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fee me unhappy. I afked upon what grounds his Lord

That Mr. Wilkes would put his name, and would

fhip imputed the paper to me? justify any paper to which he had equally affert the privilege of not giving any answer whatever about a paper which he had not; that this was my undoubted right, which I was ready to feal with my blood. He then faid, he admired me exceedingly, really loved me, but I was an unaccountable animal-fuch parts! but would I kill him who had never offended me? &c. &c. &c.

We had, after this, a good deal of conversation about the Bucks Militia, and the day his Lordship came to fee us on Wycombe Heath before I was Colonel. He foon after flamed out again, and faid to me, You are a murderer, you want to kill me, but I am fure I fhall kill you, I know I fhall, by God. If you will fight, if you kill me, I hope you will be hanged; I know you will. I afked, if I was first to be killed, and afterwards banged; that I knew his Lordship fought me with the King's pardon in his pocket, and I fought him with a halter about my neck; that I would fight him for all that; and if he fell, I fhould not tarry here a moment for the tender mercies of fuch a ministry, but would directly proceed to the next ftage, where my valet de chambre waited for me, and from thence I would make the best of my way to France, as men of honour were fure of protection in that kingdom. He feemed much affected by this. He then told me, that I was an unbeliever, and wished to be killed. I could not help fmiling at this, and observed that we did not meet at Bagshot to fettle articles of faith, but points of honour; that indeed I had no fear of dying, but I enjoyed life as much as any man in it; that I was as little fubject to be gloomy, or even peevish, as any Englishman whatever; that I valued life, and the fair enjoyments of it fo much, I would never quit it by my own confent, except on a call of honour.

I then wrote a letter to your Lordship, refpecting the education of Mifs Wilkes, and gave you my poor thanks for the fteady friendship, with which you have so many fo years honoured me. Colonel Berkeley took the care of the letter, and I have fince defired him to fend it to Stowe, for the fentiments of the heart at fuch a moment are beyond all politics, and indeed every thing elfe, but fuch virtue as Lord Temple's.

When I had fealed my letter, I told his Lordship I was entirely at his fervice, and I again defired that we might decide the affair in the room, because there could not be a poffibility of interruption; but he was quite inexorable. He then asked me how many times we should fire ? I faid, that I left it to his choice: I had brought a flask of powder, and a bag of bullets. Our feconds then charged the piftols which my adjutant had brought. They were large horse piftols. It was agreed that we should fire at the word of command, to be given by one of our feconds. They toffed up, and it fell to my adjutant to give the word. We then left the inn, and walked to a garden at fome distance from the houfe. It was near seven, and the moon fhone very bright. We ftood about eight yards diftant, and agreed not to turn round before we fired, but to continue facing each other. Harris gave the word. Both our fires were in very exact time, but neither took effect. I walked up immediately to his Lordship, and told him that now I avowed the paper. His Lordship paid me the highest encomiums on my courage, and faid he would declare every where that I was the nobleft fellow God had ever made. He then defired, that we might now be good friends, and retire to the inn to drink a bottle of claret together, which we did with great good humour and much laugh. His Lordship afterwards went to Windfor, Colonel Berkeley and my adjutant to Winchester, and I

continue

continue here till to-morrow morning, waiting the return of my valet de chambre, to whom I have fent a meffenger. Berkeley told me, that he was grieved for his Lordship and paffion, and admired my courage and coolnefs beyond his fartheft idea; that was his expreffion.

I have a million of other particulars to relate, but I blush already at the length of this letter. Your Lordship will foon fee Colonel Berkeley, and I hope in a few days to pay my devoirs at Stowe. I intend to be at Aylesbury quarter feffions by Thursday dinner.

My most respectful compliments always attend Lady Temple.

[The following FALSE and INFAMOUS attack on the reputation and character of Mr. WILKES, was inferted in the Auditor, dated September 30, 1762. The Editor of these papers, therefore, thinks it his duty to vindicate that gentleman's innocence by giving a place to the charge itself, and the letters which paffed in confequence of the accufation.

Extract

Extract from the AUDITOR, No. XIX.

-TH

HERE may be a great many other articles added, especially if Colonel Catiline and his gang repair to Stowe, in order to frame the accufation. When the bill of impeachment is fettled, I think it should not be tried by the Lords, but rather be moved by Certiorari, before Sir James Hodges, Mr. Beardmore, the Dutch contractors, and stock-jobbers, &c. Nor would I have Colonel Catiline be a manager of the profecution, but rather turn evidence; for which the reader will think him well qualified, when he has read the following short story, which he may depend is authentic.

A young gentleman, of twelve years old, who is placed for education at Winchefter-college, and is fon to the noble Lord in queftion*, being the other day in a bookfeller's shop at Winchefter, Colonel Catiline entered the place, and moft liberally and manfully accosted the youth in these words: 66 - Young gentleman, your father will have his "head cut off. Sir?'

"than fix months.

6

"He will lofe his head in lefs

For what, Sir? I never heard that

he has done any thing amifs: he has a great many friends;

- Ay, he is your

father's great puppy dog: but, depend upon it, your fa"ther will lofe his head, or the mob fhall tear him to

pieces." The youth upon this burst into tears with indignation; and turning fhort, as he rushed out of the shop, "You are a fquinting fcoundrel,, fays he, for offering to "talk to me in this manner."

#

#

A fon of the Earl of Bute.

I have

00605000 a

I have related this ftory in order to fhew of what a truly heroic, manly, and liberal mind Colonel Catiline is poffeffed, and how fit he is to fwear what the noble Lord will do, fhould the trial come on.

To the Rev. Dr. BURTON, HeadMaster, of Winchester-College.

I

SIR,

Am really forry that it is now become neceffary for me

to make another application to you in relation to the charge fuppofed to be brought against me in the Auditor of the 30th of September. The name of a young gentleman under your care has been publicly made ufe of to give fanction to a falfhood, and to blaft a character, which I have a right to say, not the flightest stain of dishonour has ever fpotted. I am confcious of the most perfect innocence as to every article of this charge, and I defire that the proof of this may be as public as the accufation has been. One natural and obvious method of coming at the truth is certainly by an examination of the youth himfelf. I beg moft earnestly that this may be in the prefence of yourself, and the young gentlemen of the college; and being thus accufed, I should hope to be indulged with being at the examination. I am fatisfied that the young gentleman will not to my face advance fo grofs an untruth, as that he has had one moment's conversation with me, fince Sir Francis Dashwood left Winchester in the fpring. do me the justice of telling the world, how civil and obligé ing, and how becoming us both, were the very few con verfations we had together, and they all paffed in his prefence.

Sir Francis will