which is my gratitude to your sister.[1] I wish I knew how to return half her kindness to you and Lady Holland, to whom I consider myself as beholden for it, and never can sufficiently show how much I feel it, and how much I consider myself as indebted in consequence."
It was at this time that he is said to have been appealed to by Sir Richard Phillips as to his knowledge of the authorship of Junius. Sir Richard Phillips, according to his own account, said to Lord Lansdowne that many persons had ascribed those letters to him, and that the world at large conceived that at least he was not unacquainted with the author. Lord Lansdowne replied: "No, no, I am not equal to Junius; I could not be the author; but the grounds of secrecy are now so far removed by death and changes of circumstances, that it is unnecessary the author of Junius should much longer be unknown. The world are curious about him, and I could make a very interesting publication on the subject. I knew Junius, and I knew all about the writing and production of those letters. But look," said he, "at my condition; I don't think I can live a week—my legs, my strength tell me so; but the doctors, who always flatter sick men, assure me I am in no immediate danger. They order me into the country, and I am going there. If I live over the summer, which, however, I don't expect, I promise you a very interesting pamphlet about Junius. I will put my name to it; I will set that question at rest for ever." He subsequently added: "I'll tell you this for your guide generally—Junius has never yet been publicly named. None of the parties ever guessed at as Junius was the true Junius. Nobody has ever suspected him. I knew him; and knew all about it, and I pledge myself, if these legs will permit me, to give you a pamphlet on the subject, as soon as I feel myself equal to the labour."[2]
But it was not to be. The end was not far off. Only
- ↑ The Hon. Caroline Fox. See supra, p. 329.
- ↑ See Junius elucidated, by John Britton, F.S.A., xxx. Monthly Magazine, July 1813.
