^h  F^ruary^  t79^.  '
There  was  this  day  pfweftt  to  the  said
lords,  a  petition  in  the  names  of  the  said
William  Johiistoii,  esq.,  Dr,  Francis  Home^
and  Mr.  James  Campbell,  writer  to  the  Si^
net,  and  subscribed  by  the  hon.  Henry  £rs^
kine^dean  of  Heiculty,  their  procurator,  praying
it  might  please  their  lordships  to  allow  tha
petitioners  fourteen  da^Ts  to  print  and  give  in

answers  to  the  said  petition ;  and  to  appoinn

I , _^ -      -  '  ~  • — ^t"

that  moment  you  will  be  considered  as  pur«>
suing  a  similar  conduct  with  the  Jacobin  ciubf
in  France ;  and  instead  of  bringing  about  a
constitutional  redress  of  grievances,  that  you
mean  to  mark  characters  for  the  intent  of
destroying  them.  My  reflections  are  con-
stantly turned  on  this  interesting  subject.  I
am  convinced  that  we  have  the  ball  at  our
feet,  if  we  manage  with  common  address;
but  should  we  proceed  to  violent  denunci^
tions,  the  next  course  to  be  adopted  will  b^
violent  measures; — ^both  ought  to  be  avoided.
