The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-07

BhOuld our sailors be eNCluQeu lEOm buo Doho-
fit Of this latest improvement Of our civiliza-
tionY II is the duty of the Government, in
whose defense they continually risk their
lives, TO see to their protection and the
bill of Mr. Grimes will receive the hearty
assent Of both Congress and the naval service.
The Question of a Century at Rest.
On the 21st of January, 1869, there appeared
in the London Pablic Advertiser the first of the
famous series Of letters by "Junius," the last
being given to the public on the third ami
versary of that day. During this short period
they appeared at irregular intervals, to the
number of fOrty-four; in addition to which
were fifteen signed "Philo-J Junius'' evidently
by the same author, but devoted to his sup
port and defense. At this day, when the com-
mon resort of politicians, as well as of some
who can lay claim to the high dignity Of states
manship, both in this country and in England,
is unstinted abuse of their opponents, it is
scarcely possible for us to appreciate the con-
sternation which these celebrated productions
created. The author had thorough command
of the most elegant and classical diction, while
for bitter, biting, and inconsiderate sarcasm
the century which has since elapsed has pro-
duced few who could equal and none who
could surpass him. This "mighty boar of the
Forest" as he was styled by Burke, respected
neither age, nor birth, nor official dignity;
and at last, on the 10Th of December, 1863, he
addressed a letter to the King which filed
all England with positive terror, and,
according to his own confession,
caused the blood of Edmund
Burke to "run cold" Its whitening scorn and
downright malignant ferocity were more than
the Government could bear up under, without
making some effort at discovering and punish
ing the daring perpetrator. But the only
thing that could be done was the prosecution
of Woodfall, the publisher of the Advertiser,
for libel, whereupon "Junius" promised to
recompense him for any pecuniary loss which
he might sustain in consequence. To the
assistance of the Government came multi
tude of minor foes whom he had aroused by
his attacks, and systematic and persistent
efforts were made to entrap the terror of the
realm. The only occasion on which his enc
mics succeeded in getting upon his track was
when tall man, arrayed in light coat, and
letter from "Junius" into the door of Wood
fall's Office. He was at once pursued, but he
soon stepped into hackney coach, and in q
few minutes was lost to sight. ~ am the sole
depositary of my own secret, and it shall
perish with me" he wrote, in his final dedioa-
tion to the English nation and such were the
precautions taken that century may be said
10 hau lNaf al
and definitely solved.
During the period in which the famous let
ters appeared, and since then, their authorship
has been ascribed to no less than forty-two of
the most prominent personages of that day,
among the number being Edmund Burke, Col.
Barre, Lord Chesterf I'D, Lord Ashburton,
Edward Gibbon, Viscount Sackville, Earl
Temple, John Horne Tooke, Horace Walpole,
John Wilkes, Lord Loughborough, and Sir
Philip Francis. The first attempt to fix the
authorship authoritatively upon the latter was
made in 1916, by John Taylor, in very elabO-
rate work; and, altogether, no less than one
hundred volumes and pamphlets have been
written, in attempts at solving the mystery. OF
late years it has been generally conceded that
Francis was identical with the ''mighty boar
of the forest" whose anonymous productions
created such stir in the political world of the
last century, the case against him, according
to Lord Macaulay, resting son condolences
sufficient to convict murderer
Still, the whole subject was invested with
doubt until the matter was finally taken up
by the late Joseph Parkes, Esq, an indetati-
gable researcher, who, after devoting years to
the collection and arrangement of the proofs,
passed away from earth just as he was pre-
pared to present them to the public. To Mr..
Herman Merivale, ripe scholar, we'll known
to the world Of letters by his valuable histori-
cal labors, was assigned the difficult task of
completing the work. and the result has just
been given to the world in two handsome
volumes by the London publishing house of
the Longmans. We have not the space at our
command to enter into an elaborate examina-
tion Of this interesting work, but must con-
tent ourselves with a summary of the incon-
testable proofs upon which Mr.. Parkes relied
for establishing the identity of Sir Philip
Francis with the renowned and vindictive
'Junius." They may be stated as follows:-