THE AUTHOR'S EARLY NOTES ON JUNIUS.

7

materials I have accumulated, and to the cause which I have ventured to advocate.

Aware that the subject is essentially connected with party politics, and that the Letters were originally, and have long been, regarded as libellous, treasonable, seditious, democratic, and republican, I must seek to propitiate the reader's impartiality and candour, by the assurance that for many years past I have endeavoured to discipline my own mind, and to cure it of all party bias. I have seen enough of men and their actions, to know that there are good and bad in each and every sect and party; and that moderation and tolerance are the best evidences of true patriotism and political worth, or excellence. Party feelings and prejudices I disclaim, as I have long been convinced of their folly and injustice.

Sceptical myself, I cannot expect a reader to surrender his judg ment and conviction but upon the most cogent and conclusive grounds; and if the evidence on which my own opinion is based. be trust-worthy it cannot fail to produce a corresponding result in the mind of the reader. Influenced solely by a love of truth and historical integrity, I have carefully and sedulously devoted much time, inquiry, and research to unravel a knot, the clue to which was presented many years ago to my young and inquisitive mind. Had I duly felt the importance of the subject when the first hints and facts were related to me; had I followed up the scent which was then strong and vivid, many curious and striking circumstances might have been discovered, and much labour, which has now been rendered necessary, might have been spared me: but after the printing of the "Beauties of England and Wales" had commenced (in the year 1800), my best mental energies were continually engaged in the prosecution of that work and in others which sprung out of it. Occasionally, however, the fame and mystery of the Letters of Junius attracted my study and attention; and I progressively accumulated hints, facts, and data, which about two years ago, on commencing an Auto-biography of my own literary life, I found amongst a mass of other papers. It was then my purpose to give

a brief epitome of them merely, in that personal Memoir; but I have been led, almost insensibly, to further research, and also to an extensive correspondence; and having thereby obtained a variety of new and remarkable information confirmatory of previous conjectures, and conclusive, as I believe, of the true authorship, I have been induced to offer them to the public in the present form and manner, independently of, and detached from, the intended Autobiography.

At the end of the last century, I visited the town of Hungerford, and several places in its vicinity, to collect materials for a topographical work, to be called "The Beauties of Wiltshire." I then formed an intimacy with the Rev. Dr. Popham, of Chilton, with whom I continued on familiar and corresponding terms till his death, at a very advanced age, in 1815. He was a man of learning, and of a literary turn. In his early professional career, he held the vicarage of Lacock, for more than twenty years. This being in the immediate vicinity of Bowood, he became an occasional guest at that splendid house and hospitable home; and there met many distinguished politicians, men of Science, Literature, and Art, during the years 1769, 70, 71, and 72. Amongst them, Counsellor Dunning and Colonel Barré were the most regular and constant visitors and associates of its noble owner, Lord Shelburne. These three spent the parliamentary recess together at Bowood for many successive years. The Colonel and the Counsellor were protégés of the Nobleman, having represented in Parliament the boroughs of Calne, and of High Wycombe, both of which were in the gift or patronage of Lord Shelburne. Public men and public measures were necessarily the subjects of frequent conversation at these symposiums, amongst which the Letters of Junius had no small share of comment and criticism. The extraordinary finesse displayed in mixed parties by the three persons above named, and the difference of their language, when comparatively in conclave, excited the particular attention of my friend; and he became confirmed in opinion that they were either the authors of the

JEREMY BENTHAM'S CORRESPONDENCE.

Letters referred to, or were familiar with the writer.

9

"The Public

Advertiser" was regularly sought for, and referred to daily, with avidity; and on one particular occasion it was spoken of with unusual curiosity and confidence. At the dinner-table on a certain day, when the clergyman and the three politicians only were present, Junius was not only noticed, but a certain attack on his writings, which had just excited much attention, was freely discussed. On this occasion one of the party remarked, that it would be shown up and confuted by Junius in the next day's Advertiser. When the paper came the next day, instead of the Junius, there was a note by "the Printer," stating that the letter would appear in the ensuing number. “Thenceforward,” said Dr. Popham, "I was convinced that one of my three friends was Junius." This opinion he afterwards repeated to me. Many years' intimacy with Mr. Bayliffe, and Mr. Ralph Gaby, of Chippenham, two respectable solicitors of that borough, and who had frequent intercourse with the Bowood parties above named, strengthened this impression; for each of those gentlemen believed that the Letters of Junius were written by one of those eminent politicians. The widow of Mr. Bayliffe, a well-informed lady, in the eightieth year of her age, writes me word, that her Husband died with this conviction.

That Dunning and Barré continued in familiar intercourse with Bowood and its noble owner for many years after the discontinuance of Junius, we find by the correspondence of Jeremy Bentham, who mentions them repeatedly in connection with other eminent persons whom he met, and was charmed with, at that truly classical seat. Amongst them we find young Mr. Beckford, the Earl of Pembroke, the Rev. Dr. Priestley,* the Reverend Dr. Price, and

* The history of this amiable, scientific, and literary gentleman is intimately associated with Bowood, and the character of Lord Shelburne: as he was attached to that nobleman for seven years, at 250l. per year, with house, &c., had charge of his library and MSS., had a laboratory expressly furnished for him at Bowood, and travelled with his lordship through Flanders, Holland, Germany, &c., in 1774. "In fact," he says, "I was with him as a friend, and consequently was introduced to his Lordship's eminent associates both at home and abroad. I

the Rev. Joseph Townsend, and many other persons eminent for taste, learning, and influence. Bentham's animated comments on the splendid hospitalities of the house, the fascination of the host and hostess, and the varied talents and characters of the guests, render his Letters from Bowood as amusing and interesting as those of Pliny, or of Horace Walpole.

The following passages are at once strongly characteristic of the writer and the individuals referred to:

"There seems no want of money here: grounds laying out, and plantations making, upon a large scale;-a gate going to be made, with a pyramid on each side of it, for an approach to the house at six miles distance; the pyramids to be at least 100 feet high. I call it Egypt. In the way, you have deep valleys, with meadows and a water-mill at the bottom of them; and, on the sides, craggy rocks, with water gushing out of them, just for all the world as if Moses had been there."- "The master of the house, to judge from every thing I have seen yet, is one of the pleasantest men to live with that ever God

saw," says the Doctor, "a great variety of characters, amongst whom was the Rev. Dr. Frampton, a man of great conversational talents and sparkling wit; whose company was much courted."-Like too many others of the brilliant Sons of Genius, he neglected the common obligations of man to man, and was imprisoned for debt, which occasioned illness and death in the prime of life. Although it appears that Dr. Priestley was generally well satisfied in his connexion with Lord Shelburne, before the end of seven years he required change, with novelty of pursuit and association. "I was not at all satisfied with that mode of life. Instead of looking back upon it with regret, one of the greatest subjects of my present thankfulness, is the change of that situation for the one in which I am now placed." On parting, Lord Shelburne settled an annuity of 150%. on the Reverend Doctor, and regularly paid the same. The subsequent career of the philosopher and divine was involved in vicissitude and many sorA barbarous and demi-savage mob of infatuated religious persons burnt his house, books, and scientific property, at Birmingham; and he sought safety by retiring, first to London, and afterwards to America, where soon afterwards he died, February 6, 1804.-" Memoirs of Dr. Joseph Priestley," by himself, 2 vols. 8vo, 1806.

rows.

It is to be regretted that these memoirs are so brief: for the author must have had much intercourse with Dunning, Barré, &c., during his connection with Lord Shelburne, but he mentions them only once, in saying that his lordship was very desirous of re-engaging him to supply their place, when they left Bowood, about the year 1779.

put breath into: his whole study seems to be to make every body about him happy; servants not excepted; and in their countenances one may read the effects of his endeavours. Strangers are lodged in a part of the house quite separate from that which is inhabited by the family. Adjoining to my bedchamber I have a dressing-room, and should have a servant's room if I had one to put into it."- "On our visit to Wilton the only company besides ourselves were an officer who was quartered at Salisbury, and young Beckford of Fonthill, who, on the 28th of this month (August, 1781), comes of age, and gives a grand fête to all the world. Lord Pembroke is one of the best bred, most intelligent, pleasant fellows I ever met with in my life; they say he is mad, but if his madness never shows itself in any other shape than it did then, I wish to God I could be mad too. He talked with infinite vivacity, saying many good things, and no foolish ones."- "We have just now a monstrous heap of people. Arrived before dinner, Lord Dartry and Colonel Barré."- "Barré abounds in stories that are well told and very entertaining. He really seems to have a great command of language; he states clearly and forcibly; and upon all points his words are fluent and well chosen.”—“ With Dunning I could have no communication; there was no time for it, except a joke or two, which the devil tempted me to crack upon him immediately upon his coming in. With Barré, although we have few ideas in common, I am upon terms of some familiarity, owing to the good-nature and companionableness of the man."

My own acquaintance with Bowood commenced in the year 1797, when, as already mentioned, I began to collect materials for "The Beauties of Wiltshire ;" and for which work the Marquess of Lansdowne was the first nobleman who gave me encouragement. On intimating my object to his lordship, he presented me with Andrews and Drury's Survey of the county, in eighteen large sheets-also Robertson's Topographical Survey of the Road from London to Bath, and other books and papers, calculated to serve me in my daring project. I was also promised aid from the valuable library in Lansdowne House, London, and found a kind and obliging friend in Mr. Williams, the respectable librarian. His Lordship also gave me introductions to three or four gentlemen in the vicinity -viz., Mr. Methuen, of Corsham,-Mr. Heneage, of Compton,Sir Andrew Baynton, of Spye Park, and James Montagu, Esq., of Lackham, by all of whom I was impressed with a strong opinion of the great political knowledge of the Marquess, and of the extra