504 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the English language 
‘under the name of Modestus.” Junius’s Letters.* But neither the argu- 
ments nor the authorities produced by Mr. Coleman seem to have convinced 
all the advocates of this new phraseology ; for some of them imagine that 
in one case, at least, it is necessary. They observe, that where a writer as- 
sumes a fictitious name, we miay say, under the signature, because some 
disguise or concealment is implied ; but that where he signs his true name, 
we should say, over his signature. But what difference is there in reality 
between the two cases? The advocates of over contend that they are right 
in the use of that term, because the writing is placed over or above the name 
ofthe writer ; but this is equally true in the case of a fictitious and a real 
signature. It is, indeed, a sufficient answer to them, that in fractice, among 
the few writers who: have adopted over, this distinction is not observed, but 
they use the term in both cases indifferently. But, after all, the question is 
a simple question of factm—what is the hractice of the best English writers 2 
Now it:is so well known to be their invariable practice (and I may add, the 
Practice of our best writers) to say wader a name, and under a signature, 
that it will perhaps hardly be credited by English scholars, that any persons 
who pretend to speak the English language, could have questioned the 
Propriety of it. To the: authorities cited by Mr.» Coleman I will subjoin 
only two or three others: “ The first works which were published wnder 
my name,” &c. Dedication of the Tatler. “1 really doubt whether I shall 
write any more under this signature.” Private Letters of Junius to Mr. 
Woodfall, No. 5. In the late edition of Junius by Woodfall (published in 
1812) the expression wnder the signature is continually used : the very title 
- page begins thus : « Junius, including Letters by the same writer under oth- 
er signatures ;” and in the Advertisement and Preliminary Essay to this 
edition the phrase occurs in almost every page. 
: ae 
+" C000 ecesesencecce 
* See the New Fork Evening Post of March 15, and Noy. 22, 1803. A writer in 
another newspaper, who adopts the signature of The Good Old Way, ironically closes 
his remarks upon this “awkward and absurd term,” as he styles it, by thus employ- 
ing i# for wnder— Given over my hand and seal,” &c, Salem Gazette, Apr. 2, 1813. 
