Page:Letters of Junius, volume 2 (Woodfall, 1772).djvu/219

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JUNIUS.
209

thinks "I have some right to an explanation;" yet this Junius cannot descend to an altercation with me in the newspapers! And because he cannot descnd to an altercation with me in the newspapers, he sends a letter of abuse, by the printer, which he finishes with telling me,—"I am at liberty to publish it." This, to be sure, is a most excellent method to avoid an altercation in the newspapers!

The proofs of his positive charges are as extraordinary. "He does not pretend to any intelligence concerning me, or to know more of my conduct than I myself have thought proper to communicate to the public." He does not suspect me of such gross folly as to have solicited votes, or to have written anonymously in the newspapers; because it is impossible to do either without being detected, and brought to shame. Junius says this! who yet imagines that he has himself written two years under that signature (and more under others) without being detected!—his warmest admirers will not hereafter add, without being brought to shame. But, though he never did suspect me of such gross folly, as to run the hazard of being detected, and brought to shame, by