went directly to Richmond to tell the King I should write no more. The Dedication must stand first.

No. 41.

TO MR. DAVID GARRICK.

Nov. 10, 1771.

I AM very exactly informed of your impertinent inquiries, and of the information you so busily sent to Richmond, and with what triumph and exultation it was received. I knew every particular of it the next day. Now mark me, vagabond.-Keep to your pantomimes, or be assured you shall hear of it. Meddle no more, thou busy informer! It is in my power to make you curse the hour in which you dared to interfere with

JUNIUS.

dence, that there were some doubts whether JUNIUS would continue to write much longer. Garrick flew with the intelligence to Mr. Ramus, one of the pages to the King, who immediately conveyed it to his Majesty, at that time residing at Richmond, and from the peculiar sources of information that were open to this extraordinary writer, JUNIUS was apprized of the whole transaction on the ensuing morning, and wrote the above postscript, and the letter that follows it, in consequence.

1 Mr. Garrick had, before this period, been threatened for his supposed political bias to the Court, as will appear from a charge which Mr. Horne brought forward against Mr. Wilkes, during the personal altercation which took place between them in the months of May and June preceding the date of this letter, and which is more particularly noticed in the note to JUNIUS, Letter No. LII. Mr. Horne's accusation is as follows:

"Whilst Mr. Wilkes was in the King's Bench, he sent a threatening message to Mr. Garrick to forbid his playing the part of Hastings in the tragedy of Jane Shore; on account of some lines in that play which Mr. Wilkes thought applicable to his own situation. Mr. Garrick complained exceedingly of the cruelty of such an interdict, and wished to be permitted to proceed in his endeavours to please the public in the common course of his profession. The patriot was inexorable; and Mr. Garrick has not appeared in that character since. The Lord Chamberlain's control by Act of Parliament over the pleasures of the public is exercised only over new plays."

To this charge Mr. Wilkes replied as follows, offering several justly merited compliments to the hitherto unrivalled genius of Mr. Garrick.

I would send the above to Garrick directly, but that I would avoid having this hand too commonly seen. Oblige me, then, so much as to have it copied in any hand, and sent by the penny post, that is if you dislike sending it in your own writing. I must be more cautious than ever. I am sure I should not survive a discovery three days;

"SIR,

"TO THE REV. MR. HORNE.

Prince's Court, Thursday, June 6, 1771.

"Your ninth Letter has relieved me not a little by taking me to the theatre, and recalling to my delighted remembrance the amazing powers both of nature and art in the most wonderful genius that ever trod the English, or perhaps any stage, for his rival, Roscius, had a great defect, erat perversissimis oculis. You say 'whilst Mr. Wilkes was in the King's Bench,' &c. The whole of this pompous tale is, that some warm friends of Mr. Wilkes imagined that Mr. Garrick acted the part of Hastings at that time in a manner very different from what he had usually done, and marked too strongly some particular passages, unfavourable to the generous principles, and to the friends, of freedom. They talked of expressing their disapprobation in the theatre, at the next representation of Jane Shore, and likewise in the public prints. Mr. Wilkes therefore thought it prudent to state the case by two or three gentlemen to Mr. Garrick himself, and said, he feared the part of Hastings might bring on many disagreeable consequences to the great actor himself as well as to Mr. Wilkes and his connections, if continued in the manner then stated. Mr. Garrick received the friendly admonition in the most friendly way, but declared that the gentlemen, who had given Mr. Wilkes the account of his acting Hastings, had greatly mistaken, that he had not made the least alteration in the usual manner of acting that part on account of the political disputes of the times, but been solely guided by his own feelings: that he always had acted that part, and always should play it in the same manner, not however slavishly copying himself, but with all the variety which from time to time his genius might dictate, preserving still the cast and spirit of the original character. Nothing more passed on this subject between Mr. Garrick and me, nor has that gentleman ever expressed the slightest displeasure against Mr. Wilkes, or his friends; so far has he been from complaining exceedingly of the cruelty of an interdict, which never existed.

"Did it escape your memory, Sir, that one of the objections made at that time by my friends, was the peculiar emphasis Mr Garrick was said to give to the following lines of Hastings, which some thought applicable to your situation:

Ill befall

Such meddling Priests, who kindle up confusion,
And vex the quiet world with their vain scruples;
By heaven 'tis done in perfect spight to peace.

"You

or, if I did, they would attaint me by bill. Change to the Somerset Coffee-house, and let no mortal know the alteration. I am persuaded you are too honest a man to contribute in any way to my destruction. Act honourably by me, and at a proper time you shall know me.

I think the second page, with the widest lines, looks best. What is your essential reason for the change1? I send you some more sheets. I think the paper is not so good as Wheble's, but I may be mistaken the type is good. The aspersions thrown upon my letter to the Bill of Rights should be refuted by publication.

Prevail upon Mr. Wilkes to let you have extracts of my second and third letters to him. It will make the book still

"You say, 'I think with half his (Mr. Garrick's) merit I should have had twice his courage.' If you mean theatrical merit, I can tell you of some parts, in which you would infinitely exceed our great English actor. I mean all those parts from which-fugiunt Pudor, Verumque, Fidesque. In quorum subeunt Locum Fraudes, Dolique, Insidiæque, &c. &c. You would act," and be lago with success. Mr. Garrick has that in him, which must ever prevent his acting well in that character. You have that in you, which would make it easy and natural. Shylock too our Roscius must never attempt. The Christian Priest of Brentford has no vain scruples to prevent his undertaking and being applauded in that part. He might then talk of dying his black coat red with blood in an innocent way on the stage, which at Brentford inspired a savage horror.

"The pleasing hours, which Mr. Garrick gave me at the King's Bench, I have deducted from the injury of a long and cruel imprisonment, and I think of him as Cicero did of the great Roman actor, cum artifex ejusmodi sit, ut solus dignus videatur esse, qui in scena spectetur: tum vir ejusmodi est, ut solus dignus videatur, qui eo non accedat.

"I am, &c.

"JOHN WILKES."

1 In allusion to a specimen of the intended genuine edition of the Letters.

2 In the correspondence which took place between Mr. Wilkes and JUNIUS, two of his letters related to the Bill of Rights Society, and were written in disapprobation of several of their measures. These letters were, in many respects, misrepresented to the public, and in his own opinion, purposely so by Mr. Horne. The explanatory extracts here referred to, were re-published at the close of the second volume of the genuine edition, and will be found in Vol. II. p. 149. The letters are given at length in the private correspondence of JUNIUS and Mr. Wilkes.

more new. I would see them before they are printed, but keep this last to yourself1.

No. 42.

Nov. 11, 1771.

PRINT the following as soon as you think proper, and at the head of your paper.

I sent you three sheets of copy last night.

When you send to me, instead of the usual signal, say, Vindex shall be considered, and keep the alteration a secret to every body.

No. 43.

About Nov. 15, 1771.

Ir you can find the date of the Duke of Bedford's flogging, insert it in the note3. I think it was soon after the Westminster election. The Philos are not to be placed as notes, except where I mention it particularly. I have no doubt of what you say about David Garrick-so drop the note. The truth is, that in order to curry favour, he made himself a greater rascal than he was. Depend upon what I tell you; the King understood that he had found out the secret by his own cunning and activity.-As it is important to deter him from meddling, I desire you will tell him that I am aware of his practices, and will certainly be revenged, if he does not desist. An appeal to the public from JUNIUS would destroy him.

Let me know whether Mr. Wilkes will give you the extracts4.

I cannot proceed without answers to those seven queries. Think no more of Junius Americanus. - Let him reprint his letters himself. He acts most dishonourably, in suffering JUNIUS to be so traduced; but this falsehood will all revert upon Horne. In the mean time, I laugh at him.

With submission I think it is not your interest to declare that I have done.

As to yourself, I really think you are in no danger. You are not the object, and punishing you (unless it answered the purpose of stopping the press) would be no gratification to the King. If undesignedly I should send you any thing you may think dangerous, judge for yourself, or take any opinion you think proper. You cannot offend or afflict me but by hazarding your own safety. They talk of farther informa- tions, but they will always hold that language in terrorem. Don't always use the same signal-any absurd Latin verse will answer the purpose1.

Let me know about what time you may want more copy. Upon reflection, I think it absolutely necessary to send that note to D. G2. only say practices instead of impertinent inquiries. I think you have no measures to keep with a man who could betray a confidential letter, for so base a purpose as pleasing *********

**

Tell me how long it may be before you want more copy.I want rest most severely, and am going to find it in the country for a few days. Cumbriensis3 has taken greatly.