ing Chronicle," by Peter Pindar, Hone, Southey, Byron, Godwin, Thelwall, and others, as disloyal, treasonable, satirical, and personal, as any of the "Letters of Junius;" but the wisdom of Ministers and Government prosecutors did not deem them proper subjects for state trials, and consequent notoriety: hence libel has been neutralised by neglect and public indifference.

That the "Letters of Junius" evince much knowledge of the world -extensive reading-acute intellect splenetic temper-ardent feelings strong political bias-warm passions both in friendships and enmities, with consummate art and consequent artifice is the belief of all persons who have read the whole series, or studied them in detail. The unity and harmony of style and language which pervade these writings show them to be the compositions of one mind: although it is most likely that many of the political and technical facts they record were imparted to the writer by other persons. As corroborative of these remarks, and calculated to characterise the writer, whose literary and political talents it is the object of this Essay to elucidate, I may be permitted to select a few passages from critics who have evidently qualified themselves to pronounce sound and discriminating opinions on the subject.

The first is from the pen of the Rev. John Mitford, whose numerous biographical and critical Essays on Gray, and other poets, as well as prose writers, are evidences of his familiar acquaintance with ancient and modern literature. In the "Gentleman's Magazine" for February, 1842, he says:

"In that long and crowded gallery, on the walls of which are suspended the portraits of those authors whose names are emblazoned in characters of fadeless lustre, and enrolled for ever in their country's history, there is one frame to be seen, from which the dark and mystic veil that originally covered it has never

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been removed: the name of JUNIUS is indeed written under it, but no one has yet seen the authentic features of the original; and time, that for the most part discloses all secret things, has long failed in dissipating the obscurity which surrounds this."

Again, in the same valuable periodical, for February, 1847, Mr. Mitford writes

"To Junius must undoubtedly be given the praise bestowed on those who have successfully practised the rhetorical art, and who are versed in all the skilful artifices of composition. He abounds in happy turns of expression, sentences pointed with skill, ingenious disposition of arguments, and an animation of style and language that keeps attention awake, and enlivens the driest subject. Marks of great labour are visible in the formation of his style. The words are selected with peculiar care, and the sentences moulded and polished into a form appropriate to the subject, and arranged not only with attention to the harmony, but with relation to the impression to be produced.

"His malignity, however, has seldom been surpassed: it is such as no concession can soften, no flattery beguile. He often plays long with his victim, keeps him in suspense, and then, when wearied with his cruel sport, despatches him with a blow. Sometimes accusation after accusation is repeated, that their aggregated weight may overpower; and sometimes, after an ostentatious display of clemency, a sudden change of manner and language is assumed, the sentence pauses for a moment-and the last few words are fatal. Junius abounds in penetrating observations on human nature, and he was also a sagacious observer of men as affected by the usages, and acted on by the complicated relations of society; and when he rises in his wrath, and arms himself for his work of defiance, he pours down his severity of censure with a certainty and strength that few would have the courage to withstand. But unmitigated violence is not always successful, and excessive vituperation begets a doubt of its justice. It does not seem as a contest between equal and equal. We cannot believe that the unknown knight who has entered the lists is of gentle birth. There is throughout a sort of swaggering air, like that which the impudence of the bully assumes to intimidate his superior; and he who only attacks his enemy from the security of an ambush, confesses at least either some weakness in his cause or some distrust of his powers. No one can deny that the accusa

tions of Junius are exaggerated beyond all proportion with truth and fact, whether he delights to creep on in bitter sarcasm and envious malignity, or to burst forth in the open defiance of exasperated revenge. Party feeling is allowed to be strong, and great licences are given to its language; but Junius adds to that a savageness of attack, that delights in mangling what it cannot destroy, and discusses political conduct with all the bitterness of personal resentment. Junius in the heat of controversial attack, in the security of disguise, and with the immunities of invisibility,' advanced many false charges and rash accusations; but his ability is never more decidedly shown than by the skilfulness with which he covers his retreat, and alarms his adversary with a menace of a future attack, at the very time he is obliged to retire from the contest. He endeavours to intimidate his enemy by the boast of a formidable reserve of fresh forces; and when the open insolence of anger has done all it could do, the final destruction is accomplished by sarcasm, derision, and contempt."

On another occasion, in March, 1841, the same masterly critic writes

"It must be recollected that Junius was a most skilful master of the weapons he delighted to use: he was a gladiator of the first order, and that his long series of attacks were made with consummate dexterity and boldness. In his own line he has never been equalled."

The ensuing judicious narrative and remarks, by a critic who it is evident has deeply studied the subject, are from a Biographical Article in "The Georgian Era," (8vo.) which appeared in the year 1832. They are so truly applicable to our present purpose, and so usefully explanatory of the Junius Letters, and of the times when they were published, that I willingly avail myself of a lengthened extract.

"Junius, it is scarcely necessary to observe, was the writer of a series of the most powerful, caustic, fearless, and eloquent political philippics that ever appeared in this or any other country. He was a perfect master of the art of composition; nothing could exceed the beauty of his style but the terrible

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virulence of his abuse. His learning, his experience, and his information as to passing events were equally great. The influence which he acquired over the public mind was unexampled. Glorying in the loftiness of his intellect, his amazing powers of language, and the impenetrable cloud with which he had artfully, but perhaps meanly, enveloped himself, no station, however exalted, was secure from his attacks. He assumed all the stern dignity of justice, and the remorseless severity of fate. Nobility afforded no protection against his shafts, to which even royalty itself was vulnerable. He drew tears from the eyes of a monarch remarkable for firmness, and consigned a prime minister to scorn and infamy, enduring as the language in which he wrote.

"The Letters of Junius were first printed in the Public Advertiser.' His early communications to Woodfall, the proprietor, according to that gentleman's statement, were signed 'Mnemon,' Atticus,' 'Lucius,' Brutus,' Poplicola,' 'Domitian,'' Vindex,' &c. Stimulated by the applause with which his comparatively hasty productions were received, he at length commenced a series of papers, written with the utmost possible care, to which he uniformly attached the signature of Junius. The first of these was published on the 21st of January, 1769; and it is said to have produced as great a sensation as any political production that ever issued from the press."

"There can be no doubt that Junius was a man of fine talents and finished education, who had carefully studied the language, the law, the constitution, and history of his native country. It seems equally clear that he was a man of independent fortune; that he had access to the court; and was intimately acquainted, from its first conception, with almost every public measure, every ministerial intrigue, and every domestic incident. That he was in easy circumstances appears from the fact, that he would never receive any remuneration for his writings from Woodfall, notwithstanding the immense sale to which, in consequence of their popularity, the Public Advertiser' attained. When the first genuine edition of his letters was ready for publication,

During the year 1769 Junius wrote no less than fifty-four letters, including some signed Junius, others with different signatures, and some private notes to Woodfall. There is often only a day's interval between these letters. He appears to have been absent from London some days in August, and three weeks in October and November.

Woodfall urged him to accept half its profits, or to point out some public charity to which the money might be presented. Junius replied, ‘What you say about the profits is very handsome: I like to deal with such men. As for myself, be assured that I am far above all pecuniary views, and no other person, I think, has any claim to share with you. Make the most of it, therefore, and let all your views in life be directed to a solid, however moderate, independence; without it no man can be happy, nor even honest!'

"An additional proof of his affluence occurs in the following passage of one of his private letters: For the matter of assistance, be assured that, if a question should arise upon any writings of mine, you shall not want it; in point of money you shall never suffer.'

"That Junius was a person of rank, may be reasonably inferred from many of his own expressions, as for instance: It is true I have refused offers, which a more prudent or a more interested man would have accepted. Whether it be simplicity or virtue in me, I can only affirm that I am in earnest, because I am convinced, as far as my understanding is capable of judging, that the present Ministry are driving this country to destruction; and you, I think, Sir, may be satisfied that my rank and fortune place me above a common bribe.' That he had access to Court, and was connected with Government, appears from his immediate knowledge of the designs, and his intimate acquaintance with the acts of those in power. You may assure the public,' said he, in a private letter to Woodfall, dated January 17, 1771, that a squadron of four ships of the line is ordered to be got ready with all possible expedition for the East Indies. It is to be commanded by Commodore Spry; without regarding the language of ignorant or interested people, depend upon the assurance I give you, that every man in the Administration looks upon war as inevitable.' When the Duke of Grafton's friends were extolling his patriotism in refusing to sell a situation to Mr. Vaughan, Junius instantly denounced his grace as the shameless vendor of another patent office: a transaction which was thought by the parties concerned to have been impenetrably secret.

"In his letter to the Duke of Bedford, he narrated facts which could be known only to persons intimately acquainted with the Russell family, and when Woodfall was threatened with a prosecution for publishing that letter, he received a private communication from Junius to the following effect :-' It is clearly my opinion that you have nothing to fear from the Duke of Bedford. I reserve something expressly to awe him. I am sure I can threaten him pri