Page:Letters of Junius, volume 2 (Woodfall, 1772).djvu/109

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JUNIUS.
99

did their friends; they reciprocally sacrifice them to the animosities of each other; and establish a detestable union among themselves, upon the ruin of the laws and liberty of the commonwealth.

Through the whole proceedings of the house of commons, in this session, there is an apparent, a palpable consciousness of guilt, which has prevented their daring to assert their own dignity, where it has been immediately and grossly attacked. In the course of Dr. Musgrave's examination, he said every thing that can be conceived mortifying to individuals, or offensive to the house. They voted his information frivolous: but they were awed by his firmness and integrity, and sunk under it.[1] The terms, in which the sale of a patent to Mr. Hine were communicated to the public, naturally called for a parliamentary inquiry. The integrity of the house of commons was directly impeached; but they had not courage to move in

  1. The examination of this firm, honest man, is printed for Anon. The reader will find it a most curious, and a most interesting tract. Doctor Musgrave, with no other support but truth, and its own firmness, resisted, and overcame the whole house of commons.