LETTER VI.
TO JUNIUS.
27. February, 1769.
SIR,
I HAVE a very short answer for Junius's important question: I do not either take an oath, or declare upon honour, that I have no place of profit, civil or military, when I receive the half-pay as an Irish colonel. My most gracious sovereign gives it me as a pension; he was pleased to think I deserved it. The annuity of 200l. Irish, and the equivalent for the half-pay together, produce no more than 380l. per annum. clear of fees and perquisites of office. I receive 167l. from my government of Yarmouth. Total, 547l. per annum. My conscience is much at ease in these particulars; my friends need not blush for me.
Junius makes much and frequent use of interrogations: they are arms that may be easily turned against himself. I could, by malicious interrogation, disturb the peace of the most virtuous man in the kingdom. I could take the decalogue, and say to one
