LORD GEORGE SACKVILLE.

Proud was his tone, but calm; his eye
Had that compelling dignity,

His mien that bearing haught and high
Which common spirits fear.

Sir W. Scott.

MR. Fox used to say, that "although he would not take SINGLESPEECH HAMILTON against the field, he would bet him against any single horse."-On the supposition we have just stated, might not the same bet, with a greater chance of success, have been laid upon LORD GEORGE?

Butler's Reminiscences, i. 106.

CHAPTER VIII.

Lord George Sackville suspected of being the Author of the Letters of Junius on their first appearance.—Account of Mr. Coventry's "Critical Enquiry," in support of his Lordship's claim.-Several circumstances stated in favour of his hypothesis.-Sketch of Lord George Sackville's life.His birth and education shewn to be consistent with certain apparent contradictions concerning Junius. — Enters the Army. His desire to imitate the heroes of Homer.-The study of Homer shewn to have a tendency to engender a spirit of revenge.-Accompanies his father to Paris. - Is appointed Lieutenant-colonel, and distinguishes himself at the battles of Dettingen, Fontenoy, and Culloden. — Is actively employed by the Duke of Cumberland in suppressing the Rebellion of 1745.-The sentiments of Lord George and Junius shewn to correspond respecting the Scots and the Duke of Cumberland.-Attends the Duke of Cumberland in the campaigns of 1747 and 1748.—Enters Parliament as member for Dover.-Accompanies his father when again appointed Lord-lieutenant of Ireland as his Chief Secretary.-Lord Orford's account of their administration.— Marries Miss Sambrook. - Is appointed Major-general.— Anecdote of his Lordship and Whitfield. Is appointed Lieutenant-general and a Privy-counsellor.-Lord Orford's description of his great abilities and influence. - Attends

the Duke of Marlborough in the expedition to St. Malo, and afterwards with the army to Germany.—Becomes Commander of the British forces under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, on the death of the Duke of Marlborough.-Lord Granby second in command.-Peculiar knowledge shewn by Junius of Lord Granby's character.

LORD GEORGE SACKVILLE.

"I've been so long remember'd, I'm forgot."
Young.

On the first appearance of the Letters of Junius, this nobleman was suspected, and, in terms which could not be misunderstood, treated as their author; yet, neither at that time, nor at any subsequent period of his life, was he ever known to deny the imputation.-The pretensions however of other claimants, and the discussions that arose respecting them, for some time diverted the attention of the public to other objects; but the publication of Mr. Woodfall's Junius disclosed so many incidental circumstances tending to corroborate his Lordship's claim, that public attention was again awakened to the subject, and several writers have since become his advocates. In 1825, Mr. George Coventry published "A Critical Enquiry regarding the real Author of the Letters of Junius, proving them to have been written by Lord Viscount Sackville."-And in 1828, another work was published, at Boston in America, entitled, "Junius Unmasked, or Lord George Sackville proved to be Junius."

We have seen with what confidence Mr. Taylor, supported by the writer in the Edinburgh Review, and also Atticus Secundus, have expressed their opinions that Sir Philip Francis was entitled to the laurels of Junius; but Mr. Coventry, nothing daunted by this formidable

array of authorities, boldly claims for Lord George Sackville the glorious prize. —"I submit," says he, "my inquiry to the public, with confidence, that this grand literary desideratum is now fully established; the mystery unravelled; and that the veil which has so long obscured the person of this illustrious writer, is removed for ever." Amid such conflicting opinions it might be deemed presumptuous to pronounce any judgment on the case, especially as that able and cautious investigator, Mr. Charles Butler, seems no better satisfied with Mr. Coventry's performance than with the labours of Sir Philip Francis's advocates; for he thus criticises Mr. Coventry's book:-"In this work, Mr. Coventry has collected, with surprising industry, every particle in the public or private letters of Junius, and every act and word of Lord George Sackville, which can be brought to prove his lordship's identity with Junius. He successfully shews, that all who appear to have been peculiarly esteemed, loved, despised, or hated by Junius, were particularly esteemed, loved, despised, or hated by Lord George. He mentions several coincidences, and other circumstances favourable to his hypothesis; but all he says, seems to the present writer to fall very short of establishing his hypothesis."-Butler's Reminis. ii. 123.

Mr. Coventry, however, not only strenuously contends that Lord George was Junius, but that "his name, which before was buried in comparative obscurity, will, in consequence of his discovery, be handed down to posterity with as much dignity and splendour as other branches of his noble family, who stand pre-eminent in the literary world, for their talents, learning, and sound judgment." Now, without stopping to inquire whether

the circumstance of identifying his Lordship with Junius would derogate from the dignity, or tarnish the splendour of his illustrious name, we may be permitted to express a doubt whether it would not entitle him to the character given by Lord Clarendon of Hampden:-"What was said of Cinna might well be applied to him: he had a head to contrive, a tongue to persuade, and a hand to execute any mischief."

In considering the claims of Lord George Sackville, it is to be noticed that, although Junius comments freely on the characters and conduct of most of the eminent political and military characters of his time, yet, in the genuine edition of the Letters, edited by the author himself, there is not to be found any mention whatever of Lord George Sackville, or the slightest allusion to his actions or character; and this we cannot but consider a circumstance favourable to the hypothesis of his being the author of the Letters; for, by observing a total silence respecting himself, he avoided all risk of inadvertently betraying his own secret.' But there is not the same paucity of information respecting his Lordship's friends and enemies; on the contrary, it can be satisfactorily shewn, that the enemies and friends of Junius were also those of Lord George. This seems another strong circumstance in his favour. We also find that Sir William Draper at first divided his suspicion between this nobleman and Mr. Burke; and upon the personal and unequivocal denial of the latter, he transferred them entirely

* Mr. Washington Irving, in giving an account of his visit to Sir Walter Scott, at Abbotsford, observes, "one proof to me of his being the author of the Waverley Novels, was, that he never adverted to them."