ceived a mitre from Lord Mans-[claimer; charged his companions field, and abuse of his seventeen with the malignity of treason, and years' friend might seem to have himself with things dangerous been the condition of the plication, and that every one felt the gift. He called Burke a selection of Burke to be a discreet and Et. 43. bear-garden railer and de-natural one at that time. "He was an 1771. "author in the service of Mr. Dodsley the Joshua Reynolds to join them, but he "bookseller; he had conducted for that 66 was dissuaded from it by Anthony "gentleman the Annual Register," &c. "Chamier, for which Anthony Chamier, "His political knowledge might be con'as he told me himself, was never for- "sidered almost as an Encyclopædia.". "given by the Burkes." (How loose and "Every man who approached him relittle to be depended upon are assertions "ceived instruction from his stores; and so worded, under which Edmund may "his failings were not visible at that or may not be included, needs not be "time," &c. &c. "When Mr. Burke pointed out.) "This speculation was at "entered into the service of the Marquis first extremely successful, but at last it" of Rockingham he was not rich, but the "failed. William Burke and Lord Ver- "munificent generosity of that noble 66 66 ney were announced as the defaulters; man, " &c. &c. . . "Mr. Burke pur to "and Edmund Burke's name was con-"chased a beautiful villa at Beaconsfield, "cealed." Yet the man who wrote this "which was paid for by the Marquis of passage, on mere hearsay, took after-" Rockingham," &c. .. "But his liberality wards an active personal part against "was not confined to the person of Mr. Burke in the House of Commons on the "Burke; he procured for Mr. William impeachment of Hastings, whom he was "Burke, his cousin and most confidential put forward to defend against two of the "connexion, the employment of Under leading charges; and is it credible that "Secretary of State to General Conway; with the desperate resentments which "and he gave to Mr. Edmund Burke's then sprang up against the originator of "brother, Richard Burke, the place of that impeachment, and which arrayed "Collector to the Customs at Grenada. against him in unrelenting animosity the "I mention these circumstances countless clients and satellites of the still "show," &c. &c. (1. 20-21.) Nicholls had powerful ex-Governor-General, Burke at least the means of knowing personally. could have remained uncrushed by the what he thus relates, for with Lord proof of imputations of that kind, if any Rockingham he was in the habit of permeans of proof existed?-Since this note sonal intercourse. He was the son of was written, I have regretted to observe George the Second's physician, and sat these scandals against Burke revived by in three parliaments in George the an able and well-informed writer in the Third's reign. I may add that Richard Athenæum (17th December, 1853), who Burke had already gone out to the West finds it difficult otherwise to account for India Islands before his brother's formal his purchase of Gregories so soon after connection with Lord Rockingham: a his entrance into political life, &c. As fact which might perhaps be so construed this writer, however, does not carry the as to explain some apparent inconmatter beyond the sort of suspicion al- sistencies in the date of his appointment. ready remarked upon above, I will only On the 17th July, 1764, Edmund anadd, as to the Beaconsfield purchase, and nounces to their friend Shackleton that the sudden rise into political notoriety, "poor Dick" was to set off the next what we receive on even the unfavourable week for the Grenadas; and he proceeds testimony of the Recollections and Reflec- to write of the uncertainty of his protions above quoted. Nicholls says that, spects, and of the impending voyage as on Lord Rockingham first coming into an attempt to improve them, in a style office, his inexperience in regard to which I cannot help thinking incompublic business was such as to render it patible with the fact of any certain or absolutely necessary to have a person settled appointment having as yet been about him acquainted with political sub- obtained for him. "But it must be subjects, and accustomed to laborious ap-"mitted to," Burke finely adds. "A 1771. t. 43. and desperate; told him the land was thenceforth, beyond all world cried out against such ar- question, to be for ever held rogance in a man of his condi- acquitted of the charge. "Sir," tion, and warned him against said Johnson, "I should turning his house into a hole of "have believed Burke to adders.* The ministry seconded "be Junius, because I know these exertions of its zealous "no man but Burke who is supporters, and went about to "capable of writing these letfasten Junius upon him. Their "ters; but Burke spontaneously papers had been rife with that "denied it to me."* suspicion ever since the letters Better, however, than even began. Even the whigs became such spontaneous denial, and alarmed, and sent the brother of satisfactory where Townshend's Tommy Townshend to obtain his disclaimer had failed to satisfy, formal disclaimer. Burke gave should have been the evidence it, though not without reluctant afforded by the letters themand galled submission to the selves. This was the year when right implied in demanding it; ** Garrick, smiling and happy amid "peaceable, honourable, and affluent de- the great who fondled and flat"cline of life, must be purchased by a tered him; sending meddling "laborious or hazardous youth; and messages to the palace that "it is well worth the purchase." (Corre- Junius would write no more; spondence, 1. 53-4.) At what would be writing himself to "Carissimo pretty nearly the date of "poor Dick's" "every day I think, more and more, that 66 appointment to the Customs, if contem-"tend none. In this perplexity all I can poraneous with his brother's acceptance "do is, to satisfy you, and to leave you under Lord Rockingham, Richard was "to satisfy those whom you think worthy again in London, and soon again, of "of being informed. I have, I dare say, course, he returned to Grenada. (1853.)" to nine-tenths of my acquaintance, de*See Correspondence of Burke, I. 297-"nied my being the author of Junius, or 305. Mr. Croker may be accepted as a “having any knowledge of the author, as good authority on this point, and even he "often as the thing was mentioned, does not hesitate to say: "Markham and" whether in jest or earnest, in style of "Burke had been intimate political as "disapprobation or of compliment. Per"well as private friends, but when the "haps I may have omitted to do so to 66 prospect of high church preferment you, in any formal manner, as not sup"opened upon Markham, he seems to "posing you to have any suspicion of have broken off from Mr. Burke as too 64 me. I now give you my word and "violent a politician." Croker's Bos. 274. "honour that I am not the author of **His first letter was not thought suf-"Junius, and that I know not the author ficiently distinct in its denial by Towns-"of that paper, and I do authorize you hend. He then sent another. "Surely "to say so. This will, I suppose, be "my situation is a little vexatious, and "enough, without showing my letter." "not a little singular. I am, it seems, Burke's Correspondence, 1. 274-5. "called upon to disown the libels in *Boswell, VII. 2. Johnson added: "which I am myself satirised as well as "The case would have been different had "others. If I give no denial, things are "I asked him if he was the author; a "fixed upon me which are not, on many "man so questioned, as to an anonymous 66 accounts, very honourable to me. If I "publication, may think he has a right to "deny, it seems to be giving satisfaction"deny it." See Lord John Russell's note "to those to whom I owe none and in-to Moore's Diary, VI. 30. 66 Oliver Goldsmith's Life and Times. II. 14 "mio Edmundo" that what alone the frankness of familiar interprevents their meeting is a gouty course, with the well-abused twinge in the knee, from "dining Anthony Chamier. The stronger "yesterday with an arch- presumption is, that in his ordi1771. "bishop; * — -found him- nary daily duties in the WarÆt. 43. self, in that supreme pros-office, Chamier sat much nearer perity, suddenly and contemptu- Junius than ever he sat in Gerously struck in the face with a rard-street.* *There is a curious account of Francis by one who knew him well, in to repeat the idea with which he came to blow that appalled him. To believe that Burke's was the hand so lifted against his friend; that Nicholls's Recollections and Reflections (1. the "vagabond" was told to 280, 291, &c.) He takes several occasions "keep to his pantomimes," by be impressed, as to the extraordinary one who so lately had confessed abilities of Francis, to whom he was the dearest obligations to him; **politically opposed, and he adds: "Strong "resentment was a leading feature in his would be to fix upon Burke an "character. I have heard him avow this incredible imputation of dis-"sentiment more openly and more exhonour. I do not even believe "plicitly, than I ever heard any other that, if he had taken any part in "life." Of course Nicholls never conthe letters (though far from asserting that some portion of the secret may not have fallen into his reluctant keeping), he would have continued to sit down at their common club-table, in all 66 man avow it in the whole course of my nected him with Junius. I take the opportunity of appending a striking argument from a letter of Mr. Macaulay's (published in Lord Mahon's History, v. 375, Tauchn. ed.), commenting on a recent attempt to disconnect Francis from Junius. "It is odd that the reviewer "should infer from the mistake about "Draper's half-pay that Junius could not *May 3, 1771. Burke's Correspond-"have been in the War-office. I talked ence, I. 253. "that matter over more than ten years **See Garrick Correspondence, 1. 353-4."ago, when I was Secretary-at-War, with It is quite certain that as late as March "two of the ablest and best informed 1775 Johnson was still in the habit of "gentlemen in the department; and we professing his belief in Burke's author-"all three came to a conclusion the very ship. Reporting a conversation at Thrale's" opposite of that at which the reviewer in that month, when he dined twice with "has arrived. Francis was chief clerk Johnson and Baretti, Dr. Thomas Camp-"in the English War-office. Everybody bell (Visit to England in 1775: Sydney, "who drew half-pay through that office 1854) writes: "Johnson said that he "made the declaration which Junius "looked upon Burke to be the author of "mentions. But Draper's half-pay was Junius, and that though he would not "on the Irish establishment; and of him "take him contra mundum, yet he would "the declaration was not required. Now, "take him against any man. Baretti "to me and to those whom I consulted, was of the same mind, though he men- "it seemed the most natural thing in the "tioned a fact which made against the "world that Francis, relying on his of "opinion; which was, that a paper hav-"ficial knowledge, and not considering "ing appeared against Junius on this "that there might be a difference be "day, a Junius came out in answer to "that the very next, when everybody "knew Burke was in Yorkshire. But all "the Juniuses were evidently not written by the same hand." "tween the practice at Dublin and the "practice at Westminster, should put "that unlucky question which gave "Draper so great an advantage. I have "repeatedly pointed out this circum But, in clearing Burke from higher stake in politics and this remarkable authorship, which government than a premiership would have detracted from his for Rockingham and a paycharacter what it added to his mastership (without seat 1771. fame (for it matters little that the in the cabinet) for himhilt of your rapier should be self.* “My dear Lord," Æt. 43. diamond-studded and its blade he said to the Duke of Richof unequalled temper, if you dare mond, "you dissipate your mind not use it excepting in the dark), "with too great a variety of it is not so easy to clear him of "minute pursuits." "My dear having so shaped his course "Burke," said the Duke to him, somewhat later, as to show that "you have more merit than any he still winced from the charge. "man in keeping us together." Now was the time, profiting by And with that he was content. the opportunities of George He kept them together. They Grenville's death and the general became in time of greater imparty confusion created by Wilkes portance to him than those pure and Junius, to have freed both principles, than that practically himself and the Rockinghams; just and disinterested policy, now was the time to have so with which his counsels had enlarged the battle-field for both helped first to connect them; as to bring in issue something and which, carried now to their greater than the predominance farther verge and just extent, of whig families with whig prin- might have freed both the ciples: yet even now, while his party and the country from was the solitary voice that in- all the trammels that distressed voked retribution for the most them. infamous crime of nations, the partition of Poland, he had no thought or wish to throw for a He drew himself more and more within the Rockingham *What Goldsmith would have said of such a consummation to all Burke's labours and services, had he lived to see "stance to men who are excellent judges it, may be inferred from the language of "of evidence, and I never found one who his epitaph. Boswell gives us amusing "did not agree with me." Let me add to evidence, by an allusion in one of his what I formerly remarked (ante, 52-53), letters to Burke, that at this time any that I can give no stronger evidence of possible party triumph of the whigs and my faith in Francis's authorship of patriots could mean nothing, according Junius having survived all the many in- to Goldsmith, if not a deification of genious surmises of recent critics, than Burke, their leading orator, their first of that, knowing Francis could not have men. "Dear Sir," he writes (3rd March, written both those letters and a pamphlet 1778), 66 upon my honor, I began a letter entitled Letter to a Brigadier-General, pub-"to you some time ago, and did not lished ten years earlier, I yet continue "finish it, because I imagined you were to think he was Junius. The style "then near your apotheosis-as poor is remarkably similar, but conclusions "Goldsmith said upon a former occasion, founded on such comparisons are al-"when he thought your party was comways unsafe. (1852.) See ante, 55-57. "ing into administration." Burke Corresp, (1870.) II. 207. ranks; toiled more and more greatest event which the history to keep the popular power within of the world had witnessed (for a certain magic circle; and, surely this, with all salutary prowhile his genius was at test against its crimes and sym1771. work for the age that was pathy for its sufferings, we must Æt. 43. to come, in eloquence as hold the first French Revolution rich and various as its intuition to have been), and lived even so seemed deep and universal, his to misjudge it. What was temtemper was satisfied that the porary in its terror and sin, he age`in which he lived should be shrank from as eternal; what governed exclusively by the Rich- was eternal in its grandeur and monds and Rockinghams. "You heroism, he spat upon as the "people of great families and folly of a day. There was not "hereditary trusts and fortunes, an intellect then existing in "the great oaks that shade a Europe to which this sudden ad"country and perpetuate your vent and triumph of democracy "benefits from generation to should have appealed so strongly “generation, are not like such as as to Burke: yet through the "I am, mere annual plants that mist of blood that surrounded its "perish with our season, and uprising, he saw nothing but a "leave no sort of traces be- demon-dance of exaggerated "hind us." And SO around horror; and the noble, the beauthat perishable fancy he placed tiful, the ornamental, he thought all the supports of his noble blotted out of France, because at imagination; till that which he last, in the hollow semblances of thought eternal melted from these things, demons that for his grasp, and left what he be- centuries had indeed been torlieved to be mere transitory turing Frenchmen were strangled graces to survive and endure and overthrown.* alone. ** He lived to see the "to future generations." Burke Corre"Lord Rockingham's Governor," Walpole calls him in 1770. Lett. to Mann, * His friend Philip Francis in vain reII. 95. monstrated; but his letter on the proof ** I cannot regard as a mere elo-sheets of the Remarks on the French Requently turned sentence what he so volution, made public in the late addifinely says to Robertson in thanking him tions to Burke's Correspondence (m. for his history. Here, as often else- 128-32), remains a masterpiece for us. where, I seem to discern his melancholy "The loss of a single life in a popular sense of the disproportion of the objects" tumult, excites individual tenderness sought to the means employed, in that "and pity. No tears are shed for nations. political struggle of the time which ab-"When the provinces are scourged to sorbed his wonderful powers. "Adieu, "the bone by a mercenary and merciless "sir! Continue to instruct the world; "and, whilst we carry on a poor unequal conflict with the passions and 66 prejudices of our day, perhaps with no "better weapons than other passions and "prejudices of our own, convey wisdom "military power, and every drop of its "blood and substance extorted from it "by the edicts of a royal council, the "case seems very tolerable to those who "are not involved in it. When thou"sands after thousands are dragooned |