After the whole third edition of them, except the appendix to the last volume, was printed, several important documents came into his hands.

He was favoured with the inspection of the ample collections of printed books and manuscripts at Holkham, the magnificent seat of Mr. Coke :they were made by the late earl of Leicester, the maternal uncle of Mr. Coke's father.-As a catalogue of the manuscript collection is preparing for publication, under the direction of Mr. Roscoe, the Reminiscent will not now notice it, except by stating generally, that all men of learning, particularly biblical scholars, and those who are engaged in the study of the history or antiquities of this country, will find it extremely interesting on account both of the number and the value of the articles which it contains. Sic siti lætantur lares,-the literary lares are never so well pleased, as when they preside over a literary collection so extensive, made with so much skill, and communicated with so much liberality.

Holkham abounds in paintings and sculpture by the most celebrated masters. How little are these generally known! This confirms Mr. Gibbon's remark, that, if her excellent monuments of art were, as is the case in most foreign countries, brought into her capital, England would be astonished at her own treasures.

Such have been THE REMINISCENT'S LITERARY LABOURS: they have received his last cares: Such as they are, they now stand before the public, and

wait their sentence. With Dr. Johnson* the Reminiscent can say, "that he has lived, until, most "of those, whom he could have wished to please, "have sunk into oblivion;" but, with Dr. Johnson he cannot say, "that he dismisses his works with "frigid tranquillity, insensible alike of fear and "hope:" he acknowledges the hope, entertained by him in youth, manhood, and old age, that his pages would be approved by the good, the informed, and the candid: he owns that their censure will afflict him, and that their approbation will be a source to him of high and abundant gratification.

In the admirable conclusion of his preface to his Dictionary.

APPENDIX.

IN

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NOTE I. referred to in page 84.

JUNIUS.

N the passage in the text, which refers to this note, mention is made of a story once current," that a gen"tleman came in the Bath coach to the Devizes, or the "next stage, and fell sick at the inn; that a very decent gentleman came to him from London; that the old man died; that he was buried in the churchyard, and that over his tomb, his friend caused a monument to be raised, with Junius's motto-Stat nominis umbra." The Gentleman's Magazine for December 1813, contains a letter, giving an account of this circumstance. December 10th.

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"Mr. Urban, "Have the seekers after Junius ever heard of Mr. "William Greatrakes, born in the barony of Imokilly, in "the county of Cork in Ireland, about the year of 1725? One, who was his friend, and who states his conviction, in common with others, who knew him well, that "this Greatrex was the author of the Letters of Junius, "has permitted me to note down the following particu"lars relating to him, and which I am assured are, to "the best of my informant's knowledge, correct.

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"Mr. Greatrex was bred to the law, and called at

"usual period to the Irish bar. After practising a few years, he quitted that profession, and after becoming

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"an officer, signalized himself again as a barrister, by "undertaking the defence of a friendless soldier, upon "trial for a capital offence. This circumstance led to an "acquaintance with the judge; that, to an introduction "to the then lord lieutenant; and so on finally to an "intimacy with lord Shelbourne, in whose house he was “an inmate during the publication of the Letters of "Junius. He became an half-pay officer, and about 1779 "retired to a small property of his own in the neigh"bourhood of Youghall. Here he was engaged in con"tinual writing, and much correspondence with his "friend lord Shelbourne.

"He died at some place in Wiltshire, on his way to "London. During his illness, he sent for his executor, "a captain Stopford, who had been in the 63d regiment "of foot, and deposited many papers in his hands.

"I am sensible that there are many hiata which re"quire filling up in this narrative, but which I am not "now in possession of materials to do.

"Enclosed you have his autograph cut from a book in "his possession.

"It certainly appears to bear a strong resemblance to "most of the specimens in Mr. Woodfall's new edition; "and, if the preceding narration turns out to be a sub"stance materially correct, it may induce those who "believe that Junius employed an amanuensis, to confer "that honour on William Greatrakes, esq. By the description of his figure, I was sorry to find that he would "not answer for the tall gentleman with the bag wig " and white coat, who (by the account of Mr. Jackson, "one of Woodfall's journeymen,) managed the conveyancing branch of the department.

"ONE OF THE PACK." In a note to this letter, the editor of the Gentleman's Magazine informs us, that "he has been assured that "Mr. Greatrakes died at the Bear Inn in Hungerford,

" and that a flat stone in the churchyard is thus in"scribed:

"Here are deposited the remains of William Great

"rakes, esq. a native of Ireland, who, on his way

"from Bristol to London, died in this town, in the

52d year of his age, on the 2d day of August 66 1791.

"Stat Nominis Umbra."

The same number of the Magazine has, in its second plate, an engraving of the autograph to which the preceding letter refers, and a specimen of the handwriting of the real Junius, from Mr. Woodfall's edition. The present writer does not discover much resemblance between them.

The Gentleman's Magazine for July 1813, contains a letter, that details a conversation, which sir Richard Phillips, had with lord Shelbourne, then lord Lansdowne, on the subject of Junius. He represented his lordship as scouting the notion that Boyd was the author of the Letters; and made his lordship say, "I knew Junius, " and I knew all about the writing and production of "those Letters. If I live over the summer, which, how"ever, I do not expect, I promise you a very interesting pamphlet about Junius. I will set the question at rest "for ever."

The perusal of these Letters induced the Reminiscent to make some inquiries respecting the gentleman to whom the first letter relates. He has ascertained that a gentleman of the name, family, and occupations mentioned in that letter did exist; that he died on a journey from Bristol to London; that he was known both to the late lord Chatham and Mr. Charles Fox; that his name was mentioned among those who were first surmised to be authors of the Letters of Junius; that his family ascribed those Letters to him; and that one of his surviving nieces, on being shewn the fac simile of Junius's handwriting,