On the Freedom of Election. DE LOLME. "If we combine the right enjoyed by the people of England of electing their Representatives, with the whole of the English Government, we shall become continually more and more sensible of the excellent effects that may result from that right." (Essay on the English Constitution, p. 313.) JUNIUS. "The right of election is the very essence of the constitution. To violate that right, and much more to tranfer it to any other set of men, [than the rightful constituents,] is a step leading immediately to the dissolution of all government." (Miscellaneous Let. 11.) On Republics. DE LOLME. "Personal power and independence on the laws, being, in such States, the immediate consequence of the favour of the people, they are under an unavoidable necessity of being betrayed. Corrupting, as it were, every thing they touch, they cannot shew a preference to a man, but they thereby attack his virtue; they cannot raise him, without immediately losing him, and weakening their own cause; nay, they inspire him with views directly opposite to their own, and send him to join and increase the number of their enemies." (Essay on the English Constitution, p. 277.) JUNIUS. "I can more readily admire the liberal spirit and integrity, than the sound judgment of any man, who prefers a republican form of government, in this or any other empire of equal extent, to a monarchy so qualified and limited as ours. I am convinced, that neither is it in theory the wisest system of government, nor practicable in this country." (Let. 59.) Of the Law and Lawyers. DE LOLME. "As the true science of the law, which is no other than the knowledge of a long series of former rules and precedents, cannot as yet exist, they [lawyers] endeavour to create an artificial one to recommend themselves by. Formal distinctions and definitions are invented to express the different kinds of claims men may set up against one another; in which almost the same nicety is displayed as that used by philosophers in classing the different subjects, or kingdoms, of natural history. Settled forms of words, under the name of writs, or the like, are devised to set those claims forth; and, like introductory passes, serve to usher claimants into the Temple of Justice. For fear their clients should desert them after their first introduction, like a sick man who rests contented with a single visit of the physician, lawyers contrive other ceremonies and technical forms for their conduct of the process and the pleadings; and, in order, still more safely to bind their clients to their dominion, they, at length, obtain to make every error relating to their professional regulations, whether it be a misnomer, a mispleading, or some such trangression, to be as fatal a consequence as a failure against the laws of strict justice." (Essay on the English Constitution, p. 121.) JUNIUS. "As a practical profession, the study of the law requires but a moderate portion of abilities. The learning of a pleader is usually upon a level with his integrity. The indiscriminate defence of right and wrong contracts the understanding, while it corrupts the heart. Subtlety is soon mistaken for wisdom, and impunity for virtue. If there be any instances upon record, as some there are, undoubtedly, of genius and morality united in a lawyer, they are distinguished by their singularity, and operate as exceptions. (Let. 68.) These examples, the Reader is requested to recollect, have not been offered as instances of affinity in style, sentential construction, verbal or phraseological lineament, or any of the minor features of composition; but only to show, that on the leading topics of British politics, DE LOLME and JUNIUS thought as one man. We will, hereafter, notice other resemblances between DE LOLME, as portrayed in his ESSAY, and JUNIUS, as exhibited in his LETTERS. These will be found to consist of similar turns of thought, idiomatical likenesses, a constant addiction to the use of certain compound expressions, of the same particular words in preference of their synonimes, (as, to a considerable degree, hath already been shewn,) and an undeviating identity of sentiment and principle, in regard to every part of the English Constitution. As, however, it is necessary that the Reader, while he accompanies me in the following chapter, should carry with him the recollection of the mental powers, acquisitions, sentiments, temper, and personal habits and manners, both of DE LOLME and of JUNIUS, as manifested by their avowed writings, and such circumstances as have come to my know ledge, he will regard a short view of these as a general opening, and requisite preliminary, to the remainder of the case. DE LOLME possessed a mind of the firmest frame; keen, polished, penetrating, and ardently devoted to the cause of liberty* and to political investigation: so did JUNIUS. DE LOLME was not a partizan; or if one, a partizan of the whole English people, and of their constitution, considered in opposition to the comparatively slavish spirits of most other communities, and to all other constitutions then existing: so was JUNIUS. De Lolme, though not a professional lawyer, had been bred to the bar, and possessed a general acquaintance both with legal theory and legal practice, far surpassing the knowledge acquired by non-professors: so JUNIUS, though he disowns any further intelligence in English jurisprudence, than every English gentleman ought to possess,† proves himself to be more deeply versed in its leading principles and practical rules, than any gentleman not in the legal profession. As DE LOLME's great work, while it evinces his familiarity with all our received law books, from the earliest times to his own, exhibits him equally acquainted with the spirit, principles and progress of our constitution, so the Letters of JUNIUS, at once display both the writer's knowledge of our law libraries, " from Jacobs to Coke, from the Dictionary to the Classic," and his profound constitutional information. Both JUNIUS and DE LOLME were quick and irritable in temper; high-minded, proud in their assumptions, and "above a common bribe.” DE LOLME was defective as an English scholar, but a critical proficient in the French language: so was JUNIUS. DE LOLME was well read, not only in ancient, but modern history, especially with that of the Jesuits: equally so was JUNIUS. To the Jesuits, one (in a particular work) and the other (in his Epistles) continually alludes, and always with * "I feel a kind of pleasure, I must confess, to observe on this occasion, that though I have been called by some an advocate for power, I have carried my ideas of liberty further than many writers who have mentioned that word with much enthusiasm." (Essay, p. 293.) "I am no lawyer by profession, nor do I pretend to be more deeply read than every English gentleman should be in the laws of his country." (Preface, par. 3.) derision and sarcasm. DE LOLME had some knowledge of chymistry: so had JUNIUS: was familiar with the principles of mechanics so was JUNIUS. DE LOLME was versed in the mystery of stock-jobbing: JUNIUS was not less deeply initiated. JUNIUS is not more careful to remind us, that he is no lawyer, than that he writes without any view to profit: DE LOLME will be found as anxious to disclaim the legal profession, as ambitious of the character of disinterestedness. JUNIUS is importunately solicitous to be thought an Englishman, "One of ourselves:" equally so the NATIVE of GENEVA. JUNIUS re-fabricates his own productions, and gives them to the public as new: DE LOLME will be seen indulging in the same practice. JUNIUS was acquainted with all the subtle resources, and subterfuges of the press: DE LOLME as constantly resorted to the same aids. JUNIUS confesses, privately, that he has "honour and advantage in view," from his literary labours: and De LoLME was the man, and the only man, that did, or could, derive from them any honour, or, (excepting Woodfall) any pecuniary advantage. Every author, whether ancient or modern, foreign or English, alluded to, or quoted by JUNIUS, DE LOLME will appear to have read. JUNIUS, evidently, had some high connections: many of DE LOLME'S were equally exalted. JUNIUS is sometimes guilty of wilful and direct falsity: DE LOLME is not more exempted from the charge of misrepresentation. JUNIUS clandestinely supports JUNIUS. DE LOLME will appear covertly befriending DE LOLME. JUNIUS upholds DE LOLME: DE LOLME SUStains JUNIUS: And lastly, not only is the name of each found in the works of each; but productions appear, each of which betray the minds of both; show, in the same page, DE LOLME as Junius; and JUNIUS as De Lolme. CHAPTER VI. Junius clandestinely adopting an Anonymous Publication. I Now offer to the attention of the reader a rare and curious document: the model of JUNIUS's celebrated Address to the KING; the original of that philippic which exasperated Lord North to arraign the author in the House of Commons, and incited Mr. Burke to exclaim in the same place "How comes this JUNIUS to have broken through the cobwebs of the law, and to have ranged uncontrouled, unpunished, through the land? When I saw his attack upon the King, I own, my blood ran cold; I thought he had ventured too far, and there was an end of his triumphs; not that he had not asserted many truths. Yes, Sir, there are in that composition many bold truths, by which a wise prince might profit." This composition, which extorted from the same formidable orator, the acknowledgment, "That JUNIUS was more dreaded than himself; that ministers disdained such vermin as the Opposition, while the mighty Boar of the forest was before them," Was never conceived to be an improved copy of a neglected pamphlet; the ornamented transcript of a production that had not risen to the honor of exciting the least public attention! that was still-born, and laid a moveless burthen on the upper shelves of the bookseller! That from a silent, slumbering worm, buried in dust and darkness, sprang suddenly to light, a hissing Scorpion, to sting the royal Lion! The fact is extraordinary, and independently of the use to which I am applying it, would have been worthy of notice in a publication having for its object, the disclosure of the Author of the LETTERS of JUNIUS. This Address, the reader is reminded, appeared in the Public Advertiser, Dec 19, 1769, on which day, a Letter to the same great personage, also written by DE LOLME, (as will be proved) was printed in the Morning Chronicle. |