The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-08-03
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Who Wrote Junlus Lstters?
1t was on January II, 1859 that the
first letter signed "Junius" appeared
in 'aThe Public Advertiser edited and
printed in London by Henry Sampson
woodfal1. And by singular coinci.
dence, the last Of these letters ap-
4 peared in the same paper on January
q 1772, three years later. No series
4 of letters ever written ever attracted
more attention, we're the subject OF
greater discussion, and even to this
day it has never been exactly deter
mined as to who is the author of these
sixty-nine letters of a character to so
( thoroughly excite the English nation.
/ The first Of the Junius letters was
! an attack on several men in high
places. including Commander-in-C Chief
Lord CRANKY. The generals friend
Sir William Draper turned upon ORA
per and gave him grubbing if any
thing more severe than the one admin
istered to the man Draper had defen-
ded. Sir William tried to defend him
self several times, but every time he
was put to discomfort by the charges
which he seemed unable to refute,
made by Junius.
These victories over man Of sta
ton such as Diapers gave Importance
to the name of Junius. Herceforth
letters with that signature we're ex-
pected by the public and carefully pre-
pared by the author. Nor was it long
before he sBoped to far higher game
than Sir Wilma First series Of
most bitter pasquinades against the
Duke of Grafton. DR.. Blackstone was
then assailed for the unpopular vote
which he gave to the case Of Wilkes.
In September was published false
and malignant attack upon the duke Of
Redford-an attack which was felt
nv his descendants for very many
wears. In December the acme OF auda'
civ was reached by the celebrated let
ter to the king. All this while coniec-
tures were busy as to who was the
author Names as well-known states
men or welI-Emown writers. Burke or
Dunning, Boyd or Dyer, George Sack
vile mr. Gerard Hamilton-flew from
mouth to mouth.
aThe most important secret OF our
times" cries wilkes. "Junius took
care to enhance his own Importance
by arrogant, nay even impious, boasts
of It. In one letter of August, III.
he goes SO far as to declare that THE
Bible and Junius will be read when
the commentaries of the Jesuits are
forgotten"
Mystery was one Of the greatest
ingredients of the popularity of Junius
Another not less efficacious was SUI
pplied by persecution. In the year Of
ITO, Mr.. WoodfaI1 was indicted for
publishing and Mr.. Almon with sever
al others, for reprinting the letter of
Junius to the king. The verdict in
WoodfaIps case was: Guilty of print
ing and publishing only It led to re-
peated discussions and to Interior pro-
ceedings. But in the temper Of the
public at that period, such measures
could end only in virtual defeat to the
government and in augmented reputa-
ton to the libeller
During the years ITO and III the
letters Of Junius were contained with
abaement Of spirit. He renewed in
Yectives against the Duke of Grafton;
he began them against Lord Mans
field; he plunged into the full tide of
city politics, and he engaged in keen
with he Rev. John Horne
Besides the letters which Junius wrote
for the press, there we're many others
which he wrote and sent to various
persons, intending them for those per-
sons only.