Government were to be very active in supporting the ministerial nomination of sheriffs."

That a letter of this consequence should be intercepted in so large a city as the metropolis of England, is rather curious, but still more so, that it should happen to fall into Junius's hands. I should be inclined to think this intelligence might have been obtained without the aid of a letter.

Sufficient instances are enumerated to shew the very early information Junius obtained on confidential subjects, which must have been revealed to him by some friend closely allied to government. As far as Lord George Sackville was concerned, his rank in life, and the cir cumstance of belonging to his Majesty's Privy Council, might have facilitated such information; independently of which, we have evidence of his applying to his friend, Sir Robert Wilmot, on the subject of the augmentation in Ireland. We may naturally conclude, that if he did so in this instance, he did in others, but this cannot possibly be proved without access to the Wilmot papers. Another person who would be likely to assist him was his friend Colonel Amherst, brother to Sir Jeffery, who held the situations of Groom of the Bed-chamber to the Duke of Gloucester, and Aid-de-camp to the King, during the time of Junius ;-who,

in Miscellaneous Letter XLIII., 15 Sept. 1768, appears to have received the following infor mation from that quarter :

"Yet Lord Boutetort kissed hands the next morning (Friday), and the first notice Sir Jeffery Amherst received of his Lordship's appointment, was by an express sent to him that evening by his brother."

Article IX.-That Junius was a firm friend to Sir Jeffery (afterwards Lord) Amherst.

We need only refer to the Letters themselves to notice how freely the pen of friendship was used by Junius on his behalf. Upwards of fifty pages are taken up in Sir Jeffery Amherst's cause, concluding with this remarkable prophecy, so literally fulfilled afterwards.

Letter XLIV. 20 Sept. 1761-To the Earl of Hillsborough

"Here I shall conclude. You have sent Sir Jeffery Amherst to the plough. You have left him poor in every article of which a false fawning minister could deprive him; but you have left him rich in the esteem, the love, and the veneration of his country. You cannot now recall him by any offer of wealth or honours. Yet I foretell that the time will come, when you yourself will be the cause of his return. Proceed, my Lord, as you have begun, and you will soon reduce

this country to an extremity, in which the wisest and best subjects must be called upon, and must be employed. Till then enjoy your triumph.”

When Lord George became Secretary of State for the American Colonies, Lord Amherst also became a member of the cabinet. Their intimacy has already been noticed.

Article X.-That Junius was a friend to Colonel Cunninghame.

"TO LORD NORTH.

86 MY LORD,

"22 Aug. 1770.

"Mr. Luttrell's services were the chief support and ornament of the Duke of Grafton's administration. The honour of rewarding them was reserved for your Lordship. The Duke, it seems, had contracted an obligation he was ashamed to acknowledge, and unable to acquit. You, my Lord, had no scruples. You accepted the succession with all its incumbrances, and have paid Mr. Luttrell his legacy, at the hazard of ruining the estate.

"When this accomplished youth declared himself the champion of government, the world was busy in enquiring, what honours or emoluments could be a sufficient recompence, to a young man of his rank and fortune, for submit

ting to mark his entrance into life with the universal contempt and detestation of his country. His noble father had not been so precipitate: to vacate his seat in Parliament; to intrude upon a country in which he had no interest or connexion; to possess himself of another man's right; and to maintain it in defiance of public shame, as well as justice, bespoke a degree of zeal, or of depravity, which all the favour of a pious prince could hardly requite. I protest, my Lord, there is in this young man's conduct, a strain of prostitution, which, for its singularity, I cannot but admire. He has discovered a new line in the human character; he has degraded even the name of Luttrell, and gratified his father's most sanguine expectations.

"The Duke of Grafton, with every possible disposition to patronize this kind of merit, was contented with pronouncing Colonel Luttrell's panegyric. The gallant spirit, the disinterested zeal of the young adventurer, were echoed through the House of Lords. His Grace repeatedly pledged himself to the House, as an evidence of the purity of his friend Mr. Luttrell's intentions, that he had engaged without any prospect of personal benefit, and that the idea of compensation would mortally offend him. The noble Duke could hardly be in earnest; but he had lately quitted his employment, and

began to think it necessary to take some care of his reputation. At that very moment the Irish negotiation was probably begun. Come forward, thou worthy representative of Lord Bute, and tell this insulted country, who advised the King to appoint Mr. Luttrell Adjutant-General to the army in Ireland. By what management was Colonel Cunninghame prevailed on to resign his employment, and the obsequious Gisborne to accept of a pension for the government of Kinsale? Was it an original stipulation with the Princess of Wales, or does he owe his preferment to your Lordship's partiality, or to the Duke of Bedford's friendship? My Lord, though it may not be possible to trace this measure to its source, we can follow the stream, and warn the country of its approaching destruction. The English nation must be roused and put upon its guard.

"Mr. Luttrell has already shewn us how far he may be trusted, whenever an open attack is to be made upon the liberties of this country. I do not doubt that there is a deliberate plan formed. Your Lordship best knows by whom; the corruption of the legislative body on this side-a military force on the other-and then, Farewell to England! It is impossible that any minister shall dare to advise the King to place such a man as Luttrell in the confidential post of Adjutant-General, if there were not some secret