The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-06
SPIRIT OF TIE PRESS.
EDrToRIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPIes-ooMP1LED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
"JUNIUs' IDENTIFIED.

throwing fresh light on the subject has posi-
tive value. The title to property is often at
issue on such points, and the Identification
of literary remains frequently depends upon
q scientific analysis of which very few are
capable. There are, to be sure, great many
persons employed in banks or in hthography
who are commonly styled experts" and
who are popularly esteemed trustworthy
authority in photographic matters. But the
degree in which their opinions can be de-
pended upon is usually overrated. Mr.
Twistleton, who has given deeper attention
to the matter than any literary man who
ever wrote upon it, says that the number
of real ''experts" in London during the last
fifty years has been very few; and that
limiting the application of the term
to persons whose skill is recognized and de-
ferred to in the highest courts of Justice
there are now only two "experts" in that
city, namely, MIR. Chabot and Mr.. Neither
cliff. The former gentleman, at the in
stance of Mr.. Twistletop, lately made an
elaborate investigation of the handwriting of
the famous "Junius," with the result, for
mally assented to in long and thoughtful
article in the April Quarterly Re0ieD, of
establishing the identity of ''Junlus" with
Sir Philip Francis. Some of the steps of
the demonstration are so curious as to make
it desirable to recite them. The letters of
''Junius" began in the Public Advertiser, ia
nuary 81, 1863. They have been ascribed with
more or less plausibility, to no fewer than
fifteen persons; but the bulk of intelligent
opinion has always inclined to Francis. Still,
this has only remained highly probable sur
mise Positive proof has been lacking. And
it has seemed that the celebrated boast of
"Junius" he was the sole depository of
his own secret, and that it should perish with
him-was destined to be literally verified.
conspicuous link in the chain of proof that,
in the Judgment of Mr.. Twistleton and the
Quarterly ReOielO, explodes this anticipation,
we will briefly set forth.
Just one hundred years ago, that is to say,
in 177O, or 1771, Sir Philip, then Mr.. Francis,
was on a visit to his father at Bath. At the
Assembly Rooms in that then highly fashion
able city he danced on more than one even
ing with Miss Giles, brilliant young lady,
whose father was afterward Governor of the
Bank of England 1t was the custom at balls
at that time for a lady to keep the same
partner for the whole evening; and so it fell
out with this pair Subsequently Miss Giles re-
ceived an anonymous note, inclosing some
complimentary verses. The note was in one
handwriting, the verses in another. Both
still exist, and have been in the hands
of Mr.. Twistleton, Mr.. Chabot, and Mr..
Netherclift. Now it is declared by all
three to be absolutely certain that the
Anonymous Note is in the handwriting of
''Junius." This being so, and as Francis had
evidently sent it, it was at first taken for
granted that the Anonymous Verses were in
the natural handwriting of Francis. The
most singular and interesting part of the
story follows. Mr. Chabot, after deep study,
came to the conviction, not only that
Francis could not have written the verses,
but that the two-the verses and the note
could not possibly have been written by the
same hand. This conclusion was opposed to
the views of Mr.. Chabot's employer; and,
as the Quarterly says, the case which the ex-
pert had been called in to support seemed to
have broken down in consequence Of his
evidence. The intrinsic value of that evil
dsnce, and certainly the independence with
which it was given, may therefore In some
measure be inferred. Mr.. Twistleton as
sented to the professional opinion-we may
suppose with some reluctance. Yet it led
him to fortunate trail. The question was,-
If Francis did not write the verses, who did?
A life of Francis had just been published and
mention was found in it that his cousin and
familiar associate, Mr.. Richard Tilghman, was
with him in Bath at the time the note was sent
to Miss Giles 1t struck Mr.. Twistleton that
Francis might have got his cousin to act as
an amanuenss. Now, in the Letter Book of
Francis there are, happily, six letters ad-
dressed to Francis by Tilghman. These, with
the verses, were now submitted to Mr..
Chabot; and he soon gave in his unhesitating
conviction that the verses were in Tilghmans
handwriting. This is pointed out to be quite
characteristic of Francis. He would never
put his own natural handwriting side by side
with that of 'Junius." Addressing Miss Giles
in disguised hand, he naturally adopted the
style which he had been so freely using; and
as naturally got his cousin, who probably
never saw the note, to copy the verses. This
hypothesis is further sustained by the fact
that Tilghman, who was a native of Philadel-
phia, and wrote from that city, refers to the
verses in one of his letters, and, indeed,
quotes couplet from them.
This interesting circumstances is but one
of number of remarkable corroborations,
arrived at with vast labor and research, that
are held to establish beyond all doubt the
identity of 'Junius" with Sir Philip Francis.
The Quarterly oongratulates Mr.. Twistleton
on having produced q book which "settes
once for all the long g-disputed controversy re-
specting the authorship of the Junian letters" I"
and which Is moreover, ''the only work
which has yet appeared in the English Ian
euage conveying systematic instruction on
The comparison of handwritings."
Every imaginable adverse theory is sue
cessively taken up and disposed of, and GER
tainly the demonstration, even as conveyed
in the condensed statements of the Ouarte1Ru.
appears to be complete. 1t hardly needs TO be
pointed out that the result of this lsborious
investigation, interesting and important az n
is, does not constitute the sole value OF The
report of it, The successive steps of the
inquiry, and the proofs whereby each posi,
tion has been fortified, will be of immense
service henceforth to the antiquary and the
lawyer. Like many other patient and inde-
fatigable scientific processes, which, to the