Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/138

Should, however, any of our readers not be convinced that Mr. Boyd was not the author of Junius, we take the liberty of subjoining the following letter, which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine of March 1814.

"Sir Jobn Macpherson, Bart. of Brompton Grove, is both a sound scholar and a gentleman of sterling abilities; and Sir John once was a governor-general of India. His exemplary courtesy, liberal hospitality, and communicative disposition, are well known. From his own lips I have myself been positively and distinctly informed, that (not Mr. Walter Boyd, of dubious fame, but) Hugh Boyd, Esq. declared, entre deux vins, at Sir John's table, when the worthy host had temporarily retired, that "Sir John Macpherson little knew he was entertaining in his mansion a political writer, whose sentiments were once the occasion of a chivalrous appeal from Sir J. to arms," immediately adding, "I am the Author of Junius."

Amidst all the circles of our jocular acquaintance, we have heard but one witticism attributed to. Mr. Boyd, which (as it is our wish to be as amusing as possible) we take the liberty of inserting:—Mr. Boyd was once dining with a large party of natives of "The Land of Saints, all admirers of good dinners, good jokes, and good wines, when, after having partaken in some slight degree of the former, they proceeded to take in a more wholesale proportion of the latter, which having done, one of the company, by way of being more amusing than the rest, took up a decanter, and (sans ceremonie) flung it at the head of the person that sat facing him; Boyd, however, seeing the missile thrown, dexterously stretched forth his hand, and caught it, exclaiming at the same time, "Really, gentlemen, if you send the bottle about in this way, there will not be one of us able to stand presently."