lthy 'Essay upon Women'--which, by the way, formed one
count in the indictment against him at his trial in the King's
Bench--will always earn for him the execration of mankind. The success
of Wilkes in his action against the secretary of state, was the signal
for a host of other authors, printers, and publishers, who had been
similarly attacked, to bring similar actions. They generally obtained
heavy damages, and ministers learned a lesson of caution which they did
not soon forget.

But while they persecuted the opposition scribes, ministers did not
forget to reward those writers who advocated the cause of the
Government. Men who had failed in all kinds of professions and
employments, turned their attention to political literature, and, as far
as emolument was concerned, met with great success, for although the
talent was all on one side, the profit was all on the other. Among the
chief of these fortunate scribblers was Dr. Francis, the father of the
celebrated Sir Philip, Dr. Shebbrart, Hugh Kelly, and Arthur Murphy.

We now arrive at another most memorable period in newspaper history--the
appearance of the Letters of Junius. The interest in the discovery of
the source of these withering diatribes has been almost as great as in
that of the Nile, but, unlike that 'frightened and fugitive' river,
their origin will probably never be discovered with any certainty. A
neat little library might be formed of the books and pamphlets that have
been written upon this 'vexed question,' and the name of every man that
was at all eminent at the time of their publication--and of a great many
too that were by no means eminent--has been at some time or other
suggested as the author. This controversy may be looked upon as a sort
of literary volcano, which every now and then becoming suddenly active,
after a period of quiescence of longer or shorter duration, sends forth
great clouds of smoke--but nothing else; and then all things remain once
more in _statu quo_. Our space will not permit us to make any remark
upon the matter, further than to express an opinion that the
preponderance of evidence appears to be in favor of Sir Philip
Francis--the untiring, unscrupulous bloodhound who hunted down Warren
Hastings--having been the author. The first of these famous letters
appeared in the _Public Advertiser_, of April 28, 1767; the last of a
stalwart family of sixty-nine, on January 21, 1772. Let Burke testify to
their tremendous power. To the