Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-28
sHSscessesaseOeIS.
TIE WRITINGS OFJUNIUS.

BIZ SAMUEL. /. KNAPP.
Among those who have done much TO make
mankind think and write with power and effect
in thi, age of Chatham, Burke, and Johnson
FOR such men given n name to the period in which
they fourish-was a concealed writer, who
styled himself Junius, and who assumed the
humble moto-stat ,ominis umJra. His first let
ter TO the pubic was datod 1863. 1t was time of
great excitement in England. The gories of the
administration of William Pitt 0hcn Earl of Chat
ham, had been sunk as ii egarded the nation into an
ignomnous peace, unworthy the great efforts he
and the nation had made. France had been hum
blsd by his energy in every part ofthe globe Victo-
~ upon victory had been obtained, and conquest
after conquest had been achievcd the main land and
tho islands had changed masters, and ter all these
glorious deeds, miserable peace-the peace Of
Aka Chapolle in l763-made by feeble and dis.
heartcncd ministry, brought the nation back
again to the days OF her degradation and distress
In these hours of restlessness and agitation, one
political absurdity followed another, until q CT.
vii war with all its horrors, threatened the British
empire. 'Thc throne of England's king seemed
to totter under him, and the patriot mourncd
the follies and wickedncss of the times" Such
was the state of affairs when Junius commenced
his labors. 1t discovered that a
great spirit, quickened by disappointed ambition,
and spurred on by honest Indignation, at moments
warmed up to revenge, was scattering his arrows
among the false advisers of the king, with
mighty and proud spirit. His aim deadly,
and his shafts most envenomed, and even royalty
was not secure from his Indignation. The nation
was all alive to these productions, and curiosity
was inhamed by the difficulties of discovery, but
ne ono could penetrate the clouds in which he had
developed himself These times have passed
away, and the actors iii these scenes gone
lie forboded evils that fell upon the nation; but
even these, great as they were, arc hardly remem
bered, while the writings of Junius are prosorved
not word of them is lost; and never be lost
II is not the names of lords and dukes, kings
that has kept Thorn from oblivion; it was, aud u.s.
the mighty power of intellect that has, and will
keep them ombalmed, with all their biting Sarcasm
and pungent satire, to porpctuty.
Junus profound Sholar, active po-
tcian, and statesman of enlarged vews.-tIe
was master of the history of all ages, and skilled
in the science of every government.-He has
drawn copiously from the deep springs of antiqu-
lty, and fearless intellectual British
history, from the remotest ages, was as familiar
TO him household words, and he knew the
movements of every administration to the mnu-
test details The most cautions messenger could
not enter the postern door, ascend, with the
most stcathy pace, the back stairs of the palace
without his knowledge. The birds of the air
brought him the sayings ard doings of the king
and his council, nor did clerk copy a con.
hdcntlOl paper that the contents of it were not
familiar to Junius. Office had no secrets of fact
or forms that he did not throughly understand
Of America he knew more than ministers, for the
sources OF his information were less eloggod by
prejudices than theirs.
Junus was more perfectly acquainted with hts
mother tongue than his coadutors. Flo had gone
deeply into the Saxon language, and his writings
arc specimens OF INC puTest English That be
found among the ambitious scholars of his age.
He was master Of every style of compositions and
used his great power for his conccalmeDt sHd for
the purposes Inc laboured to object In the midst of
EXCITED passions, he kept tho most provoking com.
mand of his temperate laid bare the nerve of
feeling with much skill and science, az to give
1T fresh susceptibility Of torture when it was tried
anew, and prepared for the rack. No rank of life
escaped Junius; he entered tho fashionable eotorie
and chased down the votary Of avarice whenever
his conduct affected public good. Those who bad
no enmies 10 crafty read the productions of this
caustic writer for choice of opthets for all his
words were weighed in the balance, and made the
just equpoise Of the sentences nc intended to frame
Every political writer since bis time has read his let
ters ts sharpen his wtsfor the rencontre in the strife
of words. His imitators have swarmed i'm every peri
cd since, and most OF them has caught his maIgnitv
without his mind, and may have secretly copied his
phraseoloEy without shred of his mantle TO assist
or cover thom. Every young Eagle has whet his
beak upon the Junan column before ne spread
his wing or darted on his prey. Junius has been
much known this the other side of the
wator, and his works have been standard among
the youths Of England and America; nor has this
been Of any injury to them; for they found that
the most distant imitation could not be effected
without utmost care and pains. Lsbour is written