WHO WAS “JUNUIS”?

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 340, 22 January 1937, Page 8

WHO WAS “JUNUIS”?

MYSTERY OF HISTORY HIS FAMOUS LETTERS. During a period of exactly 2 3 fears there shone in the political Irmament of England a mysterious uminary whose identity has been a jubject of controversy for over a •entury and a half, says the Winni)eg Free Press. In a series of letters commencing n the London Public Advertiser on January 21, 1769, and ending on January 21, 1792, this unknown genius’s vitriolic pen flayed both King George 111. and the Ministry of the Duke of Grafton with a irutal violence that was inspired by the most venomous hatred and scorn. The publisher of the Public Advertiser, Henry Sampson Woodfall, was ignorant of the identity of questionably was a distinguished man of affairs, sharing many of the deepest secrets of State, who uttered nis bitter invectives in a clever classic style superior to that of any political writer in the realm. All of these letters were signed “Junius,” some of them "Philip Junius.” In the same scholarly handwriting Woodfall at previous times had received similar communications signed "Candor,,” "Nemesis.” "AntiSejanus,” also "Lucius" and "Brutus.” The pseudonym selected for the final series was believed to have been chosen to complete the name of the Roman patriot. Lucius Junius Brutus,

FEARS OF THE LEADERS. One by one the henchmen of the Prime Minister were selected as targets for this cruel satirist’s vituperation, and many great lords and distinguished Commoners trembled in their shoes, fearing that their turn would come next. Vainly did many politicians and their agents strive to get into personal communication with Junius and to track this literary enigma to his lair. But fortified within his hidden sanctum, he continued to throw javelins into the Government party leaders without hindrance, although not without fear, for in one of his communications he admits his consciousness of peril in the following words: "I must be more caut.ous than e*er. I am sure I would not survive discovery three days. . . Though you would fight, there are otners who would assassinate. . . I am the soie depository cf my own s-avret, and it shall perish with me!” Several editions of Junius’s letters Were printed in boos; form, one of the most notable of which, published by Woodfall, contained facsimiles of his handwriting as wsll as that of some of the prominent people of writing under his pseudonym. Mere than 40 personages were suspected of being Junius. Some oi the most notable suspects Edmund Burke, Lord Chesterfield. Gibbon, Horace Walpole, Lord Ashburton, and General Charles Lee.

Lee had a fault-finding disposition and an extremely caustic tongue, fond of abusing superior officers. An Englishman by birth, he had served with distinction in the French and Indian War, and at the time that the Junius letters were written he had just concluded several years ot fruitless endeavour to obtain promotion from George 111. He vas engaged during this period in writing I ironical epistles to the napers. It an ttc u?. fact that abcut the time the Junius letters ceased, Hu succeeded in gaining a promotion, although it was only on half oar.