Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries.) A LETTER TO Lord ROBERT BERTIE. [Price One Shilling.] A LETTER TO Lord ROBERT BERTIE, Relating to his CONDUCT in the Mediterranean, AND HIS DEFENCE of Admiral BYNG. Hic unde vitam sumeret inscius Pacem duello miscuit. O pudor! O magna Carthago! probrosis Altior Italiæ ruinis! HOR. LONDON: Printed for R. GRIFFITHS, in Pater-noster Row. MDCCLVII. A LETTER TO Lord ROBERT BERTIE. MY LORD, Characters like your's, are regarded with impartial Attention by human Society, and the World will impatiently expect something in your Conduct suitable to your Rank and Dignity. Those who are intrusted with the Charter of our Liberties, or the Revenge of our Wrongs, are laid under the strongest Obligations which Honour or Gratitude can impose, to maintain the Rights and execute the Resentment of their Country; but if they fail to exert themselves to the utmost for this Purpose, the People, naturally fretful at their Losses, will not forbear reflecting on the supposed Authors of their Misfortunes. And when they call to mind that indelible Disgrace which has befallen them in the _Mediterranean_, it's possible they may mingle too much Petulance and Severity in their Censures upon those who were concerned in that unfortunate Expedition. I am extremely sorry, my Lord, to find your Name in the Number of those to whose Misconduct that fatal Defeat is attributed. You have been marked out by the Indignation of the Publick, and maliciously charged with Principles the most remote from your Heart, and Designs. No Person, I can assure you, was more assiduous in vindicating your Fame, than the Author of this Address; and it was not without the utmost Reluctance, that I ever suffered myself to entertain any Suspicion of the Wisdom or Activity of your Conduct: But since you have espoused the Cause of the Admiral, now under Condemnation, with so much Warmth and Solicitude, I fear your Sentiments are no longer a Doubt, nor your Behaviour altogether capable of such an honourable Construction as your Friends could wish.