Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/296

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[2* S. N 15., APRIL 12. <5G.

Compare the following with No. 26. in the list (2 nd S. i. 186.)

" The Claims of Sir Philip Francis to the Authorship of Junius disproved: 1. la a Letter addressed to the Rev. M. Davey, M.D., Master of Caius College, pp. 16., Thetford, Jan. 23, 1827. 2. In a Letter addressed to Sir James Mackintosh. Thetford, Feb. 1827, pp. 16. III. In a Letter to Godfrey Higgins. Thetford, Feb. 5., 1827, pp. 16. IV. In a Letter addressed to Uvedale Price. Thetford, Feb. 24, 1827, pp. 20. 1827. Printed at Thetford for private Distribution among the Friends of the Author, Edmund Henry Barker, Esq. Subsequently re- printed in a small Volume, with considerable Additions. Noticed in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' 1828, and in Martin's ' Privately Printed Books,' 1st edit., p. 243."

" A Letter to an Honourable Brigadier-General, Com- mander of His Majesty's Forces in Canada (London, 1760), now first ascribed to Junius. To which is added ' A Refutation of the " Letter," &c., by an Officer." With incidental Notices of Lords Townshend and Sackville, Sir Philip Francis, and others. Edited by N. W. Simon. London. 1841. 16mo."

AN OLD PAULINE.

To the catalogue of writings about Junius, given by W. W. J., may be added :

1st. The Preface to the Grenville Papers, in which the editor (Mr. Smith, librarian at Stowe) takes the same view as did Mr. Isaac Newhall, in favour of Earl Temple. This essay seems to me one of great force and ability.

2nd. An article in the Quarterly Review, three or four years ago (of which I know the author, but I do not know that I ought to name him), which advocated the claim of Thomas, second Lord Lyttelton.

This article was written with much ingenuity, but I believe it has not met with acceptance. It was sharply criticised at the time in The Athenaeum.

My own family papers are scanty, and I could throw no material light on the question.

I am obliged to make these references from memory. LYTTELTON.

John Britton concludes the Preface of his Authorship of the Letters of Junius elucidated (London, 1848), by observing, that new and con- clusive discoveries might be made from sources first pointed out in his book :

" In the language of sportsmen," says he, " a new scent is found, and traced through various labyrinths the wily fox is unkennelled, and his haunts and habits made known to the enterprising hunter."

This appears to have occasioned the following note by one of our present most reverend pre- lates, who is not better known by his numerous writings, than by his accurate perception of diffi- cult questions, and his equally profound skill in reasoning :

" There are many leading articles in the newspapers, and other periodicals of this day, as spirited and as viru- lent as Juiiius, and the authorship of which few kuow or

care to inquire about. And if the authorship of Junius had been known at the time, or shortly after, the whole matter would probably have [been] totally lost sight of for more than half a century past. But men love guess- ing at a riddle. It is not the value of a fox, but the dif- ficulty of the chase, that makes men eager foxhunters."

Having had a recent opportunity of transcribing this from the original, and regarding it as worthy of publicity, I believe that I obtain it effectually by communicating it to " N. & Q." ARTERUS. Dublin.

Can any of your correspondents tell me from what author Junius quotes the following in his letter to Woodfall, March 5, 1772 ?

" Quod si quis exist imat me aut voluntate esse mutata, aut debilitate virtute, aut animo fracto, vehementer errat."

I should be glad of a reference where to find it.

W. M. T.

[The passage is quoted from Cicero, Ad Quiritespost Reditum, cap. viii. sect. 19.]

THE ABBEY OF ST. ALBAN.

In common, doubtless, with many of your readers, I observed the following notice in The Examiner for March 29 :

" An important county movement will be made in the course of this month for the restoration of St. Alban's Church. Two objects are in view: to preserve this in- teresting monument of antiquity, and to place it in such a state as to make it fit to receive a Bishop of St. Alban's."

Every antiquary will rejoice at this project, and will wish it successful. There are many difficulties to be overcome; but in this age of revived church- architecture there is no cause for despair.

St. Alban's is almost the only abbey which re- mains in anything like its original grandeur. There are plenty of picturesque ruins ; but where else can we find such scope for renovation ? This reason is of itself sufficient to plead the cause of the old abbey, independently of the historical associations which belong to it. It is lamentable to see the decay into which so many of our abbeys and churches have fallen. St. Alban's, in spite of the unwearied exertions of the excellent rector, is in a sad state.

I cannot help expressing a hope that the restor- ation of this noble church will be accomplished, and that the restoration will be complete, as at Ely Cathedral. J. VIRTUE WYNEN.

1. Portland Terrace, Dalston.

[A large and influential meeting of the nobility and clergy of Hertfordshire was held in the Town Hall, St. Alban's, on the 3rd instant, to consider the best means of restoring its ancient abbey, and of investing it with the dignity of a cathedral. It was estimated that the total