I Never Heard Mrs Macaulay^ Was Supposed to Write Junius,S Nor Know Anything of Her Owning Those Papers
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52 To SIR EDWARD WALPOLE 28 APRIL 1769 I never heard Mrs Macaulay^ was supposed to write Junius,s nor know anything of her owning those papers. I have heard they were written by a merchant, which is not very probable. In general I think opinions are divided between Lord George Sackville,6 Will. Burke,7 not Edmund, and Mclean.8 For myself, I think both the style and matter make it most probable that the first is the author— some circumstances however are against that opinion. The attack on Westons looks like the second, as one should suppose the author well acquainted with the Secretary's office; some persons too think the style resembles that of the occasional writer three years ago, who was certainly Will. Burke: but to me Junius is a more concise and better writer. I am not acquainted with either Mclean's style or parts. In short, you see I have told you what I don't know. Yours ever H.W. 4. Catherine Sawbridge (1731-91), m. 1 been considered a strong candidate (MANN (1760) George Macaulay; m. 2 (1778) vii. 165, 188, 247-8; Namier and Brooke William Graham; the historian and re ii. 467-8; Letters of Junius, ed. C. W. publican, of whom Dr Johnson declared, Everett, 1927, pp. 382-7), but T. H. Bow 'To endeavour to make her ridiculous, is yer (op. cit. p. xix) concludes that 'the like blacking the chimney' (Boswell's identity of Junius remains unsettled.' Life of Johnson, ed. G. B. Hill and F. L. 6. Ante 7 May 1745 OS, n. 27. Powell, Oxford, 1934-50, ii. 336; MANN vii. 7. William Burke (ca 1729-98), Edmund 145 and n. 29). Burke's cousin; undersecretary of state 5. The Letters of Junius were first 1765-7; M.P. Great Bedwyn 1766-74 (Old published in the Public Advertiser at Westminsters i. 143-4; Namier and Brooke intervals between 21 Jan. 1769 and 21 ii. 153-8). Jan. 1772; for the early editions see T. H. 8. Lauchlin Macleane (?i727~78), M.D., Bowyer, A Bibliographical Examination of 1755; army surgeon; served with Wolfe at the Earliest Editions of the Letters ofth e taking of Quebec; under-secretary of Junius, Charlottesville, Va., 1957, passim. state 1766-8; M.P. Arundel 1768-71 (ibid. HW's copy of the 1770 edition, now WSL, iii. 93-4). is Hazen, Cat. of HW's Lib., No. 2215. 9. Edward Weston was under-secretary HW's 'Hints for discovering Junius' (BM of state 1730-46, 1761-4; chief secretary Add. MS 32559, f. 107; facsimile in for Ireland 1746-51; he was attacked by Athenaeum, 1891, lxiv pt 1. 122) suggests Junius in the tenth letter, 21 April 1769, Charles Wolfran Cornwall, M. P.; others as the supposed author of A Vindication suspected of writing the letters were Ed of the Duke of Grafton (Everett, op. cit. mund Burke, John Wilkes, Lord Temple, 52; see also Grenville Papers iv. 468 and and HW himself; Sir Philip Francis has n. 1). .