the Months of January and March 1780.] 
 

 

 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 (No. i.) 
 
 " I will call on my country loudly and conftantlyS* 
 
 LORD CHATHAM. 
 
 i Truft that neither my name nor princi- 
 ples are obfolete ; though I am aware that 
 the name is not in fuch refpeft, nor the 
 principles ytt fo aftive, as at the period of 
 the Revolution. But if I did not feel my- 
 felf warranted, in the hope that I addrefs a 
 powerful body of my countrymen, when I 
 call on my brethren of The Good Old Caufe, 
 I would not wafte my labour on a defpe- 
 rate theme, nor profane the doclrine of li- 
 berty, by difcufling it to unanimous (laves. 
 
 Whiggifm we have feen triumphant in 
 America. Whiggifm we fee preparing her 
 
 VOL. i. M triumph
 
 l62 THE WHIG. 
 
 triumph in Ireland. Let us hope, let us 
 prove, that her facred flame is not extinct in 
 England. 
 
 .If a (lave of power fhrink from the men- 
 tion of The Good Old Caufe, or, in the 
 callous impudence of fervitude, prefume to 
 vilify it, I pity his wretchednefs, I defpife 
 his infolence ; but I would punifh his trea- 
 fon to the conftitution. 
 
 The Good Old Caufe is the caufe of the 
 People. Simple and obvious is this conli- 
 deration ; that the caufe of the People isfuc- 
 cefsful exaclly in proportion to the energy of 
 their original power. Such energy, acting 
 through the claffes of the conftitution which 
 the People made, preferves their liberty as 
 a People, and their power as a Nation ; 
 for it watches integrity, and provides ability, 
 in the perfons they permit-to adminifter their 
 affairs. Various and intricate, on the con- 
 trary, are the means conducive to their 
 caufe, ambition, avarice, or (loth, would 
 enflave, impoverifh, or lofe their country. 
 Rectitude has only one direction, but the 
 obliquity of treachery is infinite. 
 
 The
 
 THE WHIG. 163 
 
 The direftion in which the people of this 
 country aft, when they aft rightly, is, 
 through the parliament which they have 
 clefted, to the throne which they have raif* 
 ed. If wickednefs or weaknefs be found in 
 the counfels or counfellors of the crown, par- 
 liament is the inflrument appointed to punim, 
 or to difmifs ; but if the inflrument fail, 
 the land will exert her native ftrength. The 
 people, of original right as a free people, 
 will vindicate the country, correft their parli- 
 ament, and reform their throne. I know this 
 was not the law of Jeffries, I know it is not 
 the law of modern Weftminfler ; but I know 
 it is the right reafon of the conftitution. I 
 would not violate the manes of the Revolu- 
 tion, by quoting Locke againft Lord Mans- 
 field, even if it were a queftion of argument; 
 but human authority or reafoning, however 
 illuftrious or forcible, were fuperfluous to 
 demonflrate what God hath written in our 
 hearts. 
 
 Publick guilt being capable of fuch diver- 
 
 / fification, it is evidently the duty of publick 
 
 virtue to exercife various attention to the 
 
 feveral aflaults that may be made by power, 
 
 M 2 and
 
 164 THE WHIG. 
 
 and will be ever made in fome degree, againfl 
 the interefls of the community. Innumera- 
 ble are the modes in which hypocrify may 
 deceive, tyranny opprefs, corruption de- 
 bauch, or folly fquander ; any one of which 
 crimes, unchecked, would run to general 
 ruin. But if, in monftrous and unheard-of 
 conspiracy, they mould all unite againfl the 
 liberty and glory of a country, throughout 
 all the betrayed trufls of the publick ; a&ive 
 indeed ought to be the exertion of the peo- 
 ple againfl fuch danger. The Whig fpirit, 
 exifling in the country, mufl collecl; and co- 
 operate. If comprefled in fmall compafs, 
 its fpring will be the flronger. The publick 
 traitor may infult fallen Liberty with the 
 reproach that all her fpirit is extinguifhed ; 
 that no publick virtue remains ; that every 
 man is bafe and wicked as himfelf ; but the 
 reproach will operate as it ought. It will 
 give vigour to ftrength, and activity to re- 
 fcntment. It will fharpen publick fpirit, 
 and point the virtue of the patriot with the 
 honour of the man. 
 
 Vigilance mould be in proportion to 
 danger. If we have been remifs, and if 
 
 publick
 
 THE WHIG. 165 
 
 publick danger have, in confequence, in- 
 creafed, let us now double our watch, and 
 redeem our negligence. 
 
 In England every man is a politician. 
 This maxim hath incurred ridicule, only 
 from the imperfection of its obfervance. It 
 is exa&ly constitutional, and ftridly true in 
 theory ; but it becomes ridiculous, becaufe 
 it is only theoretical. It ought to be de- 
 monilrated in practice ; and then it would 
 not be anfwered with a laugh. (f The 
 Britim Conflitution," Lord Bolingbroke 
 well fays, " is the bu/inefs of every Briton." 
 
 The Britifh Conftitution hath changed its 
 form, and is lofmg its fpirit. Some magick 
 has metamorphofed the ancient pyramid into 
 the deformity of a Chinefe pagoda. The 
 beautiful ftrength of its order is gone ; and 
 we now tremble for the narrowed bafe ; 
 opprefled by the middle ; with monfters at 
 the top J 
 
 How to recal the fpirit that hath lied, and. 
 how to raife that which remains ; how to 
 reflore external (lability ; and by what bell 
 means to purify into its ancient vigour the 
 interior of the conftitution, is the lufinefs. 
 
 which
 
 l66 THE WHIG. 
 
 which now demands the active vigilance of 
 all for the danger is univerfal and immi- 
 nent. 
 
 As a member of the publick body, I offer 
 to my country all my exertion towards the 
 publick weal, in the humble but laborious 
 office which I undertake. It is humble; 
 for it profefles little more than the reprefen- 
 tation of fa6l. It will be laborious ; for the 
 endeavour will be to reprefent the mifchiefs 
 of the times. 
 
 It is not eafy to felecl from multiplicity; 
 but in guarding againft dangers, foreign and 
 domeftick, the conduft of their Reprefenta-, 
 tives in Parliament feems to challenge the 
 firft and inftant attention of the people : for 
 it is the malignity of this enormous mifchief, 
 like fcepticifm in religion, that it fights the 
 forms againft the fubftance. Faith is above 
 reafon ; and the people are paramount to 
 their fervants : but the infidel blafphemes 
 in very regular fyllogifms ; and the Minifter 
 betrays his country exactly according to 
 order, and with perfect prefervation of every 
 form of parliament. Of this, the publick 
 (hall have damning proof; irrefragable 
 
 proof j
 
 THE WHIG. 167 
 
 proof; undeniable except by Lord North, 
 for it (hall be the proof of FACT. 
 
 KM. 1779. 
 
 ( No. 2. ) 
 
 Si/feet res ipfa afptra ejl; fed vos non timetis earn. 
 Immo vcre m&xumc ; fed inertia tt mo/litia animi, 
 alius alium expettantes, cunftamini, videlicet dm 
 immortalibus confiji y qui hanc rempublicam in 
 maxumis fcepe pericuUs fer-vavere. 
 
 1HE laft Thurfday exhibited a fpeftacle 
 which might exercife the mod curious fpe- 
 culation, if its extraordinary mifchief did 
 not demand fomething more. Let my 
 countrymen briefly contemplate the fact 
 and its circumftance. If they will not 
 cpen their eyes, and fee its monftrous na- 
 ture, they muft inflantly feel its ruinous 
 confequence. 
 
 A cer-
 
 l68 THE WHIG. 
 
 A certain fet of perfons have, for many 
 years, been entrufted with the adminiftra- 
 tion of publick affairs ; and certain princi- 
 ples of government have been purfued by 
 the prince, and permitted by the people. 
 During this fyftem of men and meafures, the 
 publick weal has fuffered gradual, but 
 univerfal decay. Civil difcords were kin^ 
 died in the empire, which the miniflers of 
 the ftate had neither wifdom to reconcile, 
 nor vigour to fubdue. Foreign wars threat- 
 ened. The miniflers of the ftate neither 
 prevented them by precaution, nor prepared 
 any adequate ftrength of their country to 
 encounter them. Invited by folly, indo- 
 lence, and weaknefs, the enemies of Great- 
 Britain united againft her with the countries 
 fhe had loft in her civil diflentions. The 
 minifters of ftate had provided no alliance 
 for their country ; to compenfate the lofs of 
 her ancient ftrength. Thus Great-Britain 
 alone was involved in war againft the moft 
 powerful monarchies of Europe, and the In- 
 dependent States of America. A general cam- 
 paign enfued, in which, though fhe efcaped 
 from immediate ruin by fignal interpofitions 
 
 of
 
 THE WHIG. 169 
 
 of Providence, (he fuffered fatal lofies and in- 
 delible difgrace. Some of her moft valuable 
 iflands were taken ; the fineft armies (he had 
 ever raifed, at the largeft expence (he had ever 
 fuftained, were wafted on impoflible fervice ; 
 and her fleet was faved only by flight into 
 her own harbours. The internal mifchiefs 
 that daily grew under the minifters of the 
 flate, were correfpondent to the external 
 calamities. Ireland was famiftied, and in 
 arms ; Scotland was pampered into info- 
 lence and tumult ; and England teemed 
 with defperate difcontent. When the mini- 
 fters of ftate had conducted publick affairs 
 to this fituation, they called on Parliament 
 to congratulate the King on the bleflings of 
 his reign, and to recognife the wifdom and 
 fuccefs of their adminiftration and Parlia- 
 ment complied ! 
 
 I fubmitted to my coutrymen, in my laft 
 paper, that the conducl of their reprefenta- 
 tives challenges their inftant animadverfion. 
 When two hundred and thirty-three men 
 are found to aflert, in Parliament, what no 
 man out of it will gravely maintain in com- 
 mon converfation ; it will be mockery of the 
 
 people
 
 THE WHIG, 
 
 people any longer to denominate fuch a 
 body the reprefentative of the nation ; it 
 will be bafenefs in the people any longer to 
 endure fuch a. body, without effectual ani- 
 madverfion and thorough reformation. If 
 any one man, in poffeflion of his fenfes, can 
 be (elected from the community ; if one of 
 the two hundred and thirty-three, any where 
 but within the walls of his prifon ; if even 
 the obfequious commit who reads this paper 
 to the nodding Prime Minifter, will declare, 
 without a blufh or a fmile, that he thinks 
 him or his aflbciates in power adequate to 
 the truft of the flate ; I will join in their 
 praife. If fuch a man can be found, an- 
 other miracle will follow The Whig {hall 
 concur in the praife of the prefent miniflers, 
 and the people may confent to rejoice in 
 their administration. 
 
 It is fit that the people mould furvey, again 
 and again, this unheard-of abufe in govern- 
 ment, fince the bloodied aera that blots the 
 page of hiftory. If fuch be the decided con- 
 trariety of fentiment between two hundred 
 and thirty-three legiflators of England, and 
 every individual of the country ; and if die 
 
 body,
 
 THE WHIG, 
 
 body, fo oppofed to the whole people, perfift 
 in delegating the whole truft of the ftate to 
 weak or wicked men, convicted by the evi- 
 dence of fenfe of having exhaufted the beft 
 flrengthand wealth of the country, and urged 
 by mad defpair to tear wider her wounds, even 
 to the laft drop of her blood, let the hifto- 
 rian of fallen empires diftinguiih if he can. 
 Where is the difference in calamitous effecl 
 between the Triumvirate of Rome, and a ma- 
 jority of a .H**** of C****** ? There is 
 yet a particular difference between them, he 
 may anfwer truly, as much to be lamented as 
 their general rcfemblance. Two of the Ro- 
 man tyrants paid the debt of their tyranny. 
 But modern times have not yet enforced the 
 demands of humanity ; and the inter tia of 
 the people feems indifferent to an O6lavius 
 or an Auguftus. 
 
 Befides the palpable evidence of all the 
 facls of the time, which demanded the ven- 
 geance of parliament againft the authors, 
 the exprefs confeflion of guilt from the arch- 
 culprit will demonftrate, in a curious point 
 of view, the.juftice of the tribunal that ac- 
 quitted and applauded him. Lord North 
 
 pleaded
 
 iy2 THE WHIG. 
 
 pleaded guilty to the prefent Jlate and future 
 danger of Ireland. I wifti to point the at- 
 tention of my countrymen to this aftonifh- 
 ing inftance of miniflerial effrontery, and 
 parliamentary acquiefcence. The Prime 
 Minifter of the State faid, on the firft day 
 of the prefent feffion, (f That he did not 
 know the origin of the diftrefs of Ireland ; 
 and that he could not apply a remedy to an 
 unknown diforder." This eventful fubjecl; 
 is to be talked of towards being entered on, 
 and papers are to be read this day towards 
 its being taken into confideration. Let us 
 recollect the faft, and judge of the Prime 
 Minifter. Ireland has been groaning un- 
 der ruinous diftreffes fmce the commence- 
 ment of the war between Minifters and 
 America. The fupprefiion of her only ex- 
 port-manufaclure feverely wounded her little 
 induftry, and almofl ruined her few manu- 
 facturers. A wicked embargo completed 
 her beggary and famine, which foon grew 
 univerfal and intolerable. Such was the 
 opportunity of circumflance in which the 
 Prime Minifter thought it wife to infult a 
 high-fpirited people ; to deceive them with 
 
 words.
 
 THE WHIG. 173 
 
 words, and to incenfe them with new a&ual 
 injuries. Such was the concurrence of 
 motives on which he thought it fafe to leave 
 the kingdom of Ireland without defence 
 againft an invading enemy. 
 
 The people of Ireland were exafperated 
 by their wrongs from the Englifh Minifter, 
 which they miftakenly attributed to the 
 Englifti Nation : they unanimoufly affo- 
 ciate againft Englifh manufactures : they 
 unanimoufly difclaim Englifh law : the, 
 people affume to themfelves the prerogative 
 power of the fword, of which the Prime 
 Mmifter had dive/led the King: and near 
 fifty thoufand men are now in aftual and 
 perfecl array throughout a country fmarting 
 with the keeneft fenfe of injury ; a country 
 unanimous even to the bench of their empty 
 Treafury, that nothing (hort of a FREE 
 TRADE, to and from all parts of the world, 
 and fubjecl to no reftraint but the pleafure 
 of their own parliament, can redrefs their 
 wrongs, or relieve their diftrefs. 
 
 And now, years after their diftrefs 'grew 
 ruinous, the Prime Minifter tells the Britifh 
 Parliament, " he knows nothing of its origin, 
 
 and
 
 174 
 
 and can apply no remedy." -And the Britifh 
 Parliament ((hall we longer call it the Britifh 
 Parliament?) rejoice in the blefiings of his 
 Majefty's reign, and applaud the wifdom of 
 his Majefty's Counfels and Counfellors ! 
 
 The writer of this paper has too ftrong 
 caufe of knowledge that the friend/hip of 
 Ireland is defperate to this country, 'if the 
 prefent Counfels and Counfellors of the 
 Crown (hall be longer permitted by the 
 people. He fubjoins what * he has felefted 
 from their uniform addreffes to their Repre- 
 
 * " We are therefore confident that if a FREE TRADE, 
 "' the only expedient left to avert the impending ruin of 
 " this country, depended onthcgoodnefs and wifdom of the 
 " King and the Parliament ot Ireland, that event would 
 -" immediately take place. But however unconftitution- 
 " ally the prefent reflraints on our trade were originally 
 ** impofed, and however well inclined his Majefly to 
 " abolifh them, we fear he cannot effeft this wife purpofe 
 " without the confent of the Britifh Parliament ; a body to 
 ' whofe power we are no ftrangers, but with whokjuftife 
 " we are totally unacquainted ; and we likewife fear that 
 " the confent of the Britifh Parliament depends on the 
 " humour of the Britijh Mintjler,a charafleryet unknown 
 *' to the confidence or gratitude of this country." 
 
 [Extract from *' Unanimous Addrefs, &c. of the county 
 of the town of Carrickfergus to their Reprefentatives." 
 , 1779.] 
 
 fentatives,
 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 fentativcs, as expreflive of the determined 
 fpirit of them all. 
 
 November 30, 17/ 
 
 (No. 3.) 
 
 The King can do no Wrong. 
 
 E N a Prince of the Houie of 
 Hanover wears the Crown of Great-Britain, 
 the WHIG is not afhamed to confefs his 
 prejudice. He would prefume, from die 
 former Princes and principles of that Houfe, 
 to the prefent ; and his predileftion is anx- 
 ious to believe, in the full extent of the 
 maxim, perfonal as well as political, that tJie 
 King can do no wrong. 
 
 But when a monarch in this country, 
 
 fprung from whatever line, adorned with 
 
 whatever hopes from the glories of his an- 
 
 ceflry, or his own original virtues, perfifls 
 
 2 in
 
 176 THE WHIG. 
 
 in counfels that do grievous wrong, and 
 threaten inftant ruin ; affection is loft in 
 duty. Duty to the country demands difcuflion 
 of a maxim, which, if the conftruction of 
 the Court were permitted, would fanctify 
 every publick crime, and eftablifh publick 
 calamity. Duty to the PrinCe, as part of 
 the conftitution formed by the people, en- 
 joins conftitutional explanation to him of 
 a phrafe, which flattery has rendered fatal 
 to tyrants. 
 
 When it is truly faid that the King can 
 do no wrong, the office is intended, and not 
 the perfon ; and this true conftruction is the 
 perfect praife of our admirable conftitution. 
 The King of England can do no wrong ; 
 for it is not the office of the King to do any 
 thing. The cautious wifdom of our policy 
 will riot, permit the King to act. It not 
 only fuppofes, but requires that ability (hall 
 be felected from the people to execute the 
 active duties of the ftate. Even in the felec- 
 tion of fuch active ability for publick fervice, 
 the King, as we are now confidering him, 
 cannot do wrong. For the confideration 
 fuppofes him in his conftitutional publick 
 
 character ;
 
 THE WHIG. 177 
 
 character : a character conferred on him 
 conditionally by the people. It is impoffi- 
 ble, therefore, in conftitutional contempla- 
 tion, that a King of England mould appoint 
 incapable or unworthy men to adminifter 
 publick affairs ; or, if appointed, that the 
 People of England mould permit them to be 
 retained ; that a free people mould facrifice 
 their original rights and conftitutive power 
 to fuch abufe of the kingly office. The 
 unfairnefs of arguing from fuch abufe is 
 evident. The kingly office, fo abufed, 
 would no longer belong to the conftitution. 
 It is a monftrous cafe, and out of the fup- 
 pofition of fair reafoning. 
 
 Such being the genuine fenfe of the max- 
 im, the corollary obfervation that is formed 
 upon it appears equally juft and neceffary ; 
 that the minifters of executive power are 
 refponfible to the people : and their refpon- 
 ftbility was formerly through the medium of 
 parliament. 
 
 The office of King being thus confidered, 
 I trufl with due refpe6l ; for I think it re- 
 ceives the higheft, when defined as part of 
 the conftitution ; it remains to remind the 
 
 VOL. i. N perfon
 
 178 THE WHIG. 
 
 perfon appointed to that office, that he is 
 a man ; that in his perfonal capacity he 
 may, he muft do wrong; for error is ef- 
 fential to humanity. It remains to demon- 
 it rate to him, that whoever confounds his 
 perfon with his office, is a fatal enemy to 
 both ; for that they are fo perfeclly diftin6l 
 in their nature, attributes, and interefts, that 
 the abufe of the one, is expiable only by 
 the punifhment of the other. The confti* 
 tution will not admit that the King did 
 wrong ; and the law fays, that the King 
 never dies : but Charles Stuart was an obfti- 
 nate tyrant ; and Charles Stuart loft his 
 head. 
 
 No more then let a maxim founded in 
 the very bottom of constitutional liberty, be 
 forced to a conftruclion which would (hake 
 and endanger it. No longer let the law of 
 the constitution, which would preferve fa- 
 cred the office of the King, be perverted t 
 the destruction of the man. 
 
 Another tenet of court-craft, new in the 
 politicks of this country, is not Icfs dangerous 
 ?o its profeflbrs than the perverfion of the 
 royal maxim that has been confidered. As 
 
 Kings
 
 THE WHIG. 179 
 
 Kings believed they could not individually 
 do wrong, Minifters now flatter themfelves 
 that majorities in parliament can make -wrong 
 right ; and from them they hope, not only 
 their own exculpation, but perfect eftablim- 
 ment of their arbitrary fyftem. 
 
 It will not be difficult to demonftrate the 
 folly, as well as the wickednefs, of fuch a 
 principle ; and to prove, to the utter defpair 
 of arbitrary men, that the feeds of revolu- 
 tion have been more immediately fown, and 
 with more certainty of inftant growth and 
 effect, by the Minifters of the prefent King, 
 than by any inftruments of tyranny in for- 
 mer times. 
 
 The pofition which I maintain, and (hall 
 prove, in contradiction to their parliamen- 
 tary confidence, is this ; that majorities in 
 parliament are certainly ruinous to the Sove- 
 reign and his Minifters , in proportion to the 
 fupport they are induced to give them, in per- 
 Jijiing againjl thefenje of the people. 
 
 I (hall, in my next paper, confider the 
 
 fa6t, as it has occurred in America and 
 
 Ireland ; and then, if our Whig-fpirit be 
 
 not extinct, and if fimilar caufes produce 
 
 N 2 fimilar
 
 l8o THE WHIG. 
 
 iimilar effects, let the executive power, tremlle 
 in Great-Britain. 
 
 December, 1779. 
 
 (No. 4.) 
 
 Tbis glorious fpirit O/WHIGGISM, animates millions 
 in America, who prefer poverty with liberty to 
 gilded chains and fordid affluence ; and will die 
 in defence of their rights as men> as freemen, 
 What /hall refijl this fpirit ? Ireland they have 
 to a man. 
 
 Jan. 20, 1775. , LORD CHATHAM. 
 
 llOWEVER congenial his mind to the 
 fpirit triumphant in a neighbouring kingdom, 
 emulous of the glories as (he was participant 
 in the injuries of the weftern empire, grievous 
 yet is the pang which every lover of his 
 country feels in this degraded ifland. For 
 the triumph of Liberty is now the difgrace 
 
 of
 
 THE WHIG. l8l 
 
 of England. America is victorious and free. 
 Ireland, without the trouble of vi&ory, en- 
 joys all its confequence and glory. She 
 difplays the banner of independence; her 
 armies appear ; and England furrenders at 
 difcretion. 
 
 England, the arbitrefs of empire, Eng- 
 land, thedifpenfer of the power and guardian 
 of the rights of nations ; England, the 
 wonder and terror of the world what art 
 thou now ! Difabled, difhonoured, fallen ; 
 defperate of afliftance from friends, for you 
 have none ; or of fuccefs againft enemies, 
 for you failed when you were flronger, 
 againfl adverfaries lefs numerous or pow- 
 erful : too little for confideration in a 
 fcale of the balance which you once held and 
 adjufted ; and remembered only in the ri- 
 dicule of Europe ; vanquifhed by your 
 Colonies, to whom you fued in vain for 
 mercy ; and fubdued even by the afpecl 
 of Ireland, to her abfolute command. 
 
 Love of our country cannot be extin- 
 guiftied in the hearts of Englifhmen ; and 
 care of what we love compels us to fave 
 it from utter deftru&ion. Though the 
 
 feme
 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 fenfe of glory were dead throughout the 
 people, yet, if the common and firft prin- 
 ciples of nature, felf-defence and felf-pre- 
 fervation, be not extinct among us, the 
 period of revolution and revenge is at 
 hand. The publick fenfe was dull to the 
 diftant mifchief ; but prefent calamity ftrikes 
 flrongly and fuddenly. Three months 
 nurfed the American lie; but the Minifter 
 cannot falfify Ireland. Three days dete6l 
 him, and demonftrate the glories of that 
 country, and the difgrace of this; her in- 
 dependence, and our fubmiflion. We feel 
 her torn from our fide, and we bleed at 
 every vein. 
 
 Such feeling is too poignant for pa- 
 tience. It roufes to aftion every remaining 
 nerve of our ftrength, to refcue from inftant 
 lofs the little that is left ; to preferve do- 
 meflic fecurity, though we have thrown 
 away empire; to entruft the facred relick 
 to hearts that know its value, and hands 
 that can defend it ; and, above all, pioufly 
 to perform the rites of the conftitution ; ap- 
 peafmg, by exemplary juftice, the indignant 
 manes of our power and our glory. 
 
 But
 
 THE WHIG. 183 
 
 But in this necefTary courfe of national 
 juftice, much difficulty is to be encountered 
 from the generous prejudices of Englifhmen. 
 In favour of Miniflers ? No man will ima- 
 gine it, in a reign, which has rendered fy- 
 nonimous the odium of the country and the 
 favour of the crown. The fate of fuch 
 favourites as have never before ftained the 
 annals of any reign in any country, will be 
 unparalleled in hiftory. Unqualified by any 
 fentiment of refpeft for talents, admiration 
 of magnanimity, or pity of any one virtue, 
 the publick execration that fpares them not 
 in their power, will overwhelm them in their 
 fall ; the contempt that purfues them now, 
 will infpire peculiar indignation then, that 
 fuch ufurpers of power mould have been 
 enabled and permitted fo to fall ; with the 
 blind defpair, but without the flrength of 
 the ftrong man, fo to drag into ruin the 
 mighty fabrick of the Britim empire. 
 
 But difficulties of an high and delicate 
 nature will arife in effecting the revolution 
 of our liberties. They have arifen elfe^ 
 where; but the neceffity of the common- 
 wealth has furmounted them. Founded, 
 
 however^
 
 184 THE WHIG. 
 
 however, in the generofities of ancient at- 
 tachment, I know they are found in the 
 heart of every Englifhman. 
 
 Eighteen years of tory-rule cannot have 
 entirely detached the Whigs of England 
 from the Houfe of Hanover. The memory 
 of an illuftrious anceftry, and gratitude to 
 their virtues, muft qualify refentment of 
 prefent wrongs, with an affectionate kind 
 of forrow ; and forrow, in generous minds, 
 foon grows to pity. Crimes then are loft 
 in misfortunes ; or, if remembered, we wifh 
 to reclaim rather than to punifh. Or even 
 if obftinacy be irreclaimable, we have ftill 
 fome hope in the future, from our know- 
 ledge of the paft. A difhonoured reign may 
 pafs away in our annals, like a cloudy day 
 in fummer ; and if the day be not too long, 
 nor the tempeft too violent, the glories of 
 the fucceeding morning may anfwer our 
 hopes, and renew our happinefs. 
 
 But to tranquilife, if poflible^ the prefent 
 fcene, by reconciling our affeclion to a par- 
 ticular family, with our duty to the country, 
 let us endeavour to win attention before we 
 force it. Let us convince by reafon rather 
 
 than
 
 THE WHIG, 185 
 
 than by power ; and try to prevent the 
 mifchief by the example of others, rather 
 than corre6l it by our own. 
 
 It was propofed in my laft paper to con- 
 fider the facl of difunion from this country, 
 as it has occurred in America and Ireland, 
 in demonftration of the maxim that I there 
 advanced againft the parliamentary confi- 
 dence of arbitrary men. From the fatal 
 example of thofe countries, I undertook to 
 prove, that majorities in parliament are ruin- 
 ous to the Sovereign and his Minifters, in 
 proportion to the fupport they are induced to 
 give them again/I thefenfe of the people. 
 
 In America the people were unanimous 
 againft certain powers claimed by their late 
 king, and attempted to be exercifed by his 
 miniflers : but the monarch perfifted againil 
 his people ; and has loft his American 
 throne. So far the fa6l ftands undifputed. 
 Now let us confider whether the minifters 
 and their majorities in parliament have not 
 affefted the ruin of his royalty, while they 
 flattered his ambition, and feemed to fup- 
 port his power. 
 
 ft
 
 i86 THE WHIG; 
 
 It is beyond any common calculation of 
 obftinacy, that the American war would 
 have been perfifted in, if the monarch had 
 not been infatuated by thofe monflrous ma- 
 jorities which his minifters, by every mon- 
 itrous means, procured in parliament. I 
 fay by every monftrous means : for befides 
 the court-corruption that prevails in all 
 cafes, new and unheard-of wickednefs pre- 
 vailed in this. Falfification of facl was not 
 indeed new in the minifter; but in the mag- 
 nitude of this inftance, it took peculiar cri- 
 minality. Suppreffion of every truth, uni- 
 verfai fraud, and bafeft mifreprefentation, 
 blinded the reafon of men ; while every fe- 
 duftive and inflammatory art perverted and 
 poifoned their paflions. Without fuch im~ 
 pulfe, nO monarch, however blind or obfti- 
 nate, would have perfifted in fuch a war ; 
 without fuch fupport, he could not have 
 drawn the fword from year to year againft 
 his people. 
 
 But even if fuch had been the fituation ; 
 if without the fiftion of parliamentary fanc- 
 tion, the royal flandard had been creeled 
 
 . againft
 
 THE WHIC, 187 
 
 again ft. the liberties of America, he could 
 not have loft his American Crown more 
 abfolutely than he has by a6l of parliament. 
 I believe he would not have loft it fo cer- 
 tainly. America would have conquered the 
 King, and more fpeedily perhaps than (he 
 conquered the King and Parliament ; but 
 her magnanimity might have forgotten the 
 idle ambition of a foolifh Prince; though 
 {he will never forgive, in prudence or in 
 fpirit, the formal tyranny of a grave Legi- 
 {lature. 
 
 My reader may have been furprized and 
 fhocked, when I afferted the fal of Ireland 
 being now difunited from this country ; be- 
 caufe he may have liftened to the tales of 
 Minifters, and the impudent inventions of 
 their advocates. But I affert again and 
 again, that Ireland is at this moment in an 
 a&ual ftate of difunion from us ; difunion 
 of commerce, difunion of finance, difunion 
 of military ftrength, and difunion of nation- 
 al affection. Such is the faft ; and there- 
 fore I ex peel: to hear the Minifter aflure 
 Parliament of the contrary. 
 
 If
 
 l88 THE WHIG. 
 
 If Parliament continue any faith in the 
 wifdom or truth of the man, whofe folly 
 and fallacies jnifled them to caft America 
 from us, the prefent difunion of Ireland, 
 which their marked fervility to him at the 
 clofe of laft feflion has already produced, 
 and their prepofterous fupport of him at the 
 beginning of this, has already ftrongly con- 
 firmed, will be ratified for ever. I flate the 
 fa6l of their refentment, without now going 
 into the difcuflion of their wrongs : but 
 their refentment is exprefly and pointedly 
 againft the Britim Parliament. They ex- 
 hauft all their eloquence againfl it in their 
 debates ; and when they want terms to ex- 
 prefs its tyranny, its avarice, its infenfibility 
 to every thing honourable or juft, they 
 fay that the Britifh Parliament and the 
 Britim Minifter are fynonimous. 
 
 December 1779. 
 
 (No.
 
 THE WHIG. 189 
 
 (No. 5.) 
 
 Jncidit in Scyllam. 
 
 L Defire to reftify fome mifreprefentation 
 which may have arifen on my ftate of the 
 prefent (ituation of Ireland, in my laft pa- 
 per, both as to the nature of the facl, and 
 the view with which it was there advanced. 
 
 When I aflerted that Ireland was actually 
 difunited from this country, in commerce, 
 eftablifhment, and in affeftion ; I did not 
 flate a difunion fo unfortunate with any 
 triumph, or wifh to confirm it. It was to 
 prevent the continuance of a fituation fo 
 fatal to us, that the facl was pointed out as 
 it exifled. While I admired the rifing glo- 
 ries of that country, I defcribed truly the 
 rapid fall of this ; not for the purpofe- of 
 odious and difgraceful comparifon ; not to 
 infult England with her misfortunes ; but 
 to roufe her from ruin by the demonftration 
 of herfelf and Ireland. Seeing and feeling 
 
 the
 
 190 THE WHIG. 
 
 the difgrace in which we are entangled, the 
 victorious example of popular fpirit in Ire- 
 land ought to be no mean additional incen- 
 tive to us. The people there have exerted 
 their original energy, to effect a revolution 
 which nothing but the omnipotence of an una- 
 nimous people could produce. They have 
 recovered commerce and liberty; and, in 
 contempt of the little forms and ceremonies 
 of conftitution, perverted and abufed as they 
 had been againft the publick weal, they 
 have eftablifhed an invincible force to main- 
 tain their recovered rights. 
 
 As to the nature of the difunion actually 
 exifting in the refpects that have been men- 
 tioned, it is our happinefs to know that it 
 is a forced and monftrous fituation; com- 
 pelled into its prefent exiftence by tem- 
 porary caufes alone, which the breath of 
 the people can fweep away for ever; and 
 redeeming the juflice and honour of our 
 national character, cement on an enlarged 
 bafis the connected ftrength of Great-Britain 
 and Ireland. 
 
 To thofe who have not long had the 
 misfortune of feeing and hearing the Mini- 
 
 ften
 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 fter, efpecially in the propofal of conci- 
 liatory plans, it would appear extraor- 
 dinary that his firft ftep towards the adjuft- 
 ment of a difpute, fhould be not only a 
 iludious mifreprefentation of its principle, 
 but an abfolute falfification of the manner 
 in which that principle is profefled and 
 maintained. Pretending to open the door 
 of conciliation, he lays a {tumbling block at 
 the threfhold. He faid, " that Ireland peti- 
 tioned, for a favour ; ;> and left the mifrepre- 
 fentation mould fail of effect, he repeated 
 and enforced it. " It is not a demand, 
 (continued his Lordfhip) of any conftitu- 
 tional right ; they petition, humbly and 
 dutifully petition, as a favour from, this 
 country, the extenfion of their trade." To 
 a whole people, unanimous in the fentiment 
 that what they wifh for is their right, their 
 right by nature, recognized by the law of 
 their country, and founded in their confti- 
 tution ; it would not feem the reconciling 
 language of policy to fay that they have no 
 juft claim whatever ; and that every thing 
 they obtain, will be merely through charity 
 and favour. But to an united people, 
 2 zealous
 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 zealous in aftive fupport of their fentiments* 
 aflbciated, to a man, in every ftrong mea- 
 fure that the mod determined fpirit can fug- 
 ged, glowing with emulous patriotifm that 
 kindles throughout the country ; to a peo- 
 ple arrayed in their own arms, it is the 
 language of madnefs to impute the paflive- 
 nefs of petition, the humblenefs of beg- 
 gary. 
 
 Utterly ignorant, as the Prime Minifter 
 profefled himfelf, of the moft important 
 queflion that the narrowed limits of our 
 empire will now admit, filence, on a fubjecl: 
 fo delicate as the rights of kingdoms, was 
 doubly his duty. For though he were 
 matter of the theory, and could enforce the 
 fac~l, it were furely an unwife difcuffion, and 
 a dangerous exercife of power ; beyond 
 comparifon more dangerous towards Ireland, 
 than it could at firft appear towards Ame- 
 rica. I do not unnecefTarily enter into the 
 queflion of comparative flrength at the re- 
 fpe&ive periods. The impotence of this 
 reduced country is notorious ; and it were 
 lofs of argument to go into a proof of our 
 imbecility to any offenfive purpofe, when 
 
 the
 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 the Prime Minifter, within thefe two days, 
 has told the Idand of Jamaica, " he cannot 
 promife any defenfive force for that Jlation, 
 knowing it, as he fays, to be the moft im- 
 portant, and wijhing, moft unimportantly, 
 that he was able to fecure it ;" and when 
 the prefiding Lord of the Admiralty infults 
 the planters and merchants that apply to 
 him, with their folly in fuppofmg that he 
 could prote6l them. 
 
 I fpeak of the eftablifhed principle of 
 every man in Ireland, the principle of inde- 
 pendence on the Parliament of this country. 
 I know that the fame principle was imputed 
 to America; but it. was falfely imputed. 
 The ingenuity of Lord Mansfield failed to 
 give it femblance ; and the Chief Juftice was 
 detected in the forged record he produced 
 to prove it. But in Ireland the facl is cer- 
 tain and univerfal, and therefore the Mini- 
 fter ftudioufly contradicts it. He deter- 
 mines the diftrefs of his country by inflexi- 
 ble perfeverance againft truth, whether he 
 afferts or denies. He would aflert, that the 
 American principle was independence on 
 the Britifh Parliament, while all America 
 
 VOL. i. o remon-
 
 1CJ4 TIIE WHIG. 
 
 remonflrated the contrary ; and he has loft 
 America. He denies that Ireland has any 
 fuch principle, when every man in Ireland 
 is ready to draw his fword in defence of it. 
 
 It might be hoped that no man could be 
 found fo obftinately fenfelefs as to perfevere 
 in a fyftem fo impoffible, to fupport the 
 fupremacy of his parliament, when he has 
 thrown away the power of his country. 
 Such bruta fulmina are become ridiculous 
 in Europe. 
 
 As to the fubftance of the propofed concef- 
 fions to Ireland; I am ready to acknowledge 
 what mufl have been expefted by every one 
 who knew the Mmifler. It is not furprifing 
 that the man, who, after binding himfelf, by the 
 obligation of honour, never to concede any 
 thing to America, fupplicated her the next 
 year to accept every thing, no ceflion fhould 
 now make large and fubftantial compenfation 
 to Ireland, becaufe he had, Jaft year, in perfon, 
 prevented her flighted fatisfaftion. It is for 
 Parliament to contemplate the dilemma to 
 which this Minifterhas reduced them. If they 
 concur with his prefent propofition, they de- 
 termine that the great and extenfive benefit of 
 
 the
 
 THE WHIG. 195 
 
 the greatefl trade thefe countries know, is not 
 too much for Ireland, when the decifion is 
 fcarcely dry in their flatute-book, that the 
 impoflible growth of a noxious weed was 
 favour enough for that country. If they 
 rejecl the prefent proportion, Ireland will 
 reject them for ever : not their power and 
 fupremacy ; for parliamentary dignity is no 
 more, and let Parliament remember the 
 authors of its deftruclion : but every con- 
 nection and tie of alliance will diflblve be- 
 tween the countries. 
 
 I have fpoken of the Minifter's propqfi- 
 tion, for only one is worthy confideration 
 or anxiety. His glafs he confeffed was a 
 trifle ; and his rum and, fugar, he proved, 
 were lefs, anticipating the true objection, 
 that the very high propofed duties, on the 
 direcl trade of thofe articles to Ireland, 
 would burthen them more than the difad- 
 vanfages of their prefent circuitous courfe 
 to that kingdom. "But then," fays this 
 conferrer of favours, " it will be optional 
 to the people of Ireland to accept this new 
 mode, or retain the old one." That is, he 
 makes a very generous offer of an injury, 
 o 2 and
 
 lCj6 THE WHIG. 
 
 and the people are additionally obliged to 
 him for gracioufly giving them leave to 
 refufe it. 
 
 But the confideration that I have ftated, 
 as paramount in the determined fpirit of 
 Ireland, renders this third proportion worfe 
 than trifling or uncommercial. The quef- 
 tion of flate is aflumed in it ; and fuch af- 
 fumption, retained, will for ever damn all 
 negociation. He propofes an enacting pro- 
 vjfo in a Britim ftatute, to prefcribe the du- 
 ties to be impofed by an Irifh parliament. 
 The fecond-hand farce of giving them the 
 form of regiftering what a Britifh parliament 
 has dictated, implies a contempt of their 
 underftanding, that probably will not tend 
 to allay their fpirit. 
 
 It is neceffary, for the welfare, the peace, 
 the exiftence of the country, that the parlia- 
 ment and the people mould fee where they 
 are, what they are doing, and with whom 
 they are treating. The Minifter has no 
 merit in his propofed conceffion. It ftig- 
 matizes him more bafely, if poffible, than 
 all his adminiftration have been able to do : 
 but among the people a liberal fpirit has 
 
 gone
 
 THE WHIG. 197 
 
 gone forth ; they will not aft from the bafe- 
 nefs of fear, but let them entertain this great 
 queftion with prudence, moderation, and 
 dignity. If it be poflible, in the prefent 
 fatal crifis, to decide it with due impartiality, 
 with perfect and cool juftice to the claims of 
 Ireland, and the interefts of England where 
 mail the vengeance of the people fall? On 
 the heads of thofe guilty men who have dif- 
 armed the ftate of its power who have cor- 
 rupted the functions of parliament WHO 
 
 HAVE BETRAYED THE PEOPLE OF ENG- 
 LAND. 
 
 December 13, 1779. 
 
 ,' Xo.
 
 1C)8 THE WHIG. 
 
 ( No. 6. ) 
 
 To the Right Honour oMe EDWARD Lord, 
 'Baron THITRLOW, and, Lord High Chan- 
 cellor of England. 
 
 ' Magnum virum facile dixcris ; BONUM llbenter. 
 
 ji Have acknowledged your rank, my Lord, 
 and your high titles, with the pleafure that 
 every liberal mind feels in doing juftice to 
 an eminent character. Every man is ready 
 to confefs that they have been earned by 
 abilities as fuperior, as the independence 
 and honour ought to be, which alone can 
 dignify their nature, or juftify their tenure. 
 But there, my Lord, on that cardinal point, 
 the ptiblick judgment has been long fuf- 
 pended. If I add, that the fcale is now 
 rapidly defcending againft you, and that the 
 wonder of your talents avails only to give 
 weight and acceleration to the cenfure of 
 your conduct, your Lordfhip will confefs 
 the juftice of your country, when you recoi- 
 led
 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 Je6l yourfelf, and look round on the men 
 whofe caufe you condefcend to plead. 
 
 One of that publick who delighted in 
 admiring, and who now exercife with pain 
 their right of judging you, I yet offer myfelf 
 to your Lordfhip as your friend. And 
 though the friendfhip of honeft reproof be 
 in general equally thanklefs and fruitlefs, I 
 rely on the manlinefs of your mind for its 
 publick effe6l in this inftance, and even for 
 your Lordfhip's gratitude. 
 
 Before our correfpondence proceeds, let 
 me clear its way to your underftanding and 
 your approbation. 
 
 This letter is written, and unlefs rendered 
 unneceffary, more (hall be addreffed to your 
 Lordfhip, not as a publick man who in- 
 fluences publick affairs, but as the Dictator* 
 of the State who decides them ; I do not fay 
 immediately in council, but certainly in 
 effect. Your Lordfhip already underftands 
 me, and fo will the people, before our cor- 
 refpondence clofes. In the mean time, I 
 flate myfelf to your Lordfliip, and my coun- 
 try, not alone juftifted, but impelled to re- 
 prefent you to yourfelf, and explain you to 
 
 the
 
 20O THE WHIG. 
 
 the publick, in all your prefent power, and 
 all its fatal confequence ; impelled, by what 
 your own nervous eloquence too confcioufly 
 defcribes, " the abundant danger and exi- 
 gence of the time." 
 
 I do not argue unfairly with your Lord- 
 (hip, when I affume the facl; of our mif- 
 government for the laft ten years. / know 
 the contempt with which the fuperiority of 
 your mind has looked down on the wretch- 
 ednefs of the adminiftration. 
 
 I admire the emphatic zeal for your own 
 dignity with which you have ever difclaimed 
 all fellowmip, even perfonal acquaintance,* 
 with the Prime Minifter. And it was in 
 thefe fentiments that I hoped, and the pub- 
 lick ^expecled, my Lord, you would have 
 difdained all continuance of publick connec-- 
 
 * Lord Thurlow has taken many opportunities of vin- 
 dicating himfelf on this fubjecl. " I have no habits 
 with the Minifter" " I do not know Lord North," are 
 his expreffions (verbatim) on thofc occafions. But, in a 
 more publick fcene, his determined filence on Lord 
 North's charaJfer, is ftill more decifive. He cannot, in- 
 deed, refcue him from the eloquence of Lord Shelburne ; 
 but it is the very malice of contempt to leave him to the 
 praifes of Lord Hilliborough and the Duke of Chandos. 
 
 tion
 
 THE WHIG. 201 
 
 lion with him. A man of fpirit, it was 
 concluded that you would not devote your- 
 felf for ever to pufillanhnity and difhonour ; 
 a man of adivity and vigour, it was deemed 
 impoflible that you fhouid be rivetted to in- 
 dolence and lethargy, and that the only ex- 
 ertion of your great talents mould be in 
 defence of ignorance and infeniibility, which 
 they had attempted in vain to inform and 
 animate. 
 
 Such, my Lord, was the perfuafion of a 
 people, who were willing to confide at lead 
 in your magnanimity : and even yet it is 
 hoped, that you will not thwart your na* 
 ture, becaufe it happens to concur with 
 your duty ; that the natural exertion of 
 your character will not be weakened, from 
 the confideration that it would fave your 
 country. 
 
 It is not my prefent purpofe, my Lord, 
 to write the hiftory of Mr. Thurlow ; for 
 my objecl is purely publick. Totally, 
 therefore, rejecting every private anecdote, 
 let us contemplate your prefent publick 
 capacity. If turning the telefcope for a 
 moment, I defcry, through the diftant and 
 
 diminifhed
 
 202 1H WHIG. 
 
 diminiihed retrofpecl;, an accidental advo 
 cate at a country quarter feflions, it is only 
 to prepare my mind with due wonder for 
 the contrafl of your prefent magnitude. If 
 I recoiled the firft fortuitous ftep to the 
 houfe of Oueenfbury, it is to admire fm- 
 cerely, fir, to admire, the flrides of your 
 genius, mounting now above the houfe of 
 Bedford. The inferiorities of the portrait 
 are beneath the publick intereft and the 
 publick eye. Ex CAPITE Herculem. 
 
 At the opening of this feffion, the gene- 
 ral ftate of the kingdom, and the empire, 
 became, as ufual, the fubjeft of parliamen- 
 tary confideration. The particular topicks, 
 fince felefted for efpecial difcuffion, have 
 been the condu6l of our miniflers, with 
 refpecl to the kingdom of Ireland, and their 
 management in regard to the publick fi- 
 nance. . 
 
 In all thefe great confiderations and dif- 
 euffions, you have flood forth the only 
 champion of the prefent minifters. For of 
 their own defences, I would in decency fay 
 nothing. Befides their being the culprits, 
 and difentitled to any credit in their affer- 
 
 tion,
 
 THE WHIG". 203 
 
 tion, its meannefs were fufficient to difgufl 
 us, and condemn them. Accufe them of 
 publick crime, of the danger of our iflands, 
 or the lofs of our territory ; they declare 
 with the mod ridiculous folemnity, that it 
 is not the fault of thofe who conduct publick 
 affairs as they are, but of thofe who Labour to 
 make them other wife. For their own part, 
 they call God to witnefs, they know nothing 
 of the matter *. Demonftrate their publick 
 peculation ; they deprecate juftice in the 
 fame fpirit of the Old Bailey ; in the very 
 language, indeed, of a profligate convi6l : 
 We have robbed the publick; but we 
 have fquandered the fpoil ; dorit punijli us, 
 for weJJiall not be able to maintain our f ami- 
 '/tM-h 
 
 I afk pardon from my reader for defcend- 
 ing to fuch mifery ; rendered worthy of 
 publick notice, only from your fingular 
 fup port. No Nobleman, except your 
 
 * Lord North (verbatim) on the flafe of Ireland, and 
 the Jamaica papers ; and Lord Stormont on every fub- 
 jeh ; efpecially the American- queftion, " For he was 
 ambaflador at Paris." 
 
 t Lord Hilliborough (ytrbatim) in the Houfe of Lords. 
 
 Lordfhip,
 
 204 TH 
 
 Lordfhip, has {looped to it; no Englifhman, 
 except yourfelf, has fo infulted his country. 
 Even in the Houfe of Commons, none but 
 Scotch lawyers were found hardy enough on 
 that day to infult this kingdom. And even 
 they, with all the fervility of their country, 
 and venality of their profeflion (Mr. Adam* 
 indeed, is but a young practitioner) were 
 forced to confefs " the fluggijhnefs of Lord 
 North." They did not poft from Scotland to 
 applaud the Minifler, whofe irrefolution has 
 renewed rebellion in their kirk, and whofe 
 continued power will add depopulation and 
 famine to their country. No, my Lord, they 
 are too difcreet. They croffed the Tweed, ac- 
 cording to the diftinftion fuggefted by their 
 countryman, and pretty fteadily adopted fince, 
 not to defend mimjicrs, but fupport govern- 
 ment. And the doftrine is now eftablifhed in 
 practice, by an immediate proficient from 
 Lord Mansfield's fchool ; that the only mode 
 offupporting Government is tojlander the Peo- 
 ple ; to demonftrate that we have neither 
 virtue, talents, nor fpirit among us ; that we 
 ought, therefore, to endure defeat and dif- 
 grace, as our neceffary lot, and hew our 
 i wood
 
 THE WHIG. 205 
 
 wood and draw our water, without re- 
 pining. 
 
 The exclufive infamy of fuch auxiliaries 
 were itfelf fufficient to drag down the dignity 
 of any chara&er. Firmer fame even than 
 yours, if it rifqued fuch ruin, could not efcape 
 it. When the Lord High Chancellor of Eng- 
 land defcends from his prefiding feat in the 
 aflembly of the nobles, to mix with impu- 
 dent mercenaries in a caufe which every 
 man of honour fhrinks from, he forfeits 
 every reputation, and his glory will fet 
 more rapidly than it rofe. Defcent and 
 fall, which, with the fpirits of Milton, we 
 thought adverfe, at leaft to the magnanimity 
 of his character, will grow natural, necef- 
 fary, and inftant, to its abafement. He finks 
 for ever. 
 
 January, 1780. 
 
 (No.
 
 206 THE WHIG. 
 
 (No. 7.) 
 
 , Alas, from whit high, hope t to -what rdapft 
 Unlook'dfor> arc we fall'n ! 
 
 r r 
 
 1 HE fatts which have long tended and 
 now combine to give perfection to the ar- 
 bitrary influence of the crown, may be dif- 
 tinguifhed into- two clafles : the ancient op- 
 portunities ofabufe ofgovernment> unremoved 
 by an imperfecl revolution ; and, the mo- 
 dern inventions of power. It ought not to 
 be wondered at, that the former, which 
 efcaped .the >vreck of James's tyranny, fur- 
 vived fafe and forgotten through the glori- 
 pus and happy reigns that followed. But it 
 is as much to be lamented, as it is fenfibly 
 felt, that dormant as they feem to have been 
 in the reign of popular princes, they were 
 in fa6t acquiring fize and flrength, fufficient 
 to arm the hand of modern power with 
 inftruments more dangerous to liberty, than 
 the coarfer times of James or Charles had 
 
 furnifiied.
 
 THE WHIG. 2O7 
 
 furnifhed. Thofe opportunities, and temp- 
 tations to defpotifm, feemed to have attain- 
 ed their full maturity at the commencement 
 of the prefent reign. The feptennial a 61 of 
 fuicide, abhorrent certainly from the popu- 
 lar nature of parliament, and deftruclive of 
 its due independence on the crown, had 
 been long perpetrated. Military power and 
 civil influence united to enable the Prince, 
 if he were fo difpofed by nature or educa- 
 tion, to opprefs and corrupt the people, 
 whofe property and power was lefTened ex- 
 aftly in the proportion that the crown had 
 gained weight and force, by the eftablim- 
 ment of a (landing army, and a national 
 debt. But, above all, the time of his afcen- 
 iion to the throne was full of fuch peculiar 
 circumltances of popularity, as gave him 
 unlimited, becaufe unfufpefted, power. In- 
 to that aufpicious moment was crouded all 
 the promife of his youth ; founded in the 
 fond memory of all the virtues of his ancef- 
 tors ; of his youth, riling, as it feemed, to 
 renew the race of glory that they had run, 
 even up to the recent goal of univerfal con- 
 quer!. Nature and fortune compiled to 
 
 rive
 
 2O8 THE WHIG. 
 
 give the young Monarch of that day an 
 empire the beft and mofl permanent that 
 Monarchs can enjoy, if they wifh to main- 
 tain it, an abfolute power in the hearts of 
 his fubjefts. 
 
 Such was the power and the opportunity 
 of exercifing it, with which his prefent 
 Majefty afcended the throne. If it had been 
 the counfel of his reign to improve it into 
 the perfect and reciprocal happinefs of him- 
 felf and his people, the way was not fleep 
 nor difficult. The virtues of his royal 
 grandfather, the talents of Mr. Pitt, and the 
 genius of England, called into action by 
 them, had furmounted the difficulties of war 
 and faction, and corruption; and nothing 
 remained for a prince that wifhed an ho- 
 nourable and happy reign, but to purfue the 
 path that his anceftor had trod, with new 
 facility and afcertained fuccefs. 
 
 But if other counfels were introduced, 
 and other objecls propofed than the mutual 
 interefts of prince and people, different then 
 muft have been the means to attain thofe 
 different ends. Then, inftead of cultivating 
 the falutary fruits of wife and -happy go- 
 vern-
 
 THE WHIG. 209 
 
 vernment, the old weeds of tyranny would be 
 carefully cherifhed and diffeminated, till a new 
 harveft fhould arife, adapted to the feafon, and 
 to the taftes of men, lefs loathfome, but more 
 poifonous and fatal. The unextirpated 
 abufes of former times, mellowed now by 
 age, would be refined into a new and more 
 fubtil fpirit. Then would appear, in fuper- 
 addition to the ancient opportunities of 
 mifgovernment, unrernoved by the old 
 Revolution, the, modern inventions of power, 
 to be removed and annihilated only by a 
 new one. 
 
 I will not fay that the counfels early in- 
 culcated into the mind of the young Prince, 
 and the young King, were other than doc- 
 trines of the pure ft liberty ; for I never 
 heard the conftitutional lectures which Lord 
 Bute delivered in the clofet. But every 
 Englifhman will aflert what he feels, while 
 freedom of fpeech and fenfe of feeling re- 
 main to him ; that whatfoever thofe princi- 
 ples were, the effecl: of them has been 
 extenfion of royal influence, and violation 
 of popular rights : and every man of com- 
 mon fenfe will conclude in argument, that 
 
 VOL. i. p as
 
 210 THE WHIG. 
 
 as falfehood cannot flow from truth, fo the 
 political effect that has been ftated as .gene- 
 rally felt, cannot be the refult of the mod 
 perfeft conftitutional principles. 
 
 The diftinguifhing charafteriftic of the 
 prefent reign feems to be the new fpirit in 
 which the members of adminiflration muft 
 feverally live, move, and have their being. 
 Formerly, Adminiflration was a body actu- 
 ated by one fpirit that pervaded the whole ; 
 its members were diilincl, not feparate : the 
 particular function of each was enforced by 
 the correfponding authority of all ; and the 
 general object was compafled by confent of 
 parts, giving the additional effort, as nature 
 and reafon dictate, of united force. Now, 
 our mangled government is in a perpetual 
 ftate of feveralty and difunion ; and, like 
 the Polypus, each wretched part crawls 
 about without power, name, or fignifi- 
 cance. 
 
 But weaknefs alone were not a fufBcient 
 qualification for a modern minifter. He 
 rnufl be actively contemptible, if he expeft 
 honour at court. So conftant encourage- 
 ment is extended, and always a ready audi- 
 ence
 
 THE WHIG. 211 
 
 ence to all the little {lander of office againft 
 office; to the whifper of the Treafury 
 againft the American department, or to the 
 lye of the Admiralty againft them both. 
 Occafions are ftudioufly contrived to bend 
 and fubdue the fpirits of men ; and thofe 
 are advanced the higheft in the fervice, who 
 have beft learned the difcipline of difgrace. 
 There mould be little wonder, that com- 
 manders in fuch a fervice are fought for 
 from the ranks. 
 
 Virtue, we are told by an admired au- 
 thority, is the principle of government in 
 republicks ; and honour in a monarchy. In 
 a government, therefore, fuppofed to unite, 
 and almoft to identify the properties of both; 
 where the power of the monarch is the con- 
 fent of the people ; and popular concurrence 
 is regal ftrength ; we might hope for the com- 
 bined principle of honourable virtue. But if, 
 in facl; direftly contrary, we find a principle 
 that counterplots and counterworks the beft 
 andnobleft aifeclions of humanity, and would 
 annihilate all moral duty and natural con- 
 neclion; a principle that fevers friend from 
 friend, and feduces brother from brother; 
 p 2 that
 
 212 THE WHIG. 
 
 that hugs, and betrays, and deftroys ; that 
 drives honour to defpair, and leaves no alter- 
 native to virtue, but infamy or fuicide; it will 
 not be a very unlogical or uncharitable con- 
 clufion to infer, that fuch a government is 
 neither in the fpirit of a republick, nor a mo~ 
 narchy ; that fuch a principle cannot be fup- 
 pofed to be enforced in mere wantonnefs, and 
 without an object ; for vice is not its own re- 
 ward ; and, therefore, that defpotifm alone 
 is the fpirit of that government, where fuch 
 principles and practices prevail. 
 
 Befides the feparate and difhonoured ca- 
 pacity in which modern politicks require 
 Minifters to depend, not on their virtues or 
 talents, not on popular favour or honour- 
 able connection, but on fomething elfe di- 
 rectly oppofite : towards perfectly eftablifh- 
 ing the new fyflem on the ruins of the old, 
 particular innovation of difgrace was hecef- 
 fary in that department of adminiftration, 
 which the courtefy and the fuccefs of for- 
 mer times had denominated the ftrft. The 
 Prime Minifter was now to be the prime 
 objecl of contempt. Inftead of the digni- 
 fied and official confequence in parliament, 
 
 which
 
 THE WHIG. 213 
 
 which naturally and conftitutionally would 
 attend a Minifter of fpirited talents and 
 popular virtues ; our novus homo muft fub- 
 mit to the new penance of his place : de- 
 riving no honour from viclory, for every 
 in an was to know him only as the Adjutant 
 of the troops ; but left he mould imagine 
 himfelf more, or grow by miftake into any 
 reputation, he was (ludioudy to be expofed 
 in fituations of difgrace and difappoint- 
 ment: in contemptible minorities, without a 
 friend to fupport or pity him : (I fpeak of 
 former occafions, when the court power 
 was fupreme ; for now the management of 
 parliament is not quite fo optional to the 
 fpirit of St. James's :) fo that when the par- 
 liamentary Minister feemed to fail on the full 
 tide of power " to bring America to his feet," 
 whether by Scotch bills of 'Jlarvation, or his 
 own conciliatory propofitions, he was to 
 find himfelf carried away by fome under- 
 current, out of his latitude, and contrary 
 to his reckoning. Real pay indeed was to 
 compenfate the futility of nominal rank ; 
 but the private favour was precarious, and 
 the publick odium certain. He was to be 
 
 the
 
 214 THE WHIG. 
 
 the Minifter or the Meflenger, as the arbi- 
 trary whim of the minute fliould di&ate or 
 permit ; to have authority enough to effec- 
 tuate every mifchief that fhould be com- 
 manded, but no power whatever, if by 
 chance he (hould be inclined to prevent 
 any ; juftly refponfible for others crimes as 
 well as his own, becaufe their willing inftru- 
 ment ; the devoted viftim of their ambition 
 and his own meannefs : he was, in fine, to 
 reprefent the pawn before the perfon of the 
 King* ; advanced and protected for a time; 
 but when no longer able to divert or fuftain 
 the attack, to be fwept away from the board 
 for ever, the enfans perdu of a defperate 
 party. 
 
 \ 
 
 March 1780. 
 
 * In allufion to the Game of Chefs, in which, as has 
 been ftated in the life of Mr. Boyd, he was fo eminently 
 fldlful. 
 
 (No.
 
 THE WHIG. 215 
 
 (No. 8.) 
 THE KING his own Minijler. 
 
 W HEN the planters and merchants of 
 Jamaica demanded from the firft Lord of the 
 Admiralty fome afTurance of protection from 
 the fleet of England, Lord Sandwich in- 
 formed them, " that his was merely an exe- 
 cutive department." When they waited on 
 the Secretary of State for America, to foli- 
 cit fome attention from government, Lord 
 George Germain acquainted them, " that 
 every thing had been done that he could do. :> 
 When they called upon the Prime Minifter 
 for fome exertion to fave the ifland, Lord 
 North told them, " he did not know it was 
 in danger ; but if it were, he could under- 
 take nothing pofitive for its defence : that 
 Lord Sandwich was perfectly right in his 
 politicks ; for that the firft Lord of the 
 Admiralty, the Secretaries of State, and the 
 firft Lord of the Treafury, were merely ex- 
 ecutive : the cabinet mujl determine" 
 
 Omitting
 
 2l6 TH-E WHIG. 
 
 Omitting for the prefent the charafterif- 
 tick conduct of thefe noble perfons on that 
 occafion ; the infolent levity, the hollow 
 politenefs, and the laboured nothingnefs ; 
 I defire to fatten my reader's attention to 
 the fingularity of this fubjeft. It is the 
 only article of political communion among 
 the minifters. In no one fentiment of po- 
 liticks do they agree but this, to difTemble 
 their refpeclive refponiibility, and to load 
 their common matter with the guilt of all 
 his fervants: "you cannot fay that I did 
 it : the King is his own Minifter" 
 
 If it were poflible to add to the guilt of 
 men who have plundered the property, and 
 openly afiail the liberty of the people, this 
 additional contempt of the conftitution of 
 their country would crown their crimes. 
 It is notorious that they have recourfe to it 
 on every criminal and penal part of their 
 conduct or their neglect. It is their con- 
 flant boaft of impunity. I inquire not 
 whether fuch a libel on the government of 
 Englandr-a libel fo falfe, my Lord Mans- 
 field, and fo feditious in neceffary confe- 
 quence againft his crown and dignity, be 
 
 flamped
 
 THE WHIG. 217 
 
 {lamped with the royal imprimatur; or 
 whether, as I wifh may be the fact, it be the 
 forgery of the men who have furrounded 
 and betrayed him. They are the publifti- 
 ers, if they did not invent or dictate it; and 
 they foon will be tried by God and their 
 country. 
 
 In this fhort fentence is wound up and 
 comprefled all the myftery and mifchief of 
 modem politicks. The King is his own Mi- 
 nijitr. That is, the whole executive power 
 and adminiflration of the (late is to be placed 
 in hands fuperior to control ; too ftrong for 
 ordinary refiftance, and too facred, as is 
 fuppofed, for punifhment. In effect there- 
 fore, whenever people can be fubdued to 
 the practice of fuch theory, this principle 
 amounts to perfect and complete defpotifm. 
 For what is the power of the moft arbitrary 
 deipot on earth, other than poffeffion of the 
 whole executive ftrength of the ftate with- 
 out check of refiftance, or fear of punifh- 
 ment?- What truer defcription can apply 
 to an arbitrary Monarch, than that he is the 
 uncontrolled Minifler of his own ambition 
 and caprice, in the unjuft violences of war, 
 
 and
 
 2l8 THE WHIG. 
 
 and the corruptions and follies of internal 
 government ? 
 
 I had occafion in an early paper to dif- 
 cufs the trite and mifunder flood maxim in 
 the polity of England, that the King can do 
 no wrong. While the Englifh conflitution 
 is preferved, it is in its true fenfe a wife and 
 ufeful maxim; but if the monftrous inno- 
 vation were tolerated, that the King is his 
 own Minijler } it becomes nonfenfe or tyran- 
 ny. If he makes no ufe whatever of his 
 minifterial power, it is abfurd to call him. 
 his own minifler, as it would be fuperfluous 
 to fay, that he can do no wrong who does 
 nothing. But if he exert the executive 
 power, perfonally invefled in him by this 
 tyrannous do&rine, and if that exertion be 
 unpunifhable and unqueftionable becaufe he 
 can do no wrong, I know no more complete 
 defcription of arbitrary fway. 
 
 The old Utopia of the controlling care 
 of parliament, of the grand inqueft of the 
 nation, and the hereditary council of the 
 crown, is very pretty reading, and it is no 
 no more. We may amufe ourfelves with 
 looking at thefe venerable family-piftures 
 
 of
 
 THE WHIG. 219 
 
 of the conftitution, the works certainly of 
 eminent matters, and admire the unfading 
 colours of their fame. But are they more 
 than objects of curiofity, or, at beft, of 
 empty admiration, out of all modern tafte 
 and refemblance? In the portrait of Go- 
 dolphin do we trace the features of Lord 
 North ? Was Somers the prototype of the 
 Earl of Mansfield? Is the prefent ufurper 
 of Blenheim, a Duke of Marlborough ? 
 
 In truth, whoever would now go about 
 to talk of whig-principles in government; 
 infpired and eftablifhed by the honour of 
 the peers, or the virtue of the commons, 
 muft be a more impudent knave than the 
 majority of either houfe can produce. To 
 prove that the fun mines at midnight is a 
 difficulty too arduous even for " the fore- 
 head" (as he himfelf modeflly exprefles it,) 
 of the Earl of Sandwich. A more practi- 
 cable, and more wicked courfe is purfued. 
 It were defperate to appeal to the reafon of 
 mankind againft their fenfes ; but appeals 
 to their malignity againft their reafon may 
 be attended with fuccefs. Thus the few 
 advocates who can be induced to plead in 
 
 fuch
 
 22O THE WHIG. 
 
 fuch a caufe, never (hock the common fenfe 
 of their audience, by endeavouring to prove 
 their friends able or honefl : they think it 
 decent, and perhaps they have hitherto 
 found it politick, to argue that all otner 
 men are equally deftitute of talents and 
 virtue. This infamous language, chaflifed 
 as it has been in parliament by eloquence 
 and refuted by example, would little de- 
 ferve the revival of publick indignation, 
 if it were not one of the immediate 
 tenets of that fchifinatick herefy in poli- 
 ticks, that the King is his own Minifler. 
 All popularity of character, and honourable 
 connection, whether of nobles in a flate, or 
 of thofe talents and patriot virtues which 
 conftitute true nobility, are eternal bars in 
 the way of the arbitrary fyftem, which, it 
 has been proved, muft refult from that fa- 
 vourite principle. The early exclufion of 
 Mr. Pitt and introduction of the Earl of 
 Bute, were the firft bitter waters of that 
 fatal fountain, which has almofl deluged the 
 rights and power of the people. The early 
 and continued fpirit of (lander againfl every 
 thing virtuous and honourable, firft went 
 
 forth
 
 THE WHIG. 221 
 
 forth from the new cabinet againft that 
 great and popular man : becaufe his great- 
 nefs and popularity flood in the way of the 
 new principle, that the King was to be his own 
 Minifter. The perfecution and profcription 
 from royal favour of the whig-families and 
 connexions of England, has been uniform ; 
 unlefs in one or two exceptions, the fliort 
 period of which has only ferved to prove the 
 rule, that whig-principles are inconfiflent 
 with the new Toryifm, that the King is hi* 
 own Minifter. 
 
 It is neceffary for the people of England, 
 rifing as they now are with yeoman-virtue 
 throughout the country, in vindication of 
 their ancient rights in their property and 
 liberty, to beware of the full extent of this 
 malignant principle. In its full extent, it 
 fubverts every fecurity of publick liberty, 
 while the forms of the conftitution remain. 
 If the King be his own Minifter, and if 
 thofe who fill the offices of flate be, as Lord 
 Sandwich and Lord North affirm, merely 
 executive ; all due and regular refponfibility 
 is loft. Thirteen provinces and the fleet of 
 
 England
 
 222 THE WHIG. 
 
 England may be fold to France ; the people 
 muft fubmit to poverty, and hug their 
 eternal chains; for no change of counfel 
 can recover their empire, their power, or 
 their liberty. They can infufe no popular 
 fupport, nor popular fuccefs in confe- 
 quence, into a new Adminiflration ; for, 
 the King is his own Minifter. Obflinate ad- 
 herence, therefore, to fuch a principle, in- 
 duces the inevitable alternative of flavery in 
 the people, or the perfonal refponfibility of 
 Majefty. The latter has a precedent in our 
 hiftory ; the former has no example. 
 
 March, 1780. 
 
 (No.
 
 THE WHIG. 223 
 
 (No.g.) 
 
 So when any of the four pillars of government are 
 mainly Jhaken or weakened, (which are Religion, 
 Jujlice, Connfelj and Treafure,} men had need to 
 pray for fair weather. 
 
 LORD Bacon well knew that the defini- 
 tion of terms is neceflary, in proportion to 
 the importance of the ideas they fignify, and 
 therefore was careful to explain their mean- 
 ing in the important inftance before us. 
 The paflions and political manners of men 
 being alike in all ages, the fame caution is 
 no lefs requifite to modern politicians, than 
 to the hiftorian of Empfon and Dudley. For 
 this purpofe, it would prevent much per- 
 plexity in difcourfe, if all men enjoyed 
 the fame advantages of political accuracy 
 that the royal family has received. At 
 St. James's, I fuppofe, for inftance, they 
 underftand perfectly what puzzles a country 
 gentleman, that the only patriotifm is ambi- 
 tion of power. For fo it is there profefled 
 to be, in the patriot of the court ; and un- 
 
 derftood,
 
 224 THE 
 
 derftood, therefore, naturally enough by the 
 confcious courtier, to be the fame in the 
 patriots of the people. The country wants 
 alfo an edicl definitive of whiggifm; for 
 what contradiction and counteraction may 
 not enfue from the prefent miflakes? If, 
 for example, the Archbifhop of York, and 
 the Baronet of_Yorkfhire, were to difcufs 
 that fubjeft, what a pleafant play it would 
 be at crofs purpofes ? While the whig- 
 creed of his Grace anathematifed the name 
 of " liberty/* and configned its raving advo- 
 cates to the flrait-waiftcoat ; Sir George's 
 ignorance, uninftrufted by this accurate 
 political prelate, might imagine Archbifhop 
 Laud a due expiation for the errors of the 
 Prince, and the violated rights of the 
 people. 
 
 Above all, it is neceflary, at this moment, 
 the publick mould underftand the court- 
 conftruclion of fedition and rebellion. 
 
 As the right reverend authority I have 
 quoted, ttas defined Liberty to nothing ; an- 
 other high authority, afecretis of the crown, 
 has explained to the people their crime in 
 imagining they had any right in their pro-
 
 THE WHIG. 225 
 
 perty. The 2Oth of George III. explains * 
 and amends the 25th of old Edward ; and 
 we are now taught, from the foot of the 
 throne, that to petition the legiflature for 
 publick oeconomy, is factious and feditious ; 
 that to confult and confer towards pro- 
 moting the object of fuch petitions, is rebel- 
 lious and treafonable. The experience of 
 this aufpicious Minifter in fubje&s of this 
 nature, has happily recommended him to 
 power, at a period, when a temper Jefs mo- 
 derate than his Lordfhip's, or principles lefs 
 popular, might have inflamed the people to 
 fome dangerous exertion of refentment. 
 
 Other terms of art remain, which happily 
 begin to be better underftood. The appella- 
 tion of King's friends, which at firft created 
 fome confufion, while popularity lingered 
 in the circle, is now known to be fynoni- 
 mous with the enemies of the people. This 
 fpeeial definition is admitted on all fides ; 
 and it is extremely ufeful in the prefent 
 political difcuffions. When the term occurs, 
 we can argue upon it clearly ; and when the 
 perfons and their principles come forward 
 to the publick, we can at decifively : we 
 
 VOL. i. Q know
 
 226 THE WHIG. 
 
 know what we have to encounter ; we fee 
 what we mud fubdue. 
 
 It is in this fpirit of clearnefs and decifion 
 that the people mud co-operate with their 
 friends againfl their enemies. And it is with 
 perfect fincerity that I pay riiy poor tribute 
 of gratitude to the minifters of corruption 
 and the abettors of arbitrary power, for their 
 publick profeflion at laft of their caufe and 
 their principles ; for the opportunity they 
 have given us of encountering them fairly. 
 They (train every nerve of power, they ex- 
 haufl every fource of influence, openly and 
 avowedly againft the voice of the people. 
 I will not praife their prudence ; but I ad- 
 mire their boldnefs in fuch a caufe. They 
 come down from their Vantage ground of 
 high places and parliamentary majorities ; 
 they come out of their dark recefles ; and 
 are hardy enough to meet the people of 
 England, handi to hand, on the ground of 
 the conflitution. - 
 
 . In the eve of fuch a conteft,. though its 
 victorious iffuc be certain in favour of the 
 people, yet fuch muft be the violence of 
 the ftorm, that all good men are anxious 
 
 in
 
 .THE WHIG. 227 
 
 in their " prayers for fair weather." But it 
 is almoft a defperate prayer, if the wifdom 
 at the head of my paper be true ; if we 
 know that felf-prefervation is the firft law ; 
 and if we caft our eyes around us. When 
 we view the great edifice of government; 
 and when, inftead of its legitimate fupports 
 of treafure and counfel, and juftice and 
 religion, we fee Lord North, and Lord 
 Mansfield, and Lord Sandwich, can we 
 doubt the danger ? is not the ruin certain^ 
 if we madly fubmit our fafety to fuch fup- 
 port ? 
 
 It is my purpofe to examine and detect 
 the refpe6tive rottennefs of thefe ruinous pil- 
 lars of our ftate ; to de.monftrate its danger, 
 and the neceflity of aflbciating firmly the 
 publick ftrength to fave it in its fall. 
 
 February, 1780. 
 
 o 2 (No,
 
 228 THE WHIG, 
 
 (No. 10.) 
 
 Ad homines. 
 
 L Have carefully collected, and now fub- 
 mit to publick attention, a few of the fen- 
 timents avowed by Minifters and their 
 friends, on the fubjecl of this day's debate. 
 As the debate will be attended with confe- 
 qutnces, the people fhould know the princi- 
 ples of their antagonifts ; the confequence 
 will then be clear in argument, as to the 
 thing ; and juft in faft, as to the perfon. 
 
 LORD NORTH. "The influence of the 
 Crown is not too great there are many 
 gentlemen who think it is not great enough. 
 Publick (economy is certainly extremely re- 
 quifite to the well-being of the Rate ; and 
 the plan of reformation propofed by the 
 honourable gentleman, is the moft ample, 
 the moft able, the moft perfect that ever I 
 heard : I certainly will not oppofe it now, 
 but I do not pledge myfelf that I (hall not 
 oppofe it hereafter," Accordingly he has, 
 
 with
 
 THE WHIG. 229 
 
 with all his power, delayed and obftru&ed 
 his progrefs ; and nozo avows his oppofi- 
 tion to every principle and every part of it. 
 (Under this head of his Lord/hip, an inftance 
 of minifterial ingenuity ought to be record- 
 ed. When he loaded Mr. Burke, and his 
 bill with praifes, " But, added this ingeni- 
 ous Minifler, the plan is totally diftinft 
 from -the county petitions ; it is contrary to 
 the wifhes of the people." Then, my 
 Lord, be confiflent, and permit it to pro- 
 ceed ; for you tell them and Sir George 
 Saville, " a flop muft be put to their de- 
 mands ; and that the penfion-lifl (hall 
 neither be retrenched nor known.") 
 
 LORD NUGENT. " It would be highly 
 improper to reftore independency to parlia- 
 ment, by lefTening the influence of the 
 crown." 
 
 LORD MULGRAVE. "Let the people 
 and their factious demagogues take care, as 
 they /zave Jinned without provocation, they 
 JJiould be punifhed without pity." 
 
 LORD HILLSBOROUGH. "The peti- 
 tioners are factious and feditious ; and their 
 proceedings tend to anarchy and rebellion." 
 
 (But,
 
 230 THE WHIG. 
 
 (But, to do this noble Lord juftice, circular 
 letters are not the only record he would 
 falfify or evade. He endeavoured lafl 
 Monday to retract his words ; and mark 
 how he mended the matter ! " we (hall for 
 ever perplex and deflroy debate, if we refer 
 to former days ; it is impojfible to recolleEl 
 the words of a former debate ; but I am fare 
 I did not ufe the word " petitioners," -I ufed 
 the word petitions, and / only faid, that the 
 motion of the noble Lord (Lord Shelburne) 
 would produce factious petitions.) 
 
 LORD STORMONT. " It is the moft 
 unconflitutional attempt, contrary to the 
 bill of rights, &c. &c. &c. for the people, or 
 any affembly of the people, or any man 
 among the people (take care, Mr. Fox) to 
 influence parliament by reference to, or 
 comments on, their debates. The influence 
 of the Crown, in the exercife of its difcretion, 
 is not cognizable by Parliament; for it 
 would ceafe to be a difcretional exercife, if it 
 were fubjecl, to parliamentary difcujfion" 
 
 LORD BAT HURST. " Whatever county 
 meetings may be held, whatever ajjbciations of 
 the people may be carrying on, I (hall think
 
 THE WHIG. 231 
 
 it my duty (he is Prefident of the Council!) 
 to oppofe whatever tends to fubvert, the 
 constitution, and (hake the crown on the 
 head of his prefent Majefty." 
 
 LORD T H u R L o w . " I admit economi- 
 cal reform is the wim of the people, in 
 general; but not with the particularity that 
 is pretended: for I deny that the perfons 
 whofe names are annexed to the petitions 
 that are hawked, about from alehoufe to ale- 
 houfe, have or can have knowledge of 
 the objects that the refpetlive claufes re- 
 gard. That Rich perfons mould have 
 knowledge^ of fuch a nature ! It is not pof- 
 fible; and that's one reafon, my Lords, that 
 it is not true. Of the influence of the Crown, 
 it will be difficult to prove that it is greater 
 now than in the reign of King William, Let 
 it /land, that the fituation of the great branch 
 of our legillative, inverted as it is with exe- 
 cutive power, the gift and the taking away 
 of great and numerous places, is and mufl be 
 ajituation of great power and influence" 
 
 LORD CHATHAM. " If they thus pcr- 
 
 fevere in mifleading and mifadvizing the 
 
 King, I will not fay that they can alienate the 
 
 \ affections
 
 032 THE WHIG. 
 
 affeftions of his fubjefts from his crown, but 
 I will affirm, that they will make the crown 
 not worth his wearing. I will not fay that 
 the King is betrayed, but I will pronounce, 
 that the kingdom is undone? 
 
 March, 1780. 
 
 (No. 11.) 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Lords Spi- 
 ritual and Temporal of England, and the 
 Sixteen Peers of Scotland. 
 
 Not as a boundary between the power of the 
 Prince, and the weaknefs of the People, but as 
 the link which connefts them both. 
 
 MY LORDS, 
 
 URGENT as the bufmefs of the time has 
 been, fince I had the honour of addreffing 
 the noble and learned Speaker of your 
 
 Aflembly,
 
 THE WHIG. 233 
 
 AfTembly, I prefume that apology is re- 
 quifite rather for my long omiflion than my 
 prefent attention to your Lordlhips. Now, 
 indeed, it were unpardonable not to advert 
 to the eventful importance of your fitua- 
 tion : and of whatever conduct you (hall 
 be pleafed to purfue. You hold at this 
 moment the balance of peace in England. 
 
 But before we confider the extraordina- 
 ry opportunity of your prefent power, it 
 may be proper to pay fome attention not 
 only to your prefent but your former and 
 uniform character, in order to remove fome 
 extraordinary fufpicions which have moft 
 unjuftly been imagined againft you. Your 
 Lordfhips w r ould hardly conceive the 
 ftrange nature of thefe fcandals, if you had 
 not received fome knowledge of them from 
 an exalted and learned perfon among your- 
 felves. Peers of ancient rank, the faith- 
 ful reprefentatives of illuftrious and whig v 
 predeceffors, could fcarcely believe that im- 
 putations were entertained againft them of 
 a defign to impair the juft power of the 
 Crown, and to undermine the throne that 
 their anceftors had eflablifhed; 'till they 
 
 had
 
 234 THE WHIG. 
 
 had the aftonifhing proof of a formal ac- 
 cufation, from the keeper of his Majefly's 
 confcience. Other of your Lordfhips, 
 whofe political opinion and wifhes, on mo- 
 tives of honourable convi&ion, doubtlefs 
 have concurred with the fentiments of the 
 court rather more than the whig families 
 of the country have found proper to do, mufl 
 have been at leaft equally furprifed, to hear 
 of the immediate danger to monarchy, from 
 the hoftile encroachments of the nobles. 
 How did the meek fpirit of the Right Re- 
 verend Bench wonder at the new revela- 
 tions of the learned Lord ; when inftead of 
 their wonted chiidian fubjettion to the pow- 
 ers that be, they found themfelves metarnor- 
 phofed into '' a four ariftocracy;" con- 
 federated with the Sixteen Peers of Scot- 
 land, againft the head of the church and 
 Sovereign of the State. Fortunately thefe 
 charges furnim their own refutation in the 
 immediate confequence they are intended 
 to produce ; for while this great criminal 
 judge of equity arraigns you of fuch dan- 
 gerous defigns againft the King's power, he 
 infers and is always juflified, in facl, how- 
 ever
 
 THE WHIG. 235 
 
 ever ftrange the argument may feem, that 
 you are, therefore, to fubmit your honour 
 and parliamentary independence to the ab- 
 folute and unqueftionable difcretion of the 
 Crown. The four ariftocracy with which 
 he begins his procefs foon lofes its acefcent 
 quality, and refolves at lalt into all the 
 fweets of fubmiflion. 
 
 In juftice to the publick, of which your 
 Lordmips conftitute fo honoured a part, I 
 have defired to vindicate your innocence, as 
 it deferves, againft thefe injurious afper- 
 fions ; and I truft that the other infinuations 
 of that learned perfon againft your honour, 
 ingredients, as it were, of the four arifto- 
 cracy which he fuppofed, will be found 
 equally groundlefs. I cannot conceive, for 
 inftance, the Firft Lord of the Treafury, 
 whom he defpifes and defends, is authorifed, 
 by the example of any of your Lorfhips, 
 to fight, at the head of rotten boroughs, a- 
 gainji the counties of England. " When the 
 lapfe of time," as the learned Lord exprefT- 
 ed it, devolves to individual noblemen a 
 power of nominating members of Parlia- 
 ment, though fome of his friendfhips may 
 
 have
 
 THE WHIG. 
 
 have afforded him much electioneering ex- 
 perience; yet I can fcarcely believe even 
 his learned authority, that any of your 
 Lordfhips would fight your rotten boroughs, 
 or fabricate your rotten protefts, againfl 
 the landed interefts and landed fenfe of 
 England. Let us rather fuppofe, accord- 
 ing to fome examples which this country 
 gratefully acknowledges, that when fuch 
 patronage veils in the perfons of the nobles, 
 it will be exercifed, not more for their own 
 honour, than for the happinefs of the peo- 
 ple : let us hope, in conformity to thofe 
 illuftrious examples, that the nobles of this 
 country forget not they are citizens, but 
 that, feeling the fpirit of popularity pervade 
 their order, as it muft pervade and animate 
 every order in a free government, they 
 gladly reciprocate to the people authority 
 and fupport; knowing that the befl exer- 
 tion of their influence for the publick caufe, 
 is to eftablifh their firm connection on the 
 ground of honour, cemented only by pub- 
 lick and confident principle. Such nobles 
 think it their bed fervice to fill their pha- 
 lanx, and fight under the fame banner, with 
 
 the
 
 THE WHIG. 237 
 
 the beft abilities and virtues of the country ; 
 with men, whofe unremitted and unrev/arded 
 labours, in every capacity they have flood 
 in, have given honour to private ftation, 
 and profeflion, and added luftre to the moft 
 illuftrious. 
 
 When fuch connexions are fo confirmed, 
 they are too ftrong for the ambition of 
 power to break, and too virtuous for cor- 
 ruption to undermine, or for calumny to 
 traduce. They are in its true and genuine 
 fenfe, the ariftocracy of a free country, or, 
 as a modern eloquent authority well defined 
 it, the union of the beft men againjl the worft, 
 in fupport of the rights both of the Crown 
 and the People. They are not that mon- 
 ftrous and baftard ariftocracy, four indeed, 
 and bitter both to the people and the prince ; 
 which would fubdue both to its own ava- 
 rice and ambition, which forbore not to in- 
 fult the perfon of majefty in gratification of 
 its own pride, as it has uniformly trampled 
 on the liberties of England in purfuance of 
 the Scotch fyftem. Of fuch an ariftocracy, 
 if any disjeEla membra yet remain ; if fome 
 have pretended to feparate from counfels, in, 
 
 which
 
 238 THE WHIG. 
 
 which they profefs no man of confcience or 
 honour can aft, and yet continue in effe6t 
 to fupport thofe counfels ; if others, with 
 the completed contempt for the perfon of 
 the Minifter, as eminent and high-minded 
 talents mufh contemn difhonour, yet con- 
 tinue to fcreen his meafures from publick 
 indignation ; if they defend him by decrying 
 the publick voice, and vilifying the petitions 
 of the people, avowing the increafed and in- 
 creafing influence of the crown againfl the 
 independency of parliament, your country 
 conjures you, my Lords, to beware of fuch 
 men. Maintain the true honours of your 
 Houfe, the noble and hereditary eftate of 
 a free Legiflature, againfl fuch men and 
 fuch conduct. 
 
 The importance of this confideration of 
 your Lordfhips' character, facred as it ought 
 to be without doors as well as within, has 
 led me into greater length than I forefaw. 
 For the prefent, therefore, I poftpone my 
 other confideration of the extraordinary and 
 eventful fituation in which your Lordfhips 
 at prefent ftand. I poftpone it the more 
 willingly, becaufe this day will complete the 
 
 meafure
 
 THE WHIG. 239 
 
 meafure of its importance. The reprefen- 
 tatives of the people, as the Houfe of Com- 
 mons have at laft approved themfelves ? will 
 this day again defeat the Minifter of the 
 Crown. It will then be in the wifdom of 
 your Lordfliips to decide between the de- 
 fpair of defpotifm and the triumph of popu- 
 larity ; to flatter with a faint and falfe hope 
 the gafps of ambition, or to facilitate and 
 partake, what you cannot prevent, TIIK 
 
 VICTORY OF THE PEOPLE. 
 March 20, 1780. 
 
 THE
 
 24 THE WHIG. 
 
 THE WHIG's ADDRESS. 
 
 T O 
 
 The Memorabk Hundred & Eighty-eight*. 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 S you do not yet know the duty of 
 the day, permit me to pre-occupy your 
 attention with a few obfervations on the na- 
 ture of the fervice you may poflibly be 
 ordered upon, and to reprefent to your 
 intereft the alternative confequence of your 
 obedience or difobedience to fuch orders. 
 
 A bill has been brought into parliament, 
 to effeft a reformation in the publick ceco- 
 
 * The number of members of the Houfe of Commons 
 who voted againft Sir George Saville's motion, for a lift of 
 all the fubfifting penfions granted by the Crown. The 
 motion was made on theijthday of February, 1780; but 
 by the {"udderi illnefs of the Speaker, the debate was poft- 
 poned to the 2ift of the lame month ; when the motion 
 was negatived by a majority of TWO only ; the minority 
 being 186, and the majority 188. 
 
 i nomy.
 
 THE WHIG. 241 
 
 nomy, both of the purfe and the govern- 
 ment of the flate. That a bill, whofe direft 
 objects are the property and liberty of the 
 people, fhould be the anxious hope of a 
 people impoverifhed, and almoft enflaved, 
 is not extraordinary. That a bill, of fuch a 
 defcription, is the antipathy of a corrupted 
 and corrupting Adminiftration, is certain. 
 Fear, however, compelled their acquiefcence 
 in the firft inftance ; and it was determined, 
 (moil of you now know it) only to fugged 
 delay ; to wait for occafion ; and to feize 
 the firft that fhould offer, of annihilating 
 the bill ; when it was hoped that the popu- 
 lar anxiety might have fubfided. The 
 vigilance of the people, and the people's 
 friends, has hitherto baffled the Minifter ; 
 and now he is driven to the wall. He is in 
 the forlorn hope to-day. He will either 
 attempt fome oppofition to its fecond read- 
 ing, (for you know that his promife of the 
 contrary is nothing ;) or he will oppofe its 
 being committed immediately ; or he will at 
 once give up the conteft, and flrike to the 
 people of England, as he has done to Ame- 
 VOL. i. R rica
 
 242 THE WHIG. 
 
 rica and Ireland. If the latter event takes 
 place, my expoflulation is unneceflary ; but 
 if he attempt either of the former, or in any 
 form of procraftination endeavour to ob- 
 ftruft the progrefs of the bill, confider the 
 certain confequence of your fupporting him 
 in a majority. It will be this : 
 
 The committees of correfpondence, 
 throughout the counties of England, will 
 inftantly communicate the fact, with all its 
 circumftance and explanation; the nature 
 of the bill, and the nature of its rejection ; 
 with an exact account of the names and fitu- 
 ation of the men who reject it. England 
 will then fee that thofe, and almoft only 
 thofe, who either hold places under the 
 Crown, receive penfions from the Minifter, 
 or have invaded us from the northern part 
 of the ifland, are the perfons who confpire 
 againft the property and liberty of the peo- 
 ple. I would rather leave to your imagi- 
 nation all the confequences of fuch a contem- 
 plation : but as probably you do not yet 
 'know much of the committed fpirit of the 
 country, it may be fair to advife you, that 
 
 very
 
 THE WHIG. 243 
 
 very poflibly they may proceed to vote you 
 enemies to this country, and not the repre- 
 fentatives of the people. 
 
 With more pleafure, and fewer words, 
 let me exhort your attention to the honour- 
 able and the fafe, and in point even of in- 
 tereft, the wife alternative. Break the dif- 
 graceful chains that have fo long bound you 
 to an abandoned Adminiftration; and retain 
 from the forgivenefs of the people what you 
 cannot longer withhold from their indigna- 
 tion. Not the gifts, but the givers have dif- 
 graced you. Your places, your penfions, even 
 the country of fomeofyou, cannot juflly fub- 
 jecl: you to pofitive reproach. It is only as 
 they have inclined and debafed you into infa- 
 mous fervility, that they have grown prover- 
 bial in the contempt of mankind. But in 
 prudence, if not in honour, affume the virtue 
 if you have it not ; nor longer devote your- 
 felves to common ruin with the falling edifice 
 of corruption. It fhakes already to its foun- 
 dation ; the breath of the people will level 
 it for ever. 
 
 R 2 GENUINE
 
 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 FROM 
 
 TWO SPEECHES 
 
 - 
 
 OF THE LATE 
 
 EARL OF CHATHAM, 
 
 AND 
 
 HIS REPLY TO THE EARL OF SUFFOLK. 
 
 PREFACE AND NOTES. 
 
 Quanta majis admiraremini t ft audijfitis ipfum ! 
 
 ^Efchines de Demofthene, CiV, de Oratorf.
 
 [Thefe Abftracls were originally printed for J. Dodfley, 
 in the year 1779. And they have fince been re-pub- 
 lilhed, without the Preface, by Mr.Almon, in his Anec- 
 dotes of Lord Chatham's Life. But as the Preface is 
 too clofely connected with the Abftracls to be publifhcd 
 feparately, as it is in truth an animated pifture of the 
 manner in which thefe celebrated fpeeches were deli- 
 vered, and as the one has been no lefs admired for its 
 elegance, than the others have aftonifhed all who heard 
 the noble fpeaker, for their extraordinary accuracy, it 
 were an injuftice to the MEMORY of Mr. Boyd, to 
 omit them in a colleftion of his Works.]
 
 PREFACE 
 
 B Y 
 
 MR. B O Y D. 
 
 1 H E Editor of the following Abflrab 
 hopes, that fome introductory explanation 
 will not be unacceptable, of the manner in 
 which they have been preferved, and the 
 allowances with which they fhould be read. 
 
 Soon after the refpeclive dates of their 
 delivery, he was favoured with the manu- 
 fcript copies, by the gentleman whofe me- 
 mory had ferved him fufficiently to commit 
 them to writing. with an exa61nefs unufual 
 in the recital of publick debates. For, if 
 the reader were fortunate enough to have 
 heard them pronounced, he will here recol- 
 left, not. only the fubftance, but in great 
 meafure, the form and phrafe in which they 
 were fpoken. 
 
 It mutt be obferved, that this recital pro- 
 feflcs to extend only to parts of the fpeeches 
 
 actually
 
 1248 MR. BOYD'S PREFACE. 
 
 actually delivered by Lord Chatham. It is 
 not perhaps within poffibility, that the un- 
 aflifted memory of one perfon mould retain, 
 verbatim, the whole of fuch fpeeches. But 
 the Editor knows it was the wifh and care 
 of his friend, faithfully to reprefent as much 
 as was poflible of the great original ; fub- 
 mitting to give an incomplete rather than a 
 fpurious likenefs. It was particularly his 
 ftudy to preferve the genuine diction of the 
 noble fpeaker ; as, of all the characlerif- 
 tick features by which his oratory was dif- 
 tinguifhed, none was more eminent than the 
 bold purity and claffical force of his phrafe- 
 ology. It was fo ftrong and fingular as to 
 deferve, and at the fame time to facilitate, 
 an exa6i recollection. 
 
 For the authenticity of thefe Abftrafts, it 
 were perhaps fufficient to refer to themfelves : 
 their peculiar energy of ftyle and fentiment, 
 is their belt authentication. But, befides 
 this internal evidence, the Editor has alfo 
 the fatisfa&ion of afluring the Publick, that 
 the concurring approbation of many accu- 
 rate and refpedable judges have given fanc- 
 
 tion
 
 MR. BOYD'S PREFACE. 249 
 
 tion to the faithfulnefs of his friend's repre- 
 fentation as far as it extends. 
 
 It may be proper to obferve, that from 
 poilerior recollection of fome paflages, and 
 revival of a few others in his memory, by 
 converfation, or defultory hints in news- 
 papers, the Editor's friend could have 
 greatly increafed the bulk of thefe tran- 
 fcripts ; and correctly too, as to matter ; but 
 the mode of exprelfion was loft. Fugerat 
 irrevocable verbum. And he was as un- 
 willing to interpolate any language of his 
 own, as he was unable to render it confid- 
 ent with the genuine ftyle of the great ori- 
 ginal *. 
 
 But the candour and imagination of the 
 reader muft fupply another deficiency in 
 our reprelentation of Lord Chatham's ora- 
 tory, more affe&ing our purpofe of exhibit- 
 ing its true likenefs, than the partial imper- 
 
 * This, it is hoped, will be fufficient apology to the 
 reader, for the abruptnefs in the beginning of the firft 
 fpeech ; which the Editor's friend unfortunately did not 
 hear, and would not prefume to fupply. Before he came 
 into the houfe, Lord Chathani had been fpeaking for 
 fume time. 
 
 feftion
 
 250 MR. BOYD'S PREFACE. 
 
 feftion we have mentioned. Thofe who 
 have been witnefles to the wonders of his 
 eloquence who have liftened to the mufick 
 of his voice, or trembled at its majefty 
 who have feen the perfuafive gracefulnefs of 
 his action, or have felt its force; thofe 
 who have caught the flame of eloquence 
 from his eye who have rejoiced in the glo- 
 ries of his countenance or fhrunk from his 
 frowns, will remember the refiftlefs power 
 with which he impreffed conviclion. In 
 thefe (ketches of his original genius, they 
 will read what they have heretofore heard ; 
 and their memory will give due a6Hon to the 
 picture, by refiguring to their minds what 
 they have with admiration feen. But, to 
 thofe who never heard nor faw this accom- 
 pliftied orator, the utmofl effort of imagina- 
 tion will be neceflary, to form a juft idea of 
 that combination of excellence, which gave 
 perfection to his eloquence : his elevated 
 afpecl:, commanding the awe and mute at- 
 tention of all who beheld him ; whilft a 
 certain grace in his manner, confcious of all 
 the dignities of his fituation, of the folemn 
 fcene he acled in, as well as his own exalted 
 
 characler.
 
 MR. BOYD S PREFACE. 25! 
 
 chara&er, feemed to acknowledge and repay 
 the refpeft he received : his venerable form, 
 bowed with infirmity and age ; but ani- 
 mated by a mind which nothing could fub- 
 due ; his fpirit mining through him, arm- 
 ing his eye with lightning, and cloathing 
 his lips with thunder ; or, if milder topics 
 offered, harmonifmg his countenance in 
 fmiles, and his voice in foftnefs ; for the 
 compafs of his powers was infinite. As no 
 idea was too vaft, no imagination too fub- 
 lime, for the grandeur and majefty of his 
 manner ; fo no fancy was too playful, nor 
 any allufion too comic, for the eafe and 
 gayety with which he could accommodate to 
 the occafion. But the character of his ora- 
 tory was dignity : this prefidcd throughout ; 
 giving force, becaufe fecuring refpeft, even 
 to his fallies of pleafantry. This elevated 
 the moll familiar language, and gave novelty 
 and grace to the mod familiar allufions ; fo 
 that, in his hand, even the crutch became 
 a weapon of oratory *. 
 
 This 
 
 * Telum Orafon's, Cic. " You talk, my Lords, ot 
 " conquering America of your numerous friends there, 
 
 "to
 
 2^2 MR. BOYD S PREFACE. 
 
 This extraordinary perfonal dignity, fup- 
 ported on the bafis of his well-earned 
 fame, at once acquired to his opinions an 
 aflent which is (lowly given to the argument 
 of other men. His aflertions rofe into 
 proof; his forefight became prophecy. 
 Befides the general fan&ion of his character, 
 and the decifive dignity with which he pro- 
 nounced his fentiments, it was alfo well 
 known that he carefully cultivated the moil 
 authehtick channels of intelligence. And it 
 was an additional and juft praife to him, 
 that he exerted the great influence of his 
 name, and his other opportunities, to invef- 
 tigate the pureft fources of political infor- 
 mation. But as the activity of his publick 
 zeal ftimulated him to fuch exertion ; fo the 
 fuperiority of his genius directed him to 
 higher fources. For other men, even the 
 mechanical medium of official knowledge is 
 a fphere too laborious. Though Lord Chat- 
 ham's duty did not difdain, his fpirit foared 
 above fuch little adventitious advantages. 
 
 " to annihilate the Congrefs and your powerful forces 
 '* to difperfe her army : / might as ivell talk of driving 
 " them before me with this crutch." LORD CHATHAM. 
 
 His
 
 MR. BOYD S PREFACE. 253 
 
 His was intelligence in a truer fenfe, and 
 from the noblefl fource ; " from his own 
 fagacious mind *." His intuition, like faith, 
 feemed fuperior to the common forms of 
 reafoning. No clue was neceffary to the 
 labyrinth illuminated by his genius. Truth 
 came forth at his bidding, and realifed the 
 wifh of the philofopher : (he was feen and 
 beloved. 
 
 It is by no means in the intention or the 
 limits of this paper, and ilill lefs within the 
 abilities of the writer, to analyfe all the 
 oratory of Lord Chatham, or give a full 
 and juft defcription of excellence fo various. 
 
 * He is his own beft expofitor. In a debate, 1770, on 
 the papers relative to Falkland's Ifland, he explained this 
 fubjecl, for the. benefit of minifters. " Let them not fcreen 
 " themfelves behind the want of intelligence : they had 
 " intelligence: I know they had : If they had not, 
 " they are criminal ; and their cxcufe is their crime. 
 11 But I will tell thefe young minifters the true fource 
 *' of intelligence : It is fagacity ; fagacity to compare 
 " caufes and effefts ; to judge of the prefent ftate of 
 " things, and difcern the future, by careful review of 
 4< the pad. Oliver Cromwell, who aftonilhed mankind 
 " by his intelligence, did not derive it from fpies in the 
 " cabinet of every prince in Europe ; he drew it from 
 " the cabinet of his own fagacious mind." 
 
 If
 
 AIR. BO YD S PREFACE. 
 
 If the few imperfect hints that have been 
 offered, can convey any idea of the vigour 
 and animation of his manner, they will have 
 attained their purpofe : and the remains of 
 his eloquence will afford proportionate plea- 
 fure ; " even in his ajhes (hall furvive their 
 
 GENUINE
 
 GENUINE ABSTRACTS, 
 &c. 
 
 HOUSE OF LORDS. 
 Jan. 20, 1775. 
 
 x H E Earl of Dartmouth, then Secretary 
 of State for America, produced the official 
 American papers. 
 
 The EARL of CHATHAM, after ftrongly 
 inveighing againfl the dilatorinefs of admi- 
 niflration, &c. proceeded as follows : 
 
 " But as I have not the honour of 
 accefs to his Majefty, I will endeavour to 
 tranfmit to him, through the conftitutional 
 channel of this houfe, my ideas of America, 
 to refcue him from the mifadvice of his pre- 
 fent minifters. I congratulate your Lord- 
 fhips that the bufmefs is at loft entered upon,
 
 256 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 by the noble Lord's * laying the papers 
 before you. As I fuppofe your Lordfhips 
 too well apprized of their contents, I hope I 
 am not premature, in fubmitting to you my 
 prefent motion : 
 
 " That an humble Addrefs be prefented 
 " to his Majefty, humbly to defire and be- 
 " feech his Majefty, that in order to open 
 " the way towards a happy fettlement of 
 " the dangerous troubles in America, by 
 " beginning to allay ferments and foften 
 " animofities there ; and above all, for pre- 
 " venting in the mean time any fudden and 
 " fatal cataftrophe at Bofton, now fuffer- 
 " ing under the daily irritation of an army 
 " before their eyes, pofted in their town; 
 " it may gracioufly pleafe his Majefty that 
 Sl immediate orders may be difpatched to 
 '" General Gage, for removing his Majefty 's 
 " forces from the town of Bofton as foon 
 " as the rigour of the feafon, and other cir- 
 " cumftances indifpenfable to the fafety and 
 " accommodation of the faid troops, may 
 " render the fame practicable." 
 
 * Lord Dartmouth. 
 
 Iwifli,
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, <&C. 257 
 
 *' I wifh, my Lords, not to lofe a day in 
 this urgent prefling crifis ; an hour now, 
 loft in allaying the ferment in America, may 
 produce years of calamity ; for my own 
 part, I will not defert for a moment the 
 conducl of this mighty bufinefs, from the 
 firft to the laft; unlefs nailed to my bed 
 by the extremity of ficknefs, I will give it 
 unremitted attention ; I will knock at the 
 door of this fleeping and confounded Mini- 
 ftry, and will roufe them to a fenfe of their 
 important danger. 
 
 " Whenlftate the importance of the Colo- 
 nies to this country, and the magnitude of 
 danger hanging over this country, from the 
 prefent plan of mifadminiftration pra&ifed 
 againft them, I defire not to be underflood 
 to argue a reciprocity of indulgence between 
 England and America. I contend not for 
 indulgence, but juftice to America : and I 
 fhall ever contend that the Americans juflly 
 owe obedience to us in a limited degree : 
 they owe obedience to our ordinances of 
 trade and navigation ; but let the line be 
 fkilfully drawn between the objects of thofe 
 ordinances, and their private internal pro- 
 
 VOL. i. s perty;
 
 0.58 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 perty; let the facrednefs of their property 
 remain inviolate; let it be taxable only 
 by their own confent ; given in their pro- 
 vincial afiemblies; >elfe, it will ceafe to 
 be property. As to the metaphyfical refine- 
 ments attempting to fhew that the Ameri- 
 cans are equally free from obedience and 
 commercial reftraints, as from taxation for 
 revenue, as being unreprefented here: I 
 pronounce them futile, frivolous, and 
 groundlefs. 
 
 '" When I urge this meafure of recalling 
 the troops from Boflon, I urge it on this 
 prefling principle, that it is neceffarily pre- 
 paratory to the reftoration of your peace, 
 and the eftablifhment of yo v ur profperity. - 
 It will then appear that you are difpofed 
 to treat amicably and equitably ; and to 
 confider, revife, and repeal, if it (hall be 
 found neceflary, as I affirm it will, thofe 
 violent a&s and declarations which have 
 diiFeminated confufion throughout your em- 
 pire. 
 
 " Refinance to your als was neceflary as 
 it was jufl; and your vain declarations of 
 the omnipotence of parliament, and your 
 
 imperious
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 259 
 
 imperious doftrines of the neceflity of fub- 
 miflion will be found equally impotent to 
 convince or enflave your fellow fubje&s in 
 America ; who feel that tyranny, whether 
 ambitioned by an individual part of the legi- 
 flature or the* bodies who compofe it, is 
 equally intolerable to Britim fubjefts. 
 
 " The means of enforcing this thraldom 
 are found to be as ridiculous and weak in 
 practice, at they are unjufl in principle. 
 Indeed I cannot but feel the mod anxious 
 fenfibility for the fituation of General 
 Gage, and the troops under his command; 
 thinking him as I do, a man of humanity 
 and understanding ; and entertaining, as I 
 
 * A favourite idea prevailed, and was often urged in ar- 
 gument by Adminiftration, " that abfolute pafiive bbedi- 
 " ence is due to all poflible acls of the legiflature, which 
 ** mull not, in any cafe whatever, be queftioned, much lefs 
 " refilled by the people." Mr. Locke thought other- 
 wife ; as his able and conflitutional expounder, Lord 
 Camden, has otten demonftrated. But in truth, it is a 
 point rather of profited policy. If, however, the poftu- 
 latum were admitted \n f peculation t the inference will not 
 reach from Weftminfter to Boflon. It will remain to be 
 proved, that our lords fpiritual and tanfrorfl? tave ptfviiegt in 
 America; and that our Knights, Citizens, and Burgefles, 
 are their reprefentatives. 
 
 s 2 ever
 
 26O GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 ever will, the higheft refpeft, the warmeft 
 love, for the Britifh troops. Their fitua- 
 tion is truly unworthy ; penned up pining 
 in inglorious .inactivity. They are an army 
 of impotence : you may call them an 
 army of fafety and of guard; but they are 
 in truth an army of impotence and con- 
 tempt: and, to make the folly equal to the 
 difgra'ce, they are an army of irritation and 
 vexation. But I find a report creeping 
 abroad, that the Minifters cenfure General 
 Gage's inactivity: let them cenfure him 
 it becomes them it becomes their jufticc 
 and their honour : / mean not to cenfure 
 his inactivity ; it is a prudent and necef- 
 fary inaction : but it is a miferable condi- 
 tion, where difgrace is prudence, and where 
 it is neceffary to be contemptible. This 
 tamenefs, however contemptible,, cannot be 
 cenfured ; for the firft drop of blood fried 
 in civil and unnatural war might be imme- 
 dicabile vulnus. 
 
 " I therefore urge and conjure your Lord- 
 fhips, immediately to adopt this conciliating 
 meafure; I will pledge myfelf for its im- 
 mediately producing conciliatory effe&s, by 
 
 its
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 26l 
 
 its being thus well-timed ; but if you delay 
 till your vain hope (hall be accomplished, 
 of triumphantly dictating reconciliation, 
 you delay for ever. But admitting that 
 this hope, which in truth is defperate, 
 fhould be accomplifhed, what do you gain 
 by the impofition of your victorious ami- 
 ty? you will be untrufted and unthanked. 
 Adopt then the grace, while you have the 
 opportunity of reconcilement ; or at leaft 
 prepare the way. Allay the ferment pre- 
 vailing in America, by removing the ob- 
 noxious hoftile caufe ; obnoxious and tm- 
 ferviceable; for their merit can only be in 
 inaclion : " Non dimicare et vincere :" their 
 victory can never be by exertions. Their 
 force would be moft difproportionately 
 exerted againft a brave, generous, and unit- 
 ed people ; with arms in their hands 
 and courage in their hearts : three mil- 
 lions of people, the genuine defcendants 
 of a valiant and pious anceftry, driven 
 to thofe defarts by the narrow maxims 
 of a fuperflitious tyranny. And is the 
 fpirit of perfecution never to be appeafed ? 
 
 Are
 
 262 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 . Are the brave fons of thofe brave fore- 
 fathers to inherit their fufferings, as they 
 have inherited their virtues? Are they to 
 fuflain the infliclion of the mofl oppreflive 
 and unexampled feverity ? beyond the ac- 
 counts of hiflory or defcription of poetry ; 
 " Rhadamanthus habet durijfima regna, 
 caftigatque, AUDITQUE:" fo fays thewifefl 
 poet, and perhaps the wifefl ftatefman 
 and politician : but our Miniflers fay, the 
 Americans mujl not be heard. They have 
 been condemned unheard; the indifcrimi- 
 nating hand of vengeance has lumped to- 
 gether innocent and guilty; with all the 
 formalities of hoflility has blocked up the 
 town * and reduced to beggary and famine 
 thirty thoufand inhabitants. 
 
 But his Majefty is advifed that the union 
 in America cannot lafl. Miniflers have 
 more eyes than I, and mould have more 
 ears; but from all the information I have 
 been able to procure, I can pronounce it, 
 an union, folid, permanent, and effectual.* 
 Miniflers may fatisfy themfelves, and delude 
 
 * Bofton. 
 
 the
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 263 
 
 the public, with the report of what they 
 call commercial bodies in America. They 
 are not commercial : they are your pack- 
 ers and factors ; they live upon nothing 
 for I call commiflion nothing ; I mean the 
 minifterial authority for this American in- 
 telligence ; the runners for government, who 
 are paid for their intelligence. But thefe 
 are not the men, nor this the influence, to 
 be confidered in America, when we eflimate 
 the firmnefs of their union. Even to ex- 
 tend the queftion, and to take in the really 
 mercantile circle, will be totally inadequate 
 to the coniideration. Trade indeed in- 
 creafes the glory and wealth of a country; 
 but its real wealth and (lamina are to be 
 looked for among the cultivators of the 
 land; ^-in their fimplicity of life, is found 
 the fimplenefs of virtue, rthe integrity and 
 courage of freedom. Thefc true genuine 
 fons of the earth are invincible : and they 
 furround and hem in the mercantile bodies ; 
 even if thefe bodies, which fuppofition I to- 
 tally difclaim, could be fuppofed to be difaf- 
 fecled to the caufe of liberty. Of this ge- 
 neral fpirit exilting in the American nation ; 
 2 for
 
 264 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 for fo I wifh to diftinguifh the real and 
 genuine Americans from the pfeudo-traders 
 I have defcribed of this fpirit of inde- 
 pendence *, animating the nation of Ameri- 
 ca, I have the moft authentic information ; 
 It is not new among them; it is, and 
 has ever been, their eflablifhed principle; 
 their confirmed perfuafion ; it is their na- 
 ture and their do6lrine t 
 
 " I remember fome years ago when the 
 {tamp-aft was in agitation, converfing in a 
 friendly confidence with a perfon of un- 
 doubted refpeft and authenticity, on that 
 fubjecl; ; and he aflured me, with a certain- 
 ty which his judgment and opportunities 
 gave him, that thefe were the prevalent and 
 fteady principles of America; That you 
 might deftroy their towns, and cut them off 
 
 * (i. e). oi Ifgal liberty; the independence of freemen^ 
 contra-diftinguifhed to the dependent ftate of flaves. It 
 was thought neceffary to fpecify this idea, left Lord 
 Chatham mould have been mifconceived to have imputed 
 an original wijb of disconnexion from this country. On the 
 contrary, when that fatal event did occur, his Lordfhip 
 attributed it to a very different caufe from the inclination 
 of America. " That ftate of independency into which 
 '.' ywr meafurts hitherto have driven her." See nextfpeeca, 
 
 frorn
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 265 
 
 from the fuperfluities, perhaps the conveni- 
 ences of life ; but that they were prepared 
 to defpife your power, and would not la- 
 ment their lofs, whilft they have what, my 
 Lords? their woods and their liberty. The 
 name of my authority, if I am called upon, 
 will authenticate the opinion irrefragably. 
 
 " If illegal violences have been, as it is faid, 
 committed in America; prepare the way, 
 open the door of poflibility, for acknow- 
 ledgment and fatisfaclion : but proceed not 
 to fuch coercion, fuch profcription ; ceafe 
 your indifcriminate infliclions ; amerfe not 
 thirty thoufand opprefs not three millions 
 for the fault of forty or fifty ! Such feveri- 
 ty of injuftice mud for ever render incurable 
 the wounds you have already given your 
 colonies ; you irritate them to unappeafable 
 rancour. What though you march from 
 town to town, and from province to province ; 
 though you fhould be able to enforce a 
 temporary and local fubmiflion which I 
 only fuppofe, not admit how (hall you be 
 able to fecure the obedience of the country 
 you leave behind you in your progrefs ? 
 fx> grafp the dominion of eighteen hundred 
 
 miles
 
 266 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 miles of continent, populous in valour, 
 liberty, and refinance ! 
 
 " This refiftance to your arbitrary fyftem. 
 of taxation might have been forefeen : It 
 was obvious from the nature of things, and 
 of mankind ; and above all, from the whig* 
 gifh fpirit flourifhing in that country. The 
 fpirit which now relifts your taxation in 
 America, is the * fame which formerly oppo* 
 
 * Not fo, according to the political logic of admini- 
 ilration ; which would prove the Tgryifmoi *' this Ame- 
 rican fpirit." In the debate lor au addrefs, on the full 
 day ol" the feffion, Odtober 26, 1775, Mr. Fox urged, 
 with his ufual ability, what he conceived to be whig- 
 principles, confulting the good of the governed, rather 
 than the governors; principles jealoufly fccuring the rights 
 of the people againfl every encroachment of power : and 
 thefe, he thought, had fome relation to the caufe and 
 conduct of America. But the noble Lord, who is fome- 
 times roufed by that gentleman's manner ot fpeaking, un- 
 dertook to prove the contrary. " Adminiftration are the 
 ' Whigs ; and the Americans are Tories. Adminifha- 
 " tion wifh to maintain the power of parliament ^ which is 
 <' the true whig-principle. The Americans, on the con- 
 " trary, would annihilate the authority of parliament, but 
 *' profefs themfelves willing to obey the crewn: the per- 
 *< feet defcriptionof a Tory !" One would imagine, from 
 fuch reafoning, " run mad," (to borrow the phrafe of a 
 right reverend politician) that his Lprdmip had iludied 
 under bis Grace. 
 
 fed
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C, 267 
 
 fed loans, benevolences, and (hip-money 1 
 in England :^the fame fpirit which called 
 all England on its legs, and by the bill of 
 rights vindicated the Englim conftitution : * 
 the fame principle which eftablifhed the 
 great, fundamental, eflential maxim of our 
 liberties, that no fubjett of England Jhall be 
 taxed but by his own confent. 
 
 " This glorious fpirit of whjggifm animates 
 three millions in America : who prefer 
 poverty with liberty, to gilded chains and 
 fordid affluence ; and who will die in de- 
 fence of their rights as men, as freemen* 
 What (hall oppofe this fpirit? -aided by 
 the congenial flame glowing in the breads 
 of every whig in England, to the amount, I 
 hope, of double the American numbers ? 
 Ireland they have to a man. In that country, 
 joined as it is with the caufe of the Colonies, 
 and placed at their head, the diftinclion I 
 contend for, is and muft be obferved. This 
 country fuperintends and controuls their 
 trade and navigation ; but they tax them-* 
 felves. And this diftinftion between exterr 
 nal and internal controul is facred and in- 
 furmountable ; it is involved in the abftraft 
 
 nature
 
 268 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 nature of things. Property is private, indi- 
 vidual, abfolute : ^ Trade is an extended 
 and complicated confideration ; it reaches 
 as far as (hips can fail, or winds can blow ; 
 it is a great and various machine : To re- 
 gulate the numberlefs movements of its feve- 
 ral parts, and combine them into effeft, for 
 the good of the whole, requires the fuper- 
 intending wifdom and energy of the fu- 
 preme power in the empire. But this 
 fupreme power has no effect towards inter- 
 nal taxation; for it does not exifl in that 
 relation ; there is no fuch thing, no fuck 
 idea in this conjiitution as a fupreme power 
 operating upon property. Let this diftinc- 
 tion then remain for ever afcertained ; taxa- 
 tion is theirs, commercial regulation is ours. 
 -As an American, I would recognize to 
 England her fupreme right of regulating 
 commerce and navigation ; as an Englifli- 
 man by birth and principle, I recognize to 
 the Americans their fupreme unalienable 
 right in their property ; a right which they 
 are juftified in the defence of to the laft 
 extremity. To maintain this principle is 
 the common caufe of the whigs on the other 
 
 fide
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 
 
 fide of the Atlantic, and on this : " Tis 
 liberty to liberty engaged," that they will 
 defend themfelves, their families, and their 
 country. In this great caufe they are im- 
 moveably allied : it is the alliance of God and 
 nature immutable, eternal, fixed as the 
 firmament of heaven ! 
 
 " To fuch united force, what force (hall be 
 oppofed ? What, my Lords ? A few regi- 
 ments in America, and feventeen or eighteen, 
 thoufand men at home ! The idea is too ridi- 
 culous to take up a moment of your Lord- 
 fhips' time. Nor can fuch a national and 
 principled union be refilled by the tricks 
 of office, or minifterial manoeuvre. Laying 
 of papers on your table, or counting nofes 
 on a divifron, will not avert or poftpone 
 the hour of danger: it mud arrive, my 
 Lords, unlefs thefe fatal a6is are done away ; 
 it mud arrive in all its horrors, and then 
 thefe boaftful minifters, fpite of all their 
 confidence, and all their manoeuvres, (hall 
 be forced to hide their heads. They (hall 
 be forced to a difgraceful abandonment of 
 their prefent meafures and principles : prin- 
 ciples which they avow, but cannot defend ; 
 
 meafures
 
 070 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 meafures which they prefume to attempt, 
 but cannot hope to effectuate. They can- 
 not, my Lords, they cannot ftir a ftep ; 
 they have not a move * left ; they are 
 check-mated. 
 
 " But it is not repealing this aft of parlia- 
 ment, or that aft of parliament, it is not re- 
 pealing a piece of parchment, that can re- 
 ftore America to our bofom : you inuft re- 
 peal her fears and her refentments ; and you 
 may then hope for her love and gratitude. 
 But now, infulted with an armed force, 
 pofted at Bofton; irritated with an hoflile 
 
 * An alluvion to the game of Chefs. The King is the 
 objeV of the game ; and therefore the moft valuable, 
 though not the mod powerful, piece on the board. Check- 
 mate is that fituation where he is fo weakly 'fupported by 
 his pieces, or fo entangled by their injudicious difpofition, 
 that he cannot efcape. This danger is often incurred by 
 expofing himfelf too much, and taking too aftive a part in 
 the game. Vide Philidor, Analyfe du Jeu des Echecs. 
 It is certainly a noble and royal paftime. Charles I. was 
 actually playing at it in the Scots camp, when intelligence 
 was brought to him of their final refolution to betray him. 
 In due praife of the royal fteadinefs, the hiftorian obferves, 
 that " be continued his game wit bout interruption" SeeHume's 
 Mift. Eng. or, as Lord Chatham once called it in the 
 Houfe of Lords, " hit APOLOGY/^ the Houfe of Stuart. 
 
 array
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 27! 
 
 array before her eyes, her conceflions, if you 
 could force them, would be fufpicious and 
 infecure; they will be irato animo ; ^ they 
 will not be found, honourable pa6lions of 
 freemen ; they will be dictates of fear, and 
 extortions of force. But it is more than 
 evident, that you cannot force them, princi- 
 pled and united as they are, to your unwor- 
 thy terms of fubmiflion it is impoflible: 
 and when I hear General Gage cenfured 
 for inactivity, I muft retort with indignation 
 on thofe, whofe intemperate meafures and 
 improvident councils have betrayed him 
 into his prefent fituation. His fituation re- 
 minds me, my Lords, of the anfwer of a 
 French general in the civil wars of France. 
 Monfieur Conde oppofed to Monfieur 
 Turenne : He was afked, how it happened 
 that he did not take his adverfary prifoncr, 
 as he was often very near him : " J'ai peur," 
 replied Conde, very honeftly, "J'ai peur 
 " qu'il ne me prenne ;" I'm afraid he'll take 
 me. 
 
 " When your Lordfliips look at the papers 
 tranfmittcd us from America ; when you 
 confider. their decency, firmnefs, and wif- 
 
 dom,
 
 272 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 dom, you cannot but refpeft their caufe, 
 and wifh to make it your own.---For myfelf,- 
 I mud declare and avow, that in all my 
 reading and obfervation and it has been 
 my favourite ftudy ; I have read Thuci- 
 dydes, and have fludied and admired the 
 mafter-ftates of the workU--that for folidity 
 of reafoning, force of fdgacity, and wifdom 
 of conclufion in fuch a complication of 
 difficult circumflances, no nation or body 
 of men can fland in preference to the gene- 
 ral Congrefs at Philadelphia. I truft it is 
 obvious to your Lordftiips, that all attempts 
 to impofe fervitude upon fuch men, to 
 eftablifh defpotifm over fuch a mighty con- 
 tinental nation, mufl be vain, muft be fataL 
 We (hall be forced ultimately to retraEl; let 
 us retracl while we can, not when we muft. 
 I fay we muft neceflarily undo thefe violent 
 oppreflive a6ls * : they mu/l be repealed; 
 
 you 
 
 * Afts of parliament pafied the preceding feflion ; 
 for fhutting up the port of Bofton ; altering the charter 
 of the Maffachufet's Bay, &c. The noble fpeaker's pre- 
 diftion has been ftriftly verified; the repeal of thefe afts 
 was at lujl, after three years fuccefslefs war, fent out as a 
 peace-offering to the Congrefs of America: whether 
 
 with
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 273 
 
 you will repeal them; I pledge my f elf for it, 
 that you will in the end repeal them; I Jlake 
 my reputation on it : / will confent to be, 
 taken for an^diot, if they are not finally re* 
 pealed. Avoid then this humiliating, dif- 
 graceful neceflity. With a dignity becom- 
 ing your exalted fituation, make the firft 
 advances to concord, to peace, and to hap- 
 pinefs : for that is your true dignity, to act 
 with prudence and withjuftice. Thatjy0w 
 fhould firft concede, is obvious from found 
 and rational policy. Conceffion comes 
 with better grace and more falutary effect 
 from the fuperior power; it reconciles fu- 
 periorJty of power with the feelings of 
 men ; and eftablifhes folid confidence on 
 the foundations of affection and gratitude. 
 
 " So thought a wife poet and a wife man 
 in political fagacity : the friend of Mecenas, 
 and the eulogift of Auguftus. To him, the 
 adopted fon and fucceflbr of the firft Cas- 
 far, to him, the mafter of the world, he 
 
 with a " dignity becoming the once exalted charaer of 
 '* this country, or through a disgraceful humiliating ne- 
 '* ceflity," let the feelings of this country confefs. 
 
 VOL. i. T wifely
 
 -74 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 wifely urged this conduct of prudence and 
 dignity; " Tuque prior, tu parce;projice 
 tela manu" 
 
 " Every motive therefore of juftice and of 
 policy, of dignity and of prudence, urges 
 you to allay the ferment in America, by a 
 removal of your troops from Bofton, by a 
 repeal of your a6ls of parliament, and 
 by demonftration of amicable difpofitions 
 towards your Colonies. On the other 
 hand, every danger and every hazard im- 
 pend, to deter you from perfeverance in 
 your prefent ruinous meafures. Foreign 
 war hanging over your heads by a flight 
 and brittle thread : France and Spain 
 watching your conduct, and waiting for the 
 maturity of your errors ; with a vigilant eye 
 to America, and the temper of your Colo- 
 nies, more than to their own concerns, be 
 they what they may. 
 
 " To conclude, my Lofds : if the Minifters 
 thus perfevere in mifadvifing and mifleading 
 the King, I will not fay that they can alienate 
 the affections of his fubjefts from his crown ; 
 but I will affirm that they will make the crown 
 
 not
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 2J 
 
 not worth his wear ing. ---I will not fay that 
 the King is betrayed: but I will pronounce, 
 that the kingdom is undone" 
 
 The Reader will recollecl that the pre- 
 ceding fpeech was made on Jan. 20, 1775. 
 He will have obferved that the motion 
 which it accompanied, for removing his 
 Majefty's troops from Bofton, was urged by 
 the Noble Speaker exprefsly on the ground 
 of peaceably accommodating the peace with 
 America. He will remember that the only 
 ground of difpute then, was the taxation of 
 that country claimed by this; the attempted 
 exercife of which, had 'produced a riot at 
 Bofton. The Independence of America was 
 not then in contemplation: unlefs in the 
 reveries of a reverend writer on the fubjeft, 
 who maintained a propoiition, memorable 
 only for its Angularity ; " that the Inde- 
 " pendence of America would be a benefi- 
 " cial event for England." To the Ameri- 
 cans it never occurred, unlefs for the refuta- 
 tion pf fome injurious fufpicions, by they 
 T 2 moft
 
 276 GENUINE ABSTRACTS' ' 
 
 moft folemn, abfolute, and exprefs difa- 
 vowal. 
 
 The noble Lord's motion was, however, 
 rejected : and hoftilities commenced at 
 Lexington, on the igth of the following 
 April. 
 
 It is unneceflary to particularize the fub- 
 fequent events. They are too well known, 
 too feverely felt by every friend of his coun- 
 try." Years of calamity," fatally fulfil the 
 prophecy of Lord Chatham. The Britifti 
 empire has fuftained the " immedicabile 
 " vulnus" which his wifdom would have 
 averted. How he would have corrected 
 the diforder at its crifis, before it attained its 
 defperate malignity, will be feen in the fol- 
 lowing fpeech, on November 2oth, 1777. 
 His Majefty's moft gracious fpeech of that 
 day is prefixed ; that the " Confidence" and 
 " Hopes'* exprefled in it by his Majefty's 
 Minifters, may fairly (land in contraft with 
 the opinions of Lord Chatham. Let hifto- 
 ry form the comment. 
 
 HOUSE
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, <%C. 2/J 
 
 1 
 
 HOUSE OF LORDS, 
 
 Nov. 2Qth a 1777. 
 
 jllllS Majefty opened the Seflion with the 
 following mofl gracious Speech from the 
 throne. 
 
 " My Lords and Gentlemen, 
 " It is a great fatisfaftion to me, that I 
 can have recourfe to the wifdom and fup- 
 port of my Parliament, in this conjuncture, 
 when the continuance of the rebellion in 
 North America demands our moft ferious 
 attention. The powers which you have 
 entrufted me with, for the fuppreflffon of 
 this revolt, have been mofl faithfully exert- 
 ed; and I have a juft confidence, that the 
 conducl and courage of my officers, and the 
 fpirit and intrepidity of my forces, both by 
 fea and land, will, under the blemng of Di- 
 vine Providence, be attended with fuccefs. 
 But as I am perfuaded that you will fee the 
 neceflity of preparing for fuch further ope- 
 rations
 
 2/8 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 rations as the contingences of the war, 
 and the obftinacy of the rebels, may render 
 expedient; I am for that purpofe purfuing 
 the proper meafures for keeping my land- 
 forces complete to their prefent eftablifh- 
 ment; and if I mould have occafion to en- 
 creafe them, by contracting any new en- 
 gagements, I rely on your zeal and publick 
 fpirit to enable me to make them good. 
 
 " I have received repeated afTu ranees from 
 foreign powers, of their pacific difpofitions ; 
 my own cannot be doubted: but, at this 
 time, when the armaments in the ports of 
 France and Spain continue, I have thought 
 it advifeable to make a confiderable aug- 
 mentation to my naval force; as well to 
 keep my kingdoms in a refpe&able ftate of 
 fecurity, as to provide an adequate protec- 
 tion for the extenfive commerce of my 
 fubjecls. And, as on the one hand, I am 
 determined that the peace of Europe (hall 
 not be difturbed by me, fo, on the other, I 
 will always be a faithful guardian of the 
 honour of the Crown of Great-Britain. 
 
 " Gentlemen
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 270 
 
 " Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, 
 " I have ordered the eflimates for the 
 enfuing year to be laid before you. The 
 various fervices which I have mentioned to 
 you will unavoidably require large fupplies: 
 and nothing could relieve my mind from 
 the concern which I feel for the heavy 
 charge which they muft bring on my faith- 
 ful people, but the perfect convi&ion that 
 they are necefTary for the welfare and the 
 eflential interefts of my kingdoms. 
 
 <f My Lords and Gentlemen, 
 " I will fteadily purfue the meafures in 
 which we are engaged, for the re-eftablim^ 
 ment of that constitutional fubordination, 
 which, with the blefling of God, I will 
 maintain through the feveral parts of my 
 dominions. But I (hall ever be watchful 
 for an opportunity of putting a flop to the 
 effufion of the blood of my fubje&s, and 
 the calamities which are infeparable from a 
 ftate of war. And I flill hope, that the 
 deluded and unhappy multitude will return 
 to their allegiance; and that the remem- 
 brance of what they once enjoyed, the re- 
 gret
 
 2SO GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 gret for what they have loft, and the feelings 
 of what they now fuffer, uftder the arbitrary 
 tyranny of their leaders, will rekindle in 
 their hearts a fpirit of loyalty to their fove* 
 reign, and of attachment to their mother- 
 country ; and that they will enable me, 
 with the concurrence and fupport of my 
 parliament, to accomplifh what 1 fhall con- 
 fider as the greateft happinefs of my life, 
 and the greateft glory of my reign, the re- 
 ftoration of peace, order, and confidence, 
 to my American Colonies." 
 
 In anfwer to his Majefty 's moft gracious 
 fpeech, Lord Percy moved their Lordmips 
 to concur in an Addrefs in the following 
 terms : 
 
 " That they, his Majefty 's moft dutiful 
 and loyal fubje&s, the Lords fpiriiual and 
 temporal in parliament affembled, beg leave 
 to return his Majefty their humble thanks 
 for his moft gracious fpeech from the 
 throne : 
 
 " To offer their congratulations to his 
 Majefty on the encreafe of his domeftic 
 happinefs, by the birth of another princefs, 
 
 and
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, <&C. 
 
 and the recovery of his royal Confort ; who 
 is mod highly endeared to this nation; as 
 well by her Majefty 3 s eminent and amiable 
 virtues, as by every new pledge of fecurity 
 to our religious and civil liberties. 
 
 " That they are duly fenfible of his Ma 
 jefiy's goodnefs in recurring to the advice 
 and fupport of his parliament in the prefent 
 conjuncture, when the rebellion in North-? 
 America (till continues: and to return his 
 Majefty their unfeigned thanks for having 
 communicated to them the juft confidence 
 which his Majefiy repofes in the zeal, intre- 
 pidity, and exertions of his Majefty 's officers 
 and forces both by fea and land: but at the fame 
 time, that they entertain a well-founded hope 
 of the important fuccefies, which, under the 
 blefling of Providence, may be expected : 
 That they cannot but applaud his Majefty 's 
 unwearied vigilance and wifdom, in recom- 
 mending them to prepare, at all events, for 
 fuch further operations as the contingencies 
 of the war, and the o! ftinacy of the rebels 
 may render expedient : That they are 
 therefore gratefully fenfible of his Majefty's 
 confideration, in purfuing the meafures ne- 
 
 ceffary
 
 282 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 ceffary to keep his land-forces complete to 
 the prefent eflablifhment ; and that they 
 owe it both to his Majefly and themfelves 
 to fay, that they (hall chearfully concur in 
 enabling his Majefly to make good fuch 
 new engagements with foreign powers, for 
 the augmentation of the auxiliary troops, as 
 the weighty motives his Majefly has flated, 
 may induce him to contract. 
 
 " That it is with great fatisfaclion they 
 learn, that his Majefly receives repeated 
 affurances from foreign powers of their 
 pacific difpofitions ; and that, with hearts 
 full of gratitude and admiration, they ac- 
 knowledge his Majefly's humane, fleady, 
 and dignified conduft, which is equally well 
 calculated to demonflrate to the world, his 
 Majefty's wifh to preferve the general tran- 
 quillity of Europe, and his determination to 
 maintain the honour of the crown, the 
 fecurity of thefe kingdoms, and the com- 
 mercial interells of his fubjefts. 
 
 " That they thankfully receive his Ma- 
 jefly's declaration of perfeverance now pur- 
 fuing, for the re-eflablifhment of a jufl and 
 conflitutional fubordination through the 
 
 feveral
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 283 
 
 Several parts of his Majefty's dominions ; 
 and beg leave to aflure his Majefty, that 
 they participate the defire which at the 
 fame time animates his royal breaft, to fee 
 a proper opportunity for putting an end 
 to the effufion of blood, and the various 
 calamities infeparable from a ftate of war. 
 
 " That the conftant tenor of his -Majefty's 
 reign has fhewn, that his whole attention is 
 employed for the fafety and happinefs of all 
 his people ; and that, whenever their un- 
 happy fellow-fubjecl:s in North-America 
 (hall duly return to their allegiance, they 
 fhall readily concur in every wife and falu- 
 tary meafure which can contribute to re- 
 ftore confidence and order, and to fix the 
 mutual welfare of Great-Britain and her 
 Colonies on the moft folid and permanent 
 foundations." 
 
 LORD CHATHAM. " I rife, my Lords, 
 to declare my fentiments on this moft 
 folemn and fericus fubjecl:. It has impofed 
 a load upon my mind, which I fear, nothing 
 can remove ; but which impels me to en- 
 deavour
 
 284 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 deavour its alleviation, by a free and u.nre* 
 ferved communication of my fentiments. . 
 " In the firft part of the addrefs, I 
 have the honour of heartily concurring with 
 the noble earl who moved it. No man 
 feels fincerer joy than I do, none can offer 
 more genuine congratulation on every ac- 
 ceflion of flrength to the proteftant fuccef. 
 (ion-: I therefore join in every congratula. 
 tion on the birth of another princefs, and 
 the happy recovery of her Majefly. But I 
 jnufl flop here-*my courtly complaifance 
 will carry me no farther;- J will not join in 
 congratulation on misfortune and difgrace; 
 ---I cannot concur in a blind and fervile ad- 
 drefs, which approves and endeavours to 
 fanclify, the monflrous meafures that have 
 heaped difgrace and misfortune upon us 
 that have brought ruin to our doors. This, 
 my Lords, is a perilous and tremendous mo- 
 ment ! It is not a time for adulation ; the 
 fmoothnefs of flattery cannot now avail- 
 cannot fave us in this awful and rugged 
 crifis : it is now neceffary to inftrucl the 
 throne in the language of truth. We muft 
 difpel the delufion and the darknefs which 
 
 envelop 
 '3
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 285 
 
 envelop it, and difplay, in its full danger 
 and true colours, the ruin that is brought to 
 our doors. 
 
 (f This, my Lords, is our duty ; it is the 
 proper function of this noble aflembly, fit- 
 ting as we da upon our honours in this 
 houfe, the hereditary council of the Crown : 
 -*-And who is the Minifter where is the 
 Minifter, that has dared to fuggeft to the 
 throne the contrary, unconftitutional lan- 
 guage, this day delivered from it? The ac- 
 cuftomed language from the throne has 
 been application to parliament for advice, 
 and reliance on its conftitutional advice and 
 affiftance; as it is the right of parlia- 
 ment to give, fo it is the duty of the 
 crown to afk it>--but on this day, and in 
 this extreme momentous exigency, no reli- 
 ance is repofed on our conftitutional coun- 
 cils ! no advice is afked from the fober and 
 enlightened care of parliament ! but the 
 Crown from itfelf, and by itfelf, declares an 
 unalterable determination to purfue mea- 
 fures and what meafures, my Lords? the 
 meafures that have produced the imminent 
 
 perils
 
 286 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 perils that threaten us, the meafures that 
 have brought ruin to our doors. 
 
 " Can the Minifter of the day now pre- 
 fume to expeft a continuance of fupport, in 
 this ruinous infatuation? Can parliament 
 be fo dead to its dignity, and its duty, as to 
 be thus deluded into the lofs of the one, and 
 the violation of the other? To give an 
 unlimited credit and fupport, for the Jieady 
 perfeverance in meafures ; that is the word 
 and the conduct, not propofed for our par- 
 liamentary advice, but dictated and forced 
 upon us in meafures, I fay, my Lords, 
 which have reduced this late flourifhing 
 empire to ruin and contempt! " But yef- 
 " terday t and England might have Jlood 
 " again/I the world; now none fo poor to do 
 " her reverence" I ufe the words of a 
 poet; but though it be poetry, it is not 
 fiftion. It is a fhameful truth, that not 
 alone the power and ftrength of this coun- 
 try are wafting away and expiring, but her 
 well-earned glories, her true honour, and 
 fubflantial dignity, are facrificed. France, 
 my Lords, has infulted you ; {he has encou- 
 raged
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. #87 
 
 raged and fuftained America: and whether 
 America be wrong or right, the dignity of 
 this country ought to fpurn at the officious 
 infult of French interference. The miniA 
 ters and ambaffadors of thofe who are called 
 rebels and enemies, are in Paris : in Paris, 
 they tranfaQ; the reciprocal interefts of 
 America and France. Can there be a more 
 mortifying infult? Can even our Minifters 
 fuftain a more humiliating difgrace? Do 
 they dare to refent it? Do they prefume 
 even to hint a vindication of their honour, and 
 the dignity of the ftate, by requiring the dif- 
 miffal of the plenipotentiaries of America? 
 Such is the degradation to which they have re- 
 duced the glories of England ! The people 
 whom they affe&ed to call contemptible re- 
 bels, but whofe growing power has at laft ob- 
 tained the name of enemies ; the people with 
 whom they have engaged this country in 
 war, and againft whom they now command 
 our implicit fupport in every meafure of 
 defperate hoftility; this people, defpifed as 
 rebels, or acknowledged as enemies, are 
 abetted againft you, fupplied with every 
 military ftore, their interefts confulted, and 
 
 their
 
 288 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 their ambafladors entertained, by your inve- 
 terate enemy ! and our Minifters dare not 
 interpofe with dignity or effeft. Is this the 
 honour of a great kingdom ? Is this the 
 indignant fpirit of England, who, " but 
 yefterday," gave law to the houfe of Bour- 
 bon? My Lords, the dignity of nations 
 demands a decifive conduct in a fituation 
 like this. Even when the great eft prince 
 that perhaps this country ever faw, filled 
 our throne, the requifition of a Spanifh ge- 
 neral, on a fimilar fubjecl;, was attended to, 
 and complied with ; for, on the fpirited 
 remonftrance of the Duke of Alva, Eliza- 
 beth found herfelf obliged to deny the 
 Flemiih exiles all countenance, fupport, or 
 even entrance into her dominions ; and the 
 Count Le Marque, with his few defperate 
 followers, was expelled the kingdom : hap- 
 pening to arrive at the Brille, and finding it 
 weak in defence, they made themfelves maf- 
 ters of the place and this was the founda- 
 tion of the United Provinces. 
 
 " My Lords, this ruinous and ignomini- 
 ous fituation, where we cannot aft with 
 fuccefs, nor fuffer with honour, calls upon 
 
 us
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 289 
 
 us to remonftrate in the ftrongeft and loud- 
 eft language of truth, to refcue the ear of 
 Majefty from the delufions which furround 
 it. The defperate ftate of our arms abroad 
 
 is in part known No man thinks more 
 
 highly of them than I do : I love and ho- 
 nour the Englifh troops ; I know their vir- 
 tues and their valour ; I know they can 
 atchieve any thing except impombilities ; 
 and I know that the conqueft of Englim 
 America is an impofflbility. You cannot, I 
 venture to fay it, YOU CANNOT conquer 
 America. Your armies laft war effected 
 every thing that could be effected ; and 
 what was it ? It coft a numerous army, 
 under the command of a moft able Gene- 
 ral *, now a noble Lord in this Houfe, a 
 long and laborious campaign, to expel 5000 
 Frenchmen from French America. My 
 
 Lords,YOU CANNOT CONQUERAMERICA. 
 
 What is your prefent fituation there ? we 
 do not know the worft ; but we know that 
 in three campaigns we have done nothing, 
 and fuffered much. Befides the fufferings, 
 
 * Sir Jeffery (now Lord) Amherft. 
 
 VOL. i. u perhaps
 
 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 perhaps total lofs, of the Northern force *. 
 The beft appointed army that ever took the 
 field, commanded by Sir William Howe, has 
 retired from the American lines ; he was ob- 
 liged to relinquim his attempt ; and with great 
 delay and danger, to adopt a new and diflant 
 plan of operations. We fhall foon know, 
 and in any event have reafon to lament, what 
 may have happened fince As to conqueft, 
 herefore, my Lords, I repeat, it is impofli- 
 ble : You may fwell every expence, and eve- 
 ry effort ftill more extravagantly ; pile and 
 accumulate every afliftance you can buy or 
 borrow ; traffic and barter with every little 
 pitiful German prince, that fells his fubje&s 
 to the fhambles of a foreign prince; your 
 efforts are for ever vain and impotent ; 
 doubly fo from this mercenary aid on which 
 you rely ; for it irritates to an incurable 
 
 * General Burgoyne's army. The hiftory of it is (hort. 
 Mod of its braveft officers fell ; and above half its num- 
 bers : the REST furrendered to the enemy on the I7th of 
 Oft. 1777. See the Gazettes. The account of this total 
 hfs, as the noble fpeaker's prefcience exprefled it on the 
 aoth of November, arrived in England in the beginning 
 of December. 
 
 refentment,
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 
 
 refentment, the minds of your enemies. To 
 over-run them with the mercenary fons of 
 rapine and plunder ; devoting them, and 
 their poffeflions, to the rapacity of hireling 
 cruelty ! If I were an American, as I am 
 an Englifhman, while a foreign troop was 
 landed in my country, I never would lay 
 down my arms never never never ! 
 
 " Your own army is infe&ed with the 
 contagion of thefe illiberal allies. The fpirit 
 of plunder and of rapine is gone forth among 
 them. I know it and notwithstanding 
 what the noble Earl *, who moved the ad- 
 drefs, has given as his opinion of our Ame- 
 rican army, I know from authentic informa- 
 tion, and the moft experienced officers, that 
 our difcipline is deeply wounded. Whilfl 
 this is notorioufly our finking fituation, 
 America grows and flourifhes : whilft our 
 ftrength and difcipline is lowered, theirs rifes 
 and improves. 
 
 " But, my Lords, who is the man, that in 
 addition to thefe difgraces and mifchiefs of 
 our army, has dared to authorife and aflb- 
 
 * Lord Percy. 
 
 u 2 ciate
 
 '292 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 ciate to our arms the tomahawk and fcalp- 
 ing-knife of the favage ? To call into civi- 
 lized alliance, the wild and inhuman favage 
 of the woods ; to delegate to the mercileft 
 Indians, the defence of difputed rights ; and 
 to wage the horrors of his barbarous war 
 againft our brethren? My Lords, thefe 
 enormities cry aloud for redrefs and punim- 
 ment ; unlefs thoroughly done away, it will 
 be a ftain on the national character it is a 
 violation of the conftitution I believe it is 
 againft law It is not the leaft of our na- 
 tional misfortunes, that the ftrength and 
 character of our army are thus impaired ; 
 infe&ed with the mercenary fpirit of rob- 
 bery and rapine familiarized to the horrid 
 fcenes of favage cruelty, it can no longer 
 boaft of the noble and generous principles 
 which dignify a foldier ; no longer fympa- 
 thize with the dignity of the royal banner, 
 nor feel the pride, pomp, and circumftance 
 of glorious war, " that make ambition vir- 
 tue !" What makes ambition virtue ? the 
 fenfe of honour. But is the fenfe of honour 
 confiftent with a fpirit of plunder, or the 
 practice of murder? Befides thefe mur- 
 i derers
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 293 
 
 derers and plunderers, let me afk our mini- 
 fters, what other allies have they acquired ? 
 What other powers have they aflbciated to 
 their caufe? Have they entered into alli- 
 ance with the Kingof the gypfes? Nothing, 
 my Lords, is too low or too ludicrous to 
 be confident with their counfels. 
 
 " The independent views of America have 
 been dated and aflerted as the foundation 
 of this addrefs My Lords, no man wifhes 
 more for the due dependence of America 
 on this country than I do. To preferve it, 
 and not to confirm that ftate of indepen- 
 dence into which your meafures hitherto 
 have driven them, is the objecl: we ought to 
 unite in attaining. The Americans, con- 
 tending for their rights againft arbitrary ex- 
 a&ions, I love and admire ; it is the ftruggle 
 of free and virtuous patriots : but con- 
 tending for independency and total difcon- 
 neftion from England, as an Englifhman, I 
 cannot wifh them fuccefs ; for, in a due 
 conftitutifmal dependency, including the an- 
 cient fupremacy of this country in regulat- 
 ing their commerce and navigation, coniifts 
 the mtual happinefs and profperity both of 
 
 England
 
 294 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 England and America. She derived abid- 
 ance and protection from us ; and we reaped 
 from her the moft important advantages: 
 Ihe was, indeed, v the fountain of our wealth, 
 the nerve of our ftrength, the nurfery and 
 bafis of our naval power.- It is our duty, 
 therefore, my Lords, if we wifh to fave our 
 Country, moft ferioufly to endeavour the 
 recovery of thefe moft beneficial fubjects : 
 and in this perilous crifis, perhaps may be 
 the only one in which we can hope for fuc- 
 cefs ; for in their negociations with France, 
 they have, or think they have, reafon to 
 complain : though it be notorious that they 
 have received from that power important 
 fupplies and afliftance of various kinds, yet 
 it is certain they expected it in a more 
 decifive and immediate degree : America is 
 in ill humour with France, on fome points 
 that have not entirely anfwered her expecta- 
 tions : let us wifely take advantage of every 
 poflible moment of reconciliation. Befides, 
 the natural difpofition of America herfelf 
 ftill leans towards England* to the old habits 
 of connexion and mutual intereft that united 
 both countries ; this was the eftablifhed fen- 
 
 timent
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 295 
 
 timent of all the continent ; and ftill, my 
 Lords, in the great and principal part, the 
 found part of America, this wife and affec- 
 tionate difpofition prevails : and there is a 
 very confiderable part of America yet found 
 the middle and the fouthern provinces ; 
 fome parts may be factious and blind to 
 their true interefts ; but if we exprefs a wife 
 and benevolent difpofition to communicate 
 with them thofe immutable rights of nature, 
 and thofe constitutional liberties, to which 
 they are equally entitled with ourfelves ; by 
 a conduct fo jufl and humane, we (hall 
 confirm the favourable, and conciliate the 
 adverfe : I fay, my Lords, the rights 
 and liberties to which they are equally 
 entitled with ourfelves, but no more. I 
 would participate to them every enjoyment 
 and freedom which the colonizing fubjecls 
 of a free flate can poifefs ; and I do not fee 
 why they fhould not enjoy every fundamen- 
 tal right in their property, and every origi- 
 nal fubftantial liberty, which Devonmire, or 
 Surrey, or the county I live in, or any other 
 county in England can claim ; referving al- 
 ways, as the facred right of the mother- 
 country,
 
 296 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 country, the due conftitutional dependency 
 of the Colonies. The inherent fupremacy 
 of the flate in regulating and protecting the 
 navigation and commerce of all her fub- 
 je6ts, is neceffary for the mutual benefit and 
 prefervation of every part, to conftitute and 
 preferve the profperous arrangement of the 
 whole empire. 
 
 " The found parts of America, of which 
 I have fpoken, muft be fenfible of thefe 
 great truths, and of their real interefts. 
 America is not in that ftate of defperate and 
 contemptible rebellion, which this country 
 has been deluded to believe: It is not a 
 wild and lawlefs banditti, who, having 
 nothing to lofe, might hope to fnatch fome- 
 thing from public convulfions; many of 
 their leaders and great men have a great 
 flake in this great contefl: the gentleman 
 who conducts their armies, I am told, has 
 an eftate of four or five thoufand pounds a 
 year: and when I confider thefe things, I 
 cannot but lament the inconfiderate vio- 
 lence of our penal afts, our declarations of 
 treafon and rebellion, with all the fatal 
 effects of attainder and confifcation. 
 
 " As
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 297 
 
 " As to the difpofition of foreign powers, 
 which is afferted to be pacific * and friend- 
 ly, let us judge my Lords, rather by their 
 aftions and the nature of things, than by in- 
 terefted aflertions. The uniform afliftance 
 fupplied to America by France, fuggefts a 
 different conclufion: The mod important 
 interefts of France, in aggrandizing and en- 
 riching herfelf with what fhe moil wants, 
 fupplies of every naval (lore from America, 
 muft infpire her with different fentiments : 
 The extraordinary preparations of the 
 Houfe of Bourbon, by land and by fea, 
 from Dunkirk to the Streights, equally 
 ready and willing to overwhelm thefe de- 
 fencelefs iflands, mould roufe us to a fenfe 
 of their real difpofition and our own danger. 
 Not five thoufand troops in England ! 
 hardly three thoufand in Ireland ! What 
 can we oppofe to the combined force of our 
 enemies? Scarcely twenty (hips of the line 
 fully or fufficiently manned, that any admi- 
 ral's reputation would permit him to take 
 
 * See the King's Speech, page a 78. 
 
 the
 
 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 the command of* The river of Lifbon in 
 the pofleffion of our enemies! The feas 
 fwept by American privateers :~ Our chan- 
 nel torn to pieces by them! In this com- 
 plicated crifis of danger, weaknefs at home 
 and calamity abroad, terrified and infulted 
 by the neighbouring powers, unable to aft 
 in America, or afting only to be deflroyed ; 
 where is the man with the forehead to 
 
 * In reply to the noble fpeaker's aflertion relative to 
 the number of mips, &c. the firft Lord of the Admiralty 
 rofe in his place ; and gave their Lordfhips official affur- 
 once " that thirty-five mips of the line were then (Nov. 
 " 20, 1777) compleatly ready ; that /even more would 
 ** be ready in a few weeks; in all FORTY-TWO: and 
 '? that an admiral of the moft acknowledged merit (he 
 " then faid) and of the higheft reputation, ADMIRAL 
 " KEPPEL, was ready to take the command." In 
 March 1778, Admiral Keppel went to Portfmouth to 
 take the command. He found " but six SHIPS ready" 
 and thofe in ill condition. See defence of 'Admiral Keppel. 
 " On the 301)1 of June, twenty /hips of the line were 
 " ready, with which Admiral Keppel failed. Thirfy- 
 " two (hips of the line then lay in Breft water, befides an 
 " incredible number of frigates." Ibid. The Englifh 
 fleet were forced to return, from this vaft fuperiority of 
 this fleet of France. " A firft Lord of the Admiralty, ii' 
 " he does not take care always to have a fleet fuperior 
 " to both France and Spain, defirues to lofe bis bead." 
 LORD SANDWICH. 
 
 promife
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 299 
 
 promife or hope for fuccefs in fuch a fitua- 
 tion? or, from perfeverance in the meafures 
 that have driven us to it? Who has the 
 forehead to do fo ? Where is that man ? I 
 fhould be glad to fee his face. 
 
 " You cannot conciliate America by your 
 prefent meafures you cannot fubdue her by 
 your prefent, or by any meafures. What 
 then can you do ? You cannot conquer 
 you cannot gain but you can addrefs; you 
 can lull the fears and anxieties of the mo- 
 ment into an ignorance of the danger that 
 fhould produce them. But, my Lords, the 
 time demands the language of truth: we 
 muft not now apply the flattering unclion 
 of fervile compliance, or blind complai- 
 fance. In a juft and neceflary war, to 
 maintain the rights or honour of my coun- 
 try, I would ftrip the fliirt from my back to 
 fupport it: but in fuch a war as this, un^ 
 juft in its principle, imprafticable in its 
 means, and ruinous in its confequences, I 
 would not contribute a fingle effort nor a 
 fingle milling. I do not call for vengeance 
 on the heads of thofe who have been guilty 
 I only recommend to them to make their 
 
 retreat,
 
 00 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 retreat, let them walk of; and let them 
 make hafie, or they may be aflured that 
 fpeedy and condign punifhment will over- 
 take them. 
 
 " My Lords, I have fubmitted to you, 
 with the freedom and truth which I think 
 my duty, my fentiments on your prefent 
 awful fituation. I have laid before you the 
 ruin of your power, the difgrace of your 
 reputation, the pollution of your difcipline, 
 the contamination of your morals, the com- 
 plication of calamities, foreign and domeftic, 
 that overwhelm your finking country. 
 Your deareft interefls, your own liberties, 
 the constitution itfelf, totters to the founda- 
 tion. All this difgraceful danger, this mul- 
 titude of mifery, is the monftrous offspring 
 of this unnatural war. We have been de- 
 ceived and deluded too long ; but let us 
 now flop (hort : this is the crifis, may be 
 the only crifis*, of s time and fituation, to 
 
 give 
 
 * It cannot have efcaped obfervation, with what ur- 
 gent anxiety the noble fpeaker has prefled this point 
 throughout his fpeech ; the critical necefllty of hfiantly 
 treating with America. But the warning voice was 
 
 heard
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 30! 
 
 give us a poflibility of efcape from the fatal 
 effe&s of our delufions. But if in an obfti- 
 nate and infatuated perfeverance in folly, 
 we meanly echo back the peremptory words 
 this day prefented to us, nothing can fave 
 this devoted country from complete and 
 final ruin. We madly rum into multiplied 
 miferies and " confufion worfe confounded." 
 Is it poflible, can it be believed, that 
 minifters are yet blind- to this impending de- 
 ftruftion ? I did hope, that inftead of this 
 falfe and empty vanity, this overweening 
 pride, engendering high conceits, and pre- 
 fumptuous imaginations, that minifters 
 would have humbled themfelves in their 
 errors, would have confefled and retracled 
 them, and by an a6live though a late re- 
 pentance, have endeavoured to redeem 
 them. But, my Lords, fince they had 
 neither fagacity to forefee, nor juftice nor 
 humanity to fhun, thefe oppreflive calami- 
 ties ; fmce, not even fevere experience can 
 
 heard in vain: the Addrefs triumphed: parliament ad- 
 journed : Minifters enjoyed the feftive recefs of a long 
 Chriftmas : and America ratified her alliance with 
 France. 
 
 make
 
 gO2 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 make them feel, nor the imminent ruin of* 
 their country awaken them from their flu- 
 pefaftion, the guardian care of parliament 
 mufl interpofe. I mall therefore, my 
 Lords, propofe to you an amendment to 
 the addrefs to his Majefty, to be inferted 
 immediately after the two firft paragraphs 
 of congratulation on the birth of a princefs ; 
 to recommend an immediate ceffation of 
 hoftilities, and the commencement of a 
 treaty to reftore peace and liberty to Ame- 
 rica, ftrength and happinefs to England, fe- 
 curity and permanent profperity to both 
 countries. This, my Lords, is yet in our 
 power; and let not the wifdom and juftice 
 of your Lordfhips neglect the happy and 
 perhaps the only opportunity. By the 
 eflablifhment of irrevocable laws, founded 
 on mutual rights, and afcertained by treaty, 
 thefe glorious enjoyments may be firmly 
 perpetuated. And let me repeat to your 
 Lordfhips, that the ftrong bias of America, 
 at lead of the wifer and founder parts of it, 
 naturally inclines to this happy and confti- 
 tutional reconne&ion with you. Notwith- 
 Handing the temporary intrigues with 
 
 France,
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 303 
 
 France, we may ftill be afTured of their an- 
 cient and confirmed partiality to us. Ame- 
 rica and France cannot be congenial ; there 
 is fomething decifive and confirmed in the 
 honeft American, that will not aflimilate to 
 the futility and levity of Frenchmen. 
 
 " My Lords, to encourage and confirm 
 that innate inclination to this country, 
 founded on every principle of affeftion, as 
 well as confideration of intereft to reftore 
 that favourable difpofition into a permanent 
 and powerful re-union with this country 
 to revive the mutual ftrength of the empire; 
 again to awe the Houfe of Bourbon, inftead 
 of meanly truckling, as our prefent calami- 
 ties compel us, to every infult of French 
 caprice, and Spanifh punctilio to re-eftab- 
 lifh our commerce to re-aflert our rights 
 and our honour to confirm our interefts, 
 and renew our glories for ever (a confum- 
 mation moft devoutly to be endeavoured! 
 and which, I truft, may yet arife, from 
 reconciliation with America) I have the 
 honour of fubmitting to you the following 
 amendment; which I move to be inferted 
 
 after
 
 304 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 after the two firft paragraphs of the Ad- 
 drefs :" 
 
 " And that this Houfe does moft humbly 
 *' advife and fupplicate his Majefty, to be 
 " pleafed to caufe the moft fpeedy and 
 " effe&ual meafures to be taken, for reftor- 
 " ing peace in America ; and that no time 
 " may be loft in propofmg an immediate 
 " ceflation of hoftilities there, in order to 
 " the opening a treaty for the final fettle- 
 " ment of the tranquillity of thefe invalu- 
 " able provinces, by a removal of the un- 
 " happy caufes of this ruinous civil war; 
 " and by a juft and adequate fecurity againft 
 " the return of the like calamities in times 
 " to come. And this Houfe defire to offer 
 " the moft dutiful affurances to his Majefty, 
 * e that they will, in due time, chearfully 
 " co-operate with the magnanimity and 
 " tender goodnefs of his Majefty, for the 
 " prefervation of his people, by fuch expli- 
 * f cit and moft folemn declarations, and 
 " provifions of fundamental and irrevocable 
 " laws, as may be judged necefiary for the 
 " afcertaining and fixing for ever the re- 
 
 " fpeftive
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 305 
 
 fpeftive rights of Great-Britain and her 
 Colonies." 
 
 In the courfe of the Debate, Lord Suffolk, 
 fecretary of ftate for the northern depart- 
 ment, undertook to defend the employ- 
 jnent of the Indians in the war. His 
 Lordfhip contended, that, befides impolicy 
 and necejfity, the meafure was alfo allow- 
 able on principle ; for that " it was per- 
 " feftly juftifiable to ufe all the means 
 " that God and Nature put into our hands." 
 
 " I AM ASTONISHED!" (exclaimed 
 
 LORD CHATHAM as he rofe) " fhocked 
 to hear fuch principles confefTed to hear 
 them avowed in this houfe, or in this coun- 
 try : principles equally unconstitutional, 
 inhuman, and unchriftian ! 
 
 " My Lords, I did not intend to have 
 encroached again on your attention ; but I 
 cannot reprefs my indignation I feel myfelf 
 impelled by every duty : My Lords, we are 
 called upon as members of this houfe, as 
 
 VOL. i. x men*
 
 306 GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 men, as Chriftian-men, to protefl againft 
 fuch notions (landing near the throne pol- 
 luting the ear of Majefty ! " That God and 
 Nature put into our hands !" I know not 
 what ideas that Lord may entertain of God 
 and Nature ; but I know that fuch abomi- 
 nable principles are equally abhorrent to 
 religion and humanity. What! to attri- 
 bute the facred fanclion of God and Nature 
 to the maflacres of the Indian fcal ping- 
 knife, to the cannibal favage torturing, mur- 
 dering, roafting, and eating literally, my 
 Lords, eating the mangled viclims of his 
 barbarous battles ! Such horrible notions 
 ihock every fentiment of honour; they 
 mock me as a lover of honourable war, and 
 a detefter of murderous barbarity. 
 
 '' Thefe abominable principles, and this 
 more abominable avowal of them, demand 
 the moft decifive indignation. I call upon 
 the right reverend bench, thofe holy mini- 
 flers of the gofpel, and pious paftors of our 
 church: I conjure them to join in the 
 holy work, and vindicate the religion of their 
 God. I appeal to the wifdom and the law 
 of this learned bench, to defend and fup port 
 
 the
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 307 
 
 the juftice of their country. I call upon 
 the Bifhops to interpofe the unfullied fanc- 
 tity of their lawn ; upon the learned Judges 
 to interpofe the purity of their ermine, to 
 fave us from this pollution : I call upon 
 the honour of your Lordfhips, to reverence 
 the dignity of your anceftors, and to main- 
 tain your own : I call upon the fpirit and 
 humanity of my country, to vindicate the 
 national character. I invoke the genius of 
 the Conftitution ! From the tapeftry that 
 adorns thefe walls, the immortal anceftor of 
 this noble Lord *, frowns with indignation 
 at the difgrace of his country. Jn vain he 
 led your victorious fleets againft the boafted 
 Armada of Spain ; in vain he defended and 
 eftablifhed the honour, the liberties, the 
 religion, the Proteflant religion of this coun- 
 try, againft the arbitrary cruelties of popery, 
 and the inquifition if thefe more than popifh 
 cruelties, and inquifitional practices are let 
 loofe among us ; to turn forth into our 
 
 * Lord Effingham. Lord Effingham Howard was 
 Lord High Admiral of England againft the Spanifh Ar- 
 mada; the dcftru&ion of which is represented in the 
 
 x 2 fettlements,
 
 308 , GENUINE ABSTRACTS 
 
 fcttlernents, among our ancient connexions, 
 friends, and relations, the mercilefs cannibal, 
 thirdi ng for the blood of man, woman, and 
 child ! to fend forth the infidel favage, 
 againft whom ? againfl your proteflant 
 brethren : to lay wade their country to 
 defolate their dwellings, and extirpate their 1 
 race and name ; with thefe horrible hell- 
 hounds of favage war ! hell-hounds, I Jay, 
 of favage war. Spain armed herfelf with 
 blood-hounds to extirpate the wretched na- 
 tives of America ; and we improve on the 
 inhuman example of Spanim cruelty we 
 turn loofe thefe favage hell-hounds againfl 
 our brethren and countrymen in America, 
 of the fame language, laws, liberties, and 
 religion ; endeared to us by every tie that 
 fliould Riiiclify humanity. 
 
 '' My Lords, this awful fubjecl;, fo im- 
 portant to pur honour, our conditution, and 
 our religion, demands the mod folemn and 
 effectual inquiry : and I again call upon 
 your Lordfhips, and the united powers of 
 the (late, to examine it thoroughly and clc- 
 cifively, and to damp upon it an indelible 
 fligrna of publick abhorrence. And I again 
 
 implore 
 
 2
 
 FROM TWO SPEECHES, &C. 309 
 
 implore thofe holy prelates of oar religion, 
 to do away thofe iniquities from among us. 
 Let them perform a luilration ; let them 
 purify this houfe, and this country, from 
 this fin. 
 
 " My Lords, I am old and weak, and at 
 prefent unable to fay more; but my feelings 
 and my indignation were too ftrong to have 
 faid lefs. I could not have flept this night 
 in my bed, nor repofed my head on my 
 pillow, without giving this vent to my eter- 
 nal abhorrence of fuch prepoflerous and 
 enormous principles." 
 
 MISCEL-
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 To PORTIA on her NATAL DAY. 
 
 IF poetry is bed infpir'd by love, 
 
 And amorous numbers moil harmonious 
 
 move. 
 
 If tender feelings form the tender fong 
 Let me be rank'd the tend'reft bards among. 
 For oh ! not Ovid more delighted dwelt 
 On Chloe's charms, nor more enraptur'd felt 
 Their foft'ning pow'r nor Horace' tender lays 
 More truly mov'd in Lydia's claffic praife ; 
 Not Cowley's felf more amoroufly own'd 
 Fair Amoret's fway, with every beauty 
 
 crown'd ; 
 
 Than I my Fanny's virtuous charms adore, 
 Their praife confefs, and own their fofi'ning 
 
 pow'r. 
 
 Tho' my untutor'd mufe in vain afpires 
 On youthful wing to catch the rapt'rous fires 
 
 Which
 
 314 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Which warrn'd their glowing fancy ; yet my 
 
 theme 
 
 Superior (hall infpire a purer flame. 
 Come, holy Hymen! vindicate your fway, 
 And teach inferior powers to obey : 
 With facred drains thy votarifl infpire. 
 Duly to celebrate thy hallow'd fire : 
 Teach him to fing, that Chloe's wanton arms, 
 ThatLydia's beauty, and fair Amoret's charms 
 Without thy holy fanclion, wanted pow'r ; 
 Inconftant gew-gaws, play-things of an 
 
 hour : 
 Teach him to (hew the virtuous joys which 
 
 blefs 
 Thy hallow'd reign pure peace and happi- 
 
 nefs : 
 
 Teach him his Fanny's conduct to proclaim; 
 Her conduct and thy praifes are the fame. 
 Divined virtues, genuine growth of heav'n ! 
 To her in fulleft excellence are given : 
 Sincere and juft, me knows not to deceive; 
 Piercing and wife, (he knows when to believe : 
 Humane and foft, fhe feels for others' woe ; 
 Gen'rous and free, her joy is to beftow ; 
 Gentle and mild, (he fears to give offence, 
 But firm and bold, in honour's juft defence : 
 
 Rare
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 315 
 
 Rare union of fuch virtues ! happieft he 
 Who calls them his, in fweet fociety ! 
 Learn hence, ye rakes ;. the greateft good 
 
 oflife 
 
 Is fuch a woman fuch a virtuous wife. 
 Oh may this happy morn full oft return! 
 Conftant may Hymen's choiceft torches burn 
 To light it on ! may many future days 
 Thus happily demand my grateful praife ! 
 And may all-bounteous Heav'n, whofe 
 
 gracious power 
 Form'd thee to blefs, (till blefs thy latefl 
 
 hour, 
 Crown thee with years, with affluence, and 
 
 eafe 
 Then gently waft thee to eternal peace ! 
 
 To Miss CH ~- TTE A N. 
 
 JL HO 1 Friendfhip's facred name is oft mif- 
 
 us'd, 
 Its mafk affum'd, and its intent abus'd ; 
 
 Let
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Let not my friend miftruft my fimple phrafe, 
 Nor think that flatt'ry, which is barely praife. 
 As the kind gard'ner, with unceafing care. 
 From threat'ning florins, and the inclement 
 
 air, 
 
 frotefts his tender plants beneath his hand 
 Complete they rife and flourifh in the land-+ 
 So, if in early youth Tome feeds of worth 
 Lay in my mind,. thy influence brought them 
 
 forth ; 
 
 Tho' not implanted, they were rear'd by you, 
 And cherifh'd by your nurture, kindlier grew; 
 By your example animated, warm-'d, 
 My greener youth to virtue's path was form'd ; 
 And if hereafter in maturer days 
 I may pretend to aught that merits praife, 
 > Let it be given where it is juftly due, 
 And all my merit be deriv'd from you.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. QIJ 
 
 An EPILOGUE 
 
 Spoken by a Young Lady, after the Perform- 
 ance of the Tragedy of DOUGLAS, at a 
 private Theatre. 
 
 1 aik Mifs Rofey's pardon 'tis not fo ; 
 
 I could not fure fo impolitely go 
 
 Without a curtTie " Plunge i'th' empty air !" 
 
 Lord, how it makes a modern widow flare. 
 
 Our more fubftantial not lefs fatal flights, 
 
 Afpire not to thofe odious rocky heights ; 
 
 In Pleafure's lower region we take wing, 
 
 Not a dead Lord a loving Slave's the thing. 
 
 And though we give ourfelves fome " empty 
 airs," 
 
 They're not from rocks but boxes above 
 flairs. 
 
 Such is the modern drama of the time,. 
 
 A whimfy, tragi-comic pantomime ; 
 
 Where clowns and changelings net the fore- 
 mod; parts, 
 
 And where Love's plot ! alas ! is hands 
 not hearts. 
 
 But hold, fententious fatire ill befeems 
 A Mifs, juft, at your fcrvice, in her teens. 
 
 Far
 
 I 
 
 3'8 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Far more delighted, (he with rapture tells, 
 With grateful rapture,what around her dwells. 
 The happy fcenes, where " Love makes 
 
 duty light;" 
 
 Where fhines confeft, Matilda of to-night. 
 Maternal mines, whilft in their fphere of love, 
 Her little fatellites around her move. 
 Bleft with her bright example, we afpire, 
 To catch the fparks of Virtue's facred fire. 
 The thought that elevates, the hope that glows 
 With lively fympathy, the heart that knows 
 No other pain, than other's pains create, 
 No purer joy than friends participate. 
 
 A PROLOGUE 
 
 Spoken at the opening of a private Theatre 
 in Ireland. 
 
 VV HILST Shakefpeare's name our fifler- 
 
 nation fills, 
 
 Shall we not write : (hall we not ufe our quills ? 
 Our kingdom boa (Is a hero as divine, 
 Swift of St. Patrick's, a great friend of mine. 
 
 O facred
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 O facred (hade ! infpire thy humble friend ; 
 Let not thy love with thy exiftence end. 
 So (hall my verfe recount, in numbers fit, 
 Thy humour, drollery, and waggifh wit. 
 With gaping mouth how have I lift'ning flood, 
 (Albeit unufed to the laughing mood) 
 When you would complaifantly condefcend 
 To crack a joke and bottle with your friend ; 
 Thou firft of jokers ! glory of this Ifle ! 
 That could ft even me * provoke fometimes 
 
 to fmile ! 
 
 Since thou haft left us, joy and joke are o'er, 
 All Ireland weeps, and I (hall fmile no 
 
 more. 
 
 But not to mirth and jeft alone confin'd, 
 Thy Country's love infpir'd thy noble mind : 
 When Wood attempted with audacious hand 
 To fpread his baleful halfpence o'er the land, 
 Thy watchful genius inftant took th' alarm, 
 And crufh'd the traitor with revengeful arm ; 
 
 * Mr. Paragraph, the Speaker, is remarkable, among 
 other things, for amoft invincible inflexibility of mufcles, 
 from which he was never known to deviate, unlefs, as he 
 fays himfelfi " provoked thereto by the humour of the 
 " Dean." 
 
 And
 
 32O MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 And j uft thy vengeance ; to fuch boldnefs due; 
 Sure never man fuch wild ambition knew ; 
 To hope fuch impofition e'er could pafs ! 
 In Ireland to difperfe hisfpurious brafs! 
 Where every day the true ftands full confeft, 
 Bright in each forehead, burnifh'd on each 
 
 creft: 
 
 But foon thy genius trac'd the bafe allay, 
 Andfent the coiner penny-lefs away. 
 Such wit and humour, with fuch fenfe com- 
 
 bin'd, 
 
 Perplex and puzzle the admiring mind ; 
 We know not which we mould moft highly 
 
 praife, 
 
 Thy mighty talents or foft winning ways ; 
 Thy fpirit never dies, thy wit ne'er flags, 
 Thou firft of Patriots ! and thou firft of 
 
 Wags! 
 
 To
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 32! 
 
 To Mrs. Bo YD, in England, from H. Bo YD 
 in Bengal, with his PICTURE, 22^ of 
 
 oa. 1785. 
 
 IF true to Nature, imitative Art 
 
 Could in the faithful features paint the heart, 
 
 With genuine force give the warm wifh to 
 
 glow 
 
 The conftant figh to heavethe tear to flow ; 
 And all the mix'd emotions fully blend 
 Of lover, hufband, guardian, father, friend : 
 Then mould this canvas proudly claim your 
 
 care, 
 
 For truth and tendernefs would triumph there. 
 But fince no Art can fuch fenfations trace, 
 Since even Nature hardly gives the face 
 All that the heart can feel, be thine, my 
 
 love, 
 
 Kindly to view and fondly to improve. 
 And as you firft th' Original infpir'd 
 With real paflion, and with rapture fir'd, 
 So let the Copy meet your fav'ring eyes, 
 And Sympathy fupply what Art denies. 
 
 VOL. i. Y On
 
 322 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 On the Performance of feletted facred Mu- 
 siCK,/0r the Benefit of the MALE ASY- 
 LUM, at Madras. 
 
 JTlEARD ye not the folemn drain? 
 
 Hark ! trie aweful founds again ! 
 
 Still through the quiv'ring air they float, 
 
 Each varied, lengthen'd, melting note : 
 Now in refiftlefs majefty they roll, 
 Now thrilling through the heart, exalting 
 now the foul. 
 
 O magic charms, whofe potent fway, 
 Or fires to rage, or melts to tears, 
 Whofe power the paffions all obey, 
 Love, hate, joy, grief, warm hopes, chill 
 
 r 
 
 fears : 
 
 Hail mighty power of all-commanding fong! 
 
 Sweet as the vernal breeze, as the high bil- 
 low ftrong. 
 
 When from thy native heavenly fphere, 
 Defcending on the mortal ear 
 Thou pour'ft the full extatic ftrain, 
 Rapture borders upon pain, 
 
 When
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 323 
 
 When from the awful paufe again the full 
 
 notes meet, 
 Almoft for fenfe too flrong, too exquifitely 
 
 fweet. 
 
 Can Mudck's charms more powerful move 
 
 Than tun'd to glory, or to love ? 
 
 Than in warm friendfhip's generous glow ? 
 
 Than in foft pity's tender woe ? 
 Yes a fublimer theme our ear demands, 
 And the beft paflions of the foul commands. 
 
 O CHARITY ! thou Chriftian grace! 
 
 Parent of good ! of heavenly race ! 
 
 Uniting in thy facred call 
 
 Love, friendfhip, pity, glory, all ; 
 Lo ! at thy foftering fhrine, with uplift hands, 
 The poor, the helplefs, infant orphan Hands ! 
 
 Pious Orgie-s ftrike our ear ! 
 
 Angels bow from heaven to hear ; 
 
 Sound again the hallow 'd lays 
 
 Again the HALLELUJAHS raife 
 To notes of heavenly rapture touch the lyre, 
 The Orphan's grateful voice (hall fill the choir. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACIUTY 
 
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