The recorder. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1802-1803, 1803-03-19
FROM THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE.
20 z. RODNEY, Eq.
O0vsr, rear lIIlAslHgtoa,

day 70 decide, who is not the writer
of the celebrated letters under the iigna-
ture Of iunius, than who is. TOO, as
we'll as you, have had many converla-
tions with General Lee concerning the
author oftheie faid letters Wirholrin-
tending to quettion the veraciry of your
ai1ertion, namely, esthat be acknow-
lodged TO YOU, that he was the author
OF Them" mean to deny bsfGT he
told me himielf he was aet the author,
by telling me, that Gerard Hamilton
(dlftinguiihed by the apPcllauon Of en-
gle lPeech Hamiton) 10aS
have related the anecdote. in twenty
years, romottot yacquai1ances, when
ever the conversation happened TO turn
Oh this topic.
'sI WIS one morning hreak(alling
" with lord 'Thanet," taia he, 4" and
g afterwards rode wich him 10 clyde
{" Park. Juf as we were getting on, or
* after We had got on our horles, he
g obierved to me, Lee | have dilcover-
g ed who is the author Of |unius. A
sc few days ago, at this very ipot Ger
& rard Hamilton faid, when we were
converting on and criticillng the pub
&C lie political characters of our country,
" My lord, take it from me, boa0r and
Z" boHGey are no longer tickets q aanjf-
{: Jon at the court of ST. James So In
g few days after this marked oblerva-
!" ton, faw IN Iunius* the very words.
&C a man of b2act has no tirRet Of admit
g yF9N At ST, .james's.'' e was con
< vinced,' added lord Thaner, &c from
So thar day, that Hamilton was the an-
6 thor 'sAnd 10 was /" l4id general
Lee" By quefioning bis anertion TO
you, We dc no injury 10 his names; for,
If nc were the author, by dilcloiing this
ci~cumRancc, he forfeited his word TO
the public. In his dedication he pledges
hlmielf never to reveal IL. elf am 3
vain man, MY 2rarifcarion lies within a
narrow circle. am the fole depoGlary
OF my own iecrer, and it lbali petilh
with me. +" Mr.. Burweil Of Richmond
heard general Ice relate the above itory,
as | have itared 1t. You fcela confirmed
IN the opinion Of general Lees being
the author, not only from his allertion,
but from the dilemma into which Won
brought hln. General Lee replied, TO
has Certain knowledge lord Chatham was
not the author; ehat nc man, nor even
Woodfail, knew That the fecrct rcif
ed with himfelf, and forever would re-
main with him. | replied, Ono, general
Lee, if you certainly know what YOU
have affirmed, it Can no longer remain
foley wirh him for, certainly, no one
could know what You have affirmed,
bur the author bimlelf." Any man, not
under the oblig ttion Of an oaIil IN a
court OF law, might have fad, in the
Iccntlouneis of general coayer.ation.
thar he certainty kher0 lord Chorhan was
not the author. ! FAY 70 now L am GER
tain ne was not, and mere is my authori
~: But unfortunately for this conn
cry, MIR. Grenylle was at any rare 70 be
dlitreiled, becaule he was minifter; and
Mr.. PITT and lord Cambden were TO be
the patrons Of America, becauie they
were in oppoljgion. Their declaration
gave ipirir and argument 70 the colonies
and while, perhaps, thcy meant no more
than the ruln Of a minilsr, they in effect
divided one half Of the en- ire from the
otber."f
NO man 70 truly and }everely crisicifes
himielf, even III The cabinet never in
rae Preis, Lee might fafely fay lord
Chatham was certainly nor the author
Woodiall always declared, as / have
been informed, thar he knew not who
vas the aurhor; and upon the authority
OF Juulus, laid il never would be known.
g EIe ,QaS tha I.nrG-,,,,. 1c IL. .,-..- r.