beft fpecimens of fiyle, fatire, and fedition, in the English language. His reputation however by the generality of mankind is thought to arife, not fo much from his fubjects themselves, as from the genius he displayed in managing them. When it was known that Junius was not to be frightened by threats nor overcome by argument, when he was found to be as fuperiour in compofition as he was irresistible in difpute, the vapours which had enveloped but could not obfcure his genius began fuddenly to diffipate; and at length the force of his mind, the acuteness of his conception, and extent of his political knowledge became the admiration of all.

The fame of Junius as a writer is exceeded only by his obfcurity as a man. From the moment his first letter was iffued from the prefs, when he aftonished those by the ardency of his imagination whom he convinced by the ftrength of his reafoning, and de, lighted by the purity of his ftyle, every exertion has been made to identify him; but want of fuccefs hath difappointed expectation,and the world is ftill in doubt. Curiofity has not been able to penetrate his concealment, and conjecture has endeavoured to fupply her place. No event in the annals of literature is more extraordinary than this, and perhaps the judgment of Junius is as em, inently exhibited, and his fame as effectually perpetuated by it, as by the intrinfick importance of his letters. Friendship, zeal for particular perfonages, party-preference, and felf-fufficiency, have afcribed to many the "meed of honour"; but if we abftract from

their arguments the facility_of conjecture, and from their affertions the deviations from sincerity, we fhall find but little weight of evidence on which to judge or decide. From this poverty of fact, and abundance of fuppofition, we fhall attempt to extract whatever may conduce to convince, and remove whatever may tend to miflead. We fhall confider the arguments advanced in favour of each gentleman, fuppofed to be the author of the letters in queftion, who is diftinguished either by rank, talents, or general attention.

This fubject, although in fome meafure barren of intelligence, ftill has charms which attract, and novelties which allure; and fo long as Junius remains veiled by obicurity, it is probable it will afford pleafure and excite atten, tion. The human mind can never reft on the evanefcence of uncertainty; but is always anxious for the ftability of truth, Let truth be gained, and the mind is paffive, or wanders after new fecrefy and new develope. ment.

On a fubject of fo much controverfy, and where fo much doubt is involved, we queftion whether any thing fhort of demonftration will convince thofe who are prejudiced in favour of one perfon, that thefe letters were written by another. But whatever may be the refult of our inquiries, we hope we fhall not treat the merits of any gentleman with a pertinacious preference for that perfon whom we may judge to be the author; but advance facts precifely as we have found them, and deduce our obfervations with