Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/171

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FRANCIS.
167

political circles, the ablest pamphlet-writer of the age. He is said to have left behind him a manuscript, of an historical character, relating to the persons and person ages who figured in the late reign; a work for which his intimate acquaintance with public men; his habits of observation; his penetrating genius, and his incorruptible integrity, seem eminently to have qualified him. To the publication of this work we look forward for a corroboration, if indeed any further corroboration be necessary, of the opinion, that he is the author of those celebrated letters which appeared in the Public Advertiser, in the years 1769, 1770, 1771, and 1772, under the signature of Junius. Of the work, entitled, "Junius Identified," a very learned judge observed, "if there is any dependance on the law of presumptive evidence, the case is made out." We shall content ourselves with making the following extract from that work, merely observing that, if the concurrence o the circumstances here enumerated, and many others, be sufficient to establish the conclusion, Sir Philip Francis was undoubtedly Junius; for the premises are established on the clearest and most satisfactory evi dence.

"With the ability, and the opportunity, he had the inducement to write the Letters. He is proved to have possessed the constitutional principles, political opinions, and personal views of the author. His public attachments and animosities were the same. He had the same private fiends, acquaintances, and opponents. In the country of his birth, in the mode of his education, in his opporunities of political instruction, early initiation into state affairs, and inclination to profit by his advantages;—in having access to the first sources of information respecting the king, the court, the cabinet, and every department under government, with which Junius seems familiar, the resemblance is most strikingly preserved. It is heightened by his having the same disposition, hopes and fears, habits, pursuits, and even personal appearance. In attending Parliament without being a member, in the practice of taking notes, and reporting speeches,—