out he was a man of education from his letter, and therefore judged him the more dangerous. Mr. C-tes told him, that Mr. Wilkes defired he would write to him and clear up the matter more fully, and he would fend him an anfwer [not true.] They then brought Mr. Dun, pen, ink, paper, and wax, and he wrote, directed to Mr. Wilkes in his lodgings as Mr. Wilkes fent him a verbal anfwer, he will not infert a copy of this letter; he will only obferve, that he procured him a dozen of franks from Mr. F-tzherb-t; thanked him for what he wrote; and faid that he would have done them himfelf, but was not well. This meffage was fent him by a gentleman who carried up Mr. Dun's letter. Mr. F-tzherb-t he must thank for likewise fubfcribing to his performance in Mr. Wilkes's houfe, by only hearing a few pages read. He does here declare he has no animofity against Mr. Wilkes, nor any man in Britain; fome have fhewn it in London, and that very lately, against him, for no other caufe but his mentioning Mr. Wilkes in this performance: he has been often infulted and beat, [BEAT!] and bruised, but as juftice always will get the better, and innocence will be protected, has always come off to his own fatiffaction; and is not this moment afraid, although under lock and key in Stanhope-street. He now, as an officer who has fuffered in his Majefty's fervice, claims protection: is but young, cannot therefore command temper every moment to put up with hearing his countrymen in Scotland abused, but he wishes fincerely the whole would be unanimous, and then the English, Irish, and Scotch, would be a terror to all their enemies: if they difagree amongst themfelves, the confequences will be dreadful. [Do they?] As the aforefaid publication will foon appear, he fhall fay no more at prefent on this fubject, but acquaint the public that it is his firft performance, wrote at the defire of many gentlemen of known merit, and offered to the King's perufal. Upon the 10th of December inftant, Mr. Dun was tried [not even examined] at Mr. Wilkes's inftance, for a breach of privilege, &c. and acquitted: he must here own his obligations to feveral members who fpoke in his behalf; although none of them will fay he afked them to appear in his defence. He is forry that he had reafon to fay fome Gentlemen were over inquifitive; who infifted that his fervant fhould inform, and even threatened him, to tell them, what meffages he fent him from the House of Commons. The night this trial was ended, fome of Mr. Wilkes's friends [who were they?] came to fee Mr. Dun (as they themselves owned) from a principle of curiofity; they wanted, they faid, to know what was the reason for his animofity against Mr. Wilkes, and to see and take a copy of his card to Mr. Dun. In the first place, he informed them that he had no ill will at Mr. Wilkes, and let them copy the card, as they defired: he further faid, that he intended to be his friend, and they faw his recompenfe. They then told Mr. Dun that the world confidered this as a rash and frantic action, at least, that Mr. Wilkes's friends did; but that now they were fatiffied it was not. They fhewed Mr. Dun feveral penknives, and wanted to know the fize of the one he had in his waistcoat pocket on the 8th inftant. He told them it was the fize of the leaft of those they produced; but that he should not fufpect them of affaflination for bringing them into his apartments at this they fmiled. As the news papers fay [his own account] that Mr. Dun faid he purchased the penknife first nine months ago, then a fhorter fpace, and at laft confeffed he bought it at Chatham a fortnight before that time, he muft ex plain this matter? As he had three penknives purchafed much about the times mentioned, but the one for common ufe, which was then in his pocket, he bought on the 1ft of December laft, from the fhop of Nicholas Fofter, near the corner of Grocer's-alley. When Captain B--r came up to Mr. Dun in the Houfe of Commons, along with Dr. Fn, and asked him if he knew them, he told Captain B-r, that he had the moment before made a bow to him, and asked him how he did, but was furprized he took no notice of it; that as to Doctor Fn, he thought he might have feen his face before, but could not have recollected it except he had told his name; for altho' he informed Mr. Dun he was Phyfician at the Hospital of Gibraltar, when he was bad in a fever for fix months, he did not recollect seeing him often, altho' he has reafon to remember all the rest of the faculty there. Mr. Dun was furprized that Captain B-r fhould afk him if he knew him, as he has been feveral times in company with him very lately, yea, within thefe three or four days. But as foon as these two Gentlemen had left Mr. Dun, he told the reft that were prefent, that he fufpected that they were called as evidences to prove him mad or lunatic, from his behaviour when almoft brought to the gates of death, by a fever at Gibraltar; had reafon to be confirmed in this opinion, when his fervant called at Mr. Wilkes's house, according to appointment, that fame night, and was afked by Mr. Wilkes's Valet de Chambre, if he was fent by the madman his master? [not true] Mr. Wilkes fent word he had no answer. Captain B-r knows that Mr. Dun always did his duty, and even more than lay to his fhare; and that it was always a pleasure to him while he was well. He likewife knows that there were feveral brave and fenfible men (officers) in a worfe condition than ever he (Mr. Dun) was, proceeding from the fame malady; that fome cut their throats; that others fhot themselves thro' the body; and that many were prevented from putting an end to their own. lives, proceeding, as one would imagine, from the nature of the climate; but he muft obferve, that fometimes people receive favours from thofe they leaft expect them, and are deceived by others they confide moft in; this has been Mr. Dun's cafe in this affair: A man, profeffed the greatest friendship for him, fubfcribed to his book, faid he was half a Scotchman, and was in company with him on Tuesday night the 8th inftant, at the Parliament tavern, was, as he is informed, the principal occafion of this profecution. God keep Mr. Dun from the company of half friends for the future; but let him add, Integer vita, fcelerifque purus non eget Mauri We fhall take the liberty of adding to Mr. Dun's cafe, that it is the obfervation of Machiavel, that in all cafes, not only of affaffination, but of deep danger, no man should be employed, who is always, and entirely in his fenfes. When Mr. Wilkes was fomewhat recovered of his wound be retired to Paris, where he was complimented by Mr. Martin (who had fled thither in confequence of their late duel) with the following card: Hotel de Luynes, Dec. 30, 1763. R. Martin prefents his compliments to Mr. Wilkes, and defires to know how he does, flattering himself, from Mr. Wilkes's performance of fo long a journey, at this feafon of • the "the year, that his health is perfectly re-efta• blifhed. Mr. Martin cannot help taking this opportu nity to affure Mr. Wilkes, that he had defired • Mr. Bradshaw to deliver up Mr. Wilkes's note, • written to Mr. Martin on the 16th Nov, as it • occurred to the latter that any imaginable ufe might be made of it to Mr. Wilkes's prejudice, and before Mr. Martin had heard from Mr. Bradfhaw that it was actually given up. "Mr. Martin returns his thanks to Mr. Wilkes for his attention to Mr. Martin's fafety, by giving the early notice he did to Mr. Bradshaw, of his apprehending himself to be in danger. It is impoffible for Mr. Martin to think of taking part in any affair of Mr. Wilkes that he may find depending in the House of Commons at his arrival in England. He proposes to set off ⚫ from hence on his return home on Monday next, but believes he fhall not fet foot in London till thofe affairs are determined, to avoid even a colour of fufpicion that he is capable of appearing ⚫ against Mr. Wilkes after what hath fo recently happened.' To which Mr. Wilkes returned the following anfwer. Hotel de Saxe, Dec. 30. Friday. Mr. Wilkes's compliments to Mr. Martin, and is much obliged by the favour of his note. Mr. Wilkes is going to pay his refpects to Lord Hertford, and if Mr. Martin is difengaged, will afterwards wait upon him for a quarter of an hour, at the Hotel de Luynes.' Mr. |