Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-04-28
JUNIuS IN TIE UNITED STATES.

Observing in the last NUMBER OF The
New York Albion, that the Scotch news
papers are rcviving the inquiry respecting
the ilcn,i,v of "Junius," and are pointing
70 this country as the probable depository
Of some evidence that bears upon it, en-
pIoy moments leisure to explain mon G
fully not only the nature of the evidence
but the degree Of Importance which may
To- attached to it.
In 1897, Dr.. BREwsTER, now Sir DAVE
ehowod 10 q gentleman, noW in this couD
try, some of the literary correspondence
which his father in law, the celebrated
OssIAN MACPHERSON, rs he is called. had
had with various distinguished individuals
Amongst the rest were letters signed
LAcHLAN MCLEAN. These were generally
written with much Y gor of style. The
metaphors and figures in which they aboun
ded were always forcibc and often quite
remarkable for their beauty. Sir DAVID
pointed out several passages which had
language, as being almost identical with
others found in the letters of Junius; and
what gave greater interest to this similar
lily was, that the hand writing bore on
equally singular resemblance TO the fac
SMILES OF the MSS. Of Junius, as publish
ed in WoodfaIl's edition.
Having communicated the impression
these letters had made upon him, one OF
Galt's Life Of West, which greatly ex'
cited his inclination to investigate the
affair. From this passage it appeared that,
Governor HAMILTON. ofPennsylvania, ca
ing upon West, the painter, one morning
in London, West showed him the attack
upon the King, which had that morning
appeared in Wood all's newspaper. on
reading it, Hamilton exclaimed that he
knew the author; that certain passages
and epigrammalic expressions in it he
had seen before, and that the author was
that sconndrel Lachan Mclean. VINO once
resided in Philadelphia. and who had at
that time made violent attack upon him.
then Governor of the State ofPennsylvana,
in Philadelphia paper.
This circumstance had induced Sir DA.
vID TO inquire what had been the ostensibIe
existence and movements of LAcALAS Nc
LEAN during that period embraced by the
letters OF Jnnius, and the result upon his
mind was almost equal TO conviction thai
Mclean was the author of those lctlers.--
That he was powerful writer. and that
he wrote in the style of Junius, he had SUI.
ficient proofs in his own possession. Then
there were the remarkable facts, that he
had been under Secretary of State TO Lord
Sheburne, had been scnt on a lucrative
mission TO India, at the very period JuDius
announces his own retirement, and had per.
Ishcd on second voyage to India, in the
Swallow Packet, together with probably
some written evidences, that, had lie died
natural death, might have ere this cleared
up the suspicion; for. after all, it is but
suspicion, and was so regarded by others
at the time, especially SIR Walter Scott,
Lord Mimic, and Mr. Jeffrey, to whom the
gentleman, that Sir David had shown Mac
pherson's correspondence to, had mentions
ed the affair; and they. after seeing The
letters Of Lachlan Mclean, concurred in
the opinion that Sir Davld--wa on wrong
scent. This opinion, too, was expressed
IN such q decided manner as to awaken n
thought in The genlleman's mind that they
were among the initiated few who knew
who was the author Of the letters Of Jun,
Jus.
1t was agreed. however. on all hands,
that, on the return of this person to Amer
lea, he should make some inquiries in Phil.
adelphia about Lachan Mclean, and the
newspaper attacks upon Governor Hamll-
ton. This was infrucluously done. AS
sisted by others, all the accessible files of
tho newspapers published during the gov
eminent of Hamilton were examined, and
nothing was found. Some information,
however, respecting Lachlan Mclean, was
collected; the late Bishop White, then a
boy at school, remembered him. He was
an lrishman, and Surgeon in the Army,
and kept small apo,hecarys shop near
Second street and Market. Some officer
in Otway's regiment had given offence to
one OF The citizens, and Governor Hamilton
espoused the cause of the citizen. This
drew forth the keen pen of Mclean, who
defended the officer. and was very severe
on the Governor. 1t was an affair which
created much excitement in Philadelphia.
1t Is barely possible that some light may
be thrown on the subject, If the descend
ans Of Governor Hamilton would examine
the papers they have preserved, and which
once were very numerous.
After the affair with Hamilton, he re-
turned 10 England, became the intimate Of
Burke and other literary men Of the day.
About this time, U77l,) he wrote q de,
fence of the Ministry, which is not OK
tant, unless some copy has been preserved
IN the United States. 1t was on the sub
ject Of the Falkland Isles. 10 l772, Lord
North gave him the colectorship of the
port OF Phiade pha, when he came ont
again. He returned to England in 1918.
IL deserves attention, that during this in.
terval Junius did not wrle.-.Nat Int.