Francis. But even _admitting there is_ a good case made out for
him on miscellaneous letters, _there is nothing incompatible_ with my
case in favor of Thomas Paine founded on the _genuine Letters_. This may
be made manifest by the following further observations:

There is no evidence of any weight brought forward to prove that Francis
was Junius, because it is _assumed_ that Junius wrote those
miscellaneous letters, and especially _Veteran's_ productions. But first
prove that Junius was _Veteran_. This can not be done, and it is an
important premise in the argument left out. It would be easier to prove
that Francis was _Veteran_; and this I do not dispute. It makes my case
far stronger to have a clear case made for Francis, founded on the
spurious and miscellaneous letters. But that Junius did not write the
letters which Taylor makes the foundation of his argument there is
abundance of internal evidence to prove. The evidence of forgery I have
already adduced. But could Francis have forged the hand of Junius? I
answer yes; and for the following reasons:

1. His acquaintance, friendship, intimacy, and peculiar political
views would give a ready access to Woodfall's office.

2. The handwriting of Junius could not be kept a secret for it
went to the compositors. Nor did Woodfall keep it from the public;
nor did he even keep the secrets of Junius as he ought to have
done, for it was from Woodfall himself that Garrick obtained the
fact that Junius would write no more, after he had compiled his
work.

3. After getting a specimen of the disguised hand of Junius,
Francis could easily forge it. As evidence of this I quote from
Taylor, p. 278, as follows: "It has been observed of him [Francis]
that he possessed so perfect a command of his pen that he could
write every kind of hand." Taylor acknowledges this extraordinary
power of Francis.

Now take with the above three facts the internal evidence of forgery,
both in the spirit and on the face of the letters, and we have a strong
case in favor of Francis forging the hand of Junius, but assuming the
name of _Veteran_.

But again, private notes may be forged as well as letters for
publication, which injures them as evidence. And who shall decide at
this late day on forgeries? I have herein adduced enough evidence to
throw great doubt on the Miscellaneous Letters, and if any thing can be
proven from internal evidence, which is acknowledged by all t