Great books of the Western world, vol. 44 [44]

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^ GREAT

BOOKS OF THE WESTERN WORLD

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12.

LUCRETIUS EPICTETUS MARCUS AURELIUS

13.

VIRGIL

14.

PLUTARCH

15.

TACITUS

16.

PTOLEMY

Introductory Volumes: 1.

2.

3.

The Great Conversation

The Great The Great

Ideas

I

Ideas II IIII

»

4.

5.

MMO t*

HOMER

COPERNICUS KEPLER

AESCHYLUS SOPHOCLES

17.

PLOTINUS

18.

AUGUSTINE

19.

THOMAS AQUINAS

I

THUCYDIDES

20.

THOMAS AQUINAS

II

7.

PLATO

21.

DANTE

8.

ARISTOTLE

I

22.

CHAUCER

9.

ARISTOTLE

II

23.

MACHIAVELLI

EURIPIDES

ARISTOPHANES 6.

10.

11.

HERODOTUS

HOBBES

HIPPOCRATES GALEN

24.

RABELAIS

EUCLID

25.

MONTAIGNE

ARCHIMEDES APOLLONIUS

26.

SHAKESPEARE

I

NICOMACHUS

27.

SHAKESPEARE

II

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GREAT BOOKS OP THE WESTERN WORLD

28.

29.

GILBERT GALILEO

41.

GIBBON

HARVEY

42.

KANT

CERVANTES

43.

AMERICAN STATE

II

PAPERS

THE FEDERALIST

30. FRANCIS BACON

J. S.

MILL

DESCARTES SPINOZA

44.

BOSWELL

32.

MILTON

45.

LAVOISIER FOURIER

33.

PASCAL

34.

NEWTON

31.

FARADAY 46.

HEGEL

47.

GOETHE

48.

MELVILLE

49.

DARWIN

50.

MARX

HUYGENS 35.

LOCKE BERKELEY

HUME 36.

SWIFT STERNE

ENGELS 37.

FIELDING 51.

TOLSTOY

MONTESQUIEU ROUSSEAU

52.

DOSTOEVSKY

39.

ADAM SMITH

53.

WILLIAM JAMES

40.

GIBBON

54.

FREUD

38.

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GREAT BOOKS OF THE WESTERN WORLD ROBERT MAYNARD HUTCHINS, EDITOR IN CHIEF 4

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Mortimer J, Adler,

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The

conversation then took a philosophical "Human experience, which is constantly contradicting theory, is the great test turn. Johnson. of truth.

A system,

built

upon the

discoveries of

a great many minds, is always of more strength, than what is produced by the mere workings of any one mind, which, of itself, can do little. There is not so poor a book in the world that would not be a prodigious eff"ort were it wrought out entirely by a single mind, without the aid of prior investigators.

The French

writers are su-

because they are not scholars, and so proceed upon the mere power of their own minds; and we see how very little power they have." perficial;

"As to the Christian religion. Sir, besides the strong evidence which we have for it, there is a balance in its favour from the number of great

men who have been convinced of its

who

certainly

religion. Sir Isaac

and came

had no

Newton

I

my

opinion of

my friend

Derrick

poor writer. Johnson. "To be sure, Sir, he is; but you are to consider that his being a literary man has got for him all that he has. It has made him King of Bath. Sir, he has nothing to say for himself but that he is a writer. Had he not been a writer, he must have been sweeping as but a

the crossings in the streets, and asking halfpence

from every body that past."

memory of Mr. who was my first tutor in the ways of London, and shewed me the town in all its variIn justice, however, to the

Derrick,

ety of departments, both literary and sportive, the particulars of which Dr. Johnson advised me to put in writing, it is proper to mention what Johnson, at a subsequent period, said of him both as a writer and an editor: "Sir, I have often said, that if Derrick's letters had been written by one of a more established name, they would have been thought very pretty letters."^ And, "I sent Derrick to Dryden's relations to gather materials for his life; and I believe he got all that I myself should have got."* Poor Derrick I remember him with kindness. Yet I cannot with-hold from my readers a pleasant humourous sally which could not have hurt him had he been alive, and now is perfectly harmless. In his collection of poems, there is one upon entering the harbour of Dublin, his native !

city, after

a long absence.

It

begins thus:

Eblana! much lov'd city, hail! Wherefirst I saw the light of day.

And

out an

after a

solemn reflection on

"numbered with forgotten dead,"

his being

there

is

the

following stanza:

my lines protract my fame. And those, who chance to read them,

Unless

bias to the side of set

expressed

129

truth, after

a serious consideration of the question. Grotius was an acute man, a lawyer, a man accustomed to examine evidence, and he was convinced. Grotius was not a recluse, but a man of the world,

JOHNSON

infidel,

I knew him! Derrick was

to be a very firm believer."

cry,

his name,

Inyonder tomb his ashes

lie.

He this evening again recommended to me to perambulate Spain. ^ I said it would amuse him to get a letter from me dated at Salamancha. Johnson. "I love the University of Salamancha; for when the Spaniards were in doubt as to the lawfulness of their conquering America, the University of Salamancha gave it as their opinion that it was not lawful." He spoke this with great emotion, and with that generous warmth which dictated the lines in his London, against Spanish encroachment. ^ I fully intended to have followed advice of such weight; but having staid much longer both in Germany and Italy than I proposed to do, and having

also visited Corsica,

the time allowed to France in

I

found that

me by my

my way

I

father,

homewards.

had exceeded and hastened

Which was thus happily parodied by Mr. John Home, to whom we owe the beautiful and pathetick tragedy of Douglas: Unless

my deeds protract my fame,

And he who

passes sadly sings, I knew him! Derrick was his name. On yonder tree his carcase swings I doubt much whether the amiable and ingenious authour of these burlesque lines wfll recollect them, for they were produced extempore one evening while he and I were walking to-

Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd [Aug. 27, 1773]. ^Ibid., p. 142 [242, Sept. 22, 1773]. "^

edit., p.

104

BOSWELL

I30

gether in the dining-room at Eglintoune Castle, in 760, and I have never mentioned them to 1

him since. Johnson said once to me,

"Sir, I

rick for his presence of mind.

One

honour Dernight,

when

another poor authour, v^as wandering about the streets in the night, he found Derrick fast asleep upon a bulk; upon being suddenly waked. Derrick started up, 'My dear Floyd, I Floyd,

^

am

sorry to see you in this destitute state; will " you go home with me to my lodgings?' I again begged his advice as to my method of

study at Utrecht. "Come, (said he) let us make a day of it. Let us go down to Greenwich and dine, and talk of it there." The following Satur-

day was fixed for this excursion. As we walked along the Strand to-night, arm in arm, a woman of the town accosted us, in the usual enticing manner. "No, no, my girl, (said Johnson) it won't do." He, however, did not treat her with harshness, and we talked of the wretched life of such women; and agreed, that much more misery than happiness, upon the whole, is produced by illicit commerce between the sexes.

On Saturday, July 30, Dr. Johnson and I took a sculler at the Temple -stairs, and set out for Greenwich. I asked him if he really thought a knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages an essential requisite to a good education. John"Most certainly, Sir; for those who know them have a very great advantage over those who do not. Nay, Sir, it is wonderful what a difference learning makes upon people even in

son.

common intercourse of life, which does not appear to be much connected with it." "And yet, (said I) people go through the world very the

and carry on the business of life to good advantage, without learning." Johnson. "Why, Sir, that may be true in cases where learning cannot possibly be of any use; for instance, this boy rows us as well without learning, as if he could sing the song of Orpheus to the Argonauts, who were the first sailors." He then called well,

"What would you know about the Argonauts?"

to the boy,

boy,)

I

would give what

I

give,

"Sir,

my

lad, to

(said the

have." Johnson was

side of the river. 1 talked of preaching, and of the great success which those called Methodists'^ have. Johnson. "Sir, it is owing to their expressing themselves in a plain and familiar manner, which is the only way to do good to the common people, and which clergymen of genius and learning ought to do from a principle of duty, when it is suited to their congregations; a practice, for which they will be praised by men of sense. To insist

against drunkenness as a crime, because it debases reason, the noblest faculty of man, would

be of no service to the common people: but to them that they may die in a fit of drunken2 All who are acquainted with the history of religion, (the most important, surely, that concerns the human mind,) know that the appellation of Methodists was first given to a society of students in the University of Oxford, who about the year 730 were distinguished by an earnest and methodical attention to devout exercises. This disposition of mind is not a novelty, or peculiar to any sect, but has been, and still may be found, in many Christians of every denomination. Johnson himself was, in a dignified manner, a Methodist. In his Rambler, No. no, he mentions with respect "the whole discitell

1

pline of regulated piety"; and in his Prayers and Meditations, many instances occur of his anxious examination into his spiritual state. That this rehgious earnestness, and in particular an observation of the influence of the Holy Spirit, has sometimes degenerated into folly, and sometimes been counterfeited for base purposes, cannot be denied. But it is not, therefore, fair to decry it when genuine. The principal argument in reason and good sense against methodism is, that it tends to debase human nature, and prevent the generous exertions of goodness, by an unworthy supposition that God will pay no regard to them; although it is positively said in the Scriptures that He "will reward every happy to according to his works." But I power to do justice to those have it [in] it is the fashion to ridicule, without any knowledge of their tenets; and this I can do by quoting a passage from one of their best apologists, Mr. Milner, who thus expresses their doctrine upon this subject. "Justified by faith, renewed in his faculties, and constrained by the love of Christ, their be-

am

man

liever

and

a double fare. Dr. Johnson then turning to me, "Sir, (said he) a desire of knowledge is the natural feeling of mankind; and every human being, whose mind is not debauched, will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge." We landed at the Old Swan, and walked to

ciple.

an account of eminent

writers, in three vols., 8vo.

whom

my

much pleased with his answer, and we gave him

^He published a biographical work, containing

[1763

where we took oars, and moved smoothly along the silver Thames. It was a very fine day. We were entertained with the immense number and variety of ships that were lying at anchor, and with the beautiful country on each Billingsgate,

and gratitude, or less from this printhough they are accumulating for him in

moves

in the sphere of love

all his duties

And

flow

more

heaven a treasure of bliss proportioned to his faithfulness and activity, and it is by no means inconsistent with his principles tojeel the force of this consideration, yet love itself sweetens every duty to his mind; and he thinks there is no absurdity in his feeling the love of God as the grand commanding principle of his

Essays on several Religious Subjects, &c., by Joseph Milner, A.M., Master of the Grammar School

life."

of Kingston-upon-Hull, 1789, p. 11.

LIFE OF

1763] ness,

and shew them how dreadful

that

would

cannot fail to make a deep impression. Sir, when your Scotch clergy give up their homely manner, religion will soon decay in that country." Let this observation, as Johnson meant it, be ever remembered. I was much pleased to find myself with Johnson at Greenwich, which he celebrates in his London as a favourite scene. I had the poem in my pocket, and read the lines aloud with enbe,

Where Greenwich smiles upon

We kneel,

to

and kiss

the consecrated earth.

of Greenwich was too magnificent for a place of chcir-

and that

make one

its

parts were too

much detached

great whole.

Buchanan, he

said,

was a very

fine poet;

and

observed, that he was the first who complimented a lady, by ascribing to her the different perfections of the heathen goddesses;^ but that this, by making his same time, free from their defects. He dwelt upon Buchanan's elegant verses to Mary Queen of Scots, Nympha Caledonice, &c., and spoke with enthusiasm of the beauty of Latin verse. "All the modern languages (said

Johnston improved upon lady, at the

he) cannot furnish so melodious a line as

Formosam

resonare doces Amarillida silvas"

Afterwards he entered upon the business of me his advice as to a course of study. And here I am to mention with much regret, that my record of what he said is miserably scanty. I recollect with admiration an animating blaze of eloquence, which rouzed every intellectual power in me to the highest pitch, but must have dazzled me so much, that my memory could not preserve the substance of his discourse; for the note which I find of it is no more than this: "He ran over the grand scale of human knowledge; advised me to select some particular branch to excel in, but to acquire a little of every kind." The defect of my minutes will be fully supplied by a long letter upon the subject which he favoured me with, after I had been some time at Utrecht, and which my readers will have the pleasure to peruse in its proper place. We walked in the evening in Greenwich Pzirk. He asked me, I suppose, by way of trying my disposition, "Is not this very fine?" Having no the day, which wcis to give

—

1 Epigram, [M.]

1

Book

ii,

am

be very well; but, for

We

birth.

He remarked that the structure ity,

Johnson. "You are right. Sir." aware that many of my readers may censure my want of taste. Let me, however, shelter myself under the authority of a very fashionable Baronet^ in the brilliant world, who, on his attention being called to the fragrance of a May evening in the country, observed, "This Fleet-street."

the silverflood:

Eliza

and

being more delighted with "the busy hum of men," I answered, "Yes, Sir; -but not equal to

my part,

I

prefer the

smell of a flambeau at the playhouse."

On Thames' 5 hanks in silent thought we stood: Pleased with the seat which gave

131

exquisite relish of the beauties of Nature,

may

thusiasm:

hospital

JOHNSON

"In Elizabeth. Anglise Reg."

staid so long at

Greenwich, that our

sail

up the river, in our return to London, was by no means so pleasant as in the morning; for the night air was so cold that it made me shiver. I was the more sensible of it from having sat up all the night before, recollecting and writing in my journal what I thought worthy of preservation; an exertion, which, during the first part

my

of

acquaintance with Johnson,

I

frequently

made. I remember having sat up four nights in one week, without being much incommoded in the day time. Johnson, whose robust frame was not in the least affected by the cold, scolded me, as if my shivering had been a paltry effeminacy, saying, "Why do you shiver?" Sir William Scott, of the Commons, told me, that when he complained of a head-ache in the post-chaise, as they were travelling together to Scotland, Johnson treated him in the same manner: "At your age. Sir, I had no headache." It is not easy to make allowance for sensations in others, which we ourselves have not at the time. We must all have experienced how very differently we are affected by the complaints of our neighbours, well

and when we are

ill.

In

when we are we can

full health,

much; so faint upon our imagination: when

scarcely believe that they suffer is

the image of pain

softened by sickness, we readily sympathize with the sufferings of others. concluded the day at the Turk's Head coffee-house very socially. He was pleased to

We

a particular account which I gave him and of its hereditary estate, as to the extent and population of which he asked listen to

of

my family,

questions,

and made

calculations;

recommend-

2 My friend Sir Michael Le Fleming. This gentleman, with all his experience of sprightly and elegant life, inherits, with the beautiful family Domain, no inconsiderable share of that love of literature, which distinguished his venerable grandfather, the Bishop of Carlisle. He one day observed to me, of Dr. Johnson, in a feHcity of phrase, "There is a blunt dignity about him on every oc-

casion."

BOSWELL

132 ing, at the

same

time, a liberal kindness to the

tenantry, as people over

whom

the proprietor

was placed by Providence. He took delight hearing

my

my

in

description of the romantick seat of

ancestors. "I

must be

there, Sir, (said he)

and we will live in the old castle; and if there is not a room in it remaining, we will build one." I was highly flattered, but could scarcely indulge a hope that Auchinleck would indeed be honoured by his presence, and celebrated by a description, as it afterwards was, in his Journey to the

Western Islands.

After

we had again

for Holland,

England;

he

I will

said,

social

evening at the Turk's

before

talked of my setting out "I must see thee out of

misfortune, before

accompany you

to Harwich."

could not find words to express what I felt upon this unexpected and very great mark of his affectionate regard.

Next day, Sunday, July 31, I told him I had been that morning at a meeting of the people called Quakers, where I had heard a woman preach. Johnson. "Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hinder legs. It is not done well; but you are surprized to find it done at all." On Tuesday, August 2 (the day of my departure from London having been fixed for the 5th,) Dr. Johnson did me the honour to pass a part of the morning with me at my Chambers. He said, that "he always felt an inclination to do nothing." I observed, that it was strange to think that the most indolent man in Britain had written the most laborious work, The English Dictionary.

mentioned an imprudent publication, by a

certain friend of his, at an early period of

life,

and asked him if he thought it would hurt him. Johnson. "No, Sir; not much. It may, perhaps, be mentioned at an election." I had now made good my title to be a privileged man, and was carried by him in the evening to drink tea with Miss Williams, whom, though under the misfortune of having lost her sight, I found to be agreeable in conversation; for she had a variety of literature, and expressed herself well; but her peculiar value was the intimacy in which she had long lived with Johnson, by which she was well acquainted with his habits, and knew how to lead him on to talk. After tea he carried me to what he called his walk, which was a long narrow paved court in the neighbourhood, over-shadowed by some trees. There we sauntered a considerable time; and I complained to him that my love of London and of his company was such, that I shrunk almost from the thought of going away, even to

mon

it

Head

coffee-house,

my setting out for foreign parts. I had the was

in

we

parted, to irritate

him

mentioned to him how comthe world to tell absurd stories of

unintentionally.

I

I

[1763

which is generally so much desired by young men. He roused me by manly and spirited conversation. He advised me, when settled in any place abroad, to study with an eagerness after knowledge, and to apply to Greek an hour every day; and when I was moving about, to read diligently the great book of mankind. On Wednesday, August 3, we had our last travel,

I

him, and to ascribe to him very strange sayings. Johnson. "What do they make me say. Sir?" BosvvELL. "Why, Sir, as an instance very strange indeed, (laughing heartily as I spoke,) David Hume told me, you said that you would stand before a battery of cannon, to restore the Convocation to its full powers." Little did I apprehend that he had actually said this: but I was soon convinced of my errour; for, with a determined look, he thundered out "And would I not. Sir? Shall the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland have its General Assembly, and the Church of England be denied its Convocation?" He was walking up and down the room while I told him the anecdote; but when he uttered this explosion of high-church zeal, he had come close to my chair, and his eyes flashed with indignation. I bowed to the storm, and diverted the force of it, by leading him to expatiate on the influence which religion derived from maintaining the church with great external respectability. I must not omit to mention that he this year wrote The Lije oj Ascham,\ and the Dedication to the Earl of Shaftesbury, f prefixed to the edition of that writer's English works, published by Mr. Rennet. On Friday, August 5, we set out early in the morning in the Harwich stage coach. A fat elderly gentlewoman, and a young Dutchman, seemed the most inclined among us to conversation. At the inn where we dined, the gentlewoman said that she had done her best to educate her children; and particularly, that she had never suffered them to be a moment idle. Johnson. "I wish, madam, you would educate me too; for I have been an idle fellow all my life." "I am sure. Sir, (said she) you have not been idle." Johnson. "Nay, Madam, it is very true; and that gentleman there (pointing to me,) has been idle. He was idle at Edinburgh. His father sent him to Glasgow, where he continued to be idle. He then came to London, where he has been very idle; and now he is going to Utrecht,

LIFE OF

1763]

JOHNSON

133

mend

be as idle as ever." I asked him privately how he could expose me so. Johnson. "Poh, poh! (said he) they knew nothing about you, and will think of it no more." In the after-

himself to us by expatiating on the superiority of the criminal jurisprudence of this country over that of Holland, he inveighed against the barbarity of putting an accused person to

noon the gentlewoman talked violently against the Roman Catholicks, and of the horrours of the

Johnson was

where he

will

Inquisition. To the utter astonishment of all the passengers but myself, who knew that he could talk upon any side of a question, he defended

the Inquisition, and maintained, that "false doctrine should be checked on its first appearance; that the civil power should unite with the

church in punishing those who dared to attack the established religion, and that such only were punished by the Inquisition." He had in his pocket Pomponius Mela de situ Orbis, in which he read occasionally, and seemed very intent upon ancient geography. Though by no means niggardly, his attention to

was

what was generally right

so minute, that having observed at one of

I ostentatiously gave a shilling to the coachman, when the custom was for each passenger to give only six-pence, he took me aside and scolded me, saying that what I had

the stages that

done would make the coachman with

all

the rest of the passengers,

dissatisfied

who gave him

no more than his due. This was a just reprimand; whatever way a man may indulge his generosity or his vanity in spending his money, for the sake of others he ought not to raise the price of any article for which there is a constant demand. He talked of Mr. Blacklock's poetry, so far as it was descriptive of visible objects; and observed, that "as its authour had the misfortune for in

to be blind,

we may be

absolutely sure that such

passages are combinations of

membered could

see.

what he has

of the works of other writers

That

re-

who

foolish fellow, Spence, has la-

boured to explain philosophically how Blacklock may have done, by means of his own faculties, what it is impossible he should do. The solution, as I have given it, is plain. Suppose, I know a man to be so lame that he is absolutely incapable to move himself, and I find him in a different room from that in which I left him; shall I puzzle myself with idle conjectures, that, perhaps, his nerves have by some unknown change all at once become effective? No, Sir; it is clear how he got into a different room: he was carried."

Having stopped a night at Colchester, Johnson talked of that town with veneration, for having stood a siege for Charles the First. The Dutchman alone now remained with us. He spoke English tolerably well; and thinking to recom-

the torture, in order to force a confession. But as ready for this, as for the Inquisition.

"Why,

Sir,

the law of your

Holland

you do

own

not, I find, understand

country.

The

torture in

considered as a favour to an accused person; for no man is put to the torture there, unless there is as much evidence against him as would amount to conviction in England. An accused person among you, therefore, has one chance more to escape punishment, than those

who are

is

tried

At supper

among us."

he talked of good eating with uncommon satisfaction. "Some people (said he,) have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind my belly very studiously, and very carefully; for I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly will hardly mind anything else." He now appeared to me Jean Bull philosophe, and he was, for the moment, not only serious but vehement. Yet I have heard him, upon other occasions, talk with great contempt of people who were anxious to gratify their palates; and the 206th number of his Rambler is a masterly essay against gulosity. His practice, indeed, I must acknowledge, may be considered as casting the balance of his different opinions upon this subject; for I never knew any man who relished good eating more than he did. When at table, he was totally absorbed in the business of this night

moment; his looks seemed ri vetted to his would he, unless when in very high company, say one word, or even pay the least attention to what was said by others, till he had satisfied his appetite, which was so fierce, and the

plate; nor

indulged with such intenseness, that while in the act of eating, the veins of his forehead swelled, and generally a strong perspiration was visible.

To

those whose sensations were delicate,

could not but be disgusting; and it was doubtless not very suitable to the character of a philosopher, who should be distinguished by self-command. But it must be owned, that Johnson, though he could be rigidly abstemious, was not a temperate man either in eating or drinking. He could refrain, but he could not use miOderately. He told me, that he had fasted two days without inconvenience, and that he had never been hungry but once. They who beheld with wonder how much he eat upon all occasions when his dinner was to his taste, could not easily conceive what he must have meant by hunger; and this

134

BOSWELL

not only was he remarkable for the extraordinary quantity which he eat, but he was, or affected to be, a man of very nice discernment in the science of cookery. He used to descant critically on the dishes which had been at table where he had dined or supped, and to recollect very minutely what he had liked. I remember, when he was in Scotland, his praising ''''Gordon's palates,''' (a dish of palates at the Honourable Alexander Gordon's) with a warmth of expression which might have done honour to more important subjects. "As for Maclaurin's imitation of a made dish, it was a wretched attempt." He about the same time was so much displeased with the performances of a nobleman's French cook, that he exclaimed with vehemence, "I'd throw such a rascal into the river"; and he then proceeded to alarm a lady at whose house he was to sup, by the following manifesto of his skill: "I, Madam, who live at a variety of good tables, am a much better judge of cookery, than any person who has a very tolerable cook, but lives much at home; for his palate is gradually adapted to the taste of his cook; whereas. Madam, in trying by a wider range, I can more exquisitely judge." When invited to dine, even with an intimate friend, he was not pleased if something better than a plain dinner was not prepared for him. I have heard him say on such an occasion, "This was a good dinner enough, to be sure; but it was not a dinner to ask a man to." On the other hand, he was wont to express, with great glee, his satisfaction when he had been entertained quite to his mind. One day when we had dined with his neighbour and landlord in Bolt-court, Mr. Allen, the printer, whose old housekeeper had studied his taste in every thing, he pronounced this eulogy: "Sir, we could not have had a better dinner had there

been a Synod of Cooks.'' While we were left by ourselves, after the Dutchman had gone to bed. Dr. Johnson talked of that studied behaviour which many have recommended and practised. He disapproved of it; and said, "I never considered whether I should be a grave man, or a merry man, but just let inclination, for the time, have its course." He flattered me with some hopes that he would, in the course of the following summer, come over to Holland, and accompany me in a tour through the Netherlands. I teized him with fanciful apprehensions of unhappiness. A moth having fluttered round the candle, and burnt itself, he laid hold of this little incident to admonish me; saying, with a sly look, and in a solemn but quiet tone, "That

[1763

creature was its

its

own

tormentor, and

I

believe

name was Boswell." Next day we got to Harwich

to dinner; and passage in the packet-boat to Helvoetsluys being secured, and my baggage put on board, we dined at our inn by ourselves. I happened to say it would be terrible if he should not find a speedy opportunity of returning to London, and be confined to so dull a place. Johnson. "Don't, Sir, accustom yourself to use big words for little matters. It would not be terrible, though I were to be detained some time here." The practice of using words of disproportionate magnitude, is, no doubt, too frequent every where; but, I think,

my

most remarkable among the French, of which, all who have travelled in France must have been stuck with innumerable instances. We went and looked at the church, and having gone into it and walked up to the altar, Johnson, whose piety was constant and fervent, sent me to my knees, saying, "Now that you are going to leave your native country, recommend yourself to the protection of your Creator and

Redeemer." After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, "I refute it thus." This was a stout exemplification of the first truths of ley's

Pere Bouffier, or the original principles of

of Beattie; without admitting which,

Reid and

we can no

in metaphysicks, than we can argue mathematicks without axioms. To me it is not conceivable how Berkeley can be answered by pure reasoning; but I know that the nice and difficult task was to have been undertaken by one of the most luminous minds of the present age, had not politicks "turned him from calm philosophy aside." What an admirable display of subtilty, united with brilliance, might his contending with Berkeley have afforded us! How must we, when we reflect on the loss of such an intellectual feast, regret that he should be characterised as the man.

more argue

in

Who bornJar the universe narrow' d his mind. And to party gave up what was meantfor mankind?

My

revered friend walked

the beach, where tenderness,

down with me

to

we embraced and parted with

and engaged

to correspond

by

let-

LIFE OF

1763]

"I hope, Sir, you will not forget me in my absence." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, it is more likely you should forget me, than that I should forget you." As the vessel put out to sea, I kept my eyes upon him for a considerable time, while he remained rolling his majestick frame in his usual manner: and at last I perceived him walk back into the town, and he disappeared. Utrecht seeming at first very dull to me, after ters. I said,

my spirits were wrote to Johnson a plaintive and desponding letter, to which he paid no regard. Afteirwards, when I had acquired a firmer tone of mind, I wrote him a second letter, expressing much anxiety to hear from him. At length I received the following epistle, which was of important service to me, and, I trust, will be so to many others. the animated scenes of London,

grievously affected;

and

I

A Mr. Mr.

Boswell, a la Cour de l'Empereur, Utrecht

Dear Sir, You are not to think yourself forgotten, or criminally neglected, that you have had yet no letter from me. I love to see friends, to hear from them, to talk to them, and to talk of them; but it is not without a considerable effort of resolution that I prevail upon myself to write. I would not, however, gratify

my

my

own indolence by the omission of any important duty, or any office of real kindness. To teU you that I am or am not well, that I have or have not been in the country, that I drank your health in the room in which we sat last together, and that your acquaintance continue to speak of you with their former kindness, topicks with which those letters are commonly filled which are written only for the sake of writing, I seldom shall think worth communicating;

but

if I

can have

it

in

my

power

to

calm any

harassing disquiet, to excite any virtuous desire, to rectify any important opinion, or fortify any generous resolution, you need not doubt but I shall at least wish to prefer the pleasure of gratifying a friend much less esteemed than yourself, before the gloomy calm of idle vacancy. Whether I shall easily arrive at an exact punctuality of correspondence, I cannot tell. I shall, at present, expect that you will receive this in return for two which I have had from you. The first, indeed, gave me an account so hopeless of the state of your mind, that it hardly admitted or deserved an answer; by the second I was much better pleased: and the pleasure will still be increased by such a narrative of the progress of your studies, as may evince the continuance of an equal and rational application of your mind to some useful enquiry. You will, perhaps, wish to ask, what study I would recommend. I shaU not speak of theology, because it ought not to be considered as a

JOHNSON

135

question whether you shall endeavour to the will of

know

God.

therefore, consider only such studies as we are at liberty to pursue or to neglect; and of these I know not how you will make a better choice, than by studying the civil law, as your father advises, and the ancient languages,as you I shall

had determined

for yourself; at least resolve,

while you remain in any settled residence, to spend a certain number of hours every day amongst your books. The dissipation of thought, of which you complain, is nothing more than the vacillation of a mind suspended between different motives, and changing its direction as any motive gains or loses strength. If you can but kindle in your mind any strong desire, if you can but keep predominant any wish for some particular excellence or attainment, the gusts of imagination will break away, without any effect upon your conduct, and commonly without any traces left upon the memory. There lurks, perhaps, in every human heart a desire of distinction, which inclines every man first to hope, and then to believe, that Nature has given him something peculiar to himself. This vanity makes one mind nurse aversion, and another actuate desires, till they rise by art

much above their original state of power; and as improves to habit, they at tyrannise over him who at first encouraged them only for show. Every desire is a viper in the bosom, who, while he was chill, was harmless; but when warmth gave him strength, exerted it in poison. You know a gentleman, who, when first he set his foot in the gay world, as he prepared himself to whirl in the vortex of pleasure, imagined a total indifference and universal negligence to be the most agreeable concomitants of youth, and the strongest indication of an airy temper and a quick apprehension. Vacant to every object, and sensible of every impulse, he thought that all appearance of diligence would deduct something from the reputation of genius; and hoped that he should appear to attain, amidst all the ease of carelessness, and all the tumult of diversion, that knowledge and those accomplishments which mortals of the common fabrick obtain only by mute abstraction and solitary drudgery. He tried this scheme of life awhile, was made weary of it by his sense and his virtue; he then wished to return to his studies; and finding long habits of idleness and pleasure harder to be cured than he expected, still willing to retain his claim to some extraordinary prerogatives, resolved the common consequences of irregularity into an unalterable decree of destiny, and concluded that Nature had originally formed him incapable of rational emaffectation, in time, last

ployment. Let all such fancies, illusive and destructive, be banished henceforward from your thoughts for ever. Resolve, and keep your resolution;

—

BOSWELL

136

and pursue your choice. If you spend this day in study, you will find yourself still more able to study to-morrow; not that you are to expect that you shall at once obtain a complete

choose,

Depravity is not very easily overcome. Resolution will sometimes relax, and diligence will sometimes be interrupted; but let no accidental surprize or deviation, whether short or long, dispose you to despondency. Consider these failings as incident to all mankind. Begin again where you left off, and endeavour to avoid the seducements that prevailed over you before. This, my dear Boswell, is advice which, perhaps, has been often given you, and given you without effect. But this advice, if you will not take from others, you must take from your own victory.

you purpose to do the duties of the which the bounty of Providence has

reflections, if

station to

called you.

me have

Let

you can.

a long letter from you as soon as hope you continue your journal, and

I

it with many observations upon the counwhich you reside. It will be a favour if you can get me any books in the Frisick language, and can enquire how the poor are maintained in the Seven Provinces. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate servant, Sam. Johnson London, Dec. 8, 1 763

enrich try in

I am sorry to observe, that neither in my own minutes, nor in my letters to Johnson, which have been preserved by him, can I find any in-

how the poor are maintained in the Seven Provinces. But I shall extract from one of my letters what I learnt concerning the other

formation

subject of his curiosity.

"I have

made

all

possible enquiry with re-

spect to the Frisick language,

and

find that

it

has been less cultivated than any other of the northern dialects; a certain proof of which is their deficiency of books. Of the old Frisick there

some ancient laws preserved by Schotanus in his Beschryvinge van die are no remains, except

Heerlykheid van Friesland;

and

his Historia Frisica.

have not yet been able to find these books. Professor Trotz, who formerly was of the UniI

versity of

Vranyken

in Friesland,

ent preparing an edition of

gave

me

this

information.

all

Of

and

is

at pres-

the Frisick laws, the

modern

Fris-

what is spoken by the boors at this day, have procured a specimen. It is Gisbert Japix's Rymelerie, which is the only book that they have. It is amazing, that they have no translation of the Bible, no treatises of devotion, nor even any of the ballads and storybooks which are so agreeable to country people. You shall have Japix by the first convenient opportunity. I doubt not to pick up Schotanus. Mynheer Trotz has promised ick, or I

me his assistance."

[1764

Early in 1764 Johnson 1764: ^TAT. 55.] paid a visit to the Langton family, at their seat of Langton, in Lincolnshire,

some time, much

where he passed

to his satisfaction. His friend

Bennet Langton,

it will not be doubted, did every thing in his power to make the place agreeable to so illustrious a guest; and the elder Mr. Langton and his lady, being fully capable of understanding his value, were not wanting in attention. He, however, told me, that old Mr. Langton, though a man of considerable learning, had so little allowance to make for his occasional "laxity of talk," that because in the course of discussion he sometimes mentioned what might be said in favour of the peculiar tenets of the Romish church, he went to his grave believing him to be of that communion. Johnson, during his stay at Langton, had the advantage of a good library, and saw several gentlemen of the neighbourhood. I have obtained from Mr. Langton the following particu-

lars of this period.

He was now fully convinced that he could

not with a country living; for, talking of a respectable clergyman in Lincolnshire, he observed, "This man, Sir, fills up the duties of his life well. I approve of him, but could not imitate him." To a lady who endeavoured to vindicate her-

have been

satisfied

from blame for neglecting social attention worthy neighbours, by saying, "I would go to them if it would do them any good," he said, "What good. Madam, do you expect to have in your power to do them? It is shewing them respect, and that is doing them good." So socially accommodating was he, that once when Mr. Langton and he were driving together in a coach, and Mr. Langton complained of being sick, he insisted that they should go out and sit on the back of it in the open air, which they self

to

And being sensible how strange the appearance must be, observed, that a countryman whom they saw in a field, would probably be thinking, "If these two madmen should come did.

down, what would become of me?" Soon after his return to London, which was in February, was founded that Club which existed long without a name, but at Mr. Garrick's funeral became distinguished by the title of The Literary Club. Sir Joshua Reynolds had the merit of being the first proposer of it, to which Johnson acceded, and the original members were. Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr. Johnson, Mr. Edmund Burke, Dr. Nugent, Mr. Beauclerk, Mr. Langton, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. Chamier, and Sir John Hawkins. They met at the Turks'

— LIFE OF

1764]

Head, in Gerrard-street, Soho, one evening in every week, at seven, and generally continued till a pretty late hour. This club has been gradually increased to its present number, thirty-five. After about ten years, instead of supping w^eekly, it was resolved to dine together once a fortnight during the meeting of Parliament. Their original tavern having been converted into a private house, they moved first to Prince's in Sackville-street, then to Le Teller's

their conversation

and now meet at Parsloe's, St. Between the time of its formation, and the time at which this work is passing through the press, (June 1792,)^ the following persons, now dead, were members of it: Mr. Dunning; (afterwards Lord Ashburton); Mr. Samuel Dyer; Mr. Garrick; Dr. Shipley, Bishop of St. Asaph; Mr. Vesey; Mr. Thomas Warton and Dr. Adam Smith. The present members are: Mr. Burke; Mr. Langton; Lord Charlemont; Sir Robert Chambers; Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore; Dr. Barnard, Bishop of Killaloe; Dr. Marlay, Bishop of Clonfert; Mr. Fox; Dr. George Fordyce; Sir William Scott; Sir Joseph Banks; Sir Charles Bunbury; Mr. Windham of Norfolk; Mr. Sheridan; Mr. Gibbon; Sir William Jones; Mr. Colman; Mr. Steevens; Dr. Burney; Dr. Joseph Warton; Mr. Malone; Lord Ossory; Lord Spencer; Lord Lucan; Lord Palmerston; Lord Eliot; Lord Macartney; Mr. Richard Burke, junior; Sir William Hamilton; Dr. Warren; Mr. Courtenay; Dr. Hinchcliffe,

in Dover-street, James's-street.

Bishop of Peterborough; the Duke of Leeds; Dr. Douglas, Bishop of Salisbury; and the v«riter of this account. Sir John Hawkins ^ represents himself as a "seceder"

from

this society,

and

assigns as the

reason of his "withdrawing''' himself from it, that its late hours were inconsistent with his domestick arrangements. In this he is not accurate; for the fact was, that he one evening attacked Mr. Burke, in so rude a manner, that all the

company testified

their displeasure;

and at their

next meeting his reception was such, that he never came again.^ He is equally inaccurate with respect to Mr. Garrick, of whom he says, "he trusted that the least intimation of a desire to come among us, would procure him a ready admission; but in this he was mistaken. Johnson consulted me upon it; and when I could find no objection to receiving him, exclaimed, 'He will disturb us by his buff"oonery'; and afterwards so man-

—

—

JOHNSON

137

aged matters that he was never formally proposed, and, by consequence, never admitted."* In justice both to Mr. Garrick and Dr. Johnson,

I

think

it

necessary to rectify this mis-state-

ment. The truth is, that not very long after the institution of our club, Sir Joshua Reynolds was speaking of it to Garrick. "I like it much, (said he,) I think I shall be of you." When Sir Joshua mentioned this to Dr. Johnson, he was much displeased with the actor's conceit. "He'll be of us, (said Johnson) how does he know we will permit him? The first Duke in England has no right to hold such language." However, when Garrick was regularly proposed some time afterwards, Johnson, though he had taken a mo-

mentary offence at his arrogance, warmly and kindly supported him, and he was accordingly elected, was a most agreeable member, and continued to attend our meetings to the time of his death. Mrs. Piozzi^ has also given a similar misrepresentation of Johnson's treatment of Garrick in this particular, as if he had used these contemptuous expressions: "If Garrick does apply, I'll black-ball him. Surely, one ought to

in

sit

a

society like ours,

Unelbow'd by a gamester, pimp, or player" I

am happy to be enabled by such unquestion-

able authority as that of Sir Joshua Reynolds, as well as from my own knowledge, to vindicate at once the heart of Johnson it

and the

social

mer-

of Garrick.

In this year, except what he may have done we do not find that he laboured much in literature. He wrote a review of Grainger's Sugar Cane, a Poem, in the London Chronicle. He told me, that Dr. Percy wrote the greatest part of this review; but, I imagine, he did not recollect it distinctly, for it appears to be mostly, if not altogether, his own. He also wrote in The Critical Review, an account f of Goldsmith's excellent poem, The Traveller. The ease and independence to which he had at last attained by royal munificence, increased his natural indolence. In his Meditations he thus "Good Friday, April 20, accuses himself: I have made no reformation; I have 1764. lived totally useless, more sensual in thought, and more addicted to wine and meat."® And next morning he thus feelingly complains: "My indolence, since my last reception of the in revising Shakspeare,

—

—

'^Life of

The second

edition is here spoken of. [M.] ^Life of Johnson, p. 425. ^

3

From

Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Johnson, p. 425. and from Dr. Johnson. Vol.

^Letters to

1387]. ^Prayers and Meditations, p. 50.

ii,

p.

278

I

BOSWELL

138

sacrament, has sunk into grosser sluggishness, and my dissipation spread into wilder negligence. My thoughts have been clouded with sensuality; and, except that from the beginning of this year I have, in some measure, forborne excess of strong drink, my appetites have predominated over my reason. A kind of strange oblivion has overspread me, so that I know not what has become of the last year; and perceive that incidents and intelligence pass over me, without leaving any impression." He then solemnly says, "This is not the life to which heaven and he earnestly resolves an is promised";^

amendment. It was his custom

viz.

New-year's-day, the

day of his wife's death, Good Friday, Easter-day, and his own birth-day. He this year says:-" have now spent fifty-five years in resolving; havfrom the earliest time almost that I can remember, been forming schemes of a better life. I have done nothing. The need of doing, therefore, is pressing, since the time of doing is ing,

O

to keep

God, grant me

my resolutions,

to resolve aright,

and

for Jesus Christ's sake.

Amen." 2 Such a tenderness of conscience, such a fervent desire of is,

improvement,

surely, not

will rarely

decent in those

who

be found.

It

are hardened

improvement, to treat with contempt. About this time he was afflicted with a very severe return of the hypochondriack disorder, which was ever lurking about him. He was so ill, as, notwithstanding his remarkable love of company, to be entirely averse to society, the most fatal symptom of that malady. Dr. Adams told me, that as an old friend he was admitted to visit him, and that he found him in a deplorin indifference to spiritual

this pious anxiety of Johnson

able state, sighing, groaning, talking to himself, restlessly walking from room to room. He then used this emphatical expression of the misery which he felt: "I would consent to have a limb amputated to recover my spirits." Talking to himself was, indeed, one of his singularities ever since I knew him. I was certain that he was frequently uttering pious ejaculations; for fragments of the Lord's Prayer have been distinctly overheard. His friend Mr. Thomas Davies, of whom Churchill says,

and

That Davies hath a

very pretty wife,

when

Dr. Johnson muttered "lead us not into temptation," used with waggish and gallant hu'^

Prayers and Meditations, p. 51.

^Ibid., p. 58.

[1764 to whisf)er Mrs. Davies,

"You,

my

dear,

are the cause of this."

He had

another particularity, of which none an explanation. It appeared to me some superstitious habit, which he had contracted early, and from which he had never called upon his reason to disentangle him. This was his anxious care to go out or in at a door or passage by a certain number of steps from a certain point, or at least so as that either his right or his left foot, (I am not certain which,) should constantly make the first actual movement when he came close to the door of his friends ever ventured to ask

or passage. to observe certain days with

a pious abstraction;

short.

mour

Thus

I

conjecture: for

I

have,

upon

innumerable occasions, observed him suddenly stop, and then seem to count his steps with a deep earnestness; and when he had neglected or gone wrong in this sort of magical movement, I have seen him go back again, put himself in a proper posture to begin the ceremony, and, having gone through it, break from his abstraction, walk briskly on, and join his companion. A strange instance of something of this nature, even when on horseback, happened when he was in the isle of Sky.^ Sir Joshua Reynolds has observed him to go a good way about, rather than cross a particular alley in Leicester-fields; but this Sir Joshua imputed to his having had some disagreeable recollection associated with it. That the most minute singularities which belonged to him, and made very observable parts of his appearance and manner, may not be omitted, it is requisite to mention, that while talking or even musing as he sat in his chair, he commonly held his head to one side towards his right shoulder, and shook it in a tremulous manner, moving his body backwards and forwards, and rubbing his left knee in the same direction, with the palm of his hand. In the intervals of articulating he made various sounds with his mouth, sometinies as

if

ruminating, or what

is

called

chewing the cud, sometimes giving a half whistle, sometimes making his tongue play backwards from the roof of his mouth, as if clucking like a hen, and sometimes protruding it against his upper gums in front, as if pronouncing quickly under his breath, too, too, too: all this accompanied sometimes with a thoughtful look, but more frequently with a smile. Generally when he had concluded a period, in the course of a dispute, by which time he was a good deal exhausted by violence and vociferation, he used to blow out his breath like a Whale. This I supposed was a relief to his lungs; and seemed in him to be a contemptuous mode of expression, as if he had ^ Journal

oj a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. 316.

—

.

LIFE OF

1765]

made

the arguments of his opponent fly like chaff before the wind. I am fully aware how very obvious an occasion I here give for the sneering jocularity of such as have no relish of an exact likeness; which to render complete, he who draws it must not disdain the slightest strokes. But if witlings should be inclined to attack this account, let them have the candour to quote what I have offered in my

defence.

He was for some time in the summer at Easton Maudit, Northamptonshire, on a visit to the Reverend Dr. Percy, now Bishop of Dromore. Whatever dissatisfaction he felt at what he considered as a slow progress in intellectual improvement, we find that his heart was tender, and his affections warm, as appears from the following very kind letter:

To Joshua Reynolds, Leicester-fields,

Dear

Esq., in

London

Sir, I did not

feel, to

known

to

whom

you are known

as

you are

me.

Having had no particular account of your know not in what state it has left you. the amusement of my company can exhilar-

disorder, I If

ate the languor of a slow recovery, I will not delay a day to come to you; for I know not how I can so effectually promote my own pleasure as own interest as by preby pleasing you, or serving you, in whom, if I should lose you, I should lose almost the only man whom I call a

my

friend.

Pray let me hear of you from yourself, or from dear Miss Reynolds.^ Make my compliments to Mr. Mudge. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate

and most humble

servant,

Sam. Johnson

At the Rev. Mr.

139

and many a noble sentiment."-

tion,

eral persons got into his

company

'Sev-

the last eve-

ning at Trinity, where, about twelve, he began to be very great; stripped poor Mrs. Macaulay to the very skin, then gave her for his toast, and drank her in two bumpers."

The strictness of his self-examination and scrupulous Christian humility appear in his pious meditation on Easter-day this year. "I purpose again to partake of the blessed sacrament; yet when I consider how vainly I have hitherto resolved at this annual tion of

by

my

commemora-

my

life

almost afraid to renew

my

Saviour's death, to regulate

am

his laws, I

resolutions."

The concluding words are very remarkable, and shew that he laboured under a severe depression of spirits.

"Since the last Easter I have reformed no evil my time has been unprofitably spent, and seems as a dream that has left nothing behind. My memory grows confused, and I know not how the habit,

hear of your sickness till I heard likewise of your recovery, and therefore escaped that part of your pain, which every man

must

JOHNSON

Percy's, at Easton

Maudit, Northamptonshire, (by Casde Ashby,) Aug. 19, 1764

Early in the year 1 765 he 1 765: ^TAT. 56.] paid a short visit to the University of Cambridge, with his friend Mr. Beauclerk. There is a lively picturesque account of his behaviour on this visit, in The Gentleman's Magazine for March, 1 785, being an extract of a letter from the late Dr. John Sharp. The two following sentences are very characteristical: "He drank his large potations of tea with me, interrupted by many an indignant contradic-

days pass over me.

Good Lord

No man was more

deliver

me !"^

gratefully sensible of

any

kindness done to him than Johnson. There is a little circumstance in his diary this year, which shews him in a very amiable light.

—

"July 2. I paid Mr. Simpson ten guineas, which he had formerly lent me in my necessity and for which Tetty expressed her gratitude." "July 8. I lent Mr. Simpson ten guineas more." Here he had a pleasing opportunity of doing the same kindness to an old friend, which he had formerly received from him. Indeed his liberality as to money was very remarkable. The next

—

article in his diary

—

is,

received seventy-five pounds. Lent Mr. Davies twenty-five." Trinity College, Dublin, at this time surprised

"July

16.

I

Johnson with a spontaneous compliment of the highest academical honours, by creating him Doctor of Laws. The diploma, which is in my possession,

'^'^

int,

is

as follows:

OMNIBUS ad

quos prasentes Uteres pervener-

salutem. JVos Propositus

sacrosaTictce et

et Socii senior es Collegii

individua Trinitiatis Regime Eliza-

beths juxta Dublin, testamur,

Samueli Johnson,

Armigero, ob egregiam scriptorum elegantiam

et utili-

tatem, gratiam concessam fuisse pro gradu Doctor atHs in utroque Jure, octavo die Julii,

Anno Domini mil-

lesimo septingentesimo sexagesimo-quinto. In cujus rei

whom whom

^ Sir Joshua's sister, for Johnson had a particular affection, and to he wrote many letters which I have seen, and which I sorry her too nice delicacy will not permit to be published.

am

testimonium singulorum hisce 2

manus

et

utimur apposuimus; vicesimo

Prayers and Meditations, p. 61

sigillum tertio

quo in

die Julii,

—

BOSWELL

140 Anno Domini millesimo

septingentesimo sexagesimo-

quinto.

Fran. Andrews Proeps.

R. Murray Rob'"' Law

Mich. Kearney

Gul. Clement Tho. Wilson Tho. Leland

This unsolicited mark of distinction, conferred so great a literary character, did much honour to the judgement and liberal spirit of that learned body. Johnson acknowledged the favour in a letter to Dr. Leland, one of their number; but I have not been able to obtain a copy of it. He appears this year to have been seized with a temporary fit of ambition, for he had thoughts both of studying law and of engaging in politics. His "Prayer before the Study of Law" is truly admirable: Sept. 26, 1765 Almighty God, the giver of wisdom, without whose help resolutions are vain, without whose blessing study is ineffectual; enable me, if it be thy will, to attain such knowledge as may qual-

on

me to direct the doubtful, and instruct the ignorant; to prevent wrongs and terminate contentions; and grant that that I may use that knowledge which I shall attain, to thy glory and my own salvation, for Jesus Christ's sake. ify

Amen.^

H

n," no doubt his friend, the Right Honourable William Gerard Hamilton, for whom, during a long acquaintance, he had a great esteem, and to whose conversation he once paid this high compliment: "I am very unwilling to be left alone, Sir, and therefore I go with my

company down

the

first

pair of stairs, in

some

hopes that they may, perhaps, return again. I go with you, Sir, as far as the street-door." In what particular department he intended to engage does not appear, nor can Mr. Hamilton explain. His prayer is in general terms: "Enlighten my understanding with knowledge of right, and govern my will by thy laws, that no deceit may mislead me, nor temptation corrupt me; that I may always endeavour to do good, and hinder evil."^ There is nothing upon the subject in his diary.

This year was distinguished by his being introduced into the family of Mr. Thrale, one of the most eminent brewers in England, and Member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark. Foreigners are not a little amazed when they Prayers and Meditations, p. 66.

^Ibid., p. 67.

[1765

hear of brewers,

distillers,

and men

in similar

departments of trade, held forth as persons of considerable consequence. In this great commercial country it is natural that a situation which produces much wealth should be considered as very respectable; and, no doubt, honest industry is entitled to esteem. But, perhaps, the too rapid advance of men of low extraction tends to lessen the value of that distinction

and

by birth which has ever been found benethe grand scheme of subordination.

gentility,

ficial

to

Johnson used to give this account of the rise of Mr. Thrale's father: "He worked at six shillings a week for twenty years in the great brewery, which afterwards was his own. The proprietor of it had an only daughter, who was married to a nobleman. It was not fit that a peer should continue the business. On the old man's death, therefore, the brewery was to be sold. To find a purchaser for so large a property was a difficult matter; and, after some time, it was suggested, that it would be adviseable to treat with Thrale, a sensible, active, honest man, who had been employed in the house, and to transfer the whole to him for thirty thousand pounds, security being taken upon the property. This was accordingly settled. In eleven years Thrale paid the purchase-money. He acquired a large for-

and lived to be Member of Parliament for Southwark. But what was most remarkable was the liberality with which he used his riches. He gave his son and daughters the best education. The esteem which his good conduct procured him from the nobleman who had married his master's daughter, made him be treated with much attention; and his son, both at school and at the University of Oxford, associated with young men of the first rank. His allowance from his father, after he left college, was splendid; no less than a thousand a year. This, in a man who had risen as old Thrale did, was a very extratune,

His prayer in the view of becoming a politician is entitled, "Engaging in Politicks with

1

"

ordinary instance of generosity. He used to say, 'If this young dog does not find so much after I am gone as he expects, let him remember that he has had a great deal in my own time.' The son, though in affluent circumstances, had good sense enough to carry on his father's trade, which was of such extent, that I remember he once told me, he would not quit it for an annuity of ten thousand a year; "Not (said he,) that I get ten thousand a year by it, but it is an estate to a family." Having left daughters only, the property was sold for the immense sum of one hundred and thirty-five thousand pounds; a magnificent proof of what may be done by fair trade in no long period of time.

LIFE OF

1765]

There may be some who think that a new system of gentihty^ might be estabUshed, upon principles totally different from what have hitherto prevailed. is

Our present heraldry,

it

suited to the barbarous times in

its

origin. It

is

chiefly

may be said, which

it

had

founded upon ferocious

Why, in civilwe may be asked, should there not be rank and honours, upon principles, which, inupon military

merit,

excellence.

ised times,

dependent of long custom, are certainly not less worthy, and which, when once allowed to be connected with elevation and precedency, would obtain the same dignity in our imagination? Why should not the knowledge, the skill, the expertness, the assiduity, and the spirited hazards of trade and commerce, when crowned with be entitled to give those flattering

success,

tinctions

dis-

by which mankind are so universally

captivated? Such are the specious, but false arguments for

a proposition which always will find numerous advocates, in a nation where men are every day starting

up from obscurity

to wealth.

To

refute

general sense of mankind cries out, with irresistible force, "£/« gentilhomme

them

is

needless.

est toujour s

The

gentilhomme."

Mr. Thrale had married Miss Hesther Lynch Salusbury, of good Welsh extraction, a lady of lively talents, improved by education. That Johnson's introduction into Mr. Thrale's family, which contributed so much to the happiness of his life, was owing to her desire for his conversation, is very probable and a general supposition: but it is not the truth. Mr. Murphy, who was intimate with Mr. Thrale, having spoken very highly of Dr. Johnson, he was requested to make them acquainted. This being mentioned to Johnson, he accepted of an invitation to dinner at Thrale's, and was so much pleased with his reception, both by Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, and

much

pleased with him, that his invita-

tions to their

house were more and more frehe became one of the family,

they so quent,

till

at last

^Mrs. Burney informs me that she heard Dr. Johnson say, "An English Merchant is a new species of Gentleman." He, perhaps, had in his mind the following ingenious passage in The Conscious Lovers, act iv, scene ii, where Mr. Sealand thus addresses Sir John Bevil: "Give me leave to say, that we merchants are a species of gentry that have grown into the world this last century, and are as honourable, and almost as useful as you landedfolks, that have always thought yourselves so much above us; for your trading forsooth is extended no You are farther than a load of hay, or a fat ox. pleasant people indeed because you are generally bred up to be lazy, therefore, I warrant your industry is dishonourable."

—

!

JOHNSON

141

and an apartment was appropriated to him, both in their house in Southwark, and in their villa at

Streatham.

Johnson had a very sincere esteem

for

Mr.

Thrale, as a man of excellent principles, a good scholar, well skilled in trade, of a sound understanding, and of manners such as presented the character of a plain independent English 'Squire. As this family will frequently be mentioned in the course of the following pages, and as a false notion has prevailed that Mr. Thrale was inferiour, and in some degree insignificant, compared with Mrs. Thrale, it may be proper to give a true state of the case from the authority of Johnson himself in his ov^^n words.

"I know no man, (said he,) who is more masand family than Thrale. If he but holds up a finger, he is obeyed. It is a great mistake to suppose that she is above him in literary attainments. She is more flippant; but he has ten times her learning: he is a regular scholar; but her learning is that of a school-boy in one of the lower forms." My readers may naturally wish for some representation of the figures of this couple. Mr. Thrale was tall, well proportioned, and stately. As for Madam, or my Mistress, by which epithets Johnson used to mention Mrs. Thrale, she was short, plump, and brisk. She has herself given us a lively view of the idea which Johnson had of her person, on her appearing before him in a dark-coloured gown; "You little creatures should never wear those sort of clothes, however; they are unsuitable in every way. What! have not all insects gay colours?"^ Mr. Thrale gave his wife a liberal indulgence, both ter of his wife

in the choice of their

of entertaining them.

in the mode He understood and valued

company, and

Johnson, without remission, from their first acquaintance to the day of his death. Mrs. Thrale was enchanted with Johnson's conversation, for its own sake, and had also a very allowable vanity in appearing to be honoured with the attention of so celebrated a man. Nothing could be more fortunate for Johnson than this connection. He had at Mr. Thrale's all the comforts and even luxuries of life; his melancholy was diverted, and his irregular habits lessened by association with an agreeable and well-ordered family. He was treated with the utmost respect, and even affection. The vivacity of Mrs. Thrale's literary talk roused him to cheerfulness and exertion, even when they were alone. But this was not often the case; for he found here a constant succession of what gave him the highest enjoyment: the society of the 2 Mrs. Piozzi's Anecdotes, p. 279.

BOSWELL

142

and the eminent in every way, who were assembled in numerous companies, called forth his \vonderful powers, and gratified him with admiration, to which no man learned, the \vitty,

could be insensible. In the October of this year he at length gave to the world his edition oi Shakspeare, which, if it

had no other merit but that of producing his Preface, in which the excellencies and defects of that immortal bard are displayed with a masterly hand, the nation would have had no reason to complain. A blind indiscriminate admiration of Shakspeare had exposed the British nation to the ridicule of foreigners. Johnson, by candidly admitting the faults of his poet, had the more credit in bestowing on him deserved and indisputable praise; and doubtless none of all his

panegyrists have done

Their praise was,

own

him half so much honour. upon his

like that of a counsel,

was like the and impartial opinion of the judge, which falls from his lips with weight, and is received with reverence. What he did as a commentator has no small share of merit, though his researches were not so ample, and his investigations so acute as they might have been, which we now certainly know from the labours of other able and ingenious criticks who side of the cause: Johnson's

grave, well-considered,

have followed him. He has enriched his edition with a concise account of each play, and of its characteristick excellence.

Many

of his notes

have illustrated obscurities in the text, and placed passages eminent for beauty in a more conspicuous light; and he has in general exhibited such a

mode of annotation, as may be beneficial to all subsequent editors. His Shakspeare was virulently attacked by Mr. William Kenrick, who obtained the degree of LL.D. from a Scotch University, and wrote for

cisms of petty wits." Voltaire, in revenge, made an attack upon Johnson, in one of his numerous

which I remember to have read; but there being no general index to his voluminous works, have searched in vain, and therefore cannot quote it. Voltaire was an antagonist with whom I thought Johnson should not disdain to contend. I pressed him to answer. He said, he perhaps might; but he never did. Mr. Burney having occasion to write to Johnson for some receipts for subscriptions to his Shakspeare, which Johnson had omitted to deliver when the money was paid, he availed himself of that opportunity of thanking Johnson for the great pleasure which he had received from the perusal of his Preface to Shakspeare; which, although it excited much clamour against him at first, is now justly ranked among the most exliterary sallies,

cellent of his writings.

To

this letter

Johnson

returned the following answer:

To Charles Burney, Esq^., in Poland-street Sir, I am sorry that your kindness to me has brought upon you so much trouble, though you have taken care to abate that sorrow, by the pleasure which I receive from your approbation. I defend my criticism in the same manner with you. We must confess the faults of our favourite, to gain credit to our praise of his excel-

He that claims, either in himself or for another, the honours of perfection, will surely injure the reputation which he designs to assist. Be pleased to make my compliments to your family. I am, Sir, your most obliged and most lencies.

humble

the booksellers in a great variety of branches. Though he certainly was not without considerable merit, he wrote with so little regard to de-

cency and principles, and decorum, and in so hasty a manner, that his reputation was neither extensive nor lasting. I remember one evening, when some of his works were mentioned. Dr. Goldsmith said, he had never heard of them; upon which Dr. Johnson observed, "Sir, he is one of the many who have made themselves publick, without making themselves known." A young student of Oxford, of the name of Barclay, wrote an answer to Kenrick's review of Johnson's Shakspeare. Johnson was at first angry that Kenrick's attack should have the credit of an answer. But afterwards, considering the young man's good intention, he kindly noticed him,

[1765

and probably would have done more, had not the young man died. In his Preface to Shakspeare, Johnson treated Voltaire very contemptuously, observing, upon some of his remarks, "These are the petty criti-

servant,

Oct. 16,

Sam. Johnson

1765

From one

of his journals I transcribed

what

follows:

"At church, Oct.

— 65.

"To avoid all singularity; Bonaventura.^ "To come in before service, and compose my mind by meditation,

or by reading

some por-

tions of scriptures. Tetty.

"If

I

can hear the sermon, to attend it, unless more troublesome than useful. consider the act of prayer as a reposal of

attention be

"To

myself upon God, and a resignation of his holy hand."

all

into

'He was probably proposing to himself the model

of this excellent person,

named

the Seraphic Doctor.

who

for his piety

was

LIFE OF

1766]

In 1764 and 1765 it should seem that Dr. Johnson was so busily employed with his edition of Shakspeare, as to have had little leisure for any other literary exertion, or, indeed, even for private correspondence. He did not favour me with

a single letter for more than two years, for which will appear that he afterwards apologised. He was, however, at all times ready to give

it

assistance to his friends,

and

and

others, in revising

them, or greatly improving their Dedications. In that courtly species of composition no man excelled Dr. Johnson. Though the loftiness of his mind prevented him from ever dedicating in his own person, he wrote a very great number of Dedications for others. Some of these, the persons who were favoured with them are unwilling should be mentioned, from a too anxious apprehension, as I think, that they might be suspected of having received larger assistance; and some, after all the diligence I have bestowed, have escaped my enquiries. He told me, a great many years ago, "he believed he had dedicated to all the Royal FamUy round"; and it was indifferent to him what was the subject of the work dedicated, provided it were innocent. He once dedicated some Musick for the German Flute to Edward, Duke of York. In writing Dedications for others, he considered himself as by no means speaking his their works,

in writing for

own sentiments. Notwithstanding his long silence, I never omitted to write to him when I had any thing worthy of communicating. I generally kept copies of my letters to him, that I might have a full view of our correspondence, and never be at a loss to understand any reference in his letters. He kept the greater part of mine very carefully; and a short time before his death was attentive enough to seal them up in bundles, and order them to be delivered to me, which was accordingly done. Amongst them I found one, of which I had not made a copy, and which I own I read with pleasure at the distance of almost twenty years. It is dated November, 1 765, at the palace of Pascal Paoli, in Corte, the capital of Corsica,

and

is full

of generous enthusiasm. After giving a

I had seen and heard in that isproceeded thus " I dare to call this a spirited tour. I dare to challenge your approbation." This letter produced the following answer, which I found on my arrival at Paris.

sketch of what land,

:

it

JOHNSON

As your father's liberality has indulged you with so long a ramble, I doubt not but you will think his sickness, or even his desire to see you, a sufficient reason for hastening your return. The longer we live, and the more we think, the higher value we learn to put on the friendship and tenderness of parents and of friends. Parents we can have but once; and he promises himself too much, who enters life with the expectation of finding many friends. Upon some motive, I hope, that you will be here soon; and am willing to think that it will be an inducement to your return, that it is sincerely desired by, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, Sam. Johnson Johnson's Court, Fleet-street January 14, 1766 I returned to London in February, and found Dr. Johnson in a good house in Johnson's Court,

which he had accommodated Miss Williams with an apartment on the ground floor, while Mr. Levet occupied his post in the

Fleet-street, in

garret: his faithful Francis was still attending upon him. He received me with much kindness.

The fragments of our first conversation, which I have preserved, are these: I told him that Vola conversation with me, had distin"Pope drives a guished Pope and Dryden thus: handsome chariot, with a couple of neat trim

taire, in

A

Mr. Mr. Boswell,

chez

Mr. Waters,

Banquier, a Paris

Dear

We

Sir,

— Apologies are seldom of any use.

will delay

till

your arrival the reasons good

143

or bad, which have made me such a sparing and ungrateful correspondent. Be assured, for the present, that nothing has lessened either the esteem or love with which I dismissed you at Harwich. Both have been increased by all that I have been told of you by yourself or others; and when you return, you will return to an unaltered, and, I hope, unalterable friend. All that you have to fear from me is the vexation of disappointing me. No man loves to frustrate expectations which have been formed in his favour; and the pleasure which I promise myself from your journals and remarks is so great, that perhaps no degree of attention or discernment will be sufficient to afford it. Come home, however, and take your chance. I long to see you, and to hear you; and hope that we shall not be so long separated again. Come home, and expect such a welcome as is due to him whom a wise and noble curiosity has led, where perhaps no native of this country ever was before. I have no news to tell you that can deserve your notice; nor would I willingly lessen the pleasure that any novelty may give you at your return. I am afraid we shall find it difficult to keep among us a mind which has been so long feasted with variety. But let us try what esteem and kindness can effect.

—

nags; Dryden a coach, and six stately horses." Johnson. "Why, Sir, the truth is, they both drive

— JBOS WELL

144 coaches and

six;

but Dryden's horses are either

galloping or stumbling: Pope's go at a steady even trot."^ He said of Goldsmith's Traveller,

which had been published in my absence, "There has not been so fine a poem since Pope's time."

And

proper to settle, with authentick precision what has long floated in publick report, as to Johnson's being himself the authour of a considerable part of that poem. Much, no doubt, both of the sentiments and expression, were derived from conversation with him; and it was certainly submitted to his friendly revision: but in the year 1783, he, at my request, marked with a pencil the lines which he had furnished, which are only line 4Qoth, here

To

and

and the concluding ten couplet but one, which

too faint to

lines,

go;

except the

That part which kings Still to ourselves in

distinguish by the

I

or

laws can cause or cure.

everyplace consign' d,

Our ownfelicity we make or find; With secret course, which no loud storms annoy. Glides the smooth current of domestickjoy:

The

lifted axe, the agonizing wheel, Luke's iron crown, and Damien's bed of steel, To men remotefrom power but rarely known. Leave reason, faith, and conscience, all our own. ,

He added, "These are all of which I can be sure." They bear a small proportion to the whole, which hundred and

consists of four

thirty-eight verses.

Goldsmith, in the couplet which he inserted, mentions Luke as a person well known, and superficial readers have passed it over quite smoothly; while those of more attention have been as much perplexed by Luke, as by Lydiat, in The Vanity of Wishes.

was

there

is

The truth is,

that Goldsmith him-

a mistake. In the Respublica Hungarica, an account of a desperate rebellion in

in

the year 1514, headed by two brothers, of the

name

That

of Z^ck,

George and Luke. When it was was punished by his

quelled, George, not Luke,

head being encircled with a red-hot iron crown: same severity of torture was exercised on the Earl of Athol, one of the murderers of King James I of Scotland.

corona candescenteferred coronatur.Thc

While self-dependent power can time defy. the billows and the sky.

thing should be taught by lectures. Now, I cannot see that lectures can do so much good as reading the books from which the lectures are taken. I know nothing that can be best taught

by

lectures, except

presumptuous car.

o'er the fields of glory bear

coursers of ethereal race. in thunder cloath'd,

With necks

Ode on

to be

teach making of shoes by lectures!" I supped with him at the Mitre tavern, that we might renew our social intimacy at the original place of meeting. But there was now a considerable difference in his way of living. Having had an illness, in which he was advised to leave off wine, he had, from that period, continued to abstain from it, and drank only water, or lemonade. I told him that a foreign friend of his, whom I had met with abroad, was so wretchedly perverted to infidelity, that he treated the hopes of immortality with brutal levity; and said, "As man dies like a dog, let him lie like a dog." Johnson. ''If he dies like a dog, let him lie like a dog." I added, that this man said to me, "I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am." Johnson. "Sir, he must be very singular in his opinion, if he thinks himself one of the best of men; for none of his friends think him so." He said, "no honest man could be a Deist; for no man could be so after a fair examination of the proofs of Chris-

—

tianity." I

and long resounding pace.

the Progress of Poesy

named Hume. Johnson. "No,

Hume owned

Sir;

clergyman in the bishoprick of Durham, that he had never read the New Testament with attention." I mentioned Hume's notion, that all who are happy are equally happy; a little miss with a new gown at a dancing school ball, a general at the head of a victorious army, and an orator, after having made an eloquent speech in a great assembly. Johnson. "Sir, that all who are happy, are equally happy, is not

sists

Two

where experiments are

You may teach chymistry by lectures.

At night

but they are of "ethereal race": less

now

Talking of education, "People have

adays, (said he,) got a strange opinion that every

satisfied,

Wide

empire hastes to swift decay. mole away:

the labour' d

As rocks resist

^It is remarkable, that Mr. Gray has employed somewhat the same image to characterise Dryden. He, indeed, furnishes his car with but two horses,

Behold where Dryden's

trade' s proud

As ocean sweeps

You might

last

How small of all that human hearts endure.

self

four:

shewn.

Italick character:

Human

Dr. Johnson at the same time favoured me by marking the lines which he furnished to Goldsmith's Deserted Village, which are only the last

it is

stop too fearful,

[1766

true.

to a

A peasant and a philosopher may be equally but not equally happy. Happiness con-

in the multiplicity of agreeable conscious-

A peasant has not capacity for having equal happiness with a philosopher." I remember this very question very happily illustrated in opposiness.

tion to

Hume, by

the

Reverend Mr. Robert

LIFE OF JOHNSON

1766]

"A small drinking-glass and he,) may be equally full; but

Brown, at Utrecht.

a large one, (said the large one holds more than the small." Dr. Johnson was very kind this evening, and

said to me, "You have now lived five-andtwenty years, and you have employed them I,) I fear not. Do I know know mathematicks? Do I know law?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, though you may know no science so well as to be able to teach it,

well," "Alas, Sir, (said history?

Do

I

and no

profession so well as to be able to follow your general mass of knowledge of books and men renders you very capable to make yourself master of any science, or fit yourself for any profession." I mentioned that a gay friend had advised me against being a lawyer, because I should be excelled by plodding block-heads. Johnson. "Why, Sir, in the formulary and statutory part of law, a plodding block-head may excel; but in the ingenious and rational part of it a plodding block-head can never excel." I talked of the mode adopted by some to rise in the world, by courting great men, and asked him whether he had ever submitted to it. Johnson. "Why, Sir, I never was near enough to great men, to court them. You may be prudently attached to great men and yet independent. You are not to do what you think wrong; and, Sir, you are to calculate, and not pay too dear for what you get. You must not give a shilling's worth of court for six-pence worth of good. But if you can get a shilling's worth of good for sixpence worth of court, you are a fool if you do not pay court." He said, "If convents should be allowed at all, they should only be retreats for persons unable to serve the publick, or who have served it. It is our first duty to serve society, and, after we have done that, we may attend wholly to the salvation of our own souls. A youthful passion for abstracted devotion should not be encouraged." I introduced the subject of second sight, and it,

other mysterious manifestations; the fulfilment of which, I suggested, might happen by chance.

but they have happened so often, that mankind have agreed to think them not fortuitous."

Johnson. "Yes,

Sir;

I talked to him a great deal of what I had seen in Corsica, and of my intention to publish

an account of

it.

He encouraged me by

saying,

"You cannot go to the bottom of the subject; but all that you tell us will be new to us. Give us as many anecdotes as you can." Our next meeting at the Mitre was on Saturday the 1 5th of February, when I presented to him my old and most intimate friend, the Rev-

145

erend Mr. Temple, then of Cambridge. I having mentioned that I had passed some time with Rousseau in his wild retreat, and having quoted some remark made by Mr. Wilkes, with whom I had spent many pleasant hours in Italy, Johnson said (sarcastically,) "It seems, Sir, you have kept very good company abroad, Rousseau and Wilkes!" Thinking it enough to defend one at a a time, I said nothing as to my gay friend, but answered with a smile, "My dear Sir, you don't call Rousseau bad company. Do you really think him a bad man?" Johnson. "Sir, if you are talking jestingly of this, I don't talk with you. If you mean to be serious, I think him one of the worst of men; a rascal who ought to be hunted out of society, as he has been. Three or four nations have expelled him; and it is a shame that he is protected in this country." Boswell. "I don't deny, Sir, but that his novel may, perhaps, do harm; but I cannot think his intention was bad." Johnson. "Sir, that will not do. We cannot prove any man's intention to be bad. You may shoot a man through the head, and say you intended to miss him; but the Judge will order you to be hanged. An alleged want of intention, when evil is committed, wiU not be allowed in a court of justice. Rousseau, Sir, is a very bad man. I would sooner sign a sentence for his transportation, than that of any felon who has

gone from the Old Bailey these many years. Yes, I should like to have him work in the plantations." Boswell. "Sir, do you think him as bad a man as Voltaire?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, it is difficult to settle the

proportion of iniquity be-

tween them." This violence seemed very strange to me, who had read many of Rousseau's animated writings with great pleasure, and even edification; had been much pleased with his society, and was just come from the Continent, where he was very generally admired. Nor can I yet allow that he deserves the very severe censure which Johnson pronounced upon him. His absurd preference of savage to civilised life, and other singularities, are proofs rather of a defect in his understanding, than of any depravity in his heart. And notwithstanding the unfortunate opinion which many worthy men have expressed of his Profession de Foi du Vicaire Savoyard, I cannot help admiring it as the performance of a man full of sincere reverential submission to Divine Mystery, though beset with perplexing doubts; a state of mind to be viewed with pity rather than with anger. On his favourite subject of subordination, Johnson said, "So far is it from being true that

BOSWELL

146 are naturally equal, that no

men

two people can

be half an hour together, but one shall acquire an evident superiority over the other." I mentioned the advice given us by philosophers, to console ourselves,

when

distressed or

embarrassed, by thinking of those who are in a worse situation than ourselves. This, I observed, could not apply to all, for there must be some who have nobody vsorse than they are. Johnson. "Why, to be sure. Sir, there are; but they don't know it. There is no being so poor and so contemptible, still

who does not think there is somebody

poorer,

As

my

and

stay in

more contemptible." London at this time was very

still

had not many opportunities of being with Dr. Johnson; but I felt my veneration for him in no degree lessened, by my having seen multorum hominum mores et urbes. On the contrary, by having it in my power to compare him with many of the most celebrated persons of other countries, my admiration of his extraordinary short, I

mind was increased and confirmed. The roughness, indeed, which sometimes appeared in his manners, was more striking to me now, from

my

having been accustomed to the

man

[1766

with us." Johnson then called for a bottle

and I partook, while our friend, now a water-drinker, sat by us. Goldsmith. "I think, Mr. Johnson, you don't go near the theatres now. You give yourself no more concern about a new play, than if you had never had any thing to do with the stage." Johnson. "Why, Sir, our tastes greatly alter. The lad does not care for the child's rattle, and the old man does not care for the young man's of port, of which Goldsmith

whore." Goldsmith. "Nay, Sir, but your Muse was not a whore." Johnson. "Sir, I do not think she was. But as we advance in the journey of life, we drop some of the things which have pleased us; whether it be that we are fatigued and don't choose to carry so many things any farther, or that we find other things which we like better." Boswell. "But, Sir, why don't you give us something in some other way?" Goldsmith. "Ay, Sir, we have a claim upon you." Johnson. "No, Sir, I am not obliged to do any more. No man is obliged to do as much as he can do. A man is to have part of his life to himself. If a soldier has fought a good many campaigns, he is not to be blamed if he retires to ease and tranquillity. A

who has practised long in a great city, may be excused if he retires to a small town, and

studied smooth complying habits of the Continent; and I clearly recognised in him, not with-

physician,

out respect for his honest conscientious zeal, the

Now, Sir, the good I can do conversation bears the same proportion to the good I can do by my writings, that the practice of a physician, retired to a small town,

same indignant and

sarcastical

mode

of treating

every attempt to unhinge or weaken good principles.

One evening when him with an account

a young gentleman teized of the infidelity of his servant, who, he said, would not believe the scriptures, because he could not read them in the original tongues, and be sure that they were not invented, "Why, foolish fellow, (said Johnson,) has he any better authority for almost every thing that he believes?" Boswell. "Then the vulgar. Sir, never can

know they

are right, but

must submit themselves to the learned." John-

"To be sure. Sir. The vulgar are the children of the State, and must be taught like children." Boswell. "Then, Sir, a poor Turk must be a Mahometan, just as a poor Englishman must be a Christian?" Johnson. "Why, yes. Sir; and what then? This now is such stuff as I used to talk to my mother, when I first began to think myself a clever fellow; and she ought to have whipt meforit." Another evening Dr. Goldsmith and I called on him, with the hope of prevailing on him to sup with us at the Mitre. We found him indisposed, and resolved not to go abroad. "Come then, (said Goldsmith,) we will not go to the Mitre to-night, since we cannot have the big

son.

takes less practice.

by

my

does to his practice in a great city." Boswell. "But I wonder. Sir, you have not more pleasure in writing than in not writing." Johnson. "Sir,

you

maj;

He

wonder."

making verses, and observed, "The great difficulty is to know when you have made good ones. When composing, I have generally had them in my mind, perhaps fifty at a time, walking up and down in my room; and then I have written them down, and often, from talked of

laziness,

have written only half lines.

I

have writ-

remember I wrote The Vanity of Human Wishes in

ten a hundred lines in a day.

I

a hundred lines of a day. Doctor, (turning to Goldsmith,) I am not quite idle; I made one line t'other day; but I made no more." Goldsmith. "Let us hear it; we'll put a bad one to it." Johnson. "No, Sir, I

have forgot it." Such specimens of the easy and playful conversation of the great Dr. Samuel Johnson are, I think, to be prized; as exhibiting the little varieties of a

mind so enlarged and so powerful when

objects of consequence required

and

as giving us a

acter

and modes

its

exertions,

minute knowledge of his charof thinking.

LIFE OF

1766]

To Bennet Langton,

Esq.,

at Lang-

ton, NEAR SpILSBY, LINCOLNSHIRE Sir, What your friends have done, that from your departure till now nothing has been heard of you, none of us are able to inform the rest; but as we are all neglected alike, no one thinks himself entitled to the privilege of com-

Dear

plaint. I should have known nothing of you or of Langton, from the time that dear Miss Langton left us, had not I met Mr. Simpson, of Lincoln, one day in the street, by whom I was informed that Mr. Langton, your Mamma, and yourself, had been all ill, but that you were all recovered. That sickness should suspend your correspondence, I did not wonder; but hoped that it would be renewed at your recovery. Since you vv'ill not inform us where you are, or how you live, I know not whether you desire

know any thing of us. However, I will tell you that the club subsists; but we have the loss of Burke's company since he has been engaged in publick business, in which he has gained more reputation than perhaps any man at his [first] appearance ever gained before. He made two speeches in the House for repealing the Stampact, which were publickly commended by Mr. Pitt, and have filled the town with wonder. Burke is a great man by nature, and is expected soon to attain civil greatness. I am grown greater too, for I have maintained the news-papers these many weeks; and what is greater still, I have risen every morning since New-year's day, at about eight; when I was up, I have indeed done but little; yet it is no slight advanceto

ment to obtain for so many hours more, the consciousness of being. I wish you were in new study; I now writing the first letter in it. I think it looks very pretty about me. Dyer is constant at the club; Hawkins is remiss; I not over diligent. Dr. Nugent, Dr. Goldsmith, and Mr. Reynolds, are very constant. Mr. Lye is printing his Saxon and Gothick Dictionary; all the club subscribes. You will pay my respects to all my Lincolnshire friends. I am, dear Sir, most affectionately

my

am

am

your's,

Sam. Johnson Johnson's-court, Fleet-street March g, 1766

To Bennet Langton,

at Langton, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire Dear Sir, In supposing that I should be more than commonly affected by the death of Peregrine Langton,^ you were not mistaken; he was one of those whom I loved at once by instinct and by reason. I have seldom indulged more hope of any tiling than of being able to improve Esq.,

our acquaintance to friendship. ^Mr. Langton's uncle.

Many

a time

JOHNSON

H7

have I placed myself again at Langton, and imagined the pleasure with which I should walk to Partney'^ in a summer morning; but this is no longer possible. We must now endeavour to preserve what is left us, his example of piety and oeconomy. I hope you make what enquiries you

—

can, and write down what is told you. The little things which distinguish domestick characters are soon forgotten: if you delay to enquire, you will have no information; if you neglect to write,

information will be vain.^

^The place ofresidence of Mr. Peregrine Langton. ^Mr. Langton did not disregard this counsel, but wrote the following account, which he has been pleased to communicate to me: "The circumstances of Mr. Peregrine Langton were these. He had an annuity for life of two hundred pounds per annum. He resided in a village in Lincolnshire; the rent of his house, with two or three small fields, was twenty-eight pounds; the county he lived in was not more than moderately cheap; his family consisted of a sister, who paid him eighteen pounds annually for her board, and a niece. The servants were two maids, and two men in livery. His common way of living, at his table, was three or four dishes; the appurtenances to his table were neat and handsome; he frequently entertained company at dinner, and then his table was well served with as many dishes as were usual at the tables of the other gentlemen in the neigh-

bourhood. His chaise,

and

own

appearance, as to clothes, was had always a post-

plain. He kept three horses.

genteelly neat

and

"Such, with the resources I have mentioned, was his way of living, which he did not suffer to employ his whole income: for he had always a sum of money lying by him for any extraordinary expences that might arise. Some money he put into the stocks; at his death, the sum he had there amounted to one hundred and fifty pounds. He purchased out of his income his household-furniture and linen, of which latter he had a very ample store; and, as I am assured by those that had very good means of knowing, not less than the tenth part of his income was set apart for charity: at the time of his death, the sum of twenty-five pounds was found, with a direction to be employed in such uses. "He had laid down a plan of living proportioned to his income, and did not practise any extraordinary degree of parsimony, but endeavoured that in his family there should be plenty without waste; as an instance that this was his endeavour, it may be worth while to mention a method he took in regulating a proper allowance of malt liquor to be drunk in his family, that there might not be a deficiency, or any intemperate profusion: a complaint made that his allowance of a hogshead in a month, was not enough for his own family, he ordered the quantity of a hogshead to be put into bottles, had it locked up from the servants, and distributed out, every day, eight quarts, which is the quantity each day at one hogshead in a month; and told his servants, that if that did not suffice, he would allow them more; but, by this method, it appeared at once that the allowance was much more than sufficient for his small family; and this proved a clear conviction, that could not be an-

On

BOSWELL

148

certainly deserves to be known studied. He lived in plenty and elegance

His art of

and

life

swered, and saved all future dispute. He was, in general, very diligently and punctually attended and obeyed by his servants; he was very considerate as to the injunctions he gave, and explained them distinctly; and, at their first coming to his service, steadily exacted a close compliance with them, without any remission; and the servants finding this to be the case, soon grew habitually accustomed to the practice of their business, and then very little further attention was necessary. On extraordinary instances of good behaviour, or diligent service, he was not wanting in particular encouragements and presents above their wages; it is remarkable that he would permit their relations to visit them, and stay at his house two or three days at a time. "The wonder, with most that hear an account of his oeconomy, will be, how he was able, with such an income, to do so much, especially when it is considered that he paid for everything he had; he had no land, except the two or three small fields which I have said he rented; and, instead of gaining any thing by their produce, I have reason to think he lost by them; however, they furnished him with no further assistance towards his housekeeping, than grass for his horses, (not hay, for that I know he bought,) and for two cows. Every Monday morning he settled his family accounts, and so kept up a constant attention to the confining his expences within his income; and to do it more exactly, compared those expences with a

computation he had made,

how much that income

would afford him every week and day of the year.

One

of his oeconomical practices was, as soon as

any repair was wanting in or about his house, to have it immediately performed. When he had money to spare, he chose to lay in a provision of linen or clothes, or any other necessaries; as then, he said, he could afford it, which he might not be so well able to do when the actual want came; in consequence of which method, he had a considerable supply of necessary articles lying by him, beside what was in use. "But the main particular that seems to have enabled him to do so much with his income, was, that he paid for every thing as soon as he had it, except, alone, what were current accounts, such as rent for his house and servants' wages; and these he paid at the stated times with the utmost exactness. He gave notice to the tradesmen of the neighbouring market-towns that they should no longer have his custom, if they let any of his servants have anything without their paying for it. Thus he put it out of his power to commit those imprudences to which those are liable that defer their payments by using their money some other way than where it ought to go. And whatever money he had by him, he knew that it was not demanded elsewhere, but that he might safely employ it as he pleased. "His example was confined, by the sequestered place of his abode, to the observation of few, though his prudence and virtue would have made it valuable to all who could have known it. These few particulars, which I knew myself, or have obtained from those who lived with him, may afford instruction, and be an incentive to that wise art of living, which he so successfully practised."

—

[

upon an income which, indigent, and to most,

to

1766

many would appear

How

scanty.

he lived,

man has an interest in knowing.

therefore, every

His death, I hope, was peaceful; it was surely happy. I wish I had written sooner, lest, writing now, I should renew your grief; but I would not forbear saying what I have now said. This loss is, I hope, the only misfortune of a family to whom no misfortune at all should happen, if my wishes could avert it. Let me know how you all go on. Has Mr. Langton got him the

horse that

little

do him good

I

recommended?

to ride

about

It

would

his estate in fine

weather. Be pleased to

make my compliments to Mrs. Langton, and to dear Miss Langton, and Miss Di, and Miss Juliet, and to every body else. The club holds very well together. Monday is my night.^ I continue to rise tolerably well, and read more than I did. I hope something will yet come on it. I am. Sir, your most affectionate servant,

Sam. Johnson Johnson's-court, Fleet-street

May

1766

10,

After I had been some time in Scotland, I mentioned to him in a letter that "On my first

return to

my

of absence,

some years number of my

native country, after

was

I

told of a vast

acquaintance

who were

forgetfulness,

and

I

all gone to the land of found myself like a man

who every mosome one lying dead." I complained of irresolution, and mentioned my having made a vow as a security for good conduct. I wrote to him again, without being able to move his indolence; nor did I hear from him till he had received a copy of my inaugural Exercise, or Thesis in Civil Law, which I published at my admission as an Advocate, as is the custom in stalking over a field of battle,

ment

perceives

Scotland.

He

then wrote to

me

To James Bosw^ll, Dear

as follows:

Esq.

The

mind

reception of your Thesis put of my debt to you. Why did you

telling

*_2 J ^ji] punish you for you that your Latin wants correc-

me

Sir,

in ************

it,

by

tion.^ In the beginning, Spei altera, not to

urge

^Of his being in the chair of The LrrERARY Club, which at this time met once a week in the evening. ^The passage omitted alluded to a private transaction.

^This censure of my Latin relates to the Dedication,

which was

as follows:

VIRO NOBILISSIMO, ORNATISSIMO,

JOANNI, VICECOMITI MOUNTSTUART, ATA VIS EDITO REGIBUS EXCELS/E FAMILI^ DE BUTE SPEI ALTERA:

1766 that tera

LIFE OF

]

should be primes, is not grammatical: alshould be alteri. In the next line you seem it

to use genus absolutely, for what we caW Jamily, that is, for illustrious extraction, I doubt without authority. Homines nullius originis, for JVullis orti majoribus, or, Nullo loco nati, is, I am afraid, barRuddiman is dead. barous. I have now vexed you enough, and will try to please you. Your resolution to obey your father I sincerely approve; but do not accustom your-

—

enchain your volatility by vows: they will sometime leave a thorn in your mind, which you will, perhaps, never be able to extract or eject. Take this warning, it is of great imporself to

tance.

The study

law is what you very justly term it, copious and generous;^ and in adding your name to its professors, you have done exactly what I always wished, when I wished you best. I hope that you will continue to pursue it vigorously and constantly. You gain, at least, what is no small advantage, security from those troublesome and wearisome discontents, which of the

are always obtruding themselves upon a mind vacant, unemployed, and undetermined. You ought to think it no small inducement to diligence and perseverance, that they will please all live upon the hope of pleasyour father. ing somebody; and the pleasure of pleasing ought to be greatest, and at last always will be greatest, when our endeavours are exerted in consequence of our duty. Life is not long, and too much of it must not pass in idle deliberation how it shall be spent; deliberation, which those who begin it by pru-

JOHNSON

Hcec sunt quce nostra potui

LABENTE SECULO, ORIGINIS

GENUS /EqUARE OPIBUS AGGREDIUNTUR, SANGUINIS ANTIQUI ET ILLUSTRIS SEMPER MEMORI, NATALIUM SPLENDOREM VIRTUTIBUS AUGENTI: AD PUBLICA POPULI COMITIA JAM legato; IN OPTIMATIUM VERO MAGN^ BRITANNIA SENATU, JURE h.i;reditario, OLiM consessuro: VIM INSITAM VARIA DOCTRINA PROMOVENTE, NEC TAMEN SE VENDITANTE, PRiEDITO:

ANIMO LIBERRIMO, ET MORUM ELEGANTIA

PRISCA FIDE,

INSIGNi: IN ITALIC VISITAND^ ITINERE,

SOCIO SUO HONORATISSIMO, HASCE JURISPRUDENT!^ PRIMITIAS

DEVINCTISSIM^ AMICITI^ ET OBSERVANTLE

MONUMENTUM, D. D. C Q.

JACOBUS BOSWELL ^This alludes to the first sentence of the ProtsmiThesis: Jurisprudenti^ studio nullum uberius, nullum generosius: in legibus enim agitandis, populorum mores, variasque forturuB vices ex quibus leges oriuntur, contemplari simul solemus.

te voce

monere;

Vade, age.

As

your History of Corsica, you have no mawhich others have not, or may not have. You have, somehow, or other, warmed your imagination. I wish there were some cure, like the lover's leap, for all heads of which some single idea has obtained an unreasonable and irregular possession. Mind your own affairs, and leave the Corsicans to theirs. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, London, Aug. 21, 1766 Sam. Johnson to

terials

To Dr. Samuel Johnson Auchinleck, Nov.

We

QUUM HOMINES NULLIUS

149

dence, and continue it with subtilty, must, after long expence of thought, conclude by chance. To prefer one future mode of life to another, upon just reasons, requires faculties which it has not pleased our Creator to give us. If, therefore, the profession you have chosen has some unexpected inconveniencies, console yourself by reflecting that no profession is without them; and that all the importunities and perplexities of business are softness and luxury, compared with the incessant cravings of vacancy, and the unsatisfactory expedients of idleness.

Much

Esteemed and Dear

6,

1766

Sir, I plead not

Having thus, I hope, cleared myself of the charge brought against me, I presume you will not be displeased if I escape the punishment which you have decreed for me unheard. If you have discharged the arrows of criticism against an innocent man, you must rejoice to find they have missed him, or have not been pointed so as to wound him. To talk no longer in allegory, I am, with all deference, going to offer a few observations in defence of my Latin, which you have found fault with.

You think I should have used spei primes, instead of spei altera. Spes is, indeed, often used to express something on which we have a future dependence, as in Virg. Eclog. i. 1. 1 4, modo namque gemellos

Spem gregis ah silice and

in Georg.

for the

in

nudd connixa

reliquit.

iii. 1.

473, Spemque gregemque simul,

lambs and the sheep. Yet it is also used any thing on which we have a present

to express

is well applied to a man of distinguished influence, our support, our refuge,

dependence, and

our presidium, as Horace in

Mneid

xii.

1.

57,

Maecenas. So, addresses her nunc una": and he

calls

Queen Amata

son-in-law Turnus: "Spes tu was then no future hope, for she adds,

decus imperiumque Latini

um of ray

to

Te penes; ^The passage omitted explained the transaction which the preceding letter had alluded.

;

BOSWELL

150

which might have been said of my Lord Bute some years ago. Now I consider the present Earl of Bute to be "Excelscefamilia de Bute spes prima" and my Lord Mountstuart, as his eldest son, to be "spes altera." So in ^neid xii. 1. 168, after having mentioned Pater ^neas, who was the presthe reigning spes, as my German friends say, tiie spes prima, the poet adds,

ent spes,

would

Etjuxta Ascanius, magna spes altera Roma.

You

tliink altera

ungrammatical, and you

tell

should have been alteri. You must recollect, that in old times alter was declined regularly; and when the ancient fragments preserved in

me

it

the Juris Civilis Pontes were written, it was certainly declined in the way that I use it. This, I should think, may protect a lawyer who writes altera in a dissertation upon part of his own sci-

ence. But as I could hardly venture to quote fragments of old law to so classical a man as Mr. Johnson, I have not made an accurate search into these remains, to find examples of what I am able to produce in poetical composition. We find in Plaut. Rudens, act

JVam

iii

scene

4,

qua sit profecto

huic alter 3e patria

nescio.

Plautus is, to be sure, an old comick writer; but in the days of Scipio and Lelius, we find, Terent. Heautontim. act ii. scene 3, hoc ipsa in itinere alterae

Dum narrat, forte audivi.

You doubt my having nus absolutely, for

authority for using gecall family, that is, Now I take genus in Lat-

what we

for illustrious extraction.

have much the same signification with English; both in their primary meaning expressing simply descent, but both made to to

in,

birth in

stand Kar' k^oxvi^, for noble descent. Genus thus used in Hor. lib. ii. Sat. v. 1. 8, Et genus

And

in lib.

i.

et virtus, nisi

Epist. vi.

cum

1.

re, vilior

and

est.

37,

Et genus etformam Regina pecunia

And

alga

is

donat.

in the celebrated contest between Ajax Ulysses, Ovid's Metamorph. lib. xiii. 1. 140,

Mam genus etproavos, et qua nonfecimus ipsi, Vix ea nostra voco.

Homines

or

nullius originis, for nullis orti majoribus,

is

is, you are "afraid, barbarous." used to signify extraction, as in Virg.

1.

286,

nullo loco nati,

Origo /Eneid i.

Nascetur putchrd Trojanus origine Casar.

And

in /Eneid x. Ille

1.

618,

tamen nostrd deducit origine nomen.

And as nullus is used for obscure, is it not in the genius of the Latin language to write nullius originis, for obscure extraction?

[1766

have defended myself as well as I could. Might I venture to differ from you with regard to the utility of vows? I am sensible that it would be very dangerous to make vows rashly, and without a due consideration. But I cannot I

help thinking that they may often be of great advantage to one of a variable judgement and irregular inclinations. I always remember a passage in one of your letters to our Italian friend Baretti; where talking of the monastick life, you say you do not wonder that serious men should put themselves under the protection of a religious order, when they have found how unable they are to take care of themselves. For my own part, without affecting to be a Socrates, I am sure I have a more than ordinary struggle to maintain with the Evil Principle; and all the methods I can devise are little enough to keep me tolerably steady in the paths of rectitude. ... I am ever, with the highest veneration, your affectionate

humble

servant,

James Bosv/ell appears from Johnson's diary, that he was this year at Mr. Thrale's, from before Midsummer till after Michaelmas, and that he afterwards passed a month at Oxford. He had then contracted a great intimacy with Mr. Chambers of that University, afterwards Sir Robert Chambers, one of the Judges in India. He published nothing this year in his own name; but the noble dedication* to the King, of Gv/yn's London and Westminster Improved, was written by him; and he furnished the Preface,! and several of the pieces, which compose a volume of Miscellanies by Mrs. Anna Williams, the blind lady who had an asylum in his house. Of these, there are his "Epitaph on Philips,"* "Translation of a Latin Epitaph on Sir Thomas Hanmer,"t "Friendship, an Ode,"* and, "The Ant," * a paraphrase from the Proverbs, of which I have a copy in his own hand-writing; and, from internal evidence, I ascribe to him, "To Miss on her giving the Authour a gold and silk net-work Purse of her own weaving" ;f and, It

,

"The happy Life." t Most of the pieces

in this

volume have

evi-

dently received additions from his superiour pen, particularly "Verses to Mr. Richardson, on his Sir Charles Grandison" "The Excursion" ;" Re;

on a Grave digging in Westminster Abbey." There is in this collection a poem "On the Death of Stephen Grey, the Electrician";* which, on reading it, appeared to me to be undoubtedly Johnson's. I asked Mrs. Williams whether it was not his. "Sir, (said she, with some warmth,) I wrote that poem before I had the honour of Dr. Johnson's acquaintance." I, however, was so much impressed with my first noflections

LIFE OF

1766] tion, that I

mentioned

it

to Johnson, repeating,

same time, what Mrs. WilHams had said. His answer was, "It is true, Sir, that she wrote it before she was acquainted with me; but she has not told you that I wrote it all over again, except two lines." "The Fountains," f a beautiful little Fairy tale in prose, written with exquisite simplicity, is one of Johnson's productions; and I cannot with-hold from Mrs. Thrale the praise of being the authour of that admirable poem, "The Three Warnings." He wrote this year a letter, not intended for at the

publication, which has, perhaps, as strong marks of his sentiment tions.

The

and

original

style, as

is

in

any of his composi-

my possession.

It is

ad-

Mr. William Drummond, bookseller in Edinburgh, a gentleman of good family, but small estate, who took arms for the house of Stuart in 1 745; and during his concealment in London till the act of general pardon came out obtained the acquaintance of Dr. Johnson, who justly esteeined him as a very worthy man. It seems, some of the members of the socidressed to the late

ety in Scotland for propagating Christian knowledge, had opposed the scheme of translating the

holy scriptures into the Erse or Gaelick language, from political considerations of the disadvantage of keeping up the distinction between the Highlanders and the other inhabitants of North-Britain. Dr. Johnson being informed of this, I suppose by Mr. Drummond, wrote with a generous indignation as follows:

To Mr. William Drummond Sir, I did not expect to hear that

it could be, propagation of Christian knowledge, a question whether any nation uninstructed in religion should receive instruction; or whether that instruction should be imparted to them by a translation of the holy books into their own language. If obedience to the will of God be necessary to happiness, and knowledge of his will be necessary to obedience, I know not how he that with-holds this knowledge, or delays it, can be said to love his neighbour as himself. He that voluntarily continues ignorance, is guilty of all the crimes which ignorance produces; as to him that should extinguish the tapers of a light-house, might justly be imputed the calamities of shipwrecks. Christianity is the highest perfection of humanity; and as no man is good but as he wishes the good of others, no man can be good in the highest degree who wishes not to others the largest measures of the greatest good. To omit for a year, or for a day, the most efficacious method of advancing Christianity, in compliance with any purposes that terminate on this side of the grave, is a crime of

in

an assembly convened

for the

JOHNSON which

151

know not

that the world has yet had an example, except in the practice of the planters of America, a race of mortals whom, I suppose, no other man wishes to resemble. The Papists have, indeed, denied to the laity the use of the Bible; but this prohibition, in few places now very rigorously enforced, is defended I

by arguments, which have

for their foundation

the care of souls. To obscure, upon motives merely political, the light of revelation, is a practice reserved for the reformed; and, surely, the blackest midnight of popery is meridian sunshine to such a reformation. I am not very willing that any language should be totally extinguished. The similitude and derivation of languages afford the most indubitable proof of the traduction of nations, and the genealogy of mankind. They add often physical certainty to historical evidence and often supply the only evidence of ancient migrations, and of the revolutions of ages which left no written monuments ;

behind them. Every man's opinions, at least his desires, are a little influenced by his favourite studies. My zeal for languages may seem, perhaps, rather over-heated, even to those by whom I desire to be well-esteemed. To those who have nothing in their thoughts but trade or policy, present power, or present money, I should not think it necessary to defend my opinions; but with men of letters I would not unwillingly compound, by wishing the continuance of every language, however narrow in its extent, or however incommodious for common purposes, till it is reposited in some version of a known book, that it may be always hereafter examined and compared with other languages, and then permitting its disuse. For this purpose, the translation of the Bible is most to be desired. It is not certain that the same method will not preserve the Highland language, for the purposes of learning, and abolish it from daily use. When the Highlanders read the Bible, they will naturally wish to have its obscurities cleared, and to know the history, collateral or appendant. Knowledge always de-

which must first be kindled by some external agent, but which will afterwards propagate itself. When they once desire to learn, they will naturally have recourse sires increase: it is like fire,

to the nearest language by which that desire can be gratified; and one will tell another that if he would attain knowledge, he must learn

English. This speculation may, perhaps, be thought more subde than the grossness of real life v/ill easily admit. Let it, hov/ever, be remembered, that the efficacy of ignorance has been long tried, and has not produced the consequence expected. Letknov/ledge, therefore, take its turn; and let the patrons of privation stand awhile aside, and admit the operation of positive principles.

2

BOSWELL

152

You will be pleased, man who is employed

Sir, to assure the

worthy

in the new translation,^ that he has my wishes for his success; and if here or at Oxford I can be of any use, that I shall

think

it

more than honour to promote his under-

taking. I

am,

am

sorry that

Sir

your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

I

delayed so long to write.

I

Johnson's-court, Fleet-street Aug. 13, 1766

The opponents of this pious scheme being made ashamed of their conduct, the benevolent undertaking was allowed to go on. The following letters, though not written till the year after, being chiefly upon the same subject, are here inserted.

To Mr. William Drummond Sir, That my letter should have had such effects as you mention, gives me great pleasure. I hope you do not flatter me by imputing to me more good than I have really done. Those whom my arguments have persuaded to change Dear

their opinion, shew such modesty and candour as deserve great praise. I hope the worthy translator goes diligently forward. He has a higher reward in prospect

than any honours which this world can bestow. I wish I could be useful to him. The publication of my letter, if it could be of use in a cause to which all other causes are nothing, I should not prohibit. But first, I would have you consider whether the publication will really do any good; next, whether by printing and distributing a very small number, you may not attain all that you propose; and, what perhaps I should have said first, whether the letter, which I do not now perfectly remember, be fit to be printed. If you can consult Dr. Robertson, to whom I am a little known, I shall be satisfied about the propriety of whatever he shall direct. If he thinks that it should be printed, I entreat bim to revise it; there may, perhaps, be some negligent lines ^The Rev. Mr. John Campbell, Minister of the Parish of Kippen, near Stirhng, who has lately favoured me with a long, intelligenft, and very obliging letter upon this work, makes the following remark: "Dr. Johnson has alluded to the worthy man employed in the translation of the New Testament. Might not this have afforded you an opportunity of paying a proper tribute of respect to the memory of the Rev. Mr. James Stuart, late Minister of KUlLn, distinguished by his eminent Piety, Learning and Taste? The amiable simplicity of his life, his warm benevolence, his indefatigable and successful exertions for civilizing and improving the Parish of which he was Minister for upwards of fifty years, entitle him to the gratitude of his country, and the veneration of all good men. It certainly would be a pity, if such a character should be permitted to sink into oblivion."

—

[1767

written, and whatever well how to rectify.

is

amiss, he

knows very

Be pleased to let me know, from time to time, how this excellent design goes forward. Make my compliments to young Mr. Drum-

mond, whom I hope you will live to see such as you desire him. I have not lately seen Mr. Elphinston, but believe him to be prosperous. I shall be glad to hear the same of you, for I am. Sir, your affectionate humble servant, Sam. Johnson Johnson's-court, Fleet-street April 21, 1767

To THE Same week from the country, an absence of near six months, and found your letter with many others, which I should have answered sooner, if I had sooner seen them. Dr. Robertson's opinion was surely right. Men should not be told of the faults which they have mended. I am glad the old language is taught, and honour the translator as a man whom God has distinguished by the high office of propagatSir, I returned this

after

ing his word. I must take the liberty of engaging you in an office of charity. Mrs. Heely, the wife of Mr. Heely, who had lately some office in your theatre, is my near relation, and now in great distress. They wrote me word of their situation some time ago, to which I returned them an answer which raised hopes of more than it is proper

me to give them. Their representation of their affairs I have discovered to be such as cannot be trusted; and at this distance, though their case requires haste, I know not how to act. She,

for

or her daughters, may be heard of at Canongate Head. I must beg. Sir, that you will enquire after them, and let me know what is to be done. I am willing to go to ten pounds, and will transmit you such a sum, if upon examination you find it likely to be of use. If they are in immediate want, advance them what you think proper. What I could do, I would do for the women, having no great reason to pay much re-

gard to Heely himself.^ I believe you may receive some intelligence from Mrs. Baker, of the theatre, whose letter I received at the same time with yours; and to whom, if you see her, you will make my excuse for the seeming neglect of answering her. Whatever you advance within ten pounds shall be immediately returned to you, or paid as you

^This paragraph shews Johnson's real estimation of the character and abilities of the celebrated Scottish Historian, however lightly, in a moment of caprice, he may have spoken of his works. ^This is the person concerning whom Sir John Hawkins has thrown out very unwarrantable reflections both against Dr. Johnson and Mr. Francis Barber.

LIFE OF

1767] shall order. I trust

am,

Sir,

wholly to your judgement.

I

&c.

Sam. Johnson

London, Johnson's-court, Oct. 24,

Fleet-street

1767 alike distinguished

Here Johnson comes, unblest with outward grace. rigid morals stamped upon his face. While strong conceptions struggle in his brain;

His

brought to-bed with pain:)

To view him, porters with

their loads

And babes clingfrighted to

would rest.

the nurse's breast.

Debating whether they should stay or run. Virtue steps forth, and claims him for her son: With gentle speech she warns him now to yield. his glories in the doubtful field;

But wrapt in conscious worth, content sit down. Since Fame, resolv'd his various pleas to crown. Though fore' d his present claim to disavow.

Had long reserv'd a chapletfor his brow. He bows, obeys; for time shall first expire. Ere Johnson stay, when Virtue bids retire.

The Honourable Thomas Hervey^ and

his

lady having unhappily disagreed, and being about to separate, Johnson interfered as their friend, and wrote him a letter of expostulation, which I have not been able to find; but the substance of it is ascertained by a letter to Johnson in answer to it, which Mr. Hervey printed. The occasion of this correspondence between Dr. Johnson and Mr. Hervey, was thus related to

me by Mr. Beauclerk. "Tom Hervey had a great and in his will had left him a legacy of fifty pounds. One day he said to me, 'Johnson may want this money now, more than afterwards. I have a mind to give it him directly. Will you be so good as to carry a fifty pound note from me to him?' This I positively refused liking for Johnson,

him

in The European

mentioned

to Johnson this story, in as

pound note was given

fifty

to

me

that the

him by Mr. Her-

vey in consideration of his having written for him a pamphlet against Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, who, Mr. Hervey imagined, was the authour of an attack upon him; but that it was afterwards discovered to be the work of a garreteer who wrote The Fool: the pamphlet there-

was not printed. In February, 1767, there happened one of the most remarkable incidents of Johnson's life, which gratified his monarchical enthusiasm, and which he loved to relate with all its circumstances, when requested by his friends. This was his being honoured by a private conversation with his Majesty, in the library at the Queen's house. He had frequently visited those splendid rooms and noble collection of books,^ which he used to say was more numerous and curious than he supposed any person could have made in the time which the King had employed. Mr. Barnard, the librarian, took care that he should have every accommodation that could contribute to his ease and convenience, while indulging his literary taste in that place; so that he had here a very agreeable resource at leisure

fore against Sir Charles

With looks convuls'd he roars in pompous strain, And, like an angry lion, shakes his mane. The Nine, with terrour struck, who ne'er had seen. Aught human with so horrible a mien,

^See an account of Jan., 1786.

against parting with his wife." delicate terms as I could, he told

In this poem there was the following portrait of Johnson:

Nor stain

note, I should take care to deliver it. He accordingly did v^rite him a letter, mentioning that he was only paying a legacy a little sooner. To his letter he added, 'P.S. / am going to pari with my wife.' Johnson then wrote to him, saying nothing of the note, but remonstrating with him

When I

Prove by their heels the prowess of the head.

is

153

knocked me down for insulting him, and have afterwards put the note in his pocket. But I said, if Hervey would write him a letter, and enclose a fifty to do, as he might, perhaps, have

pound

by his genius, misfortunes, and misconduct, published this year a poem, called "The Race, by Mercurius Spur, Esq.," in which he whimsically made the living poets of England contend for pre-eminence of fame by running:

Mr. Cuthbert Shaw,^

{For even wit

JOHNSON

Maga-

zine,

^The Hon. Thomas Hervey, whose Letter to Sir Thomas Hanmer in 1742 was much read at that time. He was the second son of John, first Earl of Bristol, and one of the brothers of Johnson's early friend, Henry Hervey. He died Jan. 20, 1775. [M.]

hours.

His Majesty having been informed of his occawas pleased to signify a desire that he should be told when Dr. Johnson came next to the library. Accordingly, the next time that Johnson did come, as soon as he was fairly engaged with a book, on which, while he sat by sional visits,

the

he seemed quite intent, Mr. Barnard round to the apartment where the King

fire,

stole

^Dr. Johnson had the honour of contributing his assistance towards the formation of this library; for I have read a long letter from him to Mr. Barnard, giving the most masterly instructions on the subject. I wished much to have gratified my readers with the perusal of this letter, and have reason to think that his Majesty would have been graciously pleased to permit its publication; but Mr. Barnard, to whom I applied, declined it "on his own account."

BOSWELL

154

was, and, in obedience to his Majesty's commands, mentioned tliat Dr. Johnson was then in the Hbrary. His Majesty said he was at leisure, and would go to him; upon which Mr. Bar-

nard took one of the candles that stood on the King's table, and lighted his Majesty through a suite of rooms, till they came to a private door into the library, of which his Majesty had the key. Being entered, Mr. Barnard stepped forward hastily to Dr. Johnson, who was still in a profound study, and whispered him, "Sir, here is

and stood His Majesty approached him, and at once

the King." Johnson started up,

still.

was courteously easy.^ His Majesty began by observing, that he understood he came sometimes to the library; and then mentioning his having heard that the Doctor had been lately at Oxford, asked him if he was not fond of going thither. To which Johnson answered, that he was indeed fond of going to Oxford sometimes, but was likewise glad to come back again. The King then asked him what they were doing at Oxford. Johnson answered, he could not much commend their diligence, but that in some respects they were mended, for they had put their press under better regulations, and were at that time printing Polybius.

He was then asked whether there were Oxford or Cambridge. He an-

[1767

good use of them as they do." Being asked whether All-Souls or Christ-Church library was the largest, he answered, "All-Souls library is the largest we have, except the Bodleian." "Aye, (said the King.) that is the pub-

make

as

lick library."

His Majesty enquired if he was then writing thing. He answered, he was not, for he had pretty well told the world what he knew, and must now read to acquire more knowledge. The King, as it should seem with a view to urge him

any

to rely

and

on

his

own

stores as

an original

to continue his labours, then said "I

think you borrow

writer,

do not

much from any body." John-

son said, he thought he had already done his part as a writer. "I should have thought so too, (said the King,) if you had not written so well." ^Johnson observed to me, upon this, that "No man could have paid a handsomer compliment; and it was fit for a King to pay. It was decisive." When asked by another friend, at Sir Joshua

—

Reynolds's, whether he

made any

reply to this

high compliment, he answered, "No, Sir. When the King had said it, it was to be so. It was not for me to bandy civilities with my Sovereign." Perhaps no man who had spent his whole life in courts could have shewn a more nice and dignified sense of true politeness, than Johnson did

better libraries at

in this instance.

swered, he believed the Bodleian was larger than any they had at Cambridge; at the same time adding, "I hope, whether we have more books

His Majesty having observed to him that he supposed he must have read a great deal; Johnson answered, that he thought more than he read; that he had read a great deal in the early part of his life, but having fallen into ill health, he had not been able to read much, compared with others: for instance, he said he had not read much, compared with Dr. Warburton. Upon which the King said, that he heard Dr. Warburton was a man of such general knowledge, that you could scarce talk with him on any subject on which he was not qualified to speak; and that his learning resembled Garrick's acting, in its universality.^ His Majesty then talked of the controversy between Warburton and Lowth, which he seemed to have read, and asked Johnson what he thought of it. Johnson answered, "Warburton has most general, most scholastick learning; Lowth is the more correct scholar. I do not know which of

or not than they have at Cambridge,

we

shall

^The particulars of this conversation I have been at great pains to collect with the utmost authenticity from Dr. Johnson's own detail to myself; from Mr. Langton who was present when he gave an account of it to Dr. Joseph Warton, and several other friends, at Sir Joshua Reynolds's; from Mr. Barnard; from the copy of a letter written by the late Mr. Strahan the printer, to Bishop Warburton; and from a minute, the original of which is among the papers of the late Sir James Caldwell, and a copy of which was most obligingly obtained for me from his son Sir John Caldwell, by Sir Francis Lumm. To all these gentlemen I beg leave to make my grateful acknowledgements, and particularly to Sir Francis Lumm, who was pleased to take a great deal of trouble, and even had the minute laid before the King by Lord Caermarthen, now Duke of Leeds, then one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, who announced to Sir Francis the Royal pleasure concerning it by a letter, in these words: "I have the King's commands to assure you, Sir, how sensible his Majesty is of your attention in communicating the minute of the conversation previous to its publication. As there appears no objection to your complying with Mr. Boswell's wishes on the subject, you are at full liberty to deliver it to that gentleman, to make such use of in his Life of Dr. Johnson, as he may think proper."

names best." The King was pleased was of the same opinion; adding, "You ^The Rev. Mr. Strahan clearly recollects having been told by Johnson that the King observed that Pope made Warburton a Bishop. "True, Sir, (said Johnson,) but Warburton did more for Pope; he made him a Christian": alluding, no doubt, to his ingenious Comments on the Essay on Man.

them

calls

to say he

LIFE OF

1767] do not

think, then, Dr. Johnson, that there

was

much argument in the case." Johnson said, he did not think there was. "Why truly, (said the King,) when once it comes to calHng names, argument is pretty well at an end." His Majesty then asked him what he thought of Lord Lyttelton's History, which was then just published. Johnson said, he thought his style had blamed Henry the Second rather too much. "Why, (said the King,) they seldom do these things by halves." "No, Sir, (answered Johnson,) not to Kings." But fearing to be misunderstood, he proceeded to explain himself; and immediately subjoined, "That for those who spoke worse of Kings than they deserved, he could find no excuse; but that he could more easily conceive how some might speak better of them than they deserved, without any ill intention; for, as Kings had much in their power to give, those who were favoured by them would frequently, from gratitude, exaggerate their praises; and as this proceeded from a good motive, it was certainly excusable, as far pretty good, but that he

as errour could be excusable."

The King then asked him what he thought of Dr. Hill. Johnson answered, that he was an ingenious man, but had no veracity; and immediately mentioned, as an instance of it, an assertion of that writer, that he had seen objects magnified to a much greater degree by using three or four microscopes at a time, than by using one. "Now, (added Johnson,) every one acquainted with microscopes knows, that the more of them he looks through, the less the object will appear." "Why, (replied the King,) this is not only telling an untruth, but telling it clumsily; for, if that be the case, every one who can look through a microscope will be able to detect him."

"I now, (said Johnson to his friends, when relating what had passed) began to consider that I was depreciating this man in the estimation of his Sovereign, and thought it was time for me to say something that might be more favourable." He added, therefore, that Dr. Hill was, notwithstanding, a very curious observer; and if he would have been contented to tell the world no more than he knew, he might have been a very considerable man, and needed not to have recourse to such mean expedients to raise his reputation.

The King then

talked of literary journals, mentioned particularly the Journal des Savans,

and asked Johnson if it was well done. Johnson it was formerly very well done, and gave some account of the persons who began it, and said,

JOHNSON

155

on for some years; enlarging, at the same time, on the nature and use of such works. The King asked him if it was well done now. Johnson answered, he had no reason to think carried

that

it

it

was.

The King then asked him

if

there

were any other literary journals published in this kingdom, except the Monthly and Critical Reviews; and on being answered there were no other, his Majesty asked which of them was the best: Johnson answered, that The Monthly Review was done with most care, the Critical upon the best principles; adding that the authours of The Monthly Review were enemies to the Church. This the King said he was sorry to hear. The conversation next turned on the Philosophical Transactions, when Johnson observed, that they

had now a

better

method

of arranging

their materials than formerly.

"Aye, (said the King,) they are obliged to Dr. Johnson for that"; for his Majesty had heard and remembered the circumstance, which Johnson himself

had

forgot.

His Majesty expressed a desire to have the literary biography of this country ably executed, and proposed to Dr. Johnson to undertake it. Johnson signified his readiness to comply with his Majesty's wishes.

During the whole of

this interview,

Johnson

talked to his Majesty with profound respect, but still in his firm manly manner, with a sonorous

and never

subdued tone which is and in the drawingroom. After the King withdrew, Johnson shewed voice,

commonly used

in that

at the levee

himself highly pleased with his Majesty's conversation, and gracious behaviour. He said to Mr. Barnard, "Sir, they may talk of the King as they will; but he is the finest gentleman I have ever seen." And he afterwards observed to Mr.

Langton, "Sir, his manners are those of as fine a gentleman as we may suppose Lewis the Fourteenth or Charles the Second." At Sir Joshua Reynolds's, where a circle of Johnson's friends was collected round him to hear his account of this memorable conversation, Dr. Joseph Warton, in his frank and lively manner, was very active in pressing him to mention the particulars. "Come now, Sir, this is an interesting matter; do favour us with it." Johnson, with great good humour, complied.

He

told them, "I found his Majesty wished

I

my business to talk.

I

should

talk,

and

I

made

it

does a man good to be talked to by his Sovereign. In the first place, a man cannot be ." Here some question interrupted in a passion him, which is to be regretted, as he certainly find

it

—

BOSWELL

156

would have pointed out and illustrated many circumstances of advantage, from being in a situation, where the powers of the mind are at once excited to vigorous exertion, and tempered by reverential awe. During all the time in which Dr. Johnson was employed in relating to the circle at Sir Joshua Reynolds's the particulars of what passed between the King and him, Dr. Goldsmith remained unmoved upon a sopha at some distance, affecting not to join in the least in the eager cu-

company. He assigned as a reason gloom and seeming inattention, that he apprehended Johnson had relinquished his purpose of furnishing him with a Prologue to his play, with the hopes of which he had been flattered; but it was strongly suspected that he was fretting with chagrin and envy at the singular honour Dr. Johnson had lately enjoyed. At length, the frankness and simplicity of his natural character prevailed. He sprung from the sopha, advanced to Johnson, and in a kind of flutter, from imagining himself in the situation which he had just been hearing described, exclaimed, "Well, you acquitted yourself in this riosity of the

for his

I should have done; have bowed and stammered through

conversation better than for I should

the whole of it." I

received no letter from Johnson this year;

nor have I discovered any of the correspondence^ he had, except the two letters to Mr. Drummond, which have been inserted, for the sake of connection with that to the same gentleman in 1 766. His diary affords no light as to his

employment at this time. He passed three months at Lichfield; and I cannot omit an affecting and solemn scene there, as related by himself: "Sunday, Oct. 18. 1767. Yesterday, Oct. 17, at about ten in the morning, I took my leave for ever of my dear old friend, Catharine Chambers, who came to live with my mother about 1724, and has been but little parted from us since. She buried my father, my brother, and my mother. She is now fifty-eight years old. "I desired all to withdraw, then told her that we were to part for ever; that as Christians, we should part with prayer; and that I would, if she was willing, say a short prayer beside her. She expressed great desire to hear me; and held ^It is proper here to mention, that when I speak of his correspondence, I consider it independent of the voluminous collection of letters which, in the course of many years, he wrote to Mrs. Thrale, which forms a separate part of his works; and as a proof of the high estimation set on any thing which came from his pen, was sold by that lady for the sum of five hundred pounds.

[1767

up her poor hands, fervour, while

I

as she lay in bed, with great

prayed, kneeling by her, nearly

in the following words:

"Almighty and most merciful Father, whose thy works, behold, who is grieved with sickness. Grant that the sense of her weakness may add strength to her faith, and seriousness to her repentance. And grant that by the help of thy Holy Spirit, after the pains and labours of this short life, we may all obtain everlasting happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord; for whose sake hear our prayers. Amen. Our Father, &c. "I then kissed her. She told me, that to part was the greatest pain that she had ever felt, and that she hoped we should meet again in a better place. I expressed, with swelled eyes, and great loving kindness visit,

and

is

over

all

relieve this thy servant,

emotion of tenderness, the same hopes. We kissed, and parted. I humbly hope to meet again, and to part no more."^ By those who have been taught to look upon Johnson as a man of a harsh and stern character, let this tender and affectionate scene be candidly read; and let them then judge whether more warmth of heart, and grateful kindness, is often found in human nature. We have the following notice in his devotional record: "August 2, 1767. I have been disturbed and unsettled for a long time, and have been without resolution to apply to study or to business, being hindered by sudden snatches."^ He, however, furnished Mr. Adams with a Dedication* to the King of that ingenious gentleman's Treatise on the Globes, conceived and

—

expressed in such a manner as could not fail to be very grateful to a Monarch, distinguished for his love of the sciences. This year was published a ridicule of his style, under the title oi Lexiphanes. Sir John Hawkins ascribes it to Dr. Kenrick; but its authour was one Campbell, a Scotch purser in the navy. The ridicule consisted in applying Johnson's "words of large meaning" to insignificant matters, as if one should put the armour of Goliath upon a dwarf. The contrast might be laughable; but the dignity of the armour must remain the same in all considerate minds. This malicious drollery, therefore, it may easily be supposed, could do

no harm

to

its

illustrious object.

-Prayers and Meditations, pp. 77 and 78. Hbid., p. 73. Aug. 17, he recorded:

On

— "By

abstinence from wine and suppers I obtained sudden and great relief, and had freedom of mind restored to me, which I have wanted for all this year, without being able to find any means of obtaining it." Ibid., p. 74.

— LIFE OF

1768]

To Bennet Langton,

Esq.,

Rothwell's, perfumer,

at Mr.

in

New

Bond-street, London Dear Sir, That you have been all summer in London, is one more reason for which I regret my long stay in the country. I hope that you

town before my return. We have here only the chance of vacancies in the passing carriages, and I have bespoken one that may, if it happens, bring me to town on the fourteenth of this month; but this is not certain. It will be a favour if you communicate this to Mrs. Williams: I long to see all my friends. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson will not leave the

Lichfield, Oct. lo, 1767

It appears from his notes 1768: ^tat. 59.] of the state of his mind,^ that he suffered great

perturbation and distraction in 1768. Nothing of his writing was given to the publick this year, except the Prologue * to his friend Goldsmith's comedy of The Good-natured Man. The first lines of this Prologue are strongly characteristical of the dismal gloom of his mind; which in his case, as in the case of all who are distressed with the same malady of imagination, transfers to others its own feelings. Who could suppose it was to introduce a comedy, when Mr. Bensley solemnly began. Pressed with the load of life, the weary mind Surveys the general toil of human kind.

JOHNSON during

dark ground might make Goldsmith's the more. In the spring of this year, having published my Account of Corsica, with the Journal of a Tour to that Island, I returned to London, very desirous to see Dr. Johnson, and hear him upon the subject. I found he was at Oxford, with his friend Mr. Chambers, who was now Vinerian Professor, and lived in New Inn Hall. Having had no letter from him since that in which he criticised the Latinity of my Thesis, and having been told by somebody that he was off"ended at my having put into my Book an extract of his letter to me at Paris, I was impatient to be with him, and therefore followed him to Oxford, where I was entertained by Mr. Chambers, with this

humour shine

a civility which I shall ever gratefully remember. I found that Dr. Johnson had sent a letter to me to Scotland, and that I had nothing to complain of but his being more indiff"erent to my anxiety than I wished him to be. Instead of giv-

with the circumstances of time and place, such fragments of his conversation as I preserved ing,

Ubid., p. 81.

Oxford,

I shall

throw them

together in continuation. I asked him whether, as a moralist, he did not think that the practice of the law, in some degree, hurt the nice feeling of honesty. Johnson.

"Why no.

Sir, if

you act properly. You are not

to deceive your clients with false representations

of your opinion: you are not to tell lies to a judge." Boswell. "But what do you think of supporting a cause which you know to be bad?" Johnson. "Sir, you do not know it to be good or bad till the Judge determines it. I have said that

you are to state facts fairly; so that your thinkwhat you call knowing, a cause to be bad, must be from reasoning, must be from your supposing your arguments to be weak and incon-

ing, or

clusive. But, Sir, that

is

not enough.

An

argu-

ment which does not convince yourself, may convince the Judge to whom you urge it: and if it does convince him, why, then,

Sir, you are wrong, and he is right. It is his business to judge; and you are not to be confident in your own opinion that a cause is bad, but to say all you can for your client, and then hear the Judge's opinion." Boswell. "But, Sir, does not aff"ecting a warmth when you have no warmth, and appearing to be clearly of one opinion when you are in reality of

another opinion, does not such dissimulation impair one's honesty? Is there not some danger that

a lawyer

may put on the same mask in common

with his friends?" JohnEverybody knows you are paid for affecting warmth for your client; and it is, therefore, properly no dissimulation: the moment you come from the bar you resume your usual behaviour. Sir, a man will no more carry life,

son.

But

157

this visit to

in the intercourse

"Why

no. Sir.

the artifice of the bar into the common intercourse of society, than a man who is paid for

tumbling upon his hands will continue to tumble upon his hands when he should walk on his feet." Talking of some of the modern plays, he said False Delicacy was totally void of character. He

Man; said, it comedy that had appeared since The Husband, and that there had not been

praised Goldsmith's Good-natured

was the

best

Provoked

any such character exhibited on the stage it was the Suspirius of his Rambler. He said. Goldsmith had owned he had borrowed it from thence. "Sir, of late

as that of Croaker. I observed

(continued he,) there

is all

the difference in the

world between characters of nature and characters of manners; and there is the difference between the characters of Fielding and those of Richardson. Characters of manners are very entertaining; but they are to be understood by a more superficial observer than characters of na-

BOSWELL

158 ture,

the

where a

human

It

man must dive

into the recesses of

heart."

ahvays appeared to

me

that he estimated

the compositions of Richardson too highly, and that he had an unreasonable prejudice against

comparing those two writers, he "that there was as great a difference between them as between a man who knew how a watch was made, and a man who could tell the hour by looking on the dial-plate." This was a short and figurative state of his distinction between drawing characters of nature and characters only of manners. But I cannot Fielding. In

used

this expression:

help being of opinion, that the neat watches of Fielding are as well constructed as the large clocks of Richardson, and that his dial-plates are brighter. Fielding's characters, though they do not expand themselves so widely in dissertation, are as just pictures of human nature, and I will

venture to say, have more striking features, and nicer touches of the pencil; and though Johnson used to quote with approbation a saying of Richardson's, "that the virtues of Fielding's heroes were the vices of a truly good man," I will venture to add, that the moral tendency of Fielding's writings, though it does not encourage a strained and rarely possible virtue, is ever favourable to honour and honesty, and cherishes the benevolent and generous affections. He who is as good as Fielding would make him, is an amiable member of society, and may be led on by more regulated instructors, to a higher state of ethical perfection.

Johnson proceeded Even Sir Francis Wronghead is a character of manners, though drawn with great humour." He then repeated, very happily, all Sir Francis's credulous account to Manly of his being with "the great man," and securing a place. I asked him, if The Suspicious Husband did not furnish a well-drawn character, that of Ranger. Johnson. "No, Sir; Ranger is just a rake, a mere rake, and a lively young fellow, but no character." The great Douglas Cause was at this time a very general subject of discussion. I found he had not studied it with much attention, but had only heard parts of it occasionally. He, however, talked of it, and said, "I am of opinion :

'

'

that positive proof of fraud should not be required of the plaintiff, but that the Judges should decide according as probability shall appear to preponderate, granting to the defendant the presumption of filiation to be strong in his favour. And I think too, that a good deal of weight should be allowed to the dying declarations, because they were spontaneous. There is a great differ-

[1768

ence between what is said without our being urged to it, and what is said from a kind of compulsion. If I praise a man's book without being asked my opinion of it, that is honest praise, to which one may trust. But if an authour asks me if I like his book, and I give him something like praise, it must not be taken as my real opinion." "I have not been troubled for a long time with authours desiring my opinion of their works. I used once to be sadly plagued with a man who wrote verses, but who literally had no other notion of a verse, but that it consisted of ten syllables. Lay your knife and your fork, across your plate,

was

to

him a

Layyour

verse:

andyour fork, across your plate.

knife

As he wrote a great number of verses, he sometimes by chance made good ones, though he did not

know

it."

He renewed

his promise of coming to Scotand going with me to the Hebrides, but said he would now content himself with seeing one or two of the most curious of them. He said, "Macaulay, who writes the account of St. Kilda, set out with a prejudice against prejudices, and wanted to be a smart modern thinker; and yet

land,

he affirms for a truth, that when a ship arrives there, all the inhabitants are seized with a cold." Dr. John Campbell, the celebrated writer, took a great deal of pains to ascertain this

fact,

and attempted to account for it on physical principles, from the effect of effluvia from human bodies. Johnson, at another time, praised Macaulay for his '''magnanimity,'''' in asserting this wonderful story, because it was well attested. A Lady of Norfolk, by a letter to my friend Dr. Burney, has favoured me with the following solution:

"Now for

mystery, which

the explication of this seeming

is

so very obvious as, for that

reason, to have escaped the penetration of Dr.

Johnson and his friend, as well as that of the authour. Reading the book with my ingenious friend, the late Reverend Mr. Christian, of Docking after ruminating a little, 'The cause, (says

—

is a natural one. The situation of St. Kilda renders a North-East Wind indispensably necessary before a stranger can land. The wind, not the stranger, causes an epidemic cold.' If I am not mistaken, Mr. Macaulay is dead; if living, this solution might please him, as I hope it will Mr. Boswell, in return for the m.any agreeable

he,)

hours his works have afforded us." Johnson expatiated on the advantages of Oxford for learning.

"There

is

here. Sir, (said he,)

such a progressive emulation. The students are anxious to appear well to their tutors; the tutors

LIFE OF

1768

are anxious to have their pupils appear well in

the college; the colleges are anxious to have their students appear well in the University; and there are excellent rules of discipline in every college.

JOHNSON ble dog,

we

159

don't

know what

him"; Johnson, rolling with joy at the thought which beamed in his eye, turned quickly round, and replied, "True, Sir: and when we see a very foolto think of

sometimes ill observed, may nothing against the system. The members of an University may, for a season, be unmindful of their duty. I am arguing for the

we don't know what to think oi him." then rose up, strided to the fire, and stood for some time laughing and exulting.

excellency of the institution."

experiment of placing a scorpion within a circle of burning coals; that it ran round and round in extreme pain; and finding no way to escape, retired to the centre, and like a true Stoick philosopher, darted its sting into its head, and thus at once freed itself from its woes. " This

That the

rules are

be true; but

is

Of Guthrie, he said, "Sir, he is a man of parts. He has no great regular fund of knowledge; but by reading so long, and writing so long, he no doubt has picked up a good deal." He said he had lately been a long while at Lichfield, but had grown very weary before he left it. BoswTELL. "I wonder at that. Sir; it is your native place." Johnson. "Why, so is Scotland your native place."

His prejudice against Scotland appeared remarkably strong at this time. When I talked of our advancement in literature, "Sir, (said he,) you have learnt a little from us, and you think yourselves very great men. Hume would never have written History, had not Voltaire written it before him. He is an echo of Voltaire." Boswell. "But, Sir, we have Lord Kames." Johnson. "You have Lord Kames. Keep him; ha, ha, ha! We don't envy you him. Do you ever see Dr. Robertson?" Boswell. "Yes, Sir." Johnson. "Does the dog talk of me?" Boswell. "Indeed, Sir, he does, and loves you." Thinking that I now had him in a corner, and being solicitous for the literary fame of my country, I pressed him for his opinion on the merit of Dr. Robertson's History of Scotland. But, to my surhe escaped. "Sir, I love Robertson, and I won't talk of his book." It is but justice both to him and Dr. Robertson to add, that though he indulged himself in this sally of wit, he had too good taste not to be fully sensible of the merits of that admirable work. An essay, written by Mr. Deane, a divine of the Church of England, maintaining the future

—

prize,

life

of brutes,

by an explication of certain parts was mentioned, and the docon by a gentleman who seemed

of the scriptures, trine insisted

fond of curious speculation. Johnson, who did not like to hear of any thing concerning a future state which was not authorised by the regular canons of orthodoxy, discouraged this talk; and being offended at its continuation, he watched an opportunity to give the gentleman a blow of reprehension. So, when the poor speculatist, with a serious metaphysical pensive face, addressed him, "But really. Sir, when we see a very sensi-

hh. fellow,

He

I

told

him

that

I

had

several times,

when

in

Italy, seen the

must end 'em." I said, this was a curious fact, as it shewed deliberate suicide in a reptile. Johnson would not admit the fact. He said, Maupertuis^ was of opinion that it does not kill itself, but dies of the heat; that

it

gets to the centre of the circle,

as the coolest place; that its turning

upon

head

its tail

in

merely a convulsion, and that it does not sting itself. He said he would be satisfied if the great anatomist Morgagni, after dissecting a scorpion on which the experiment had been tried, should certify that its sting had peneits

trated into

its

He seemed

is

head. pleased to talk of natural philos-

ophy. "That woodcocks, (said he,) fly over to the northern countries is proved, because they have been observed at sea. Swallows certainly sleep all the winter. A number of them conglobulate together, by flying round and round, and then all in a heap throw themselves under water, and lye in the bed of a river." He told us, one of his first essays was a Latin poem upon the glow-worm. I am sorry I did not ask where it was to be found. Talking of the Russians and the Chinese, he advised me to read Bell's travels. I asked him whether I should read Du Halde's account of China. "Why yes, (said he,) as one reads such a book; that is to say, consult it." ij should think it impossible not to wonder at the variety of Johnson's reading, however desultory it may have been. Who could have imagined that the High Church of England-man would be so prompt in quoting Maupertuis, who, I am sorry to think, stands in the list of those unfortunate mistaken men, who call themselves espritsforts. I have, however, a high respect for that Philosopher whom the Great Frederick of Prussia loved and honoured, and addressed pathetically in one of his Poems, Maupertuis, cher Maupertuis, Que notre vie est peu de chose! There was in Maupertuis a vigour and yet a tenderness of sentiment, united with strong intellectual powers, and uncommon ardour of soul. Would he had been a Christian! I cannot help earnestly venturing to hope that he is one now.

BOSWELL

i6o

He

talked of the heinousness of the crime of

adultery, by which the peace of families

He

was de-

"Confusion of progeny constitutes the essence of the crime; and therefore a woman who breaks her marriage vows is much more criminal than a man who does it. A man, to be sure, is criminal in the sight of God: but he does not do his wife a very material injury, if he does not insult her; if, for instance, from mere wantonness of appetite, he steals privately to her chambermaid. Sir, a wife ought not greatly to resent this. I would not receive home a daughter who had run away from her husband on that account. A wife should study to reclaim her husband by more attention to please him. Sir, a man will not, once in a hundred instances, leave his wife and go to a harlot, if his wife has not been negligent of pleasing." Here he discovered that acute discrimination, that solid judgement, and that knowledge of human nature, for which he was upon all occasions remarkable. Taking care to keep in view the moral and religious duty, as understood in our nation, he shewed clearly from reason and good sense, the greater degree of culpability in the one sex deviating from it than the other; and, at the same time, inculcated a very useful lesson as to the way to keep him. I asked him if it was not hard that one deviation from chastity should so absolutely ruin a young woman. Johnson. "Why, no, Sir; it is the stroyed.

forcibly."

At this time I observed upon the dial-plate of watch a short Greek inscription, taken from

said,

is taught. When she has given up that principle, she has given up every notion of female honour and virtue, which are all included in chastity." A gentleman talked to him of a lady whom he greatly admired and wished to marry, but was

great principle which she

his

the

you need not be

afraid;

marry

her. Before a

year goes about, you'll find that reason much weaker, and that wit not so bright." Yet the gentleman may be justified in his apprehension by one of Dr. Johnson's admirable sentences in his life of Waller: "He doubtless praised many whom he would have been afraid to marry; and, perhaps, married one whom he would have been ashamed to praise. Many qualities contribute to domestic happiness, upon which poetry has no colours to bestow; and many airs and sallies may delight imagination, which he who flatters them never can approve." He praised Signor Baretti. "His account of Italy is a very entertaining book; and, Sir, I know no man who carries his head higher in conversation than Baretti. There are strong powers in his mind. He has not, indeed, many hooks;

New

Testament, Ni;^ yap

epx^^raL,

being

words of our Saviour's solemn admonition to the improvement of that time which is the

first

allowed us to prepare for eternity: "the night cometh, when no man can work." He sometime afterwards laid aside this dial-plate; and when I asked him the reason, he said, "It might do very well upon a clock which a man keeps in his closet; but to have it upon his watch which he carries about with him, and which is often looked at by others, might be censured as ostentatious." Mr. Steevens is now possessed of the dial-plate inscribed as above. He remained at Oxford a considerable time; I was obliged to go to London, where I received his letter, which had been returned from Scotland.

To James

Bosw^ll, Esq. Boswell, I have omitted a long write to you, without knowing very well

My Dear time to

I could now tell why I should not write; who would write to men who publish the

why. for

without their leave? Yet write to you in spite of my caution, to tell you that I shall be glad to see you, and that I wish you would empty your head of Corsica, which I think has filled it rather too long. But, at all events, I shall be glad, very glad to see you. I am, Sir, yours aff"ectionately

letters of their friends, I

Sam. Johnson Oxford, March 23, 1768 I

answered thus:

To Mr. Samuel Johnson.

afraid of her superiority of talents. "Sir, (said he,)

[1768

but with what hooks he has, he grapples very

London, 26th April, 1 768 have received your last letwhich, though very short, and by no means

My Dear ter,

Sir,

I

complimentary, yet gave me real pleasure, because it contains these words, "I shall be glad, very glad to see you." Surely you have no reason to complain of my publishing a single paragraph of one of your letters; the temptation to it was so strong. An irrevocable grant of your friendship, and your dignifying my desire of visiting Corsica with the epithet of "a wise and noble curiosity," are to me more valuable than many of the grants of kings.

But how can you bid me "empty my head of My noble-minded friend, do you not feel for an oppressed nation bravely struggling Corsica?"

to be free? Considei fairly what is the case. The Corsicans never received any kindness from the Genoese. They never agreed to be subject to them. They owe them nothing; and when re-

duced

to

an abject

state of slavery,

by

force,

JOHNSON

LIFE OF

1768]

not rise in the great cause of Hberty, and break the galling yoke? And shall not every liberal soul be warm for them? Empty my head of Corsica Empty it of honour, empty it of humanity, empty it of friendship, empty it of piety. No while I live, Corsica and the cause of the brave islanders shall ever employ much of my attention, shall ever interest me in the sincerest manner. ... I am, &c. James Boswtell shall they

!

!

Upon his arrival in London in May, he surme one morning with a visit at my lodg-

die

me

any notice of

to take

was quite satisfied with my explanation, and was in the kindest and most agreeable frame of mind. As he had objected to a part of one of his letters being pubthought

lished, I

it

right to take this opportun-

him explicitly whether

it would be improper to publish his letters after his death. His answer was, "Nay, Sir, when I am dead, you may do as you will." He talked in his usual style with a rough contempt of popular liberty. "They make a rout about universal liberty, without considering that all that is to be valued, or indeed can be enjoyed by individuals, is private liberty. Political liberty is good only so far as it produces private liberty. Now, Sir, there is the liberty of the press, which you know is a constant topick. Suppose you and I and two hundred more were restrained from printing our thoughts: what then? What proportion would that restraint upon us bear to the

ity of asking

private happiness of the nation?"

This

mode of representing the inconveniences and insignificant, was a kind which he delighted to indulge opposition to the extreme laxity for

of restraint as light of sophistry in himself, in

which

has been fashionable for too

it

when

many

to

upon reflection, that the very essence of government is restraint; and certain it is, that as government produces raargue,

it is

evident,

tional happiness, too

much

restraint

But when restraint

is

better

unnecessary, and so close as to gall those who are subject to it, the people may and ought to remonstrate; and, if relief is not granted, to resist. Of

than too

little.

is

manly and spirited principle, no man was more convinced than Johnson himself. About this time Dr. Kenrick attacked him, through my sides, in a pamphlet, entitled An

this

Epistle to

James Boswell,

Esq., occasioned by his hav-

ing transmitted the moral Writings

Johnson

to

oj

Dr. Samuel

Pascal Paoli, General of the Corsicans.

I

pamphlet; but Johnson, who knew that my doing so would only gratify Kenrick, by keeping alive what

was

at first inclined to

answer

this

of

itself,

would not

suffer

it.

His sincere regard for Francis Barber, his faithful negro servant, made him so desirous of his further improvement, that he now placed him at a school at Bishop Stortford, in Hertfordshire. This humane attention does Johnson's heart much honour. Out of many letters which Mr. Barber received from his master, he has preserved three, which he kindly gave me, and which I shall insert according to their dates.

prized

ings in Half-moon-street,

i6i

away

would soon

To Mr.

Francis Barber

Dear

Francis, I have been very much out of order. I am glad to hear that you are well, and design to come soon to see you. I would have you stay at Mrs. Clapp's for the present, till I can determine what we shall do. Be a good boy.

My

compliments to Mrs. Clapp and to Mr. I am, your's affectionately, Sam. Johnson May 28, 1 768

Fowler.

Soon afterwards, he supped at the Crown and Anchor tavern, in the Strand, with a company whom I collected to meet him. They were Dr. Percy, now Bishop of Dromore, Dr. Douglas, now Bishop of Salisbury, Mr. Langton, Dr. Robertson the Historian, Dr. Hugh Blair, and Mr. Thomas Davies, who wished much to be introduced to these eminent Scotch literati; but on the present occasion he had very little opportunity of hearing them talk, for with an excess of prudence, for which Johnson afterwards found fault with them, they hardly opened their lips, and that only to say something which they were certain would not expose them to the sword of Goliath; such was their anxiety for their fame when in the presence of Johnson. He was this evening in remarkable vigour of mind, and eager to exert himself in conversation, which he did with great readiness and fluency; but I am sorry to find that I have preserved but a small part of what passed. He allowed high praise to Thomson as a poet; but when one of the company said he was also a very good man, our moralist contested this with great warmth, accusing him of gross sensuality and licentiousness of manners. I was very much afraid that in writing Thomson's Life, Dr. Johnson would have treated his private character with a stern severity, but I was agreeably disappointed; and I may claim a little merit in it, from my having been at pains to send him authentick accounts of the affectionate and generous conduct of that poet to his sisters, one of whom, the wife of Mr. Thomson, schoolmaster at Lanark, I knew, and was presented by her

— 1

BOSWELL

62

He was vehement

who swore and com-

for which, probably, v/hen the first ebullition

against old Dr. Mounsey,

of Chelsea College, as "a fellow

talked bawdy." "I have been often in his

pany, (said Dr. Percy,) and never heard him swear or talk bawdy." Mr. Davies, who sat next to Dr. Percy, having after this had some conversation aside with him, made a discovery which, in his zeal to pay court to Dr. Johnson, he eagerly proclaimed aloud from the foot of the table: "O, Sir, I have found out a very good reason why Dr. Percy never heard Mounsey swear or talk bawdy; for he tells me, he never saw him but at the

Duke

of Northumberland's table."

"And so,

Johnson loudly, to Dr. Percy,) you would shield this man from the charge of swearing and talking bawdy, because he did not do so at the Duke of Northumberland's table. Sir, you might as well tell us that you had seen him hold up his hand at the Old Bailey, and he neither swore nor talked bawdy; or that you had seen him in the cart at Tyburn, and he neither swore nor talked bawdy. And is it thus. Sir, that you presume to controvert what I have related?" Dr. Johnson's animadversion was uttered in such a manner, that Dr. Percy seemed to be displeased, and soon afterwards left the company, of which Johnson did not at that time take any notice. Swift having been mentioned, Johnson, as usual, treated him with little respect as an authour. Some of us endeavoured to support the Dean of St. Patrick's by various arguments. One Sir,

(said

in particular praised his Conduct of the Allies.

Johnson. "Sir, his Conduct oj the Allies is a performance of very little ability." "Surely, Sir, (said Dr. Douglas,) you must allow it has strong facts. "^ Johnson. "Why yes, Sir; but what is that to the merit of the composition? In the Ses-

sions-paper of the

Old Bailey

there are strong a strong fact; robbery is a strong fact; and murder is a mighty strong fact; but is great praise due to the historian of those strong facts? No, Sir. Swift has told what he had

facts.

Housebreaking

[1769

and he has counted it right." Then recollecting that Mr. Davies, by acting as an informer, had been the occasion of his talking somewhat too harshly to his friend Dr. Percy,

with three of his letters, one of which Dr. Johnson has inserted in his Life.

is

to tell distinctly enough, but that

is all.

He had

^My respectable friend, upon reading this passage, observed, that he probably must have said not simply, "strong facts," but "strong facts well arranged." His Lordship, however, knows too well the value of written documents to insist on setting his recollection against my notes taken at the time. He does not attempt to traverse the record. The fact, perhaps, may have been, either that the additional words escaped me in the noise of a numerous company, or that Dr. Johnson, from his impetuosity, and eagerness to seize an opportunity to make a lively retort, did not allow Dr. Douglas to finish his sentence.

to count ten,

over, he felt some compunction, he took an opportunity to give him a hit; so added, with a preparatory laugh, "Why, Sir, Tom Davies might have written The Conduct oj the Allies?'' Poor Tom being thus suddenly dragged into ludicrous notice in presence of the Scottish Doctors, to whom he was ambitious of appearing to advantage, was grievously mortified. Nor did his punishment rest here; for upon subsequent occasions, whenever he, "statesman all over,"^ assumed a strutting importance, I used to hail him "the Authour of The Conduct oj the

was

—

Allies:'

When

I called upon Dr. Johnson next mornfound him highly satisfied with his colloquial prowess the preceding evening. "Well,

ing, I

we had good talk." Boswell. "Yes, you tossed and gored several persons."

(said he,) Sir;

The late Alexander, Earl of Eglintoune, who loved wit more than wine, and men of genius more than sycophants, had a great admiration ofJohnson; but from the remarkable elegance of his own

manners, was, perhaps, too delicately sensible of the roughness which sometimes appeared in Johnson's behaviour. One evening about this time, when his Lordship did me the honour to sup at my lodgings with Dr. Robertson and several other men of literary distinction, he regretted that Johnson had not been educated with more

and lived more in polished society. "No, no, my Lord, (said Signor Baretti,) do with him what you would, he would always have been a bear." "True, (answered the Earl, with a smile,) but he would have been a dancing bear.''' To obviate all the reflections which have gone round the world to Johnson's prejudice, by aprefinement,

him the epithet of a bear, let me imupon my readers a just and happy saying my friend Goldsmith, who knew him well:

plying to press

of

"Johnson, to be sure, has a roughness in his manner; but no man alive has a more tender heart.

He has nothing oj the bear but his skin.'"

In 1769, so far as I can dis1769: MTAT. 60.] cover, the publick was favoured with nothing of

Johnson's composition, either for himself or any of his friends. His Meditations too strongly prove that he suff'ered much both in body and mind; yet was he perpetually striving against evil, and ^See the hard drawing of him in Churchill's Rosciad.

— LIFE OF

1769]

nobly endeavouring to advance his intellectual and devotional improvement. Every generous

and

grateful heart

must

feel for

the distresses of

so eminent a benefactor to mankind; and now that his unhappiness is certainly known, must respect that dignity of character

which pre-

vented him from complaining. His Majesty having the preceding year instituted the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Johnson had now the honour of being appointed Professor in Ancient Literature.^ In the course of the year he wrote some letters to Mrs. Thrale, passed some part of the summer at Oxford and at Lichfield, and when at Oxford wrote the following letter:

To THE Reverend Mr. Thomas Warton Dear Sir, Many years ago, when I used to read in the library of your College, I promised to recompence the College for that permission, by adding to their books a Baskerville's Virgil. I have now sent it, and desire you to reposit it on the shelves in my name.^ If you will be pleased to let me know when you have an hour of leisure, I will drink tea with you. I am engaged for the afternoon, to-morrow and on Friday: all my mornings are my own.^ I am, &c. Sam. Johnson May s^, 1769 I came to London in the autumn, and having informed him that I was going to be married in a few months, I wished to have as much of his conversation as I could before engaging in a state of life which would probably keep me more in Scotland, and prevent me seeing him so often as when I was a single man; but I found he was

^In which place he has been succeeded by Bennet Langton, Esq. When that truly religious gentleman was elected to this honorary Professorship, at the same time that Edward Gibbon, Esq., noted for introducing a kind of sneering infidelity into his Historical Writings, was elected Professor in Ancient History, in the room of Dr. Goldsmith, I observed that it brought to my mind, "Wicked Will Whiston and good Mr. Ditton." I am now also of that admirable institution as Secretary for Foreign Correspondence, by the favour of the Academicians, and the approbation of the Sovereign. ^It has this inscription in a blank leaf: "Hunc librum D. D. Samuel Johnson, eo quod hie loci studiis interdum vacaret." Of this library, which is an old Gothick room, he was very fond. On my observing to him that some of the modern libraries of the University were more commodious and pleasant for study, as being more spacious and airy, he replied, "Sir, if a man has a mind to prance, he must study at Christ-Church and All-Souls." ^During this visit he seldom or never dined out.

He appeared to be deeply engaged in some literary work. Miss Williams was now with him at Oxford.

JOHNSON

163

Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. had not his company with honour of Shakspeare, at

at Brighthelmstone with I

was very sorry that

me

I

at the Jubilee, in

Stratford-upon-Avon, the great poet's native town. Johnson's connection both with Shakspeare and Garrick founded a double claim to his presence; and it would have been highly gratifying to Mr. Garrick. Upon this occasion I particularly lamented that he had not that

warmth of friendship for his brilliant pupil, which we may suppose would have had a benignant effect on both.

eminence

of

When

in the literary

partake in this

almost every man world was happy to

festival of genius, the

absence of

Johnson could not but be wondered

and

at

The

only trace of him there, was in the whimsical advertisement of a haberdasher, who sold Shakspearian ribbands of various dyes; and, by way of illustrating their appropriation to the bard, introduced a line from the celebrated Prologue at the opening of Drurylane theatre: regretted.

Each change

many-colour 'd

o/"

life

he drew.

From Brighthelmstone Dr. Johnson wrote me who may think

the following letter, which they

I ought to have suppressed it, must have ardent feelings than I have always avowed.*

that

To James Dear kindness?

Boswiell, Esq.

Why

do you charge me with unhave omitted nothing that could do

Sir, I

less

my

^In the Preface to Account of Corsica, published 1 768, I thus express myself: publishes a book affecting not to be an authour, and professing an indifference for literary fame, may possibly impose upon many people such an idea of his consequence as he wishes may be received. For my part, I should be proud to be known as an authour, and I have an ardent ambition for literary fame; for, of all possessions, I should imagine literary fame to be the most valuable. man who has been able to furnish a book, which has been approved by the world, has established himself as a respectable character in distant society, without any danger of having that character lessened by the observation of his weaknesses. in

"He who

A

To

preserve an uniform dignity

it,

among

those

who

hardly possible; and to aim at must put us under the fetters of perpetual re-

see us every day,

is

of an approved book may alan easy play, and yet indulge the pride of superior genius, when he considers that by those who know him only as an authour, he never ceases to be respected. Such an authour, when in his hours of gloom and discontent, may have the consolation to think, that his writings are, at that very time, giving pleasure to numbers; and such an authour may cherish the hope of being remembered after death, which has been a great object to the noblest minds in all ages." straint.

low

The authour

his natural disposition

BOSWELL

164

you good, or give you pleasure, unless it be that I have forborne to tell you my opinion of your Account of Corsica. I believe my opinion, if you think well of my judgement, might have given you pleasure; but when it is considered how much vanity is excited by praise, I am not sure that it would have done you good. Your History is like other histories, but your Journal is in a very high degree curious and delightful. There is between the History and the Journal that difference which there will always be found between notions borrowed from without, and notions generated within. Your History was copied from books; your Journal rose out of your own experience and observation. You express images which operated strongly upon yourself, and you have impressed them with great force upon your readers. I know not whether I could name any narrative by which curiosity is better excited, or better gratified. I am glad that you are going to be married; and as I wish you well in things of less importance, wish you well with proportionate ardour in this crisis of your life. What I can contribute to your happiness, I should be very unwilling to with-hold; for I have always loved and valued you, and shall love you and value you still more, as you become more regular and useful: effects which a happy marriage will hardly fail to produce. I do not find that I am likely to come back very soon from this place. I shall, perhaps, stay a fortnight longer; and a fortnight is a long time to a lover absent from his mistress. Would a fortnight ever have an end? I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate humble servant.

Sam. Johnson Brighthelmstone, Sept. 9, 1769 After his return to town,

we met

frequently,

continued the practice of making notes of his conversation, though not with so much assiduity as I wish I had done. At this time, indeed, I had a sufficient excuse for not being able to appropriate so much time to my Journal; for General Paoli, after Corsica had been overpowered by the monarchy of France, was now no longer at the head of his brave countrymen, but having with difficulty escaped from his native island, had sought an asylum in Great-Britain;

and

I

and

it

was

my

duty, as well as

much upon

my

pleasure, to

him. Such particulars of Johnson's conversation at this period as I have committed to writing, I shall here introduce, without any strict attention to methodical arrangement. Sometimes short notes of different days shall be blended together, and sometimes a day may seem important enough to be sepaattend

rately distinguished.

He

[1769

he would not have Sunday kept with rigid severity and gloom, but with a gravity and said,

simplicity of behaviour. I

told

him

that

David

Hume

had made a

short collection of Scotticisms.^ "I wonder, (said

Johnson,) that he should find them." He would not admit the importance of the question concerning the legality of general warrants. "Such a power (he observed,) must be vested in every government, to answer particular cases of necessity; and there can be no just complaint but when it is abused, for which those who administer government must be answerable. It is a matter of such indifference, a matter about which the people care so very little, that were a man to be sent over Britain to offer them an exemption from it at a halfpenny apiece, very few would purchase it." This was a specimen of that laxity of talking, which I have heard him fairly acknowledge; for, surely, while the power of granting general warrants was supposed to be legal, and the apprehension of them hung over our heads, we did not possess that security of freedom, congenial to our happy constitution, and which, by the intrepid exertions of Mr. Wilkes, has been happily established. He said, "The duration of Parliament, whether for seven years or the life of the King, appears to me so immaterial, that I would not give half a crown to turn the scale one way or the other. The habeas corpus is the single advantage which our government has over that of other countries." On the 30th of September we dined together at the Mitre. I attempted to argue for the superior happiness of the savage life, upon the usual fanciful topicks. Johnson. "Sir, there can be nothing more false. The savages have no bodily advantages beyond those of civilised men. They have not better health; and as to care or mental uneasiness, they are not above it, but below it, like bears. No, Sir; you are not to talk such paradox: let me have no more on't. It cannot entertain, far less can it instruct. Lord Monboddo, one of your Scotch Judges, talked a great deal of such nonsense. I suffered him; but I will not suffer you." BoswELL. "But, Sir, does not Rousseau talk such nonsense?" Johnson. "True, Sir, but Rousseau knows he is talking nonsense, and laughs at the world for staring at him." Boswell. "How so, Sir?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, a man who talks nonsense so well, must know that he is talking nonsense. But I am afraid, (chuckling and laughing,) Monboddo does not know that

iThe first edition of Hume's History of England was full of Scotticisms, many of which he corrected in subsequent editions. [M.]

LIFE OF

1769]

he is talking nonsense."^ Boswell. "Is it wrong then, Sir, to affect singularity, in order to make people stare?" Johnson. "Yes, if you do it by propagating errour: and, indeed, it is wrong in any way. There is in human nature a general inclination to make people stare; and every wise man has himself to cure of it, and does cure himself. If you wish to make people stare by doing

why, make them stare till they stare their eyes out. But consider how easy it is to make people stare by being absurd. I may do it by going into a drawing-room without my shoes. You remember the gentleman in The Spectator, who had a commission of lunacy taken out against him for his extreme singularity, such as never wearing a wig, but a night-cap. Now, Sir, abstractly, the night-cap was best; but, relatively, the advantage was overbalanced by his making the boys run after him." Talking of a London life, he said, "The happiness of London is not to be conceived but by those who have been in it. I will venture to say,

J

OHNSON Sir

has very judiciously pointed out that degree of intelligence which is to be desired in a female

companion: Give me, next good, an understanding wife,

By Nature wise,

is more learning and science within the circumference of ten miles from where we now sit, than in all the rest of the kingdom." Boswell. "The only disadvantage is the great distance at which people live from one another." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; but that is occasioned by the largeness of it, which is the cause of all the

other advantages." Boswell. "Sometimes I have been in the humour of wishing to retire to a desart." JoHNSON."Sir, you have desart enough in Scotland."

had promised myself a great deal him on the conduct of the married state, of which I had then a near prospect, he did not say much upon that topick. Mr. Seward heard him once say, that "a man has a very bad chance for happiness in that Although

I

of instructive conversation with

state, unless

and

woman of very strong He maintained common notion, that a

he marries a

fixed principles of religion."

me, contrary to the not be the worse wife for being learned; in which, from all that I have observed of Artemisias, I humbly differed from him. That a woman should be sensible and well informed, I allow to be a great advantage; and think that to

woman would

^His Lordship having frequently spoken in an manner of Dr. Johnson, in my company, I on one occasion during the life-time of my illustrious friend could not refrain from retaliation, and repeated to him this saying. He has since published I don't know how many pages in one of his curious books, attempting, in much anger, but with pitiful effect, to persuade mankind that my illustrious friend was not the great and good man which they esteemed and ever will esteem him to be.

abusive

not learned

Some knowledge on her side

More scope

by much art; my life

will all

oj conversation impart;

j

Besides, her inborne virtue or tifie;

better than others,

there

165

Thomas Overbury,'^ in his rude versification,

They are mostfirmly good, who

best

know why.

When I censured a gentleman of my acquaintance for marrying a second time, as it shewed a first wife, he said, "Not at all. Sir. On the contrary, were he not to marry again, it might be concluded that his first wife had given him a disgust to marriage; but by taking a second wife he pays the highest compliment to the first, by shewing that she made him so happy as a married man, that he wishes to be so a second time." So ingenious a turn did he give to this delicate question. And yet, on another occasion, he owned that he once had almost asked a promise of Mrs. Johnson that she would not marry again, but had checked himself. Indeed, I cannot help thinking, that in his case the request would have been unreasonable; for if Mrs. Johnson forgot, or thought it no injury to the memory of her first love, the husband of her youth and the father of her children, to make a second marriage, why should she be precluded from a third, should she be so inclined? In Johnson's persevering fond appropriation of his Tetty, even after her decease, he seems totally to have overlooked the prior claim of the honest Birmingham trader. I presume that her having been married before had, at times, given him some uneasiness; for I remember his observing upon the marriage of one of our common friends, "He has done a very foolish thing. Sir; he has married a widow, when he might have had a maid." We drank tea with Mrs. Williams. I had last year the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Thrale at Dr. Johnson's one morning, and had conversation enough with her to admire her talents, and to shew her that I was as Johnsonian as herself. Dr. Johnson had probably been kind enough to speak well of me, for this evening he delivered me a very polite card from Mr. Thrale and her, inviting me to Streatham. On the 6th of October I complied with this

disregard of his

—

—

obliging invitation, villa, six

and found,

at

an elegant

miles from town, every circumstance

that can make society pleasing. Johnson, though quite at home, was yet looked up to with an awe, ^A Wife, a poem, 161 4.

1

BOSWELL

66

tempered by affection, and seemed to be equally the care of his host and hostess. I rejoiced at seeing him so happy.

He

played off his wit against Scotland with a

good humoured pleasantry, which gave me, though no bigot to national prejudices, an opportunity for a little contest with him. I having said that England was obliged to us for gardeners, almost all their good gardeners being Scotchmen. Johnson. "Why, Sir, that is because gardening is much more necessary amongst you than with us, which makes so many of your people learn it. It is all gardening with you. Things which grow wild here, must be cultivated with great care in Scotland. Pray now (throwing himself back in his chair, and laughing,) are you ever able to bring the sloe to perfection?" I boasted that we had the honour of being the

first

to abolish the unhospitable, trouble-

some, and ungracious custom of giving

vails to

Johnson. "Sir, you abolished vails, because you were too poor to be able to give them." Mrs. Thrale disputed with him on the merit of Prior. He attacked him powerfully; said he wrote of love like a man who had never felt it: his love verses were college verses; and he repeated the song "Alexis shunn'd his fellow swains," &c., in so ludicrous a manner, as to make us all wonder how any one could have been pleased \vith such fantastical stuff. Mrs. Thrale stood to her gun with great courage, in defence of amorous ditties, which Johnson despised, till he at last silenced her by saying, "My dear Lady, talk no more of this. Nonsense can be defended but by nonsense." Mrs. Thrale then praised Garrick's talent for light gay poetry; and, as a specimen, repeated his song in Florizel and Perdita, and dwelt with peculiar pleasure on this line: servants.

Pd smile with

the simple,

andfeed with

the poor.

Johnson. "Nay, my dear Lady, this will never do. Poor David! Smile with the simple; What folly is that? And who would feed with the poor that can help it? No, no; let me smile with the wise, and feed with the rich." I repeated this

—

sally to Garrick,

and wondered

to find his sen-

a writer not a little irritated by it. To sooth him, I observed, that Johnson spared none of us; and I quoted the passage in Horace, in sibility as

which he compares one who attacks for the sake of a laugh, to a

his friends

pushing ox, that is marked by a bunch of hay put upon his horns: Jcenum habet in cornu. "Ay, (said Garrick vehemently,) he has a whole mow of it."

[1769

Talking of history, Johnson said, "We may know historical facts to be true, as we may know facts in common life to be true. Motives are generally unknown. We cannot trust to the

we find in history, unless when they drawn by those who knew the persons; as those, for instance, by Sallust and by Lord

characters are

Clarendon."

He would field's

not allow

much

merit to White-

oratory. "His popularity. Sir, (said he,)

is

owing to the peculiarity of his manner. He would be followed by crowds were he to wear a night-cap in the pulpit, or were he to preach from a tree." I know not from what spirit of contradiction chiefly

he burst out into a violent declamation against the Corsicans, of whose heroism I talked in high terms. "Sir, (said he,) what is all this rout about the Corsicans? They have been at war with the Genoese for upwards of twenty years, and have never yet taken their fortified towns. They might have battered down their walls, and reduced them to powder in twenty years. They might have pulled the walls in pieces, and cracked the stones with their teeth in twenty years." It was in vain to argue with him upon the want of artillery: he was not to be resisted for the moment. On the evening of October 10, I presented Johnson to General Paoli. I had greatly wished that

two men,

for

whom

I

had the highest

es-

teem, should meet. They met with a manly ease, mutually conscious of their own abilities, and of the abilities of each other. The General spoke Italian, and Dr. Johnson English, and understood one another very well, with a little aid of interpretation from me, in which

I

compared

myself to an isthmus which joins two great continents. Upon Johnson's approach, the General said, "From what I have read of your works, Sir, and from what Mr. Boswell has told me of you, I have long held you in great veneration." The General talked of languages being formed on the particular notions

and manners

of a people,

without knowing which, we cannot know the language. We may know the direct signification of single words; but by these no beauty of expression, no sally of genius, no wit is conveyed to the mind. All this must be by allusion to other ideas. "Sir, (said Johnson,) you talk of language, as if you had never done any thing else but study it, instead of governing a nation." The General said, "Questo e un troppo gran complimento"; this is too great a compliment. Johnson answered, "I should have thought so. Sir, if I had not heard you talk." The General asked him.

—

"

LIFE OF

1769] what was so prevalent. Johnson.

which gloom of

he thought of the spirit of infidelity "Sir, this

hope, is only a transient cloud passing through the hemisphere, which will soon be dissipated, and the sun break forth with his usual splendour." "You think then, (said the General,) infidelity, I

that they will change their principles like their clothes." Johnson.

"Why,

Sir, if

they bestow no

more thought on principles than on dress, it must be so." The General said, that "a great part of the fashionable infidelity was owing to a desire of shewing courage. Men who have no opportunities of shewing

and

it

as to things in this

on which Johnson. "That is mighty foolish aff^ectation. Fear is one of the passions of human nature, of which it is impossible to divest it. You remember that the Emperour Charles V, when he read upon the tomb-stone of a Spanish nobleman, 'Here lies one who never knew fear,' wittily said, 'Then he never snuff'ed a candle with life,

take death

futurity as objects

to display it."

JOHNSON kerstaff",

167

and Mr. Thomas Davies. Garrick played

round him with a fond

vivacity, taking hold of the breasts of his coat, and, looking up in his face with a lively archness, complimented him

on the good health which he seemed then

to en-

joy; while the sage, shaking his head, beheld

him with a gentle complacency. One of the company not being come at the appointed hour, I proposed, as usual upon such occasions, to order dinner to be served; adding, "Ought six people to be kept waiting for one?" "Why, yes, (answered Johnson, with a delicate humanity,) if the one will suff"er more by your sitting down, than the six will do by waiting." Goldsmith, to

divert the tedious minutes, strutted about, brag-

ging of his dress, and

I

believe

was seriously vain

mind was wonderfully prone to such impressions. "Come, come, (said Garrick,) talk no more of that. You are, perhaps, the worst Goldsmith was eagerly attempting to eh, eh!" of it, for his

—

when Garrick went

de ritalienne, et de toutes autres lesquelles se derivent

on, laughing always look like a gentleman; but I am talking of being well or ill drest." "Well, let me tell you, (said Goldsmith,) when my tailor brought home my bloomcoloured coat, he said, 'Sir, I have a favour to beg of you. When any body asks you who made your clothes, be pleased to mention John Filby, at the Harrow, in Water-lane.' " John-

du Latin. Uauteur fappelle linguam Corsicae rusti-

son.

ironically,

his fingers.'

He

talked a few words of French to the Genbut finding he did not do it with facility, he asked for pen, ink, and paper, and vsrrote the

eral;

following note:

"J^ai lu dans

la geographie de

Lucas de Linda un

Paternoster ecrit dans une langue tout a-fait differente

cam;

elle

a peut-etre passe pen a pen; mais

elle

tainement prevalue autrefois dans les montagnes la

campagne. Le rneme auteur

parlant de Sardaigne; quHl

y

dit la

meme

a cer-

et

dans

chose en

a deux langues dans

U autre de la campagne." The General immediately informed him that

I'lsle,

une des

interrupt him,

villes,

the lingua rustica was only in Sardinia.

Dr. Johnson went home with me, and drank till late in the night. He said, "General Paoli had the loftiest port of any man he had ever seen." He denied that military men were always the best bred men. Perfect good breeding," he observed, "consists in having no particular mark of any profession, but a general elegance of manners; whereas, in a military man, you tea

'

'

can commonly distinguish the brand of a

soldier,

rhomme d'epee." Dr. Johnson shunned to-night any discussion of the perplexed question of fate and free will, which I attempted to agitate. "Sir, (said he,) we know our will is free, and there's an end on't."

He honoured nie with his company at dinner on the 1 6th of October, at my lodgings in Old Bond-street, with Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Garrick, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Bic-

"Nay, you

will

"Why, Sir, that was because he knew the strange colour would attract crowds to gaze at it, and thus they might hear of him, and see how well he could make a coat even of so ab• surd a colour." After dinner our conversation first turned upon Pope. Johnson said, his characters of men were admirably drawn, those of women not so well. He repeated to us, in his forcible melodi-

ous manner, the concluding lines of the Dunciad. While he was talking loudly in praise of those lines, one of the company ventured to say, "Too fine for such a poem: a poem on what?" Johnson, (with a disdainful look,) "Why, on dunces. It was worth while being a dunce then. Ah, Sir, hadst thou lived in those days! It is not worth

—

while being a dunce now, when there are no wits." Bickerstaff" observed, as a peculiar circumstance, that Pope's fame was higher when he was alive

than

were poor

it

was then. Johnson said, his Pastorals though the versification was

things,

He told us, with high satisfaction, the anecdote of Pope's inquiring who was the authour of his London, and saying, he will be soon deterre. He observed, that in Dryden's poetry there were passages drawn from a profundity which Pope could never reach. He repeated some fine lines fine.

BOSWELL

i68

by the former, (which I have now forgotten,) and gave great applause to the character of Zimri. Goldsmith said, that Pope's character of Addison shewed a deep knowledge of the human heart. Johnson said, that the description of the temple, in the Mourning Bride, was the finest poetical passage he had ever read; he recollected none in Shakspeare equal to it. "But, (said Garrick, all alarmed for the 'God of his

on

love,

idolatry,')

we know not

the extent

and variety

We are to suppose there are such passages in his works. Shakspeare must not sufof his powers.

from the badness of our memories." Johnson, diverted by this enthusiastick jealousy, went on with greater ardour: "No, Sir; Congreve has nature"; (smiling on the tragick eagerness of Garfer

but composing himself, he added, "Sir, not comparing Congreve on the whole, with Shakspeare on the whole; but only maintaining that Congreve has one finer passage than any that can be found in Shakspeare. Sir, a man may have no more than ten guineas in the world, but he may have those ten guineas in one piece; and so may have a finer piece than a man who has ten thousand pounds: but then he has only rick;) this

is

one ten-guinea piece. What I mean is, that you can shew me no passage where there is simply a description of material objects, without any intermixture of moral notions, which produces such an effect." Mr. Murphy mentioned Shakspeare's description of the night before the battle of incourt; but

it

was observed,

it

had men

Ag-

in

it.

Mr. Davies suggested the speech of Juliet, in which she figutes herself awaking in the tomb of her ancestors. Some one mentioned the description of Dover Cliff. Johnson. "No, Sir; it should be all precipice, all vacuum. The crows impede your fall. The diminished appearance of the boats, and other circumstances, are all very good description; but do not impress the mind at once with the horrible idea of immense height. The impression is divided; you pass on by computation, from one stage of the tremendous space to another. Had the girl in The

—

Mourning Bride said, she could not cast her shoe to the top of one of the pillars in the temple, it would not have aided the idea, but weakened it." Talking of a Barrister who had a bad utterance, some one, (to rouse Johnson,) wickedly said, that he was unfortunate in not having been taught oratory by Sheridan. Johnson. "Nay, Sir, if he had been taught by Sheridan, he would have cleared the room." Garrick. "Sheridan has too much vanity to be a good man." We shall now see Johnson's mode oi defending a man;

[

him

1769

own

hands, and discriminating. Johnson. "No, Sir. There is, to be sure, in Sheridan, something to reprehend, and every thing to laugh at; but. Sir, he is not a bad man. No, Sir; were mankind to be divided into good and bad, he would stand considerably within the ranks of good. And, Sir, it must be allowed that Sheridan excels in plain declamation, taking

into his

though he can exhibit no character." I should, perhaps, have suppressed this disquisition concerning a person of whose merit and worth I think with respect, had he not attacked Johnson so outrageously in his Life of Swift, and, at the same time, treated us, his admirers, as a set of pigmies. He who has provoked the lash of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it. Mrs. Montagu, a lady distinguished for having written an Essay on Shakspeare, being mentioned; Reynolds. "I think that essay does her honour." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; it does her honour, but it would do nobody else honour. I have, indeed, not read it all. But when I take up the end of a web, and find it packthread, I do not expect, by looking further, to find embroidery. Sir, I will venture to say, there is not one sentence of true criticism in her book." Garrick. "But, Sir, surely it shews how much Voltaire has mistaken Shakspeare, which nobody else has done." Johnson. "Sir, nobody else has thought it worth while. And what merit is there in that? You may as well praise a schoolmaster for whipping a boy who has construed ill. No, Sir, there is no real criticism in it: none shewing the beauty of thought, as formed on the workings of the hu-

man

heart."

The admirers of this Essay^ may be offended at the slighting manner in which Johnson spoke it; but let it be remembered, that he gave his honest opinion unbiassed by any prejudice, or any proud jealousy of a woman intruding herself into the chair of criticism; for Sir Joshua Reynolds has told me, that when the Essay first

of

^Of whom I acknowledge myself to be one, considering it as a piece of the secondary or comparative species of criticism; and not of that profound species which alone Dr. Johnson would allow to be "real criticism." It is, besides, clearly and elegantly expressed, and has done effectually what it professed to do, namely, vindicated Shakspeare from the misrepresentations of Voltaire; and considering how many young people were misled by his witty, though false observations, Mrs. Montagu's Essay was of service to Shakspeare with a certain class of readers, and is, therefore, entitled to praise. Johnson, I am assured, allowed the merit which I have stated, saying, (with reference to Voltaire,) "it is conclusive ad hominem."

— LIFE OF

1769]

and it was not known who had writJohnson wondered how Sir Joshua could like it. At this time Sir Joshua himself had received no information concerning the authour, except being assured by one of our most eminent literati, that it was clear its authour did not know the Greek tragedies in the original. One day at Sir Joshua's table, when it was related that Mrs. Montagu, in an excess of compliment to the authour of a modern tragedy, had exclaimed, "I tremble for Shakspeare"; Johnson said, "When Shakspeare has got for his rival, and Mrs. Montagu for his defender, he is in a poor state indeed." Johnson proceeded: "The Scotchman has taken the right method in his Elements of Criticism. I do not mean that he has taught us any thing; but he has told us old things in a new way." Murphy. "He seems to have read a great deal of French criticism, and wants to make it his own; as if he had been for years anatomising the heart of man, and peeping into every cranny of it." Goldsmith. "It is easier to write that book, than to read it." Johnson. "We have an exam-

came ten

out,

it,

ple of true criticism in Burke's Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful; and, if I recollect, there

Du Bos; and Bouhours, who shews

is

also

beauty to depend on truth. There is no great merit in telling how many plays have ghosts in them, and how this Ghost is better than that. You must shew how terrour is impressed on the human heart. In the description of night in Macbeth, all

the beetle and the bat detract from the general idea of darkness, inspissated gloom." Politicks being mentioned, he said, "This petitioning is a new mode of distressing govern-

—

ment, and a mighty easy one.

I

will

undertake

to get petitions either against quarter-guineas or

half-guineas, with the help of a little hot wine.

There must be no yielding to encourage

this.

The object is not important enough. We are not to blow up half a dozen palaces, because one is burning." conversation then took another turn. Johnson. "It is amazing what ignorance of certain points one sometimes finds in men of eminence. A wit about town, who wrote Latin bawdy verses, asked me, how it happened that England and Scotland, which were once two kingdoms, were now one and Sir Fletcher Norton did not seem to know that there were such publications as the Reviews." "The ballad of Hardyknute has no great merit, if it be really ancient. People talk of nature. But mere obvious nature may be exhibited with very

cottage

The

:

little

power of mind."

—

JOHNSON

169

On Thursday, October 19, I passed the evening with him at his house. He advised me to complete a Dictionary of words peculiar to Scotland, of which I shewed him a specimen. "Sir, (said he,) Ray has made a collection of northcountry words. By collecting those of your country, you will do a useful thing towards the history of the language." He bade me also go on with collections which I was making upon the antiquities of Scotland. "Make a large book; a BoswELL. "But of what use will it be. "Never mind the use; do it." I complained that he had not mentioned Garrick in his Preface to Shakspeare; and asked him if he did not admire him. Johnson. "Yes, as 'a poor player, who frets and struts his hour upon as a shadow." Boswell. "But has the stage'; he not brought Shakspeare into notice?" Johnson. "Sir, to allow that, would be to lampoon

folio."

Sir?" Johnson.

—

the age.

Many

of Shakspeare's plays are the

worse for being acted: Macbeth, for instance." Bosv^^ELL. "What, Sir, is nothing gained by decoration and action? Indeed, I do wish that you had mentioned Garrick." Johnson. "My dear Sir, had I mentioned him, I must have mentioned many more: Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs. Gibber, nay, and Mr. Gibber too; he too altered Shakspeare." Boswell. "You have read his apology. Sir?" Johnson. "Yes, it is very entertaining. But as for Gibber himself, taking from his conversation all that he ought not to have said, he was a poor creature. I remember when he brought me one of his Odes to have my opinion of it; I could not bear such nonsense, and would not let him read it to the end; so little respect had I for that great man! (laughing.) Yet I remember Richardson wondering that I could treat him with familiarity." I mentioned to him that I had seen the execution of several convicts at Tyburn, two days before, and that none of them seemed to be under any concern. Johnson. "Most of them, Sir, have never thought at all." Boswell. "But is not the fear of death natural to man?" Johnson. "So much so. Sir, that the whole of life is but keeping away the thoughts of it." He then, in a low and earnest tone, talked of his meditating upon the aweful hour of his own dissolution, and in what manner he should conduct himself upon that occasion: "I know not (said he,) whether I should wish to have a friend by me, or have it all between God and myself." Talking of our feeling for the distresses of oth-

—

^Johnson. "Why, Sir, there is much noise made about it, but it is greatly exaggerated. No, Sir, we have a certain degree of feeling to prompt

ers;

BOSWELL

170

us to do good: more than that, Providence does not intend. It would be misery to no purpose."

BoswELL. "But suppose now, Sir, that one of your intimate friends were apprehended for an offence for which he might be hanged." Johnson. "I should do what I could to bail him, and give him any other assistance; but if he were once fairly hanged, I should not suffer." Boswell. "Would you eat your dinner that day. Sir?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir; and eat it as if he were eating it with me. Why, there's Baretti, who is to be tried for his life to-morrow, friends have risen up for him on every side; yet if he should be hanged, none of them will eat a slice of plum-pudding the less. Sir, that sympathetic feeling goes a very little

way

in depressing the

mind." I

told

him

that I

had dined

lately at Foote's,

who shewed me

a letter which he had received from Tom Davies, telling him that he had not been able to sleep from the concern which he felt on account of" This sad affair of Baretti,'''' begging of him to try if he could suggest any thing that might be of service; and, at the

recommending

to

him an

same time, young

industrious

man who kept a pickle-shop. Johnson. "Ay, Sir, here you have a specimen of human sympathy;

We

a friend hanged, and a cucumber pickled. Baretti or the pickle-man has kept Davies from sleep; nor does he know himself. And as to his not sleeping. Sir; Tom Davies is a very great man; Tom has been upon the

know not whether

and knows how to do those things. I have not been upon the stage, and cannot do those things." Bos WELL. "I have often blamed myself,

stage,

Sir, for not feeling for others as sensibly as many say they do." Johnson. "Sir, don't be duped by them any more. You will find these very feeling people are not very ready to do you good. They

[1769

has never thought upon the subject."' Boswell. "I suppose. Sir, he has thought superficially, and seized the first notions which occurred to

"Why then, Sir, still he is a dog, that snatches the piece next him. Did you never observe that dogs have not the power of comparing? A dog will take a small bit of meat as readily as a large, when both are before him." "Buchanan (he observed,) has fewer centos than any modern Latin poet. He not only had great knowledge of the Latin language, but was his

mind." Johnson.

like

a great poetical genius. Both the Scaligers praise

him."

He again talked of the passage in Congreve with high commendation, and said, "Shakspeare never has six lines together without a fault. Perhaps you may find seven, but this does not refute

my

general assertion. If

and say

there's

no

I

come to an orchard, and then comes a

fruit here,

who finds two apples and three and tells me, 'Sir, you are mistaken, I have found both apples and pears,' I should laugh at him: what would that be to the purpose?" Boswell. "What do you think of Dr. Young's poring man, pears,

Night Thoughts, Sir?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, there are very fine things in them." Boswell. "Is there not less religion in the nation now. Sir, than there was formerly?" Johnson. "I don't know, Sir, that there is."

Boswell. "For instance, there

used to be a chaplain in every great family, which we do not find now." Johnson. "Neither

which great There is a change of modes in the whole department of life." Next day, October 20, he appeared, for the only time I suppose in his life, as a witness in a Court of Justice, being called to give evidence to the character of Mr. Baretti, who having stabbed a man in the street, was arraigned at

do you

find

any of the

state servants

families used formerly to have.

pay you hy feeling."

BoswELL. "Foote has a great deal of humour?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir." Boswell. "He has a singular talent of exhibiting character." Johnson. not a talent; it is a vice; it is what others is not comedy, which exhibits the character of a species, as that of a miser gathered from many misers: it is farce, which ex"Sir,

it is

abstain from. It

hibits individuals."

Boswell. "Did not he think

of exhibiting you, Sir?" Johnson. "Sir, fear re-

strained him; he

knew

I

would have broken

his

bones. I would have saved him the trouble of cutting off a leg; I would not have left him a leg

Boswell. "Pray, Sir, is not Foote an Johnson. "I do not know. Sir, that the fellow is an infidel; but if he be an infidel, he is an infidel as a dog is an infidel; that is to say, he to cut off."

infidel?"

'When Mr. Foote was at Edinburgh, he thought to entertain a numerous Scotch company, with a great deal of coarse jocularity, at the expense of Dr. Johnson, imagining it would be acceptable. I felt this as not civil to me; but sat very patiently till he had exhausted his merriment on that subject and then observed, that surely Johnson must be allowed to have some sterling wit, and that I had heard him say a very good thing of Mr. Foote himself. "Ah, my old friend Sam (cried Foote,) no man fit

says better things; do let us have it." Upon which I told the above story, which produced a very loud laugh from the company. But I never saw Foote so disconcerted. He looked grave and angry, and entered into a serious refutation of the justice of the remark. "What Sir, (said he,) talk thus of a man of liberal education; a man who for years was at the a man who has added sixUniversity of Oxford; teen new characters to the English drama of his

—

country!"

—

LIFE OF

1769]

Old Bailey for murder. Never did such a con-

the

stellation of genius enlighten the aweful Sessions-House, emphatically called Justice Hall; Mr. Burke, Mr. Garrick, Mr. Beauclerk, and

Dr. Johnson: and undoubtedly their favourable testimony had due weight with the Court and Jury. Johnson gave his evidence in a slow, deliberate, and distinct manner, which was un-

commonly impressive. Baretti

It is well

known that Mr.

was acquitted.

the Mitre tavern. I found fault with Foote for indulging his talent of ridicule at the expence of

which I colloquially termed making company. Johnson. "Why, Sir, when you go to see Foote, you do not go to see a saint: you go to see a man who will be entertained at your house, and then bring you on a publick stage; who will entertain you at his house, for the very purpose of bringing you on a publick stage. Sir, he does not make fools of his comhis visitors,

fools of his

pany; they whom he exposes are fools already: he only brings them into action." Tcdking of trade, he observed, "It is a mistaken notion that a vast deal of money is brought into a nation by trade. It is not so. Commodities come from commodities; but trade produces

no capital accession of wealth. However, though there should be little profit in money, there is a considerable profit in pleasure, as it gives to one nation the productions of another; as we have wines and fruits, and many other foreign articles, brought to us." Boswell. "Yes, Sir, and there is a profit in pleasure, by its furnishing occupation to such numbers of mankind." Johnson, "Why, Sir, you cannot call that pleasure to which all are averse, and which none begin but with the hope of leaving oflf a thing which men dislike before they have tried it, and when they have tried it." Boswell. "But, Sir, the mind must be employed, and we grow weary when idle." Johnson. "That is. Sir, because, others being busy, we want company; but if we were all idle, there would be no growing weary; we should all entertain one another. There is, indeed, this in trade: it gives men an opportunity of improving their situation. If there were no trade, many who are poor would always remain poor. But no man loves labour for itself." Bos;

—

Sir, I know a person who does. He is a very laborious Judge, and he loves the labour." Johnson. "Sir, that is because he loves respect

v^LL."Yes,

distinction.

Could he have them without lait less." Boswell. "He tells

bour, he would like

me he so,

likes

it

because he

is

— "Why,

Sir, he fancies not accustomed to abstract."

for itself."

171

We went home to his house to tea.

Mrs. Williams made it with sufficient dexterity, notwithstanding her blindness, though her manner of satisfying herself that the cups were full enough appeared to me a little aukward; for I fancied she put her finger down a certain way, till she felt the tea touch it.^ In my first elation ai being allowed the privilege of attending Dr. Johnson at his late visits to this lady,

ing

On the 26th of October, we dined together at

and

JOHNSON

which was

like be-

cup had been the Heliconian spring. But as the charm of novelty went off, I grew more fastidious; and besides, I discovered that she was of a peevish temper. There was a pretty large circle this evening. Dr. Johnson was in very good humour, lively, and ready to talk upon all subjects. Mr. Fergusson,the self-taught philosopher,told him of anewinvented machine which went without horses: a man who sat in it turned a handle, which worked a spring that drove it forward. "Then, Sir, (said Johnson,) what is gained is, the man has his choice whether he will move himself alone, or himself and the machine too." Dominicetti being mentioned, he would not allow him any merit. "There is nothing in all this boasted system. No, Sir; medicated baths can be no better than e secretioribus consiliis,

I

willingly drank

after cup, as if it

warm

water: their only effect can be that of One of the company took the other side, maintaining that medicines of various sorts, and some too of most powerful effect, are introduced into the human frame by the medium of the pores; and, therefore, when warm tepid moisture."

impregnated with salutiferous submay produce great effects as a bath. This appeared to me very satisfactory. Johnson did not answer it; but talking for victory, and determined to be master of the field, he had recourse to the device which Goldsmith imputed to him in the witty words of one of Gibber's comedies: "There is no arguing with Johnson; for when his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it." He turned to the gentleman, "Well, Sir, go to Dominicetti, and get thyself fumigated; but be sure that the steam be water

is

stances,

it

directed to thy head, for that

is

the peccant part."

This produced a triumphant roar of laughter from the motley assembly of philosophers, printers, and dependents, male and female. I know not how so whimsical a thought came ^I have since had reason to think that I was mistaken; for I have been informed by a lady, who was long intimate with her, and Ukely to be a more accurate observer of such matters, that she had acquired such a niceness of touch, as to know, by the feeling on the outside of the cup, how near it was to being full.

—

—

"

BOSWELL

172 into

my

mind, but

I asked, "If, Sir,

you were

shut up in a castle, and a newborn child with you. what would you do?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, I should not much like my company." Boswell. "But would you take the trouble of rearing it?" He seemed, as may well be supposed, unwilling to pursue the subject: but in

upon

my

my question, replied, "Why yes.

persevering

Sir, I

would;

but I must have all conveniencies. If I had no garden, I would make a shed on the roof, and take it there for fresh air. I should feed it, and wash it much, and with warm water to please it, not with cold water to give it pain." Bosv^ell. does not heat relax?" Johnson. "Sir, to imagine the water is to be very hot. I would not coddle the child. No, Sir, the hardy method of treating children does no good. "But,

Sir,

you are not

I'll

take you five children from London, who Highland children. Sir, a man bred

shall cuff five

in

London

will carry a burthen, or run, or wres-

man

brought up in the hardiest Boswell. "Good living, I suppose, makes the Londoners strong." Johnson. "Why, Sir, I don't know that it does. Our Chairmen from Ireland, who are as strong men as any, have been brought up upon potatoes. Quantity makes up for quality." Boswell. "Would you teach this child that I have furnished you with, any thing?" Johnson. "No, I should not be apt to teach it." Boswell. "Would not you have a pleasure in teaching it?" Johnson. "No, Sir, I should not have a pleasure in teaching it." Boswell. "Have you not a pleasThere I have you. You ure in teaching men? have the same pleasure in teaching men, that I should have in teaching children." Johnson. "Why, something about that." Boswell. "Do you think. Sir, that what is called natural affection is born with us? It seems tle,

as well as a

manner

to

me

in the country."

to be the effect of habit, or of gratitude for

No child has it for a parent whom it has not seen." Johnson. "Why, Sir I think there is an instinctive natural affection in parents towards their children." Russia being mentioned as likely to become a great empire, by the rapid increase of population: ^Johnson. "Why, Sir, I see no prospect of

kindness.

their propagating more.

They can have no more I know of no way to

children than they can get.

make them breed more than they

not from reason and prudence that people marry, but from inclination. A man is poor; he thinks 'I cannot be worse, and so I'll e'en take Peggy.' Boswell. "But have not nations been more populous at one period than another?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir; but that has been owing to the people do. It

is

[1769

being less thinned at one period than another, whether by emigrations, war, or pestilence, not by their being more or less prolifick. Births at all times bear the same proportion to the same number of people." Boswell. "But, to consider the does not throwing a state of our own country; number of farms into one hand hurt population?" Johnson. "Why, no. Sir; the same quantity of food being produced, will be consumed by the same number of mouths, though the peo-

—

be disposed of in different ways. We corn be dear, and butchers' meat cheap, the farmers all apply themselves to the raising of corn, till it becomes plentiful and cheap, and then butchers' meat becomes dear; so that an equality is always preserved. No, Sir, let fanciful men do as they will, depend upon it, it is difficult to disturb the system of life." Boswell. "But, Sir, is it not a very bad thing for landlords to oppress their tenants, by raising their rents?" Johnson. "Very bad. But, Sir, it never can have ple

may

see, if

any general influence;

it

may distress some indi-

viduals. For, consider this: landlords cannot

do

without tenants. Now tenants will not give more for land, than land is worth. If they can make more of their money by keeping a shop, or any other way, they'll do it, and so oblige landlords to let land come back to a reasonable rent, in order that they may get tenants. Land, in England, is an article of commerce. A tenant who pays his landlord his rent, thinks himself no more obliged to him than you think yourself obliged to a man in whose shop you buy a piece of goods. He knows the landlord does not let him have his land for less than he can get from others, in the same manner as the shopkeeper sells his goods. No shopkeeper sells a yard of ribband for sixpence when seven-pence is the current price." Boswell. "But, Sir, is it not better that tenants should be dependant on landlords?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, as there are many more tenants than landlords, perhaps, strictly speaking, we should wish not. But if you please you may let your lands cheap, and so get the

money and part in homage. I should agree with you in that." Boswell. "So, Sir, you laugh at schemes of political improvevalue, part in

ment." Johnson. "Why, political

improvement

Sir,

most schemes of

are

very

laughable

things."

He observed,

"Providence has wisely ordered

more numerous men are, the more difis for them to agree in any thing, and so

that the ficult it

they are governed. There is no doubt, that if the poor should reason, 'We'll be the poor no longer, we'll make the rich take their turn,' they could

LIFE OF

1769] easily

do

were

it,

not that they can't agree.

it

So the common soldiers, though so much more numerous than their officers are governed by them for the same reason."

He said, "Mankind have a strong attachment which they have been accustomed. You see the inhabitants of Norway do not with one consent quit it, and go to some part of America, where there is a mild climate, and where they may have the same produce from land, with the tenth part of the labour. No, to the habitations to

and them at

Sir; their affection for their old dwellings,

the terrour of a general change, keep

home. Thus, we see many of the finest spots in the world thinly inhabited, and many rugged spots well inhabited." The London Chronicle, which was the only newspaper he constantly took in, being brought, the office of reading it aloud was assigned to me. I was diverted by his impatience. He made me

many parts of it, that my task was He would not suffer one of the peti-

pass over so

very easy.

tions to the

King about the Middlesex

election

to be read. I

had hired a Bohemian

as

my servant while

remained in London, and being much pleased with him, I asked Dr. Johnson whether his being I

Catholick should prevent my taking to Scotland. Johnson. "Why no. Sir, if he has no objection, you can have none." BoswELL. "So, Sir, you are no great enemy to the Roman Catholick religion." Johnson. "No more. Sir, than to the Presbyterian religion." BoswELL. "You are joking. "Johnson. "No, Sir, I really think so. Nay, Sir, of the two, I prefer the Popish." Boswell. "How so, Sir?' Johnson. "Why, Sir, the Presbyterians have no church, no apostolical ordination." Boswell. "And do you think that absolutely essential, Sir?" John-

a

Roman

him with me

son.

"Why,

Sir, as it

tion, I think

And,

Sir,

it is

was an apostolical

institu-

dangerous to be without

it.

the Presbyterians have no public wor-

have no form of prayer in which they they are to join. They go to hear a man pray, and are to judge whether they will join with him." Boswell. "But, Sir, their doctrine is the same with that of the Church of England. Their confession of faith, and the thirty-nine articles, contain the same points, even the doctrine of predestination." Johnson. "Why yes. Sir, predestination was a part of the clamour of the times, so it is mentioned in our articles, but with as little positiveness as could be." Boswell, "Is it necessary. Sir, to believe all the thirtynine articles?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, that is a question which has been much agitated. Some

JOHNSON

173

have thought it necessary that they should all be believed; others have considered them to be only articles of peace, that is to say, you are not to preach against them." Boswell. "It appears to me. Sir, that predestination, or what is equivalent to it, cannot be avoided, if we hold an universal prescience in the Deity." Johnson. "Why, Sir, does not God every day see things going on without preventing them?" Boswell. "True, Sir; but if a thing be certainly foreseen, it must be fixed, and cannot happen otherwise; and if we apply this consideration to the human mind, there is no free will, nor do I see how prayer can be of any avail." He mentioned Dr. Clarke, and Bishop Bramhall on Liberty and Necessity, and bid me read South's Sermons on Prayer; but avoided the question which has excruciated philosophers and divines, beyond any other. I did not press it further, when I perceived that he was displeased, and shrunk from any abridgement of an attribute usually ascribed to the Divinity, however irreconcileable in its full extent with the grand system of moral government. His supposed orthodoxy here cramped the vigorous powers of his understanding. He was confined by a chain which early imagination and long habit made him think massy and strong, but which, had he ventured to try, he could at once have snapt

asunder.

"What do you think.

proceeded:

Sir, of PurCatholicks?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, it is a very harmless doctrine. They are of opinion that the generality of mankind are neither so obstinately wicked as to deserve everlasting punishment, nor so good as to merit being admitted into the society of blessed I

gatory, as believed

by the

Roman

and therefore that God is graciously pleased to allow of a middle state, where they may spirits;

be purified by certain degrees of suffering. You nothing unreasonable in this." Boswell. "But then. Sir, their masses for the dead?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, if it be once estabsee. Sir, there is

ship: they

lished that there are souls in purgatory,

know

proper to pray for them, as for our brethren of mankind who are yet in this life." Boswell. "The idolatry of the Mass?" Johnson. "Sir, there is no idolatry in the Mass. They believe God to be there, and they adore him." Boswell. "The worship of saints?" Johnson. "Sir, they do not worship saints; they invoke them; they only ask their prayers. I am talking all this time of the doctrines of the Church of Rome. I grant you that in practice, Purgatory is made a lucrative imposition, and that the people do become idolatrous as they recommend themselves to the tutelary protection of particular saints.

I

it is

as

think their giv-

BOSWELL

174

ing the sacrament only in one kind is criminal, because it is contrary to the express institution of Christ, and I wonder how the Council of Trent admitted it." Boswell. "Confession?"

Johnson. "Why, thing.

The

I

don't

know but

that

is

a good

scripture says, 'Confess your faults

to another,' and the priests confess as well as the laity. Then it must be considered that their absolution is only upon repentance, and often upon penance also. You think your sins

one

may be forgiven without penance, upon repentance alone." I thus ventured to mention all the common objections against the Roman Catholick Church, that I might hear so great a man upon them. What he said is here accurately recorded. But it is not improbable that if one had taken the other side, he might have reasoned differently. I must however mention, that he had a respect for '''the old religion,'''' as the mild Melancthon called that of the Roman Catholick Church, even while he was exerting himself for its reformation in some particulars. Sir William Scott informs me, that he heard Johnson say, "A man who is converted from Protestantism to Popery may be sincere: he parts with nothing: he is only superadding to what he already had. But a convert from Popery to Protestantism gives up so much of what he has held as sacred as any thing that he retains; there is so much laceration oj mind in such a conversion, that it can hardly be sincere and lasting." The truth of this reflection may be confirmed by many and eminent instances, some of which will occur to most of my

in his Vanity of

[1769 Human

Wishes, he has supposed

death to be "kind Nature's signal for retreat," from this state of being to "a happier seat," his thoughts upon this aweful change were in general full of dismal apprehensions. His mind resembled the vast amphitheatre, the Colisaeum at Rome. In the centre stood his judgement, which, like a mighty gladiator, combated those apprehensions that, like the wild beasts of the Arena, were all around in cells, ready to be let out upon him. After a conflict, he drives them back into their dens; but not killing them, they were still assailing him. To my question, whether we might not fortify our minds for the approach of death, he answered, in a passion, "No, Sir, let it alone. It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time." He added, (with an earnest look,) "A man knows it must be so, and submits. It will do him no good to whine." I attempted to continue the conversation. He was so provoked, that he said, "Give us no more of this"; and was thrown into such a state of agitation, that he expressed himself in a way that alarmed and distressed me; shewed an impatience that I should leave him, and when I was going away, called to me sternly, "Don't let

us meet tomorrow."

Sir.

went home exceedingly uneasy. All the harsh I had ever heard made upon his character, crowded into my mind; and I seemed to myself like the man who had put his head into the lion's mouth a great many times with perfect safety, but at last had it bit off. Next morning I sent him a note, stating, that I might have been in the wrong, but it was not intentionally; he was therefore, I could not help thinking, too severe upon me. That notwithstanding our agreenaent not to meet that day, I would call on him in my way to the city, and stay five minutes by my watch. "You are, (said I,) in my mind, since last night, surrounded with cloud and storm. Let me have a glimpse of sunshine, and go about my affairs in serenity and chearfulness." Upon entering his study, I was glad that he was not alone, which would have made our meeting more awkward. There were with him, Mr. Steevens and Mr. Tyers, both of whom I now saw for the first time. My note had, on his

breast,

own

readers.

When we

were alone, I introduced the suband endeavoured to maintain that the fear of it might be got over. I told him that David Hume said to me, he was no more un-

ject of death,

easy to think he should not be after this life, than that he had not been before he began to exist. Johnson. "Sir, if he really thinks so, his perceptions are disturbed; he is mad: if he does not think so, he lies. He may tell you, he holds his finger in the flame of a candle, without feeling pain; would you believe him? When he dies, he

up all he has." Boswell. "Foote, me, that when he was very ill he was not afraid to die." Johnson. "It is not true, at least gives

Sir, told

Hold a pistol to Foote's breast, or to Hume's and threaten to kill them, and you'll see how they behave." Boswell. "But may we not fortify our minds for the approach of death?" Here I am sensible I was in the wrong, to bring before his view what he ever looked upon with horrour; for although

when in a

celestial

frame.

I

observations which

reflection, softened him, for he received me very complacently; so that I unexpectedly found myself at ease, and joined in the conversation. He said, the criticks had done too much honour to Sir Richard Blackmore, by writing so much against him. That in his Creation he had

LIFE OF

1769]

been helped by various wits, a line by Phillips and a line by Tickell; so that by their aid, and that of others, the poem had been made out. I defended Blackmore's supposed lines, which have been ridiculed as absolute nonsense:

A painted vest Prince

Voltiger had on, Whichjrom a naked Pict his grandsire won}

I

maintained

it

being painted, is

made

to be a poetical conceit.

if

he

of his skin,

is

A Pict

and a vest a painted vest won from

slain in battle,

it is

him, though he was naked. Johnson spoke unfavourably of a certain pretty voluminous authour, saying, "He used to write anonymous books, and then other books com-

mending those books, in which there was something of rascality." I whispered to him, "Well, Sir, you are now in good humour." Johnson. "Yes, Sir." I was going to leave him, and had got as far as the stair-

He stopped me, and smiling, said, "Get you gone m"; a curious mode of inviting me to stay, which I accordingly did for some time case.

longer.

This little incidental quarrel and reconciliation, which, perhaps, I may be thought to have detailed too minutely, must be esteemed as one of many proofs which his friends had, that though he might be charged with bad humour at times, he was always a good-natured man; and I have heard Sir Joshua Reynolds, a nice and delicate observer of manners, particularly remark, that when upon any occasion Johnson had been rough to any person in company, he took the first opportunity of reconciliation, by drinking ^An acute correspondent of The European Magazine, April, 1 792, has completely exposed a mistake which has been unaccountably frequent in ascribing these lines to Blackmore, notwithstanding that Sir Richard Steele, in that very popular work, The Spectator, mentions them as written by the Authour of The British Princes, the Honourable Edward Howard. The correspondent above mentioned, shews this mistake to be so inveterate, that not only / defended the lines as Blackmore's, in the presence of Dr. Johnson, without any contradiction or doubt of their authenticity, but that the Reverend Mr. Whitaker has asserted in print, that he understands they were suppressed in the late edition or editions of Blackmore. "After all (says this intelligent writer) it is not unworthy of particular observation, that these lines so often quoted do not exist either in Blackmore or Howard." In The British Princes, 8vo., i66g, now before me, p. 96, they stand thus:

A

vest as admired Voltiger had on. Which, from this Island's Joes, his grandsire won. Whose artful colour passed the Tyrian dye, Oblig'd to triumph in this legacy. It is probable, I think, that some wag, in order to make Howard still more ridiculous than he really was, has formed the couplet as it now circulates.

JOHNSON

175

to him, or addressing his discourse to him; but

he found

if

his dignified indirect overtures sullenly

neglected, he was quite indifferent, and considered himself as having done all that he ought to do, and the other as now in the wrong. Being to set out for Scotland on the loth of November, I wrote to him at Streatham, begging that he would meet me in town on the gth; but if this should be very inconvenient to him, I would go thither. His answer was as follows:

To James Boswell, Dear

Esq.

Upon

balancing the inconveniences of both parties, I find it will less incommode you to spend your night here, than me to come to town. I wish to see you, and am ordered by the lady of this house to invite you hither. Whether you can come or not, I shall not have any occasion of writing to you again before your marriage, and therefore tell you now, that with great sincerity I wish you happiness. I am, dear Sir,your most affectionate humble servant, Sam. Johnson Nov. 9, 1769 I

Sir,

was detained

in

town

the ninth, so went to

him

till it

was too late on morning

early on the

November. "Now (said he,) that you are going to marry, do not expect more from life, than life will afford. You may often find yourself out of humour, and you may often think your wife not studious enough to please you; and yet you may have reason to consider yourself as upon the whole very happily marof the tenth of

ried."

Talking of marriage in general, he observed,

"Our marriage

service is too refined. It is calculated only for the best kind of marriages; whereas, we should have a form for matches of convenience, of which there are many." He

agreed with me that there was no absolute necessity for having the marriage ceremony performed by a regular clergyman, for this was not

commanded in scripture. I was volatile enough to repeat to him a little epigrammatick song of mine, on matrimony, which Mr. Garrick had a few days before procured to be set to musick by the very ingenious Mr. Dibden.

A

Matrimonial Thought

In the blithe days of honey-moon. With Kate's allurements smitten, Ilov'd her

late,

I lov'd her soon.

And call'd her dearest kitten. But now my kitten's grown a cat. And cross like other wives, O! by my soul, my honest Mat, Ifear she has

nine lives.

BOSWELL

176

My

illustrious friend said, "It is

very well,

has

[1770

much appeared

to desire, or

much endeav-

Upon which I !" by my soul," to "Alas, alas me to Lonaccompany to good as He was so don, and see me into the post-chaise which was to carry me on my road to Scotland. And sure I am, that, however inconsiderable many of the particulars recorded at this time may appear to some, they will be esteemed by the best part of my readers as genuine traits of his character,

oured to deserve them." And, "Every honest man must lament, that the faction has been regarded with frigid neutrality by the Tories, who being long accustomed to signalise their principles by opposition to the Court, do not yet consider, that they have at last a King who knows

and

having virtually assumed it as an axiom, that the expulsion of a Member of Parliament was equivalent to exclusion, and thus having declared Colonel Lutterel to be duly elected for the county of Middlesex, notwithstanding Mr. Wilkes had a great majority of votes. This being

ered to be Johnson's, several answers came out, in which, care was taken to remind the publick of his former attacks upon government, and of his now being a pensioner, without allowing for the honourable terms upon which Johnson's pension was granted and accepted, or the change of system which the British court had undergone upon the accession of his present Majesty. He was, however, soothed in the highest strain of panegyrick, in a poem called The Remonstrance, by the Rev. Mr. Stockdale, to whom he was, upon many occasions, a kind protector. The following admirable minute made by

justly considered as a gross violation of the right

him

of election, an alarm for the constitution ex-

numbers

tended itself all over the kingdom. To prove this alarm to be false, was the purpose of Johnson's pamphlet; but even his vast powers were inadequate to cop>e wath constitutional truth and rea-

I cannot omit it: "June I, 1770. Every man naturally persuades himself that he can keep his resolutions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but by length of time and frequency of experiment. This opin-

Sir;

but you should not swear."

altered

"O

!

contributing together to give a distinct view of it.

full, fair,

—

IN 1770 he published a popamphlet, entitled The False Alarm, intended to justify the conduct of ministry and

1770: yETAT. 61.]

litical

their majority in the

House

of

Commons,

for

and his argument failed of effect; and the House of Commons have since expunged the offensive resolution from their Journals. That the House of Commons might have expelled Mr. Wilkes repeatedly, and as often as he should be re-chosen, was not denied; but incapacitation cannot be but by an act of the whole legislature. It was wonderful to see how a prejudice in favour of government in general, and an aversion to popular clamour, could blind and contract such an understanding as Johnson's, in this parson,

ticular case; yet the wit, the sarcasm, the elo-

quent vivacity which this pamphlet displayed, made it be read with great avidity at the time, and it will ever be read with pleasure, for the sake of its composition. That it endeavoured to infuse a narcotick indifference, as to publick concerns, into the minds of the people,

and that

broke out sometimes into an extreme coarseness of contemptuous abuse, is but too evident. It must not, however, be omitted, that when the storm of his violence subsides, he takes a fair opportunity to pay a grateful compliment to the King, who had rewarded his merit: "These lowborn rulers have endeavoured, surely without effect, to alienate the affections of the people from the only King who for almost a century

it

name of party, and who wishes to be the common father of all his people." To this pamphlet, which was at once discov-

not the

describes so well his to

own

state,

and that of

whom self-examination is habitual,

that

ion of our

we always and

own constancy is despise him who

settled

so prevalent, that suffers his general

purpose to be overpowered by an

occasional desire. They, therefore, whom frequent failures have made desperate, cease to

form resolutions; and they who are become cunning, do not tell them. Those who do not make

them

are very few, but of their effect little is perceived; for scarcely any man persists in a

course of life planned by choice, but as he is restrained from deviation by some external power. He who may live as he will, seldom lives long in the observation of his own rules."^ Of this year I have obtained the following letters:

To THE Reverend Dr. Farmer, Cambridge Sir, As no man ought to keep wholly to himself any possession that may be useful to the publick, I hope you will not think me unreasonably intrusive, if I have recourse to you for such information as you are more able to give me than any other man. In support of an opinion which you have already placed above the need of any more support, Mr. Steevens, a very ingenious gentleman, ^Prayers and Meditations, p. 95. [p. loi].

LIFE OF

i77o]

an acthe translations which Shakspeare

lately of King's College, has collected

count of all might have seen and used. He wishes his catalogue to be perfect, and therefore intreats that you will favour him by the insertion of such additions as the accuracy of your inquiries has enabled you to make. To this request, I take the liberty of adding my own solicitation. We have no immediate use for this catalogue, and therefore do not desire that it should interrupt or hinder your more important employments. But it will be kind to let us know that you receive it. I am. Sir, &c. Sam. Johnson

JOHNSON Do

or forsake you; for if, when I examine you, I find that you have not lost your time, you shall want no encouragement from yours affectionately,

To the Same

some

Dear Sir,

pleased to promise me some notes on Shakspeare, was a new instance of your friendship. I shall not hurry you; but am desired by Mr. Steevens, who helps me in this edition, to let you know, that we shall print the tragedies first, and shall therefore want first the notes which think not to incommode the belong to them. readers with a supplement; and therefore, what we cannot put into its proper place, will do us shall not begin to print before the no good. end of six weeks, perhaps not so soon. I am, &c.

We

We

Sam. Johnson

London, June

23,

1

770

To the Rev. Dr. Joseph Warton Sir, I am revising my edition of Shaks-

Dear

and remember that I formerly misrepresented your opinion of Lear. Be pleased to write the paragraph as you would have it, and send it. If you have any remarks of your own upon that or any other play, I shall gladly receive them.

peare,

Make my compliments to Mrs. Warton. I sometimes think of wandering for a few days to Winchester, but am apt to delay. I am. Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson Sept. 27, 1770

To Mr.

Francis Barber, At Mrs. Clapp's, Bishopstortford, Hertfordshire

Dear

Francis,

I

am at last sat down to write

and should very much blame myself for having neglected you so long, if I did not impute that and many other failings to want of health. I hope not to be so long silent again. I am very well satisfied with your progress, if you can really perform the exercises which you are set; and I hope Mr. Ellis does not suffer you to impose on him, or on yourself. Make my compliments to Mr. Ellis, and to Mrs. Clapp, and Mr. Smith. Let me know what English books you read to you,

for

your entertainment.

unless

you love reading.

You can

never be wise

which you

clothes,

next week. fectionate,

The readiness with which you were

1770

Francis, I hope you mind your business. I design you shall stay with Mrs. Clapp these holidays. If you are invited out you may go, if Mr. Ellis gives leave. I have ordered you

March

To THE Reverend Mr. Thomas Warton

Sept. 25,

Dear

to

1770

I shall forget

Sam. Johnson

London,

Johnson's-court, Fleet-street 21,

177

not imagine that

Mr.

will receive, I believe,

My compliments to Mrs.

Ellis,

and Mr. Smith, &c.

I

Clapp and

am

your

af-

Sam. Johnson December

7,

1770

this year there was a total cessation of correspondence between Dr. Johnson and me, without any coldness on either side, but merely from procrastination, continued from day to day; and as I was not in London, I had no opportunity of enjoying his company and recording his conversation. To supply this blank, I shall present my readers with some Collectanea, obligingly furnished to me by the Rev. Dr. Maxwell, of Falkland, in Ireland, some time assistant preacher at the Temple, and for many years the social friend of Johnson, who spoke of him with a very kind regard. "My acquaintance with that great and venerable character commenced in the year 1 754. I was introduced to him by Mr. Grierson,^ his Majesty's printer at Dublin, a gentleman of uncommon learning, and great wit and vivacity. Mr. Grierson died in Germany, at the age of twentyseven. Dr. Johnson highly respected his abilities, and often observed, that he possessed more extensive knowledge than any man of his years he had ever known. His industry was equal to his talents; and he particularly excelled in every

During

all

species of philological learning,

and was,

per-

haps, the best critick of the age he lived in. "I must always remember with gratitude

my

and happiness of Dr. Johnson's acquaintance and friendship, which continued uninterrupted and obligation to Mr. Grierson, for the honour

undiminished to his death: a connection, that was at once the pride and happiness of my life.

"What pity it is, that so much wit and good sense as he continually exhibited in conversation,

should perish unrecorded! Few persons company without perceiving them-

quitted his

^Son of the learned Mrs. Grierson, tronised by the late Lord Granville, editor of several of the Classicks.

who was

pa-

and was the

—

BOSWELL

178

and better than they were before. On serious subjects he flashed the most interesting conviction upon his auditors; and upon hghter topicks, you might have supposed

selves wiser

Albano musas de monte

"Though

by any comcan furnish, yet out of pure re-

celebrity of so exalted a character,

munications spect to his

I

memory,

I will

venture to transmit

you some anecdotes concerning him, which fell under my own observation. The very minulia of such a character must be interesting, and may be compared to the filings of diamonds. "In politicks he was deemed a Tory, but certainly was not so in the obnoxious or party sense of the term; for while he asserted the legal and salutary prerogatives of the crown, he no less to

respected the constitutional liberties of the people. VVhiggism, at the time of the Revolution,

he said, was accompanied with certain principles; but latterly, as a mere party distinction under Walpole and the Pelhams, was no better than the politicks of stock-jobbers, and the religion of infidels. "He detested the idea of governing by parliamentary corruption, and asserted most strenuously, that a prince steadily and conspicuously pursuing the interests of his people, could not fail of parliamentary concurrence. A prince of ability, he contended, might and should be the directing soul and spirit of his own administration; in short, his own minister, and not the mere head of a party: and then, and not till then, would the royal dignity be sincerely respected.

"Johnson seemed to think, that a certain degree of crown influence over the Houses of Parliament, (not meaning a corrupt and shameful dependence,) was very salutary, nay, even necessary, in our mixed government. 'For, (said he,) if the members were under no crown influence, and disqualified from receiving any gratification from Court, and resembled, as they possibly might, Pym and Haslerig, and other stubborn and sturdy members of the long Parliament, the wheels of government would be totally obstructed. Such men would oppose, merely to shew their power, from envy, jealousy, and perversity of disposition and not gaining themselves, would hate and oppose all who did not loving ;

:

the person of the prince, and conceiving they

owed him

gratitude, from the mere spirit and contradiction, they would oppose and thwart him upon all occasions.' "The inseparable imperfection annexed to all little

of insolence

human governments

eff^ectual

execution.

consisted, he said, in not

Wisdom might plan, but And where could

virtue alone could execute. sufficient virtue

locutas.

can hope to add but Httle to the

I

[1770

being able to create a sufficient fund of virtue and principle to carry the laws into due and

be found?

A

variety of dele-

and often discretionary, powers must be entrusted somewhere; which, if not governed by integrity and conscience, would necessarily be abused, till at last the constable would sell his gated,

for a shilling.

"This excellent person was sometimes charged with abetting slavish and arbitrary principles of government. Nothing in my opinion could be a grosser calumny and misrepresentation; for howcan it be rationally supposed, that he should adopt such pernicious and absurd opinions, who supported his philosophical character with so much dignity, was extremely jealous of his personal liberty and independence, and could not brook the smallest appearance of neglect or insult, even from the highest personages?

"But

let

us view

him

in

some instances

of

more familiar life. "His general mode of life, during my acquaintance, seemed to be pretty uniform.

About twelve

commonly visited him, and frequently found him in bed, or declaiming over his tea, o'clock

I

which he drank very plentifully. He generally had a levee of morning visitors, chiefly men of letters; Hawkesworth, Goldsmith, Murphy, Langton, Steevens, Beauclerk, &c. &c., and sometimes learned ladies, particularly I remember a French lady of wit and fashion doing him the honour of a visit. He seemed to me to be considered as a Kind of publick oracle, whom every body thought they had a right to visit and consult; and doubtless they were well rewarded. I never could discover how he found time for his compositions. He declaimed all the morning, then went to dinner at a tavern, where he commonly staid late, and then drank his tea at some friend's house, over which he loitered a great while, but seldom took supper. I fancy he must have read and wrote chiefly in the night, for I can scarcely recollect that he ever refused going with me to a tavern, and he often went to Ranelagh, which he deemed a place of innocent recreation.

"He

frequently gave

all

the silver in his pock-

who watched

him, between his house and the tavern where he dined. He walked the streets at all hours, and said he was never robbed, for the rogues knew he had little money, nor had the appearance of having much. et to the poor,

"Though cative

man

the most accessible alive; yet

when he

and communi-

suspected he was

LIFE OF

1770]

invited to be exhibited, he constantly spurned

"Two young women from Staffordshire visitwas present, to consult him on the subject of Methodism, to which they were inclined. 'Come, (said he,) you pretty fools, dine with Maxwell and me at the Mitre, and we will talk over that subject' which they did, and after dinner he took one of them upon his knee, and fondled her for half an hour together. I

;

"Upon a visit to me

at a country lodging near

Twickenham, he asked what sort of society I had there. I told

him, but indifferent; as they chiefly

consisted of opulent traders, retired from business.

He

said,

he never much liked that

class of

people; 'For, Sir, (said he,) they have lost the civility of tradesmen,

without acquiring the man-

ners of gentlemen.'

"Johnson was much attached to London: he observed, that a

man

stored his

mind

better

any where else; and that in remote situations a man's body might be feasted, but his mind was starved, and his faculties apt to degenerate, from want of exercise and competition. No place, (he said,) cured a man's vanity or arrogance so well as London; for as no man was either great or good per se, but as compared with others not so good or great, he was there, than

sure to find in the metropolis

and some

man

in

his superiours.

London was

He

many

his equals,

observed, that a

in less danger of falling in

love indiscreetly, than

any where

else; for

there

the difficulty of deciding between the conflict-

ing pretensions of a vast variety of objects, kept him safe. He told me, that he had frequently been offered country preferment, if he would consent to take orders; but he could not leave the improved society of the capital, or consent to exchange the exhilarating joys and splendid decorations of publick life, for the obscurity, insipidity, and uniformity of remote situations. "Speaking of Mr. Harte, Canon of Windsor, and writer of The History of Gustavus Adolphus,

much coromended him

as a scholar, and a most companionable talents he had ever known. He said, the defects in his history proceeded not from imbecility, but from

he

man

179

"He frequently exhorted me to set about writing a History of Ireland, and archly remarked,

the invitation.

ed him when

JOHNSON

of the

foppery.

"He loved, he said, the old black letter books; they were rich in matter, though their style was inelegant; wonderfully so, considering how conversant the writers were with the best models of antiquity.

"Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, he said, was the only book that ever took him out of bed two hours sooner than he wished to rise.

there had been some good Irish writers, and that one Irishman might at least aspire to be equal to another. He had great compassion for the miseries

and

distresses of the Irish nation, par-

and severely reprobated the barbarous debilitating policy of the British government, which, he said, was the most detestable mode of persecution. To a gentleman, who hinted such policy might be necessary to support the authority of the English government, he replied by saying, 'Let the authority of the English government perish, rather than be maintained by iniquity. Better would it be to restrain the turbulence of the natives by the authority of the sword, and to make them amenable to law and justice by an effectual and vigorous police, than to grind them to powder by all manner of ticularly the Papists;

and incapacities. Better (said he,) to hang or drown people at once, than by an unrelenting persecution to beggar and starve them.' The moderation and humanity of the present times have, in some measure, justified the wisdisabilities

dom

of his observations.

"Dr. Johnson was often accused of prejudices, nay, antipathy, with regard to the natives of Scotland. Surely, so illiberal a prejudice never entered his mind: and it is well known, many natives of that respectable country possessed a large share in his esteem; nor were any of them ever excluded from his good offices, as far as opportunity permitted. True it is, he considered the Scotch, nationally, as a crafty, designing people, eagerly attentive to their

and too apt

own

to overlook the claims

interest,

and preten-

sions of other people. 'While they confine their

benevolence, in a manner, exclusively to those own country, they expect to share in the good offices of other people. Now (said Johnson,)

of their

this principle

is

either right or WTong;

if right,

we should do well to imitate such conduct; wrong, we cannot too much detest it.'

if

"Being solicited to compose a funeral sermon daughter of a tradesman, he naturally enquired into the character of the deceased; and being told she was remarkable for her humility and condescension to inferiours, he observed, that those were very laudable qualities, but it might not be so easy to discover who the lady's

for the

inferiours were.

"Of a certain player he remarked, that his conversation usually threatened and announced more than it performed; that he fed you with a continual renovation of hope, to end in a constant succession of disappointment.

BOSWELL

i8o

"When exasperated by contradiction, he was apt to treat his opponents with too much acrimony: as, 'Sir, you don't see your way through 'Sir, you talk the language of that question': ignorance.' On my observing to him that a certain gentleman had remained silent the whole evening, in the midst of a very brilliant and learned society, 'Sir, (said he,) the conversation

—

overflowed, and dro\vned him.' "His philosophy, though austere and solemn, was by no means morose and cynical, and never blunted the laudable sensibilities of his character, or exempted him from the influence of the

tender passions. alledged,

Want

was want of

of tenderness, he always parts,

and was no

less

a

proof of stupidity than depravity.

"Speaking of Mr. Hanway, who published Eight Days^ Journey from London to Portsmouth, 'Jonas, (said he,) acquired some reputation by travelling abroad, but lost it all by travelling at

An

home.'

Of the passion of love he remarked, that its viill effects were much exaggerated; for who knows any real sufferings on that head, more '

'

than from the exorbitancy of any other passion?

"He much commended Law's Serious Call, which he said was the finest piece of hortatory theology in any language. 'Law, (said he,) fell latterly into the reveries ofJacob Behmen, whom Law alledged to have been somewhat in the same state with St. Paul, and to have seen unutterable things. Were it even so, (said Johnson,) Jacob would have resembled St. Paul still more, by not attempting to utter them.'

"He observed, that the established clergy in general did not preach plain enough; and that polished periods and glittering sentences flew over the heads of the common people, without any impression upon their hearts. Something might be necessary, he observed, to excite the affections of the common people, who were sunk in languor and lethargy, and therefore he supposed that the new concomitants of methodism

might probably produce so desirable an

The mind,

"He was much affected by the death of his mother, and wrote to me to come and assist him to compose his mind, which indeed I found extremely agitated. He lamented that all serious and religious conversation was banished from the society of men, and yet great advantages might be derived from it. All acknowledged, he said, what hardly any body practised, the obligation we were under of making the concerns of eternity the governing principles of our lives. Every man, he observed, at last wishes for retreat: he sees his expectations frustrated in the world, and begins to

effect.

body, he observed, delighted in change and novelty, and even in religion itself, courted new app)earances and modifications. Whatever might be thought of some methodist teachers, he said, he could scarcely doubt the sincerity of that man, who travelled nine hundred miles in a month, and preached twelve times a week; for no adequate reward, merely temporal, could be given for such indefatigable labour. "Of Dr. Priestley's theological works, he remarked, that they tended to unsettle every thing, and yet settled nothing. like the

wean himself from

it,

and

to prepare for everlasting separation.

"He observed, that the influence of London now extended every where, and that from all manner of communication being opened, there would be no remains of the ancient sim-

shortly

plicity, or places of

cheap retreat to be found.

"He was no admirer

and said by the dignity of the subject. In blank-verse, he said, the language suffered more distortion, to keep it out of prose, than any inconvenience or limitation to be apprehended from the shackles and circumspection of rhyme. "He reproved me once for saying grace without mention of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and hoped in future I would be more mindful of the apostolical injunction. "He refused to go out of a room before me at Mr. Langton's house, saying, he hoped he knew his rank better than to presume to take place of a Doctor in Divinity. I mention such little anecdotes, merely to shew the peculiar turn and habit of his mind. "He used frequently to observe, that there was more to be endured than enjoyed, in the general condition of human life; and frequently quoted those lines of Dryden: it

olence and

[1770

always

of blank-verse,

failed, unless sustained

Strange cozenage! none would live past years again,

Tet all hope pleasure from what still remain.

he never passed that week to repeat, were an angel to make the proposal to him. "He was of opinion, that the English nation cultivated both their soil and their reason better than any other people: but admitted that the French, though not the highest, perhaps, in any department of literature, yet in every department were very high. Intellectual pre-eminence, he

For his part, he in his

life

said,

which he would wish

observed, was the highest superiority; and that every nation derived their highest reputation from the splendour and dignity of their writers. Voltaire, he said, was a good narrator, and that

LIFE OF

i77o]

his principal merit consisted in a happy selection and arrangement of circumstances.

"Speaking of the French novels, compared with Richardson's, he said, they might be pretty baubles, but a wren was not an eagle. "In a Latin conversation with the Pere Boscovitch, at the house of Mrs. Cholmondeley, I heard him maintain the superiority of Sir Isaac Newton over all foreign philosophers,^ with a dignity and eloquence that surprized that learned foreigner. It being observed to him, that a rage for every thing English prevailed much in France after Lord Chatham's glorious war, he said, he did not wonder at it, for that we had drubbed those fellows into a proper reverence for us, and that their national petulance required periodical chastisement.

"Lord Lyttelton's Dialogues he deemed a nugatory performance. 'That man, (said he,) sat down to write a book, to tell the world what the world had

all his life

been

"Somebody observing landers, in the year

that the Scotch High-

745, efforts, considering their 1

telling him.'

had made surprizing numerous wants and

disadvantages: 'Yes, Sir, (said he,) their wants were numerous; but you have not mentioned the want of law.' the greatest of them all,

—

"Speaking of the inward light, to which some methodists pretended, he said, it was a principle utterly incompatible with social or civil security. 'If a man (said he,) pretends to a principle of action of which I can know nothing, nay, not so much as that he has it, but only that he pretends to it; how can I tell what that person may be prompted to do? When a person professes to be governed by a written ascertained law, I can then know where to find him.' "The poem oi Fingal, he said, was a mere unconnected rhapsody, a tiresome repetition of the same images. 'In vain shall we look for the lucidus ordo, v/here there is neither end or object, design or moral, nee certa recurrit imago.'' "Being asked by a young nobleman, what was become of the gallantry and military spirit of the old English nobility, he replied, 'Why, my Lord, I'll tell you what is become of it; it is gone into the city to look for a fortune.' "Speaking of a dull tiresome fellow, whom he chanced to meet, he said, 'That fellow seems to iJn a Discourse by Sir William Jones, addressed to the Asiatick Society [in Calcutta], Feb. 24, 1 785, "One of the most sagais the following passage: cious men in this age who continues, I hope, to improve and adorn it, Samuel Johnson [he had been dead ten weeks], remarked in my hearing, that if Newton had flourished in ancient Greece, he would have been worshipped as a Divinity." [M.]

—

JOHNSON me

181

to possess but

one idea, and that

is

a wrong

"Much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney.'' "He spoke with much contempt of the notice taken of Woodhouse, the poetical shoemaker. He was all vanity and childishness: and that such objects were, to those who patronised them, mere mirrours of their own superiority. 'They had better (said he,) furnish the man with good implements for his trade, than raise subscriptions for his poems. He may make an excellent shoemaker, but can never make a good poet. A school-boy's exercise may be a pretty thing for a school-boy; but it is no treat for a man.' said, it

"Speaking of Boetius, who was the favourite it was very

writer of the middle ages, he said

upon such a subject, and in such a situation, he should be magis philosophus quam surprizing, that

Christianus.

"Speaking of Arthur Murphy,

much

know

whom he very

Arthur can be classed with the very first dramatick writers; yet at present I doubt much whether we have any thing superiour to Arthur.' "Speaking of the national debt, he said, it was an idle dream to suppose that the country could sink under it. Let the public creditors be ever so loved,

'I

don't

(said he,) that

clamorous, the interest of millions must ever prevail over that of thousands.

"Of Dr. Kennicott's

Collations, he observed,

that though the text should not be

much mend-

ed thereby, yet it was no smaU advantage to know, that we had as good a text as the most

consummate industry and

diligence could pro-

cure.

"Johnson observed, that so many objections might be made to every thing, that nothing could overcome them but the necessity of doing something. No man would be of any profession, as simply opposed to not being of it: but every one must do something. "He remarked, that a London parish was a very comfortless thing; for the clergyman seldom knew the face of one out of ten of his parishioners.

"Of the late Mr. Mallet he spoke with no great was ready for any dirty job: had wrote against Byng at the instigaof the ministry, and was equally ready to

respect: said, he

that he tion

write for him, provided he found his account in it.

BOSWELL

1 82

"A gentleman who had been very unhappy in marriage, married immediately after his wife Johnson said, it was the triumph of hope

died:

over experience. "He observed, that a man of sense and education should meet a suitable companion in a wife. It was a miserable thing when the conversation could only be such as, whether the mutton should be boiled or roasted, and probably a dispute about that.

"He

did not approve of late marriages, obmore was lost in point of time, than compensated for by any possible advantages.

serving that

Even

ill

assorted marriages were preferable to

—

by

cheerless celibacy.

"Of

old Sheridan he remarked, that he neither wanted parts nor literature but that his van;

and Quixotism obscured his merits. said, foppery was never cured; it was the bad stamina of the mind, which, like those of the body, were never rectified: once a coxcomb, and always a coxcomb.

ity

"He

[1770

with me, one Sunday, to hear my old Master, Gregory Sharpe, preach at the Temple. In the prefatory prayer, Sharpe ranted about Liberty, as a blessing most fervently to be implored, and its continuance prayed for. Johnson observed, that our liberty was in no sort of danger: he would have done much better, to pray against our licentiousness. "One evening at Mrs. Montagu's, where a splendid company was assembled, consisting of the most eminent literary characters, I thought he seemed highly pleased with the respect and attention that were shewn him, and asked him on our return home if he was not highly gratified

"He went

his visit: 'No, Sir, (said he,) not highly grat-

ified;

yet

I

same

an

object, [literary eminence,]

which he had

of religion.

"He

often used to quote, with great pathos,

than in any other country of the mean little Cantons, or petty Republicks. Where a great proportion of the people (said he,) are suffered to languish in helpless misery, that country must be ill policed, and wretchedly governed: a decent provision for Gentlethe poor is the true test of civilization. men of education, he observed, were pretty much for,

extent: he did not

—

the same in all countries; the condition of the lower orders, the poor especially, was the true

mark

those fine lines of Virgil:

many

may easily distinguish the born gentlewoman.^ "He said, 'the poor in England were better

provided

at

have passed

objections.^

one

dub him

not power to grasp.' "To find a substitution for violated morality, he said, was the leading feature in all perversions

recollect to

"Though of no high extraction himself, he had much respect for birth and family, especially among ladies. He said, 'adventitious accomplishments may be possessed by all ranks; but

"Being told that Gilbert Cowper called him the Caliban of literature; 'Well, (said he,) I must the Punchinello.' "Speaking of the old Earl of Corke and Orrery, he said, 'that man spent his life in catching

do not

evenings with fewer

of national discrimination.'

"When the corn laws were in agitation in

Optima quceque dies miseris mortalibus esvi Prima Jugit; subeunt morbi, tristisque senectus, Et labor, et durcE rapit inclementia mortis.

land,

not only to feed large

"Speaking of Homer, whom he venerated as the prince of poets, Johnson remarked that the advice given to Diomed by his father, when he sent him to the Trojan war, \vas the noblest exhortation that could be instanced in any heathen writer, and comprised in a single line:

Ire-

by which that country has been enabled amount;

itself,

Sir

but to export corn to a

Thomas Robinson

observed,

that those laws might be prejudicial to the corn-

trade of England. 'Sir

Thomas,

you would

(said he,)

talk the language of a savage: what, Sir?

which, if I recollect well, is translated by Dr. Clarke thus: semper appetere prastantissima, et om-

you prevent any people from feeding themselves, by any honest means they can do it?' "It being mentioned, that Garrick assisted Dr. Brown, the authour of the Estimate, in some dramatick composition, 'No, Sir, (said Johnson,) he would no more suffer Garrick to write a line in his play, than he would suffer him to mount

nibus aliis antecellere.

his pulpit.'

AU>' &.pL(7T€veiv,

"He

observed,

/cat

'it

xnrelpoxov

€fifj.evai

aWcov.

was a most mortifying

re-

any man to consider, what he had done, compared with what he might have done.'' "He said fev/ people had intellectual resources flexion for

sufficient to forego the pleasures of wine.

could not otherwise contrive how to terval between dinner and supper.

fill

They

the in-

if

"Speaking of Burke, he said, It was commonly observed, he spoke too often in parliament; but nobody could say he did not speak well, though '

too frequently

and too

familiarly.'

"Speaking of economy, he remarked, it was hardly worth while to save anxiously twenty pounds a year. If a man could save to that de-

— I77I

LIFE OF

]

gree, so as to enable

him

to assume a different

rank in society, then indeed,

it

might answer

some purpose.

"He observed, a principal source of erroneous judgement was, viewing things partially and only on one side: as for instance, fortune-hunters, when they contemplated separately, it

but

ject;

the fortunes singly

and

JOHNSON

Then he quoted

the following lines with great

pathos:

was a dazzling and tempting ob-

when they came

183

and imagining greater felicity from them than they can aflford. No, Sir, knowledge and virtue may be acquired in all countries, and your local consequence will make you some amends for the intellectual gratifications you relinquish.' uations,

He who has early known the pomps of state,

to possess the wives

{For things unkhown,

'tis

ignorance

to

began to suspect that they had not made quite so good a

And after having

bargain.

With such a one contented could I live.

and

their fortunes together, they

"Speaking of the

late

Duke

of

Can

tenant of Ireland, somebody remarked it would be difficult to find a suitable successor to him: then exclaimed Johnson, he is only Jit to succeed

boldly say, the

trifle

condemn;)

bait.

I contemn;

Contented could I die;^

Northumber-

land living very m-agnificently when Lord Lieu-

viewed the gaudy

"He

then took a most aff"ecting leave of me; he knew, it was point oi duty that called me away. 'We shall all be sorry to lose you,' said he: " 'laudo tamen.'

said,

himself.

"He

advised me,

orchard.

income,

if

possible, to

have a good

He knew, he said, a clergyman of small who brought up a family very repu-

tably which he chiefly fed with apple dumplins.

"He said, he had known several good scholars among the Irish gentlemen; but scarcely any of them correct in quantity. He extended the same observation to Scotland. "Speaking of a certain Prelate, who exerted himself very laudably in building churches and parsonage-houses; 'however, said he, I do not find that

he

is

esteemed a

man

of

much

sional learning, or a liberal patron of it; is

well,

where a

man

possesses

profes-

— yet,

any strong

it

—

—

ing will fail some-where.''

"Talking of the Irish clergy, he said. Swift was a man of great parts, and the instrument of much good to his country. Berkeley was a profound scholar, as well as a man of fine imagination; but Usher, he said, was the great luminary of the Irish church; and a greater, he added, no church could boast of; at least in modern times.

"We dined tete a tete at the Mitre, as I was preparing to return to Ireland, after an absence of

many

much leaving London, had formed many agreeable connex'Sir, (said he,) I don't wonder at it; no man,

where ions:

late

Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands, in

which, upon materials furnished to him by ministry, and upon general topicks expanded in his richest style, he successfully endeavoured to persuade the nation that it was wise and laudable to suff'er the question of right to remain undecided, rather than involve our country in another war. It has been suggested by some, with what truth I shall not take upon me to decide, that he rated the consequence of those islands to Great-Britain too low. But however this may

posi-

Few have all kinds of merit belonging to their character. We must not examine matters too deeply No, Sir, a fallible betive excellence.

In 1771 he published an1771: /Etat. 62.] other political pamphlet, entitled Thoughts on the

years. I regretted

^These lines have been discovered by the author's second son in The London A4agazine for July, 1732; where they form part of a poem on Retirement, copied, with some slight variations, from one of Walsh's smaller poems, entitled The Retirem.ent. They exhibit another proof that Johnson retained in his memory fragments of neglected poetry. In quoting verses of that description, he appears by a slight variation to have sometimes given them a moral turn, and to have dexterously adapted them to his

own sentiments, where the original had a very different tendency. In 1782, when he was at Brighthelmstone, he repeated to Mr. Metcalfe, some verses, as very characteristic of a celebrated historian [Gibbon]. They are found among some anonymous poems appended to the second volume of a collection frequently printed title of Pope's Miscellanies:

how the wand' ring Danube flows. Realms and religions parting;

See

I

fond of letters, leaves London without regret. But remember. Sir, you have seen and enjoyed a great deal; you have seen life in its highest decorations, and the world has nothing new to exhibit. No man is so well qualifyed to leave publick life as he who has long tried it and known it weU. We are always hankering after untried sit-

—

by Lintot, under the

A friend To

Now

to all true christian

foes.

Peter, Jack, and Martin. Protestant, and Papist now.

Not At

constant long to either. length an infidel does grow.

And

ends his journey neither.

Thus many a youth Fve known Half Protestant, half Papist,

And

set out.

rambling long the world about.

Turn

infidel or atheist.

[M.]

— 1

BOSWELL

84

be, every

humane mind must

surely applaud

the earnestness with which he averted the calamity of war; a calamity so dreadful, that it is

astonishing

how

civilised,

nay, Christian na-

can deliberately continue to renew it. His description of its miseries in this pamphlet, is one of the finest pieces of eloquence in the Eng-

[1771 Mr. Thrale's, where I am now writing, ail are well. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson March 20, 1771 Mr. Strahan, the

tions,

language. Upon this occasion, too, we find Johnson lashing the party in opposition with unbounded severity, and making the fullest use of what he ever reckoned a most effectual argumentative instrument, contempt. His character of their very able mysterious champion, Junlish

—

ius, is

executed with

all

the force of his genius,

He seems to have exulted in sallying forth to single combat and

finished with the highest care.

against the boasted

and formidable hero, who

printer,

who had been

long

in intiinacy with Johnson, in the course of his

who was at once his friendly agent in receiving his pension for him, and his banker in supplying him with money when he wanted it; who was himself now a Member of Parliament, and who loved much to be employed in political negociation, thought he should do eminent service both to government and Johnson, if he could be the means of his getting a

literary labours,

House of Commons. With

seat in the

this view,

he wrote a letter to one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, of which he gave me a copy in his own

bade defiance to "principalities and powers, and

hand-writing, which

the rulers of this world."

when I had the honour of waiting upon you some time ago, I took the liberty to observe to you, that Dr. Johnson would make an excellent figure in the House of Commons, and heartily wished he had a seat

This pamphlet, it is observable, was softened in one particular, after the first edition; for the conclusion of Mr. George Grenville's character stood thus: "Let him not, however, be depreciated in his grave. He had powers not universally possessed: could he have enforced payment of the Manilla ransom, he could have counted it." Which, instead of retaining its sly sharp point, was reduced to a mere fiat unmeaning exprestruism: "He sion, or, if I may use the word, had powers not universally possessed: and if he sometime erred, he was likewise sometimes right."

To Bennet Langton,

Esq.

Dear Sir, After much lingering of my own, and much of the ministry, I have at length got out

my

paper.^ But delay

is

not yet at an end:

Not many had been dispersed, before Lord North ordered the sale to stop. His reasons I do not distinctly know. You may try to find them in the perusal. 2 Before his order, a sufficient number were dispersed to do all the mischief, though, perhaps, not to make all the sport that might be expected from it. Soon after your departure, I had the pleasure of finding all the danger past with which your navigation was threatened. I hope nothing happens at home to abate your satisfaction; but that Lady Rothes, and Mrs. Langton, and the young ladies, are all well. I was last night at the club. Dr. Percy has written a long ballad in many fits; it is pretty enough. He has printed, and will soon publish it. Goldsmith is at Bath, with Lord Clare. At ^Thoughts on the

late

You

Sir,

Transactions respecting Falk-

land's Islands.

^By comparing the first with the subsequent editions, this curious circumstance of ministerial authorship may be discovered.

there.

My

know

is

as follows:

will easily recollect,

reasons are briefly these:

good affection to his Majgovernment, which I am certain he wishes to support by every means in his power. He possesses a great share of manly, nervous, and ready eloquence; is quick in discerning the strength and weakness of an argument; can express himself with clearness and precision, and fears the face of no man alive. His known character, as a man of extraordinary sense and unimpeached virtue, would secure him the attention of the House, and could not fail to give him a proper weight there. He is capable of the greatest application, and can undergo any degree of labour, where he sees I

esty,

and

his perfect

his

necessary, and where his heart and affections are strongly engaged. His Majesty's ministers might therefore securely depend on his doing, upon every proper occasion, the utmost that could be expected from him. They would find him ready to vindicate such measures as tended to promote the stability of government, and resolute and steady in carrying them into execution. Nor is any thing to be apprehended from the supposed impetuosity of his temper. To the friends of the King you will find him a lamb, to his enemies a lion. For these reasons, I humbly apprehend that he would be a very able and useful member. And I will venture to say, the employment would not be disagreeable to him; and knowing, as I do, his strong affection to the King, his ability to serve him in that capacity, and the exit

treme ardour with which I am convinced he would engage in that service, I must repeat, that I wish most heartily to see him in the House.

I77I If

LIFE OF

]

you think

this

worthy of attention, you

will

be pleased to take a convenient opportunity of mentioning it to Lord North. If his Lordship should happily approve of it, I shall have the satisfaction of having been, in some degree, the humble instrument of doing my country, in my opinion, a very essential service. I know your good-nature, and your zeal for the publick welfare, will

plead

my

excuse for giving you this

am, with the greatest respect. your most obedient and humble servant, trouble. I

New-street, March 30, 1771

we know, was not efhow, or for what reason, can only be conjectured. It is not to be believed that Mr. Strahan would have applied, unless Johnson had approved of it. I never heard him mention This recommendation,

fectual; but

the subject; but at a later period of his life, when Sir Joshua Reynolds told him that Mr. Edmund said, that if

he had come early into

Parliament, he certainly would have been the greatest speaker that ever was there, Johnson exclaimed, "I should like to try my hand has been

much

agitated

among

ment; and

I

whether he would have been a powhad he been brought in when advanced in life. I am inclined to think that his extensive knowledge, his quickness and force of mind, his vivacity and richness of expression, his wit and humour, and above all his poignancy of sarcasm, would have had great effect in a popular assembly; and that the magnitude of his figure, and striking peculiarity of his manner, would have aided the effect. But I remember it was observed by Mr. Flood, that Johnson, having been long used to sententious brevity and the short flights of conversation, might have failed in that continued and expanded kind of argument, which is requisite in

and

others,

erful speaker in Parliament,

stating complicated matters in publick speak-

and as a proof of this he mentioned the supposed speeches in Parliament written by him for the magazine, none of which, in his opinion, were at all like real debates. The opinion of one ing;

who was

himself so eminent an orator, must be allowed to have great weight. It was confirmed

by

Sir

William Scott,

wonder that ministry did not make

the experiment. I at length renewed a correspondence which had been too long discontinued:

To Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, April 18, 1771 can now fully understand those intervals of silence in your correspondence with me, which have often given me anxiety and uneasiness; for although I am conscious that my veneration and love for Mr. Johnson have never in the least abated, yet I have deferred for almost a year and a half to write to him ,

My

Dear

Sir, I

.

who mentioned that John-

son had told him that he had several times tried to speak in the Society of Arts and Sciences, but "had found he could not get on." From Mr.

William Gerrard Hamilton I have heard that Johnson, when observing to him that it was prudent for a man who had not been accustomed to speak in publick, to begin his speech in as simple a manner as possible, acknowledged that he

.

.

.

In the subsequent part of this letter, I gave him an account of my comfortable life as a married man, and a lawyer in practice at the Scotch bar; invited him to Scotland, and promised to attend him to the Highlands, and Hebrides.

To James his friends

which he

had prepared; "but (said he,) all my flowers of oratory forsook me." I however cannot help wishing, that he had 'tried his hand' in Parlia-

now." It

185

rose in that society to deliver a speech

Sir,

William Strahan

Burke had

JOHNSON

Dear Sir,

If you are

Boswhell Esq.

now able to comprehend

that I might neglect to write without diminution of affection, you have taught me, likewise, how that neglect may be uneasily felt without resentment I wished for your letter a long time, and when it came, it amply recompensed the delay. I never was so much pleased as now with your account of yourself; and sincerely hope, that between publick business, improving studies, and domestick pleasures, neither melancholy nor caprice will find any place for entrance. Whatever philosophy may determine of material nature, it is certainly true of intellectual nature, that it abhors a vacuum: our minds cannot be empty; and evil will break in upon them, if they are not pre-occupied by good.

My

mind your business, make your lady happy, and be a good Chrisdear

Sir,

mind your

studies,

tian. After this, tristitiam et metus Trades protervis in mare Creticum

Portare ventis.

duty, we shall be safe and steady, Siveper, &c., whether we climb the Highlands, or are tost among the Hebrides; and I hope the time will come when we may try our powers both with cliffs and water. I see but little of Lord Elibank, I know not why; perhaps by my own fault. I am this day going into Staffordshire and Derbyshire for six weeks. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate, and most humble servant, If

we perform our

Sam. Johnson

London, June

20, 1771

1

1

!

BOSWELL

86

To Sir Joshua Reynolds, in Leicester-fields Dear Sir, When I came to Lichfield, I found that my portrait had been much visited, and much admired. Every man has a lurking wish to I

appear considerable in his native place; and was pleased with the dignity conferred by

such a testimony of your regard. Be pleased, therefore, to accept the thanks of, Sir, your most obliged and most humble servant, Sam. Johnson Ashbourn in Derbyshire July

17,

1771

Compliments

to

To

My

Dear

Sir,

Miss Reynolds

Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, J«(j'

The bearer

of this,

27, 1771

Mr

Beat-

Professor of Moral Philosophy at Aberdeen, desirous of being introduced to your acquaintance. His genius and learning, and labours in the service of virtue and religion, render him very worthy of it; and as he has a high esteem of your character, I hope you will give him a favourable reception. I ever am, &c. tie,

James Bosw^ll at Langton, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire Dear Sir, I am lately returned from Staffordshire and Derbyshire. The last letter mentions two others which you have written to me since you received my pamphlet. Of these two I never had but one, in which you mentioned a design of visiting Scotland, and, by consequence, put my journey to Langton out of my thoughts. My summer wanderings are now over, and I am enEsq.,

gaging in a very great work, the revision of Dictionary;

how

from which

I

know

my

not, at present,

to get loose.

you have observed, or been told, any errours or omissions, you will do me a great faIf

me know

them. has disappointed you and herself. Ladies will have these tricks. The Queen and Mrs. Thrale, both ladies of experience, yet both missed their reckoning this summer. I hope, a few months will recompence your uneasiness. Please to tell Lady Rothes how highly I value the honour of her invitation, which it is my purpose to obey as soon as I have disengaged myself In the mean time I shall hope to hear often of her Ladyship, and every day better news and better, till I hear that you have both the happiness, which to both is very sincerely wished, by. Sir, your most affectionate, and most humble

vour by letting

Lady Rothes,

I

find,

servant,

Sam. Johnson August 29,

1

In October

77 I

Alnwick

lately,

him from Dr.

and had good accounts of

Percy.

In his religious record of this year,

again wrote to him, thanking

him for his last letter, and his obliging reception of Mr. Beattie; informing him that I had been

we observe

was better than usual, both in body and mind, and better satisfied with the regularity of his conduct. But he is still "trying his ways" too that he

rigorously.

He

charges himself with not rising

early enough; yet he mentions

what was

surely

a sufficient excuse for this, supposing it to be a duty seriously required, as he all his life appears to have thought it. "One great hindrance is want of rest; my nocturnal complaints grow less

troublesome towards morning; and

is

To Bennet Langton,

at

[1772

I

am tempted

to repair the deficiencies of the night. "^

Alas indulgence were to be imputed to a sick man as a crime. In his retrospect on the following Easter-Eve, he says, "When I review the last year, I am able to recollect so little done, that shame and sorrow, though perhaps too weakly, come upon me." Had he been judging of any one else in the same circumstances, how clear would he have been on the favourable side. How very difficult, and in m.y opinion almost constitutionally impossible it was for him to be raised early, even by the strongest resolutions, appears from a note in one of his little paper-books, (containing words ar-

how hard would

it

be

if

this

ranged for his Dictionary,) written, I suppose, about 1753: "I do not remember that since I left Oxford I ever rose early by mere choice, but once or twice at Edial, and two or three times for the Rambler." I think he had fair ground enough to have quieted his mind on this subject, by concluding that he was physically incapable of what is at best but a commodious regulation. In 1772 he was altogether quiescent as an authour; but it will be found from the various evidences which I shall bring together that his

mind was

acute, lively,

and vigorous.

To

Sir Joshua Reynolds Dear Sir, Be pleased to send to Mr. Banks, whose place of residence I do not know, this note, which I have sent open, that, if you please, you may read it. When you send it, do not use your own seal. I

am,

Sir,

your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

Feb. 27, 1772

To Joseph

Banks, Esq.

Perpetua ambitd bis terra prmmia lactis ^ Hoec habet alirici Capra secunda Jovis. ^Prayers and Meditations, p. lOi [105]. ^Thus translated by a friend: In fame scarce second to the nurse of Jove, This Goat, who twice the world had traversed round, Deserving both her master's care and love. Ease and perpetual pasture now has found.

LIFE OF

1772] Sir,

I

return thanks to you and to Dr. Solan-

der for the pleasure which I received in yesterday's conversation. I could not recollect a motto for your Goat, but have given her one. You, Sir, may perhaps have an epick poem from some happier pen than, Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson Johnson's-court, Fleet-street February 27, 1772

To Dr. Johnson

My Dear Sir, It

hard that

cannot prevail But I am convinced that it is in vain to expect from you a private correspondence with any regularity. I must, therefore, look upon you as a fountain of wisdom, from whence few rills are communicated to a distance, and which must be approached at its source, to partake fully of its

on you

to write to

is

me

I

oftener.

virtues. I

am coming

to

London

soon,

and

am

to ap-

pear in an appeal from the Court of Session in the House of Lords. A schoolmaster in Scotland was, by a court of inferiour jurisdiction, deprived of his ofHce, for being somewhat severe in the chastisement of his scholars. The Court of Session, considering it to be dangerous to the interest of learning and education, to lessen the dignity of teachers, and make them afraid of too indulgent parents, instigated by the complaints of their children, restored him. His enemies have appealed to the House of Lords, though the salary is only twenty pounds a year. I was Counsel for him here. I hope there will be little fear of a reversal; but I must beg to have your aid in my plan of supporting the decree. It is a general question, and not a point of particular law. I am, &c., .

.

.

James Boswell

To James Boswell, Dear

Esq.

That you are coming so soon to town I am very glad; and still more glad that you are coming as an advocate. I think nothing more likely to make your life pass happily away, than that consciousness of your own value, which eminence in your profession will certainly confer. If I can give you any collateral help, I hope you do not suspect that it will be wanting. My kindness for you has neither the merit of singuSir,

lar virtue,

nor the reproach of singular preju-

Whether to love you be right or wrong, I have many on my side: Mrs. Thrale loves you, and Mrs. Williams loves you, and what would have inclined me to love you, if I had been neutral before, you are a great favourite of Dr. dice.

Beattie.

Of Dr. Beattie I should have thought much, but that his lady puts him out of my head; she is a very lovely woman. The ejection which you come hither to oppose, appears very cruel, unreasonable, and op-

JOHNSON

187

pressive. I should think there could not

be

much

doubt of your success. My health grows better, yet

I am not fully recovered. I believe it is held, that men do not recover very fast after threescore. I hope yet to see Beattie's College: and have not given up the western voyage. But however all this may be or not, let us try to make each other happy when we meet, and not refer our pleasure to distant times or distant places. How comes it that you tell me nothing of your lady? I hope to see her some time, and till then shall be glad to hear of her. I am, dear Sir, &c.,

Sam. Johnson

March

1772

15,

To Bennet Langton,

Esq.,

near

Spilsby,

Lincolnshire

Dear Sir, I congratulate you and Lady Rothes^ on your little man, and hope you will all be many years happy together. Poor Miss Langton can have little part in the joy of her family. She this day called her aunt Langton to receive the sacrament with her; and made me talk yesterday on such subjects as suit her condition. It will probably be her viaticum. I surely need not mention again that she wishes to see her mother. I am. Sir, your most humble servant,

Sam. Johnson

March

On

1772

14,

the 2

1

St

of

March,

I

was happy

to find

myself again in my friend's study, and was glad to see my old acquaintance, Mr. Francis Barber, who was now returned home. Dr. Johnson received me with a hearty welcome; saying, "I am glad you are come, and glad you are come upon such an errand": (alluding to the cause of the schoolmaster.) Boswell. "I hope, Sir, he will be in no danger. It is a very delicate matter to interfere between a master and his scholars: nor do I see how you can fix the degree of severity that a master may use." Johnson. "Why, Sir, till you can fix the degree of obstinacy and negligence of the scholars, you cannot fix the degree of severity of the master. Severity must be continued until obstinacy be subdued, and negligence be cured." He mentioned the severity of Hunter, his own Master. "Sir, (said I,) Hunter is a Scotch name: so it should seem this schoolmaster who beat you so severely was" a Scotchman, I can now account for your prejudice against the Scotch." Johnson. "Sir, he was not Scotch; and abating his brutality, he was a very good master." We talked of his two political pamphlets. The False Alarm,

and Thoughts

concerning Falkland'' s Is-

^Mr. Langton married the Countess Dowager of Rothes.

1

BOSWELL

88

Johnson. "Well, Sir, which of them did you think the best?" Bosvvell. "I liked the second best." Johnson. "Why, Sir, I liked the first best; and Beattie liked the first best. Sir, there is a subtlety of disquisition in the first, that is worth all the fire of the second." Boswell. "Pray, Sir, is it true that Lord North paid you a visit, and that you got two hundred a year in addition to your pension?" Johnson. "No, Sir. Except what I had from the bookseller, I did not get a farthing by them. And, between you and me, I believe Lord North is no friend to me." Boswell. "How so. Sir?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, you cannot account for the fancies of men. Well, how does Lord Elibank? and how does Lord Monboddo?" Boswell. "Very well. Sir. Lord Monboddo still lands.

maintains the superiority of the savage

life."

Johnson. "What strange narrowness of mind now is that, to think the things we have not known, are better than the things which we have known." Boswell. "Why, Sir, that is a common prejudice." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, but a common prejudice should not be found in one whose trade

it is

to rectify errour."

A

gentleman having come in who was to go as a mate in the ship along with Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, Dr. Johnson asked what were the

names of the ships destined for the expedition. The gentleman answered, they were once to be called the Drake and the Ralegh, but now they were to be called the Resolution and the Adventure. Johnson. "Much better; for had the Ralegh returned without going round the world, it would have been ridiculous. To give them the names of the Drake and the Ralegh was laying a trap for satire." Boswell. "Had not you some desire to go upon this expedition. Sir?" Johnson. is

"Why yes,

very

little

sides, I see

worth

my

but

I

soon laid

it

aside. Sir, there

of intellectual, in the course. Be-

but at a small distance. So it was not while to go to see birds fly, which I

should not have seen fly; and fishes swim, which I should not have seen swim." The gentleman being gone, and Dr. Johnson having left the room for some time, a debate arose between the Reverend Mr. Stockdale and Mrs. Desmoulins, whether Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander were entitled to any share of glory from their expedition. When Dr. Johnson returned to us, I told him the subject of their dispute. Johnson.

"Why,

Sir, it

botany that they went out

:

I

was properly

for

thanked him for showing civilities to Beattie. thank jou. We all love Beattie. Mrs. Thrale says, if ever she has another I

"Sir, (said he,) I should

husband, she'll have Beattie. He sunk upon us^ that he was married; else we should have shewn his lady more civilities. She is a very fine woman. But how can you shew civilities to a nonentity? I did not think he had been married. Nay, I did not think about it one way or other; but he did not tell us of his lady till late." He then spoke of St. Kilda, the most remote of the Hebrides. I told him, I thought of buying it. Johnson. "Pray do. Sir. We will go and pass a winter amid the blasts there. We shall have fine fish, and we will take some dried tongues with us, and some books. We will have a strong

and some Orkney men to navigate must build a tolerable house: but we may carry with us a wooden house ready made, and requiring nothing but to be put up. Consider, Sir, by buying St. Kilda, you may keep the people from falling into worse hands. We must give them a clergyman, and he shall be one of Beattie's choosing. He shall be educated at Marischal College. I'll be your Lord Chancellor, or what you please." Boswell. "Are you serious, Sir, in advising me to buy St. Kilda? built vessel,

We

her.

^To James Boswell, Esq. Edinburgh, May 3, 1 792 My Dear Sir, As I suppose your great work will soon be reprinted, I beg leave to trouble you with a remark on a passage of it, in which I am a little misrepresented. Be not alarmed; the misrepresentation is not imputable to you. Not having the book at hand, I cannot specify the page, but I suppose you wUl easily find it. Dr. Johnson says, speaking of Mrs. Thrale's family 'Dr. Beattie sunk upon us that he was married,' or words to that purpose. I am not sure that I understand sunk upon us, which is a very uncommon phrase, but it seems to me to imply, (and others, I find, have understood it in the same sense,) studiously concealedfrom us his being married. Now, Sir, this was by no means the case. I could have no motive to conceal a circumstance, of

which I never was nor can be ashamed; and of which Dr. Johnson seemed to think, when he afterwards became acquainted with Mrs. Beattie, that I had, as was true, reason to be proud. So far was I from concealing her, that my wife had at that time almost as numerous an acquaintance in London as I had myself; and was, not very long after, kindly invited and elegantly entertained at Streatham by Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. My request, therefore, is, that you would rectify

new edition. You are at liberty use you please of this letter. best wishes ever attend you and your family. Believe me to be, with the utmost regard and esteem, dear Sir, Your obliged and affectionate humble servant, this

to

matter in your

make what

My

beUeve they thought

only of culling of simples."

[1772

J.

Beattie

have, from my respect for my friend Dr. Beattie, and regard to his extreme sensibility, inserted the foregoing letter, though I cannot but wonder at his considering as any imputation a phrase commonly used among the best friends. I

LIFE OF

1772]

For you should advise me to go to Japan, I believe I should do it." Johnson. "Why yes, Sir, I am serious." Bosv^tell. "Why then, I'll see what if

can be done." I gave him an account of the two parties in the Church of Scotland, those for supporting the rights of patrons, independent of the people, and those against it. Johnson. "It should be settled one way or other. I cannot wish well to a popular election of the clergy, when I consider that it occasions such animosities, such unworthy courting of the people, such slanders between the contending parties, and other disadvantages. It is enough to allow the people to remonstrate against the nomination of a minister for solid reasons." (I suppose he meant heresy or immorality.)

He was engaged to dine abroad, and asked me to return to him in the evening, at nine, which

I

accordingly did.

We

drank tea with Mrs. Williams, who told us a story of second sight, which happened in Wales where she was born. He listened to it very attentively, and said he should be glad to have

some instances of that

faculty well authenti-

cated. His elevated wish for

dence for

spirit, in

more and more evi-

opposition to the groveling him to a love of such

belief of materialism, led

mysterious disquisitions. He again justly obwe could have no certainty of the truth of supernatural appearances, unless something was told us which we could not know by served, that

ordinary means, or something done which could not be done but by supernatural power; that Pharaoh in reason and justice required such evidence from Moses; nay, that our Saviour said, "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin." He had said in the morning, that Macaulay's History of St. Kilda was very well written, except some foppery about liberty and slavery. I mentioned to him that Macaulay told me, he was advised to leave out of his book the wonderful story that upon the approach of a stranger all the inhabitants catch cold;^ but that it had been so well authenticated, he determined to retain it. Johnson. "Sir, to leave things out of a book, merely because people tell you they will not be believed, is meanness. Macaulay acted with

more magnanimity."

We

talked of the

Roman

Catholick religion,

and how little difference there was in essential matters between ours and it. Johnson. "True, denominations of Christians have really difference in point of doctrine, though they ^See p. 158.

Sir; all little

JOHNSON

189

may widely in external forms. There is a prodigious difference between the external form of one of your Presbyterian churches in Scotland, and a church in Italy; yet the doctrine taught is essentially the same." I mentioned the petition to Parliament for removing the subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles. Johnson. "It was soon thrown out. Sir, they talk of not making boys at the University subscribe to what they do not understand; but they ought to consider, that our Universities were founded to bring up members for the Church differ

and we must not supply our enemies with arms from our arsenal. No, Sir, the meaning of subscribing is, not that they fully understand all the articles, but that they will adhere to the Church of England. Now take it in this way, and suppose that they should only subscribe their adherence to the Church of England, there would be still the same difficulty; for still the young men would be subscribing to what they do not understand. For if you should ask them, what do you mean by the Church of England? Do you know in what it differs from of England,

the Presbyterian Church? from the Romish Church? from the Greek Church? from the Coptick Church? they could not tell you. So, Sir, it comes to the same thing." Boswell. "But, would

not be sufficient to subscribe the Bible?" John"Why no. Sir; for all sects will subscribe the Bible; nay, the Mahometans will subscribe the Bible; for the Mahometans acknowledge Jesus Christ, as well as Moses, but maintain it

son.

that

God

sent

Mahomet

as a

still

greater pro-

phet than either."

mentioned the motion which had been made House of Commons, to abolish the fast of the 30th of January. Johnson. "Why, Sir, I could have wished that it had been a temporary act, perhaps, to have expired with the century, I am against abolishing it; because that would I

in the

be declaring it wrong to establish it; but I should have no objection to make an act, continuing it

and then letting it expire." disapproved of the Royal Marriage Bill; "Because (said he) I would not have the people think that the validity of marriage depends on

for another century,

He

the will of man, or that the right of a

King de-

pends on the will of man. I should not have been against making the marriage of any of the royal family without the approbation of King and Parliament, highly criminal." In the morning we had talked of old families, and the respect due to them. Johnson. "Sir, you have a right to that kind of respect, and are arguing for yourself. I am for supporting the prin-

BOSWELL

igo and

am disinterested in doing it,

have no such right." Boswell. "Why, Sir, it is one more incitement to a man to do well." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, and it is a matter of opinion, very necessary to keep society together. What is it but opinion, by which we have a respect for authority, that prevents us, who are the rabble, from rising up and pulling down you who are gentlemen from your places, and saying, 'We will be gentlemen in our turn?' Now, Sir, that respect for authority is much more easily granted to a man whose father has had it, then to an upstart, ciple,

as I

and so Society is more easily supported." Boswell. "Perhaps, Sir, it might be done by the respect belonging to office, as

among

the

Ro-

mans, where the dress, the toga, inspired reverence." Johnson. "Why, we know very little about the Romans. But, surely, it is much easier to respect a man who has always had respect, than to respect a man who we know was last yezir no better than ourselves, and will be no better next year. In republicks there is not a respect for authority, but a fear of power." Boswell. "At present, Sir, I think riches seem to gain most respect." Johnson. "No, Sir, riches do not gain hearty respect; they only procure external attention. A very rich man, from low beginnings, may buy his election in a borough; but, caferis paribus, a man of family will be preferred. People will prefer a man for whose father their fathers have voted, though they should get no more money, or even less. That shows that the respect for family is not merely fanciful, but has an actual operation. If gentlemen of family would allow the rich upstarts to spend their money profusely, which they are ready enough to do, and not vie with them in expence, the upstarts would soon be at an end, and the gentlemen would remain: but if the gentlemen will vie in expence with the upstarts, which is very foolish, they must be ruined." I gave him an account of the excellent mim-

mine in Scotland; observing, at the same time, that some people thought it a very mean thing. Johnson. "Why, Sir, it is makickry of a friend of

ing a very mean use of a man's powers. But to be a good mimick, requires great powers; great acuteness of observation, great retention of what is observed, and great pliancy of organs, to represent what is observed, I remember a lady of quality in this town, Lady who was a wonderful mimick, and used to make me laugh immoderately. I have heard she is now gone mad." Boswell. "It is amazing how a mimick can not only give you the gestures and voice of ,

a person

whom

he represents; but even what a

[1772

person would say on any particular subject." Johnson. "Why, Sir, you are to consider that the manner and some particular phrases of a person do much to impress you with an idea of him, and you are not sure that he would say what the mimick says in his character." Boswell. "I don't think Foote a good mimick. Sir." Johnson. "No, Sir; his imitations are not like.

He

gives

you something

different

from himself,

but not the character which he means to assume. He goes out of himself, without going into other people. He cannot take off any person unless he is strongly marked, such as George Faulkner. He is like a painter, who can draw the portrait of a man who has a wen upon his

and who, therefore, is easily known. If a hops upon one leg, Foote can hop upon one leg. But he has not that nice discrimination which your friend seems to possess. Foote is however, very entertaining, with a kind of conversation between wit and buffoonery." On Monday, March 23, I found him busy, preparing a fourth edition of his folio Dictionary. Mr. Peyton, one of his original amanuenses, was writing for him. I put him in mind of a meaning of the word side, which he had omitted, viz. relationship; as father's side, mother's side. He inserted it. I asked him if humiliating was a good word. He said, he had seen it frequently used, but he did not know it to be legitimate English. He would not admit civilization, but only civility. With great deference to him, I thought civilization, from to civilize better in the sense opposed to barbarity, than civility; as it is better to have a distinct word for each sense, than one word with two senses, which civility is, face,

man

way of using it. He seemed also to

in his

be intent on some sort of chymical operation. I was entertained by observing how he contrived to send Mr. Peyton on an errand, without seeming to degrade him. "Mr. Peyton, Mr. Peyton, will you be so good as to take a walk to Temple-Bar? You will there see a chymist's shop; at which you will be pleased to buy for me an ounce of oil of vitriol; not spirit of vitriol, but oil of vitriol. It will cost three halfpence." Peyton immediately went, and returned with it, and told him it cost but a penny. I then reminded him of the schoolmaster's cause, and proposed to read to him the printed papers concerning it. "No, Sir. (said he,) I can read quicker than I can hear." So he read them

—

to himself.

After he had read for some time, we were interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Kristrom, a

Swede, who was tutor to some young gentlemen

LIFE OF

1772]

He

was a very good History of Sweden, by Daline. Having at that time an intention of writing the history of that country, I asked Dr. Johnson whether one might write a history of Sweden, without going in the city.

told me, that there

thither. "Yes, Sir, (said he,)

one for

common

use."

We talked of languages. Johnson observed, that Leibnitz had made some progress in a work, tracing all languages up to the Hebrew. "Why, Sir, you would not imagine that the French is derived from the Latin dies, and yet nothing is more certain; and the intermediate steps are very clear. From dies, comes diurnus. Diu is, by inaccurate ears, or inaccurate pronunciation, easily confounded with giu; then the Italians form a substantive of the ablative of an adjective, and thence giurno, or, as they make it, ^zorno; which is readily contracted into giour, or (said he,)

jour, day,

joury

He observed,

that the

Bohemian language

was true Sclavonick. The Swede said, it had some similarity with the German. Johnson. "Why, be sure, such parts of Sclavonia as conwith Germany, will borrow German words; and such parts as confine with Tartary will borrow Tartar words." He said, he never had it properly ascertained that the Scotch Highlanders and the Irish understood each other. I told him that my cousin Colonel Graham, of the Royal Highlanders, whom I met at Drogheda, told me they did. Johnson. "Sir, if the Highlanders understood Sir, to

fine

New Testament into Erse, Edinburgh, when there is an Irish translation?" Bos'vVell. "Although the Erse and Irish are both dialects of the same language, there may be a good deal of diversity between them, as between the different dialects in Italy." The Swede went away, and Mr. Johnson continued his reading of the papers. I said, "I am afraid, Sir, it is troublesome." "Why, Sir, (said he,) I do not take much delight in it; but I'll go through it." We went to the Mitre, and dined in the room where he and I first supped together. He gave me great hopes of my cause. "Sir, (said he,) the Irish , why translate the

as

was done

lately at

—

government of a schoolmaster is somewhat of the nature of military government; that is to say, it must be arbitrary, it must be exercised by the will of one man, according to particular circumstances. You must shew some learning upon this occasion. You must shew, that a schoolmaster has a prescriptive right to beat; and that an action of assault and battery cannot be admitted against him, unless there is some great excess, some barbarity. This man has miaimed none of

JOHNSON They

191

with the full exercise of their corporeal faculties. In our schools in England, many boys have been maimed; yet I never heard of an action against a schoolmaster on that account. Puffendorf, I think, maintains the right of a schoolmaster to beat his scholars." On Saturday, March 27, I introduced to him Sir Alexander Macdonald, with whom he had expressed a wish to be acquainted. He received him very courteously. Sir Alexander observed, that the Chancellors in England are chosen from views much inferiour to the office, being chosen from temporary political views. Johnson. "Why, Sir, in such a government as ours, no man is appointed to an office because he is the fittest for it, nor hardly in any other government; because there are so many connections and dependencies to be studied. A despotick prince may choose a man to an office, merely because he is the fittest for it. The King of Prussia may do it." Sir A. "I think. Sir, almost all great lawyers, such at least as have written upon law, have known only law, and nothing else." Johnson. "Why no. Sir; Judge Hale was a great lawyer, and wrote upon law; and yet he knew a great many other things, and has written upon other things. Selden too." Sir A. "Very true. Sir; and Lord Bacon. But was not Lord Coke a mere lawyer?" Johnson "Why, I am afraid he was; but he would have taken it very ill if you had told him so. He would have prosecuted you for scandal." Boswell. "Lord Mansfield is not a mere lawyer." Johnson. "No, Sir. I never was in Lord Mansfield's company; but Lord Mansfield was distinguished at the University. Lord Mansfield, when he first came to town, 'drank champagne with the wits,' as Prior says. He was the friend of Pope." Sir A. "Barristers, I believe, are not so abusive now as they were formerly. I fancy they had less law long ago, and so were obliged to take to abuse, to fill up the time. Now they have such a number of precedents, they have no occasion for abuse." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, they had more law long ago than they have now. As to precedents, to be sure they will increase in course of time; but the more precedents there are, the less occasion is his boys.

are

there for law; that

all left

is

to say, the less occasion

is

there for investigating principles." Sir A. "I

have been correcting several Scotch accents in my friend Boswell. I doubt. Sir, if any Scotchman ever attains to a perfect English pronunciation." Johnson. "Why, Sir, few of them do, because they do not persevere after acquiring a it. But, Sir, there can be no doubt that they may attain to a perfect English certain degree of

BOSWELL

192

pronunciation, if they will. We find how near they come to it; and certainly, a man who conquers nineteen parts of the Scottish accent, may conquer the twentieth. But, Sir, when a man has got the better of nine tenths he grows weary, he relaxes his diligence, he finds he has corrected his accent so far as not to be disagreeable, and he no longer desires his friends to tell him when he is wrong; nor does he choose to be told. Sir, when people watch me narrowly, and I do not watch myself, they will find me out to be of a particular county. In the same manner. Dunning may be found out to be a Devonshire man. So most Scotchmen may be found out. But, Sir, little aberrations are of no disadvantage. I never catched Mallet in a Scotch accent; and yet Mallet, I suppose, was past five-and-twenty before he came to London." Upon another occasion I talked to him on this subject, having myself taken some pains to

improve my pronunciation, by the aid of the late Mr. Love, of Drury-lane theatre, when he was a player at Edinburgh, and also of old Mr. Sheridan. Johnson said to me, "Sir, your pronunciation is not offensive.

' '

With this concession

was pretty well satisfied; and let me give my countrymen of North Britain an advice not to aim at absolute perfection in this respect; not to speak High English, as we are apt to call what is far removed from the Scotch, but which is by no means good English, and makes, "the fools who I

use

it,"

truly ridiculous.

Good

English

is

plain,

and smooth in the mouth of an unaffected English Gentleman. A studied and factitious pronunciation, which requires perpetual attention and imposes perpetual constraint, is exceeding-

easy,

[1772

good humour, that the master of a shop in London, where he was not known, said to him, "I suppose. Sir, you are an American." "Why so, Sir?" (said his Lordship.) "Because, Sir, (replied the shopkeeper,) you speak neither English nor Scotch, butsomethingdifferentfrom both, which I conclude is the language of America." BoswELL. "It may be of use. Sir, to have a Dictionary to ascertain the pronunciation." Johnson. "Why, Sir, my Dictionary shows you the accents of words, if you can but remember them." BoswELL. "But, Sir, we want marks to ascertain the pronunciation of the vowels. Sheridan, I believe, has finished such a work." John-

"Why,

son.

Sir,

consider

to learn a language

how much

by the

ear,

easier

it is

than by any

marks. Sheridan's Dictionary may do very well; but you cannot always carry it about with you: and, when you want the word, you have not the Dictionary. It is like a man who has a sword that will not draw. It is an admirable sword, to be sure: but while your enemy is cutting your throat, you are unable to use it. Besides, Sir, what entitles Sheridan to fix the pronunciation of English? He has, in the first place, the disadvantage of being an Irishman: and if he says he will fix

why

it

after the

example

of the best

company,

among themselves. I remember when I published the Plan for my

they differ

an instance: Dictionary, Lord Chesterfield told me that the word great should be pronounced so as to rhyme to state; and Sir William Yonge sent me word that it should be pronounced so as to rhyme to seat, and that none but an Irishman would pronounce it grait. Now here were two men of the

ly disgusting.

A small intermixture of provincial

highest rank, the one, the best speaker in the House of Lords, the other, the best speaker in

peculiarities

may, perhaps, have an agreeable

the

effect, as

the if

the notes of different birds concur in

harmony of the

they were

all

grove,

and please more than I could name some

exactly alike.

gentlemen of Ireland, to tion of the accent

and

whom a

slight

propor-

recitative of that country

an advantage. The same observation will apply to the gentlemen of Scotland. I do not mean that we should speak as broad as a certain pros-

is

perous

member

of Parliament from that coun-

try; though it has been well observed, that "it has been of no small use to him; as it rouses the

attention of the is

lish

speaker."

what

House by

its

uncommonness;

equal to tropes and figures in a good Eng-

and

I

mean

to

I

would give

recommend

as

to

an instance of

my countrymen,

the pronunciation of the late Sir Gilbert Elliot;

and may I presume to add that of the present Earl of Marchmont, who told me, with great

House

of

Commons,

differing entirely."

again visited him at night. Finding him in a very good humour, I ventured to lead him to the subject of our situation in a future state, having much curiosity to know his notions on that point. Johnson. "Why, Sir, the happiness of an unembodied spirit will consist in a consciousness of the favour of God, in the contemI

plation of truth, and in the possession of felicitating ideas." Boswell. "But, Sir, is there any

harm

forming to ourselves conjectures as though the scripture has said but very little on the subject? 'We know not what we shall be.' "Johnson. "Sir, there is no harm. What philosophy suggests to us on this topick is probable: what scripture in our

to the particulars of our happiness,

tells it

us

is

certain. Dr.

Henry More has carried You may buy both

as far as philosophy can.

his theological

and philosophical works

in

two

"

LIFE OF

1772]

volumes folio, for about eight shillings." Boswell. "One of the most pleasing thoughts is, that we shall see our friends again." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; but you must consider, that when we are become purely rational, many of our friendships will be cut off. Many friendships are formed by a community of sensual pleasures: all these will be cut off. We form many friendships with bad men, because they have agreeable qualities, and they can be useful to us; but, after death, they can no longer be of use to us. We form many friendships by mistake, imagining people to be different from what they really are. After death, we shall see every one in a true light. Then, Sir, they talk of our meeting our relations:

and we shall have no regard for one person more than another, but for their real value. However, we but then

all

shall either

relationship

is

dissolved;

have the satisfaction of meeting our without meeting them."

friends, or be satisfied

BoswELL. "Yet, Dives

still

Sir,

we

see in scripture, that

retained an anxious concern about

his brethren."

Johnson. "Why,

we must

Sir,

either suppose that passage to be metaphorical,

many divines, and all the Purgadeparted souls do not all at once arrive at the utmost perfection of which they are capable." Boswell. "I think. Sir, that is a very or hold with torians, that

rational supposition. "Johnson.

"Why,

yes. Sir;

but we do not know it is a true one. There is no harm in believing it: but you must not compel others to make it an article of faith; for it is not revealed." Boswell.

wrong

in a

"Do you

think. Sir,

it is

man who

holds the doctrine of purgatory, to pray for the souls of his deceased

friends?" Johnson.

"Why,

no. Sir."

Boswell.

"I have been told, that in the Liturgy of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, there was a form of prayer for the dead." Johnson. "Sir, it is not

which Laud framed for the Episcopal Church of Scotland: if there is a liturgy older than that, I should be glad to see it." Boswell. "As to our employment in a future state, the sacred writings say little. The Revelation, however, of St. John gives us many ideas, and

in the liturgy

particularly mentions musick. Johnson. Why, Sir, ideas must be given you by means of some'

'

'

'

thing which you know: and as to musick there are some philosophers and divines who have maintained that we shall not be spiritualized to such a degree, but that something of matter, very much refined, will remain. In that case, musick may make a part of our future felicity." Boswell. "I do not know whether there are any well-attested stories of the appearance of ghosts.

You know

there

is

a famous story of the

JOHNSON

193

appearance of Mrs. Veal, prefixed to Drelincourt on Death." Johnson. "I believe. Sir, that is given up. I believe the woman declared upon her death-bed that it was a lie."^ Boswell.

"This objection

is

made

ghosts appearing: that

if

against the truth of

they are in a state of

happiness, it would be a punishment to them to return to this world; and if they are in a state of misery, it would be giving them a respite."

Johnson. "Why,

Sir, as

the happiness or misery

of embodied spirits does not

but

is

less

happy or

intellectual, less

depend upon

we cannot say

place,

that they are

miserable by appearing upon

earth."

We went down between twelve and one to Mrs. Williams's room, and drank tea. I mentioned that we were to have the remains of Mr. Gray, in prose and verse, published by Mr. Mason. Johnson. "I think we have had enough of Gray. I see they have published a splendid edition of Akenside's works. One bad ode may be suffered; but a number of them together makes one sick." Boswell. "Akenside's distinguished poem is his Pleasures of Imagination: but for my part, I never could admire it so much as most people do." Johnson. "Sir, I could not read it through." Bosv^hell. "I have read it through but I did not find any great power in it. ;

mentioned Elwal, the heretick, whose trial Sir John Pringle had given me to read. Johnson. "Sir, Mr. Elwal was, I think, an ironmonger at Wolverhampton; and he had a mind to make himself famous, by being the founder of a new sect, which he wished much should be called Elwallians. He held, that every thing in the Old Testament that was not typical, was to be of perpetual observance; and so he wore a ribband in the plaits of his coat, and he also wore a beard. I remember I had the honour of dining in company with Mr. Elwal. There was one Barter, a miller, who wrote against him; and you had the controversy between Mr. Elwal and Mr. Barter. To try to make himself distinguished, he wrote a letter to King George the Second, challenging him to dispute with him, in which he said, 'George, if you be afraid to come by yourself, to dispute with a poor old man, you may bring a thousand of your black-^axds with you; and if you should still be afraid, you may bring a thousand of your re«/-guards.' The letter had something of the impudence of Junius to our present King. But the men at Wolverhampton were not so inflammable as the Common-CounI

^This fiction is known to have been invented by Daniel Defoe, and was added to Drelincourt's book, to make it sell. The first edition had it not. [M.]

BOSWELL

194

London; so Mr. Elwal failed in his scheme of making himself a man of great consequence." On Tuesday, March 31, he and I dined at General Paoli's. A question was started, whether the state of marriage was natural to man. Johnson. "Sir, it is so far from being natural for a man and woman to live in a state of marriage, that we find all the motives which they have for remaining in that connection, and the restraints which civilized society imposes to prevent separation, are hardly sufficient to keep them togethcil

of

The General said, that in a state of nature a man and woman uniting together, would form a strong and constant affection, by the mutual pleasure each would receive; and that the same causes of dissention would not arise between them, as occur between husband and wife in a civilized state. Johnson. "Sir, they would have dissentions enough, though of another kind. One would choose to go a hunting in this wood, the other in that; one would choose to go a fishing in this lake, the other in that; or, perhaps, one would choose to go a hunting, when the other would choose to go a fishing; and so they would part. Besides, Sir, a savage man and a savage woman meet by chance; and when the man sees another woman that pleases him better, he

er."

[1772

schools he attended,

when he came

to Oxford,

to London, &c. &c. He did not disapprove of my curiosity as to these particulars; but said, "They'll come out by degrees as

when he came

we

talk together."

He

censured Ruffhead's Life of Pope; and

"he knew nothing of Pope, and nothing of poetry." He praised Dr. Joseph Warton's Essay on Pope; but said, he supposed we should have no more of it, as the authour had not been able to persuade the world to think of Pope as he did. BoswELL. "Why, Sir, should that prevent him from continuing his work? He is an ingenious Counsel, who has made the most of his cause: he is not obliged to gain it." Johnson. "But, Sir, there is a difference when the cause is of a man's own making." We talked of the proper use of riches. Johnson. "If I were a man of a great estate, I would said,

drive

all

the rascals

whom

I

did not like out of

the country at an election."

suming too much,

I asked him how far he thought wealth should be employed in hospitality. Johnson. "You are to consider that ancient hospitality, of which we hear so much, was in an uncommercial country, when men being idle, were glad to be entertained at rich men's tables. But in a commercial country, a busy country, time becomes precious, and therefore hospitality is not so much valued. No doubt there is still room for a certain degree of it; and a man has a satisfaction in seeing his friends eating and drinking around him. But promiscuous hospitality is not the way to gain real influence. You must help some people at table before others; you must ask some people how they like their wine oftener than others. You therefore offend more people than you please. You are like the French statesman, who said, when he granted a favour, 'J^'az fait dix mecontents et un ingrat.' Besides, Sir, being entertained ever so well at a man's table, impresses no lasting regard or esteem. No, Sir, the way to make sure of power and influence is, by lending money confidentially to your neighbours at a small interest, or, perhaps, at no interest at all, and having their bonds in your possession." Bosw^LL. "May not a man. Sir, employ his riches to advantage in educating young men of merit?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir, if they fall in your way; but if it be understood that you patronize young men of merit, you will be harassed with solicitations. You will have numbers forced upon you who have no merit; some will force them upon you from mistaken partiality; and some from downright interested motives, without

me

scruple;

will leave the first."

We then fell into a disquisition whether there any beauty independent of utility. The General maintained there was not. Dr. Johnson maintained that there was; and he instanced a cofTee-cup which he held in his hand, the painting of which was of no real use, as the cup would is

hold the coffee equally well if plain; yet the painting was beautiful. We talked of the strange custom of swearing in conversation. The General said, that all barbarous nations swore from a certain violence of temper, that could not be confined to earth, but was always reaching at the powers above.

He

said, too, that there

was greater variety of

swearing, in proportion as there was a greater variety of religious ceremonies.

Dr. Johnson went

home with me

to

my lodg-

and drank tea, previous the Pantheon, which neither of

ings in Conduit-street to our going to

us had seen before.

He

"Goldsmith's Life of Parnell is poor; poorly written, but that he had poor materials; for nobody can write the life of a man, but those who have eat and drunk and lived in social intercourse with him." I said, that if it was not troublesome and presaid,

not that

all

it is

the

little

I would request him to tell circumstances of his life; what

and you will be disgraced."

LIFE OF

1772]

"Were

I

kinds of trees that will

greenhouse

would propagate all grow in the open air. A I would introduce for-

a rich man, is

childish.

I

eign animals into the country; for instance the reindeer."^

The conversation now turned on

critical sub-

Johnson. "Bayes, in The Rehearsal, is a mighty silly character. If it was intended to be

jects.

a particular man, it could only be diverting while that man was remembered. But I question whether it was meant for Dryden, as has been reported; for we know some of the passages said to be ridiculed, were written since The Rehearsal; at least a passage mentioned in the Preface- is of a later date." I maintained that it had merit as a general satire on the self-importance like

of dramatick authours. But even in this light he

very cheap. then walked to the Pantheon. The first view of it did not strike us so much as Ranelagh, of which he said, the '''coup d'osil was the finest thing he had ever seen." The truth is, Ranelagh is of a more beautiful form; more of it, or rather indeed the whole rotunda, appears at once, and it held

it

We

However, as Johnson observed, we saw the Pantheon in time of mourning, when there was a dull uniformity; whereas we had seen Ranelagh when the view was enlivened with a gay profusion of colours. Mrs. Bosville, of Gunthwait, in Yorkshire, joined us, and entered into conversation with us. Johnson said to me afterwards, "Sir, this is a mighty intelligent is

better lighted.

lady." I

said there

was not half a guinea's worth of

pleasure in seeing this place. Johnson. "But, Sir, there is half a guinea's worth of inferiority to other people in not having seen it."

Boswell.

"I doubt, Sir, whether there are many happy people here." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, there are many happy people here. There are many people here who are watching hundreds, and who think hundreds are watching them." Happening to meet Sir Adam Fergusson, I presented him to Dr. Johnson. Sir Adam expressed some apprehension that the Pantheon would encourage luxury. "Sir, (said Johnson,) I am a great friend to publick amusements; for ^This project has since been realized. Sir Henry Liddel, who made a spirited tour into Lapland, brought two reindeer to his estate in Northumberland, where they bred; but the race has unfortunately perished. ^Dr. Johnson seems to have meant the Address to the Reader with a Key subjoined to it; which have been prefixed to the modern editions of that play. He did not know, it appears, that several additions were made to The Rehearsal after the first edition. [M.]

JOHNSON

195

they keep people from vice. You now (addressing himself to me,) would have been with a wench, had you not been here. O! I forgot you were married." Sir Adam suggested, that luxury corrupts a

—

people,

and destroys the

Johnwould not give half a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual. Sir, the danger of the abuse of power is nothing to a private man. What Frenchman is prevented from passing his life as he pleases?" Sir Adam. "But, Sir,

son. "Sir, that

is all

spirit of liberty.

visionary. I

in the British constitution

it is surely of importance to keep up a spirit in the people, so as to preserve a balance against the crown." Johnson. "Sir, I perceive you are a vile Whig. Why

all this childish jealousy of the power of the crown? The crown has not power enough. When I say that all governments are alike, I consider that in no government power can be abused

Mankind will not bear it. If a sovereign oppresses his people to a great degree, they will

long.

and cut

off his head. There is a remedy in nature against tyranny, that will keep us safe under every form of government. Had not the people of France thought themselves honoured as sharing in the brilliant actions of Lewis XIV, they would not have endured him; and we may say the same of the King of Prussia's people." Sir Adam introduced the ancient Greeks and Romans. Johnson. "Sir, the mass of both of them were barbarians. The mass of every people must be barbarous where there is no printing, and consequently knowledge is not rise

human

Knowledge is diffused among Adam mentioned the orators, poets, and artists of Greece. generally diffused.

our people by the news-papers." Sir

Johnson. "Sir, people.

were. tions

I

am

talking of the mass of the

We see even what the boasted Athenians

The little effect which Demosthenes's orahad upon them, shews that they were bar-

barians." Sir

Adam

was unlucky in

his topicks; for

he

suggested a doubt of the propriety of Bishops having seats in the House of Lords. Johnson.

"How

so. Sir?

Who

is

more proper

for

having

the dignity of a peer, than a Bishop, provided a

Bishop be what he ought to be; and if impropei Bishops be made, that is not the fault of the Bishops, but of those who make them." On Sunday, April 5, after attending divine service at St. Paul's church, I found him alone. Of a schoolmaster of his acquaintance, a native of Scotland, he said, "He has a great deal of good about him; but he is also very defective in

1

BOSWELL

96

some

good, but his outer part is mighty awkward. You in Scotland do not attain that nice critical skill in languages, respects.

His inner part

is

which we get in our schools in England. I would not put a boy to him, whom I intended for a man of learning. But for the sons of citizens,

who

are to learn a little, get good morals, and then go to trade, he may do very well." I mentioned a cause in which I had appeared as counsel at the bar of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, where a Probationer, (as one licensed to preach, but not yet ordained, is called,) was opposed in his application to be inducted, because it was alledged that he had

been guilty of fornication five years before. John"Why, Sir, if he has repented, it is not a

son.

A man who is good enough good enough to be a clergyman." This was a humane and liberal sentiment. But the character of a clergyman is more sacred than that of an ordinary Christian. As he sufficient objection.

to go to heaven,

is

to instruct with authority, he should be regarded with reverence, as one upon whom divine truth has had the effect to set him above such transgressions, as men less exalted by spiritual habits, and yet upon the whole not to be excluded from heaven, have been betrayed into is

by the predominance of

men may be considered all men are, cannot be

passion.

That

clergy-

as sinners in general, as

denied; but this reflection will not counteract their good precepts so much, as the absolute knowledge of their having

been guilty of certain specifick immoral told him, that

by the

rules of the

acts. I

Church

of

Scotland, in their Book of Discipline, if a scandal, it is called, is not prosecuted for five years, it cannot afterwards be proceeded upon, "unless as

nature, or again become flaand that hence a question arose, whether fornication was a sin of a heinous nature; and that I had maintained, that it did not deserve that epithet, in as much as it was not one of those sins which argue very great depravity of heart: in short, was not, in the general acceptation of mankind, a heinous sin. Johnson. "No, it

be of a heinous

grant'

'

;

[1772

ironmonger is a dealer in iron. But as you don't call a man an ironmonger for buying and selling a penknife; so you don't call a man a whoremonger for getting one wench with child. "^ I spoke of the inequality of the livings of the clergy in England, and the scanty provisions of some of the Curates. Johnson. "Why yes. Sir;

but

it

cannot be helped.

You must

consider,

that the revenues of the clergy are not at the disposal of the state, like the pay of the army. Different

men have founded

difierent churches;

endowed, some worse. The State cannot interfere and make an equal division of what has been particularly appropriated. Now when a clergyman has but a small living, or even two small livings, he can aff^ord very

and some are

little

better

to a curate."

He

said,

when

he went more frequently to church

when

there were prayers only, than

there

was also a sermon, as the people required more an example for the one than the other; it being much easier for them to hear a sermon, than to fix their minds on prayer.

On Monday, April 6, I dined with him at Sir Alexander Macdonald's, where was a young officer in the

regimentals of the Scots Royal,

talked with a vivacity, fluency,

uncommon, tion.

and

who

precision so

that he attracted particular atten-

He proved

to be the

Honourable Thomas

Erskine, youngest brother to the Earl of Buchan,

who

has since risen into such brilliant reputa-

tion at the bar in Westminster-hall.

Fielding being mentioned, Johnson exclaimed, "he was a blockhead"; and upon my expressing my astonishment at so strange an assertion, he said, "What I mean by his being a blockhead is that he was a barren rascal." Boswell. "Will you not allow. Sir, that he draws very natural pictures of human life?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, it is of very low life. Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler. Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richard-

that

son's, than in all Tom Jones. I, indeed, never read Joseph Andrews." Erskine. "Surely, Sir, Richardson is very tedious." Johnson. "Why, Sir, if

which a man is punished with death or banishment." BoswELL. "But, Sir, after I had argued that it was not a heinous sin, an old clergyman rose up, and repeating the text of scripture denouncing judgement against whore-mongers,

you were to read Richardson for the story, your impatience would be so much fretted that you would hang yourself. But you must read him for the sentiment, and consider the story as only givI have already ing occasion to the sentiment."

Sir, it is

not a heinous

sin.

A heinous sin

is

for

—

asked, whether, considering this, there could be

any doubt of fornication being a heinous sin." Johnson. "Why, Sir, observe the word whoremonger. Every sin, if persisted in, will become heinous.

Whoremonger

is

a dealer in whores, as

must not be presumed that Dr. Johnson to give any countenance to licentiousness, though in the character of an Advocate he made a just and subtle distinction between occasional and lit

meant

habitual transgression.

LIFE OF

1772]

my opinion

JOHNSON

197

of Fielding; but I cannot re-

preached two sermons to the regiment. He seemed

from repeating here my wonder at Johnand unaccountable depreciation of one of the best writers that England has pro-

to object to the passage in scripture where we are told that the angel of the Lord smote in one

given frain

son's excessive

duced. Tom Jones has stood the test of publick opinion with such success, as to have established its great merit, both for the story, the sentiments, and the manners, and also the varieties of diction, so as to leave no doubt of its having an animated truth of execution throughout. A book of travels, lately published under the title of Coriat Junior, and written by Mr. Paterson,^ was mentioned. Johnson said, this book was an imitation of Sterne, - and not of Coriat, whose name Paterson had chosen as a whimsical one. "Tom Coriat, (said he,) was a humourist about the court ofJames the First. He had a mixture of learning, of wit, first

and of buffoonery. He and published his

travelled through Europe,

He afterwards travelled on foot through and had made many remarks; but he died at Mandoa, and his remarks were lost." We talked of gaming, and animadverted on it with severity. Johnson. "Nay, gentlemen, let us travels.

Asia,

not aggravate the matter. It is not roguery to play with a man who is ignorant of the game,

whileyouaremasterof it, and so win his money; he thinks he can play better than you, as you think you can play better than he; and the

night forty thousand Assyrians. "Sir, (said Johnyou should recollect that there was a supernatural interposition; they were destroyed by son,)

of the

them with a dagger, or knocked them on head, man by man."

Sir. It must be considered, that only does what every one of the society to which he belongs would do, is not a dishonest man. In the republick of Sparta, it was agreed, that stealing was not dishonourable, if not discovered. I do not commend a society

about the truth. a

man who

where there

an agreement that what would not otherwise be fair, shall be fair; but I maintain, that an individual of any society, who practises what is allowed, is not a dishonest man." Bosv^LL. "So then, Sir, you do not think ill of a man who wins perhaps forty thousand pounds in a winter?" Johnson. "Sir, I do not call a gamester a dishonest man; but I call him an unsocial man, an unprofitable man. Gaming is a mode of transferring property without producing any intermediate good. Trade gives employment to numbers, and so produces intermediate good." Mr. Erskine told us, that when he was in the island of Minorca, he not only read prayers, but is

^Mr. Samuel Paterson, eminent for his knowledge of books. ^Mr. Paterson, in a pamphlet, produced some evidence to shew that his work was written before Sterne's Sentimental Journey appeared.

the

After Mr. Erskine was gone, a discussion took whether the present Earl of Buchan, when

place,

Lord Cardross, did right to refuse to go Secretary of the Embassy to Spain, when Sir James Gray, a man of inferiour rank, went Ambassadour. Dr. Johnson said, that perhaps in point of interest he did wrong; but in point of dignity he did well. Sir Alexander insisted that he was wrong; and said that Mr. Pitt intended it as an advantageous thing for him. "Why, Sir, (said Johnson,) Mr. Pitt might think it an advantageous thing for him to make him a vintner, and get him all the Portugal trade; but he would have demeaned himself strangely had he accepted of such a situation. Sir, had he gone Secretary while his inferiour was Ambassadour, he would have been a traitor to his rank and family."

for

superiour skill carries it." Erskine. "He is a fool, but you are not a rogue." Johnson. "That's much

You are not to suppose that the angel Lord went about and stabbed each of

pestilence.

I

little attachment which subbetween near relations in London. "Sir, Johnson,) in a country so commercial as where every man can do for himself, there

talked of the

sisted

(said

ours,

not so much occasion for that attachment. No man is thought the worse of here, whose brother was hanged. In uncommercial countries, many is

of the branches of a family

must depend on the

make

the head of the fam-

stock; so, in order to

take care of them, they are represented as connected with his reputation, that, self-love being interested, he may exert himself to promote their interest. You have first large circles, or clans; as commerce increases, the connection is ily

confined to families.

By

degrees, that too goes

having become unnecessary, and there being few opportunities of intercourse. One brother is a merchant in the city, and another is an oflScer in the guards. How little intercourse can these two have!" I argued warmly for the old feudal system. Sir Alexander opposed it, and talked of the pleasure off,

as

of seeing all

men

and independent. JohnMr. Boswell that there must

free

son. "I agree with

be a high satisfaction in being a feudal Lord; but are to consider, that we ought not to wish to

we

have a number of men unhappy for the satisfaction of one." I maintained that numbers, namely, the vassals or followers, were not unhappy;

—

BOSWELL

igS

was tween the Lord and them: he being kind in his authority over them; they being respectful and a reciprocal satisfaction be-

for that there

On Thursday,

April g, I called on him to beg he would go and dine with me at the Mitre tavern. He had resolved not to dine at all this day, I know not for what reason; and I was so unwilling to be deprived of his company, that I was content to submit to suffer a want, which

was

at

me

forget

somewhat painful, but he soon made it; and a man is always pleased with

first

himself

when he

finds his intellectual inclina-

tions predominate.

He

observed, that to reason philosophically

on the nature of prayer, was very unprofitable. Talking of ghosts, he said, he knew one friend, who was an honest man and a sensible man, who told him he had seen a ghost, old Mr. Ed-

ward Cave, the printer at St. John's Gate. He said, Mr. Cave did not like to talk of it, and seemed to be in great horrour whenever it was mentioned. Boswell. "Pray, Sir, what did he say was the appearance?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, something of a shadowy being." I mentioned witches, and asked him what they properly meant. Johnson. "Why, Sir, they properly mean those who make use of the aid of evil spirits." BoswTLLL. "There is no doubt, Sir, a general report and belief of their having exist-

"You have

not only the general but you have many voluntary solemn confessions." He did not affirm anything positively upon a subject which it is the fashion of the times to laugh at as a matter of absurd credulity. He only seemed willing, as a candid

ed." Johnson. report

and

belief,

enquirer after truth, however strange and inexplicable, to shew that he understood what might

be urged for it.' On Friday, April i o, I dined with him at General Oglethorpe's, where we found Dr. Goldsmith.

Armorial bearings having been mentioned, Johnson said they were as ancient as the siege of Thebes, which he proved by a passage in one of the tragedies of Euripides.

was moral duty. The brave old General fired at this, and said, with a lofty air, "Undoubtedly a man has a right to defend his honour." Goldsmith, (turning to me,) "I ask you first, Sir, what would you do if you were affrontI started

the question whether duelling

consistent with

ed?"

I

answeredlshouldthinkitnecessarytofight.

'See this curious question treated by him with most acute ability, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides,

3rd

edit., p. 33.

[Aug.

16.]

(replied Goldsmith,) that sohes the

question." Johnson. "No, Sir, it does not solve the question. It does not follow that what a man

would do

him.

faithful to

[1772

"Why then,

I said, I wished to whether duelling was contrary to the laws of Christianity. Johnson immediately entered on the subject, and treated it in a masterly manner; and so far as I have been able to recollect, his thoughts were these: "Sir, as men

have

it

is

therefore right."

settled,

become

in a high degree refined, various causes

of oflence arise;

which are considered

to be of

such importance, that life must be staked to atone for them, though in reality they are not so. A body that has received a very fine polish may be easily hurt. Before

men

arrive at this artificial

neighbour he lies, his neighbour tells him he lies; if one gives his neighbour a blow, his neighbour gives him a blow: but in a state of highly polished society, an affront is held to be a serious injury. It must therefore be resented, or rather a duel must be fought upon it; as men have agreed to banish from their society one who puts up with an affront without fighting a dviel. Now, Sir, it is never unlawful to fight in self-defence. He, then, who fights a duel, does not fight from passion against his antagonist, but out of self-defence; to avert the stigma of the world, and to prevent himself from being driven out of society. I could wish there was not that superfluity of refinement; but while such notions prevail, no doubt a man may lawfully refinement,

if

one

tells his

fight a duel."

Let is

it

be remembered, that

this justification

applicable only to the person

affront. All

who

receives

an

mankind must condemn the aggres-

sor.

The General told us, that when he was a very young man, I think only fifteen, serving under Prince Eugene of Savoy, he was sitting in a company at table with a Prince of Wirtemberg. The Prince took up a glass of wine, and, by a fillip, made some of it fly in Oglethorpe's face. Here was a nice dilemma. To have challenged him instantly, might have fixed a quarrelsome character upon the young soldier: to have taken no notice of it might have been considered as cowardice. Oglethorpe, therefore, keeping his eye

upon the Prince, and smiling ail the time, he took what his Highness had done in jest,

—"

as

if

said

the French words he however was,) "That's a good joke; but we do it much better in England"; and threw a whole glass of wine in the Prince's face. ''''Mon Prince,

(I forget

used, the purport

old General who sat by, said, "// a bienjait, mon Prince, vous Vavez commence''': and thus all ended in good humour.

An

;

LIFE OF

1772]

Dr. Johnson said, "Pray, General, give us an account of the siege of Belgrade." Upon which the General, pouring a little wine upon the table, described every thing with a wet finger Here we were, here were the Turks," &c. &c. Johnson : '

'

listened with the closest attention.

A

question was started,

how

far people

who

disagree in a capital point can live in friendship

Goldsmith had not the idem the same likings and the velle atque idem nolle same aversions. Johnson. "Why, Sir, you must shun the subject as to which you disagree. For together.

Johnson

said they might.

said they could not, as they

—

I can live very well with Burke: I love knowledge, his genius, his diffusion, and affluence of conversation; but I would not talk to him of the Rockingham party." Goldsmith. "But, Sir, when people live together who have something as to which they disagree, and which they want to shun, they will be in the situation mentioned in the story of Bluebeard: 'You may look into all the chambers but one. But we should

instance, his

'

have the greatest inclination to look into that chamber, totalkofthatsubject." Johnson, (with a loud voice,) "Sir, I am not saying that you could live in friendship with a man from whom you differ as to some point: I am only saying that / could do it. You put me in mind of Sappho in Ovid." Goldsmith told us, that he was now busy in writing a natural history, and, that he might have full leisure for it, he had taken lodgings, at a farmer's house, near to the six milestone, on the Edgeware road, and had carried down his books in two returned post-chaises. He said, he believed the farmer's family thought him an odd character, similar to that in which The Spectator appeared to his landlady and her children: he was The Gentleman. Mr. Mickle, the translator of The Lusiad, and I went to visit him at this place a few days afterwards. He was not at home; but having a curiosity to see his apartment, we went in and found curious scraps of descriptions of animals, scrawled upon the wall with a black

JOHNSON

199

French; that after

was

still

alive, his

it

was

over,

brother

and Prendergast

officers,

while they

were yet in the field, jestingly asked him, where was his prophecy now. Prendergast gravely answered, "I shall die, notwithstanding what you see." Soon afterwards, there came a shot from a French battery, to which the orders for a cessation of arms had not yet reached, and he was killed upon the spot. Colonel Cecil, who took possession of his effects, found in his pocket-book the following solemn entry: ^ Sir [Here the date.] "Dreamit or John Friend meets me": (here the very day on which he was killed, was mentioned.) Prendergast had been connected with Sir John Friend, who was executed for high treason. General Oglethorpe said, he was with Colonel Cecil when Pope came and enquired into the truth of this story, which made a great noise at the time, and was then confirmed by the Colonel. On Saturday, April 1 1 he appointed me to come to him in the evening, when he should be

—

,

at leisure to give

me some

assistance for the de-

fence of Hastie, the schoolmaster of Campbelltown, for whom I was to appear in the House of

Lords.

When

exert himself.

I

came,

I

I

found him unwilling to

pressed

him

to write

down

his

thoughts upon the subject. He said, "There's no occasion for my writing. I'll talk to you." He was, however, at last prevailed on to dictate to me, while I wrote as follows: "The charge is, that he has used immoderate and cruel correction. Correction, in itself, is not cruel; children, being not reasonable, can be governed only by fear. To impress this fear, is therefore one of the first duties of those who have the care of children. It is the duty of a parent; and has never been thought inconsistent with parental tenderness. It is the duty of a master, who is in his highest exaltation when he is loco

good things become evil by exby being immoderate, may beBut when is correction immoderate?

parentis. Yet, as

cess, correction,

come cruel. When it is more frequent

lead pencil.

required ad monendum

The subject of ghosts being introduced, Johnson repeated what he had told me of a friend of his, an honest man, and a man of sense, having asserted to him, that he had seen an apparition. Goldsmith told us, he was assured by his brother, the Reverend Mr. Goldsmith, that he also had seen one. General Oglethorpe told us, that Prendergast, an officer in the Duke of Marlborough's army, had mentioned to many of his friends, that he should die on a particular day. That upon that day a battle took place with the

tion

and

instruction.

et

No

or

more

severe than

is

docendum, for reformaseverity

is

cruel

which

obstinacy makes necessary; for the greatest cruelty would be to desist, and leave the scholar too careless for instruction, and too much hardened for reproof. Locke, in his treatise of Education,

mentions a mother, with applause, who whipped ^Here was a blank, which may be filled up thus: the writer being "was told by an apparition^'' probably uncertain whether he was asleep or awake, when his mind was impressed with the solemn presentiment with which the fact afterwards happened

—

so v/onderfuUy to correspond.

—

BOSWELL

200

an infant eight times before she had subdued had she stopped at the seventh act of correction, her daughter, says he, would have been ruined. The degrees of obstinacy in young minds are very different; as diff"erent must be the deit;

for

grees of persevering severity.

A stubborn schol-

ar must be corrected till he is subdued. The discipline of a school is military. There must be either unbounded licence or absolute authority.

The master, who punishes, not only consults the future happiness of him who is the immediate subject of correction; but he propagates obedience through the whole school; and establishes

regularity by exemplary justice.

The

victorious

obstinacy of a single boy would make his future endeavours of reformation or instruction totally ineff'ectual. Obstinacy, therefore, must never be it is well known, that there sometimes occurs a sullen and hardy resolution, that laughs at all common punishment, and bids defiance to all common degrees of pain. Correc-

victorious. Yet,

must be proportioned to occasions. The flexbe reformed by gentle discipline, and the refractory must be subdued by harsher meth-

tion

ible will

ods.

The degrees

of scholastick, as of military

punishment, no stated rules can ascertain. It must be enforced till it overpowers temptation; till stubbornness becomes flexible, and perverseness regular. Custom and reason have, indeed, set some bounds to scholastick penalties. The schoolmaster inflicts no capital punishments; nor enforces his edicts by either death or mutilation. The civil law has wisely determined, that a master who strikes at a scholar's eye shall be considered as criminal. But punishments, however severe, that produce no lasting evil, may be just and reasonable, because they may be necessary. Such have been the punishments used by the respondent. No scholar has gone from him either blind or lame, or with any of his limbs or powers injured or impaired. They were irregular, and he punished them: they were obstinate, and he enforced his punishment. But, however provoked, he never exceeded the limits of moderation, for he inflicted nothing beyond present pain;

and how much of that was required, no man so little able to determine as those

who have

is

de-

—

termined against him; the parents of the ofbeen said, that he used unprecedented and improper instruments of correction.

fenders. It has

Of this

accusation the meaning is not very easy No instrument of correction is more proper than another, but as it is better adapted to produce present pain without lasting mischief. Whatever were his instruments, no lasting mischief has ensued; and therefore, however unusto be found.

[1772

hands so cautious they were proper. It has been objected, that the respondent admits the charge of cruelty, by producing no evidence ual, in

to confute

it.

Let

it

be considered, that his schol-

ars are either dispersed at large in the world, or

continue to inhabit the place in which they were bred. Those who are dispersed cannot be found; those who remain are the sons of his persecutors, and are not likely to support a man to whom their fathers are enemies. If it be supposed that the enmity of their fathers proves the justice of the charge, it must be considered how often experience shews us, that men who are angry on one ground will accuse on another; with how little kindness, in a town of low trade, a man who lives by learning is regarded; and how implicitly, where the inhabitants are not very rich, a rich man is hearkened to and followed. In a place like Campbelltown, it is easy for one of the principal inhabitants to make a party. It is easy for that party to heat themselves with imaginary grievances. It is easy for them to oppress a man poorer than themselves; and natural to assert the dignity of riches, by persisting in oppression. The argument which attempts to prove the

impropriety of restoring him to the school, by alledging that he has lost the confidence of the people, is not the subject of juridical consideration; for he is to suff"er, if he must suffer, not for their judgement, but for his own actions. It may be convenient for them to have another master; but it is a convenience of their own making. It would be likewise convenient for him to find another school; but this convenience he cannot obtain. The question is not what is now convenient, but what is generally right. If the people of

Campbelltown be

distressed

by the restoration

of the respondent, they are distressed only by their own fault; by turbulent passions and un-

reasonable desires; by tyranny, which law has defeated, and by malice, which virtue has sur-

mounted." "This, Sir, (said he,) you are to turn in your mind, and make the best use of it you can in your speech." Of our friend. Goldsmith, he said, "Sir, he is so much afraid of being unnoticed, that he often talks merely lest you should forget that he is in the company." Boswell. "Yes, he stands forward." Johnson. "True, Sir; but if a man is to stand forward, he should wish to do it not in an aukward posture, not in rags, not so as that he shall only be exposed to ridicule." Boswell. "For my part, I like very well to hear honest Goldsmith talk away carelessly." Johnson. "Why yes. Sir; but he should not like to hear himself."

LIFE OF

1772]

On Tuesday, April

JOHNSON

201

and

the decree of the Court of Session in the schoolmaster's cause was reversed in the House of Lords, after a very eloquent speech by Lord Mansfield, who shewed

learns to read

himself an adept in school discipline, but I thought was too rigorous towards my client. On

laced waistcoats. There are no people whatever

14,

the evening of the next day

I

supped with Dr.

Johnson, at the Crown and Anchor tavern, in the Strand, in company with Mr. Langton and his brother-in-law. Lord Binning. I repeated a sentence of Lord Mansfield's speech, of which, by the aid of Mr. Longlands, the solicitor on the other side, who obligingly allowed me to compare his note with my own, I have a full copy: "My Lords, severity is not the way to govern either boys or men." "Nay, (said Johnson,) it is the way to govern them. I know not whether it be the way to mend them." I

talked of the recent expulsion of six students

from the University of Oxford, who were methodists and would not desist from publickly praying and exhorting. Johnson. "Sir, that expulsion was extremely just and proper. What have they to do at an University who are not willing to be taught, but will presume to teach? Where is religion to be learnt but at an University? Sir, they were examined, and found to be mighty ignorant fellows." BoswTELL. "But, was it not hard. Sir, to expel them, for I am told they were good beings?" Johnson. "I believe they might be good beings; but they were not fit to be in the University of Oxford. A cow is a very good animal in the field; but

we turn her out

Lord Elibank used tion

of a garden."

to repeat this as

an

illustra-

uncommonly happy.

Desirous of calling Johnson forth to talk, and though I should myself be the object of it, I resolutely ventured to undertake the defence of convivial indulgence in wine, though he was not to-night in the most genial humour. After urging the common plausible topexercise his wit,

icks, I at last

had recourse

to the

maxim,

in vino

man who is well warmed with wine will speak truth. Johnson. "Why, Sir, that may be an argument for drinking, if you suppose men Veritas,

a

in general to be liars. But, Sir, I

company with a fellow, who

whom

would not keep

lyes as

long as he

is

you must make drunk before you can get a word of truth out of him." Mr. Langton told us he was about to establish a school upon his estate, but it had been suggested to him, that it might have a tendency to make the people less industrious. Johnson. "No, Sir. While learning to read and write is a distinction, the few who have that distinction may be the less inclined to work; but when every body sober,

and

tinction. fine

a

write,

it is

no longer a

dis-

A man who has a laced waistcoat is too

man to work;

waistcoats,

but

if

every body had laced

we should have people working

in

industrious, none who work more, than our manufacturers; yet they have all learnt to read and write. Sir, you must not neglect doing a thing immediately good, from fear of remote evil; from fear of its being abused. A man who has candles may sit up too late, which he would not do if he had not candles; but nobody will

more

—

deny that the

art of

making

candles,

by which

continued to us beyond the time that the sun gives us light, is a valuable art, and ought to be preserved." Bos well. "But, Sir, would it not be better to follow Nature; and go to bed and rise just as nature gives us light or withholds it?" Johnson. "No, Sir; for then we should have no kind of equality in the partition of our time between sleeping and waking. It would be very light

is

and in diflferent some of the northern parts of Scotland

different in different seasons places. In

how little light is

there in the depth of winter

!"

We talked of Tacitus, and I hazarded an opinthat with all his merit for penetration, shrewdness of judgement, and terseness of expression, he was too compact, too much broken ion,

were, and therefore too diflScult To my great satisfaction, Dr. Johnson sanctioned this opinion. "Tacitus, Sir, seems to me rather to have made notes for an historical work, than to have written a history."^ At this time it appears from his Prayers and Meditations, that he had been more than cominto hints, as

it

to be understood.

monly

diligent in religious duties, particularly

Holy Scriptures. It was Passion Week, that solemn season which the Christian world has appropriated to the commemoration of the mysteries of our redemption, and during which, whatever embers of religion are in our breasts, will be kindled into pious warmth. I paid him short visits both on Friday and Saturday, and seeing his large folio Greek Testament before him, beheld him with a reverential awe, and would not intrude upon his time. While he was thus employed to such good purpose, and while his friends in their intercourse with him constantly found a vigorous intellect and a in reading the

melancholy to read in

lively imagination,

it is

his private register,

"My mind

is

unsettled

and

remarkable, that Lord Monboddo, whom, on account of his resembling Dr. Johnson in some particulars, Foote called an Elzevir edition of him, has, by coincidence, made the very same remark. Origin and Progress of Language, vol. iii, and edit., p. iJt is

219.

1

BOSWELL

202

my memory confused.

I

have of late turned

my

thoughts with a very useless earnestness upon past incidents. I have yet got no command over my thoughts; an unpleasing incident is ahiiost certain to hinder my rest."- What philosophick heroism was it in him to appear with such manly fortitude to the world, while he was inwardly so distressed!

We may

surely believe that the

mysterious principle of being "made perfect through suffering" was to be strongly exemplified in

him.

On Sunday, April

19, being Easter-day, Genpaid him a visit before dinner. talked of the notion that blind persons can

eral Paoli

We

and

I

distinguish colours

by the touch. Johnson

said,

that Professor Sanderson mentions his having at-

tempted to do

it,

but that he found he was aim-

ing at an impossibility; that to be sure a difference in the surface makes the difference of colours; but that difference is so fine, that it is not sensible to the touch. The General mentioned jugglers and fraudulent gamesters, who could know cards by the touch. Dr. Johnson said, "the cards used by such persons must be less polished

than ours commonly are."

We talked of sounds. The General said,

there

was no beauty in a simple sound, but only in an harmonious composition of sounds. I presumed to differ from this opinion, and mentioned the soft and sweet sound of a fine woman's voice. Johnson. "No, Sir, if a serpent or a toad uttered it, you would think it ugly." Boswell. "So you would think. Sir, were a beautiful tune to be uttered by one of those animals." Johnson. "No, Sir, it would be admired. We have seen fine fiddlers

whom we

liked as

little

as toads," (laugh-

ing.)

Talking on the subject of taste in the

arts,

he

said, that difference of taste was, in truth, difskill. Boswell. "But, Sir, is there not a quality called taste, which consists merely in perception or in liking? For instance, we find people differ much as to what is the best style of English composition. Some think Swift's the best; others prefer a fuller and grander way of writing." Johnson. "Sir, you must first define what you mean by style, before you can judge who has a good taste in style, and who has a bad. The two classes of persons whom you have mentioned don't differ as to good and bad. They both agree that Swift has a good neat style; but one loves a neat style, another loves a style of more splendour. In like manner, one loves a plain coat, another loves a laced coat; but neither will deny that each is good in its kind."

ference of

^Prayers and Meditations, p.

1

1

.

[1772

While I remained in London this spring, I was with him at several other times, both by himself and in company. I dined with him one day at the Crown and Anchor tavern, in the Strand, with Lord Elibank, Mr. Langton, and Dr. Vansittart of Oxford. Without specifying each particular day, I have preserved the following memorable things. I

regretted the reflection in his Preface to

Shakspeare against Garrick, to whom we cannot but apply the following passage: "I collated such copies as I could procure, and wished for more, but have not found the collectors of these rarities very communicative." I told him, that Garrick had complained to me of it, and had vindicated himself by assuring me, that Johnson

was made welcome to the full use of his collection, and that he left the key of it with a servant, with orders to have a fire and every convenience for him. I found Johnson's notion was, that Garrick wanted to be courted for them, and that, on the contrary, Garrick should have courted him, and sent him the plays of his own accord. But, indeed, considering the slovenly and careless manner in which books were treated by Johnson,

it

could not be expected that scarce

and valuable editions should have been

lent to

him,

A gentleman having to some of the usual arguments for drinking added this: "You know, Sir, drinking drives away care, and makes us forget whatever is disagreeable. Would not you allow a man to drink for that reason?" Johnif he sat nextjcow." expressed a liking for Mr. Francis Osborne's works, and asked him what he thought of that writer. He answered, "A conceited fellow. Were a man to write so now, the boys would throw stones at him." He, however, did not alter my opinion of a favourite authour, to whom I was first directed by his being quoted in The Spectat-

son. "Yes, Sir, I

or,

and

in

whom I have found much shrewd and

lively sense, expressed indeed on a style somewhat I do not dislike. His book has an air of originality. We figure to ourselves an ancient gentleman talking to us. When one of his friends endeavoured to maintain that a country gentleman might contrive to pass his life very agreeably, "Sir, (said he,) you cannot give me an instance of any man who is

quaint, which, however,

permitted to lay out his own time, contriving not to have tedious hours." This observation, however, is equally applicable to gentlemen who

and are of no profession. "There is no permanent national

live in cities,

He

said,

character;

it

varies according to circumstances.

LIFE OF

1772]

Alexander the Great swept India: now the Turks sweep Greece." A learned gentleman who in the course of conversation wished to inform us of this simple fact, that the Counsel upon the circuit at Shrewsbury were much bitten by fleas, took, I suppose, seven or eight minutes in relating it circumstantially.

He

in a plenitude of phrase told us, that

large bales of woollen cloth were lodged in the

town-hall;

— that by reason of

this, fleas

nestled

there in prodigious numbers; that the lodgings of the counsel were near to the town-hall;

that those

little

— and

animals moved from place to

place with wonderful agility. Johnson sat in great

had finished his and then burst out (playfully however), "It is a pity. Sir, that you have not seen a lion; for a flea has taken you such a time, that a lion must have served you a twelveimpatience

till

the gentleman

tedious narrative,

month."^

He would

not allow Scotland to derive any from Lord Mansfield; for he was educated in England. "Much (said he,) may be made of a Scotchman, if he be caught young." Talking of a modern historian and a modern moralist, he said, "There is more thought in the moralist than in the historian. There is but a shallow stream of thought in history." BoswrELL. "But surely. Sir, an historian has reflection." Johnson. "Why yes, Sir; and so has a cat when she catches a mouse for her kitten. But she cannot write like *******j neither can ******" credit

He said, "I am very unwilling to read the manuscripts of authours, If the

bid

authours

who

them boldly

and

give

apply to

them my opinion.

me

have money,

I

name; if they money, I tell them

print without a

have written in order to get to go to the booksellers, and make the best bargain they can." Boswell. "But, Sir, if a bookseller should bring you a manuscript to look at?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, I would desire the bookseller to take it away." I mentioned a friend of mine who had resided long in Spain, and was unwilling to return to Britain. Johnson. "Sir, he is attached to some woman." Boswell. "I rather believe, Sir, it is the fine climate which keeps him there." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, how can you talk so? What is climate to happiness? Place

me in the heart of What proportion

Asia, should I not be exiled?

does climate bear to the complex system of human life? You may advise me to go to live at Bologna to eat sausages. The sausages there are the ^Mrs. Piozzi, to whom I told this anecdote, has related it, as if the gentleman had given "the natural history of the mouse." Artec, p. 191.

JOHNSON

203

best in the world; they lose

much by

being car-

ried."

On Saturday, May 9, Mr. Dempster and I had agreed to dine by ourselves at the British Coffeehouse. Johnson, on whom I happened to call in the morning, said he would join us, which he did, and we spent a very agreeable day, though I recollect but little of what passed. He said, "Walpole was a minister given by the King to the people: Pitt was a minister given by the people to the King, as an adjunct." "The misfortune of Goldsmith in conversation is this: he goes on without knowing how he is to get oflT. His genius is great, but his knowledge is small. As they say of a generous man, it is a pity he is not rich, we may say of Goldsmith, it is a pity he is not knowing. He would not keep

—

his

knowledge

to himself."

London this year, I consulted him upon a question purely of Scotch law. It was Before leaving

held of old, and continued for a long period, to be an established principle in that law, that whoever intermeddled with the effects of a person deceased, without the interposition of legal authority to guard against embezzlement, should

be subjected to pay all the debts of the deceased, as having been guilty of

what was technically

called vicious intromission.

The Court

of Session

had gradually relaxed the strictness of this principle, where the interference proved had been inconsiderable. In a case^ which came before that Court the preceding winter, I had laboured to persuade the

Judges to return to the ancient sincere opinion, that they ought to adhere to it; but I had exhausted all my powers of reasoning in vain. Johnson thought law. It was

as

I

did;

my own

and

in order to assist

me in my applica-

tion to the Court for a revision

and

alteration of

the judgement, he dictated to

me

the following

argument: "This, we are told, is a law which has its force only from the long practice of the Court: and may, therefore, be suspended or modified as the Court shall think proper.

"Concerning the power of the Court to make we have no intention to inquire. It is sufficient for our purpose that every just law is dictated by reason; and that the practice of every legal Court is regulated by equity. It is the quality of reason to be invariable and constant; and of equity, to give to one man what, in the same case, is given to another. The advantage which humanity derives from law is this: that the law gives every man a rule of action, and prescribes a mode of conduct which shall ^Wilson against Smith and Armour. or to suspend a law,

;

BOSWELL

204 entitle

him to the support and protection of soThat the law may be a rule of action, it is necessary that it be known; it is necessary that it be permanent and stable. The law is the measure of civil right; but if the measure be changeable, the extent of the thing measured never can

sion,

ciety.

ter

be

let

settled.

"To permit a law to be modified at discretion, is

to leave the

community without

law. It

is

to

withdraw the direction of that publick wisdom, by which the deficiencies of private understanding are to be supplied. It is to suffer the rash and ignorant to act at discretion, and then to depend for the legality of that action on the sentence of the Judge. He that is thus governed, lives not by law, but by opinion: not by a certain rule to which he can apply his intention before he acts, but by an uncertain and variable opinion, which he can never know but after he has committed the act on which that opinion shall be passed. He lives by a law, (if a law it be,) which he can never case

before he has offended it. To this be justly applied that important prin-

know

may

ciple, misera est servitus ubijus est aut incognitum aut

vagum. If Intromission be not criminal till it exceeds a certain point, and that point be unsettled, and consequently different in different minds, the right of Intromission, and the right of the Creditor arising from it, are all jura vaga, and, by consequence, arc jura incognita; and the result

can be no other than a misera servitus, an uncertainty concerning the event of action, a servile dependence on private opinion. "It may be urged, and with great plausibility, that there may be Intromission without fraud which, however true, will by no means justify an occasional and arbitrary relaxation of the law. The end of law is protection as well as vengeance. Indeed, vengeance is never used but to strengthen protection. That society only is well governed, where life is freed from danger and

from suspicion; where possession is so sheltered by salutary prohibitions, that violation is prevented more frequently than punished. Such a prohibition was this, while it operated with its original force. The creditor of the deceased was not only without loss but without fear. He was not to seek a remedy for an injury suffered; for injury was warded off. "As the law has been sometimes administered, it lays us open to wounds, because it is imagined to have the power of healing. To punish fraud

when

is the proper act of vindicbut to prevent frauds, and make punishment unnecessary, is the great employment of legislative wisdom. To permit Intromisit is

detected,

tive justice;

[1772

and

pitfall.

but to

come a

surely,

it is

all access, little,

is to make law no betTo tread upon the brink is safe;

to punish fraud,

than a

step further

is

destruction. But,

and hinder than by encouraging us to advance a better to enclose the gulf,

to entice us afterwards a little further,

and

us perceive our folly only by our destruction. "As law supplies the weak with adventitious

strength,

it

likewise enlightens the ignorant with

extrinsickunderstanding. Lawteachesustoknow injury, and when we suffer it. marks upon actions, by which we are admonished to do or to forbear them. Quisibi bene temperat in licitis, says one of the fathers, nun-

when we commit It fixes certain

quam cadet in

illicita.

He who never intromits at all,

will never intromit

"The

with fraudulent intentions.

relaxation of the law against vicious in-

tromission has been very favourably represented by a great master of jurisprudence,^ whose words have been exhibited with unnecessary pomp, and seem to be considered as irresistibly decisive.

The

great

moment

of his authority

makes it necessary to examine his position. Some '

ages ago, (says he,) before the ferocity of the inhabitants of this part of the island was subdued, the utmost severity of the civil law was necessary, to restrain individuals from plundering each other. Thus, the man who intermeddled irregularly with the moveables of a person de-

ceased, was subjected to all the debts of the deceased without limitation. This makes a branch of the law of Scotland, known by the name of vicious intromission; and so rigidly was this regulation applied in our Courts of Law, that the most trifling moveable abstracted maldpde, subjected the intermeddler to the foregoing consequences, which proved in many instances a most rigorous punishment. But this severity was necessary, in order to subdue the undisciplined nature of our people. It is extremely remarkable,

that in proportion to our

improvement

in

man-

been gradually softened, and applied by our sovereign Court with a ners, this regulation has

sparing hand.' "I find myself under a necessity of observing, that this learned and judicious writer has not accurately distinguished the deficiencies and demands of the different conditions of human life, which, from a degree of savageness and independence, in which all laws are vain, passes or

may pass, by innumerable

gradations, to a state

of reciprocal benignity, in which laws shall be no longer necessary. Men are first wild and un-

each man to himself, taking from and losing to the strong. In their first ^Lord Kames, in his Historical Law Tracts.

social, living

the weak,

LIFE OF

1772] coalitions of society,

ageness

is

retained.

much of this original savOf general happiness, the

product of general confidence, there is yet no thought. Men continue to prosecute their own advantages by the nearest way; and the utmost severity of the civil law is necessary to restrain individuals from plundering each other. The restraints then necessary, are restraints from plunder,fromactsofpublick violence, and undisguised oppression. The ferocity of our ancestors, as of all other nations, produced not fraud, but rapine. They had not yet learned to cheat, and attempted only to rob. As manners grow more polished, with the knowledge of good, men attain likewise dexterity in evil. Open rapine becomes less frequent, and violence gives way to cunning. Those who before invaded pastures and stormed houses, now begin to enrich themselves by unequal contracts and fraudulent intromissions. It is not against the violence of ferocity, but the circumventions of deceit, that this law was framed;

and

I

am afraid

the increase of commerce,

and

the incessant struggle for riches which commerce excites, give us no prospect of an end speedily to

be expected of artifice and fraud. It therefore seems to be no very conclusive reasoning, which connects those two propositions;

— 'the

nation is become less ferocious, and therefore the laws against fraud and covin shall be relaxed.' "Whatever reason may have influenced the Judges to a relaxation of the law, it was not that the nation was grown less fierce and, I am afraid, it cannot be affirmed, that it is grown less fraud;

ulent.

"Since

this

law has been represented as rigorit seems not im-

ously and unreasonably penal,

proper to consider what are the conditions and qualities that make the justice or propriety of a penal law. "To make a penal law reasonable and just,

two conditions are necessary, and two proper. It is necessary that the law should be adequate to its

end; that,

if it

be observed,

it

shall prevent

the evil against which it is directed. It is, secondly,

necessary that the end of the law be of such importance, as to deserve the security of a penal sanction. The other conditions of a penal law, which though not absolutely necessary, are to a very high degree fit, are, that to the moral violation of the law there are many temptations, and that

of the physical observance there

is great facility. "All these conditions apparently concur to justify the law which we are now considering. Its end is the security of property; and property very often of great value. The method by which it effects the security is efficacious, because it ad-

JOHNSON

205

jury; but keeps guilt

no gradations of inand innocence apart, by a

and

He

mits, in its original rigour, distinct

mits,

is

definite limitation.

that intro-

criminal; he that intromits not,

is

inno-

Of the two secondary considerations it cannot be denied that both are in our favour. The cent.

temptation to intromit so strong

and

is

frequent and strong;

so frequent, as to require the ut-

most activity of justice, and vigilance of caution, to withstand its prevalence; and the method by which a man may entitle himself to legal intromission, is so open and so facile, that to neglect a proof of fraudulent intention: for why should a man omit to do (but for reasons which he will not confess,) that which he can do so easily, and that which he knows to be required by the law? If temptation were rare, a penal law might be deemed unnecessary. If the duty enjoined by the law were of difficult performance, omission, though it could not be justified, might be pitied. But in the present case, neither equity nor compassion operate against it. A useful, a necessary law is broken, not only without a reasonable motive, but with all the inducements to obedience that can be derived from safety and it is

facility.

"I therefore return to that a law, to have

and

my

its effect,

original position,

must be permanent

may be said, in the language of the et minus, — we may or we may have no law, but we can-

stable. It

schools, Lex non recipit majus

have a law, not have half a law. We must either have a rule of action, or be permitted to act by discretion and by chance. Deviations from the law must be uniformly punished, or no man can be certain when he shall be safe. "That from the rigour of the original institution this Court has sometimes departed, cannot be denied. But, as it is evident that such deviations, as they make law uncertain, make life unsafe, I hope, that of departing from it there will now be an end; that the wisdom of our ancestors will be treated with due reverence: and that consistent and steady decisions will furnish the people with a rule of action, and leave fraud and fraudulent intromission no future hope of impunity or escape." With such comprehension of mind, and such clearness of penetration, did he thus treat a subject altogether new to him, without any other preparation than my having stated to him the arguments which had been used on each side of the question. His intellectual powers appeared with peculiar lustre, when tried against those of a writer of so much fame as Lord Kames, and that too in his Lordship's own department.

—

BOSWELL

2o6

This masterly argument, after being prefaced and concluded with some sentences of my own, and garnished with the usual formularies, was actually printed and laid before the Lords of Sesbut without success. My respected friend Hailes, however, one of that honourable body, had critical sagacity enough to discover a

[1773

history of mankind. Do not forget a design so worthy of a scholar who studies the laws of his country, and of a gendeman who may naturally be curious to know the condition of his own ancestors. I am, dear Sir, your's with great aifection,

sion,

Sam. Johnson

Lord

August 31, 1772

To Dr. Johnson

more than ordinary hand in the Petition. I told him Dr. Johnson had favoured me with his pen. His Lordship, with wonderful acumen, pointed out exactly where his composition began, and where it ended. But that I may do impartial justice, and conform to the great rule of Courts,

must add, that their Lordthough they were pleased to call this "a well-drawn paper," preferred the former very inferiour petition which I had written; thus confirming the truth of an observation made to me by one of their number, in a merry mood: "My dear Sir, give yourself no trouble in the composition of the papers you present to us; for, suum cuique

tribuito, I

ships in general,

indeed,

it is

casting pearls before swine."

renewed my solicitations that Dr. Johnson would this year accomplish his long-intended I

visit to

Scotland.

To James Dear

Bos well, Esq.

The

regret has not been little with which I have missed a journey so pregnant with pleasing expectations, as that in which I could promise myself not only the gratification of curiosity, both rational and fanciful, but the delight of seeing those whom I love and esteem. But such has been the course of Sir,

*******.

things, that I could not come; and such has body, that it afraid, the state of been, I inclination. would not well have seconded body, I think, grows better, and I refer very sincere in hopes to another year; for I my design to pay the visit, and take the ramble. In the mean time, do not omit any opportunity of keeping up a favourable opinion of me in the friends. Beattie's book is, I minds of any of believe, every day more liked; at least, I like it

my my

am

My

my

am

my

look more upon it. I am glad if you got credit by your cause, and am yet of opinion, that our cause was good, and that the determination ought to have been in your favour. Poor Hastie, I think, had but his

more, as

Edinburgh, Dec.

My Dear

25, 1772

was much disappointed that you did not come to Scotland last autumn. However, I must own that your letter prevents me from complaining-; not only because I am sensible that the state of your health was but too good an excuse, but because you write in a strain which shews that you have agreeable views of the scheme which we have so long proposed. I communicated to Beattie what you said of his book in your last letter to me. He writes to Sir, ... I

me

thus: "You judge very rightly in supposing that Dr. Johnson's favourable opinion of my book must give me great delight. Indeed it is impossible for me to say how much I am gratified by it; for there is not a man upon earth whose good opinion I would be more ambitious to cultivate. His talents and his virtues I reverence more than any words can express. The extraordinary civilities (the paternal attentions I should rather say,) and the many instructions I have had the honour to receive from him, will to me be a perpetual source of pleasure in the recollection,

Dum I

memor

lasted,

ipse met,

dum

spiritus hos reget artus.

some thoughts, while the summer of being obliged to go to London on some

had

still

business; otherwise I should certainly have troubled him with a letter several months ago, and given some vent to my gratitude and admiration. This I intend to do, as soon as I am left a little at leisure. Mean time, if you have occasion to write to him, I beg you will offer him

little

my most respectful compliments,and assure him of the sincerity of my attachment and the warmth of my gratitude". ... I am, &c. James Bosw^ll

I

deserts.

You promised to get me a little may add to it a litde Anacreon.

Pindar,

you

The leisure which I cannot enjoy, it will be a pleasure to hear that you employ upon the antiquities of the feudal establishment. The whole system of ancient tenures is gradually passing away; and I wish to have the knowledge of it preserved adequate and complete. For such an institution makes a very important part of the

In 1773 his only publica1773: iETAT. 64.] tion was an edition of his folio Dictionary, with

and corrections; nor did he, so far as known, furnish any productions of his fertile pen to any of his numerous friends or dependants, except the Preface^ to his old amanuensis additions

is

iHe, however, wrote, or partly wrote, an Epitaph on Mrs. Bell, wife of his friend John Bell, Esq., brother of the Reverend Dr. Bell, Prebendary of Westminster, which is printed in his Works [i. 151]. It is in English prose, and has so little of his manner, that I did not believe he had any hand in it, till I was satisfied of the fact by the authority of Mr. Bell.

LIFE OF

1773] Macbean's

Dictionary of Ancient Geography.

His

which had been received with high approbation by the publick, and gone through several editions, was this year re-pubhshed by George Steevens, Esq., a gentleman not only deeply skilled in ancient learning, and Shakspeare, indeed,

of very extensive reading in English literature, especially the early writers, but at the same time

of acute discernment and elegant taste. It is almost unnecessary to say, that by his great and

valuable additions to Dr. Johnson's work, he justly obtained considerable reputation:

Divisum imperium cum Jove Ccssar habet

To James

Boswell, Esq. have read your kind fetter much more than the elegant Pindar which it accompanied. I am always glad to find myself not forgotten; and to be forgotten by you would give me great uneasiness. My northern friends have never been unkind to me: I have from you, dear Sir, testimonies of affection, which I have not often been able to excite; and Dr. Beattie rates the testimony which I was desirous of paying to his merit, much higher than I should have thought it reasonable to expect. I have heard of your masquerade.^ What says your synod to such innovations? I am not studiously scrupulous, nor do I think a masquerade either evil in itself, or very likely to be the occasion of evil; yet as the world thinks it a very licentious relaxation of manners, I would not have been one of the first masquers in a country where no masquerade had ever been before.^

Dear

Sir, I

A new edition of my great Dictionary is p;:inted, from a copy which I was persuaded to revise; but having made no preparation, I was able to do very little. Some superfluities I have expunged, and some faults I have corrected, and here and there have scattered a remark; but the main fabrick of the work remains as it was. I had looked very little into it since I wrote it, and, I think, I found it full as often better, as worse, than I expected. Baretti and Davies have had a furious quarrel; a quarrel, I think, irreconcileable. Dr. Goldsmith has a new comedy, which is expected in the spring. No name is yet given it. The chief diversion arises from a stratagem by which a lover is made to mistake his future father-inlaw's house for an inn. This, you see, borders upon farce. The dialogue is quick and gay, and incidents are so prepared as not to seem improbable. I am sorry that you lost your cause of Intromission, because I yet think the arguments on your side unanswerable. But you seem, I think, to say that you gained reputation even by your

^Given by a lady at Edinburgh. ^There had been masquerades in Scotland; but not for a very long time.

JOHNSON

207

defeat; and reputation you will daily gain, if you keep Lord Auchinleck's precept in your mind, and endeavour to consolidate in your mind a firm and regular system of law, instead of picking up occasional fragments. health seems in general to improve; but I have been troubled for many weeks with a vexa-

My

which is sometimes sufficiently have not found any great effects from bleeding and physick; and am afraid, that I must expect help from brighter days and softer tious catarrh, distressful. I

air.

Write to me now and then; and whenever any good befalls you, make haste to let me know it, for no one will rejoice at it more than, dear Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson London, Feb. 24, 1773

You continue

to stand very high in the favour

of Mrs. Thrale.

While a former edition of my work was passing through the press, I was unexpectedly favoured with a packet from Philadelphia, from Mr. James Abercrombie, a gentleman of that country, who is pleased to honour me with very high praise of my Life of Dr. Johnson. To have the fame of ful

my

illustrious friend,

biographer, echoed from the

and

his faith-

New World

is

extremely flattering; and my grateful acknowledgements shall be wafted across the Atlantick. Mr. Abercrombie has politely conferred on me a considerable additional obligation, by transmitting to me copies of two letters from Dr. Johnson to American gentlemen. "Gladly, Sir, (says he,) would I have sent you the originals; but being the only relicks of the kind in America, they are considered by the possessors of such inestimable value, that no possible consideration would induce them to part with them. In some future publication of yours relative to that great and good man, they may perhaps be thought

worthy of insertion."

To Mr. B

T>^

in the hurry of a sudden departure conyou should yet find leisure to consult venience, is a degree of kindness, and an instance claims, but above of regard, not only beyond expectation. You are not mistaken in supSir,

That

my

my

my

I set a high value on my American and that you should confer a very valuable favour upon me by giving me an opportunity of keeping myself in their memory. I have taken the liberty of troubling you with a packet, to which I wish a safe and speedy con-

posing that friends,

3This gentleman, who now resides in America in a publick character of considerable dignity, desired that his name might not be transcribed at full length.

BOSWELL

208

veyance, because I wish a safe and speedy voyage to him that conveys it. I am, Sir, your most

humble

servant,

Sam. Johnson

To THE Reverend Mr. White^ Dear

Sir, Your kindness for your friends accompanies you across the Atlantick. It was long since observed by Horace, that no ship could leave care behind; you have been attended in your voyage by other powers, by benevolence and constancy; and I hope care did not often shew her face in their company. I received the copy of Rasselas. The impression is not magnificent, but it flatters an authour, because the printer seems to have expected that it would be scattered among the people. The little book has been well received,

—

and is translated into Italian, French, German, and Dutch. It has now one honour more by an American edition. I know not that much has happened since your departure that can engage your curiosity. Of all publick transactions the whole world is now informed by the news-papers. Opposition seems to despond; and the dissenters, though they have taken advantage of unsettled times, and a government much enfeebled, seem not likely to gain any immunities. Dr. Goldsmith has a new comedy in rehearsal at Covent-Garden, to which the manager predicts ill success. I hope he will be mistaken. I think it deserves a very kind reception. I shall soon publish a new edition of my large Dictionary; I have been persuaded to revise it, and have mended some faults, but added little its

usefulness.

No book

has been published since your departure, of which much notice is taken. Faction only fills the town with pamphlets, and greater subjects are forgotten in the noise of discord. Thus have I written, only to tell you how little I have to tell. Of myself I can only add, that

having been afflicted many weeks with a very troublesome cough, I am now recovered. take the liberty which you give me of troubling you with a letter, of which you will please to fill up the direction. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, I

Sam. Johnson Johnson's-court, Fleet-street,

London, March

^Now Doctor

4,

1773

White, and Bishop of the Episco-

Church in Pennsylvania. During his first visit England in 1 771, as a candidate for holy orders, he was several times in company with Dr. Johnson, pal to

who

expressed a wish to see the edition of his Raswhich Dr. White told him had been printed in America. Dr. White, on his return, immediately sent him a copy.

selas,

London

the day after

my arriv-

went to his house late with Mrs. Williams till he came home. I found in The London Chronicle, Dr. Goldsmith's apology to the publick for beating Evans, a bookseller, on account of a paragraph in a newspaper published by him, which Goldsmith thought impertinent to him and to a lady of his acquaintance. The apology was written so much in Dr. Johnson's manner, that both Mrs. Williams and I supposed it to be his; but when he came home, he soon undeceived us. When he said to Mrs. Williams, "Well, Dr. Goldsmith's manifesto has got into your paper"; I asked him if Dr. Goldsmith had written it, with an air that made him see I suspected it was his, though subscribed by Goldsmith. Johnson. "Sir, Dr. Goldsmith would no more have asked me to write such a thing as that for him, than he would have asked me to feed him with a spoon, or to do anything else that denoted his imbecility. I as much believe that he wrote it, as if I had seen him do it. Sir, had he shewn it to any one friend, he would not have been allowed to publish it. He has, indeed, done it very well; but it is a foolish thing well done. I suppose he has been so much elated with the success of his new comedy, that he has thought every thing that concerned him must be of importance to the publick." BoswELL. "I fancy, Sir, this is the first time that he has been engaged in such an adventure." Johnson. "Why, Sir, I believe it is the first time he has beat; he may have been beaten before. This, Sir, is a new plume to him." I mentioned Sir John Dalrymple's Memoirs of Great-Britain and Ireland, and his discoveries to the prejudice of Lord Russel and Algernon Sydney. Johnson. "Why, Sir, every body who had just notions of government thought them rascals al in

this year, I

in the evening,

London, Johnson's-court, Fleet-street, March 4, 1773

to

[1773

On Saturday, April 3,

before. It

is

and

sat

well that

to be rascals."

all

mankind now

Boswell. "But,

Sir,

see

them

may not those

discoveries be true without their being rascals?" Johnson. "Consider, Sir; would any of them have been willing to have had it known that they intrigued with France? Depend upon it, Sir, he who does what he is afraid should be known, has something rotten about him. This Dalrymple seems to be an honest fellow; for he tells equally what makes against both sides. But nothing can be poorer than his mode of writing, it is the mere bouncing of a school-boy. Great He but greater She and such stuff"." !

!

I

could not agree with him in this criticism;

though Sir John Dalrymple's style is not regularly formed in any respect, and one cannot help smiling sometimes at his affected grandilo-

for

"

LIFE OF

1773]

JOHNSON

209

quence, there is in his writing a pointed vivacity, and much of a gentlemanly spirit. At Mr. Thrale's, in the evening, he repeated his usual paradoxical declamation against ac-

me a question of some difficulty. A scripture expression may be used, like a highly classical

no effect upon reasonable minds. It may augment noise, but it never can enforce argument. If you speak to a dog, you use action; you hold up your hand thus, because he is a brute; and in proportion as men are removed from brutes, action will have the less influence upon them." Mrs. Thrale. "What then. Sir, becomes of Demosthenes's saying? 'Action, action, action "Johnson. "Demosthenes, Madam, spoke to an assem-

all

tion in publick speaking. "Action can have

!'

bly of brutes; to a barbarous people." I thought it extraordinary, that he should de-

ny the power of

when

rhetorical action

upon human

proved by innumerable facts in all stages of society. Reasonable beings are not solely reasonable. They have fancies which may be pleased, passions which may be roused. Lord Chesterfield being mentioned, Johnson remarked, that almost all of that celebrated nobleman's witty sayings were puns. He, however, allowed the merit of good wit to his Lordship's saying of Lord Tyrawley and himself, when both very old and infirm: "Tyrawley and I have been dead these two years; but we don't choose to have it known." He talked with approbation of an intended edition of The Spectator, with notes; two volumes of which had been prepared by a gentleman emnature,

it is

inent in the literary world,

and the materials the remainder had

which he had collected for been transferred to another hand. He observed, that all works which describe manners, require notes in sixty or seventy years, or less; and told us, he had communicated all he knew that could throw light upon The Spectator. He said, "Addison had made his Sir Andrew Freeport a true Whig, arguing against giving charity to beggars, and throwing out other such ungracious sentiments; but that he had thought better, and made amends by making him found an hospital for decayed farmers." He called for the volume of The Spectator, in which that account is contained, and read it aloud to us. He read so well, that every thing acquired additional weight and grace from his utterance. The conversation having turned on modern imitations of ancient ballads, and some one having praised their simplicity, he treated them with that ridicule which he always displayed when that subject was mentioned.

He disapproved of introducing scripture phrases into secular discourse. This seemed to

phrase, to produce an instantaneous strong im-

and it may be done without being at improper. Yet I own there is danger, that applying the language of our sacred book to ordinary subjects may tend to lessen our reverence for it. If therefore it be introduced at all, it should be with very great caution. On Thursday, April 8, I sat a good part of the evening with him, but he was very silent. He said, "Burnet's History oj His Own Times is very pression;

The style, indeed, is mere chitdo not believe that Burnet intentionally lyed; but he was so much prejudiced, that he took no pains to find out the truth. He was like a man who resolves to regulate his time by a certain watch; but will not inquire whether the watch is right or not." Though he was not disposed to talk, he was unwilling that I should leave him; and when I looked at my watch, and told him it was twelve o'clock, he cried, "What's that to you and me?" and ordered Frank to tell Mrs. Williams that we were coming to drink tea with her, which we did. It was settled that we should go to church

entertaining. chat. I

together next day.

On

the gth of April, being

breakfasted with Doctor Levet, as tea.

him on

tea

Good and

Friday,

I

cross-buns;

Frank called him, making the

He carried me with him to the church of St.

Clement Danes, where he had his seat; and his behaviour was, as I had imaged to myself, solemnly devout. I never shall forget the tremulous earnestness with which he pronounced the awful petition in the Litany: "In the hour of death, and in the day of judgement, good Lord deliver us."

We went to church both in the

morning and

evening. In the interval between the two services we did not dine; but he read in the Greek New Testament, and I turned over several of his books.

In Archbishop Laud's Diary, I found the following passage, which I read to Dr. Johnson: "1623. February i, Sunday. I stood by the

most illustrious Prince Charles,^ at dinner. He was then very merry, and talked occasionally of

many

things with his attendants. Among other he said, that if he were necessitated to

things,

take any particular profession of life, he could not be a lawyer, adding his reasons: 'I cannot (saith

defend a bad, nor yield in a good cause.' Johnson. "Sir, this is false reasoning; because every cause has a bad side: and a lawyer is not he,)

^Afterwards Charles

I.

BOSWELL

2IO

overcome, though the cause which he has endeavoured to support be determined against him." I told him that Goldsmith had said to me a few days before, "As I take my shoes from the

my

coat from the taylor, so I from the priest." I regretted this loose way of talking. Johnson. "Sir, he knows nothing; he has made up his mind about

shoemaker, and take

my

religion

nothing." To my great surprize he asked me to dine with him on Easter-day. I never supposed that he had a dinner at his house; for I had not then heard of any one of his friends having been entertained at his table. He told me, "I generally it is baked at a pubvery properly allowed, because one man can attend it; and thus the advantage is obtained of not keeping servants from church to dress dinners." April 1 1 being Easter-Sunday, after having attended Divine Service at St. Paul's, I repaired

have a meat pye on Sunday:

[1773

regard for Johnson, which he at this time expressed in the strongest manner in the Dedication of his comedy, entitled. She Stoops to Conquer} Johnson observed, that there were very few books printed in Scotland before the Union. He had seen a complete collection of them in the possession of the Hon. Archibald Campbell, a non-juring Bishop.- I wish this collection had been kept entire. Many of them are in the library of the Faculty of Advocates at Edinburgh. I told Dr. Johnson that I had some intention to write the life of the learned and worthy Thomas Ruddiman. He said, "I should take pleasure in helping you to do honour to him. But his farewell letter to the Faculty of Advocates, when he resigned the office of their Librarian, should have

to Dr. Johnson's. I

been in Latin." I put a question to him upon a fact in common life, which he could not answer, nor have I found any one else who could. What is the reason that women servants, though obliged to be at the expense of purchasing their own clothes, have much lower wages than men servants, to

much

whom

lick

oven, which

is

,

had gratified my curiosity Jean Jaques Rousseau, while he lived in the wilds of Neufchatel: I had as great a curiosity to dine with Dr. Samuel in dining with

Johnson, in the dusky recess of a court in Fleetstreet. I supposed we should scarcely have knives and forks, and only some strange, uncouth, illdrest dish: but I found every thing in very good order. We had no other company but Mrs. Williams and a young woman whom I did not know. As a dinner here was considered as a singular phaenomenon, and as I was frequently interrogated on the subject, my readers may perhaps be desirous to know our bill of fare. Foote, I re-

member,

in allusion to Francis, the negro,

was

willing to suppose that our repast was black broth.

But the fact was, that we had a very good soup, a boiled leg of lamb and spinach, a veal pye, and a rice pudding. Of Dr. John Campbell, the authour, he said, "He is a very inquisitive and a very able man, and a man of good religious principles, though I am afraid he has been deficient in practice. Campbell is radically right; and we may hope, that in time there will be good practice." He owned that he thought Hawkesworth was one of his imitators, but he did not think Goldsmith was. Goldsmith, he said, had great merit. Boswell. "But, Sir, he is much indebted to you for his getting so high in the publick estimation." Johnson. "Why, Sir, he has perhaps got sooner to it by his intimacy with me." Goldsmith, though his vanity often excited him to occasional competition, had a very high

a great proportion of that article is furand when in fact our female house servants work much harder than the male? He told me that he had twelve or fourteen

nished,

times attempted to keep a journal of his life, but never could persevere. He advised me to do it. "The great thing to be recorded, (said he,) is the state of your own mind; and you should

down every thing that you remember, for you cannot judge at first what is good or bad and write immediately while the impression is fresh, for it will not be the same a week afterwards." I again solicited him to communicate to me write

;

the particulars of his early

life.

He

said,

"You

have them all for twopence. I hope you shall know a great deal more of me before you write my Life." He mentioned to me this day many circumstances, which I wrote down when I went home, and have interwoven in the forshall

mer part

of this narrative.

On Tuesday, and

I

April 13, he and Dr. Goldsmith dined at General Oglethorpe's. Goldsmith

expatiated on the

common

topick, that the race

i"By inscribing

this slight performance to you, I do not mean so much to compliment you as myself. It may do me sonae honour to inform the publick, that I have lived many years in intimacy with

you.

It

may

serve the interests of

mankind

also to

inform them, that the greatest wit may be found in a character, without impairing the most unaffected piety." ^See an account of this learned and respectable gentleman, and of his curious work on the Middle State, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. 371. [Oct. 25.]

LIFE OF

1773]

was degenerated, and that this was owing to luxury. Johnson. "Sir, in the first place, I doubt the fact. I believe there are as many tall men in England now, as ever there of our people

were. But, secondly, supposing the stature of our people to be diminished, that is not owing to luxury; for, Sir, consider to how very small a

proportion of our people luxury can reach. Our soldiery, surely, are not luxurious, who live on sixpence a day; and the same remark will apply to almost all the other classes. Luxury, so far as it reaches the poor, will do good to the race of people; it will strengthen and multiply them. Sir, no nation was ever hurt by luxury; for, as I said before, it can reach but to a very few. I ad-

mit that the great increase of commerce and manufactures hurts the military spirit of a people; because it produces a competition for somea competition thing else than martial honours,

—

for riches. It also hurts the bodies of the people;

you will observe, there is no man who works any particular trade, but you may know him from his appearance to do so. One part or other of his body being more used than the rest, he is in some degree deformed: but, Sir, that is not for

at

A tailor sits cross-legged; but that is not luxury." Goldsmith. "Come, you're just going to the same place by another road." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, I say that is not luxury. Let us take a walk from Charing-cross to White-chapel, through, I suppose, the greatest series of shops luxury.

JOHNSON

211

with his moral; his notions of inequality and subordination with wishing well to the hap-

ciples

who might live so agreehad they all their portions of land, and none to domineer over another. Johnson. "Why,

piness of all mankind, ably,

Sir, I reconcile

my principles very well,

—

—

—

no intellectual improvement. All intellectual improvement arises from leisure; all leisure arises from one working for another." Talking of the family of Stuart, he said, "It should seem that the family at present on the throne has now established as good a right as the former family, by the long consent of the people; and that to disturb this right might be considered as culpable. At the same time I own, that it is a very difficult question, when considered with respect to the house of Stuart. To oblige people to take oaths as to the disputed right, is wrong. I know not whether I could take them: but I do not blame those who do." So

and so delicate was he upon this which has occasioned so much clamour

conscientious subject,

against him.

Talking of law cases, he said, "The English reports, in general, are very poor: only the half is taken down; and of that mistaken. Whereas, in Scotland,

in the world;

of what has been said

(if

half,

what is there in any of these shops you except gin-shops,) that can do any human being any harm?" Goldsmith. "Well, Sir, I'll

accept your challenge.

The very next shop

to Northumberlandhouse is a pickle-shop." Johnson. "Well, Sir: do we not know that a maid can in one afternoon make pickles sufficient to serve a whole family for a year? nay, that five pickle -shops can serve all the kingdom? Besides, Sir, there is no harm done to any body by

the

making

of pickles, or the eating of pickles."

We drank tea with the ladies; and Goldsmith sung Tony Lumpkin's song in Stoops

to

his comedy, She and a very pretty one, to an which he had designed for Miss

Conquer,

Irish tune,^

Hardcastle; but as Mrs. Bulkeley, who played the part, could not sing, it was left out. He after-

wards wrote it down for me, by which means it was preserved, and now appears amongst his poems. Dr. Johnson, in his way home, stopped at my lodgings in Piccadilly, and sat with me, drinking tea a second time, till a late hour. I told him that Mrs. Macaulay said, she wondered how he could reconcile his political prin^The humours of Ballamagairy.

because

mankind are happier in a state of inequality and subordination. Were they to be in this pretty state of equality, they would soon degenerate inthey would become Monboddo's nato brutes; tion; their tails would grov/. Sir, all would be losers were all to work for all: they would have

much

is

the arguments on each side are deliberately put by the Court. I think

in writing, to be considered

a collection of your cases upon subjects of importance, with the opinions of the Judges upon them, would be valuable." On Thursday, April 15, I dined with him and Dr. Goldsmith at General Paoli's. We found here Signor Martinelli, of Florence, authour of a History of England, in Italian, printed at London. I spoke of Allan Ramsay's Gentle Shepherd, in the Scottish dialect, as the best pastoral that

had

ever been written; not only abounding with beautiful rural imagery, and just and pleasing sentiments, but being a real picture of manners; and I off"ered to teach Dr. Johnson to understand it. "No, Sir, (said he,) I won't learn it. You shall retain your superiority by my not

knowing

it."

This brought on a question whether one man is lessened by another's acquiring an equal degree of knowledge with him. Johnson asserted the aflSrmative. I maintained that the position might be true in those kinds of knowledge which

—

—

BOSWELL

212

produce wisdom, power, and force, so as to enable one man to have the government of others; but that a man is not in any degree lessened by others knowing as well as he what ends in mere pleasure:

— eating fine fruits, drinking delicious

wines, reading exquisite poetry. The General observed, that Martinelli

Whig. Johnson. "I

am sorry for it.

It

was a shows the

obliged to temporise." BoswELL. "I rather think, Sir, that Toryism prevails in this reign." Johnson. "I know not why

spirit of the times:

he

should continue his History of England to "To be sure he should." Johnson. "No, Sir; he would give great offence. He would have to tell of almost all the living great what they do not wish told." Goldsmith. "It may, perhaps, be necessary for a natinelli

the present day. Goldsmith.

tive to be more cautious; but a foreigner who comes among us without prejudice, may be considered as holding the place of a Judge, and may speak his mind freely." Johnson. "Sir, a foreigner, when he sends a work from the press, ought to be on his guard against catching the errour and mistaken enthusiasm of the people among whom he happens to be." Goldsmith. "Sir, he wants only to sell his history, and to tell truth; one an honest, the other a laudable motive." Johnson. "Sir, they are both laudable motives. It is laudable in a man to wish to live by his labours; but he should write so as he may live by them, not so as he may be knocked on the head. I would advise him to be at Calais before he

publishes his history of the present age.

eigner

who

A for-

attaches himself to a political party

is in the worst state that can be looked upon as a mere intermednative may do it from interest." Bos-

in this country,

imagined: he

A

is

well. "Or principle." Goldsmith. "There are people who tell a hundred political lies every day, and are not hurt by it. Surely, then, one may tell truth with safety." Johnson. "Why, Sir, in the first place, he who tells a hundred lies has disarmed the force of his lies. But besides; a man had rather have a hundred lies told of him, than one truth which he does not wish should be told." Goldsmith. "For my part, I'd tell truth, and shame the devil." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; but the devil will be angry. I wish to shame the devil as much as you do, but I should choose to be out of the reach of his claws." Goldsmith. "His claws can do you no harm, when you have the shield of truth."

[1773

It having been observed that there was little hospitality in London Johnson. "Nay, Sir, any ;

has a name, or who has the power of pleasing, will be very generally invited in London. The man, Sterne, I have been told, has had engagements for three months." Goldsmith. "And a very dull fellow." Johnson. "Why, no,

man who

Sir."

Martinelli told us, that for several years he much with Charles Townshend, and that

is

you should think so, Sir. You see your friend Lord Lyttelton, a nobleman, is obliged in his History to write the most vulgar Whiggism." An animated debate took place whether Mar-

dler.

"

lived

he ventured to tell him he was a bad joker. Johnson. "Why, Sir, thus much I can say upon the subject. One day he and a few more agreed to go and dine in the country, and each of them was to bring a friend in his carriage with him. Charles Townshend asked Fitzherbert to go with him, but told him, 'You must find somebody to bring you back: I can only carry you there.' Fitzherbert did not much like this arrangement. He however consented, observing sarcastically, 'It will do very well; for then the same jokes will serve you in returning as in going.' An eminent publick character being men^Johnson. "I remember being present himself to be so corrupted, or at least something so different from what I think right, as to maintain, that a member of parliament should go along with his party right or tioned;

when he shewed

wrong. Now, Sir, this is so remote from native virtue, from scholastick virtue, that a good man must have undergone a great change before he can reconcile himself to such a doctrine. It is maintaining that you may lie to the publick; for you lie when you call that right which you think wrong, or the reverse. A friend of ours, who is too much an echo of that gentleman, observed, that a man who does not stick uniformly to a party, is only waiting to be bought. Why then, said I, he is only waiting to be what that gentleman is already." We talked of the King's coming to see Gold"I wish he would," said smith's new play. Goldsmith; adding, however, with an affected

—

indifference,

"Not that

it

would do me the

least

good." Johnson. "Well then. Sir, let us say it would do him good, (laughing.) No, Sir, this afit is mighty idle. In fectation will not pass; such a state as ours, who would not wish to please the Chief Magistrate?" Goldsmith. "I do wish

—

to please him. I

remember a

line in

Dryden,

And every poet is the monarcK sjriend. It

ought to be reversed." Johnson. "Nay, there Dryden on this subject:

are finer lines in For

colleges

on bounteous Kings depend,

And never rebel was

to arts

a friend."

LIFE OF

1773]

General Paoli observed, that "successful rebels might." Martinelli. "Happy rebellions." Goldsmith. "We have no such phrase." General Paoli. "But have you not the iAzVz^?" Goldsmith. "Yes; all our Aa/)^^ revolutions. They have hurt our constitution, and will hurt it, till we mend it by another happy revolution." I never before discovered that my friend Goldsmith had so much of the old prejudice in him. General Paoli, talking of Goldsmith's new play, said, "// a fait un compliment une certaine grande dame";

tres gracieux

a

meaning a Duchess of

rank. expressed a doubt whether Goldsmith intended it, in order that I might hear the truth from himself. It, perhaps, was not quite fair to endeavour to bring him to a confession, as he might not wish to avow positively his taking part

the

first

I

against the Court.

He smiled and hesitated. The

General at once relieved him, by this beautiful image: ^''Monsieur Goldsmith est comme la mer, qui jette des perles et beaucoup d'autres belles choses, sans s''en

appercevoir."

Goldsmith. " Tres

bien dit et tres

elegamment."

A person was mentioned, who it was said could take down in short hand the speeches in parliamentwith perfect exactness. Johnson. "Sir, it is impossible. I remember one. Angel, who came to me to write for him a Preface or Dedication to a book upon short hand, and he professed to write as fast as a man could speak. In order to try him, I took down a book, and read while he wrote; and I favoured him, for I read more deliberately than usual. I had proceeded but a very little way, when he begged I would desist, for he could not follow me." Hearing now for the first time of this Preface or Dedication, I said, "What an expense. Sir, do you put us to in buying books, to which you have writ-

ten Prefaces or Dedications." Johnson. "Why, I have dedicated to the Royal family all round; that is to say, to the last generation of the Royal family." Goldsmith. "And perhaps. Sir, not one sentence of wit in a whole Dedication." Johnson. "Perhaps not. Sir." is

Bosv^ll. "What then

the reason for applying to a particular person

to do that which any one may do as well?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, one man has greater readiness at doing it than another."

spoke of Mr. Harris, of Salisbury, as being a very learned man, and in particular an eminent Grecian. Johnson. "I am not sure of that. His friends give him out as such, but I know not who of his friends are able to judge of it." Goldsmith. "He is what is much better: he is a worthy humane man." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, that is not

JOHNSON

213

argument: that will as much prove that he can play upon the fiddle as well as Giardini, as that he is an eminent Grecian." Goldsmith. "The greatest musical performers have but small emoluments. Giardini, I am told, does not get above seven hundred a year." Johnson. "That is indeed but little for a to the purpose of our

man to get, who does best that which so many endeavour to do. There is nothing, I think, in which the power of art is shown so much as in playing on the fiddle. In all other things we can do something at first. Any man will forge a bar of iron, if you give him a hammer; not so well as a smith, but tolerably. A man will saw a piece of wood, and make a box, though a clumsy one; but give him a fiddle and a fiddle-stick, and he can do nothing." On Monday, April ig, he called on me with Mrs. Williams, in Mr. Strahan's coach, and carried me out to dine with Mr. Elphinston, at his academy at Kensington. A printer having acquired a fortune suificient to keep his coach, was a good topick for the credit of literature. Mrs Williams said, that another printer, Mr. Hamilton, had not waited so long as Mr. Strahan, but had kept his coach several years sooner. Johnson. "He was in the right. Life is short. The sooner that a man begins to enjoy his wealth the better."

Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it. Johnson. "I have looked into it." "What, (said Elphinston,) have you not read it through?" Johnson, off"ended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, "No, Sir, do you read books through?"

He

this day again defended duelling, and put argument upon what I have ever thought the most solid basis; that if publick war be allowed to be consistent with morality, private war must be equally so. Indeed we may observe what strained arguments are used, to reconcile war with the Christian religion. But, in my opin-

his

exceedingly clear that duelling, having its barbarous violence, is more justifiable than war, in which thousands go forth without any cause of personal quarrel, and masion,

it is

better reasons for

sacre each other.

On

I

at

Wednesday, April 21, I dined with him Thrale's. A gentleman attacked Garrick being vain. Johnson. "No wonder. Sir, that

Mr.

for

he is vain; a man who is perpetually flattered in every mode that can be conceived. So many bellows have blown the fire, that one wonders he is not by this time become a cinder." Boswell.

BOS WELL

214

[1773

which, had he talked with any friend, would soon have vanished." Boswell. "Do you

"And such

bellows too. Lord Mansfield with his cheeks like to burst: Lord Chatham like an /Eolus. I have read such notes from them to him as

fairs,

were enough to turn his head." Johnson. "True. When he whom every body else flatters, flatters me, I then am truly happy." Mrs. Thr.\le. "The sentiment is in Congreve,! think." Johnson. "Yes, Madam, in The Way oj the World:

Johnson. "Sir, they are often not universally disordered in their intellects, but one passion presses so upon them, that they yield to it, and

think, Sir, that all

commit

man will stab He added, "I have often thought, a man has taken the resolution to kill

suicide, as a passionate

another." that after

If there's delight in love,

'tis

when I see

should not be surprized though Garand lashed the winds." BoswELL. "Should it not be. Sir, lashed the ocean and chained the winds?" Johnson. "No, Sir, I

rick chained the ocean,

Sir, recollect the original:

In

Coram atque Eurum

solitus stevireflagellis

Barbaras, /Eolio nunquam hoc in carcere passos,

Ipsum compedibus qui vinxerat Ennosigaum.

This does very well, when both the winds and the sea are personified,

and mentioned by

their

mythological names, as in Juvenal; but when they are mentioned in plain language, the application of the epithets suggested by me, is the most obvious; and accordingly my friend himself, in his imitation of the passage which describes Xerxes, has The waves he lashes, and enchains

the

wind.

The modes of living in different countries, and the various views with of

new

scenes,

which men travel

having been talked

of,

in quest a learned

gentleman who holds a considerable office in the law, expatiated on the happiness of a savage life and mentioned an instance of an officer who had actually lived for some time in the wilds of America, of whom, when in that state, he quoted this reflection with an air of admiration, as if it had been deeply philosophical: "Here am I, free and unrestrained, amidst the rude magnificence of Nature, with this Indian woman by my side, and this gun with which I can procure food when I want it: what more can be desired ;

for

human

happiness?"

It

did not require

much

sagacity to foresee that such a sentiment v/ould

not be permitted to pass without due animadversion. Johnson. "Do not allow yourself, Sir, to be imposed upon by such gross absurdity. It is sad stuff; it is brutish. If a bull could speak, he might as well exclaim, Here am I with this cow and this grass; what being can enjoy greater

—

felicity?"

We

talked of the melancholy end of a gentle-

man who had was owing

it is not courage in him to do any thing, however desperate, because he has nothing to fear." Goldsmith. "I don't see that." Johnson. "Nay, but my dear Sir, why should not you see what every one else sees?" Goldsmith. "It is for fear of something that he has resolved to kill himself; and will not that timid disposition restrain him?" Johnson. "It does not signify that the fear of something made him resolve; it is upon the state of his mind, after the resolution is taken, that I argue. Suppose a man, either from fear, or pride, or conscience, or whatever mo-

himself,

That heart which others bleedJor, bleedfor me.

No,

who commit suicide are mad?"

destroyed himself. Johnson. "It

to imaginary difficulties in his af-

tive,

when once

the

taken, he has nothing to fear.

He

has resolved to

resolution

is

kill

himself;

may then

go and take the King of Prussia by the nose, at the head of his army. He cannot fear the rack,

who

is

resolved to

kill

himself.

When

Budgel was walking down to the Thames, determined to drown himself, he might, if he pleased, without any apprehension of danger, have turned aside, and first set fire to St. James's palace." On Tuesday, April 27, Mr. Beauclerk and I called on him in the morning. As we walked up Johnson's-court, I said, "I have a veneration for this court"; and was glad to find that BeauEustace

had the same reverential enthusiasm. We We talked of Mr. Andrew Stuart's elegant and plausible Letters to Lord Mansfield: a copy of which had been sent by the authour to Dr. Johnson. Johnson. "They have clerk

found him alone.

not answered the end. They have not been talked of; I have never heard of them. This is owing to their not being sold. People seldom read a book which is given to them; and few are given. The way to spread a work is to sell it at a low price. No man will send to buy a thing that costs even sixpence, without an intention to read it." BoswTELL. "May it not be doubted. Sir, whether it be proper to publish letters, arraigning the ultimate decision of an important cause by the supreme judicature of the nation?" Johnson. "No, Sir, I do not think it was wrong to publish these letters. If they are thought to do harm, why not answer them? But they will do no harm; if Mr. Douglas be indeed the son of Lady Jane, he cannot be hurt: if he be not her

— 1773] and

son,

LIFE OF yet has the great estate of the family of

Douglas, he may well submit to have a pamphletagainst him by Andrew Stuart. Sir, I think such a publication does good, as it does good to shew us the possibilities of human life. And Sir, you will not say that the Douglas cause was a cause of easy decision, when it divided your Court as much as it could do, to be determined at all. When your Judges were seven and seven, the casting vote of the President must be given on one side or other: no matter, for my argument, on which; one or the other must be taken: as

when I am to move, there is no matter which move first. And then. Sir, it was otherwise

leg I

determined here. No, Sir, a more dubious determination of any question cannot be imagined."^ He said, "Goldsmith should not be for ever attempting to shine in conversation: he has not temper for it, he is so much mortified when he a game of jokes is composed partly of skill, partly of chance, a man may be beat at times by one who has not the tenth part of his wit. Now Goldsmith's putting himself against another, is like a man laying a hundred to one who cannot spare the hundred. It is not worth a man's while. man should not lay a hundred to one, unless he can easily spare it, though he has fails. Sir,

A

a hundred chances for him: he can get but a guinea, and he may lose a hundred. Goldsmith is in this state. When he contends, if he gets the better, it is a very little addition to a man of his literary reputation: if he does not get the better, he is miserably vexed." Johnson's own superlative powers of wit set him above any risk of such uneasiness. Garrick had remarked to me of him, a few days before, "Rabelais and all other wits are nothing compared with him. You may be diverted by them; but Johnson gives you a forcible hug, and shakes laughter out of you, whether you will or no.". Goldsmith, however, was often very fortunate in his witty contests, even when he entered the lists with Johnson himself. Sir Joshua Reynolds was in company with them one day, when Goldsmith said, that he thought he could write a good ij

regretted that Dr. Johnson never took the trouble to study a question which interested nations. He would not even read a pamphlet which I wrote upon it, entitled The Essence of the Douglas Cause; which, I have reason to flatter myself, had considerable effect in favour of Mr. Douglas; of whose legitimate filiation I was then, and am still, firmly convinced. Let me add, that no fact can be more respectably ascertained, than by the judgement of the most august tribunal in the world; a

which Lord Mansfield and Lord Camden united in 1 769, and from which only five of a numerous body entered a protest.

judgment,

in

JOHNSON

215

mentioned the simplicity which that kind of composition requires, and observed, that in most fables the animals introduced seldom talk in character. "For instance, (said he,) the fable of the little fishes, who saw birds fly over their heads, and envying them, petitioned Jupiter to be changed into birds. The skill (continued he,) consists in making them talk like little fishes." While he indulged himself in this fanciful reverie, he observed Johnson shaking his sides, and laughing. Upon which he smartly proceeded, "Why, Dr. Johnson, this is not so easy as you seem to think; for if you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like whales." Johnson, though remarkable for his great vafable,

riety of composition, never exercised his talents

in fable, except

we

allow his beautiful tale pub-

lished in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies to be of

that species. I have, however, found among his manuscript collections the following sketch of

one:

"Glow-worm^

lying in the garden

saw a can-

— and complained of the littleness of his own light; — another observed — wait a — soon dark, — have outdle in a neighbouring palace,

little;

lasted TToXX [many] of these glaring lights

which

are only brighter as they haste to nothing."

On Thursday, April 29, I dined with him at General Oglethorpe's, where were Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Langton, Dr. Goldsmith, and Mr. Thrale. I was very desirous to get Dr. Johnson absolutely fixed in his resolution to go with me to the Hebrides this year; and I told him that I had received a letter from Dr. Robertson the historian, upon the subject, with which he was much pleased; and now talked in such a manner of his long-intended tour, that

I

was satisfied

he meant to fulfil his engagement. The custom of eating dogs at Otaheit6 being mentioned. Goldsmith observed, that this was also a custom in China; that a dog-butcher is as

common

any other butcher; and that all the dogs fall on him. Johnson. "That is not owing to his killing dogs, there as

when he walks abroad

Sir. I remember a butcher at Lichfield, whom a dog that was in the house where I lived, always attacked. It is the smell of carnage which provokes this, let the animals he has killed be what they may." Goldsmith. "Yes, there is a general

abhorrence in animals at the signs of massacre. If you put a tub full of blood into a stable, the horses are like to go mad." Johnson. "I doubt has already been observed (ante, 159), that first Essays was a Latin Poem on a glowworm; but whether it be any where extant, has not been ascertained. [M.] ^It

one of his

BOSWELL

2l6

"Nay, Sir, it is a fact well authenticated." Thrale. "You had better prove it before you put it into your book on natural history. You may do it in my stable if you will." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, I would not have him prove it. If he is content to take his information from others, he may get through his book with little trouble, and without much endangering his reputation. But if he makes experiments for so comprehensive a book as his, there would be no end to them; his erroneous assertions would then fall upon himself, and he might be blamed for not that." Goldsmith.

[1773 man-

that his designs be formed in a masterly

ner, but that they should be attended with suc-

a time when the Royal not generally liked, to let it be seen that the people like at least one of them." Sir Joshua Reynolds. "I do not perceive why the profession of a player should be despised; for the cess. Sir, it is right, at

Family

is

and ultimate end of all the employments mankind is to produce amusement. Garrick produces more amusement than any body." great

of

BoswELL. "You is

thour's literary reputation to be alive only while

him down, but

name

good price for his copy from the booksellers. I will get you (to Johnson,) a hundred guineas for any thing whatever that you shall write, if you put your name to it." will ensure a

Dr. Goldsmith's new play. She Stoops to Conbeing mentioned; Johnson. "I know of no comedy for many years that has so much exhilarated an audience, that has answered so quer,

much the great end of comedy dience merry."

— making an au-

Goldsmith having said, that Garrick's compliment to the Queen, which he intoduced into the play of The Chances, which he had altered

and revised

this year,

was mean and

gross flat-

Johnson. "Why, Sir, I would not write, I would not give solemnly under my hand, a character beyond what I thought really true; but a tery;

speech on the stage, let it flatter ever so extravagantly, is formular. It has always been formular to flatter

Kings and Queens; so much

so, that

even in our church-service we have 'our most religious King,' used indiscriminately, whoever is King. Nay, they even flatter themselves; 'we have been graciously pleased to grant.' No modern flattery, however, is so gross as that of the

—

Augustan age, where the Emperour was

deified.

And as to meanness, (rising into warmth,) how is it mean in a player, — a showman, — a fellow who exhib'Prtssens

its

Divus habebitur Augustus.''

himself for a shilling, to flatter his Queen? attempt, indeed, was dangerous; for if it

The

had missed, what became of Garrick, and what became of the Queen? As Sir William Temple says of a great General,

it is

necessary not only

Johnson, that Garrick

only on a footing with a lawyer who exhibits himself for his fee, and even will maintain any nonsense or absurdity, if the case requires it. Garrick refuses a play or a part which he does not like; a lawyer never refuses." Johnson. "Why, Sir, what does this prove? only that a

having made experiments as to every particular." The character of Mallet having been introduced, and spoken of slightingly by Goldsmith; Johnson. "Why, Sir, Mallet had talents enough to keep his literary reputation alive as long as he himself lived; and that, let me tell you, is a good deal." Goldsmith. "But I cannot agree that it was so. His literary reputation was dead long before his natural death. I consider an auhis

say. Dr.

exhibits himself for a shilling. In this respect he

lawyer

is

worse. Boswell

is

now

like

Jack

in The

Tale of a Tub, who, when he is puzzled by an argument, hangs himself. He thinks I shall cut I'll

let

him hang." (laughing Reynolds. "Mr. Bos-

vociferously.) Sir Joshua

well thinks that the profession of a lawyer being

unquestionably honourable, if he can show the profession of a player to be more honourable, he proves his argument." On Friday, April 30, I dined with him at Mr. Beauclerk's, where were Lord Charlemont, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and some more members of the Literary Club, whom he had obligingly invited to meet me, as I was this evening to be balloted for as candidate for admission into that

had done me the me, and Beauclerk was very

distinguished society. Johnson

honour

to propose

zealous for me.

Goldsmith being mentioned; Johnson. "It is amazing how little Goldsmith knows. He seldom comes where he is not more ignorant than any one else." Sir Joshua Reynolds. "Yet there is no man whose company is more liked." Johnson.

"To be

of the

sure. Sir.

When

most distinguished

their inferiour while he

is

people find a man a writer, with them, it must be abilities as

highly gratifying to them. What Goldsmith comically says of himself is very true, he always gets the better when he argues alone; meaning, that he is master of a subject in his study, and

—

can write well upon it; but when he comes into company, grows confused, and unable to talk. Take him as a poet, his Traveller is a very fine performance; ay, and so is his Deserted Village, were it not sometimes too much the echo of his Traveller. Whether, indeed, we take him as a or as an historian, poet, as a comick writer, he stands in the first class." Boswell. "An his-

—

—

1773] torian

!

LIFE OF My dear Sir, you surely will not rank his

compilation of the Roman History with the works of other historians of this age?" Johnson.

"Why, who are

before him?" Boswell.

— Robertson, — Lord

Lyttelton."

Sir

Joshua

paints faces in a history-piece: he imagines an ertson's

work

as

You must

upon Robromance, and try it by that

heroic countenance.

look

standard. History it is not. Besides, Sir, it is the great excellence of a writer to put into his book as much as his book will hold. Goldsmith has

done this in his History. Now Robertson might have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, Sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight, would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but

—

Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and where ever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgement is better than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I will venture to say, that if you compare him with Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, you will find that he excels Vertot. Sir, he has the art of compiling, and of saying every thing he has to say in a pleasing manner. He is now writing a Natural History and will make it as entertaining as a Persian Tale." I cannot dismiss the present topick without observing, that it is probable that Dr. Johnson, who owned that he often "talked for victory," rather urged plausible objections to Dr. Robertson's excellent historical works, in the ardour of contest, than expressed his real and decided opinion; for it is not easy to suppose, that he should so widely diff'er from the rest of the literary world.

and

Forsitan et nostrum nomen miscebitur

istis.^

(his

—

minds as

217

Johnson. "I remember once being with Goldsmith in Westminster-abbey. While we surveyed the Poets' Corner, I said to him,

"Hume,

Johnson

antipathy to the Scotch beginning to rise). "I have not read Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's History is better than the verbiage of Robertson, or the foppery of Dalrymple." Boswell. "Will you not admit the superiority of Robertson, in whose History we find such penetration such painting?" Johnson. "Sir, you must consider how that penetration and that painting are employed. It is not history, it is imagination. He who describes what he never saw, draws from fancy. Robertson paints

JOHNSON

When we

got to Temple-bar he stopped me, pointed to the heads upon it, and slily whispered to me, Forsitan et nostrum nomen miscebitur iSTis."^

Johnson praised John Bunyan highly. "His Pilgrim^ s Progress has great merit, tion, imagination,

both for inven-

and the conduct of the story;

it has had the best evidence of its merit, the general and continued approbation of mankind.

and

Few books, sale. It is

I believe,

have had a more extensive

remarkable, that

poem

it

begins very

much

was no translation of Dante when Bunyan wrote. There is reason to think that he had read Spenser." A proposition which had been agitated, that like the

of Dante; yet there

monuments to eminent persons should, for the time to come, be erected in St. Paul's church as well as in Westminster-abbey, was mentioned; and it was asked, who should be honoured by having his monument first erected there. Somebody suggested Pope. Johnson. "Why, Sir, as Pope was a Roman Catholick, I would not have his to be first. I think Milton's rather should have the precedence.^ I think more highly of him now than I did at twenty. There is more thinking in him and in Butler, than in any of our poets." Some of the company expressed a wonder why the authour of so excellent a book as The Whole Duty of Man should conceal himself. Johnson. "There may be different reasons assigned for this, any one of which would be very sufficient. He may have been a clergyman, and may have thought that his religious counsels would have less weight when known to come from a man whose profession was Theology. He may have been a man whose practice was not suitable to his principles, so that his character might injure the effect of his book, which he

had written

in a season of penitence.

may have been a man that he

Or he

of rigid self-denial, so

would have no reward

for his pious

^Ovid, De Art. Amand. I. iii. 1 3 [339]. ^In allusion to Dr. Johnson's supposed political principles, and perhaps his own.

^Here is another instance of his high admiration of Milton as a Poet, notwithstanding his just abhorrence of that sour Republican's political principles. His candour and discrimination are equally conspicuous. Let us hear no more of his "injustice to Milton."

y

BOSWELL

2l8 labours while in this world, but refer future state."

The gentlemen went away I

was

left

at Beauclerk's

till

it all

to their club,

the fate of

my

to a

and elec-

announced to me. I sat in a state which even the charming conversation of Lady Di Beauclerk could not entirely tion should be

of anxiety

dissipate. In a short time I received the agree-

able intelligence that I was chosen. I hastened to the place of meeting, and was introduced to such a society as can seldom be found. Mr. Ed-

mund Burke, whom I

then saw for the first time, had long made me ardently wish for his acquaintance; Dr. Nugent, Mr. Garrick, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Jones, and the company with whom I had dined. Upon my entrance, Johnson placed himself behind a chair, on which he leaned as on a desk or pulpit, and with humorous formal-

and whose splendid

talents

ity gave me a Charge, pointing out the conduct expected from me as a good member of this

club.

Goldsmith produced some very absurd verses which had been publickly recited to an audience for money. Johnson. "I can match this nonsense. There was a poem called Eugenia, which came out some years ago, and concludes

his conversation alone, or

what

led to

it,

or was

interwoven with it, is the business of this work. On Saturday, May i, we dined by ourselves at our old rendezvous, the Mitre tavern. He was placid, but not much disposed to talk. He observed that "The Irish mix better with the English than the Scotch do; their language is nearer to English; as a proof of which, they succeed very well as players, which Scotchmen do not. Then, Sir, they have not that extreme nationality

which we

unscottified

of

do you, you are the most

find in the Scotch. I will

Boswell, the justice to say, that

your countrymen. You are almost Scotchman that I have

the only instance of a

known, who did not at every other sentence bring in some other Scotchman." V/e drank tea with Mrs. Williams. I introduced a question which has been much agitated in the Church of Scotland, whether the claim of lay-patrons to present ministers to parishes be well founded; and supposing it to be well found-

whether it ought to be exercised without the concurrence of the people? That Church is composed of a series of judicatures: a Presbytery, a Synod, and finally, a General Assembly; before all of which, this matter may be contended: and in some cases the Presbytery having refused to induct or settle, as they call it, the person presented by the patron, it has been found necessary to appeal to the General Assembly. He said, I ed,

thus:

And now, ye trifling,

self-assuming elves.

Brimful of pride, of nothing, ofyourselves,

Swvey Eugenio, view him o'er and o^er. Then sink into yourselves, and be no more?-

Nay, Dryden in his

poem on

the Royal Society,

has these lines: Then we upon our globe's

And see From

last verge shall go,

the ocean leaning on the sky;

therwe our rolling neighbours

we

shall

know.

And on the lunar world securely pry." ^Dr. Johnson's memory here was not perfectly accurate: Eugenio does not conclude thus. There are eight more lines after the last of those quoted by him; and the passage which he meant to recite is

[1773

Talking of puns, Johnson, who had a great contempt for that species of wit, deigned to allow that there was one good pun in Menagiana, I think on the word corps. Much pleasant conversation passed, which Johnson relished with great good humour. But

as follows:

Say now ye fluttering, poor assuming

elves.

Stark full of pride, of folly, of —yourselves; Say where' s the wretch of all your impious crew Who dares confront his character to view? Behold Eugenio, view him o'er and o'er. Then sink into yourselves, and be no more.

Mr. Reed informs me that the Authour of Ejia Wine Merchant at Wrexham in Denbighshire, soon after its publication, viz. 17th May, 1737, cut his own throat; and that it appears by Swift's Works that the poem had been shewn to him, and received some of his corrections. Johnson had read Eugenio on his first coming to town, for we see it mentioned in one of his letters to Mr. Cave, which has been inserted in this work; [ante,

genio,

P-3i]-

might see the subject well treated in the Defence and although he thought that a

of Pluralities;

21 formerly thought that I had perhaps mistaken the word, and imagined it to be Corps, from its similarity of sound to the real one. For an accurate

and shrewd unknown gentleman, to whom I am indebted for some remarks on my work, observes on this passage "Q. if not on the word Fort? A

—

vociferous French preacher said of Bourdaloue,

—

preche/ori bien, et moi bien fort.' Menagiana. See also Anecdotes Litteraires, Article Bourdaloue." But my ingenious and obliging correspondent, Mr. Abercrombie of Philadelphia, has pointed out to me the following passage in Menagiana; which renders the preceding conjecture unnecessary, and confirms my original statement: "Alad^^ de Bourdonne, Chanoinesse de Remiremont, 'II

venoit d' entendre

un discours plein defeu

fort peu solide, et tres-irregulier. prenoit interet pour I'orateur, lui Mad^'^, que vous semble-t-il de Qji'il y a d'esprit?' tendre? Mad"^" de Bourdonne, queje n'y vol.

ii,

p. 64.

mais

de ses amies, qui dit en sortant, ''Eh bien, ce que vous venez d' en'// y a tant, repondit " ai pas vu de corps.'

—

—

Menagiana

et d' esprit,

Une

Amsterd., 171

—

3.

LIFE OF

^7731

JOHNSON

2ig

patron should exercise his right with tenderness to the inclinations of the people of a parish, he was very clear as to his right. Then supposing the question to be pleaded before the General

parish are regxilarly received for each other. The churches which the proprietors of lands had

Assembly, he dictated to me what follows: "Against the right of patrons is commonly opposed, by the inferiour judicatures, the plea of conscience. Their conscience tells them, that the people ought to choose their pastor; their conscience tells them that they ought not to impose upon a congregation a minister ungrateful and unacceptable to his auditors. Conscience is nothing more than a conviction felt by ourselves of something to be done, or something to be avoided; and in questions of simple unperplexed morality, conscience is very often a guide that may be trusted. But before conscience can determine, the state of the question is supposed to be completely known. In questions of law, or of fact, conscience is very often confounded with opinion. No man's conscience can tell him the right of another man; they must be known by rational investigation or historical enquiry. Opinion, which he that holds it may call his conscience, may teach some men that religion would be promoted, and quiet preserved, by granting to the people universally the choice of their ministers. But it is a conscience very ill informed that violates the rights of one man, for the convenience of another. Religion cannot be promoted by injustice: and it was never yet found that a popular election was very quietly

and where the episcopal government prevails, the Bishop has no power to reject a man nominated by the patron, but for some crime that might exclude him from the priesthood. For the

transacted.

"That justice would be violated by

transfer-

ring to the people the right of patronage,

apparent to its

original.

is

who know whence that right had The right of patronage was not at

all

a privilege torn by power from unresisting is not an authority at first usurped in times of ignorance, and established only by succession and by precedents. It is not a grant capriciously made from a higher tyrant to a lower. It is a right dearly purchased by the first possessors, and justly inherited by those that succeeded them. When Christianity was established in this island, a regular mode of publick worship was prescribed. Publick worship requires a publick place; and the proprietors of lands, as they were converted, built churches

thus built and thus endowed, they justly thought themselves entitled to provide with ministers;

endowment

church being the gift of the was consequently at liberty to give according to his choice, to any man capable

it

The people did not choose him, because the people did not pay him. "We hear it sometimes urged, that this original right is passed out of memory, and is obliterated and obscured by many translations of property and changes of government; that of performing the holy offices.

now in the hands of the and that the present persons have entered subsequently upon the pretended rights by a thousand accidental and unscarce any church

known causes. Much of this, perhaps, is true. But how is the right of patronage extinguished? If the right follo\ved the lands, it is possessed by the same equity by which the lands are possessed. It is, in effect, part of the manor, and

protected by the same laws with every other Let us suppose an estate forfeited by treason, and granted by the Crown to a new family. With the lands were forfeited all the privilege.

appendant to those lands; by the same power that grants the lands, the rights also are

rights

granted. The right lost to the patron falls not to the people, but is either retained by the Crown, or what to the people is the same thing, is by the Crown given away. Let it change hands ever so often,

poverty. It

the

and

their vassals.

For the main-

tenance of ministers, they settled a certain portion of their lands; and a district, through which each minister was required to extend his care, was, by that circumscription, constituted a parish. This is a position so generally received in England, that the extent of a manor and of a

is

heirs of the builders;

first

for their families

of the

landlord, he

it is

same

possessed right as

it

by liim that receives it with was conveyed. It may, in-

deed, like all our possessions, be forcibly seized or fraudulently obtained. But no injury is stiU done to the people; for what they never had, they have never lost. Caius may usurp the right of Titius; but neither Caius nor Titius injure the people; and no man's conscience, however ten-

der or however active, can prompt him to restore what may be proved to have been never taken away. Supposing, what I think cannot be proved, that a popular election of ministers were to be our desires are not the measure of

desired,

power should be only in the hands of the merciful, and riches in the possession of the generous; but the law must leave both riches and power where it finds them: and must often leave riches with the covetous, and power with the cruel. Convenience equity. It were to be desired that

BOSWELL

220

be a rule in little things, where no other rule has been established. But as the great end of government is to give every man his own, no inconvenience is greater than that of making right uncertain. Nor is any man more an enemy to publick peace, than he who fills weak heads with imaginary claims, and breaks the series of civil subordination, by inciting the lower classes

may

of mankind to encroach

"Having thus shown

upon

the higher.

that the right of patron-

age, being originally purchased, may be legally transferred, and that it is now in the hands of

lawful possessors, at least as certainly as any other right; we have left to the advocates of

—

no other plea than that of convenience. Let us, therefore, now consider what the people would really gain by a general abolition of the right of patronage. What is most to be desired by such a change is, that the country should be supplied with better ministers. But the people

why should we suppose that the parish will make a wiser choice than the patron? If we suppose mankind actuated by interest, the patron is more likely to

choose with caution, because he will

more by choosing wrong. By the deficienof his minister, or by his vices, he is equally

suffer cies

offended with the rest of the congregation; but he will have this reason more to lament them, that they will be imputed to his absurdity or corruption. The qualifications of a minister are well known to be learning and piety. Of his learning the patron is probably the only judge in the parish; and of his piety not less a judge

than others; and utely

and

is

more

likely to enquire

min-

diligently before he gives a presenta-

than one of the parochial rabble, who can may be urged, that though the parish might not choose better ministers, they would at least choose ministers whom they like better, and who would therefore officiate with greater efficacy. That ignorance and perverseness should always obtain what they like, was never considered as the end of government; of which it is the great and standing bention,

give nothing but a vote. It

that the wise see for the simple, and the regular act for the capricious. But that this argument supposes the people capable of judging, efit,

[1773 him

unkind and injudicious. But, it is evident, that as in all other popular elections there will be contrariety of judgement and acrimony of passion, a parish upon every vacancy would break into factions, and the contest for the choice of a minister would set neighbours at variance, and bring discord into families. The minister would be taught all the arts of a candidate, would flatter some, and bribe others; and

censure

as

all other cases, would call for holidays and ale, and break the heads of each other during the jollity of the canvas. The time must, however, come at last, when one of the

the electors, as in

factions

must

prevail,

and one

get possession of the church.

of the ministers

On what terms does

he enter upon his ministry but those of enmity with half his parish? By what prudence or what diligence can he hope to conciliate the affections of that party by whose defeat he has obtained his living? Every man who voted against him will enter the church with hanging head and downcast eyes, afraid to encounter that neighbour by whose vote and influence he has been overpowered. He will hate his neighbour for opposing him, and his minister for having prospered by the opposition; and as he will never see him but with pain, he will never see him but with hatred. Of a minister presented by the patron, the parish has seldom any thing worse to say than that they do not know him. Of a minister chosen by a popular contest, all those who do not favour him, have nursed up in their bosoms principles of hatred and reasons of rejection.

Anger

is

excited principally by pride.

pride of a common man is very little exasperated by the supposed usurpation of an acknowledged superiour. He bears only his little

The

share of a general evil, and suffers in common with the whole parish; but when the contest is between equals, the defeat has many aggravations; and he that is defeated by his next neighbour, is seldom satisfied without some revenge; and it is hard to say what bitterness of malignity would prevail in a parish where these elections should happen to be frequent, and the enmity of opposition should be re-kindled before it had cooled."

resolute to act according to their best judge-

Though I present to my readers Dr. Johnson's

ments, though this be sufficiently absurd, it is not all its absurdity. It supposes not only wisdom, but unanimity in those, who upon no other occasions are unanimous or wise. If by some strange concurrence all the voices of a parish should unite in the choice of any single man, though I could not charge the patron with injustice for presenting a minister, I should

masterly thoughts on the subject, I think it proper to declare, that notwithstanding I am myself a lay patron, I do not entirely subscribe to his

and

opinion.

On Friday, May 7, I breakfasted with him at Mr. Thrale's in the Borough. While we were alone, I endeavoured as well as I could to apologise for a lady who had been divorced from her

LIFE OF

1773]

husband by act of Parliament. I said, that he had used her very ill, had behaved brutally to her, and that she could not continue to live with

him without having her delicacy contaminated; that all affection for him was thus destroyed; that the essence of conjugal union being gone, there remained only a cold form, a mere civil

was in the prime of life, with produce happiness; that these ought not to be lost; and, that the gentleman on whose account she was divorced had gained her heart while thus unhappily situated. Seduced, perhaps, by the charms of the lady in question, I thus attempted to palliate what I was sensible could not be justified; for when I had finished my harangue, my venerable friend gave me a proper check: "My dear Sir, never accustom your mind to mingle virtue and vice. The woman's a whore, and there's an end on't." He described the father of one of his friends thus: "Sir, he was so exuberant a talker at publick meeting, that the gentlemen of his county were afraid of him. No business could be done for his declamation." He did not give me full credit when I menobligation; that she

qualities to

had carried on a short conversation by signs with some Esquimaux who were then in London, particularly with one of them who was a priest. He thought I could not make them understand me. No man was more incredulous as to particular facts, which were at all extraordinary; and therefore no man was more scrupulously inquisitive, in order to distioned that

I

cover the truth. I dined with him this day at the house of my friends, Messieurs Edward and Charles Dilly, booksellers in the Poultry: there were present their elder brother Mr. Dilly of Bedfordshire, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. Langton, Mr. Claxton, Reverend Dr. Mayo a dissenting minister, the Reverend Mr. Toplady, and my friend the Rev-

erend Mr. Temple. Hawkesworth's compilation of the voyages to the South Sea being mentioned; Johnson. "Sir, if you talk of it as a subject of commerce, it will be gainful; if as a book that is to increase human knowledge, I believe there will not be much of that. Hawkesworth can tell only what the voyagers have told him; and they have found very little, only one new animal, I think." Boswell. "But many insects. Sir," Johnson. "Why, Sir, as to insects,

Ray

twenty thousand

home and

reckons of British insects

species.

They might have staid

discovered enough in that way." Talking of birds, I mentioned Mr. Daines Barrington's ingenious Essay against the received at

JOHNSON

221

notion of their migration. Johnson. "I think we have as good evidence for the migration of woodcocks as can be desired. We find they disappear at a certain time of the year, and appear again at a certain time of the year; and some of them,

when weary

in their flight, have been known to on the rigging of ships far out at sea." One of the company observed, that there had been instances of some of them found in summer in Essex. Johnson. "Sir, that strengthens our argument. Exceptio probat regulam. Some being found shews, that, if all remained, many would be found. A few sick or lame ones may be found." Goldsmith. "There is a partial migration of the

alight

swallows; the stronger ones migrate, the others do not."

Boswell. "I of Otaheite

am well assured

that the people

who have

the bread tree, the fruit for bread, laughed heartily

them when they were informed of which serves

of the tedious process necessary with us to have bread; plowing, sowing, harrowing, reaping, threshing, grinding, baking." Johnson. "Why, Sir, all ignorant savages will laugh when they are told of the ad-

—

vantages of civilized life. Were you to tell men who live without houses, how we pile brick upon brick,

and

house

is

rafter

upon

rafter,

and that

raised to a certain height, a

after a

man tum-

bles off a scaffold, and breaks his neck; he would laugh heartily at our folly in building; but it does not follow that men are better without houses. No, Sir, (holding up a slice of a good loaf,) this is better than the bread tree." He repeated an argument, which is to be found in his Rambler, against the notion that the brute creation is endowed with the faculty of reason: "birds build by instinct; they never improve; they build their first nest as well as any one they ever build." Goldsmith. "Yet we see if you take away a bird's nest with the eggs in it, she will make a slighter nest and lay again." Johnson. "Sir, that is because at first she has full time and makes her nest deliberately. In the

case

you mention she

therefore

quently

it

make her will

pressed to lay, and must and conse-

is

nest quickly,

"The known in

be slight." Goldsmith.

nidification of birds

is

what

is

least

natural history, though one of the most curious things in it."

introduced the subject of toleration. John"Every society has a right to preserve publick peace and order, and therefore has a good right to prohibit the propagation of opinions which have a dangerous tendency. To say the magistrate has this right, is using an inadequate I

son.

word:

it is

the

society for

which the magistrate

is

BOSWELL

222 agent.

He may be morally or theologically wrong

in restraining the propagation of opinions which he thinks dangerous, but he is politically right."

Mayo.

"I

am

of opinion, Sir, that every

man

is

entitled to liberty of conscience in religion; and that the magistrate cannot restrain that right." I agree with you. Every man has a right to liberty of conscience, and with that the magistrate cannot interfere. People confound liberty of thinking with liberty of talking; nay, with liberty of preaching. Every man has a physical right to think as he pleases; for it cannot be discovered how he thinks. He has not a moral right, for he ought to inform himself, and think justly. But, Sir, no member of a society has a right to teach any doctrine contrary to what

Johnson. "Sir,

the society holds to be true. The magistrate, I may be wrong in what he thinks: but while he thinks himself right, he may and ought to en-

say,

what he thinks." Mayo. "Then, Sir, we are to remain always in errour, and truth never can prevail; and the magistrate was right in persecuting the first Christians." Johnson. "Sir, the

force

only method by which religious truth can be established is by martyrdom. The magistrate has a right to enforce what he thinks; and he who is conscious of the truth has a right to suffer. I am afraid there is no other way of ascertaining the truth, but by persecution on the one hand and

enduring it on the other." Goldsmith. "But how is a man to act, Sir? Though firmly convinced of the truth of his doctrine, may he not think it wrong to expose himself to persecution? Has he a right to do so? Is it not, as it were, committing voluntary suicide?" Johnson. "Sir, as to voluntary suicide, as you call it, there are twenty thousand men in an army who will go without scruple to be shot at, and mount a breach for five-pence a day." Goldsmith. "But have they a moral right to do this?" Johnson. "Nay, Sir, if you will not take the universal opinion of mankind, I have nothing to say. If mankind cannot defend their own way of thinking, I cannot defend it. Sir, if a man is in doubt whether it would be better for him to expose himself to martyrdom or not, he should not do it. He must be convinced that he has a delegation from heaven." Goldsmith. "I would consider whether there is the greater chance of good or evil upon the whole. If I see a man who had fallen into a well, I would wish to help

him

out; but

if

there

me in,

is

a greater probabil-

than that I shall pull him out, I would not attempt it. So were I to go to Turkey, I might wish to convert the Grand Signor to the Christian faith; but when I considered that I should probably be put to death ity that

he

shall pull

[1773

without effectuating my purpose in any degree, I should keep myself quiet." Johnson. "Sir, you must consider that we have perfect and imper-

which are generally not to do something, are clear and positive; as, 'thou shalt not kill.' But charity, for in-

fect obligations. Perfect obligations,

stance,

is

not definable by limits.

It is

a duty to

man can say how much the poor, or when a man

give to the poor; but no

another should give to has given too little to save his soul. In the same manner it is a duty to instruct the ignorant, and of consequence to convert infidels to Christianbut no man in the common course of things obliged to carry this to such a degree as to in-

ity; is

cur the danger of martyrdom, as no man is obliged to strip himself to the shirt in order to give charity. I have said, that a man must be persuaded that he has a particular delegation from heaven." Goldsmith. "How is this to be known? Our first reformers, who were burnt for not believing bread and wine to be Christ" Johnson, (interrupting him), "Sir, they were not burnt for not believing bread and wine to be Christ, but for insulting those who did believe it. And, Sir, when the first reformers began, they did not intend to be martyred: as many of them ran away as could." Boswell. "But, Sir, there was your countr^Tnan, Elwal, who you told me challenged King George with his black-guards, and his red-guards." Johnson. "My countryman, Elwal, Sir, should have been put in the stocks; a proper pulpit for him; and he'd have had a numerous audience. A man who preaches in the stocks will always have hearers enough." Boswtell. "But Elwal thought himself in the right." Johnson. "We are not provid-

—

ing for mad people; there aire places for them in the neighbourhood," (meaning Moorfields.) Mayo. "But, Sir, is it not very hard that I should not be allowed to teach my children what I re-

Johnson. "Why, you might contrive to teach your children

ally believe to be the truth?" Sir,

extra scandalum; but, Sir, the magistrate, if

he

knows it, has a right to restrain you. Suppose you teach your children to be thieves?" Mayo. "This is making a joke of the subject." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, take it thus: that you teach them the community of goods; for which there are as many plausible arguments as for most erroneous doctrines. You teach them that all things at first were in common, and that no man had a right to any thing but as he laid his hands upon it; and that this still is, or ought to be, the rule amongst mankind. Here, Sir, you sap a great property. And don't you principle in society, think the magistrate would have a right to pre-

—

—

LIFE OF

1773]

vent you? Or, suppose you should teach your children the notion of the Adamites, and they should run naked into the streets, would not the magistrate have a right to flog 'em into their doublets?" Mayo. "I think the magistrate has no right to interfere till there is some overt act." BoswELL. "So, Sir, though he sees an enemy to the state charging a blunderbuss, he is not to interfere till it is fired off"?" Mayo. "He must be sure of its direction against the state." Johnson.

"The magistrate

is

to judge of that.

— He has no

right to restrain your thinking, because the evil

centers in yourself. If a

and chopping

man were

sitting at this

magisguardian of the community, has no authority to restrain him, however he might do it from kindness as a parent. Though, indeed, upon more consideration, I think he may; as it is probable, that he who is chopping off his own fingers, may soon proceed to chop off" those of table,

off his fingers, the

trate, as

other people. If

I

think

it

right to steal

Mr.

Bil-

am a bad man;

but he can say nothing to me. If I make an open declaration that I think so, he will keep me out of his house. If I put forth my hand, I shall be sent to Newgate. This is the gradation of thinking, preaching, and acting: if a man thinks erroneously, he may keep his thoughts to himself, and nobody will trouble him; if he preaches erroneous doctrine, society may expel him; if he acts in consequence ly's plate, I

of

it,

the law takes place,

and he

is

hanged."

Mayo.

"But, Sir, ought not Christians to have liberty of conscience?" Johnson. "I have already told you so. Sir. You are coming back to

where you were." Boswell. "Dr. Mayo is always taking a return post-chaise, and going the stage over again. He has it at half price." Johnson. "Dr. Mayo, like other champions for unlimited toleration, has got a set of words.^ Sir, it is no matter, politically, whether the magistrate

be right or wrong. Suppose a club were to be formed, to drink confusion to King George the Third, and a happy restoration to Charles the Third, this would be very bad with respect to the State; but every member of that club must either conform to its rules, or be turned out of it. Old Baxter, I remember, maintains, that the magistrate should 'tolerate all things that are

JOHNSON tolerable.'

This

223 is

no good

definition of tolera-

tion upon any principle; but it shews that he thought some things were not tolerable." Toplady. "Sir, you have untwisted this difficult subject with great dexterity." During this argument. Goldsmith sat in restless agitation, from a wish to get in and shine. Finding himself excluded, he had taken his hat to go away, but remained for some time with it in his hand, like a gamester, who at the close of a long night, lingers for a little while, to see if he can have a favourable opening to finish with success. Once when he was beginning to speak, he found himself overpowered by the loud voice of Johnson, who was at the opposite end of the table, and did not perceive Goldsmith's attempt. Thus disappointed of his wish to obtain the attention of the company. Goldsmith in a passion threw down his hat, looking angrily at Johnson, and exclaiming in a bitter tone, " Take it.''' When Toplady was going to speak, Johnson uttered some sound, which led Goldsmith to think that he was beginning again, and taking the words from Toplady. Upon which, he seized this opportunity of venting his own envy and spleen, under the pretext of supporting another person: "Sir, (said he to Johnson,) the gentleman has heard you patiently for an hour; pray allow us now to hear him." Johnson, (sternly,) "Sir, I was not interrupting the gentleman. I was only giving him a signal of my attention. Sir, you are impertinent." Goldsmith made no reply, but continued in the company for some time. A gentleman present ventured to ask Dr. Johnson if there was not a material difference as to

which lead to action, and opinions merely speculative; for instance, would it be wrong in the magistrate to tolerate those who preach against the doctrine of the Trinity? Johnson was highly offended, and said, "I wonder. Sir, how a gentleman of your piety can introduce this subject in a mixed company." He told me afterwards, that the impropriety was, that perhaps some of the company might have talked on the subject in such terms as might have shocked him; or he might have been forced toleration of opinions

to appear in their eyes a

narrow-minded man.

The gentleman, with submissive deference,

said,

he had only hinted at the question from a desire to hear Dr. Johnson's opinion upon it. Johnson. "Why then. Sir, I think that permitting men to preach any opinion contrary to the doctrine of the established church tends, in a certain degree, to lessen the authority of the church, and con-

^Dr. Mayo's calm temper and steady perseverance, rendered him an admirable subject for the exercise of Dr. Johnson's powerful abilities. He never flinched; but, after reiterated blows, remained seemingly unmoved as at the first. The scintillations of Johnson's genius flashed every time he was struck, without his receiving any injury. Hence he obtained the epithet of The LrrERARY

sequently, to lessen the influence of religion."

Anvil.

"It

may

be considered, (said the gentleman,)

BOSWELL

224

whether it would not be politick to tolerate in such a case." Johnson. "Sir, we have been talking of right: this is another question. I think it is not politick to tolerate in such a case." Though he did not think it fit that so aweful a subject should be introduced in a mixed company, and therefore at this time waved the theological question; yet his own orthodox belief in the sacred mystery of the Trinity is evinced beyond doubt, by the following passage in his private devotions:

"O

my

prayer [prayers], for Jewith thee and the Holy Ghost, three persons and one God, be all honour and glory, world without end, Amen."^ BoswELL. "Pray, Mr. Dilly, how does Dr. Le-

Lord, hear

sus Christ's sake; to

whom

land's History of Ireland sell?" Johnson (bursting forth with a generous indignation,) "The Irish are in a most unnatural state; for we see there

the minority prevailing over the majority. There no instance, even in the ten persecutions, of

is

such severity as that which the protestants of Ireland have exercised against the Catholicks. Did we tell them we have conquered them, it would be above board: to punish them by confiscation and other penalties, as rebels, was monstrous injustice. King William was not their lawful sovereign: he had not been acknowledged by the Parliament of Ireland, when they appeared in arms against him." I here suggested something favourable of the Roman Catholicks. Toplady. "Does not their invocation of saints suppose omnipresence in the saints?" Johnson. "No, Sir, it supposes only pluri-presence,

and when

spirits are divested of

seems probable that they should see with more extent than when in an embodied matter,

state.

it

There

is,

therefore,

no approach

to

an

invasion of any of the divine attributes, in the invocation of saints. But I think it is will-

worship, and presumption. I see no command for it, and therefore think it is safer not to practise it."

He and Mr. Langton and I went together to the club, where we found Mr. Burke, Mr. Garrick, and some other members, and amongst them our friend Goldsmith, who sat silently brooding over Johnson's reprimand to him after dinner. Johnson perceived this, and said aside to some of us, "I'll make Goldsmith forgive me"; and then called to him in a loud voice, "Dr.

—

Goldsmith, something passed today where you and I dined; I ask your pardon." Goldsmith answered placidly, "It must be much from you. Sir, that I take ill." And so at once the differ^Prayers and Meditations, p. 40.

[1773

ence was over, and they were on as easy terms as ever,

away as usual. when I reGoldsmith would, upon every oc-

and Goldsmith

In our

way

gretted that

rattled

to the club to-night,

endeavour to shine, by which he often exposed himself, Mr. Langton observed, that he was not like Addison, who was content with the fame of his writings, and did not aim also at excellency in conversation, for which he found himself unfit; and that he said to a lady who complained of his having talked little in company, "Madam, I have but ninepence in ready money, but I can draw for a thousand pounds." I observed, that Goldsmith had a great deal of gold in his cabinet, but, not content with that, was always taking out his purse. Johnson. "Yes, casion,

and that so often an empty purse!" Goldsmith's incessant desire of being conspicuous in company, was the occasion of his sometimes appearing to such disadvantage as one should hardly have supposed possible in a man of his genius. When his literary reputation had risen deservedly high, and his society was much courted, he became very jealous of the extraordinary attention which was every where paid to Johnson. One evening, in a circle of wits, he found fault with me for talking of Johnson as entitled to the honour of unquestionable superiority. "Sir, (said he,) you are for making a monarchy of what should be a republick." Sir,

He was a

still

more

company with

mortified,

when

talking in

fluent vivacity, and, as he flat-

who were him, and perceived Johnson rolling himself, as if about to speak, suddenly stopped him, saying, "Stay, stay, Toctor Shonson is going to say something." This was, no doubt, very provoking, especially to one so irritable as Goldsmith, who frequently mentioned it with strong expressions of indigtered himself, to the admiration of all present; a

German who

sat next

—

nation. It may also be observed, that Goldsmith was sometimes content to be treated with an easy

upon occasions, would be conand important. An instance of this occurred in a small particular. Johnson had a way of contracting the names of his friends; as

familiarity, but,

sequential

Beau; Boswell, Bozzy; Langton, Lanky; Murphy, Mur; Sheridan, Sherry. I remember one day, when Tom Davies was telling that Dr. Johnson said, "We are all in labour for a name to GoUys play," Goldsmith seemed dis-

Beauclerk,

pleased that such a liberty should be taken with his name, and said, "I have often desired him

not to call

me

tentive to the

Goldy.'" Tom was remarkably atmost minute circumstance about

LIFE OF

17731 Johnson. arrival in

I recollect his

London,

telUng

me

once,

on

my

"Sir, our great friend has

made an improvement on his appellation of old Mr. Sheridan. He calls him now Sherry derry." AT Bromley^ you my sincere thanks

for

the authour

your

additions to my Dictionary; but the new edition has been published some time, and therefore I cannot now make use of them. Whether I shall ever revise it more, I know not. If many readers had been as judicious, as diligent, and as communicative as yourself, my work had been better. The world must at present take it as it is. I am. Sir, your most obliged and most humble servant,

Sam. Johnson

May^, 1773

On

Sunday, May 8, I dined with Johnson at Mr. Langton's with Dr. Beattie and some other company. He descanted on the subject of Literary Property. "There seems (said he,) to be in authours a stronger right of property than that by occupancy; a metaphysical right, a right, as it were, of creation, which should from its nature be perpetual; but the consent of nations is against it, and indeed reason and the interests of learning are against it; for were it to be perpetual, no book, however useful, could be universally diffused amongst mankind, should the proprietor take it into his head to restrain its circulation. No book could have the advantage of being edited with notes, however necessary to its elucidation, should the proprietor perversely oppose it. For the general good of the world, therefore, whatever valuable work has once been created by an authour, and issued out by him, should be understood as no longer in his power, but as belonging to the publick; at the same time

225 entitled to

an adequate reward.

This he should have by an exclusive right to his for a considerable number of years." He attacked Lord Monboddo's strange spec-

work

useless, even were it known to be true. Knowledge of all kinds is good. Conjecture, as to things useful, is good; but conjecture as to what it would be useless to know, such as whether men went

upon

all four, is

^The Reverend Thomas Bagshaw, M.A., who died on November 20, 1 787, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, Chaplain of Bromley College, in Kent, and Rector of Southfleet. He had resigned the cure of Bromley Parish some time before his death. For this, and another letter from Dr. Johnson in 1 784, to the same truely respectable man, I am indebted to Dr. John Loveday, of the Commons, a son of the late learned and pious John Loveday, Esq., of Caversham in Berkshire, who obligingly transcribed them for me from the originals in his possession. This worthy gentleman, having retired from business, now lives in Warwickshire. The world has been lately obliged to him as the Editor of the late Rev. Dr. Townson's excellent work, modestly entitled, A Discourse on the Evangelical History, from the Interment to the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; to which is prefixed, a truly interesting and pleasing account of

Mr, Ralph Churton.

very idle."

On Monday, May 9, as I was to set out on my return to Scotland next morning, to see as much of Dr. Johnson as called

first

on Goldsmith

I I

was desirous could. But I

to take leave of him.

The jealousy and envy which, though

many most amiable

of

qualities,

possessed

he frankly

avowed, broke out violently at this interview. Upon another occasion, when Goldsmith confessed himself to be of an envious disposition, I contended with Johnson that we ought not to be angry with him, he was so candid in owning it. "Nay, Sir, (said Johnson,) we must be angry that a man has such a superabundance of an odious quality, that he cannot keep it within his own breast, but it boils over." In my opinion, however. Goldsmith had not more of it than other people have, but only talked of it freely. He now seemed very angry that Johnson was going to be a traveller; said "he would be a dead weight for me to carry, and that I should never be able to lug him along through the Highlands and Hebrides." Nor would he patiently allow me to enlarge upon Johnson's wonderful abilities; but exclaimed, "Is he like Burke, who winds into a subject like a serpent?" "But, (said

Johnson

is

the Hercules

who

I,)

strangled serpents

in his cradle."

dined with Dr. Johnson at General

I

He was

the authour, by the Reverend

is

ulation on the primitive state of human nature; observing, "Sir, it is all conjecture about a thing

To THE Reverend Mr. Bagshaw, Sir, I return

JOHNSON

obliged,

by

Paoli's.

indisposition, to leave the

company early; he appointed me, however, to meet him in the evening at Mr. (now Sir RobChambers's in the Temple, where he accordingly came, though he continued to be very

ert)

ill.

Chambers,

as

is

common on

such occasions,

prescribed various remedies to him. Johnson. (fretted by pain,) "Pr'ythee don't tease me. Stay

am well, and then you shall tell me how to cure myself." He grew better, and talked with a noble enthusiasm of keeping up the representation of respectable families. His zeal on this subject was a circumstance in his character exceedingly remarkable, when it is considered that he himself had no pretensions to blood. I heard him once say, "I have great merit in being zealous for subordination and the honours of birth; till I

BOSWELL

226

can hardly tell who was my grandfather." He maintained the dignity and propriety of male succession, in opposition to the opinion of one of our friends, who had that day employed Mr.

for I

Chambers

to

draw

his will, devising his estate to

remote male Johnson called them "three dowdies," and said, with as high a spirit as the boldest Baron in the most perfect days of the feudal system, "An ancient estate should always go to males. It is mighty foolish to let a stranger have it because he marries your daughter, and takes your name. As for an estate newly acquired by trade, you may give it, if you will, to the dog Towser, and let him keep his own name." I have known him at times exceedingly diverted at what seemed to others a very small sport. He now laughed immoderately, without any reason that we could perceive, at our friend's making his will; called him the testator, and added, "I dare say, he thinks he has done a mighty thing. He won't stay till he gets home to his seat in the country, to produce this wonderhis three sisters, in preference to a

He records of himself this year, "Between Eas-

heir.

ful

deed:

he'll call

up

the landlord of the

first

[1773

This most ludicrous exhibition of the aweful, melancholy, and venerable Johnson, happened well to counteract the feelings of sadness which I used to experience when parting with him for a considerable time. I accompanied him to his door, where he gave ine his blessing.

and Whitsuntide, having always considered

ter

that time as propitious to study,

fever, "which, by the imprudent use of a small print, left an inflammation in his useful eye." We cannot but admire his spirit when we know, that amidst a complication of bodily and mental distress, he was still animated with the desire of intellectual improvement. Various notes of his studies appear on different days, in his manuscript diary of this year, such as,

— Legi Dissertationem Clerici postremam de Pent. of Clark's Sermons. — L. Appolonii pugnam Betriciam. — L. centum versus Homeri."

into verse, like a ballad."

tion to

my

readers

may

em-

inent a man.

Mr. Chambers did not by any means relish upon a matter of which pars magna Juit, and seemed impatient till he got rid of us. Johnson could not stop his merriment, but conthis jocularity

way till we got without the Temthen burst into such a fit of laughter, that he appeared to be almost in a convulsion; and, in order to support himself, laid hold of one of the posts at the side of the foot pavement, and sent forth peals so loud, that in the silence of the night his voice seemed to resound tinued

it all

ple-gate.

—2

Let

the

He

from Temple-bar to Fleet-ditch.

a specimen of what accessions was perpetually infusing into his

this serve as

of literature he

mind, while he charged himself with idleness. This year died Mrs. Salusbury, (mother of Mrs. Thrale,) a lady whom he appears to have esteemed much, and whose memory he honoured with an Epitaph.^ In a letter from Edinburgh, dated the 29th of

May,

him

to persevere in his resoluyear the projected visit to the Hebrides, of which he and I had talked for many years, and which I was confident would aff^ord

us

pressed

I

make

much

be acquainted even with

the slightest occasional characteristicks of so

— Finivi lectionem — Legi primum actum Troad-

"Inchoavi lectionem Pentateuchi Conf. Fab. Burdonum.

um.

that

attempted to

was interrupted by a

inn on the road; and, after a suitable preface upon mortality and the uncertainty of life, will tell him that he should not delay making his will; and here. Sir, will he say, is my will, which I have just made, with the assistance of one of the ablest lawyers in the kingdom; and he will read it to him (laughing all the time). He believes he has made this will; but he did not make it: you, Chambers, made it for him. I trust you have had more conscience than to make him say, 'being of sound understanding'; ha, ha, ha! I hope he has left me a legacy. I'd have his will turned In this playful manner did he run on, exulting in his own pleasantry, which certainly was not such as might be expected from the authour of The Rambler, but which is here preserved,

I

Low Dutch

language."^ It is to be observed, that he here admits an opinion of the human mind being influenced by seasons, which he ridicules in his writings. His progress, he says, learn the

Dear

this

entertainment.

To James Boswell, Esq. When your letter came

to me, I darkened by an inflammation in my eye, that I could not for some time read it. I can now write without trouble, and can read large prints. My eye is gradually growing stronger; and I hope will be able to take some delight in the survey of a Caledonian loch. Chambers is going a Judge, with six thousand

was

Sir,

so

a year, to Bengal. He and I shall come down together as far as Newcastle, and thence I shall easily get to Edinburgh. Let me know the exact time when your Courts intermit. I must conform a little to Chamber's occasions, and he ^Prayers and Meditation, p. 1 29. 2Mrs. Piozzi's Anecdotes of Johnson, p. 131.

LIFE OF

1773]

must conform a little to mine. The time which you shall fix, must be the common point to which we will come as near as we can. Except this eye, I

am very well.

and invited, and treated, by the great, that I can see nothing of him. I am in great hope that he will be well provided for, and then we will live upon him at the Marischal College, without Beattie is so caressed,

and

and

liked,

flattered,

JOHNSON Newcastle, Aug.

11, 1771 hither last night, and hope, but do not absolutely promise, to be in Edinburgh on Saturday. Beattie will not come so soon. I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

Dear

town without taking leave gone in deep dudgeon to

me, and

is

the

not this very childish?

Is

Where

is

now my

hope your dear lady and her dear baby are both well. I shall see them too when I come; and I have that opinion of your choice, as to suspect that when I have seen Mrs. Boswell, I shall be less willing to go away. I am, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, I

Sam. Johnson

My

is

hoping to see him before that time, and expressing perhaps in too extravagant terms, miy admiration of him, and my expectation of pleasure from our intended tour.

Dear Sir, day the loiter

I shall set

sixth of this

out from

must drive

I

to

Fri-

month, and purpose not

to

be at suppose I

I shall

cannot exactly tell. I an inn, and send a porter

to find

you. I am afraid Beattie will not be at his College soon enough for us, and I shall be sorry to miss him; but there is no staying for the concurrence

We

of all conveniences. will do as well as can. I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

we

Sam. Johnson August

3,

Dear

Sir,

1773

To THE Same Not being at Mr. Thrale's when came, I had written the enclosed

your letter paper and sealed it; bringing it hither for a frank, I found yours. If any thing could repress my ardour, it would be such a letter as yours. To disappoint a friend is unpleasing; and he that forms expectations like yours, must be disappointed. Think only when you see me, that you see a man who loves you, and is proud and glad that you love him. I am. Sir, your most affectionate,

Sam. Johnson August-^, 1773

Mr.

;

Edinburgh, where he remained a few days, and then went by St. Andrew's, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort Augustus, to the Hebrides, to visit which was the principal object he had in

He visited the isles of Sky, Rasay, Col, Mull, Inchkenneth, and Icolmkill. He travelled through Argyleshire by Inverary, and from thence by Lochlomond and Dunbarton to Glasgow, then by Loudon to Auchinleck in Ayrshire, the seat of my family, and then by Hamilton, back to Edinburgh, where he again spent some He

thus saw the four Universities of Scot-

and as much of was sufficient for his philosophical contemplation. I had the pleasure of accompanying him during the whole of this journey. He was respectfully entertained by the great, the learned, and the elegant, wherever he went; nor was he less delighted with the hospitality which he experienced in humbler life. His various adventures, and the force and viland,

London on

to

— Satur-

His stay in Scotland was from the i8th of August, on which day he arrived, till the 22nd of November, when he set out on his return to London and I believe ninety-four days were never passed by any man in a more vigorous exertion. He came by the way of Berwick upon Tweed

time.

Esq.

much by the way. Which day

Edinburgh,

Boswell, being just arrived at Boyd's. day night.

view.

again wrote to him, informing him that the Court of Session rose on the twelfth of August, I

To James Boswell,

Sam. Johnson your lady.

to

Johnson's-court, Fleet-street 5^ 1773 Write to me as soon as you can. Chambers now at Oxford.

came

To THE Same Mr. Johnson sends his compliments

of

legacy?

Sir, I

My compliments to

pity or modesty. left

227

To THE Same

its

three principal

the Highland

and

cities,

insular

life

as

vacity of his mind, as exercised during this peregrination, upon innumerable topicks, have been faithfully,

and

to the best of

my

abilities, dis-

played in my Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, to which, as the publick has been pleased to honour it by a very extensive circulation, I beg leave to refer, as to a separate and remarkable portion of his life,^ which may be there seen in de^The authour was not a small gainer by this extraordinary Journey; for Dr. Johnson thus writes to Mrs. Thrale, Nov. 3, 1 773: "Boswell will praise

—

my resolution and

perseverance, and

I

shall in re-

turn celebrate his good humour and perpetual cheerfulness. He has better faculties than I had imagined; more justness of discernment, and more fecundity of images. It is very convenient to travel with him; for there is no house where he is not received with kindness and respect." Let. 90, to Mrs. Thrale. [M.]

BOSWELL

228

and which exhibits as striking a view of his powers in conversation, as his works do of his excellence in writing. Nor can I deny to myself tail,

the very flattering gratification of inserting here the character which my friend Mr. Courtenay

has been pleased to give of that work: With Reynolds' pencil,

vivid, bold,

So fervent Boswell gives him In every trait

The master

we see

rises

his

to

and

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson .

mind expand;

by the pupil's hand;

e'en the specks of character pourtray'd:

Mark

the

Sam. Johnson Nov. 27, 1773

true.

Graced with the naivete of the sage Montaigne. Hence not alone are brighter parts display' d.

We see

if

yours affectionately,

our view:

We love the writer, praise his happy vein.

But

[1773

you can, the order of the Clans: Macdonald is first, Maclean second; further I cannot go. Quicken Dr. Webster.^ I ain. Sir, Enquire,

Rambler withfastidious smile and note the heath-clad isle;

the lone tree,

But when th' heroick tale of Flora's charms, Deck'd in a kilt, he wields a chieftain's arms: The tuneful piper sounds a martial strain. And Samuel sings, " The King shall have his ain."

During his stay at Edinburgh, after his return from the Hebrides, he was at great pains to obtain information concerning Scotland; and it will appear from his subsequent letters, that he was not less solicitous for intelligence on this subject after his return to London.

.

You

.

shall

Edinburgh, Dec. 2, 1773 have what information I can

procure as to the order of the Clans. A gentleman of the name of Grant tells me, that there is no settled order among them; and he says, that the Macdonalds were not placed upon the right of the army at Culloden; the Stuarts were. I shall, however, examine witnesses of every name that I can find here. Dr. Webster shall be quickened too. I like your little memorandums; they are symptoms of your being in earnest with your book of northern travels. Your box shall be sent next week by sea. You it some pieces of the broom bush, which you saw growing on the old castle of Auchinleck. The wood has a curious appearance when sawn across. You may either have a little writing-standish made of it, or get it formed into boards for a treatise on witchcraft, by way of

will find in

a suitable binding.

.

.

.

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson

To James Boswell, Dear

Sir, I

came home

Esq.

last night,

Edinburgh, Dec. without

any incommodity, danger, or weariness, and

am

ready to begin a new journey. I shall go to Oxford on Monday. I know Mrs. Boswell wished me well to go;^ her wishes have not been disappointed. Mrs. Williams has received Sir A's^ letter.

Make my compliments to all those compliments may be welcome.

to

whom

my

Let the box^ be sent as soon as to expect it.

it

can, and let

me know when

My

^In this he shewed a very acute penetration. wife paid him the most assiduous and respectful attention, while he was our guest; so that I wonder how he discovered her wishing for his departure. The truth is, that his irregular hours and uncouth habits, such as turning the candles with their heads downwards, when they did not burn bright enough, and letting the wax drop upon the carpet, could not but be disagreeable to a lady. Besides, she had not that high admiration of him which was felt by most of those who knew him; and what was very natural to a female mind, she thought he had too much influence over her husband. She once in a little warmth, made, with more point than justice, this remark upon that subject: "I have seen many a bear led by a man; but I never before saw a man led by a bear." ^Sir Alexander Gordon, one of the Professors at

Aberdeen. ^This was a box containing a number of curious things which he had picked up in Scotland, particularly some horn spoons.

18,

1773

You promised me an

inscription for a print to be taken from an historical picture of Mary Queen of Scots being forced to resign her .

.

.

crown, which Mr. Hamilton at Rome has painted me. The two following have been sent to me:

for

Maria Scotorum Regina meliori seculo digna, jus regium civibus seditiosis invito resignat. Gives seditiosi Mariam Scotorum Reginam sese muneri abdicare invitam cogunt. Be so good as to read the passage in Robertson, and see if you cannot give me a better inscription. I must have it both in Latin and English; so if you should not give me another Latin one, you will at least choose the best of these two, and send a translation of it. . . .

His humane forgiving disposition was put to a pretty strong test on his return to London, by a liberty which Mr. Thomas Davies had taken with him in his absence, which was, to publish two volumes, entitled. Miscellaneous and Fugitive Pieces, which he advertised in the news-papers, "By the Authour of the Rambler." In this collection, several of Dr. Johnson's acknowledged writings, several of his anonymous performances,

and some which he had written

for others,

were

^The Rev. Dr. Alexander Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, a

man

who had promised him

of distinguished

information concerning the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. abilities,

LIFE OF

1774]

some in which he had no concern whatever. He was at first very angry, as he had good reason to be. But, upon consideration of his poor friend's narrow circumstances, and that he had only a little profit in view, and meant no harm, he soon relented, and inserted; but there

were

also

continued his kindness to him as formerly. In the course of his self-examination with retrospect to this year, he seems to have been much dejected; for he says, January i, 1774, "This year has passed with so little improvement, that I doubt whether I have not rather impaired than increased my learning";^ and yet we have seen how he read, and we know how he talked during that period.

He was now seriously engaged in writing an account of our travels in the Hebrides, in consequence of which I had the pleasure of a more frequent correspondence with him.

JOHNSON

229

Tell Mrs. Boswell that my good intentions towards her still continue. I should be glad to do any thing that would either benefit or please her. Chambers is not yet gone, but so hurried, or so negligent, or so proud, that I rarely see him. I have, indeed, for some weeks past, been very ill of a cold and cough, and have been at Mrs. Thrale's, that I might be taken care of. I am much better: nov& redeunt inprmlia vires; but I am yet tender, and easily disordered. How happy it was that neither of us were ill in the Hebrides. The question of Literary Property is this day before the Lords. Murphy drew up the Appellants' case, that is, the plea against the perpetual right. I have not seen it, nor heard the decision. I would not have the right perpetual. I will write to you as any thing occurs, and do you send me something about my Scottish friends. I have very great kindness for them. Let me know likewise how fees come in, and when we are to see you. I am, Sir, yours aff'ectionately,

Sam. Johnson

To James Dear Sir,

Boswell, Esq. My operations have been hindered

by a cough; at least I flatter myself, that if my cough had not come, I should have been further advanced. But I have had no intelligence from Dr. [Webster,] nor from the Excise, office, nor from you. No account of the litde borough.2 Nothing of the Erse language. I have yet heard nothing of my box. You must make haste and gather me all you can, and do it quickly, or 1 will and shall do

W

without

it.

Make my compliments

Mrs. Boswell, and less for wishing me away. I gave her trouble enough, and shall be glad, in recompense, to give her any pleasure. I would send some porter into the Hebrides, if I knew which way it could be got to my kind friends there. Enquire, and let me know. Make my compliments to all the Doctors of Edinburgh, and to all my friends, from one end of Scotland to the other. Write to me, and send me what intelligence you can: and if any thing is too bulky for the post, let me have it by the carrier. I do not like trusting winds and waves. I am, dear Sir, your most, &c. Sam. Johnson Jan. 29, 1774 tell

her that

I

to

do not love her the

London,

He

Feb. 7, 1774

at this time wrote the following letters to

Mr. Steevens,

his able associate in editing

To George

Sir,

In a day or two after

the last discontented letter,

I

Steevens, Esq.,

Hampstead Sir, If I am asked when I have seen Mr. Steevens, you know what answer I must give; if I am asked when I shall see him, I wish you would tell me what to say. IN

If you have Lesley's History of Scotland, or any other book about Scotland, except Boetius and Buchanan, it will be a kindness if you send

them

your humble servant, Sam. Johnson 1774

to, Sir,

Feb. 7,

To THE Same

We

are thinking to augment our club and I am desirous of nominating you, if you care to stand the ballot, and can attend on Friday nights at least twice in five weeks: less than this is too little, and rather more will be expected. Be pleased to let me know before Friday. I am. Sir, your most, &c. Sir,

Sam. Johnson Feb. 21, 1774

To the Same

To THE Same Dear

Shak-

speare:

I

had written

received

my

box, must en-

which was very welcome. But still I treat you to hasten Dr. Webster, and continue to pick up what you can that may be useful. Mr. Oglethorpe was with me this morning, you know his errand. He was not unwelcome. ^Prayers and Meditations, p. 129. ^The ancient Burgh of Prestick, in Ayrshire.

you became a member of the on me on Friday, I will intro-

Sir, Last night

club;

if

you

duce you.

was

call

A

gentleman, proposed after you,

rejected.

I thank you for Meander, but wish he were not so fine. I will take care of him. I am. Sir, your humble servant,

Sam. Johnson

March

5,

1

774

—

'

BOSWELL

230

To James

Boswell, Esq.

[1774

on that occasion diffused its influence on mind through the rest of the year.

felt

Dear Sir. Dr. Webster's informations were much less exact and much less determinate than I expected: they are, indeed, much less positive than, if he can trust his own book^ which he laid is able to give. But I believe it always be found, that he who calls much for information will advance his work but slowly. I am, however, obliged to you, dear Sir, for your endeavours to help me, and hope, that between us something will some time be done, if not on this, on some occasion. Chambers is either married, or almost married, to Miss Wilton, a girl of sixteen, exquisitely beautiful, whom he has, with his lawyer's tongue, persuaded to take her chance with him

To James

in the East.

We have added to the club, Charles Fox, Sir Charles Bunbury, Dr. Fordyce, and Mr. Steevens. Return my thanks to Dr. Webster. Tell Dr. Robertson I have not much to reply to his censure of my negligence; and tell Dr. Blair, that since he has written hither what I said to him, we must now consider ourselves as even, forgive one another, and begin again. I care not how soon, for he is a very pleasing man. Pay my compliments to

Lord Elibank

all

my

friends,

and remind

of his promise to give

me

all his

works.

hope Mrs. Boswell and little Miss are well. shall I see them again? She is a sweet lady, only she was so glad to see me go, that I have almost a mind to come again, that she may again have the same pleasure. Enquire if it be practicable to send a small present of a cask of porter to Dunvegan, Rasay, and Col. I would not wish to be thought forgetful of civilities. I am, Sir, your humble servant, Sam. Johnson March 5, 1774 I

When

On the 5th of March

wrote to him, requestshould this spring come to London. I stated to him on the one hand some pecuniary embarrassments, which, together with

ing his counsel whether

my wife's situation

I

I

at that time,

made me

hesi-

on the other, the pleasure and improvement which my annual visit to the metropolis always aflforded me; and particularly mentioned a peculiar satisfaction which I experienced in celebrating the festival of Easter in St. Paul's cathedral; that to my fancy it appeared like going up to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover; and that the strong devotion which I tate; and,

^A manuscript account drawn by Dr. Webster all the parishes in Scotland, ascertaining their length, breadth, number of inhabitants, and distinguishing Protestants and Roman Catholicks. This book had been transmitted to government,

of

and Dr. Johnson saw a copy of it possession.

in Dr. Webster's

Bosvvell, Esq. \Not dated, but written about the ijth of

before me, he

will

my

Dear

Sir,

I

am ashamed

March]

to think that since

I received your letter I have passed so days without answering it. I

think there

is

no great

many

difficulty in resolving

your doubts. The reasons for which you are

in-

clined to visit London, are, I think, not of sufficient strength to answer the objections. That you should delight to come once a year to the fountain of intelligence and pleasure, is very natural; but both information and pleasure must be regulated by propriety. Pleasure, which cannot be obtained but by unseasonable or unsuitable expence, must always end in pain; and pleasure, which must be enjoyed at the expence of another's pain, can never be such as a worthy mind can fully delight in.

What improvement you might gain by coming to London, you may easily supply, or easily compensate, by enjoining yourself some particular study at home, or opening some new avenue to information. Edinburgh is not yet exhausted; and I am sure you will find no pleasure here which can deserve either that you should anticipate any part of your future fortune, or that you shotild condemn yourself and your lady to penurious frugality for the rest of the year. I need not tell you what regard you owe to Mrs. Boswell's entreaties or how much you ought to study the happiness of her who studies yours with so much diligence, and of whose kindness you enjoy such good effects. Life cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions. She permitted you to ramble last year, you must permit her now to keep you at home. Your last reason is so serious, that I am un;

willing to oppose it. Yet you must remember, that your image of worshipping once a year in a certain place, in iinitation of the Jews, is but a comparison; and simile non es idem; if the annual resort to Jerusalem was a duty to the Jews, it

was a duty because it was commanded; and you have no such command, therefore no such duty. It may be dangerous to receive too readily, and indulge too fondly, opinions, from which, perhaps, no pious mind is wholly disengaged, of local sanctity and local devotion. You know what strange effects they have produced over a great part of the Christian world.

I

am now

writing,

and you, when you read this, are reading under the Eye of Omnipresence. To what degree fancy is to be admitted into religious offices, it would require much deliberI am far from intending toexclude it. Fancy is a faculty bestowed by our Creator, and it is reasonable that all His gifts should be used to His glory, that all our fac-

ation to determine. tally to

LIFE OF

1774]

should co-operate in His worship; but they are to co-operate according to the will of Him that gave diem, according to the order which His wisdom has established. As ceremonies prudential or convenient are less obligatory than positive ordinances, as bodily worship is only the token to others or ourselves of mental adoration, so Fancy is always to act in subordination to Reason. We may take Fancy for a companion, but must follow Reason as our guide. We may allow Fancy to suggest certain ideas in certain places; but Reason must always be heard, when ulties

that those ideas and those places have no natural or necessary relation. When we enter a church we habitually recall to mind the duty of adoration, but we must not omit adoration for want of a temple; because we know, and ought to remember, that the Universal Lord is every where present; and that, therefore, to come to Jona,^ or to Jerusalem, though it may be useful, cannot be necessary.

she

tells us,

Thus

I

have answered your

letter,

and have

not answered it negligently. I love you too well to be careless when you are serious. I think I shall be very diligent next week about our travels, which I have too long neglected. I am, dear Sir, your most, &c. Sam. Johnson

Compliments

to

Madam

and Miss.

To THE Same Dear

ommendation from me; which, though I know how little you want any external incitement to could not refuse her, because I not hurt her, to tell you wish her well. I am, Sir, your most hum-

your duty,

To James

I

that I ble servant,

to

paragraph.

It will

thick. It will

be proper to make some presents in

Scotland.

You shall tell me to whom I shall give;

have stipulated twenty-five for you to give in your own name. Some will take the present better from me, others better from you. In this, you who are to live in the place ought to direct. Consider it. Whatever you can get for my purpose send me; and make my compliments to your lady and both the young ones. I am. Sir. your, &c. Sam. Johnson

and

I

Mr. Bosv^^ll to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, Jwn^ 24, 1774

You do not acknowledge the receipt of the various packets which I have sent to you. Neither can I prevail with you to answer letters, though you honour me with returns. You have said noth-

me about poor Goldsmith,^ nothing about Langton. I have received for you, from the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge in Scotland, the following Erse books: The New Testament; Baxter'' s Call; The Confession of Faith of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster; The Mother's Catechism; A Gaelick and English Vocabulary.'^

Mr. Bosw^ll to Dr. Johnson

May

12,

1774

Lord Hailes has begged of me to offer you his best respects, and to transmit to you specimens of Annals of Scotland, from the Accession of Malcolm Kenmore to the Death of James V, in drawing up

which, his Lordship has been engaged for some time. His Lordship writes to me thus: "If I could procure Dr. Johnson's criticisms, they would be of great use to me in the prosecution of my work, as they would be judicious and true. I have no right to ask that favour of him. If you you could, it would highly oblige me." Dr. Blair requests you may be assured that he did not write to London what you said to him, and that neither by word nor letter has he made the least complaint of you; but, on the contrary, ^lona.

To James Sir, I wish

Bosv\^ll, Esq.

you could have looked over

my book before the printer, ily be. I

1774

Edinburgh,

Esq,.

do you some justice in the first be one volume in octavo, not

deavoured

Dear Sam. Johnson

ID,

Boswell,

Streatham, June 21, 1774 Dear Sir, Yesterday I put the first sheets of the Journey to the Hebrides to the press. I have en-

know that at least it will

May

231

has a high respect for you, and loves you much more since he saw you in Scotiand. It would both divert and please you to see his eagerness about this matter.

ing to

The lady who

delivers this has a lawsuit, in which she desires to make use of your skill and eloquence, and she seems to think that she shall have something more of both for a recSir,

JOHNSON

suspect

but

it

could not eas-

some mistakes; but

as I deal,

perhaps, more in notions than in facts, the matter is not great, and the second edition will be mended, if any such there be. The press will go on slowly for a time, because I am going into

Wales to-morrow. I should be very sorry if I appeared to treat such a character as Lord Hailes otherwise than with high respect. I return the sheets,^ to which I have done what mischief I could; and finding it so little, thought not much of sending them.

The

narrative

is

clear, lively,

and

short.

2Dr. Goldsmith died April 4, this year. ^These books Dr. Johnson presented to the Bodleian Library. *On the covers enclosing them. Dr. Johnson wrote, "If my delay has given any reason for supposing that I have not a very deep sense of the

honour done very sorry."

me by

asking

my judgement,

I

am

BOSWELL

232

have done worse to Lord Hailes than by neglecting his sheets: I have run him in debt. Dr. I

Home, the President of Magdalen College in O.xford, wrote to me about three months ago, that he purposed to reprint Walton's Lives, and desired me to contribute to the work: my answer was, that Lord Hailes intended the same publication; and Dr. Home has resigned it to him. His Lordship must now think seriously

about

it.

Of poor dear

Dr. Goldsmith there

is little

to

more than the papers have made publick. He died of a fever, made, I am afraid, more violent by uneasiness of mind. His debts began to be heavy, and all his resources were exhausted. Sir Joshua is of opinion that he owed not less be

told,

than two thousand pounds.

Was

[1774

know

not where, for at least five weeks. I wrote the following tetastrick on poor Goldsmith:

T6f

Ta.

trusted before?

You may,

elcjopkas rbv 'OXt/3apoto.

'"Apo(T(. fiij aefxvijv,

to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, Aug. 30, 1774 You have given me an inscription for a portrait of Mary Queen of Scots, in which you, in a short and striking manner, point out her hard fate. But you will be pleased to keep in mind, that my picture is a representation of a particuBosvs^ell

lar scene in her history; her being forced to re-

sign her crown, while she was imprisoned in the castle of Lochlevin. I must, therefore, beg that you will be kind enough to give me an inscription suited to that particular scene; or determine which of the two formerly transmitted to you is the best; and, at any rate, favour me with an English translation. It will be doubly kind if you comply with my request speedily. Your critical notes on the specimen of Lord Haile's Annals of Scotland are excellent. I agreed with you in every one of them. He himself objected only to the alteration of free to brave, in

the passage where he says that Edward "departed with the glory due to the conquerour of a free people." He says, "to call the Scots brave would only add to the glory of their conquerour." You will make allowance for the national zeal of our annalist. I now send a few more leaves of the

LIFE OF

1774]

Annals, which I hope you will peruse, and return with observations, as you did upon the former "Mr. occasion. Lord Hailes writes to me thus: Boswell will be pleased to express the grateful sense which Sir David Dalrymple has of Dr. Johnson's attention to his little specimen. The further specimen will show, that

—

Even

in

an

Edward

he can see desert."

It gives me much pleasure to hear that a republication of Isaac Walton's Lives is intended. You have been in a mistake in thinking that Lord Hailes had it in view. I remember one morning, while he sat with you in my house, he said, that there should be a new edition of Walton's Lives; and you said that "they should be benoted a little." This was all that passed on that subject. You must, therefore, inform Dr. Home, that he may resume his plan. I enclose a note concerning it; and if Dr. Home will write to me, all the attention that I can give shall be cheerfully bestowed, upon what I think a pious work, the preservation and elucidation of Walton, by whose writings I have been most pleasingly edi-

JOHNSON

233

In the distribution of my books I purpose to follow your advice, adding such as shall occur to me. I am not pleased with your notes of remembrance added to your names, for I hope I shall not easily forget them. I have received four Erse books, without any direction, and suspect that they are intended for the Oxford library. If that is the intention, I think it will be proper to add the metrical psalms, and whatever else is printed in Erse, that the present may be complete. The donor's name

should be told. I wish you could have read the book before it was printed, but our distance does not easily permit it. I am sorry Lord Hailes does not intend to publish Walton; I am afraid it will not be done so well, if it be done at all. I purpose now to drive the book forward. Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, and let me hear often from you. I am, dear Sir, your affectionate

humble

Sam. Johnson

London,

October

fied

Mr.

Bosvs'ell

to Dr. Johnson

Edinburgh, Sept. i6, 1774 Wales has probably detained you longer than I supposed. You will have become quite a mountaineer, by visiting Scotland one year and Wales another. You must next go to Switzerland. Cambria will complain, if you do not honour her also with some remarks. And I find concessere columns, the booksellers expect another book. I am impatient to see your Tour to Scotland and the Hebrides. Might you not send me a copy by the post as soon as it is printed off? .

.

.

To James Boswtell, Esq. DearSir, Yesterdayl returned from myWelch journey. I was sorry to leave my book suspended so long; but having an opportunity of seeing, with so

much

convenience, a

new

part of the

have been in five of the six counties of North Wales; and have seen St. Asaph and Bangor, the two seats of their Bishops; have been upon Penmanmaur and Snowden, and passed over into Anglesea. But Wales is so little different from England, that it offers nothing to the speculation of the island, I could not reject

it.

I

traveller.

When

I

came home,

papers, with

I

found several of your

some pages of Lord

Hailes's Annals,

which I will consider. I am in haste to give you some account of myself, lest you should suspect me of negligence in the pressing business which I find recommended to my care, and which I knew nothing of till now, when all care is vain.^ ^I had written to him, to request his interposition in behalf of a convict, who I thought was very unjustly condemned.

servant,

i,

1774

This tour to Wales, which was made in company with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, though it no doubt contributed to his health and amusement, did not give an occasion to such a discursive exercise of his mind as our tour to the Hebrides. I do not find that he kept any journal or notes of what he saw there. All that I heard him say of it was, that "instead of bleak and barren mountains, there were green and fertile ones; and that one of the castles in Wales would contain all the castles that he had seen in Scotland." Parliament having been dissolved, and his friend Mr. Thrale, who was a steady supporter of government, having again to encounter the

storm of a contested election, he wrote a short political pamphlet, entitled The Patriot,* addressed to the electors of Great-Britain; a

title

which, to factious men, who consider a patriot only as an opposer of the measures of government, will appear strangely misapplied. It was, however, written with energetick vivacity; and, except those passages in which it endeavours to vindicate the glaring outrage of the House of Commons in the case of the Middlesex election, and to justify the attempt to reduce our fellowsubjects in America to unconditional submission, it contained an admirable display of the properties of a real patriot, in the original and genuine sense; a sincere, steady, rational, and unbiassed friend to the interests and prosperity of his King and country. It must be acknowl-

—

edged, however, that both in this and his two former pamphlets, there was, amidst many pow-

BOSWELL

234 erful

arguments, not only a considerable por-

contemptuous ridicule of which was very provoking.

tion of sophistry, but a his opponents,

To Mr. Perkins^ You may do me a very great favour. Mrs. Williams, a gendewoman whom you may have Sir,

seen at Mr. Thrale's, is a petitioner for Mr. Hetherington's charity: petitions are this day issued at Christ's Hospital. I am a bad manager of business in a crowd; and if I should send a mean man, he may be put away without his errand. I must therefore intreat that you will go, and ask for a petition for Anna Williams, whose paper of enquiries was delivered with answers at the counting-house of servant the hospital on Thursday the 20th. will attend you thither, and bring the petition

My

home when you have it. The petition, which they

are to give us,

is

a

form which they deliver to every petitioner, and which the petitioner is afterwards to fill up, and return to them again. This we must have, or we cannot proceed according to their directions.

You

believe, only ask for a petition; if you ask, you can tell they enquire for

need,

I

whom

them. I beg pardon for giving you this trouble; but it is a matter of great importance. I am. Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson October 25, 1774

To James Boswell,

Esq_.

Dear Sir, There has appeared lately in the papers an account of a boat overset between Mull and Ulva, in which many passengers were lost, and among them Maclean of Col. We, you know, were once drowned ;2 I hope, therefore, that the story is either wantonly or erroneously told. Pray satisfy me by the next post. I have printed two hundred and forty pages. I am able to do nothing much worth doing to dear Lord Hailes's book. I will, however, send back the sheets; and hope, by degrees, to answer

all

your reasonable expectations.

it;

and now

resides in

affectionate servant,

Sam. Johnson

London,

October 27, 1774

letter, which shews his tender concern an amiable young gentleman to whom he had been very much obliged in the Hebrides, I have inserted according to its date, though before receiving it I had informed him of the melancholy event that the young Laird of Col was unfortunately drowned.

This

for

To James

Boswtell, Esq,. Last night I corrected the last page of our Journey to the Hebrides. The printer has detained it all this time, for I had, before I went into Wales, written all except two sheets. The

Dear Sir,

Patriot

was

called for

by

my political

friends

on

Friday, was written on Saturday, and I have heard litde of it. So vague are conjectures at a distance.^ As soon as I can, I will take care that copies be sent to you, for I would wish that they might be given before they are bought; but I am afraid that Mr. Strahan will send to you and to the booksellers at the same time. Trade is as diligent as courtesy. I have mentioned all that you

recommended. Pray make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell and the younglings. The club has, I think,

not yet met.

and tell me honesdy, what you think and what others say of our travels. Shall we touch the continent?^ I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant Sam. Johnson Tell me,

Nov. 26, 1774

In his manuscript diary of this year, there

is

the following entry: 27. Advent Sunday. I considered that being the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, was a proper time for a new course of life. I began to read the Greek Testament regularly at 160 verses every Sunday. This day I

"Nov.

this day,

^Mr. Perkins was for a number of years the worthy superintendant of Mr. Thrale's great brewery, and after his death became one of the proprietors of

[1774

Mr. Thrale has happily surmounted a very violent and acrimonious opposition; but all joys have their abatement: Mrs. Thrale has fallen from her horse, and hurt herself very much. The rest of our friends, I believe, are well. My compliments to Mrs. Boswell. I am, Sir, your most

Mr. Thrale's

house in Southwark, which was the scene of so many literary meetings, and in which he continues the liberal hospitality for which it was eminent. Dr. Johnson esteemed him much. He hung up in the counting-house a fine proof of the admirable mezzotinto of Dr. Johnson, by Doughty; and when Mrs. Thrale asked him somewhat flippantly, "Why do you put him up in the counting-house?" he answered, "Because, Madam, I wish to have one wise man there." "Sir, (said Johnson,) I thank you. It is a very handsome compliment, and I believe you speak sincerely," ^In the news-papers.

began the Acts. "In this week I read Virgil's Pastorals. I learned to repeat the Pollio and Callus. I read carelessly the

first

Georgick."

^Alluding to a passage in a letter of mine, where speaking of his Journey to the Hebrides, I say, "But has not The Patriot been an interruption, by the time taken to write it, and the time luxuriously spent in listening to its applauses?" ^We had projected a voyage together up the Baltick, and talked of visiting some of the more northern regions.

— LIFE OF

1775]

Such evidences of his unceasing ardour, both for "divine and human lore," when advanced into his sixty-fifth year, and notwithstanding his many disturbances from disease, must make us at once honour his spirit, and lament that it should be so grievously clogged by its material tegument. It is remarkable, that he was very fond of the precision which calculation produces. Thus we find in one of his manuscript diaries, "12 pages in 4to. Gr. Test, and 30 pages in Beza's folio, comprize the whole in 40

JOHNSON leck.

Let like

it;

me know, as fast as you read it, how you and let me know if any mistake is com-

mitted, or any thing important left out. I wish you could have seen the sheets. compliments to Mrs. Boswell, and to Veronica, and to

My

all

my

friends. I

\vashed off with a

The

little

water.

so well framed, the intricacy so artful, and the disentanglement so easy, the suspense so affecting, and the passionate parts so

plot

is

Sir,

your most humble Sam. Johnson

January

Dr. Johnson to John Hoole, Esq. Sir, I have returned your play,^ which you will find underscored with red, where there was a word which I did not like. The red will be

am.

servant,

days."

Dear

235

send a parcel into Scotland for presents, and intend to give to many of my friends. In your catalogue you left out Lord AuchinI shall

14,

1775

Mr. Bosv/ell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, Jan. 19, 1775 Be pleased to accept of my best thanlcs for your Journey to the Hebrides, which came to me by last night's post. I did really ask the favour twice; but you have been even with me by

evidence would have been quite sufficient. Her claim to the favour of the publick was thus en-

granting it so speedily. Bis dat qui cito dat. Though of a bad cold, you kept me up the greatest part of the last night; for I did not stop till I had read every word of your book. I looked back to our first talking of a visit to the Hebrides, which was many years ago, v/hen sitting by ourselves in the Mitre tavern, in London, I think about witching time 0' night; and then exulted in contemplating our scheme fulfilled, and a monumentum perenne of it erected by your superiour abilities. I shall only say, that your book has afforded me a high gratification. I shall afterwards give you my thoughts on particular passages. In the mean time, I hasten to tell you of your having mistaken two names, which you

forced

will correct in

I have no doubt of its your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson 1774

properly interposed, that success. I

am,

Sir,

December 19,

1775: ^TAT. 66.]

The

first effort

of his

pen

in 1775 was, Proposals Jor publishing the Works of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox, f in three volumes quarto.

In his diary, January

2, 1

find this entry:

"Wrote

Charlotte's Proposals." But, indeed, the internal

:

"Most

of the pieces, as they appeared singly,

have been read with approbation, perhaps above their merits, but of no great advantage to the writer. She hopes, therefore, that she shall not be

ill

.

considered as too indulgent to vanity, or too studious of interest, if, from that labour which has hitherto been chiefly gainful to others, she

endeavours to obtain at last some profit for herself and her children. She cannot decently enforce her claim by the praise of her own performances; nor can she suppose, that, by the most artful and laboured address, any additional notice could be procured to a publication, of which Her Majesty has condescended to be the Patroness." He this year also wrote the Preface to Baretti's Easy Lessons in Italian and English, f

To James

Boswell, Esq.

Dear Sir, You never did ask for a book by the post till now, and I did not think on it. You see now it is done. I sent one to the King, and I hear he likes ^Clsonice.

it.

London,

as I shall

do

here, that

who

deserve the valuable compliments which you have paid them, may enjoy their honours. In page 106, for Gordon read Murchison; and in page 357, for Maclean read Macleod. the gentlemen

But

.

.

am now to apply to you for immediate my profession, which you have never reI

aid in fused to grant when I requested it. I enclose you a petition for Dr. Memis, a physician at

Aberdeen, in which Sir John Dalrymple has exerted his talents, and which I am to answer as Counsel for the managers of the Royal Infirmary in that city. Mr. Jopp, the Provost, who delivered to you your freedom, is one of my and, as a port him. clients,

citizen of Aberdeen,

you

will sup-

The fact is shordy this. In a translation of the charter of the Infirmary from Latin into English, made under the authority of the managers, the same phrase in the original is in one place rendered Physician, but when applied to Dr. Memis is rendered Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Memis complained of this before the translation was printed, but was not indulged with having it altered; and he has brought an action for damages, on account of a supposed injury, as if the

1

BOSWELL

236

designation given to him was an inferiour one, tending to make it be supposed he is not a Physician, and, consequently, to hurt his pracfather has dismissed the action as tice. groundless, and now he has appealed to the whole Court.

My

To James Boswell,

Esq.

is,

very furious; can you give me any more intelligence about him, or his Fingal? Do what you can and do it quickly. Is Lord Hailes on our side?

Pray

is

you,

left

me know what I owed you when that I may send it to you.

let

I

am going to write about the Americans. If you have picked up any hints among your lawyers, who are great masters of the law of nations, or if your own mind suggests any thing, let me know. But mum, it is a secret. I will send your parcel of books as soon as I can; but I cannot do as I wish. However, you find every thing mentioned in the book which you recommended. Langton is here; we are all that ever we were. He is a worthy fellow, without malice, though I

not without resentment. Poor Beauclerk is so ill, that his life is thought to be in danger. Lady Di nurses him with very

Reynolds has taken too much to strong liqand seems to delight in his new char-

uor, 2

acter.

This

is all

love verses,

I

the will

news that I have; but as you send you a few which I made

upon Inchkenneth;^ but remember the condition, you shall not shew them, except to Lord Hailes, whom I love better than any man whom I know so litde. If he asks you to transcribe them for him, you may do it, but I think he must promise not to let them be copied again, nor to shew them as mine. I have at last sent back Lord Hailes's sheets. I never think about returning them, because ter nothing.

You

will see that I

might

I al-

as well

have kept them. However, I am ashamed of my delay; and if I have the honour of receiving any more, promise punctually to return them by the next post. Make my compliments to dear Mrs. iJn the Court of Session of Scotland an action is tried by one of the Judges, who is called the Lord Ordinary; and if either party is dissatisfied, he may appeal to the whole Court, consisting of fifteen, the Lord President and fourteen other Judg-

^See

them

edit., p.

in Journal of a Tour

337 [Oct.

17].

to the

am, dear

Sir,

1775

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson

you

.

Edinburgh, Jan. 27, 1775 rate our lawyers here too high, when call them great masters of the law of na.

tions.

You .

.

.

am ashamed to say I have read little and thought little on the subject of America. I will be much obliged to you, if you As

for myself, I

me where I shall find the best information of what is to be said on both sides. It is a subject vast in its present extent and future consequences. The imperfect hints which now float in my mind, tend rather to the formation of an opinion that our government has been precipitant and severe in the resolutions taken against the Bostonians. Well do you know that I have no kindness for that race. But nations, or bodies of men, should, as well as individuals, have a fair trial, and not be condemned on character alone. Have we not express contracts with our colonies, which afford a more certain foundation of judgement, than general political specutions on the mutual rights of States and their provinces or colonies? Pray let me know immewill direct

and I shall diligently enyou any thing that I can find. Is Burke's speech on American taxation published by himself? Is it authentick? I remember to have heard you say, that you had never diately

what

to read,

to gather for

considered East- Indian affairs; though, surely, they are of much importance to Great-Britain. Under the recollection of this, I shelter myself from the reproach of ignorance about the Amer-

you write upon the subject I shall certainly understand it. But, since you seem to expect that I should know something of it, without own mind should your instruction, and that icans. If

my

a Latin inscription for my historical picture of Mary Queen of Scots, and afterwards favoured me with an English translation. Mr. Alderman Boydell, that eminent Patron of the Arts, has subjoined them to the engraving from my

*He now sent

me

picture.

Maria Scotorum Regina

Hominum

seditiosorum

Contumeliis lassata. Minis territa, clamoribus victa Libello, per quern

first

es, who have both in and out of Court the title of Lords, from the names of their estates; as, Lord Auchinleck, Lord Monboddo, &c. 2It should be recollected, that this fanciful description of his friend was given by Johnson after he himself had become a water-drinker.

I

Sam. Johnson^ Jail. 21,

deavour

great assiduity.

Miss Veronica.

to

yours most faithfully,

.

Sir, I long to hear how you like the I think, much liked here. But Mac-

Dear book; it pherson

[1775 and

Boswell,

Regno cedit, Lacrimans trepidansque

Momen apponit. Mary Queen of Scots Harassed,

By

terrified,

And

Of To

clamours

her rebellious subjects, Sets her hand,

tears and confusion. a resignation of the kingdom.

With

Hebrides, 3rd

and overpowered

the insults, menaces.

"

LIFE OF

1775]

suggest something, I trust you will put me in the way. ... What does Becket mean by the Originals of Fingal and other poems of Ossian, which he advertises to have lain in his shop?

To James Boswell, Esq,. You sent me a case to consider,

Dear

Sir,

in

which I have no facts but which are against us, nor any principles on which to reason. It is vain to try to write thus without materials. The fact seems to be against you; at least I cannot know nor say any thing to the contrary. I am glad that you like the book so well. I hear no more of Macpherson. I shall long to know what Lord

Hailes says of it. Lend it send the parcel as soon as pliments to Mrs. Boswell.

him

privately. I shall

I

can.

I

am,

Make my com-

Sir, &c. Sam. Johnson

Jan. 28, 1775

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, Feb. 2, 1775 Macpherson, I am anxious to have from yourself a full and pointed account of what has passed between you and him. It is confidently told here, that before your book came out he sent to you, to let you know that he understood you meant to deny the authenticity of Ossian's poems; that the originals were in his possession; that you might have inspection of them, and might take the evidence of people skilled in the Erse language; and that he hoped, after this fair offer, you would not be so uncandid as to assert that he had refused reasonable proof. That you paid no regard to his message, but published your strong attack upon him; and then he wrote a letter to you, in such terms as he thought suited to one who had not acted as a man of :

.

.

As

to

You may believe it gives me pain to hear your conduct represented as unfavourable, while I can only deny what is said, on the ground that your character refutes it, without having any information to oppose. Let me, I beg it of you, be furnished with a sufficient answer to any veracity.

calumny upon this occasion. Lord Hailes writes to me, (for we correspond more than we talk together,) "As to Fingal, I see a controversy arising, and purpose to keep out of its way. There is no doubt that I might mention some circumstances; but I do not choose to commit them to paper." What his opinion is, I do not know. He says, "I am singularly obliged to Dr. Johnson for his accurate and useful criticisms. Had he given some strictures on the general plan of the work, it would have added much to his favours." He is charmed with your verses on Inchkenneth, says they are very elegant, but bids me tell you he doubts whether Legitimasfaciunt pectora pur a preces

be according to the rubrick: but that is your concern; for, you know, he is a Presbyterian

JOHNSON

237

To Dr. Lawrence^ Feb. 7, 1775 Scotch physicians is now prosecuting a corporation that in some publick instrument have stiled him Doctor of Medicine instead of Physician. Boswell desires, being advocate for the corporation, to know whether Doctor of Medicine is not a legitimate title, and whether it may be considered as a disadvantageous distinction. I am to write to-night; be pleased to tell me. I am, Sir, your most, &c., Sam. Johnson Sir,

.

One of the

To James Boswell,

My

Dear Boswell,

I

am

.

Esq.

surprized that,

knowing as you do the disposition of your countrymen to tell lies in favour of each other, ^ you can be at all affected by any reports that circulate among them. Macpherson never in his life offered me a sight of any original or of any evidence of any kind; but thought only of intimidating me by noise and threats, till my last anthat I would not be deterred from detectswer, ing what I thought a cheat, by the menaces of a ruffian put an end to our correspondence. The state of the question is this. He, and Dr.

—

—

whom I consider as deceived, say, that he copied the poem from old manuscripts. His copies, if he had them, and I believe him to have none, are nothing. Where are the manuscripts? They can be shewn if they exist, but they were never shewn. De non existentibus et non apparentibus, says our law, eadem est ratio. No man has a claim to credit upon his own word, when better evidence, if he had it, may be easily produced. But, so far as we can find, the Erse language was never written till very lately for the purposes of religion. A nation that cannot write, or a language that was never written, has no manuscripts. But whatever he has he never offered to show. If old manuscripts should now be mentioned, I should, unless there were more evidence than can be easily had, suppose them another proof of Scotch conspiracy in national falsehood. Do not censure the expression; you know it to be true. Dr. Memis's question is so narrow as to allow Blair,

no speculation; and I have no facts before me but those which his advocate has produced against you. I consulted this morning the President of the London College of Physicians, who says, that with us. Doctor of Physick (we do not say Doctor of Medicine) is the highest title that a practicer of physick can have; that Doctor implies not only Physician, but teacher of physick; that every

^The learned and worthy Dr. Lawrence, whom Dr. Johnson respected and loved as his physician

and

friend.

friend has, in this letter, relied upon my testimony, with a confidence, of which the ground has escaped my recollection.

^My

BOSWELL

238

Doctor is legally a Physician; but no man, not a Doctor, can practice physick but by licence particularly granted. The Doctorate is a licence of itself. It seems to us a very slender cause of prose-

cution. I

to

.

.

.

am now engaged,

do

all

Madam humble

but in a little time I hope you would have. My compliments to and Veronica. I am, Sir, your most

Sam. Johnson 7,

1

775

What words were used by Mr. Macpherson in venerable Sage, I have never heard; but they are generally said to have been of a nature very different from the language of literary contest. Dr. Johnson's answer appeared in the news-papers of the day, and has since been his letter to the

frequently re-published; but not with perfect accuracy. I give it as dictated to me by himself, written down in his presence, and authenticated by a note in his own hand-writing, " This, I think, is

a true copy."^

Mr.James Macpherson, I received yourfooland impudent letter. Any violence offered me I shall do my best to repel; and what I cannot do for myself, the law shall do for me. I hope I shall never be deterred from detecting what I think a cheat, by the menaces of a ruffian. What would you have me retract? I thought your book an imposture; I think it an imposture

lish

still.

For

this

the publick,

opinion

which

I

I

have given my reasons to here dare you to refute.

Your rage I defy. Your abilities, since your Homer, are not so formidable; and what I hear

me to pay regard not to but to what you shall prove.

of your morals, inclines

what you

shall say,

You may print this if you will. Sam. Johnson

Mr. Macpherson little knew the character of Dr. Johnson, if he supposed that he could be easily intimidated; for no man was ever more remarkable for personal courage. He had, indeed, an aweful dread of death, or rather, "of something

who

after

death" and what rational man, ;

seriously thinks of quitting all that he has

ever known, and going into a new and unknown state of being, can be without that dread? But his fear was from reflection; his courage natural.

His fear, in that one instance, was the result of philosophical

and

religious consideration.

He

feared death, but he feared nothing else, not even what might occasion death. Many instances of his resolution

may

be mentioned.

One

day,

Mr. Beauclerk's house in the country, when two large dogs were fighting, he went up to them, and beat them till they separated; and at anothII have deposited it in the British Museum.

at

when

a gun might burst if he put in six or seven, and fired

it

off against a

Mr. Langton told me, that when they were swimming together near Oxford, he cautioned Dr. Johnson against a pool, which was reckoned particularly dangerous; upon which Johnson di-

wall.

swam into it. He told me himself that one night he was attacked in the street by four men, to whom he would not yield, but kept them all at bay, till the watch came up, and carried both him and them to the round-house. In the play-

rectly

servant,

February

er time,

[1775 danger there was that charged with many balls,

told of the

house at Lichfield, as Mr. Garrick informed me, Johnson having for a moment quitted a chair which was placed for him between the sidescenes, a gentleman took possession of it, and when Johnson on his return civilly demanded his seat, rudely refused to give it up; upon which Johnson laid hold of it, and tossed him and the chair into the pit. Foote,

who so

successfully re-

comedy, by exhibiting living characters, had resolved to imitate Johnson on the stage, expecting great profits from his ridicule of so celebrated a man. Johnson being informed of his intention, and being at dinner at Mr. Thomas Davies's the bookseller, from whom I had the story, he asked Mr. Davies "what was the common price of an oak stick"; and being answered six-pence, "Why then. Sir, (said he,) give me leave to send your servant to purchase me a shilling one. I'll have a double quantity; for I am told Foote means to take me ojf, as he calls it, and I am determined the fellow shall not do it with impunity." Davies took care to acquaint Foote of this, which effectually checked the wantonness of the mimick. Mr. Macpherson's menaces made Johnson provide himself with the same implement of defence; and had he been attacked, I have no doubt that, old as he was, he would have made his corporal prow-

.vived the old

be felt as much as his intellectual. His Journey to the Western Islands oj Scotland* is a most valuable performance. It abounds in extensive philosophical views of society, and in ingenious sentiment and lively description. A con-

ess

siderable part of

it,

indeed, consists of specula-

which many years before he saw the wild regions which we visited together, probably had employed his attention, though the actual sight of those scenes undoubtedly quickened and augmented them. Mr. Orme, the very able historian, agreed with me in this opinion, which he "There are in that thus strongly expressed: book thoughts, which, by long revolution in the great mind of Johnson, have been formed and tions,

—

polished like pebbles rolled in the ocean!"

1775] That he

LIFE OF wa";;

to

some degree

of excess a true-

born Englishman, so as to have entertained an undue prejudice against both the country and the people of Scotland, must be allowed. But it was a prejudice of the head, and not of the heart. He had no ill-will to the Scotch; for, if he had been conscious of that, he would never have thrown himself into the bosom of their country, and trusted to the protection of its remote inhabitants with a fearless confidence. His remark upon the nakedness of the country, from its being denuded of trees, was made after having travelled two hundred miles along the eastern coast, where certainly trees are not to be found near the road; and he said it was "a map of the road" which he gave. His disbelief of the authenticity of the poems ascribed to Ossian, a Highland bard, was confirmed in the course of his journey, by a very strict examination of the evidence offered for it; and although their authenticity was made too much a national point by the Scotch, there were many respectable persons in that country, who did not concur in this; so that his judgement upon the question ought not to be decried, even by those who differ from him. As

to myself, I can only say,

come very

upon a subject now be-

uninteresting, that

when

the frag-

ments of Highland poetry first came out, I was much pleased with their wild peculiarity, and was one of those who subscribed to enable their editor, Mr. Macpherson, then a young man, to make a search in the Highlands and Hebrides for a long poem in the Erse language, which was reported to be preserved somewhere in those regions. But when there came forth an Epick Poem in six books, with all the common circumstances of former compositions of that nature;

and when, upon an attentive examination of it, was found a perpetual recurrence of the same images which appear in the fragments; and when no ancient manuscript, to authenticate the work, was deposited in any publick library, though that was insisted on as a reasonthere

able proof, who could forbear to doubt?

Johnson's grateful acknowledgements of kind-

comwhich have if he had made

nesses received in the course of this tour,

pletely refute the brutal reflections

been thrown out against him, as an ungrateful return; and his delicacy in sparing in his book those who we find from his letters to Mrs. Thrale were just objects of censure, is much to be admired. His candour and amiable disposition is conspicuous from his conduct, when informed by Mr. Macleod, of Rasay, that he had committed a mistake, which gave that gentleman some uneasiness. He wrote him a

JOHNSON

239

courteous and kind letter, and inserted in the news-papers an advertisement, correcting the mistake.^

The

observations of

in a letter written to

my friend Mr.

me, soon

after

Dempster

he had read

Dr. Johnson's book, are so just and liberal, that they cannot be too often repeated: "... There is nothing in the book, from beginning to end, that a Scotchman need to take amiss. What he says of the country is true; and his observations on the people are what must naturally occur to a sensible, observing, and reflecting inhabitant of a convenient metropolis, where a man on thirty pounds a year may be

accommodated with

all the little wants than Col or Sir Allan. "I am charmed with his researches concerning the Erse language, and the antiquity of their manuscripts. I am quite convinced; and I shall rank Ossian and his Fingals and Oscars amongst the nursery tales, not the true history of our country, in ail time to come. "Upon the whole, the book cannot displease, for it has no pretensions. The authour neither says he is a geographer, nor an antiquarian, nor very learned in the history of Scotland, nor a naturalist, nor a fossilist. The manners of the people, and the face of the country, are all he attempts to describe, or seems to have thought of. Much were it to be wished, that they who have travelled into more remote, and of course

better of

life,

more curious sense.

Of

regions,

had

all

possessed his good

the state of learning, his observations

on Glasgow University show he has formed a very sound judgement. He understands our climate too; and he has accurately observed the changes, however slow and imperceptible to us, which Scotland has undergone, in consequence " of the blessings of liberty and internal peace Mr. Knox, another native of Scotland, who has since made the same tour, and published an account of it, is equally liberal. "I have read (says he,) his book again and again, travelled with him from Berwick to Glenelg, through countries with which I am well acquainted; sailed with him from Glenelg to Rasay, Sky, Rum, Col, Mull, and Icolmkill, but have not been able to correct him in any matter of consequence. I have often admired the accuracy, the precision, and the justness of what

he advances, respecting both the country and the people.

"The Doctor has every where delivered his sentiments with freedom, and in many instances ^See Journal of a Tour [p. 431].

520

to the

Hebrides, 3rd edit., p.

BOSWELL

240

with a seeming regard for the benefit of the inhabitants and the ornament of the country. His remarks on the want of trees and hedges for shade, as well as for shelter to the cattle, are well

founded, and merit the thanks, not the illiberal censure of the natives. He also felt for the distresses of the Highlanders, and explodes with great propriety the bad management of the grounds, and the neglect of timber in the Hebrides."

Having quoted Johnson's just compliments on Rasay family, he says: "On the other hand,

the

family equally lavish in their enthe Doctor's conversation, and his subsequent civilities to a young gentleman of that country, who, upon waiting upon him at London, was well received, and experienced all I

found

this

comiums upon

the attention

and regard that a warm friend

could bestow. Mr. Macleod having also been in London, waited upon the Doctor, who provided a magnificent and expensive entertainment in honour of his old Hebridean acquaintance." And talking of the military road by Fort Augus-

he says: "By this road, though one of the most rugged in Great Britain, the celebrated Dr. Johnson passed from Inverness to the Hebride Isles. His observations on the country and people are extremely correct, judicious, and instructus,

tive."i

Mr. Tytler, the acute and able vindicator of in one of his letters to Mr. James Elphinstone, published in that gentleman's Forty Tears'' Correspondence, says: "I read Dr. Johnson's Tour with very great

Mary Queen of Scots,

Some few err ours he has fallen into, but of no great importance, and those are lost in the numberless beauties of his work. "If I had leisure, I could perhaps point out the most exceptionable places; but at present I am in the country, and have not his book at hand. It is plain he meant to speak well of Scotland; and he has in my apprehension done us

pleasure.

[1775

and countrymen, in his Journey. Had there been any just ground for such a charge, would the virtuous and candid Dempster have given his opinion of the book, in the terms which I have quoted? Would

jurious treatment of their country

the patriotick Knox^ have spoken of done? Would Mr. Tytler, surely a Scot,

if ever

Scot

it

as he has

there were,

have expressed himself thus? And let me add, that, citizen of the world as I hold myself to be, I have that degree of predilection for my natale solum, nay, I have that just sense of the merit of an ancient nation, which has been ever renowned for its valour, which in former times maintained its independence against a powerful neighbour, and in modern times has been equally distinguished for its ingenuity

and industry

should have

felt a generous indignation at any injustice done to it. Johnson treated Scotland no worse than he did even his best friends, whose characters he used to give as they appeared to him, both in light and shade. Some people, who had not exercised their minds sufficiently, condemned him for censuring his friends. But Sir Joshua Reynolds, whose philosophical penetration and justness of thinking were not less known to those who lived with him, than his genius in his art is admired by the world, explained his conduct thus: "He was fond of discrimination, which he could not shew with-

in civilized

life,

that

I

out pointing out the bad as well as the good in every character; and as his friends were those whose characters he knew best, they afforded him the best opportunity for showing the acuteness of his judgement."

He

expressed to his friend Mr. Windham of wonder at the extreme jealousy of

Norfolk, his

ments towards the people who showed him civilities, that no man whose temper is not very harsh and sour, can retain a doubt of the good-

the Scotch, and their resentment at having their country described by him as it really was; when, to say that it was a country as good as England, would have been a gross falsehood. "None of us, (said he,) would be off'ended if a foreigner who has travelled here should say, that vines and olives don't grow in England." And as to his prejudice against the Scotch, which I always ascribed to that nationality which he observed in them, he said to the same gentleman, "When I find a Scotchman, to whom an Englishman is as a Scotchman, that Scotchman shall be as an Englishman to me." His intimacy with many

ness of his heart.

gentlemen of Scotland, and

great honour in the most capital article, the character of the inhabitants." His private letters to Mrs. Thrale, written during the course of his journey, which therefore may be supposed to convey his genuine feelings at the time, abound in such benignant senti-

It

is

painful to recollect with

what rancour he

was assailed by numbers of shallow irritable North Britons, on account of his supposed iniPage 103.

his

employing so

21 observed with much regret, while the first edition of this work was passing through the press (Aug. 1790), that this ingenious gentleman was

dead.

LIFE OF

1775]

many natives of that country as his amanuenses, prove that his prejudice was not virulent; and I have deposited in the British Museum, amongst other pieces of his writing, the following note in answer to one from me, asking if he would meet me at dinner at the Mitre, though a friend of mine, a Scotchman, was to be there: "Mr. Johnson does not see why Mr. Boswell should suppose a Scotchman less acceptable than any other man. He will be at the Mitre." My much-valued friend Dr. Barnard, now Bishop of Killaloe, having once expressed to him an apprehension, that if he should visit Ireland he might treat the people of that country more unfavourably than he had done the Scotch, he answered with strong pointed doubleedged wit, "Sir, you have no reason to be afraid of me. The Irish are not in a conspiracy to cheat the world by false representations of the merits of their countrymen. No, Sir; the Irish are a fair people; they never speak well of one another."

—

Johnson told me of an instance of Scottish nationality, which made a very unfavourable impression upon his mind. A Scotchman, of some consideration in London, solicited him to recommend, by the weight of his learned authority, to be master of an English school, a person of whom he who recommended him confessed he knew no more but that he was his countryman. Johnson was shocked at this unconscientious conduct. All the miserable cavillings against his Journey,

and other fugitive from certain knowl-

in newspapers, magazines,

publications, I can speak

edge, only furnished there

came out a

him with

sport.

At

last

scurrilous volume, larger than

Johnson's own, filled with malignant abuse, under a name, real or fictitious, of some low man in an obscure corner of Scotland, though supposed to be the work of another Scotchman, who has found means to make himself well known both in Scotland and England. The effect

had upon Johnson was, to produce observation to Mr. Seward, to he lent the book: "This fellow must be

which

it

this pleasant

whom

a blockhead. They don't know how to go about their abuse. Who will read a five shilling book against me? No, Sir, if they had wit, they should have kept pelting me with pamphlets."

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, Feb.

i8,

1775

JOHNSON We

.

.

.

James Boswell

You would have been very well pleased if you had dined with me to-day. I had for my guests, Macquharrie, young Maclean of Col, the successor of our friend, a very amiable man, though not marked with such active qualities as his

241

Mr. Maclean

of Torloisk in Mull, a gentleman of Sir Allan's family; and two of the clan Grant; so that the Highland and Hebridean genius reigned. had a great deal of conversation about you, and drank your health in a bumper. The toast was not proposed by me, which is a circumstance to be remarked, for I am now so connected with you, that any thing that I can say or do to your honour has not the value of an additional compliment. It is only giving you a guinea out of that treasure of admiration which already belongs to you, and which is no hidden treasure; for I suppose my admiration of you is co-existent with the knowledge of my character. I find that the Highlanders and Hebrideans in general are much fonder of your Journey than the low-country or hither Scots. One of the Grants said to-day, that he was sure you were a man of a good heart, and a candid man, and seemed to hope he should be able to convince you of the antiquity of a good proportion of the poems of Ossian. After all that has passed, I think the matter is capable of being proved to a certain degree. I am told that Macpherson got one old Erse MS. from Clanranald, for the restitution of which he executed a formal obligation; and it is affirmed, that the Gaelick (call it Erse or call it Irish,) has been written in the Highlands and Hebrides for many centuries. It is reasonable to suppose, that such of the inhabitants as acquired any learning, possessed the art of writing as well as their Irish neighbours, and Celtick cousins; and the question is, can suflficient evidence be shewn of this? Those who are skilled in ancient writings can determine the age of MSS. or at least can ascertain the century in which they were written; and if men of veracity, who are so skilled, shall tell us that MSS. in the possession of families in the Highlands and isles are the works of a remote age, I think we should be convinced by their testimony. There is now come to this city, Ranald Macdonald from the Isle of Egg, who has several MSS. of Erse poetry, which he wishes to publish by subscription. I have engaged to take three copies of the book, the price of which is to be six shillings, as I would subscribe for all the Erse that can be printed be it old or new, that the language may be preserved. This man says, that some of his manuscripts are ancient; and, to be sure, one of them which was shewn to me does appear to have the duskyness of antiquity. The enquiry is not yet quite hopeless, and I should think that the exact truth may be discovered, if proper means be used. I am, &c.

brother;

Dear books for

To James Boswell, Esq. am sorry that I could get no my friends in Scotland. Mr. Strahan

Sir, I

BOSWELL

242

promised to send two dozen to you. If they come, put the names of my friends into them; you may cut them out\ and paste them with a little starch in the book. You then are going wild about Ossian. Why do you think any part can be proved? The dusky manuscript of Egg is probably not fifty years old; if it be an hundred, it proves nothing. The tale of Clanranald is no proof. Has Clanranald told it? Can he prove it? There are, I believe, no has at last

Erse manuscripts. None of the old families had a single letter in Erse that we heard of. You say it is likely that they could write. The learned, if any learned there were, could; but knowing by that learning, some written language, in that language they wrote, as letters had never been applied to their own. If there are manuscripts, let them be shewn, with some proof that they are not forged for the occasion. You say many

can remember parts of Ossian.

I believe all those parts are versions of the English; at least there is no proof of their antiquity. Macpherson is said to have made some translations himself; and having taught a boy to write it, ordered him to say that he had learnt it of his grandmother. The boy, when he grew up, told the story. This Mrs. Williams heard at Mr. Strahan's table. Don't be credulous; you know little a Highlander can be trusted. Macpherson is, so far as I know, very quiet. Is not that proof enough? Every thing is against him. No visible manuscript; no inscription in the language: no correspondence among friends: no

how

transaction of business, of which a single scrap

remains in the ancient families. Macpherson's pretence is, that the character was Saxon. If he had not talked unskilfully of manuscripts, he might have fought with oral tradition much longer.

As

Mr. Grant's information,

to

much less of the

pose he knows

I

sup-

matter than our-

selves.

In the

mean

time, the bookseller says that the They printed four thou-

sale^ is sufficiently quick.

sand. Correct your copy wherever it is wrong, and bring it up. Your friends will all be glad to see you. I think of going myself into the country

about May. I am sorry that I have not managed to send the book sooner. I have left four for you, and do not restrict you absolutely to follow my directions in the distribution. You must use your own

discretion.

Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell: I suppose she is now just beginning to forgive me. I am, dear Sir, your humble servant, Sam. Johnson Feb. 25, 1775

On Tuesday, March 2 1 I arrived in London; and on repairing to Dr. Johnson's before dinner, ,

'From a

list

in his hand-writing. to the Western Islands of Scotland.

^Of his Journey

[1775

found him in

with Mr. Peter Garrick, the elder brother of David, strongly resembling him in countenance and voice, but of more sedate and placid manners. Johnson informed me, that "though Mr. Beauclerk was in great pain, it was hoped he was not in danger, and that he now wished to consult Dr. Heberden to try the effect of a new understanding." Both at this interview, and in the evening at Mr. Thrale's, where he and Mr. Peter Garrick and I met again, he was vehement on the subject of the Ossian controversy; observing, "We do not know that there are any ancient Erse manuscripts; and we have no other reason to disbelieve that there are men with three heads, but that we do not know that there are any such men." He also was outrageous, upon his supposition that my countrymen "loved Scotland better than truth," saying, "All of them, nay not all, but droves of them, would come up, and attest any thing for the honour of Scotland." He also persevered in his wild allegation, that he questioned if there was a tree between Edinburgh and the English border older than himself. I assured him he was mistaken, and suggested that the proper punishment would be that he should receive a stripe at every tree above a hundred years old, that was found within that space. He laughed, and said, "I believe I might submit to it for a baubee !" The doubts which, in my correspondence with him, I had ventured to state as to the justice and wisdom of the conduct of GreatBritain towards the American colonies, while I at the same time requested that he would enable me to inform myself upon that momentous subject, he had altogether disregarded; and had recently published a pamphlet, entitled, Taxation no Tyranny; an Answer to the Resolutions and his study, sitting

—

—

Address of the American Congress. * He had long before indulged most unfavour-

able sentiments of our fellow-subjects in

Amer-

769, I was told by Dr. John Campbell, that he had said of them, "Sir, they

ica. For, as early as

1

and ought to be thankful any thing we allow them short of hanging." Of this performance I avoided to talk with him; for I had now formed a clear and settled opinion, that the people of America were well warranted to resist a claim that their fellowsubjects in the mother-country should have the entire command of their fortunes, by taxing them without their own consent; and the extreme violence v»^hich it breathed, appeared to me so are a race of convicts,

for

unsuitable to the mildness of a Christian philosopher, and so directly opposite to the princi-

— LIFE OF

1775]

which he had so beautifully recommended in his pamphlet respecting Falkland's Islands, that I was sorry to see him appear in so

JOHNSON

243

pies of peace

tile to the legislature

unfavourable a

avowed?" After the paragraph which now concludes the pamphlet, there followed this, in which he certainly means the great Earl of Chatham, and glances at a certain popular Lord Chancellor.

ceive in

it

could not per-

light. Besides, I

that ability of argument, or that felic-

ity of expression, for

which he was, upon other

occasions, so eminent. Positive assertion, sarcastical severity,

and extravagant

which of truth, were

ridicule,

he himself reprobated as a test united in this rhapsody. That this pamphlet was written at the desire of those who were then in power, I have no doubt; and, indeed, he owned to me, that it had been revised and curtailed by some of them. He told me, that they had struck out one passage,

which was

to this effect:

— "That the Colonists

could with no solidity argue from their not having been taxed while in their infancy, that they should not now be taxed. We do not put a calf into the plow; we wait till he is an ox." He said, "They struck it out either critically as too ludicrous, or politically as too exasperating. I care

not which.

It

was

an architect and the man who

their business. If

says, I will build five stories,

employs him says, I will have only three, the employer is to decide." "Yes, Sir, (said I,) in ordinary cases. But should it be so when the

and labour

architect gives his skill

"If, by the fortune of war, they drive us utterly

away, what they will do next can only be conjectured. If a new monarchy

will want a King. hand the sceptre of America, should have a name of good omen. William has been known both as conqueror and deliverer; and perhaps

He who first

is erected, they

takes into his

England, however contemned, might yet supply them with

ANOTHER WiLLiAM.

willing

be governed;

to

William may tals,

and

and

Whigs, indeed, are not it is

King

possible that

be strongly inclined to guide

Whigs have

measures: but

their

been cheated like other mor-

suffered their leader to become their tyrant,

under the name of their

Protector. What more

they

from England, no man can tell. In their rudiments of empire they may want a Chancellor." Then came this paragraph: will receive

" Their numbers

are, at present, not quite sufficient

for the greatness which,

in

some form of government or monarchies; but by Dr.

other, is to rival the ancient

Franklin's rule of progression, they will, in a century

and a

quarter, be

Europe.

gratis?"

can be openly formed and openly

When

more than equal

the

to the

Whigs of America

inhabitants of

are thus multi-

Unfavourable as I am constrained to say my opinion of this pamphlet was, yet, since it was congenial with the sentiments of numbers at that time, and as everything relating to the writings of Dr. Johnson is of importance in literary history, I shall therefore insert some passages which were struck out, it does not appear

plied, let the Princes of the earth tremble in their pal-

why, either by himself or those who revised it. They appear printed in a few proof leaves of

pages.

it

in

his

by

my possession, marked

own

handwriting.

with corrections in

I shall

distinguish

them

Italicks.

In the paragraph where he says the Americans were incited to resistance by European intelligence

from

their friends, but

"Men whom

selves," there followed, ishness, the enemies of their

And

they thought

who were friends only to them"and made by country"

aces. If they should continue to double their

own hemisphere would

with delight

How

it

to this futurity

ended

I

double,

to

not our boldest oppugners of authority look

But

let

forward

of Whiggism."

know

not, as

abruptly at the foot of the

it

is

cut off

last of these

proof

His pamphlets in support of the measures of administration were published on his own account, and he afterwards collected them into a volume, with the title of Political Tracts, by the Authourofthe Rambler, with this motto: Fallitur egregio quisquis sub Priiwipe credit

Servitium;

Quam

nunquam

libertas gratior extat

sub Regepio.

their self-

— "On the

and

not contain them.

Claudianus

an insulted navengeance." The paragraph which came next was in these words: ''''Unhappy is that country in which men can hope for advancement by favouring its enemies. The

These pamphlets drew upon him numerous common weapons of literary warfare he was hardened; but there were two instances of animadversion which I communicated to him, and from what I could judge, both from his silence and his looks, appeared to me to impress him much.

tranquillity of stable government is not always easily preserved against the machinations of single innovators;

sioned by his late political Publications. It

but what can be the hope of quiet,

previous to his Taxation no Tyranny, and was

the next paragraph ran thus:

original contrivers of mischief, rather than on those

whom

they have deluded, let

tion pour out

its

when factions

hos-

attacks. Against the

One

was,

A

letter to

Dr. Samuel Johnson, occa-

appeared

—

BOSWELL

244

written by Dr. Joseph Towers. In that performance, Dr. Johnson was treated with the respect due to so eminent a man, while his conduct as a political writer was boldly and pointedly arraigned, as inconsistent with the character of if he did employ his pen upon poli"It might reasonably be expected should distinguish himself, not by party violence and

one, who, tics,

rancour, but by moderation and by wisdom."

—

concluded thus: "I would, however, wish you to remember, should you again address the publick under the character of a political writer, that luxuriance of imagination or energy of language will ill compensate for the want of canIt

dour, of justice, and of truth. And I shall only add, that should I hereafter be disposed to read, as I heretofore have done, the most excellent of zill your performances, The Rambler, the pleasure

which I have been accustomed to find in it will be much diminished by the reflection that the writer of so moral, so elegant, and so valuable a work, was capable of prostituting his talents in such productions as

Thoughts on

the

The False Alarm, the

Transactions respecting Falkland's

and The Patriot." am willing to do justice

Islands, I

to the merit of Dr.

Towers, of whom I will say, that although I abhor his Whiggish democratical notions and propensities, (for I will not call them principles,) I esteem him as an ingenious, knowing, and very convivial man. The other instance was a paragraph of a letter to me, from my old and most intimate friend, the Reverend Mr. Temple, who wrote the character of Gray, which has had the honour to be adopted both by Mr. Mason and Dr. Johnson in their accounts of that poet. The words were, "How can your great, I will not say your pious, but your moral friend, support the barbarous measures of administration, which they have not the face to ask even their infidel pensioner

—

Hume to defend." However confident of the rectitude

of his

own

mind, Johnson may have felt sincere uneasiness that his conduct should be erroneously imputed

unworthy motives, by good men; and that the influence of his valuable writings should on to

that account be in

any degree obstructed or

lessened.

He complained to a Right Honourable friend and very elegant manwith whom he maintained a long intimacy, and whose generosity towards him will afterwards appear, that his pension having been given to him as a literary character, he had been of distinguished talents ners,

applied to by administration to write political

[1775

pamphlets; and he was even so much irritated, that he declared his resolution to resign his pension. His friend shewed him the impropriety of such a measure, and he afterwards expressed his gratitude, and said he had received good advice. To that friend he once signified a wish to have his pension secured to him for his life; but he neither asked nor received from government any reward whatsoever for his political labours.

On Friday, March 24, I met him at the Literary Club, where were Mr. Beauclerk, Mr. Langton, Mr. Colman, Dr. Percy, Mr. Vesey, Sir Charles Bunbury, Dr. George Fordyce, Mr. Steevens, and Mr. Charles Fox. Before he came in, we talked of his Journey to the Western Islands, and of his coming away "willing to believe the second sight,"^ which seemed to excite some ridwas then so impressed with the truth of it which I had been told, avowed my conviction, saying, "He is on-

icule. I

many that

I

of the stories of

ly willing to believe: I do believe.

enough

me, though not

The evidence

mind. a pint bottle. I am filled with belief." "Are you? (said Colman,) then cork it up." I found his Journey the common topick of conversation in London at this time, wherever I happened to be. At one of Lord Mansfield's formal Sunday evening conversations, strangely called Levees, his Lordship addressed me, "We have all been reading your travels, Mr. Boswell." I answered, "I was but the humble attendant of Dr. Johnson." The Chief Justice replied, with that air and manner which none, who ever saw and heard him, can forget, "He speaks ill of nobody but Ossian." Johnson was in high spirits this evening at the club, and talked with great animation and success. He attacked Swift, as he used to do upon is

What

for

will not

fill

for his great

a quart bottle will

fill

occasions. The Tale of a Tub is so much superiour to his other writings, that one can hardly believe he was the authour of it:^ "there is in all

^Johnson's Journey to the Western Islands of Scot1 785, p. 256. ^This doubt has been much agitated on both sides, I think without good reason. See Addison's Freeholder, May 4, 171 4; An Apology for the Tale of Dr. Hawkesworth's Preface to Swift's a Tub; Works, and Swift's Letter to Tooke the Printer, and Tooke's Answer, in that collection; SheriMr. Courtenay's note on p. 3 dan's Life of Swift; of his Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral Character of Dr. Johnson; and Mr. Cooksey's Essay on the Life and Character of John Lord Somers, Baron of Evesham. Dr. Johnson here speaks only to the internal evidence. I take leave to differ from him, having a very high estimation of the powers of Dr. Swift. His Sentiments of a Church-of-England-man, his Sermon on land, ed.

—

—

—

— LIFE OF

1775]

swarm

JOHNSON

245

own accord, allowed very great merit to the inventory of articles found in the pocket of the

and fashionable actress. He told us, the play was to be The Hypocrite, altered from Gibber's Nonjuror, so as to satirize the Methodists. "I do not think (said he,) the character of The Hypocrite justly applicable to the Methodists, but it was very applicable to the Nonjurors. I once said to Dr. Madan, a clergyman of Ireland, who was a great Whig, that perhaps a Nonjuror would have been less criminal in taking the oaths imposed by the ruling power, than re-

Man Mountain, particularly the description of his

fusing them; because refusing them, necessarily

watch, which it was conjectured was his God, as he consulted it upon all occasions. He observed, that "Swift put his name to but two things, (after he had a name to put,) The Plan

laid

it

such a vigour of mind, such a

thoughts, so I

wondered

much

of nature,

to hear

him say

and

of

art,

and

of

life."

Gulliver'' s Travels,

once you have thought of big men and men, it is very easy to do all the rest." I endeavoured to make a stand for Swift, and tried to rouse those who were much more able to defend him; but in vain. Johnson at last, of his

"When

little

for the Improvement of the English Language, the last Drapier^s Letter."

and

From Swift, there was an easy transition to Mr. Thomas Sheridan. ^Johnson. "Sheridan is a wonderful admirer of the tragedy of Douglas, and presented its authour with a gold medal. Some years ago, at a coffee-house in Oxford, I called to him, 'Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Sheridan, how came you to give a gold medal to Home, for writing that foolish play?' This, you see, was wanton and insolent; but I meant to be wanton and insolent. A medal has no value but as a stamp of merit. And was Sheridan to assume to himself the right of giving that stamp? If Sheridan was magnificent enough to bestow a gold

medal

an honorary reward of dramatick excellence, he should have requested one of the Universities to choose the person on whom it should be conferred. Sheridan had no right to give a stamp of merit: it was counterfeiting as

Apollo's coin."

On Monday, March

27, I breakfasted

with

Mr. Strahan's. He told us, that he was engaged to go that evening to Mrs. Abington's benefit. "She was visiting some ladies whom I was visiting, and begged that I would come to

him

at

her benefit. insisted so

I

told her I could not hear: but she

much on my coming,

that

it

would

have been brutal to have refused her." This was a speech quite characteristical. He loved to bring forward his having been in the gay circles of life; and he was, perhaps, a little vain of the solicita-

and other serious pieces, prove his learning as well as his acuteness in logick and metaphysicks; and his various compositions of a different cast exhibit not only wit, humour, and ridicule; but a knowledge "of nature, and art, and life": a combination therefore of those powers, when (as the Apology says,) "the authour was young, his invention at the heighth, and his reading fresh in his head," might surely produce The Tale of a Tub. the Trinity,

tions of this elegant

him under almost an irresistible temptation more criminal; for, a man must live, and if

to be

he precludes himself from the support furnished by the establishment, will probably be reduced to very wicked shifts to maintain himself."^ Bosw^LL. "I should think, Sir, that a man who took the oaths contrary to his principles, was a determined wicked man, because he was sure he was committing perjury; whereas a Nonjuror might be insensibly led to do what was wrong, without being so directly conscious of it "Johnson. Why, Sir, a man who goes to bed to his patron's wife is pretty sure that he is committing wickedness." BoswELL. "Did the nonjuring clergymen do so. Sir?" Johnson. "I am afraid many of them did." I was startled at his argument, and could by no means think it convincing. Had not his own '

.

'

was not merely a cursory remark; for in he observes, "With many other wise and virtuous men, who at that time of discord and debate (about the beginning of this century) ^This

his Life of Fenton

consulted conscience [whether] well or ill informed, more than interest, he doubted the legality of the government; and refusing to qualify himself for publick employment, by taking the oaths required, left the University without a degree." This conduct Johnson calls "perverseness of integrity." The question concerning the morality of taking oaths, of whatever kind, imposed by the prevailing power at the time, rather than to be excluded from all consequence, or even any considerable usefulness in society, has been agitated with all the acuteness of casuistry. It is related, that he who devised the oath of abjuration, profligately boasted that he had framed a test which should "damn one half of the nation, and starve the other." Upon minds not exalted to inflexible rectitude, or minds in which zeal for a party is predominant to excess, taking that oath against conviction may have been palliated under the plea of necessity, or ventured upon in heat, as upon the whole producing more good

than evil. At a county election in Scotland, many years ago, when there was a warm contest between the friends of the Hanoverian succession, and those against it, the oath of abjuration having been demanded, the freeholders upon one side rose to go away. Upon which a very sanguine gentleman, one of their number, ran to the door to stop them, calling out with much earnestness, "Stay, stay, friends, and let us swear the rogues out of it!"

my

BOSWELL

246

father complied with the requisition of government, (as to which he once observed to me, when I pressed him upon it, " That, Sir, he was to settle with himself,") he would probably have thought more unfavourably of a Jacobite who took the oaths:

had he not resembled

My father as he swore

.

Mr. Strahan talked of launching into the great ocean of London, in order to have a chance for rising into eminence; and, observing that many men were kept back from trying their fortunes there, because they were born to a competency, said, "Small certainties are the bane of men of talents";

which Johnson confirmed. Mr.

Strahan put Johnson in mind of a remark which he had made to him; "There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money." "The more one thinks of this, (said Strahan,) the juster it will appear." Mr. Strahan had taken a poor boy from the country as an apprentice, upon Johnson's recommendation. Johnson having enquired after him, said, "Mr. Strahan, let me have five guineas on account, and I'll give this boy one. Nay, if a man recommends a boy, and does nothing for him, it is sad work. Call him down." I followed him into the court-yard, behind Mr. Strahan's house; and there I had a proof of what I had heard him profess, that he talked alike to all. "Some people tell you that they let themselves down to the capacity of their hearnever do that. I speak uniformly, in as in-

ers. I

a

telligible

for

how

but they are afraid

I

an't strong

parts of the business." Johnson. "Why be sorry for it; for when you consider with

mental power and corporeal labour a it is a very desirable occupation for you. Do you hear, take all the pains you can; and if this does not do, we must think of some other way of life for you. little

—

There's a guinea."

Here was one of the many, many instances of benevolence. At the same time, the slow and sonorous solemnity with which, while he bent himself down, he addressed a little thick his active

short-legged boy, contrasted with the boy's auk-

wardness and awe, could not but excite some ludicrous emotions.

met him

it:

Adams

they are really national.

are as liberal-minded

from that nationality: but so it happens, that you employ the only Scotch shoeblack in London." He imitated the manner of his old master with ludicrous exaggeration; repeating, with pauses and half-whistlings inderfully free

terjected,

Os homini sublime dedit, Jussit,

—

et erectos

— calumque —

adsidera

tueri

tollere vultus:

enough

printer can get a guinea a week,

I

Why, now the men as any in the world: but, I don't know how it is, all their workmen are Scotch. You are, to be sure, wondeny

as I can."

some

I shall

the nationality of the Scotch, which he maintained in a pleasant manner, with the aid of a little poetical fiction. "Come, come, don't icks,

my boy, how do you go on?" — "Pretty

"Well, well. Sir;

manner

[1775

her benefit; and having secured forty places in the front boxes, had done me the honour to put me in the group. Johnson sat on the seat directly behind me; and as he could neither see nor hear at such a distance from the stage, he was wrapped up in grave abstraction, and seemed quite a cloud, amidst all the sunshine of glitter and gaiety. I wondered at his patience in sitting out a play of five acts, and a farce of two. He said very little; but after the prologue to Bon Ton had been spoken, which he could hear pretty well from the more slow and distinct utterance, he talked of prologue-writing, and observed, "Dryden has written prologues superiour to any that David Garrick has written; but David Garrick has written more good prologues than Dryden has done. It is wonderful that he has been able to write such variety of them." At Mr. Beauclerk's, where I supped, was Mr. Garrick, whom I made happy with Johnson's praise of his prologues; and I suppose, in gratitude to him, he took up one of his favourite top-

at Drury-lane play-house in the

evening. Sir Joshua Reynolds, at Mrs. Abington's request, had promised to bring a body of wits to

looking downwards all the time, and, while pronouncing the four last words, absolutely touching the ground with a kind of contorted gesticulation.

Garrick, however,

when he pleased, could im-

Johnson very exactly; for that great actor, with his distinguished powers of expression which were so universally admired, possessed also an admirable talent of mimickry. He was always jealous that Johnson spoke lightly of him. I recollect his exhibiting him to me one day, as if saying, "Davy has some convivial pleasantry about him, but 'tis a futile fellow"; which he uttered perfectly with the tone and air of itate

Johnson. I cannot too frequently request of my readers, while they peruse my account of Johnson's conversation, to endeavour to keep in mind his de-

—

"

LIFE OF

1775]

and strong utterance. His mode of speaking was indeed very impressive;^ and I wish it

liberate

could be preserved as musick is written, according to the very ingenious method of Mr. Steele, ^ who has shewn how the recitation of Mr. Garrick, and other eminent speakers, might be transmitted to posterity in score. ' Next day I dined with Johnson at Mr. Thrale's.

He attacked Gray, calling him "a dull fellow." BoswELL. "I understand he was reserved, and might appear dull in company; but surely he was not dull in poetry." Johnson. "Sir, he was dull in company, dull in his closet, dull every where. He was dull in a new way, and that made many people think him great. He was a mechanical

He

poet."

then repeated some ludicrous

which have escaped

my memory,

and

lines,

said, "Is

not that GREAT, like his Odes?" Mrs. Thrale maiintained that his Odes were melodious; upon which he exclaimed, " Weave

the

warp, and weave the woof;

—

JOHNSON ;

from the station which she was origwould support her only in that which she herself had chosen; and would not put her on a level with my other herself

inally entitled to hold, I

daughters. I

added, in a solemn tone, " The winding-sheet oj Edward'' s race.

There is a good line." "Ay, (said he,) and the next line is a good one, (pronouncing it contemptuously;) "^

"Give ample verge and room enough. Sir, there are but two good stanzas in Gray's poetry, which are in his Elegy in a Country Church-yard." He then repeated the stanza,

"No,

For who

to

dumb forgetjulness a prey, &c.

^My

noble friend Lord Pembroke said once to me at Wilton, with a happy pleasantry and some truth, that "Dr. Johnson's sayings would not appear so extraordinary, were it not for his bow-wow way." The sayings themselves are generally of sterling merit; but, doubtless, his manner was an addition to their efTect; and therefore should be attended to as much as may be. It is necessary, however, to guard those who were not acquainted with him, against overcharged imitations or caricatures of his manner, which are frequently attempted, and many of which are second-hand copies from the late Mr. Henderson the actor, who, though a good mimick of some persons, did not represent Johnson correctly. ^See Prosodia Rationalis; or, an Essay towards establishing the Melody and Measure of Speech, to be expressed and perpetuated by peculiar Symbols. London,

247

mistaking one word for instead oi precincts he said confines. He added, "The other stanza I forget." A young lady who had married a man much her inferiour in rank being mentioned, a question arose how a woman's relations should behave to her in such a situation; and, while I recapitulate the debate, and recollect what has since happened, I cannot but be struck in a manner that delicacy forbids me to express. While I contended that she ought to be treated with an inflexible steadiness of displeasure, Mrs. Thrale was all for mildness and forgiveness, and, according to the vulgar phrase, "making the best of a bad bargain." Johnson. "Madam, we must distinguish. Were I a man of rank, I would not let a daughter starve who had made a mean marriage; but having voluntarily degraded

You

are to consider.

Madam,

that

our duty to maintain the subordination of civilized society; and when there is a gross and shameful deviation from rank, it should be punished so as to deter others from the same it is

perversion."

After frequently considering this subject,

I

am

more and more confirmed in what I then meant to express, and which was sanctioned by the authority, and illustrated by the wisdom, of Johnson; and I think it of the utmost consequence to the happiness of Society, to which subordination is absolutely necessary. It is weak, and contemptible, and unworthy, in a parent to relax in such a case. It

is

sacrificing general

advan-

And let it be considered, that the claim of a daughter who has acted thus, tage to private feelings.

to be restored to her former situation, fantastical or unjust. If there be

is

either

no value

in the

what does she suffer by bethe situation to which she has des-

distinction of rank,

ing kept in

cended? If there be a value in that distinction, it ought to be steadily maintained. If indulgence be shewn to such conduct, and the offenders know that in a longer or shorter time they shall be received as well as if they had not contaminated their blood by a base alliance, the great check

1779^I use the phrase in

upon that inordinate caprice which generally ocand the fair and comfortable order of improved life will

plained

be miserably disturbed.

it

score, as Dr. Johnson has exin his Dictionary: "A song in Score,

words with the musical notes of a song annexed." But I understand that in scientifick prothe

means

the parts of a musical composition noted down in the characters by which it is exhibited to the eye of the skilful. priety

it

all

casions low marriages will be removed,

Lord Chesterfield's Letters being mentioned, Johnson said, "It was not to be wondered at that they had so great a sale, considering that they were the letters of a statesman, a wit, one

.

BOSWELL

248

who had been

so

much

the mouths of

in

mankind, one long accustomed

virilm

volitare

per or a."

March 31,! supped with him and some friends at a tavern. One of the company attempted, with too much forwardness, to rally

On

Friday,

him on his had reason

late

appearance at the theatre; but

to repent of his temerity.

"Why,

Sir,

did you go to Mrs. Abington's benefit? Did you see?" Johnson. "No, Sir." "Did you hear?" Johnson. "No, Sir." "Why, then, Sir, did you go?" Johnson. "Because, Sir, she is a favourite of the publick; and when the publick cares the

thousandth part for you that go to your benefit too."

it

does for her,

I

will

Next morning I won a small bet from Lady Diana Beauclerk, by asking him as to one of his particularities, which her Ladyship laid I durst not do. It seems he had been frequently observed at the Club to put into his pocket the Seville oranges, after he had squeezed the juice of them into the drink which he made for himself. Beauclerk and Garrick talked of it to me, and seemed to think that he had a strange unwillingness to be discovered. We could not divine what he did with them; and this was the bold question to be put. I saw on his table the spoils of the preceding night, some fresh peels nicely scraped and cut into pieces.

"O,

Sir, (said I,) I

now

[1775 Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen, The honour of the degree of M.A. by diploma, formerly conferred upon Mr. Samuel John-

son, in consequence of his having eminently distinguished himself by the publication of a series of Essays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality has been maintained and recommended by the strongest powers of argument and elegance of language, reflected an equal degree of lustre upon the University itself. The many learned labours which have since that time employed the attention and displayed

the abilities of that great man, so much to the advancement of literature and the benefit of the community, render him worthy of more distinguished honours in the Republick of letters: and I persuade myself, that I shall act agreeably to the sentiments of the whole University, in desiring that it may be proposed in Convocation to confer on him the degree of Doctor in Civil Law by diploma, to which I readily give my consent;

and am, Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen, your affectionate friend and servant,

Northi Downing-street, March 23, 1775

Diploma

CANCELLARIUS,

pervenerint, salutem in

partly

what you do with the squeezed oranges which you put into your pocket at the Club." John-

Magistri,

et

Scholar es Univer-

Oxoniensis omnibus ad quos presentes Litera

sitatis

SciATis,

Domino Sempiternam.

virum illustrem,

Samuelem John-

see

son, in omni humaniorum literarum genere eruditum,

son. "I have a great love for them." Bosw^ell.

omniumque scientiarum comprehensione felicissimum, scriptis suis, ad popularium mores formandos summd

what do you do with them? You seems, very neatly, and what next?" Johnson. "Let them dry. Sir." Boswell. "And what next?" Johnson. "Nay, Sir, you shall know their fate no further." Boswtell. "Then the world must be left in the dark. It must be

"And pray,

Sir,

scrape them,

it

mock solemnity,) he scraped them dry, but what he did with

said (assuming a

them, and

them

let

upon to you should say it more

next, he never could be prevailed

Johnson. "Nay, Sir, emphatically: he could not be prevailed upon, even by his dearest friends, to tell." tell."

—

He had Doctor of

morning received his Diploma as Laws from the University of Oxford. this

He

did not vaunt of his new dignity, but I understood he was highly pleased with it. I shall here insert the progress and completion of that high academical honour, in the same manner as I have traced his obtaining that of Master of Arts.

To

the

verborum elegantid ac sententiarum gravitate compoolim inclaruisse, ut dignus videretur cui ab

ita

sitis,

Academid sud eximia qucedam laudis pramia

dejer-

venerabilem Magistro-

entur [deferrentur] quique

\iri\

rum Ordinem summd cum

dignitate cooptaretur:

Ciim

eundem clarissimum virum

verb

tot posted,

tantique labores, in patrid prcesertim lingua ornandd et stabiliendd Jeliciter

impensi, ita insigniverint, ut in

jam et Primarius Nos Cancellarius, Magistri, et

Literarum Republicd Princeps jure habeatur;

Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis, quo talis viri merita

pari honoris remuneratione excsquentru,

petuum sum simul

et

per-

laudis, nostraque ergd literas pro-

pensissima voluntatis extet monumentum, in solenni Convocatione Doctorum

et

Magistrorum Regentium,

non Regentium, prcedictum

Doctorem

in

mus, eumque

Jure

et

Samuelem Johnson

Civili renunciavimus et constitui-

virtute prcesentis

ibus, privilegiis et honoribus,

Diplomatis singulis jur-

ad istum gradum qudqud

pertinentibus, Jrui et gaudere jussimus. In cujus ret

Reverend Dr. Fothergill, Vice-Chancellor

testimonium commune Universitatis Oxoniensis sigil-

University of Oxford, to be communithe Heads oj Houses, and proposed in Con-

lum prcesentibus apponi Jecimus ^Extracted from the Convocation Register, Ox-

oj the cated to vocation

ford.

—

— LIFE OF

1775] Datum mo Mensis

in

Domo

nostra Convocationis die tricesi-

Martii, Anno Domini Millesimo septin-

gentesimo, septuagesimo quinto}

Thom^

Reverendo

Viro

Fothergill, S.T.P.

Universitatis Oxoniensis Vice-Cancellario. S. P.

D.

Sam. Johnson

MULTIS

non

est

opus,

ut testimonium

quo, te

nomen meum posteris commenddrunt, quali animo acceperim compertum faciam. Nemo sibi placens non latatur; nemo sibi non placet, qui

prceside, Oxonienses

Hoc tamen

literarum arbitris, placere potuit.

vobis,

habet incommodi tantum beneficium, quod mihi nun-

quam posthdc

sine vestrce

liceat vel cessare;

hi

tam

semperque

Jama sit

detrimento vel labi

timendum, ne quod mi-

eximicB laudi est, vobis aliquando fiat oppro-

Vale}

brio.

^ Id. Apr., 1775

He

some sheets of Lord Hailes's Anand wrote a few notes on the margin with red ink, which he bade me tell his Lordship did not sink into the paper, and might be wiped off with a wet sponge, so that he did not spoil his manuscript. I observed to him that revised

nals of Scotland,

there were very few of his friends so accurate as that

I

could venture to put

down

in writing

what they told me as his sayings. Johnson. "Why should you write down my sayings?" Boswell. "I write them when they are good." Johnson. "Nay, you may as well write down the sayings of any one else that are good." But where, I might ^The original is in my possession. He shewed me the Diploma, and allowed me to read it, but would not consent to my taking a copy of it, fearing perhaps that I should blaze it abroad in his life-time. His objection to this appears from his 99th letter to Mrs. Thrale, whom in that letter he thus scolds for the grossness of her flattery of him: "The other Oxford news is, that they have sent me a degree of Doctor of Laws, with such praises in the Diploma as perhaps ought to make me ashamed: they are very like your praises. I wonder whether I shall ever shew it to you." It is remarkable that he never, so far as I know, assumed his title of Doctor, but called himself Mr. Johnson, as appears from many of his cards or notes to myself; and I have seen many from him to other persons, in which he uniformily takes that designation. I once observed on his table a letter directed to him with the addition of Esquire, and objected to it as being a designation inferiour to that of Doctor; but he checked me, and seemed pleased with it, because, as I conjectured, he liked to be sometimes taken out of the class of literary men, and to be merely gewiee/, un gentilhomme comme

—

un

autre.

^The original

is in the hands of Dr. Fothergill, then Vice- Chancellor, who made this transcript. T. Warton.

JOHNSON

249

with great propriety have added, can

I find

such? I visited him by appointment in the evening, and we drank tea with Mrs. Williams. He told me that he had been in the company of a gentleman whose extraordinary travels had been much

the subject of conversation. But I found that he had not listened to him with that full confidence, without which there is little satisfaction in the soI was curious to hear what opinion so able a judge as Johnson had formed of his abilities, and I asked if he was not a man of sense. Johnson. "Why, Sir, he is not a distinct relater; and I should say, he is neither abounding nor deficient in sense. I did not perceive any superiority of understanding." Boswell. "But will you not allow him a nobleness of resolution, in penetrating into distant regions?" Johnson. "That, Sir, is not to the present purpose. We are talking of his sense. A fighting cock has a nobleness of resolution." Next day, Sunday, April 2, I dined with him at Mr. Hoole's. We talked of Pope. Johnson. "He wrote his Dunciad for fame. That was his primary motive. Had it not been for that, the dunces might have railed against him till they were weary, without his troubling himself about them. He delighted to vex them, no doubt; but he had more delight in seeing how well he could vex them." The Odes to Obscurity and Oblivion, in ridicule of "cool Mason and warm Gray," being men-

ciety of travellers.

tioned, Johnson said, things."

Upon its

lieved these

"They

are Colman's best

being observed that

it

was be-

Odes were made by Colman and

Lloyd jointly; ^Johnson. "Nay, Sir, how can two people make an Ode? Perhaps one made one of them, and one the other." I observed that two people had made a play, and quoted the anecdote of Beaumont and Fletcher, who were brought under suspicion of treason, because while concerting the plan of a tragedy sitting together at a tavern, one of them

when

was overheard saying

to the other,

"FU

kill

the King." Johnson. "The first of these Odes is the best: but they are both good. They ex-

posed a very bad kind of writing." Boswell. "Surely, Sir, Mr. Mason's Elfrida is a fine

Poem: at least you will allow there are some good passages in it." Johnson. "There are now and then some good imitations of Milton's bad manner." I often wondered at his low estimation of the writings of Gray and Mason. Of Gray's poetry I have in a former part of this work expressed my high opinion; and for that of Mr. Mason I

—

BOSWELL

250

[1775

have ever entertained a warm admiration. His Elfrida is exquisite, both in poetical description and moral sentiment; and his Caractacus is a noble drama. Nor can I omit paying my tribute of

talked of the cheerfulness of Fleet-street, owing to the constant quick succession of people

praise to some of his smaller poeins, which I have read with pleasure, and which no criticism shall persuade me not to like. If I wondered at Johnson's not tasting the works of Mason and Gray, still more have I wondered at their not

pearance; but I think the full tide of human existence is at Charing-cross." He made the common remark on the unhappiness which men who have led a busy life experience, when they retire in expectation of enjoying themselves at ease, and that they generally languish for want of their habitual occupation, and wish to return to it. He mentioned as strong an instance of this as can well be imagined. "An eminent tallow-chandler in London, who had acquired a considerable fortune, gave up the trade in favour of his foreman, and went to live at a country-house near town. He soon grew weary, and paid frequent visits to his old shop, where he desired they might let him know their melting-days, and he would come and assist them; which he accordingly did. Here, Sir, was a man, to whom the most disgusting circumstance in the business to which he had been used

tasting his works; that they should be insensible to his

ages,

energy of diction, to

and comprehension

his

splendour of im-

of thought. Tastes

may

hautboy, in short all the lesser instruments: but who can be insensible to the powerful impressions of the madiffer as to the violin, the flute, the

jestick organ?

His Taxation no Tyranny being mentioned, he I have not been attacked enough for it. Attack is the re-action; I never think I have hit hard, unless it rebounds." BosvraLL. "I don't know. Sir, what you would be at. Five or six shots of small arms in every newspaper, and repeated cannonading in pamphlets, might, I think, satisfy you. But, Sir, you'll never make out this match, of which we have talked, with a said, "I think

you are so severe against her principles." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, I have the better chance for that. She is like the Amazons of old; she must be courted by the sword. But I have not been severe upon her." Bosw^i.L. "Yes, Sir, you have made her ridiculous." Johnson. "That was already done, Sir. To endeavour to make her ridiculous, is like blacking the chimney." certain political lady, since

I

put him in mind that the landlord at Ellon

in Scotland said, that he heard he est

man

in England,

"Ay,

Sir,

idea.

A

was the great-

— next to Lord Mansfield.

(said he,) the exception defined the

Scotchman could go no

farther:

Theforce of Nature could no farther go."

Lady

Miller's collection of verses

by fashion-

able people, which were put into her Vase at

Batheaston villa, near Bath, in competition for honorary prizes, being mentioned, he held them very cheap: "Bouts rimes (said he,) is a mere conceit, and an old conceit now; I wonder how people were persuaded to write in that manner for this lady." I named a gentleman of his acquaintance who wrote for the Vase. Johnson. "He was a blockhead for his pains. " Boswell. "The Duchess of Northumberland wrote." Johnson. "Sir,

Northumberland may do what nobody will say anything to a lady her high rank. But I should be apt to throw

the Duchess of

she pleases: of

******'s verses in his face."

I

which we perceive passing through it. Johnson. "Why, Sir, Fleet-street has a very animated ap-

was a

relief

from

idleness."

On Wednesday,

April 5, I dined with him at with Mr. John Scott of Amwell, the Quaker, Mr. Langton, Mr. Miller, (now Sir John,) and Dr. Thomas Campbell, an Irish clergyman, whom I took the liberty of inviting to Mr. Dilly's table, having seen him at Mr. Thrale's, and been told that he had come to England chiefly with a view to see Dr. Johnson, for whom he entertained the highest veneration. He has since published A Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland, a very entertaining book, which has, however, one fault; that it assumes the fictitious character of an English-

Messieurs

Dilly's,

—

man.

We "We

talked of publick speaking.

^Johnson.

must not estimate a man's powers by

his

being able or not able to deliver his sentiments in publick. Isaac Hawkins Browne, one of the first wits of this country, got into Parliament, and never opened his mouth. For my own part, I think it is more disgraceful never to try to speak, than to try it and fail; as it is more disgraceful not to fight, than to fight and be beaten." This argument appeared to me fallacious; for if a man has not spoken, it may be said that he would have done very well if he had tried; whereas, if he has tried and failed, there is nothing to be said for him. "Why then, (I asked,) is it thought disgraceful for a man not to fight, and not disgraceful not to speak in publick?" Johnson. "Because there may be other reasons for a man's not speaking in publick than want of res-

LIFE OF

1775] olution: he may have Whereas, Sir, you know courage

nothing to say, (laughing.) is

reckoned the

greatest of all virtues; because, unless a

man has

that virtue, he has no security for preserving any other." He observed, that "the statutes against brib-

ery were intended to prevent upstarts with money from getting into Parliament"; adding, that "if he were a gentleman of landed property, he would turn out all his tenants who did not vote

whom

he supported." Langton. "Would not that, Sir, be checking the freedom of election?" Johnson. "Sir, the law does not mean that the privilege of voting should be independent of old family interest; of the per-

for the candidate

JOHNSON

251

whom

he had an extraordinary partiality,) "Charles the Second was licentious in his practice; but he always had a reverence for what was good. Charles the Second knew his people, and rewarded merit. The Church was at no time better filled than in his reign. He was the best King we have had from his time till the reign of his present Majesty, except James the Second, who was a very good King, but unhappily believed

for

that

it

was necessary for the salvation

Roman

of his sub-

He had the merit of endeavouring to do what he thought was for the salvation of the souls of his

jects that they should be

Catholicks.

of conversation:

a great Empire. We, who should not be saved if we were Roman Catholicks, had the merit of maintaining our religion, at the expence of submitting ourselves to the government of King William, to the (for it could not be done otherwise,) government of one of the most worthless scoundrels that ever existed. No; Charles the Second (naming another was not such a man as King). He did not destroy his father's will. He took money, indeed, from France: but he did not betray those over whom he ruled: he did not

for

let

manent property

of the country."

On

Thursday, April 6, I dined with him at Mr. Thomas Davies's, with Mr. Hicky, the painter, and my old acquaintance Mr. Moody, the player.

Dr. Johnson, as usual, spoke contemptuously is wonderful that a man, who for forty years had lived with the great and the witty, should have acquired so ill the talents of Colley Gibber. "It

and he had but half to furnish; one half of what he said was oaths." He, however, allowed considerable merit to some of his comedies, and said there was no reason to believe that the Careless Husband was not written by himself. Davies said, he was the first dramatick writer who introduced genteel ladies upon the stage. Johnson refuted this observation by instancing several such characters in comedies before his time. Davies. (trying to defend himself from a charge of ignorance,) "I mean genteel moral characters." "I think (said Hicky),

and morality are inseparable." Boswell. "By no means. Sir. The genteelest characters are often the most immoral. Does not Lord Chesterfield give precepts for uniting wickedness and the graces? A man, indeed, is not genteel when he gets drunk; but most vices may be committed very genteelly: a man may debauch his friend's wife genteelly: he may cheat at cards genteelly." Hicky. "I do not think that gentility

subjects,

till

thought that

he

lost

we

—

,

the French fleet pass ours. George the First

nothing, and desired to know nothing; did nothing, and desired to do nothing: and the only good thing that is told of him is, that he wished

knew

to restore the

crown

to

its

hereditary successor."

He

roared with prodigious violence against George the Second. When he ceased, Moody interjected, in an Irish tone, and with a comick look, "Ah! poor George the Second." I mentioned that Dr. Thomas Campbell had

come from

Ireland to London, principally to see He seemed angry at this observa-

Dr. Johnson. tion. Davies.

a

"Why, you know.

Sir,

there

came

man from Spain to see Livy;^ and Corelli came

genteel

England to see Purcell, and when he heard he was dead, went directly back again to Italy." Johnson. "I should not have wished to be dead to disappoint Campbell, had he been so foolish as you represent him; but I should have wished to have been a hundred miles off." This was apparently perverse; and I do believe it was not his real way of thinking: he could not but like a man who came so far to see him. He laughed with some complacency, when I told him Campbell's odd expression to me concerning him: "That having seen such a man, was a thing to as if he could live so talk of a century hence,"

vey,

long.

is

it may not be like a be genteel." Johnson.

genteel." Boswell. "Sir,

gentleman, but

it

may

are meaning two different things. One means exteriour grace; the other honour. It is certain that a man may be very immoral with

"You

exteriour grace. Lovelace, in Clarissa,

is

a very

and a very wicked character. Tom Herwho died t'other day, though a vicious man,

was one of the genteelest men that ever

lived."

Tom Davies iristanced Charles the Second. Johnson (taking

fire at

any attack upon that Prince,

to

—

We got into an argument whether the Judges who went

might with propriety engage book ii, ep. 3.

to India

^Pliny, Epist.,

BOSWELL

252

in trade. Johnson warmly maintained that they might. "For why (he urged,) should not Judges get riches, as well as those who deserve them less?" I said, they should have sufficient salaries, and have nothing to take oflF their attention from the aflfairs of the publick. Johnson. "No Judge, Sir, can give his whole attention to his office; and it is very proper that he should employ what time

he has to himself, to

his

own advantage,

most profitable manner." "Then,

in the

Sir, (said

Da-

enlivened the dispute by making it somewhat dramatick,) he may become an insurer; and when he is going to the bench, he vies,

who

—

be stopped, 'Your Lordship cannot go is a bunch of invoices: several ships are about to sail.' " Johnson. "Sir, you may as well say a Judge should not have a house; for they may come and tell him, 'Your Lordship's house

may

yet: here

is

on

fire'

;

and

so,

instead of minding the busiis to be occupied in getting

ness of his Court, he

the engine with the greatest speed. There is no of this. Every Judge who has land, trades to

end

a certain extent in corn or in cattle; and in the land itself, undoubtedly. His steward acts for him, and so do clerks for a great merchant. A Judge may be a farmer; but he is not to geld his pigs. A Judge may play a little at cards for amusement; but he is not to play at marbles, or at chuck-farthing in the Piazza. No, Sir; there is no profession to which a man gives a very

own his

great proportion of his time. It

when

a calculation

is

made, how

is

wonderful

little

the

mind

employed in the discharge of any profession. No man would be a Judge, upon the condition of being totally a Judge. The best employed lawyer has his mind at work but for a is

actually

small proportion of his time: a great deal of his occupation is merely mechanical. I once wrote for a magazine: I made a calculation, that if I should write but a page a day, at the same rate, I should, in ten years, write nine volumes in folio, of an ordinary size

and print." Boswell. "Such

Johnson. "Yes, Sir. When a own mind, he writes very rapidly.^ The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write: a man will turn over half a library to make one book." I argued warmly against the Judges trading, and mentioned Hale as an instance of a perfect Judge, who devoted himself entirely to his office. Johnson. "Hale, Sir, attended to other things besides law: he left a great estate." Boswell. as Carte's

man

History^''''

writes from his

ijohnson certainly did, who had a mind stored with knowledge, and teeming with imagery: but the observation is not appUcable to writers in general.

[1775

"That was, because what he got, accumulated without any exertion and anxiety on his part." While the dispute went on. Moody once tried to say something upon our side. Tom Davies clapped him on the back, to encourage him. Beauclerk, to

whom

I

mentioned

this

circum-

stance, said, "that he could not conceive a

more

humiliating situation than to be clapped on the back by Tom Davies."

We spoke of Rolt,

to whose Dictionary of ComJohnson wrote the Preface. Johnson. "Old Gardner the bookseller employed Rolt and Smart to write a monthly miscellany, called The Universal Visitor. There was a formal written contract, which Allen the printer saw. Gardner thought as you do of the Judge. They were bound to write nothing else; they were to have, I think, a third of the profits of this sixpenny pamphlet; and the contract was for ninety-nine years. I wish I had thought of giving this to Thurlow, in the cause about Literary Property. What an excellent instance would it have been of the op-

merce Dr.

pression of booksellers towards poor authours

!" ^

honour of

the

(smiling.) Davies, zealous for the

Gardner was not properly a bookseller. Johnson. "Nay, Sir; he certainly was a bookseller. He had served his time regularly, was a member of the Stationers' company, kept a shop in the face of mankind, purchased copyright, and was a bibliopole, Sir, in every sense. I wrote for some months in The Universal Visitor, for poor Smart, while he was mad, not then knowing the terms on which he was engaged to write, and thinking I was doing him good. I hoped his wits would soon return to him. Mine returned to me, and I wrote in The Universal Visiter no longer." Friday, April 7, I dined with him at a Tavern, with a numerous company. Johnson. "I have been reading Twiss's Travels in Spain, which are just come out. They are as good as the first book of travels that you will take up. They are as good as those of Keysler or Blainville; nay, as Addison's, if you except the learning. They are not so good as Brydone's, but they are better Trade., said,

than Pococke's. I have not, indeed, cut the leaves yet; but I have read in them where the pages are open, and I do not suppose that what is in the pages which are closed is worse than what is in the

open pages.

It

would seem (he added,)

^There has probably been some mistake as to the terms of this supposed extraordinary contract, the recital of which from hearsay aflforded Johnson so much play for his sportive acuteness. Or if it was worded as he supposed, it is so strange that I should conclude it was a joke. Mr. Gardner, I am assured, was a worthy and a liberal man.

— LIFE OF

1775] learning, for

had not acquired much Italian we do not find it introduced into

his writings.

The

that Addison

is

only instance that

I recollect,

his quoting ''Stavo bene; per star meglio, sto qui.'

"^

mentioned Addison's having borrowed many of his classical remarks from Leandro Alberti. Mr. Beauclerk said, "It was alledged that he had borrowed also from another Italian authour." Johnson. "Why, Sir, all who go to look for what the Classicks have said of Italy, must find the same passages; and I should think it would be one of the first things the Italians would do on the revival of learning, to collect all that the Roman authours have said of their I

country."

Ossian being mentioned; ^Johnson. "Supposing the Irish and Erse languages to be the same, which I do not believe, yet as there is no reason to suppose that the inhabitants of the Highlands and Hebrides ever wrote their native language, it is not to be credited that a long poem was preserved among them. If we had no evidence of the art of writing being practised in one of the counties of England, we should not believe that a long poem was preserved there, though in the neighbouring counties, where the same language was spoken, the inhabitants could

Beauclerk. "The ballad of Lilliburlero was once in the mouths of all the people of this country, and is said to have had a great effect in bringing about the Revolution. Yet I question whether any body can repeat it now; which write.

shews how improbable it is that much poetry should be preserved by tradition." One of the company suggested an internal objection to the antiquity of the poetry said to be Ossian's, that we do not find the wolf in it, which must have been the case had it been of that age. The mention of the wolf had led Johnson to think of other wild beasts; and while Sir Joshua Reynolds and Mr. Langton were carrying on a dialogue about something which engaged them earnestly, he, in the midst of it, broke out, "Pennant tells of Bears " [what he added, I have forgotten.] They went on, which he being dull of hearing, did not p>erceive, or, if he did, was not willing to break off" his talk; so he continued

—

and Bear ("like a word in a catch" as Beauclerk said,) was repeatedly heard at intervals, which coming from him who, by those who did not know him, had been so ofto vociferate his remarks,

ten assimilated to that ferocious animal, while we who were sitting around could hardly stifle ^Addison does not mention where this epitaph, which has eluded a very diligent inquiry, is found. [M.]

JOHNSON

253

laughter, produced a very ludicrous effect. Silence having ensued, he proceeded: "We are told, that the black bear is innocent; but I should

not like to trust myself with him." Mr. Gibbon muttered, in a low tone of voice, "I should not like to trust myself with j'om." This piece of sarcastick pleasantry was a prudent resolution, if applied to a competition of abilities. Patriotism having become one of our topicks, Johnson suddenly uttered, in a strong deter-

mined

tone,

an apophthegm, at which many

will start: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoun-

drel."

But

mean a

let it

be considered, that he did not

and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak for real

self-interest. I

maintained, that certainly

all

pa-

were not scoundrels. Being urged, (not by Johnson,) to name one exception, I mentioned an eminent person, whom we all greatly admired. Johnson. "Sir, I do not say that he is not honest; but we have no reason to conclude from his political conduct that he is honest. Were he to accept of a place from this ministry, he would lose that character of firmness which he has, and might be turned out of his place in a year. This ministry is neither stable, nor grateful to their friends, as Sir Robert Walpole was, so that he triots

may

think

it

more

for his interest to take his

chance of his party coming in." Mrs. Prichard being mentioned, he said, "Her playing was quite mechanical. It is wonderful how little mind she had. Sir, she had never read the tragedy of Macbeth all through. She no more thought of the play out of which her part was taken, than a shoemaker thinks of the skin, out of which the piece of leather, of which he is making a pair of shoes, is cut." On Saturday, May 8, 1 dined with him at Mr. Thrale's, where we met the Irish Dr. Campbell.

Johnson had supped the night before at Mrs. Abington's, with some fashionable people whom he named; and he seemed much pleased with having made one in so elegant a circle. Nor did he omit to pique

his mistress a little

with jealousy

of her housewifery; for he said, (with a smile,)

"Mrs. Abington's jelly, my dear lady, was better than yours." Mrs. Thrale, who frequently practised a coarse mode of flattery, by repeating his bon-mots in his hearing, told us that he had said, a certain celebrated actor was just fit to stand at the door of an auction-room with a long pole, and cry "Pray gentlemen, walk in" and that a certain authour, ;

upon hearing this, had said, that another still more celebrated actor was fit for nothing better

BOSWELL

254

and would pick your pocket zifter you came out. Johnson. "Nay, my dear lady, there is no wit in what our friend added; there is only abuse. You may as \s'ell say of any man that he will than

pick a pocket. Besides, the man who is stationed at the door does not pick people's pockets; that

done within, by the auctioneer." Mrs. Thrale told us, that Tom Davies repeated, in a very bald manner, the story of Dr. Johnson's first repartee to me, which I have related exactly.^ He made me say, "I was born in is

Scotland," instead of "I come from Scotland"; so that Johnson saying, "That, Sir, is what a great

countrymen cannot help," had meaning: and that upon this being mentioned to Mr. Fitzherbert, he ob-

many no

of your

point, or even

served, "It

is

not every

man

that can carry a bon

mot."

On Monday, April lo, I dined with him at General Oglethorpe's, with Mr. Langton and the Irish Dr. Campbell, whom the General had obligingly given me leave to bring with me. This learned gentleman was thus gratified with a very high intellectual feast, by not only being in company with Dr. Johnson, but with General Oglethorpe, who had been so long a celebrated name both at home and abroad.^ I must, again and again, intreat of my readers not to suppose that my imperfect record of conversation contains the whole of what was said by Johnson, or other eminent persons who lived with him. What I have preserved, however, has the value of the most perfect authenticity. He this day enlarged upon Pope's melancholy Man never is,

but always to

be

blest.

^See ante, p. no. ^Let me here be allowed to pay my tribute of most sincere gratitude to the memory of that excellent person, my intimacy with whom was the

more valuable to me, because my first acquaintance with him was unexpected and unsolicited. Soon

my Account oj Corsica,

after the publication of me the honour to call on

he did

me

me, and, approachwith a frank courteous air, said, "My name,

is Oglethorpe, and I wish to be acquainted with you." I was not a little flattered to be thus addressed by an eminent man, of whom I had read in Pope, from my early years,

Sir,

Or, driven by strong benevolence of soul. Will fly, like Oglethorpe, from pole to pole.

was fortunate enough to be found worthy of his good opinion, insomuch, that I not only was invited to make one in the many respectable companies whom he entertained at his table, but had a cover at his hospitable board every day when I happened to be disengaged; and in his society I never failed to enjoy learned and animated conI

versation, seasoned with genuine sentiments of virtue and religion.

[1775 asserted that the present

was never a happy

any human being; but that, as every of which we are conscious, was at some point of time a period yet to come, in which felicity was expected, there was some happiness produced by hope. Being prsssed upon this subject, and asked if he really was of opinion, that though, in general, happiness was very rare in human life, a man was not sometimes happy in the moment that was present, he answered, state to

part of

life,

"Never, but when he is drunk." He urged General Oglethorpe to give the world his Life. He said, "I know no man whose Life would be more interesting. If I were furnished with materials, I should be very glad to write

it."^

Mr. Scott of Amwell's Elegies were lying in the room. Dr. Johnson observed, "They are very well; but such as twenty people might write." Upon this I took occasion to controvert Horace's maxim, mediocribus essepoetis

Non Di, For here, poet,

non homines, non concessere eolumna.

observed,) was a very middle-rate

(I

who

pleased

many

readers,

and therefore

poetry of a middle sort was entitled to some esteem; nor could I see why poetry should not, like every thing else, have different gradations of excellence, and consequently of value. Johnson repeated the common remark, that, "as there is no necessity for our having poetry at all, it being merely a luxury, an instrument of pleasure, in

remark,

ing

He

that,

its

it

can have no value, unless when exquisite

kind."

I

declared myself not satisfied.

then. Sir, (said he,) tle it."

He was

not

"Why

Horace and you must

much

in the

humour

set-

of talk-

ing.

No more of his conversation for some days apmy journal, except that when a gentleman told him he had bought a suit of lace for

pears in

he said, "Well, Sir, you have done a good thing and a wise thing." "I have done a good thing, (said the gentleman,) but I do not know that I have done a wise thing." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; no money is better spent than what is

his lady,

laid out for

domestick

satisfaction.

A man

is

3The General seemed unwilling to enter upon it at this time; but upon a subsequent occasion he communicated to me a number of particulars, which I have committed to writing; but I was not sufficiently diligent in obtaining more from him, not apprehending that his friends were so soon to lose him; for, notwithstanding his great age, he was very healthy and vigorous, and was at last carried off by a violent fever, which is often fatal at any period of

life.

a

LIFE OF

1775]

pleased that his wife is drest as well as other people; and a wife is pleased that she is drest." On Friday, April 14, being Good-Friday, I repaired to him in the morning, according to my usual custom on that day, and breakfasted with him. I observed that he fasted so very strictly, that he did not even taste bread, and took no milk with his tea; I suppose because it is a kind of animal food.

He entered upon the state of the nation, and thus discoursed: "Sir, the great misfortune now is, that government has too little power. All that it has to bestow must of necessity be given cannot reward merit. now be made a Bishop for his learning and piety ;^ his only chance for promotion is his being connected with somebody who has parliamentary interest. Our several ministries in this reign have outbid each to support

No man,

itself;

so that

for instance,

it

can

other in concessions to the people. Lord Bute, though a very honourable man, a man who meant well, a man who had his blood full of prerogative, was a theoretical statesman, book-minister, and thought this country could

— —

—

—

—

be governed by the influence of the Crown alone. Then, Sir, he gave up a great deal. He advised the King to agree that the Judges should hold their places for

life,

instead of losing

them

new King. Lord Bute, I make the King popular by

accession of a

at the

suppose,

thought to this concession; but the people never minded it; and it was a most impolitick measure. There is no reason why a Judge should hold his office for life, more than any other person in publick trust. A Judge may be partial otherwise than to the Crown: we have seen Judges partial to the pop-

A Judge may become corrupt, and yet may not be legal evidence against him. A Judge may become froward from age. A Judge may grow unfit for his office in many ways. It ulace.

there

was desirable that there should be a possibility of being delivered from him by a new King. That is now gone by an act of Parliament ex gratia of the Crown. Lord Bute advised the King to give up a very large sum of money, ^ for which ^From

this too just

observation there are some

eminent exceptions. ^The money arising from the property of the prizes taken before the declaration of war, which were given to his Majesty by the peace of Paris, and amounted to upwards of £700,000, and from the lands in the ceded islands, which were estimated at £200,000 more. Surely there was a noble munificence in this gift from a Monarch to his people. And let it be remembered, that during the Earl of Bute's administration, the King was graciously pleased to give up the hereditary revenues of the Grown, and to accept, instead of them, of

JOHNSON nobody thanked him.

255 It

was of consequence

to

the King, but nothing to the publick, among whom it was divided. When I say Lord Bute ad-

mean, that such acts were done when he and we are to suppose that he advised them. Lord Bute shewed an undue partiality to Scotchmen. He turned out Dr. Nichols, a very eminent man, from being physician to the King, to make room for one of his countrymen, a man very low in his profession. He had *********** 3j-j^ **** ^Q gQ Qj^ errands for him. He had occasion for people to go on errands for him; but he should not have had Scotchmen; and, certainly, he should not have suflfered them to have access to him before the first people in England." I told him, that the admission of one of them before the first people in England, which had given the greatest offence, was no more than what happens at every minister's levee, where

vised, I

was

minister,

—

who attend are admitted in the order that they haue come, which is better than admitting them according to their rank; for if that were to be the rule, a man who has waited all the morning might have the mortification to see a peer, newly come, go in before him, and keep him waiting still. Johnson. "True, Sir; but **** should not have come to the levee, to be in the way of people of consequence. He saw Lord Bute at all times; and could have said what he had to say at any time, as well as at the levee. There is now no Prime Minister: there is only an those

agent for government in the House of Commons. We are governed by the Cabinet: but there is no one head there since Sir Robert Walpole's time." BoswELL. "What then, Sir, is the use of Parliament?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, Parliament is a larger council to the King; and the advantage of such a council is, having a great number of men of property concerned in the legislature, who, for their own interest, will not consent to bad laws. And you must have observed, Sir, that administration is feeble and timid, and cannot act with that authority and resolution which is necessary. Were I in power, I would turn out every man who dared to oppose me. Government has the distribution of offices, that it may be enabled to maintain its authority."

the limited sum of £800,000 a year; upon which Blackstone observes, that "The hereditary revenues, being put under the same management as the other branches of the publick patrimony, wUl produce more, and be better collected than heretofore; and the publick is a gainer of upwards of £ 1 00,000 /)«r annum by this disinterested bounty of his Majesty." Book i. Chap. 8, p. 330.

BOSWELL

256

[1775

"Lord Bute (he added,) took down too fast, without building up something new." Boswell.

had drunk tea with Mrs. Williams, he asked me to go up to his study with him, where we sat a

Sir, he found a rotten building. The coach was drawn by a set of bad horses: it was necessary to change them." Johnson. "But he should have changed them one by

long while together in a serene undisturbed frame of mind, sometimes in silence, and some-

"Because, political

one." I

told

him

that

I

had been informed by Mr.

many parts of the East-Indies were better mapped than the Highlands of Scotland. Johnson. "That a country may be mapped, it Orme,

that

must be travelled over." "Nay, (said I, meaning to laugh with him at one of his prejudices,) can't you say, it is not worth mapping?" As we walked to St. Clement's church, and

saw several shops open upon

most solemn I remarked, that one disadvantage arising from the immensity of London, was, that nobody was heeded by his neighbour; there was no fear of censure for not observing Good-Friday, as it ought to be this

fast-day of the Christian world,

and as it is kept in country-towns. He said, upon the whole, very well observed even in London. He, however, owned, that London was too large; but added, "It is nonsense to say the head is too big for the body. It would be as much too big, though the body were ever so large; that is to say, though the country were ever so extensive. It has no similarity to a head kept, it

was,

connected with a body." Dr. Wetherell, Master of University College, Oxford, accompanied us home from church; and after he was gone, there came two other gentlemen, one of whom uttered the commonplace complaints, that by the increase of taxes, labour would be dear, other nations would undersell us, and our commerce would be ruined.

Johnson (smiling,) "Never fear, Sir. Our commerce is in a very good state; and suppose we had no commerce at all, we could live very well on the produce of our own country." I cannot omit to mention, that I never knew any man who was less disposed to be querulous than Johnson. Whether the subject was his own situation, or the state of the publick, or the state of

human

nature in general, though he saw the mind was turned to resolution, and never to whining or complaint. We went again to St. Clement's in the afternoon. He had found fault with the preacher in the morning for not choosing a text adapted to the day. The preacher in the afternoon had chosen one extremely proper: "It is finished." After the evening service, he said, "Come, evils, his

you shall go home with me, and sit just an hour." But he was better than his word; for after we

times conversing, as we felt ourselves inclined, or more properly speaking, as he was inclined; for during all the course of my long intimacy with him, my respectful attention never abated, and my wish to hear him was such, that I constantly watched every dawning of communication from that great and illuminated mind. He observed, "All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inI would not rather know it than not. In the same manner, all power, of whatever sort, is of itself desirable. A man would not submit to learn to hem a ruffle, of his wife, or his wife's maid; but if a mere wish could attain it, he would rather wish to be able to hem a ruffle." He again advised me to keep a journal fully and minutely, but not to mention such trifles as,

considerable, that

meat was too much or too little done, or was fair or rainy. He had, till very near his death, a contempt for the notion that

that the weather

that the weather

him

aff'ects

the

human

frame.

had said had come too late into the world, for that Pope and other poets had taken up the places in the Temple of Fame; so that, as but a few at any period can possess poetical reputaI

told

that our friend Goldsmith

to me, that he

tion, a man of genius can now hardly acquire it. Johnson. "That is one of the most sensible things I have ever heard of Goldsmith. It is difficult to get literary fame, and it is every day growing more difficult. Ah, Sir, that should make a man think of securing happiness in another

world, which attain. In

all

who

try sincerely for

comparison of

that,

how

little

it

may

are

all

other things The belief of immortality is impressed upon all men, and all men act under an impression of it, however they may talk, and though, perhaps, they may be scarcely sensible of it." I said, it appeared to me that some people had not the least notion of immortality; and I !

mentioned a distinguished gentleman of our acquaintance. Johnson. "Sir, if it were not for the notion of immortality, he would cut a throat to fill his pockets." When I quoted this to Beauclerk,

who knew much more

than we did, he

of the gentleman

said, in his acid

would cut a throat

to

fill

manner,

his pockets, if

it

"He were

not for fear of being hanged." Dr. Johnson proceeded: "Sir, there is a great cry about infidelity; but there are, in reality, very few infidels. I have heard a person, orig-

LIFE OF

1775]

Quaker, but now, I am afraid, a Deist, say, that he did not beheve there were, in all England, above two hundred infidels." He was pleased to say, "If you come to settle here, we will have one day in the week on which we will meet by ourselves. That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but a calm quiet interchange of sentiments." In his private register this evening is thus marked, "Boswell sat with me till night; we had some serious talk."^ It also appears from the same record, that after I left him he was occupied in religious duties, in "giving Francis, inally a

some directions for preparation to communicate; in reviewing his life, and resolving on better conduct." The humility and piety which he discovers on such occasions, is truely

JOHNSON

then took occasion to enlarge on the advantages of reading, and combated the idle superficial notion, that

No

however, in the course of his sensible of the unhappy failure of pious resolves, than Johnson. He said one day, talking to an acquaintance on this subject, "Sir, Hell is paved with good inedifying.

saint,

was more

tentions." ^

On Sunday, April i6, being Easter Day, after having attended the solemn service at St. Paul's, I dined with Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Williams. I maintained that Horace was wrong in placing happiness in Nil admirari, for that I thought admiration one of the most agreeable of all our I had lost much of which people generally do as they advance in life. Johnson. "Sir, as a man advances in life, he gets what is better

feelings;

my

and

I

regretted that

disposition to admire,

than admiration

—^judgement, to estimate things

at their true value." I

still

insisted that

admira-

was more pleasing than judgement, as love more pleasing than friendship. The feeling of

knowledge enough

To Bennet Langton, Dear

is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne. Johnson. "No, Sir; admiration and love are like being intoxicated with champagne; judgement and friendship like being enlivened. Waller has hit upon the same thought with you:^ but I don't believe you have borrowed from Waller. I wish you would enable yourself to borrow more."

friendship

^Prayers and Meditations, p. 138.

a proverbial sentence. "Hell," says Herbert, "is full of good meanings and wishings." Jacula Prudentum, p. 11, edit. 1651. [M.] ^Amoret^s as sweet and good. ^This

is

As

the

most delicious food;

Which but tasted does impart Life and gladness to the heart. Sacharissa^ s beauty^ s wine. Which to madness does incline: Such a liquor as no brain

That

is

mortal can sustain.

Esq.

have enquired more minutely about the medicine for the rheumatism, which I am sorry to hear that you still want. The receipt Sir, I

is this:

Take equal quantities of flour of sulphur, and mustard-seed, make them an electuary with honey or treacle; and take a bolus as big as a nutmeg several times a day, as you can bear

flour of

drinking after it a quarter of a pint of the infusion of the root of Lovage. Lovage, in Ray's Nomenclature, is Levisticum: perhaps the Botanists may know the Latin name. Of this medicine I pretend not to judge. There is all the appearance of its efficacy, which a single instance can afford: the patient was very old, the pain very violent, and the relief, I think, speedy and lasting. opinion of alterative medicine is not high, but quid tentasse nocebit? if it does harm, or does no good, it may be omitted; but that it may do good, you have, I hope, reason to think is desired by. Sir, your most aff~ectionate, humble servant, it:

My

Sam. Johnson

tion is

may

be acquired in conversation. "The foundation (said he), must be laid by reading. General principles must be had from books, which, however, must be brought to the test of real life. In conversation you never get a system. What is said upon a subject is to be gathered from a hundred people. The parts of a truth, which a man gets thus, are at such a distance from each other that he never attains to a full view."

his servant,

religious warfare,

257

He

April 17, 1775

On Tuesday, April

he and

were engaged Mr. Cambridge, at his beautiful villa on the banks of the Thames, near Twickenham. Dr. John18,

I

to go with Sir Joshua Reynolds to dine with

was such, that Sir Joshua, who had an appointment at Richmond, early in the day, was obliged to go by himself on horseback, leaving his coach to Johnson and me. Johnson was in such good spirits, that every thing seemed son's tardiness

him as we drove along. conversation turned on a variety of sub-

to please

Our jects.

He thought portrait-painting an improper

employment for a woman. "Publick practice of any art, (he observed,) and staring in men's faces, is very indelicate in a femcde." I happened to start a question, whether, when a man knows that some of his intimate friends are invited to the house of another friend, with whom they are all equally intimate, he may join them with-

—

BOSWELL

258

he is not to out an invitation. Johnson "No, go when he is not invited. They may be invited on purpose to abuse him" (smiHng). As a curious instance how httle a man knows, or wishes to know, his own character in the world, or, rather, as a convincing proof that Johnson's roughness was only external, and did not proceed from his heart, I insert the following dialogue. Johnson. "It is wonderful, Sir, how Sir;

rare a quality

good humour

is

in

life.

We

meet

with very few good humoured men." I mentioned four of our friends, none of whom he would allow to be good humoured. One was acid, another was muddy, and to the others he had objections which have escaped me. Then, shaking his head and stretching himself at ease in the coach, and smiling with much complacency, he turned to me and said, "I look upon

good humoured fellow." The epithet

myself as a

Lexicographer, the stately Moralist, the masterly Critick, as if he had been Sam Johnson, a mere pleasant companion, was highly diverting; and this light notion of himself struck me with wonder. I an-

fellow, applied to the great

swered, also smiling, "No, no. Sir; that will not do. You are good natured, but not good hu-

moured: you are

irascible.

You have not

pa-

and absurdity. I believe you would pardon them, if there were time to deprecate your vengeance; but punishment foltience with folly

lows so quick after sentence, that they cannot escape." I had brought with me a great bundle of Scotch magazines and news-papers, in which his Journey to the Western Islands was attacked in every mode; and I read a great part of them to him, knowing they would afford him entertainment. I wish the writers of them had been present: they would have been sufficiently vexed.

One

ludicrous imitation of his style, by

Maclaurin, the

title

best.

But

Mr.

of the Scotch Judges, with

Lord Dreghorn, was distinguished by

of

him from

now one

the rude mass. "This (said he,) I

could caricature

better myself."

He

is

the

my own style much

defended his remark upon

the general insufficiency of education in Scotland; and confirmed to me the authenticity of

on the learning of the Scotch; "Their learning is like bread in a besieged town: every man gets a little, but no man gets a full meal." "There is (said he,) in Scotland, a difhis witty saying

fusion of learning, a certain portion of

and

thinly spread.

A

it

widely

merchant there has

as

much learning as one of their clergy." He talked of Isaac Walton's Lives, which was one of

his

most favourite books. Dr. Donne's

[1775

was the most perfect of them. He Life, observed, that "it was wonderful that Walton, who was in a very low situation in life, should have been familiarly received by so many great men, and that at a time when the ranks of society were kept more separate than they are now." He supposed that Walton had then given up his business as a linendraper and sempster, and was only an authour; and added, "that he was a great panegyrist." Boswell. "No quality will get a man more friends than a disposition to admire the qualities of others. I do not mean he

said,

but a sincere admiration." Johnson. very generally. In the first place, the flatterer may think what he says to be true: but, in the second place, whether he thinks so or not, he certainly thinks those whom he flatters of consequence enough to be flat-

flattery,

"Nay,

Sir, flattery pleases

tered."

No sooner had we made our bow to Mr. Cambridge, in his library, than Johnson ran eagerly to one side of the room, intent on poring over the backs of the books. Sir Joshua observed, (aside,) "He runs to the books, as I do to the pictures: but I have the advantage. I can see much more of the pictures than he can of the books." Mr. Cambridge, ui>on this, politely said, "Dr. Johnson, I am going, with your pardon, to accuse myself, for I have the same custom which I perceive you have. But it seems odd that one should have such a desire to look at the backs of books." Johnson, ever ready for contest, instantly started from his reverie, wheeled about, and answered, "Sir, the reason is very plain. Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it. When we enquire into any subject, the first thing we have to do is to know what books have treated of it. This leads us to look at catalogues, and the backs of books in libraries." Sir Joshua observed to me the extraordinary promptitude with which Johnson flew upon an argument. "Yes, (said I,) he has no formal preparation, no flourishing with his sword; he is through your body in an instant." Johnson was here solaced with an elegant entertainment, a very accomplished family, and much good company; among whom was Mr. Harris of Salisbury, who paid him many compliments on his Journey to the Western Islands. The common remark as to the utility of read-

ing history being made;—Johnson. "We must consider how very little history there is; I mean real authentick history. That certain Kings

and certain battles were fought, we can depend upon as true; but all the colouring, all

reigned,

— LIFE OF

1775] the philosophy of history

is

conjecture." Bos-

well. "Then, Sir, you would reduce all history no better than an almanack, a mere chronological series of remarkable events." Mr. Gibbon, who must at that time have been employed upon his History, of which he published the first volume in the following year, was present; but to

did not step forth in defence of that species of writing. He probably did not like to trust himself

with Johnson !^

Johnson observed, that the force of our early was so great, that though reason approved, nay, though our senses relished a differhabits

ent course, almost every man returned to them. I do not believe there is any observation upon human nature better founded than this; and, in many cases, it is a very painful truth; for where early habits have been mean and wretched, the

joy and elevation resulting from better modes of life must be damped by the gloomy consciousness of being under an almost inevitable doom to sink back into a situation which we recollect with disgust. It surely may be prevented, by constant attention and unremitting exertion to establish contrary habits of superiour efficacy.

The Beggar'' s Opera, and the common question, whether it was pernicious in its eff"ects, having been introduced; ^Johnson. "As to this matter, which has been very much contested, I myself am of opinion, that more influence has been ascribed to The Beggar'' s Opera, than it in reality ever had for I do not believe that any man was ever made a rogue by being present at its representation. At the same time I do not deny that it may have some influence, by making the character of a rogue familiar, and in some degree ;

pleasing."^ to give a

Then

collecting himself as

heavy stroke: "There

labejactation of all principles, as

is

may

in

were, such a

it

it

be injurious

OHNSQN

259

which we were afraid might burst out. In his Life of Gay, he has been still more decisive as to the inefficiency of The Beggar's Opera in corrupting society. But I have ever thought somewhat differently; for, indeed, not only are the gaiety

and heroism

of a

highwayman very

captivating

arguments adventurous depredation are so plausible,

to a youthful imagination, but the for

and the contrasts vdth. the ordinary and more painful modes of acquiring property are so artfully displayed, that it requires a cool and strong judgement imposing an aggregate: yet, I own, I should be very sorry to have The Beggar's Opera suppressed; for there the allusions so lively,

is

in

it

so

much of real London life,

so

much bril-

and such a variety of airs, which, from early association of ideas, engage, soothe, and enliven the mind, that no performance which liant wit,

the theatre exhibits, delights

The

late ''^worthy"

Thomson,

Duke

me

more.

of Queensberry, as

in his Seasons, justly characterises

him, told me, that when Gay first shewed him The Beggar's Opera, his Grace's observation was, "This is a very odd thing. Gay; I am satisfied that it is either a very good thing, or a very bad thing." It proved the former, beyond the warmest expectations of the authour or his friends. Mr. Cambridge, however, shewed us to-day, that there was good reason enough to doubt concerning its success. He was told by Quin, that during the first night of its appearance it was long in a very dubious state; that there was a disposition to damn it, and that it was saved

by the song. Oh ponder well!

be not severe!

the audience being much affected by the innocent looks of Polly, when she came to those two lines, which exhibit at once a painful and ridic-

ulous image.

to morality."

While he pronounced a comical sort of

J

this response,

restraint,

we

sat in

smothering a laugh,

For on the rope that hangs my Dear, Depends poor Polly's life.

^See ante, p. 253. is

^A very eminent physician, whose discernment and penetrating in judging of the hu-

as acute

man

character as

it

is

in his

own

profession, re-

marked once at a club where I was, that a lively young man, fond of pleasure, and without money, would hardly resist a solicitation from his mistress to go upon the highway, immediately after being present at the representation of The Beggar's Opera. I have been told of an ingenious observation by Mr. Gibbon, that ^^The Beggar's Opera may, perhaps, have sometimes increased the number of highwaymen; but that it has had a beneficial effect in refining that class of men, making them less

more polite, in short, more like gentlemen." Upon this Mr. Courtenay said, that "Gay was the Orpheus of highwaymen." ferocious,

so bad an opinion of it, that he refused the part of Captain Macheath, and gave it to Walker, who acquired great celebrity by his grave yet animated performance of it. We talked of a young gentleman's marriage with an eminent singer, and his determination that she should no longer sing in publick, though his father was very earnest she should, because her talents would be liberally rewarded, so as to make her a good fortune. It was questioned whether the young gentleman, who had not a shiUing in the world, but was blest with very

Quin himself had

uncommon

talents,

was not

foolishly delicate.

26o or foolishly proud, and

BOSWELL his father truely rational

without being mean. Johnson, with all the high spirit of a Roman senator, exclaimed, "He resolved wisely and nobly to be sure. He is a brave man. Would not a gentleman be disgraced by having his wife singing publickly for hire? No, Sir, there can be no doubt here. I know not if I should not prepare myself for a publick singer, as readily as let my wife be one." Johnson arraigned the modern politicks of this country, as entirely devoid of all principle of whatever kind. "Politicks (said he,) are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politicks, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it. How different in that respect is the state of the nation now from what it was in the time of Charles the First, during the Usurpation, and after the Restoration, in the time of Charles the Second. Hudibras affords a strong proof how much hold political principles had then upon the minds of men. There is in Hudibras a great deal of bullion which will always last. But to be sure the brightest strokes of his wit owed their force to the impression of the characters, which was upon men's minds at the time; to their knowing them, at table and in the street; in short, being familiar with them; and above all, to his satire being directed against those whom a little while before they had hated and feared. The nation in general has ever been loyal, has been at all times attached to the monarch, though a few daring rebels have been wonderfully powerful for a time. The murder of Charles the First was undoubtedly not committed with the approbation or consent of the people. Had that been the case, Parliament would not have ventured to consign the regicides to their deserved punishment. And we know what exuberance of joy there was when Charles the Second was restored. If Charles the Second had bent all his mind to it, had made it his sole object, he might have been as absolute as Louis the Fourteenth." A gentleman observed he would have done no harm if he had. Johnson. "Why, Sir, absolute princes seldom do any harm. But they who are governed by them are governed by chance. There is no security for good government." Cambridge. "There have been many sad victims to absolute government." Johnson. "So, Sir, have there been to popular factions." Boswell. "The question is, which is worst, one wild beast or many? "

Johnson praised The Spectator, particularly the character of Sir Roger de Coverley. He said, "Sir Roger did not die a violent death, as has

[1775

been generally fancied. He was not killed; he died only because others were to die, and because his death afforded an opportunity to Addison for some very fine writing. We have the example of Cervantes making Don Quixote die. I never could see why Sir Roger is represented as a little cracked. It appears to me that the story of the widow was intended to have something superinduced upon it: but the superstructure did not come." Somebody found fault with writing verses in a dead language, maintaining that they were merely arrangements of so many words, and laughed at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, for sending forth collections of them not only in Greek and Latin, but even in Syriac,

—

Arabick, and other more

unknown

tongues.

Johnson. "I would have as many of these as possible; I would have verses in every language that there are the

means

of acquiring.

Nobody

imagines that an University is to have at once two hundred poets; but it should be able to show two hundred scholars. Pieresc's death was lamented, I think, in forty languages. And I would have had at every coronation, and every death of a King, every Gaudium, and every Lucius, University verses, in as many languages as can be acquired. I would have the world to be thus told, 'Here is a school where every thing may be learnt.' " Having set out next day on a visit to the Earl of Pembroke, at Wilton, and to my friend, Mr. Temple,^ at Mamhead, in Devonshire, and not having returned to town till the second of May, I did not see Dr. Johnson for a considerable time, and during the remaining part of my stay in London, kept very imperfect notes of his conversation, which had I according to my usual custom written out at large soon after the time, much might have been preserved, which is now irretrievably lost. I can now only record some particular scenes, and a few fragments of his memorabilia. But to make some amends for my relaxation of diligence in one respect, I have to present my readers with arguments upon two law cases, with which he favoured me. On Saturday, the sixth of May, we dined by ourselves at the Mitre, and he dictated to me what follows, to obviate the complaint already mentioned,^ which had been made in the form of an action in the Court of Session, by Dr. Memis, of Aberdeen, that in the same transla-

which physicians were menwas called Doctor of Medicine.

tion of a charter in tioned, he

^See ante, p. 244. 2See ante, p. 235.

1775] "There

LIFE OF are but

two reasons

for

which a phys-

JOHNSON him was

to

because he supposes himself disgraced by the

who Had

common

shares in

with every

name

illustrious

of his profession, with Boerhaave, with Arbuthnot, and with Cullen, can surely diminish no

man's reputation. It is, I suppose, to the docfrom which he shrinks, that he owes his right of practising physick. A doctor of Medicine is a physician under the protection of the laws, and by the stamp of authority. The physician, torate,

is not a Doctor, usurps a profession, and is authorised only by himself to decide upon health and sickness, and life and death. That this gentleman is a Doctor, his diploma makes evident;

who

a diploma not obtruded upon him, but obtained by solicitation, and for which fees were paid.

With what countenance any man can

fuse the title

re-

which he has either begged or

bought, is not easily discovered. "All verbal injury must comprise in it either some false position, or some unnecessary declaration of defamatory truth. That in calling him Doctor, a false appellation was given him, he

himself will not pretend, who at the same time that he complains of the title, would be offended if we supposed him to be not a Doctor. If the title of Doctor be a defamatory truth, it is time to dissolve our colleges; for why should the publick give salaries to men whose approbation is reproach? It may likewise deserve the notice of the publick to consider what help can be given to the professors of physick, who all share with this unhappy gentleman the ignominious appellation, and of whom the very boys in the street are not afraid to say. There goes

"What

is

implied by the term Doctor distinguishes

It

him

to

is

whom

well it

is

granted, as a man who has attained such knowledge of his profession as qualifies him to instruct others.

A

Doctor of Laws

form lawyers by icine

is

a

diseases.

is

a

man who

can

A Doctor of Medcan teach the art of curing an old axiom which no man

his precepts.

man who There

is

has yet thought

Upon

fit

to deny. Nil dat quod non

be Doctor implies skill, for nemo docet quod non didicit. In England, whoever practises physick, not being a Doctor, must practise by a licence: but the doctorate conveys a licence in itself. "By what accident it happened that he and the other physicians were mentioned in different terms, where the terms themselves were equivahabet.

they expected a lawsuit to have been the consequence of such petty variation, I hope they would have avoided it.^ But, probably, as they meant no ill, they suspected no danger, and, therefore, consulted only what appeared to them propriety or convenience." A few days afterwards I consulted him upon a cause, Paterson and others against Alexander and others, which had been decided by a casting vote in the Court of Session, determining that the Corporation of Stirling was corrupt, and setting

some of their officers, bewas proved that three of the leading men who influenced the majority had entered into an unjustifiable compact, of which, however, the majority were ignorant. He dictated aside the election of

cause

it

to me, after a

sentences

"There

this principle to

little

upon

consideration, the following

the subject:

a difference between majority and is applied to number, and superiority to power; and power, like many other things, is to be estimated non numero sed pondere. Now though the greater number is not is

superiority; majority

corrupt, the greater weight

is

corrupt, so that

corruption predominates in the borough, taken collectively, though, perhaps, taken numerically, the greater part may be uncorrupt. That bor-

ough, which is so constituted as to act corruptly, is in the eye of reason corrupt, whether it be by the uncontrollable power of a few, or by an

accidental pravity of the multitude.

The

objec-

urged the injustice of making the innocent suffer with the guilty, is an objection not only against society, but against the

tion, in

which

is

possibility of society. All societies, great

small, subsist

the Doctor.

known.

where

in effect that which was applied the most honourable, perhaps they wrote the paper cannot now remember.

lent, or

ician can decline the title of Doctor of Medicine,

doctorship, or supposes the doctorship disgraced by himself. To be disgraced by a title which he

261

upon

and

this condition; that as the

individuals derive advantages from union, they

may likewise suffer inconveniences; that as those who do nothing, and sometimes those who do will have the honours and emoluments of general virtue and general prosperity, so those likewise who do nothing, or perhaps do well, must be involved in the consequences of preill,

dominant corruption." This in my opinion was a very nice case; but the decision was affirmed in the House of Lords.

On Monday, May visited the

8,

we went

mansions of Bedlam.

I

together and

had been

in-

iJn justice to Dr. Memis, though I was against as an Advocate, I must mention, that he objected to the variation very earnestly, before the translation was printed off.

him

—

BOSWELL

262

formed that he had once been there before with Mr. Wedderburne, (now Lord Loughborough,) Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Foote; and I had heard Foote give a very entertaining account of Johnson's happening to have his attention arrested by a man who was very furious, and who, while beating his straw, supposed it was WiUiam Duke of Cumberland, whom he was punishing for his cruelties in Scotland, in 1746.^ There was nothing peculiarly remarkable this day; but the general contemplation of insanity was very affecting. I accompanied him home, and dined and drank tea with him. Talking of an acquaintance of ours, distinguished for knowing an uncommon variety of miscellaneous articles both in antiquities and polite literature, he observed, "You know, Sir, he runs about with little weight upon his mind."

And

talking of another very ingenious gentle-

man, who from the warmth

of his

temper was

at

variance with many of his acquaintance, and wished to avoid them, he said, "Sir, he leads the life

of

an outlaw."

On

Friday,

as to assign

May

me

12, as he had been so good a room in his house, where I

might sleep occasionally, when

I

happened

to

with him to a late hour, I took possession of found every thing in excellent order, and was attended by honest Francis with a most civil assiduity. I asked Johnson whether I might go to a consultation with another lawyer upon Sunday, as that appeared to me to be doing work as much in my way, as if an artisan should work on the day appropriated for reli-

sit it

this night,

gious rest. Johnson. "Why, Sir, when you are of consequence enough to oppose the practice of consulting upon Sunday, you should do it: but you may go now. It is not criminal, though it is not what one should do, who is anxious for the preservation and increase of piety, to which a peculiar observance of Sunday is a great help. The distinction is clear between what is of moral and what is of ritual obligation." On Saturday, May 13, 1 breakfasted with him by invitation, accompanied by Mr. Andrew Crosbie, a Scotch Advocate, whom he had seen at Edinburgh, and the Hon. Colonel (now General) Edward Stopford, brother to Lord Courtown, who was desirous of being introduced to him. His tea and rolls and butter, and whole breakfast apparatus were all in such decorum, and his behaviour was so courteous, that Col-

^My

very honourable friend General Sir George in the Duke of Cumberland's army, has assured me that the cruelties were not imputable to his Royal Highness.

Howard, who served

[1775

onel Stopford was quite surprized, and wonder-

ed at

having heard so

his

much said of Johnson's

and roughness. I have preserved nothing of what passed, except that Crosbie

slovenliness

pleased

him much by

chymy,

as to

talking learnedly of al-

which Johnson was not a positive

unbeliever, but rather delighted in considering

what progress had actually been made in the transmutation of metals, what near approaches there had been to the making of gold; and told us that it was affirmed, that a person in the Russian dominions had discovered the secret, but died without revealing it, as imagining it would be prejudicial to society. He added, that it was not impossible but it might in time be generally known. It being asked whether it was reasonable for a

man

angry at another whom a woman to him; ^Johnson. "I do not see, is reasonable for a man to be angry

to be

had preferred Sir, that it

whom a woman has preferred to him: but angry he is, no doubt; and he is loath to be angry at himself." Before setting out for Scotland on the 23rd, I at another,

was frequently in his company at different places, but during this period have recorded only two remarks: one concerning Garrick: "He has not Latin enough. He finds out the Latin by the meaning rather than the meaning by the Latin." And another concerning writers of travels, who, he observed, "were more defective than any other writers." I passed many hours with him on the 1 7 th, of which I find all my memorial is, "much laughing." It should seem he had that day been in a humour for jocularity and merriment, and upon such occasions I never knew a man laugh more heartily. We may suppose, that the high relish of a state so different from his habitual gloom, produced more than ordinary exertions of that distinguishing faculty of man, which has

puzzled philosophers so much to explain. Johnson's laugh was as remarkable as any circumstance in his manner. It was a kind of good humoured growl. Tom Davies described it drolly enough: "He laughs like a rhinoceros."

To Bennet Langton, Dear

Esq.

have an old amanuensis in great distress. I have given what I think I can give, and begged till I cannot tell where to beg again. I put into his hands this morning four guineas. If you could collect three guineas more, it would clear him from his present difficulty. I am. Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

May

Sir, I

21, 1775

LIFE OF

1775]

To James Boswell, Esq. Dear Sir, I make no doubt but you are now safely lodged in your own habitation, and have told all your adventures to Mrs. Boswell and Miss Veronica. Pray teach Veronica to love me. Bid her not mind mamma. Mrs. Thrale has taken cold, and been very much disordered, but I hope is grown well. Mr. Langton went yesterday to Lincolnshire, and has invited Nicolaida^ to follow him. Beauclerk talks of going to Bath. I am to set out on Monday; so there is nothing but dispersion. I have returned Lord Hailes's entertaining sheets, but must stay till I come back for more, because it will be inconvenient to send them after me in my vagrant state. I promised Mrs. Macaulay^ that I would try to serve her son at Oxford. I have not forgotten it, nor am unwilling to perform it. If they desire to give him an English education, it should be considered whether they cannot send him for a year or two to an English school. If he comes immediately from Scotland, he can make no figure in our Universities. The schools in the north, I believe, are cheap; and, when I was a young man, were eminently good. There are two little books published by the Foulis, Telemachus and CoUins's Poems, each a shilling: I would be glad to have them.

MakemycomplimentstoMrs. Boswell, though she does not love me. You see what perverse things ladies are, and how little fit to be trusted with feudal estates. When she mends and loves me, there may be more hope of her daughters. I will not send compliments to my friends by name, because I would be loath to leave any out in the enumeration. Tell them, as you see them, how well I speak of Scotch politeness, and Scotch hospitality, and Scotch beauty, and of every thing Scotch, but Scotch oat-cakes, and Scotch prejudices.

Let me know the answer of Rasay, and the dedearest cision relating to Sir Allan.' I am, Sir, with great affection, your most obliged, and

my

most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

May After

27,

1775

my

letters to

return to Scotland,

him, from which

I

wrote three

I extract

the follow-

ing passages: "I have seen Lord Hailes since I came dowTi. He thinks it wonderful that you are pleased to take so much pains in revising his Annals. I told him that you said you were well rewarded by

^A learned Greek. Wife of the Rev. Mr. Kenneth Macauley, authour of The History of St. Kilda. ^A law-suit carried on by Sir Allan Maclean, Chief of his Clan, to recover certain parts of his 2

family estates from the

Duke

of Argyle.

JOHNSON the entertainment

263 which you had in reading

them."

"There has been a numerous flight of Hebrideans in Edinburgh this summer, whom I have been happy to entertain at my house. Mr. Donald Macqueen* and Lord Monboddo supped with me one evening. They joined in controverting your proposition, that the Gaelick of the Highlands and Isles of Scotland was not written

till

of late."

"My mind has been somewhat dark this summer. I have need of your warming and vivifying rays; and I hope I shall have them frequently. I am going to pass some time with my father at Auchinleck."

To James Boswell, Esq_. am returned from the

Dear

annual ramble into the middle counties. Having seen nothing I had not seen before, I have nothing to relate. Time has left that part of the island few antiquities; and commerce has left the people no singularities. I was glad to go abroad, and, perhaps, glad to come home; which is, in other words, I v/as, I am afraid, weary of being at home, and weary of being abroad. Is not this Sir, I

the state of life? But, if we confess this weariness, let us not lament it, for all the wise and all the good say, that we may cure it. For the black fumes which rise in your mind, I can prescribe nothing but that you disperse them by honest business or innocent pleasure, and by reading, sometimes easy and sometimes serious. Change of place is useful; and I hope that your residence at Auchinleck will have

many good

effects.

.

.

.

should have given pain to Rasay, I am sincerely sorry; and am therefore very much pleased that he is no longer uneasy. He still thinks that I have represented him as personally giving up the Chieftainship. I meant only that it was no longer contested between the two houses, and supposed it settled, perhaps, by the cession of some remote generation, in the house of Dunvegan. I am sorry the advertisement was not continued for three or four times in the paper.

That

I

That Lord Monboddo and Mr. Macqueen should controvert a position contrary to the imaginary interest of literary or national prejudice, might be easily imagined; but of a standing fact there ought to be no controversy: If there are men with tails, catch an homo caudatus; if there was writing of old in the Highlands or Hebrides, in the Erse language, produce the manuscripts. Where men write, they will write to one another, and some of their letters, in *A very learned minister in the Isle of Sky, whom both Dr. Johnson and I have mentioned with regard.

BOSWELL

264

families studious of their ancestry, will be kept. In Wales there are many manuscripts. I have now three parcels of Lord Hailes's history, which I purpose to return all the next

week: that his respect for my little observations should keep his work in suspense, makes one of the evils of my journey. It is in our language, I think, a new mode of history, which tells all that is wanted, and, I suppose, all that is known without laboured splendour of language, or affected subtilty of conjecture The exactness of his dates raises my wonder. He seems to have the closeness of Henault without his constraint.

Mrs. Thrale was so entertained with your almost read herself blind. She has a great regard for you. Of Mrs. Boswell, though she knows in her heart that she does not love me, I am always glad to hear any good, and hope that she and the little dear ladies will have neither sickness nor any other affliction. But she knows that she does not care what becomes of me, and for that she may be sure that I think her very much to blame. Never, my dear Sir, do you take it into your head to think that I do not love you; you may settle yourself in full confidence both of my love and my esteem; I love you as a kind man, I value you as a worthy man, and hope in time to reverence you as a man of exemplary piety. I hold you, as Hamlet has it, "in my heart of

Journal,'^ that she

hearts,"

and

therefore,

am.

your

aff'ectionate

Sir,

it is

litde to say, that I

humble

servant,

Sam. Johnson

London, Aug.

27, 1775

[1775

very soon write again, for I am to set out to-morrow on another journey. Your friends are all well at Streatham, and in Leicesterfields.3 Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, if she is in good humour with me. I am. Sir, &c. Sam. Johnson

that

I

shall not

.

.

.

September 14, 1775

What he mentions

am

in such light

terms

as,

"I

to-morrow on another journey," I soon afterwards discovered was no less than a tour to France with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. This was the only time in his life that he went upon to set out

the Continent.

To Mr. Robert Levet Sept. 18, 1775.

Dear

Sir,

Calais

We are here in France, after a very

pleasing passage of no

know not when

more than

six hours. I

and therewrite now, though you cannot suppose that I have much to say. You have seen France yourself. From this place we are going to Rouen, and from Rouen to Paris, where Mr. Thrale designs to stay about five or six weeks. have a regular recommendation to the English resident, so we shall not be taken for vagabonds. think to go one way and return another, and for [? see] as much as we can. I will try to speak a little French; I tried hitherto but little, but I spoke sometimes. If I heard better, I suppose I should learn faster. I am, Sir, your humble servant, fore

I

shall write again,

I

We

We

Sam. Johnson

To THE Same Sir, If in these papers^ there tion attempted, do not suppose

alteranegligent. I have read them perhaps more closely than the rest; but I find nothing worthy of an ob-

me

jection.

Write to me soon, and write your honest heart. I am.

all

To the Same

is little

often, Sir,

and

yours

tell

me

aff"ec-

Dear

Sam. Johnson

was

To THE Same now

write to you, lest in

of your freaks and fancy yourself neglected.

humours you should Such fancies I must

some

Sir, I

entreat you never to admit, at least never to indulge: for my regard for you is so radicated and fixed, that it is become part of my mind, and cannot be eff"aced but by some cause uncommonly violent; therefore, whether I write or not, set your thoughts at rest. I now write to tell you

^My Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, which that lady read in the original manuscript. ^Another parcel of Lord Hailes's Annals of Scotland.

at dinner,

and

the

Queen

by Miss,* that she sent one of

Gentlemen to enquire who she was. I find you have ever told me of Paris. Mr. Thrale is very liberal, and keeps us two coaches, and a very fine table; but I think our cookery all

Dear

so impressed

still

the

Aug. 30, 1775

My

Paris, Oct. 22, 1775

are

King and Queen

the

tionately.

We

here, commonly very busy in looking about us. We have been to-day at Versailles. You have seen it, and I shall not describe it. We came yesterday from Fontainbleau, where the Court is now. We went to see Sir,

true that

very bad. Mrs. Thrale got into a convent of English nuns, and I talked with her through the grate, and I am very kindly used by the English Benedictine friars. But upon the whole I cannot make much acquaintance here; and though the churches, palaces, and some private houses are very magnificent, there is no very great pleasure after having seen many, in seeing more; at least the pleasure, whatever it be, must some time have an end, and we are beginning to think

^Where

Sir

Joshua Reynolds

•Miss Thrale.

lived.

LIFE OF 1775] when we shall come home. Mr. Thrale calculates that, as we left Streatham on the fifteenth of September, we shall see it again about the fifteenth of November. I think I had not been on this side of the sea five days before I found a sensible improvement in my health. I ran a race in the rain this day, and beat Baretti. Baretti is a fine fellow, and speaks French, I think, quite as well as English. Make my compliments to Mrs. Williams; and give my love to Francis; and tell my friends that I am not lost. I am, dear Sir, your affectionate

humble, &c. Sam. Johnson

To Dr. Samuel Johnson Edinburgh,

Oct. 24,

1775 Dear Sir, If I had not been informed that you were at Paris, you should have had a letter from me by the earliest opportunity, announcing the birth of my son, on the gth instant; I have named him Alexander, after my father. I now write, as I suppose your fellow traveller, Mr. Thrale, will return to London this week, to attend his duty in Parliament, and that you will not stay behind him. I send another parcel of Lord Hailes's Annals. I have undertaken to solicit you for a favour to him, which he thus requests in a letter to me: "I intend soon to give you The Life of Robert Bruce, which you will be pleased to transmit to Dr. Johnson. I wish that you could assist me in a fancy which I have taken, of getting Dr. Johnson to draw a character of Robert Bruce, from the account that I give of that prince. If he finds materials for it in my work, it will be a proof that I have been fortunate in selecting the

My

most striking incidents." I suppose by The Life of Robert Bruce, his Lordship means that part of his Annals which relates the history of that prince, and not a separate work. Shall we have A Journey to Paris from you in the winter? You will, I hope, at any rate be kind enough to give me some account of your French travels very soon, for I am very impatient. What a different scene have you viewed this autumn, from that which you viewed in auI ever am, my dear Sir, your 1 obliged and affectionate humble servant,

tumn 773

!

much

James Bosw^ell

JOHNSON

We

I shall go next week to Streatham, from whence purpose to send a parcel of the History every post. Concerning the character of Bruce, I can only say, that I do not see any great reason for writing it; but I shall not easily deny what Lord Hailes and you concur in desiring. I have been remarkably healthy all the journey, and hope you and your family have known only that trouble and danger which has so hap-

I

pily terminated. Among all the congratulations that you may receive, I hope you believe none

more warm or

To James

Bosvstell, Esq.

am glad

that the young Laird is born, and an end, as I hope, put to the only difference that you can ever have with Mrs. Boswell.^ I know that she does not love me; but I intend to persist in wishing her well till I get the Sir, I

better of her.

my

old feudal principle of pre^This alludes to ferring male to female succession.

sincere, than those of, dear Sir,

your most affectionate, Sam. Johnson November

16,

1775

To Mrs. Lucy

Porter, in Lichfield^ This week I came home from Paris. I have brought you a little box, which I thought pretty; but I know not whether it is properly a snuff-box, or a box for some other use. I will send it, when I can find an opportunity. I have been through the whole journey

Dear Madam,

remarkably

same

well.

whom

My fellow-travellers were

you saw

at Lichfield, only

the

we took

Baretti with us. Paris is not so fine a place as you would expect. The palaces and churches, however, are very splendid and magnificent; and what would please you, there are many very fine pictures; but I do not think their way of life commodious or pleasant.

me know how

this while. I

your health has been all hope the fine summer has given

you strength

sufficient to

Let

encounter the win-

ter.

Make my compliments to all my friends; and, your fingers will let you, write to me, or let your maid write, if it be troublesome to you. I am, dear Madam, your most affectionate humif

ble servant,

Sam. Johnson November

16,

1775

To the Same Dear Madam, Some weeks ago

I

wrote to

you that I was just come home from a ramble, and hoped that I should have heard from you. I am afraid winter has laid hold on your fingers, and hinders you from writing. However, let somebody write, if you cannot, and tell me how you do, and a little of what has you, to

Dear

265

Paris is, indeed, a place very different from the Hebrides, but it is to a hasty traveller not so fertile of novelty, nor affords so many opportunities of remark. I cannot pretend to tell the publick any thing of a place better known to many of my readers than to myself. can talk of it when we meet.

tell

2There can be no doubt that many years previous to 1775 he corresponded with this lady, who was his step-daughter, but none of his earlier letters to her have been preserved.

—

BOSWELL

266

happened at Lichfield among our friends I hope you are all well. When I was in France, I thought myself growing young, but am afraid that cold weather will take part of my new vigour from me. Let us, however, take care of ourselves, and lose no part of our health by negligence. I never knew whether you received the Commentary on the New Testament and the Travels,

and the

glasses.

my dear love, write

to me; and do not let us forget each other. This is the season of good wishes, and I wish you all good. I have not lately seen Mr. Porter,^ nor heard of him. Is he

Do,

with you?

Be pleased to make my compliments to Mrs. Adey, and Mrs. Cobb, and all my friends; and when I can do any good, let me know. I am, dear Madam, yours most affectionately, Sam. Johnson December, 1775

his very accurate observation,

and pecul-

thought and illustration, would have produced a valuable work. During his visit to it, which lasted but about two months, he wrote notes or minutes of what he saw. He promised to show me them, but I neglected to put iar vigour of

him

in

mind

of

it;

and the greatest part of them

has been

lost, or perhaps, destroyed in a precipburning of his papers a few days before his death, which must ever be lamented. One small paper-book, however, entitled "France II," has been preserved, and is in my possession. It is a diurnal register of his life and observations, from the oth of October to the 4th of November, inclusive, being twenty-six days, and shews an extraordinary attention to various minute particulars. Being the only memorial of this tour that

itate

I

remains, my readers, I am confident, will peruse it with pleasure, though his notes are very short, and evidently written only to assist his

own

recollection.

ing of a great height. The upper stones of the parapet very large, but not cramped with iron. The flat on the top is very extensive; but on the insulated part there is no parapet. Though it was broad enough, I did not care to go upon it. Maps were printing in one of the rooms. "We walked to a small convent of the Fathers of the Oratory. In the reading-desk of the refectory lay the lives of the Saints.

"Oct.

Wednesday.

II.

We

10.

—

—

went

to see Hotel

house not very large, but very eleof the rooms was gilt to a degree that

de Chatlois, a

gant.

One

never saw before. The upper part for servants and their masters was pretty. "Thence we went to Mr. Monville's, a house divided into small apartments, furnished with Porphyry. effeminate and minute elegance. "Thence we went to St. Roque's church, which is very large; the lower part of the pilThree chapels belars incrusted with marble. hind the high altar; the last a mass of low Altars, I believe, all round. arches. "We passed through Place de Vendome, a fine Insquare, about as big as Hanover-square. habited by the high families. Lewis XIV on horse-back in the middle. "Monville is the son of a farmer-general. In the house of Chatlois is a room furnished with japan, fitted up in Europe. "We dined with Boccage, the Marquis BlanThe sweetmeats taken by chetti, and his lady. the Marchioness Blanchetti, after observing that they were dear. Mr. Le Roy, Count Manucci, the Abbe, the Prior, and Father Wilson, who staid with me, till I took him home in the coach. "Bathiani is gone. "The French have no laws for the maintenance of their poor. Monk not necessarily a priest. Benedictines rise at four; are at church an hour and half; at church again half an hour before, half an hour after, dinner; and again from half an hour after seven to eight. They may sleep eight hours. Bodily labour wanted in I

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

monasteries.

"The poor taken to hospitals, and miserably — Monks in the convent fifteen: account-

—

kept.

Tuesday. We saw the Ecole Militaire, in which one hundred and fifty young boys are educated for the army. They have arms of different sizes, according to the age; flints of wood. The building is very large, but nothing fine, except the council-room. The French have large squares in the windows; they make good iron palisades. Their meals are gross. ^Son of Mrs. Johnson, by her first husband. "Oct.

visited the Observatory, a large build-

—

be regretted that he did not write an account of his travels in France; for as he is reported to have once said, that "he could write the Life of a Broomstick," so, notwithstanding so many former travellers have exhausted almost every subject for remark in that great kingIt is to

dom,

[1775

"We

ed poor. "Oct. 12. Thursday. We went to the Gkibelins. Tapestry makes a good picture; imi-

—

—

tates

flesh

ground;

exactly.

— the

— One

birds

piece with a gold

not exactly coloured. very

— — Gold ore. — Candlesofthecandle-tree. — Seeds. — Woods. Thence Thence we went

to the King's cabinet;

neat, not, perhaps, perfect.

to Gagnier's house,

where

I

saw rooms

nine,

—

—

—

LIFE OF

1775]

furnished with a profusion of wealth and elegance which I never had seen before. Vases. Pictures. The Dragon china. The lustre

—

—

—

—

and

have cost 3,5001. The whole furniture said to have cost 1125,0001. Damask hangings covered with pictures. Porphyry. This house struck me. Then we waited on the ladies to Monville's. Captain Irwin with us.^ Spain. County towns all beggars. At Dijon he could not find the way to Orleans. Cross roads of France very bad.

said to be of crystal,

—

to

— —

—

—

—

—

—

—

Five soldiers. Woman. Soldiers escaped. The Colonel would not lose five men for the death of one woman. The magistrate cannot seize a soldier but by the Colonel's permission.

—

—

— Good inn at Nismes. — Moors of Barbary fond — Gibraltar eminently healthy; — It has beef from Barbary; — There a large garden. — Soldiers sometimes from the rock.

of Englishmen.

—

—

I

JOHNSON

267

"In the afternoon

I visited

Mr. Freron the

He spoke Latin very scantily, but understand me. His house not splendid, but of commodious size. His family, wife, son, and daughter, not elevated but decent. was pleased with my reception. He is to translate my books, which I am to send him with

journalist.

seemed

—

to

—

—

—

notes.

"Oct. 15. Sunday. At Choisi, a royal palace on the banks of the Seine, about 7 m. from

Paris. — The terrace noble along the river. The rooms numerous and grand, but not discriminated from other palaces. — The chapel

but small. — China globes. — Inlaid — Labyrinth. — Sinking table. — Toilet

beautiful, tables. tables.

"Oct.

Monday. The

ly

went

—

Royal very very great collection of pictures. Three of Raphael. Two Holy Family. One small piece of M. Angelo. One room of Rubens I thought the pictures of

I

Raphael

is

fall

"Oct.

Friday.

13.

I

staid at

home

all

day, on-

to find the Prior, who was not at home. read something in Canus. ^ Nee admiror, nee multum laudo. "Oct. 14. Saturday. We went to the house of Mr. Argenson, which was almost wainscotted with looking-glasses, and covered with gold. The ladies' closet wainscotted with large squares of glass over painted paper. They always place mirrours to reflect their rooms. "Then we went to Julien's, the Treasurer of the Clergy: 30,0001. a year. The house has no very large room, but is set with mirrours, and covered with gold. Books of wood here, and in another library. " At D * * * * * * *'s I looked into the books in the lady's closet, and, in contempt, shewed them to Mr. T. Prince Titi; Bibl. des Fees, and other

—

—

—

books.

— She was offended,

and shut up,

as

we

heard afterwards, her apartment. "Then we went to Julien Le Roy, the King's watchmaker, a man of character in his business, who shewed a small clock made to find the longitude. A decent man. "Afterwards we saw the Palais Marchand, and the Courts of Justice, civil and criminal. Queries on the Sellette. This building has the old Gothick passages, and a great appearance of antiquity. Three hundred prisoners sometimes

—

—

—

—

in the gaol.

"Much

disturbed; hope no

ill

"The

^This passage, which so many think superstitious, me of Archbishop Laud's Diary.

lofty.

—

—

Palais

—A

—

—

fine.

— Statues. — Venus. — — — —

Thuilleries.

.^^n.

and Anchises in his arms. Nilus. Many more. The walks not open to mean persons. Chairs at night hired for two sous apiece. Pont tournant.

—

—

"Austin Nuns. Grate. Mrs. Fermor, AbShe knew Pope, and thought him disagreeable. Mrs. has many books; has seen life. Their frontlet disagreeable. Their hood. Their life easy. Rise about five; hour bess.

—

—

and

— —

—

— — Dine

—

—

at ten. Another hour and half at chapel; half an hour about three, and half an hour more at seven: four half in chapel.

hours in chapel. pensioners.

—A

large garden.

— Teacher complained.

— — Thirteen

"At the Boulevards saw nothing, yet was glad to be there. Rope-dancing and farce. Egg

—

—

dance.

"N. [Note.] Near

Paris,

whether on week-

days or Sundays, the roads empty. "Oct. 17. Tuesday. At the Palais I

Marchand

bought

A snuff-box,

24 L. 6

Table book Scissars 3

p

15 [pair]

63

will be.^

^The rest of this paragraph appears to be a minute of what was told by Captain Irwin. ^Melchior Canus, a celebrated Spanish Dominican, who died at Toledo, in 1560. He wrote a treatise De Locis Theologicis, in twelve books. reminds

16.

grand, large, and

"We

—2

12 6

—

heard the lawyers plead. N. As many killed at Paris as there are days in the year. Chambre de question. Tournelle at the Palais

— — An old venerable building. "The Palais Bourbon, belonging to the Prince of Conde. Only one small wing shewn; — lofty; Marchand.

—

—

I

BOSWELL

268

— splendid; — gold

and

glass.

— The

battles of

the great Conde are painted in one of the rooms. The present Prince a grandsire at thirty-nine.

"The

sight of palaces,

ings, leaves

no very

and other great build-

distinct images, unless to

As I entered, my wife was in my mind:^ she would have been pleased. Having now nobody to please, I am little pleased. "N. In France there is no middle rank. "So many shops open, that Sunday is little The palaces of Louvre distinguished at Paris. and Thuilleries granted out in lodgings. "In the Palais de Bourbon, gilt globes of metal those

who

talk of them.

—

at the fire-place.

"The French beds commended. — Much

of

the marble, only paste.

"The Colosseum a mere wooden much of it.

building, at

Wednesday. We went to Fontainebleau, which we found a large mean town, crowded with people. The forest thick with woods, very extensive. Manucci secured us 1

8.

— —

— The appearance of the country pleasant. — No few streams, only one hedge. —

lodgings.

hills,

remember no chapels nor Pavement still, and rows

crosses

on the road.

"N. Nobody but mean people walk in Paris. "Oct. 19. Thursday. At Court, we saw the apartments; theKing'sbed-chamberandcoun-

—

cil-chamber extremely splendid Persons of all ranks in the external rooms through which the family passes: Brunet servants and masters. with us the second time. "The introductor came to us; civil to me.

—

—

—

—

—

had scruples. Not necessary. We went and saw the King and Queen at dinner. We saw the other ladies at dinner Madame Elizabeth, with the Princess of Guimene. At night we went to a comedy. I neither saw nor heard. Drunken woman. Mrs. Th. prePresenting.

I

—

—

—

—

—

ferred one to the other.

"Oct. 20. Friday.

We

saw the Queen mount

— Brown habit; rode aside: one lady rode aside. — The Queen's horse light grey; martingale. — She galloped. — We then went to the apartments, and admired them. — Then wandered through the palace. — In the passages, and shops. — Painting in Fresco by a great master, worn out. — We saw the King's horses and dogs. — The dogs almost English. — Dein the forest.

stalls

all

generate.

"The

horses not

as we.

"Saturday, 21. In the night I got ground. came home to Paris. I think we did not see the chapel. Tree broken by the wind. The French chairs made all of boards painted. "N. Soldiers at the court of justice. Soldiers not amenable to the magistrates. Dijon wom-

We

—

—

—

—

an.^

—

"Faggots in the palace. Every thing slovenexcept in the chief rooms. Trees in the roads, some tall, none old, many very young

—

ly,

and

small.

"Women's saddles seem ill made. — Queen's bridle woven with silver. — Tags to strike the "Sunday, Oct. 22. To Versailles, a mean town. Carriages of business passing. Mean shops against the wall. Our way lay through Seve, where the China manufacture. Wooden bridge at Seve, in the way to Versailles. The palace of great extent. The front long; I saw it not

—

—

—

—

—

— The Menagerie. Cygnets dark; their — Halcyons, or gulls. — Stag and hind, young. — Aviary, very large; the net, wire. — Black stag of China, small. — Rhinoceros, the horn broken and pared away, perfectly.

black feet; on the ground; tame.

of trees.

—

went to the opera. I refused, but should have been welcome. "The King fed himself with his left hand ladies

horse.

least

"Oct.

[1775

"At night the

much commended. — The

stables cool; the kennel filthy. iRis tender affection for his departed wife, of which there are many evidences in his Prayers and Meditations, appears very feelingly in this passage.

which,

I

suppose, will grow; the basis,

I

think,

four inches 'cross; the skin folds like loose cloth

doubled over his body, and cross his hips; a vast animal, though young; as big, p>erhaps as four oxen. The young elephant, with his tusks just appearing. The brown bear put out his paws; all very tame. The lion. The tigers I did not well view. The camel, or dromedary with two bunches called the Huguin,^ taller than any horse. Two camels with one bunch. Among the birds was a pelican, who being let out, went to a fountain, and swam about to catch fish. His feet well webbed he dipped his head, and turned his long bill sidewise. He caught two or three fish, but did not eat them. "Trianon is a kind of retreat appendant to Versailles. It has an open portico; the pavement, and, I think, the pillars, of marble. There are many rooms, which I do not distinctly remember A table of porphyry, about five feet long, and between two and three broad, given to Louis XIV by the Venetian State. In the councilroom almost all that was not door or window, was, I think, looking-glass. Litde Trianon is a

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

:

—

—

—

—

2See p. 267. *This epithet should be applied to this animal,

with one bunch.

— LIFE OF

1775]

—

small palace like a gentleman's house. The upper floor paved with brick. Little Vienne. The court is iU paved. The rooms at the top are small, fit to sooth the imagination with privacy. In the front of Versailles are small basons of water on the terrace, and other basons, I think, below them. There are little courts. The great gallery is wainscotted with mirrors, not very large, but joined by frames. I suppose the large plates were not yet made. The play-

—

—

—

house was very large.

—

— The chapel

I

do not

re-

am

—

—

palace, six livres.

"Oct.

Monday. Last night

23.

I

wrote to

We

went to see the looking-glasses wrought. They come from Normandy in cast plates, perhaps the third of an inch thick. At Paris they are ground upon a marble table, by rubbing one plate upon another with grit between them. The various sands, of which there Levet.

are said to be five, I could not learn.

The han-

by which the upper glass is moved, has the form of a wheel, which may be moved in all didle,

rections.

The

plates are sent

up with their surand so continue

faces ground, but not polished,

time should spoil the surface, as we were told. Those that are to be polished, are laid on a table, covered with several thick cloths, hard strained, that the resistance may be equal; they are then rubbed with a hand rubber, held down hard by a contrivance which I did not well understand. The powder which is used last seemed to me to be iron dissolved in aqua fortis: they called it, as Baretti said, marc de Veau forte, which he thought was till

they are bespoken,

dregs.

lest

They mentioned vitriol and saltpetre. The

cannon

ball

swam

in the quicksilver.

To

silver

them, a leaf of beaten tin is laid, and rubbed with quicksilver, to which it unites. Then more quicksilver is poured upon it, which, by its mutual [attraction] rises very high. Then a paper is laid at the nearest end of the plate, over which the glass is slided till it lies upon the plate, having driven much of the quicksilver before it. It is then, I think, pressed upon cloths, and then set sloping to drop the superfluous mercury; the slope is daily heightened towards a perpendicular.

"In the way I saw the Gr6ve, the Mayor's and the Bastile. "We then went to Sans-terre, a brewer. He brews with about as much malt as Mr. Thrale,

house,

—

—

JOHNSON and

269

beer at the same price, though he pays no duty for malt, and litde more than half as much for beer. Beer is sold retail at 6d. a botsells his

tle. He brews 4,000 barrels a year. There are seventeen brewers in Paris, of whom none is supposed to brew more than he: reckoning them at 3,000 each, they make 51,000 a year. They make their malt, for malting is here no

—

trade.

—

if we saw. We saw one chapel, but I not certain whether there or at Trianon. The foreign office paved with bricks. The dinner half a Louis each, and, I think, a Louis over. Money given at Menagerie, three livres; at

member

—

"The moat

of the Bastile

is

dry.

"Oct. 24. Tuesday. We visited the King's library I saw the Speculum humans Salvationis, rudely printed, with ink, sometimes pale, sometimes black; part supposed to be with wooden types, and part with pages cut on boards. The Bible, supposed to be older than that of Mentz, in 62 [1462]: it has no date; it is supposed to have been printed with wooden types. I am in doubt; the print is large and fair, in two folios. Another book was shewn me, supposed to have been printed with wooden types; I think, Durandi Sanctuarium in 58 [1458]. This is inferred from the difference of form sometimes seen in the same letter, which might be struck with different puncheons. The regular similitude of most letters proves better that they are metal. I saw nothing but the Speculum which I had not

—

—

—

—

—

—

seen, I think, before.

"Thence

to the Sorbonne.

—The library very

large, not in lattices like the King's.

and

Durandi, q. collection

bus Gallicis,

many folios.

4

Marbone

vol. Scriptores de re-

Histoire Genealogique of

Gallia Christiana, the first edition,

France, 9 vol.

4to. the last,

1

f.

12 vol.

ian dined [with us]:

—

— The Prior and LibrarI

waited on them home.

— Their garden pretty, with covered walks, but small; yet may hold many students. — The Doctors of the Sorbonne are equal: choose those who succeed to vacancies. — Profit all

little.

went with the Prior Hooke. We walked round the palace, and had some talk. I dined with our whole company at the Monastery. In the library, Beroald, Cymon, Titus, from Boccace. Oratio Proverbialis to the Virgin, from Petrarch; Falkland to Sandys; Dryden's Preface "Oct. 25. Wednesday.

I

—

to St. Cloud, to see Dr.

—

—

—

—

to the third vol. of Miscellanies.^

"Oct.

26.

Thursday.

We

saw the china

at

Seve, cut, glazed, painted. Bellevue, a pleasing

—

Meudon, an house, not great: fine prospect. Alexander, in Porphyry: hollow old palace. between eyes and nose, thin cheeks. Plato and

—

Aristotle

— — Noble terrace overlooks the town.

^He means, I suppose, that he read these different pieces while he remained in the library.

—

—A

—— —

—

—

——

BOSWELL [1775 — Gallery not very high, nor grand, sine colophone, but of 1460. — Two other editions,^ one by but pleasing. — In the rooms, Michael Angelo, Augustin. de Civitate Dei, without name,

270 St.

Cloud.

.

drawn by himself.

Thomas More, Des Cartes,

Sir

— Gilded wainnot minded. — Gough scot, so common that and Keene. — Hooke came to us at the inn. — Bochart, Naudaeus, Mazarine. it is

.

.

date, or place, but of Fust's square letter as

it

seems.

—

"I dined with Col. Drumgold; had a pleasing afternoon. "Some of the books of St. Germain's stand in

message from Drumgold. "Oct. 27. Friday. I staid at home. Gough 's friend dined and Keene, and Mrs. S with us. This day we began to have a fire. The weather is grown very cold, and I fear, has a bad effect upon my breath, which has grown

from the wall, like those at Oxford. "Oct. 3 Tuesday. I lived at the Benedictines; meagre day; soup meagre, herrings, eels, both with sauce; fryed fish; lentils, tasteless in themselves. In the library; where I found Maffeus''s de

much more

Hislorid Indicd: Promontorium flectere,

—

—

and easy

free

"Sat., Oct. 28.

by

built

I

in this country.

visited the

— It

St. Louis.

Grand Chartreux

built for forty, but

is

contains only twenty-four, and will not main-

The

tain more.

spoke to us had a

friar that

apartment.

pretty

— Mr.

Baretti

remember but

—

four

says

presses

1

.

to

double the

parted very tenderly from the Prior and Friar Wilkes. "Maitre des Arts, 2 y. Bacc. Theol. 3 y. LiCape.

I

—

Doctor Th. 2 y. in all 9 years. For the Doctorate three disputations, Major, Minor,

centiate, 2 y.

— Several

and

His books garden was neat; he gave me grapes. We saw the Place de Victoire, with the statues of the King, and the cap-

Sorbonica.

tive nations.

a large town; the church not very large, but the middle isle is very lofty and aweful. On the left are chapels built beyond the line of the wall, which destroy the symmetry of the sides. The organ is higher above the pavement than any I have ever seen. The gates are of brass. On the middle gate is the history of our Lord. The painted windows are historical, and said to be eminently beautiful. We were at another church belonging to a convent, of which the portal is a dome; we could not enter further, and it was al-

rooms;

I

seemed

to be French.

—

three.

— His

—

—

—

and found him

—

in bed.

— a guinea a day. — Coach, three guin— Valet de place, three a day. Avantcoureur, a guinea a week. — Ordinary dinner, six a head. — Our ordinary seems to be about five guineas a day. — Our extraordinary "Hotel

eas a week.

1.

1.

expences, as diversions, gratuities, clothes,

not reckon.

— Our travelling

—

can-

ten guineas a day.

stockings, 18

"Sunday, Oct. school.

is

I

1.— Wig.— Hat. saw the boardingThe Enfans trouves. A room with about

"White

29.

We

—

eighty-six children in cradles, as sweet as a parlour.

— They lose a third; take in to perhaps more

than seven [years old]; put them to trades; pin to them the papers sent with them Want nurses.

—

— Saw their chapel. "Went company

to St. Eustatia;

I.

Wednesday.

suppressed,

Jesuits' Col-

We left Paris. — St.

De-

perhaps 100 to a catechist. time, girls at another.

—

—

— —

—

most dark. "Nov. 2 Thursday. We came this day to Chantilly, a seat belonging to the Prince of Conde. This place is eminently beautified by all varie.

waters starting up in fountains, falling in and spread in lakes. The water seems to be too near the house. All this water is brought from a source or river three leagues off, by an artificial canal, which for one league is carried under ground. The house is magnificent. The cabinet seems well stocked: what I remember was, the jaws of a hippopotamus, and a young hippopotamus preserved, which, however, is so small, that I doubt ties of

cascades, running in streams,

—

—

saw an innumerable

of girls catechised, in

er wears a cap,

"Nov.

colleges

which was the

nis,

"We saw the palace and gardens of Luxembourg, but the gallery was shut. We climbed I dined with Colbrooke, who to the top stairs. had much company: Foote, Sir George RodCalled on the ney, Motteux, Udson, Taaf. Prior,

transferred to that

many

bodies,

— Boys taught at one

—

— The sermon; the preach-

which he takes

off at the

— his action uniform,

name:

not very violent. "Oct. 30. Ivlonday. We saw the library of St. Germain. A very noble collection. Codex Divinorum Officiorum, 1459: a letter, square like that of the Offices, perhaps the same. The Codex, by Fust and Gernsheym. Meursius, 12 v. fol. Amadis, in French, 3 v. fol. Catholicon

—

—

—

ij have looked in vain into De Bure, Meerman, Mattaire, and other typographical books, for the two editions of the Catholicon, which Dr. Johnson mentions here, with names which I cannot make

I read "one by Latinius, one by Boedinus." I have deposited the original MS. in the British Museum, where the curious may see it. My grateful acknowledgements are due to Mr. Planta for the trouble he was pleased to take in aiding my re-

out.

searches.

— LIFE OF

1775]

— It seems too hairy for an abortion, and too small for a mature birth. — Nothing was in was dry. — The dog; the deer; the ant-bear with long snout. — The toucan, long broad beak. — The stables were of very great length. — The kennel had no scents. — There was a mockery of a village. — The Menagerie had few animals.^ — Two faussans,^ or Brasilian weaspotted, very wild. — There a forest, and, think, a park. — walked was very weary, its reality.

spirits; all

sels,

is

I

I

till I

and next morning felt with pains in the toes.

my

feet battered,

and

"Nov. 3. Friday. We came to Compiegne, a very large town, with a royal palace built round a pentagonal court. The court is raised upon vaults, and has, I suppose, an entry on one side by a gentle rise. Talk of painting. The church is not very large, but very elegant and splendid. I had at first great difficulty to walk, but motion grew continually easier. At night we came to Noyon, an episcopal city. The cathedral is very beautiful, the pillars alternately gothick and Corinthian. We entered a very noble parochial church. Noyon is walled, and is said to be three miles round. "Nov. 4. Saturday. We rose very early, and came through St. Quintin to Cambray, not long after three. We went to an English nunnery, to give a letter to Father Welch, the confessor, who came to visit us in the evening.

—

—

—

JOHNSON

271

probably not much, as he arrived in England about the 12 th of November. These short notes of his tour, though they may seem minute taken singly, make together a considerable mass of information, and exhibit such an ardour of enquiry and acuteness of examination, as, I believe, are found in but few travellers, especially at an advanced age. They completely refute the idle notion which has been propagated, that he could not see; and, if he had taken the trouble to revise and digest them, he undoubtedly could have expanded them into a very entertaining narrative.

When I met him in London the following year, me of his French

the account which he gave tour, was, "Sir, I

have seen

and around

all

the visibilities of

Quadrupeds.

but to have formed an acquaintance with the people there, would have required more time than I could stay. I was just beginning to creep into acquaintance by means of Colonel Drumgold, a very high man. Sir, head of VEcole Militaire, a most complete character, for he had first been a professor of rhetorick, and then became a soldier. And, Sir, I was very kindly treated by the English Benedictines, and have a cell appropriated to me in their convent." He observed, "The great in France live very magnificently, but the rest very miserably. There is no happy middle state as in England. The shops of Paris are mean; the meat in the markets is such as would be sent to a gaol in England: and Mr. Thrale justly observed, that the cookery of the French was forced upon them by necessity; for they could not eat their meat, unless they added some taste to it. The French are an indelicate people; they will spit upon any place. At Madame 's, a literary lady of rank, the footman took the sugar in his fingers, and threw it into my coffee. I was going to put it aside but hearing it was made on purpose for me, I e'en tasted Tom's fingers. The same lady would needs make tea a VAngloise. The spout of the tea-pot did not pour freely; she bad the footman blow into it. France is worse than Scotland in every thing but climate. Nature has done more for the French; but they have done less for themselves than the Scotch have done." It happened that Foote was at Paris at the same time with Dr. Johnson, and his description of my friend while there, was abundantly ludi-

^My worthy and ingenious friend, Mr. Andrew Lumisden, by his accurate acquaintance with France, enabled me to make out many proper names, which Dr. Johnson had written indistinctly, and sometimes spelt erroneously.

He told me, that the French were quite astonished at his figure and manner, and at his dress, which he obstinately continued exactly as his brown clothes, black stockings. in London;

—

— —

—

—

—

"Nov.

Sunday.

5.

We saw the cathedral. — It

very beautiful, with chapels on each side. The choir splendid. The balustrade in one part brass. The Neff very high and grand. is

—

—

The

altar silver as far as

it is

seen.

— The vest-

ments very splendid. At the Benedictines' " church Here his JournaP ends abruptly. Whether he wrote any more after this time, I know not; but ^The writing is so bad here, that the names of several of the animals could not be decyphered

without

much more

history than

I

possess.

acquaintance with natural Dr. Blagden, with his us-

—

ual politeness, most obligingly examined the MS. To that gentleman, and to Dr. Gray, of the British Museum, who also very readily assisted me, I beg leave to express my best thanks. ^It is thus written by Johnson, from the French pronunciation oi fossane. It should be observed, that the person who shewed this Menagerie was mistaken in supposing the fossane and the BrasUian weasel to be the same, the fossane being a different animal, and a native of Madagascar. I find them, however, upon one plate in Pennant's Synopsis of

Paris,

it;

;

crous.

—

BOSWELL

272

shirt. He mentioned, that an gentleman said to Johnson, "Sir, you have not seen the best French players." Johnson. "Players, Sir I look on them as no better than crea-

Irish

and plain

!

upon tables and joint-stools to make and produce laughter, like dancing dogs." "But, Sir, you will allow that some players are better than others?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir, as some dogs dance better than others." While Johnson was in France, he was generally very resolute in speaking Latin. It was a maxim with him that a man should not let himself down, by speaking a language which he speaks imperfectly. Indeed, we must have often observed how tures set

faces

—

inferiour,

how much like a

man appears, When Sir Joshua

child a

[1775

Temple, where she was entertained with his conversation for some time. When our visit was over, she and I left him, and were got into Inner Temple-lane, when all at once I heard a noise like thunder. This was occasioned by Johnson, who it seems, upon a little recollection, had taken it into his head that he ought to have done the honours of his literary residence to a foreign lady of quality, and eager to shew himself a man of gallantry, was hurrying down the stair-case in violent agitation.

He

overtook us before

we reached

the Temple-gate, and brushing in between

and

Madame

de

Bouffiers, seized her

me

hand, and

conducted her to her coach. His dress was a rusty

brown morning

suit,

a pair of old shoes by

speaks a broken tongue. Reynolds, at one of the dinners of the Royal Academy, presented him to a Frenchman of great distinction, he would not deign to speak French,

way of slippers, a little shrivelled wig sticking on

but talked Latin, though his Excellency did not understand it, owing, perhaps, to Johnson's English pronunciation: yet upon another occasion he was observed to speak French to a Frenchman of high rank, who spoke English; and being asked the reason, with some expression of surprise, he answered, because I think my French is as good as his English." Though Johnson understood French perfectly, he could not speak it readily, as I have observed at his first interview with General Paoli, in 1769; yet he v^TOte it, I imagine, pretty well, as appears from some of his letters in Mrs. Piozzi's collection, of which I

and were not a

who

—

'

'

the top of his head, and the sleeves of his shirt and the knees of his breeches hanging loose. A

considerable crowd of people gathered round, little struck by this singular appearance." He spoke Latin with wonderful fluency and elegance. When Pere Boscovich was in England, Johnson dined in company with him at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, and at Dr. Douglas's, now Bishop of Salisbury. Upon both occasions that celebrated foreigner expressed his astonishment at Johnson's Latin conversation. When at Paris, Johnson thus characterised Voltaire to Freron the Journalist: "FzV est acerrimi ingenii et paucarum literarum"

To Dr. Samuel Johnson

shall transcribe one:

Edinburgh, Dec.

A Madame La Oui, Madame,

le

My

Comtesse de

moment

July 16, 1775 faut que

est arrive, et il

je parte. Mais pourquoi Jaut-il partir? Est-ce que je m'ennuye? Je m' ennuyerai ailleurs. Est-ce que je cherche ou quelqueplaisir, ou quelque soulagement? Je ne cherche rien, je ri'espere rien. Aller voir ce quej'ai vu, etre un peu rejoue, un peu degoute, me resouvenir que la vie se passe en vain, me plaindre de moi, m'endurcir aux dehors; void le tout de ce qu'on compte pour les delices de Vannee. Que Dieu vous donne, Madame, tous les agremens de la vie, avec un esprit qui peut en jouir sans s^y livrer trop.

Here

let

related to

me not forget a curious anecdote, as me by Mr. Beauclerk, which I shall

endeavour to exhibit as well as I can in that gentleman's lively manner; and injustice to him it is proper to add, that Dr. Johnson told me I might rely both on the correctness of his memory, and the fidelity of his narrative. "When Madame de Bouffiers was first in England, (said Beauclerk,) she was desirous to see Johnson. I accordingly went with her to his chambers in the

Dear

5,

1775

Mr. Alexander Maclean, the young Laird of Col, being to set out to-morrow for London, I give him this letter to introduce him to your acquaintance. The kindness which you and I experienced from his brother, whose Sir,

unfortunate death we sincerely lament, will make us always desirous to shew attention to any branch of the family. Indeed, you have so

much

of the true Highland cordiality, that I sure you would have thought me to blame if I had neglected to recommend to you this Hebridean prince, in whose island we were hospitably entertained. I ever am with respectful attachment, my dear Sir, your most obliged and most humble servant,

am

James Bosw^ll

Mr. Maclean returned with the most agreeawhich he was received by Dr. Johnson. In the course of this year Dr. Burney informs me that "he very frequently met Dr. Johnson at Mr. Thrale's, at Streatham, where they had many long conversations, often sitting up ble accounts of the polite attention with

LIFE OF

1775] as long as the fire

and candles

lasted,

and much

JOHNSON

273

"He had come down one morning

man

the breakfast-room, and been a considerable time by himself before any body appeared. When, on a subsequent day, he was twitted by Mrs. Thrale for being very late, which he generally

me."

was, he defended himself by alluding to the extraordinary morning, when he had been too early. 'Madam, I do not like to come down to

longer than the patience of the servants subsisted."

A few of Johnson's sayings, which that gentlerecollects, shall here be inserted. "I never take a nap after dinner but when I have had a bad night, and then the nap takes

"The writer

of an epitaph should not be con-

what is strictly Allowance must be made for some degree

sidered as saying nothing but true.

of exaggerated praise. In lapidary inscriptions a

man

is not upon oath." "There is now less flogging in our great schools

than formerly, but then less is learned there; so that what the boys get at one end they lose at the other."

"More

is

learned in publick than in private

from emulation; there is the collision of mind with mind, or the radiation of many minds pointing to one centre. Though few boys make their own exercises, yet if a good exercise is given up, out of a great number of boys, it is made by somebody." "I hate by-roads in education. Education is as well known, and has long been as well known, as ever it can be. Endeavouring to make children prematurely wise is useless labour. Suppose they have more knowledge at five or six years old than other children, what use can be made of it? It will be lost before it is wanted, and the waste of so much time and labour of the teacher can never be repaid. Too much is expected from precocity, and too little performed. Miss was an instance of early cultivation, but in what did it terminate? In marrying a little Presbyterian parson, who keeps an infant boarding-school, so schools,

that

all

her employment

now

is.

To suckle fools, and chronicle

She

small-beer.

a cat, and that is a dog, with four legs and a tail; see there you are much better than a cat or a dog, for you can tells

the children, 'This

is

!

had bestowed such an education on a daughter, and had discovered that she thought of marrying such a fellow, I would have sent her to the Congress." "After having talked slightingly of musick, he was observed to listen very attentively while Miss Thrale played on the harpsichord, and with eagerness he called to her, 'Why don't you dash away like Burney?' Dr. Burneyupon this said to him, 'I believe. Sir, we shall make a musician of speak.' If I

you

at last.'

Johnson with candid complacency have a new sense

replied, 'Sir, I shall be glad to

given to me.'"

to

vacuity.''"

"Dr. Burney having remarked that Mr. Garwas beginning to look old, he said, 'Why, Sir, you are not to wonder at that; no man's face has had more wear and tear.'" Not having heard from him for a longer time than I supposed he would be silent, I wrote to him December 18, not in good spirits: "Sometimes I have been afraid that the cold which has gone over Europe this year like a sort of pestilence has seized you severely: sometimes rick

my

imagination, which is upon occasions prohath figured that you may have somehow taken offence at some part of my conduct." lifick of evil,

To James Boswell, Dear

Sir,

Esq.

Never dream of any

offence.

How

should you offend me? I consider your friendship as a possession, which I intend to hold till you take it from me, and to lament if ever by my fault I should lose it. However, when such suspicions find their way into your mind, always give them vent; I shall make haste to disperse them; but hinder their first ingress if you can. Consider such thoughts as morbid. Such illness as may excuse my omission to Lord Hailes, I cannot honestly plead. I have been hindered, I know not how, by a succession of petty obstructions. I hope to mend immediately, and to send next post to his Lordship. Mr. Thrale would have written to you if I had omitted; he sends his compliments and wishes to see you.

You and your lady will now have no more wrangling about feudal inheritance. How does the young Laird of Auchinieck? I suppose Miss Veronica is grown a reader and discourser. I have just now got a cough, but it has never yet hindered me from sleeping: I have had quieter nights than are common with me. I cannot but rejoice that Joseph^ has had the wit to find the way back. He is a fine fellow, and one of the best travellers in the world. Young Col brought me your letter. He is a very pleasing youth. I took him two days ago to the Mitre, and we dined together. I was as civil as I

had the means of being.

my

^Joseph Ritter, a Bohemian, who was in service many years, and attended Dr. Johnson and me in our Tour to the Hebrides. After having left me for some time, he had now returned to me.

BOSWELL

274

have had a letter from Rasay, acknowledging, with great appearance of satisfaction, the I

[1776

the question,

which

do as briefly as I can. the barony or manour of

I shall

very insertion in the Edinburgh paper. I glad that it was done. compliments to Mrs. Boswell, who does not love me; and of all the rest, I need only send them to those that do: and I am afraid it will give you very little trouble to distribute them. I am, my dear, dear Sir, your affectionate hum-

In the year 1504, Auchinleck, (pronounced Affleck,) in Ayrshire, which belonged to a family of the same name with the lands, having fallen to the Crown by forfeiture, James the Fourth, King of Scotland, granted it to Thomas Boswell, a branch of an ancient family in the county of Fife, stiling him

ble servant,

in the charter, dilecto Jamiliari nostra;

am

My

Sam. Johnson December 23, 1775

—

In 1776, Johnson wrote, so 1776: /ETAT. 67.] can discover, nothing for the publick:

but that his mind was still ardent, and fraught with generous wishes to attain to still higher degrees of literary excellence, is proved by his private notes of this year, which

I shall

insert in

their proper place.

Lord Cathcart. David Boswell, being resolute

Dear Sir, I have at last sent you all Hailes's papers. While I was in France, I looked very often into Renault; but Lord Hailes, in I opinion, leaves him far and far behind. did not dispatch so short a perusal sooner, when utterly unable to discover: I look back, I

my Why

am

human moments are stolen away by a thou-

sand petty impediments which leave no trace behind them. I have been afflicted, through the whole Christmas, with the general disorder, of which the worst effect was a cough, which is now much mitigated, though the country, on which I look from a window at Streatham, is now covered with a deep snow. Mrs. Williams ill:

every body else

is

as usual.

Among

the papers, I found a letter to you, which I think you had not opened; and a paper for The Chronicle, which I suppose it not necessary now to insert. I return them both. I have, within these few days, had the honour of receiving Lord Hailes's first volume, for which I return my most respectful thanks. I wish you, my dearest friend, and your haughty lady, (for I know she does not love me,) and the young ladies, and the young Laird, all happiness. Teach the young gentleman, in spite of his mamma, to think and speak well of. Sir, your affectionate humble servant,

Sam. Johnson Jan. 10, 1776

At this time was in agitation a matter of great consequence to me and my family, which I should not obtrude upon the world, were it not that the part which Dr. Johnson's friendship for me made him take in it, was the occasion of an exertion of

which it would be injustice to conThat what he wrote upon the subject may

his abilities, ceal.

be understood,

it is

Boswell was slain in battle, fighting along with his Sovereign, at the fatal field of Floddon, in 151 3. From this very honourable founder of our family, the estate was transmitted, in a direct series of male heirs, to David Boswell, my father's great grand uncle, who had no sons, but four daughters, who were all respectably married, the eld-

Esq.

Lord

very

et fideli

Thomas

est to

To James Boswell,

is

assign-

servitio nobis prmstito.

far as I

but

and

ing, as the cause of the grant, pro bono

necessary to give a state of

in the military

feudal principle of continuing the male succession, passed by his daughters, and settled the es-

on his nephew by his next brother, who approved of the deed, and renounced any pretensions which he might possibly have, in preference to his son. But the estate having been burthened with large portions to the daughters, and tate

other debts, it was necessary for the nephew to sell a considerable part of it, and what remained

was

still

much encumbered.

nephew preserved, and, some degree, relieved the estate. His son, my grandfather, an eminent lawyer, not only repurchased a great part of what had been sold, but acquired other lands; and my father, who was one of the Judges of Scotland, and had add-

The

frugality of the

in

ed considerably to the

estate,

now

signified his

inclination to take the privilege allowed by our it to his family in perpetuity by an which, on account of his marriage articles, could not be done without my consent. In the plan of entailing the estate, I heartily concurred with him, though I was the first to be restrained by it; but we unhappily differed as to the series of heirs which should be established, or in the language of our law, called to the succession. My father had declared a predilection for heirs general, that is, males and females indiscriminately. He was willing, however, that all males descending from his grandfather should be preferred to females; but would not extend that privilege to males deriving their descent from a higher source. I, on the other hand, had

law,^ to secure entail,

a zealous partiality for male heirs, however re-

mote, which

I

maintained by arguments which

^Acts of Parliament of Scotland, 1685, cap. 22.

LIFE OF

1776] appeared to

And

me

to have considerable weight.^

in the particular case of our family, I ap-

prehended that we were under an implied obligation, in honour and good faith, to transmit the estate by the same tenure which we held it, which was as male heirs, excluding nearer females.

I

therefore, as I thought conscientiously,

objected to my father's scheme. opposition was very displeasing to my father, who was entitled to great respect and def-

My

and

erence;

I

had reason

apprehend

to

disa-

greeable consequences from my non-compliance with his wishes. After much perplexity and un-

JOHNSON

275

lution satisfactory to myself, will very gladly impart it: but whether I am quite equal to it, I do not know. It is a case compounded of law and justice, and requires a mind versed in juridical

Could not you tell your whole Lord Hailes? He is, you know, both a Christian and a Lawyer, I suppose he is above partiality, and above loquacity; and, I believe, he will not think the time lost in which he may

disquisitions.

mind

to

quiet a disturbed, or settle a wavering mind. Write to me, as any thing occurs to you; and if I find myself stopped by want of facts necessary to be known, I will make inquiries of you as my

he would consider it at leisure, and favour me with his friendly opinion

doubts arise. If your former resolutions should be found only fanciful, you decide rightly in judging that your father's fancies may claim the preference; but whether they are fanciful or rational, is the question. I really think Lord Hailes could help

and

us.

easiness, I

with

wrote to Dr. Johnson, stating the case,

all its difficulties, at full

length,

and earn-

estly requesting that

advice.

To James Boswell, Esq. Dear Sir, I was much impressed by your ter,

and

^As

if I

first,

Make my compliments let-

can form upon your case any reso-

the opinion of

some distinguished

nat-

our species is transmitted through males only, the female being all along no more than a nidus, or nurse, as Mother Earth is to plants of every sort; which notion seems to be confirmed uralists, that

by that text of scripture, "He was yet in the loins of his FATHER when Melchisedeck met him" (Heb. vii. I o) and consequently, that a man's grandson by a daughter, instead of being his surest descendant as is vulgarly said, has in reality no connection ;

—

whatever with his blood. And secondly, independent of this theory, (which, if true, should completely exclude heirs general,) that if the preference of a male to a female, without regard to primogeniture, (as a son, though much younger, nay, even a grandson by a son, to a daughter,) be once admitted, as it universally is, it must be equally reasonable and proper in the most remote degree of descent from an original proprietor of an estate, as in the nearest; because, however distant from the representative at the time, that remote male heir, upon the failure of those nearer to the original proprietor than he is, becomes in fact the nearest male to him, and is, therefore, preferable as his representative, to a female descendant. little extension of mind will enable us easily to perceive that a son's son, in continuation to whatever length of time, is preferable to a son's daughter, in the succession to an ancient inheritance; in which regard should be had to the representation of the original proprietor, and not to that of one of his

—

—

—A

descendants. I

am

aware of Blackstone's admirable demon-

stration of the reasonableness of the legal succession, upon the principle of there being the greatest probability that the nearest heir of the person who last dies proprietor of an estate, is of the blood of

the

first purchaser. But supposing a pedigree to be carefully authenticated through all its branches, instead of mere probability there will be a certainty that the nearest male heir, at whatever period, has the same right of blood with the first male heir, namely, the original purchaser' s eldest son.

and

tell

her, that I

hope

to dear Mrs. Boswell; to be wanting in noth-

ing that I can contribute to bring you all out of your troubles. I am, dear Sir, most affectionately, your humble servant, Sam. Johnson l-.ondon, Jan. 15, 1776

Dear

Sir, I

To the Same am going to write upon

a ques-

tion which requires more knowledge of local law, and more acquaintance with the general rules of inheritance, than I can claim; but I write, because you request it. Land is, like any other possession, by natural right wholly in the power of its present owner; and may be sold, given, or bequeathed, absolutely or conditionally, as judgement shall direct, or passion incite. But natural right would avail little without the protection of law; and the primary notion of law is restraint in the exercise of natural right. man is therefore, in society, not fully master of what he calls his own, but he still retains all the

A

power which law does not take from him. In the exercise of the right which law either leaves or gives, regard is to be paid to moral obligations.

Of the estate which we are now considering, your father still retains such possession, with such power over it, that he can sell it, and do with the money what he will, without any legal impediment. But when he extends his power beyond his own life, by settling the order of succession, the law makes your consent necessary. Let us suppose that he sells the land to risk the money in some specious adventure, and in that adventure loses the whole; his posterity would be disappointed; but they could not think themselves injured or robbed. If he spent it upon vice or pleasure, his successors could only call him vicious and voluptuous; they could not say that he was injurious or unjust.

BOSWELL

276

He

He that may do more may do less. by selling, or squandering, may disinherit a whole family, may certainly disinherit part, by that,

a partial settlement.

Laws are formed by the manners and exigencies of particular times, and it is but accidental that they last longer than their causes: the limitation of feudal succession to the male arose from the obligation of the tenant to attend his chief in war.

As times and opinions are always changing,

I

be not usurpation to prescribe rules to posterity, by presuming to judge of what we cannot know: and I know not whether I fully approve either your design or your father's, to limit that succession which descended to you unlimited. If we are to leave sartum tectum to posterity, what we have without any merit of our own received from our ancestors, should not choice and free-will be kept unviolated? Is land to be treated with more reverence than liberty?- If this consideration should restrain your father from disinheriting some of the males, does it leave you the power of disin-

know not whether

it

heriting all the females? Can the possessor of a feudal estate make any will? Can he appoint, out of the inheritance, any portions to his daughters? There seems to be a very shadowy difference between the power of leaving land, and of leaving money to be raised from land; between leaving an estate to females, and leaving the male heir, in effect,

only their steward.

Suppose at one time a law that allowed only males to inherit, and during the continuance of this law many estates to have descended, passing by the females, to remoter heirs. Suppose afterwards the law repealed in correspondence with a change of manners, and women made capable of inheritance; would not then the tenure of estates be changed? Could the women have no benefit from a law made in their favour? Must they be passed by upon moral principles for ever, because they were once excluded legal prohibition?

iWhich term

I

left.

If your ancestor had not the power of making a perpetual settlement; and if, therefore, we cannot judge distinctly of his intentions, yet his act can only be considered as an example; it makes not an obligation. And, as you observe, he set no example of rigorous adherence to the line of succession. He that overlooked a brother, would not wonder that little regard is shewn to

remote relations. As the rules of succession are, in a great part, purely legal, no man can be supposed to bequeath any thing, but upon legal terms; he can grant no power which the law denies; and if he makes no special and definite limitation, he confers all the power which the law allows.

Your

applied to

all

the male heirs.

ancestor, for

tended

this

some reason, disinherited

no more follows that he inact as a rule for posterity, than the

his daughters;

but

it

disinheriting of his brother. If, therefore, you ask by what right your father admits daughters to inheritance, ask yourself, first, by what right you require them to be

excluded? It appears, upon reflection, that your father excludes nobody; he only admits nearer females to inherit before males more remote; and the exclusion is purely consequential. These, dear Sir, are my thoughts, immethodical and deliberative; but, perhaps, you may find in them some glimmering of evidence. I cannot, however, but again recommend to you a conference with Lord Hailes, whom you know to be both a Lawyer and a Christian.

Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, though she does not love me. ate servant,

I

am.

Sir,

your affection-

Sam. Johnson

Or may

that which passed only to males by one law, pass likewise to females by another? You mention your resolution to maintain the right of your brothers:^ I do not see how any of their rights are invaded. As your whole difficulty arises from the act of your ancestor, who diverted the succession from the females, you enquire, very properly, what were his motives, and what was his intention; for you certainly are not bound by his act more than he intended to bind you, nor hold your land on harder or stricter terms than those on which it was granted. Intentions must be gathered from acts. When he left the estate to his nephew, by excluding his daughters, was it, or was it not, in his power

by a

[1776

have perpetuated the succession to the males? If he could have done it, he seems to have shewn, by omitting it, that he did not desire it to be done; and, upon your own principles, you will not easily prove your right to destroy that capacity of succession which your ancestors have to

Feb. 3, 1773 [1776] I

had followed his recommendation and conLord Hailes, who upon this subject had a

sulted

firm opinion contrary to mine. His Lordship obligingly took the trouble to write me a letter, in

which he discussed with legal and historical which I saw much diffi-

learning, the points in

maintaining that "the succession of heirs general was the succession, by the law of Scotland, from the throne to the cottage, as far as we can learn it by record"; observing that the es-

culty,

had not been limited to male and that though a male heir had in one

tate of our family heirs;

instance been chosen in preference to nearer females, that had been an arbitrary act, which

had seemed

to be best in the

embarrassed state

LIFE OF

1776] of affairs at that time;

and the

fact was, that

upon a fair computation of the value of land and money at the time, applied to the estate and the burthens upon it, there was nothing given to the male heir but the skeleton of an estate. "The plea of conscience (said his Lordship,) which you put, is a most respectable one, especially when conscience and self are on different sides. But I think that conscience is not well informed, and that self and she ought on this occasion to be of a side."

which had considerable influence mind, I sent to Dr. Johnson, begging to hear from him again, upon this interesting This

upon

letter,

my

question.

Esq.

Dear Sir, Having not any acquaintance with I endeavoured your question upon general principles, and found nothing of much validity that I could oppose to this position: "He who inherits a fief unlimited by his ancestors, inherits the power of limiting it according to his own judgement or opinion." If this be true, you may join with your father. Further consideration produces another conclusion: "He who receives a fief unlimited by

the laws or customs of Scotland,

to consider

his ancestors, gives his heirs

some reason to com-

he does not transmit it unlimited to posterity. For why should he make the state of others worse than his own, without a reason?" If this be true, though neither you nor your father are about to do what is quite right, but as your if

father violates (I think) the legal succession least, he seems to be nearer the right than your-

scruples. If these

cannot but occur that

"Women have

axioms be allowed, you have arrived

now at full liberty without the help of particular circumstances, which, however, have in your case great weight. You very rightly observe, that he who passing by his brother gave the inheritance to his nephew, could limit no more than he gave; and by Lord Hailes's estimate of fourteen years' purchase, what he gave was no more than you may easily entail according to your own opinion, if that opinion should finally prevail.

Hailes's suspicion that entails are en-

croachments on the dominion of Providence, may be extended to all hereditary privileges and all permanent institutions; I do not see why it may not be extended to any provision for the present hour, since all care about futurity proceeds upon a supposition, that we know at least in some degree what will be future. Of the future we certainly know nothing; but we may form conjectures from the past; and the power of forming conjectures, includes, in my opinion, the duty of acting in conformity to that probability which we discover. Providence gives the power, of which reason teaches the use. I am, dear Sir, your most faithful servant,

Sam. Johnson Feb. 9, 1776 I hope I shall get

some ground now with Mrs.

Boswell; make my compliments to her, and to the little people. Don't burn papers; they may be safe enough you will wish to see them in your own box,

—

self.

It

277

contingencies to future prudence." In these two positions I believe Lord Hailes will advise you to rest; every other notion of possession seems to me full of difficulties and embarrassed with

Lord

To James Boswell,

plain,

JOHNSON

natu-

and equitable claims as well as men, and these claims are not to be capriciously or lightly superseded or infringed." When fiefs implied military service, it is easily discerned why females could not inherit them; but that reason is now at an end. As manners make laws, manners likewise repeal them. These are the general conclusions which I have attained. None of them are very favourable to your scheme of entail, nor perhaps to observation, that only he who any scheme. acquires an estate may bequeath it capriciously,^ if it contains any conviction, includes this position likewise, that only he who acquires an estate may entail it capriciously. But I think it may be safely presumed, that "he who inherits an estate, inherits all the power legally concomitant"; and that "He who gives or leaves unlimited an estate legally limitable, must be presumed to give that power of limitation which he omitted to take away, and to commit future

hereafter.

ral

My

^I

had reminded him of

tioned, ante, p. 226.

his observation

men-

To THE Same Dear Sir, To the letters which I have written about your great question I have nothing to add. If your conscience is satisfied, you have now only your prudence to consult. I long for a letter, that I may know how this troublesome

and vexatious question is at last decided.^ I hope that it will at last end well. Lord Hailes's letter was very friendly, and very seasonable, ^The entail framed by

my

father with various

judicious clauses, was settled by him and me, settling the estate upon the male heirs of his grandfather, which I found had been already done by my grandfather, imperfectly, but so as to be defeated only by selling the lands. I was freed by Dr. Johnson from scruples of conscientious obligation, and could, therefore, gratify my father. But my

opinion and partiality for male succession, in its full extent, remained unshaken. Yet let me not be thought harsh or unkind to daughters: for my notion is, that they should be treated with great affection and tenderness, and always participate of the prosperity of the family.

BOSWELL

278

but I think his aversion from entails has something in it like superstition. Providence is not counteracted by any means which Providence puts into our power. The continuance and propagation of families makes a great part of the Jewish law, and is by no means prohibited in the Christian institution, though the necessity of it continues no longer. Hereditary tenures are established in all civilized countries, and are accompanied in most with hereditary authority. Sir William Temple considers our constitution as defective, that there is not an unalienable estate in land connected with a peerage; and Lord Bacon mentions as a proof that the Turks are

Barbarians, their want of Stirpes, as he calls them, or hereditary rank. Do not let your mind, when it is freed from the supposed necessity of a rigorous entail, be entangled with contrary objections, and think all entails unlawful, till you

have cogent arguments, which I believe you will never find. I am afraid of scruples. I have now sent all Lord Hailes's papers; part I found hidden in a drawer in which I had laid them for security, and had forgotten them. Part of these are written twice: I have returned both the copies. Part I had read before. Be so kind as to return Lord Hailes my most respectful thanks for his first volume; his accuracy strikes me with wonder; his narrative is far superiour to that of Renault, as I have formerly mentioned. I am afraid that the trouble, which my irregularity and delay has cost him, is greater, far greater, than any good that I can do him will ever recompense; but if I have any more copy, I

will try to

do

better.

Pray let me know if Mrs. Boswell is friends with me, and pay my respects to Veronica, and Euphemia, and Alexander. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson February 15, 1775 [1776]

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, Feb.

20, 1776

You have illuminated my mind and relieved me from imaginary shackles of conscientious obligation. Were it necessary, I could im.

.

.

mediately join in an entail upon the series of approved by my father; but it is better not to act too suddenly.

heirs

Dr. Johnson to Mr. Boswell Sir, I am glad that what I could think

Dear

or say has at all contributed to quiet your thoughts. Your resolution not to act, till your opinion is confirmed by more deliberation, is very just. If you have been scrupulous, do not now be rash. I hope that as you think more, and take opportunities of talking with men intelligent in questions of property, you will be able to free yourself from every difficulty.

[1776

When ets.

I

wrote

Did you receive them

You must

think, ten pack-

last, I sent, I

all?

Mrs. Boswell that I suspected her to have written without your knowledge,^ and therefore did not return any answer, lest a clandestine correspondence should have been tell

perniciously discovered. I will write to her soon. ... I am, dear Sir, most affectionately yours,

Sam. Johnson Feb. 24, 1776

Having communicated

to

Lord Hailes what

Dr .Johnson wrote concerning the question which

me so much, his Lordship wrote to me: "Your scruples have produced more fruit than I ever expected from them; an excellent dissertation on general principles of morals and perplexed

law."

wrote to Dr. Johnson on the 20th of Februcomplaining of melancholy, and expressing a strong desire to be with him; informing him I

ary,

that the ten packets came all safe; that Lord Hailes was much obliged to him, and said he had almost wholly removed his scruples against entails.

To James Boswell, Dear

Esq.

have not had your letter half an hour; as you lay so much weight upon my notions,

Sir, I

should think

I

it

not just to delay

my

answer. I

am very sorry that your melancholy should

and should be sorry likewise if it could have no relief but from company. My counsel you may have when you are pleased to require it; but of my company you cannot in the next month have much, for Mr. Thrale will take me to Italy, he says, on the first of April. Let me warn you very earnestly against scruples. I am glad that you are reconciled to your settlement, and think it a great honour to have shaken Lord Hailes's opinion of entails. Do not, however, hope wholly to reason away your troubles; do not feed them with attention, and they will die imperceptibly away. Fix your thoughts upon your business, fill your intervals with company, and sunshine will again break in upon your mind. If you will come to me, you must come very quickly; and even then I know not but we may scour the country together, for I have a mind to see Oxford and Lichfield, before I set out on this long journey. To this I can only add, that I am, dear Sir, your most affec-

return,

tionate

humble

servant,

Sam. Johnson

March

5,

1776

To THE Same Sir, Very early in April we leave England, and in the beginning of the next week I

Dear

^A letter to him on the interesting subject of the family settlement, which I had read.

LIFE OF JOHNSOINI

1776] shall leave

London

for a short time; of this I

think it necessary to inform you, that you may not be disappointed in any of your enterprises. I had not fully resolved to go into the country before this day. Please to make my compliments to Lord Hailes; and mention very particularly to Mrs. Boswell my hope that she is reconciled to, Sir,

your

faithful servant,

Sam. Johnson

March

12,

1776

Above thirty years ago, the heirs of Lord ChanClarendon presented the University of Oxford with the continuation of his History, and such other of his Lordship's manuscripts as had cellor

not been published, on condition that the profits arising from their publication should be applied to the establishment of a Manege in the University. The gift was accepted in full convocation. A person being now recommended to Dr. Johnson, as fit to superintend this proposed riding-school, he exerted himself with that zeal for which he was remarkable upon every similar occasion. But, on enquiry into the matter, he found that the scheme was not likely to be soon carried into execution; the profits arising from

the Clarendon press being, from some misman-

agement, very scanty. This having been explained him by a respectable dignitary of the church, who had good means of knowing it, he wrote a letter upon the subject, which at once exhibits his extraordinary precision and acuteness, and his warm attachment to his Alma Mater. to

To THE Reverend Dr. Wetherell, Master OF University College, Oxford

Dear Sir, Few things are more unpleasant than the transaction of business with men who are above knowing or caring what they have to do; such as the trustees for Lord Cornbury's institution will, perhaps, appear, when you have read Dr. *******'§ letter. The last part of the Doctor's letter is of great importance. The complaint^ which he makes I have heard long ago, and did not know but it was redressed. It is unhappy that a practice so erroneous has not yet been altered; for altered it must be, or our press will be useless, with all its privileges. The booksellers, who, like all other men, have strong prejudices in their own favour, are enough inclined to think the practice of printing and selling books by any but themselves,

an encroachment on the rights of their and have need of stronger induce-

fraternity;

^I suppose the complaint was, that the trustees of the Oxford Press did not allow the London booksellers a sufficient profit upon vending their publi-

cations.

279

ments to circulate academical publications than those of one another; for, of that mutual co-operation by which the general trade is carried on, the University can bear no part. Of those whom he neither loves nor fears, and from whom he expects no reciprocation of good offices, why should any man promote the interest but for with all our scholastick, ignorance of inankind, we are still too knowing to exprofit? I suppose,

pect that the booksellers will erect themselves into patrons, and buy and sell under the influence of a disinterested zeal for the promotion of learning. To the booksellers, if we look for either honour or profit from our press, not only their common profit, but something more must be allowed; and if books, printed at Oxford, are expected to be rated at a high price, that price must be levied on the publick, and paid by the ultimate purchaser, not by the intermediate agents. What price shall be set upon the book, is, to the booksellers, wholly indifferent, provided that they gain a proportionate profit by negotiating the sale. books printed at Oxford should be particularly dear, I am, however, unable to find. pay no rent; we inherit many of our instruments and materials; lodging and victuals are cheaper than at London; and, therefore, workmanship ought, at least, not to be dearer. Our expences are naturally less than those of booksellers; and, in most cases, communities are content with less profit than individuals.

Why

We

perhaps, not considered through how before it comes into those of the reader; or what part of the It

is,

many hands a book often passes,

each hand must retain, as a motive for

profit

transmitting

We

it

to the next.

our primary agent in London, Mr. Cadell, who receives our books from us, gives them room in his warehouse, and issues them on demand; by him they are sold to Mr. Dilly a wholesale bookseller, who sends them into the country; and the last seller is the country bookseller. Here are three profits to be paid between the printer and the reader, or in the style of commerce, between the manufacturer and the consumer; and if any of these profits is too penuriously distributed, the process of commerce is interrupted. will call

We

are now come to the practical question, to be done? You wiU tell me, with reason, that I have said nothing, till I declare how much, according to my opinion, of the ultimate price ought to be distributed through the whole succession of sale. The deduction, I am afraid, will appear very great: but let it be considered before it is refused. must allow, for profit, between thirty and thirty-five per cent., between six and seven shillings in the pound; that is, for every book which costs the last buyer twenty shillings, we

what

is

We

BOSWELL

28o

must charge Mr. Cadell with something less than fourteen. We must set the copies at fourteen shiHings each, and superadd what is called the quarterly-book, or for every hundred books so charged we must deliver an hundred and four. The profits will then stand thus:— Mr. Cadell, who runs no hazard, and gives no credit, will be paid for warehouse room and attendance by a shilling profit on each book, and his chance of the quarterly-book. Mr. Dilly, who buys the book for fifteen shillings, and who will expect the quarterly-book if he takes five and twenty, will send it to his country customer at sixteen and six, by which, at the hazard of loss, and the certainty of long credit, he gains the regular profit of ten per cent. which is expected in the wholesale trade. The country bookseller, buying at sixteen and sixpence, and commonly trusting a considerable time, gains but three and sixpence, and if he trusts a year, not much more than two and six-

pence; otherwise than as he may, perhaps, take as long credit as he gives. With less profit than this, and more you see he cannot have, the country bookseller cannot live; for his receipts are small, and his debts

sometimes bad. Thus, dear Sir, I have been incited by Dr. *******'s letter to give you a detail of the circulation of books, which, perhaps, every man has not had opportunity of knowing; and which those who know it, do not, perhaps, always distinctly consider. I am, &c. Sam. Johnson^ March 12, 1776

Having arrived

in

London

late

on Friday, the

hastened next morning to wait on Dr. Johnson, at his house; but found he was 15th of March,

I

removed from Johnson's-court, No.

7,

to Bolt-

keeping to his favourite Fleetstreet. My reflection at the time upon this change as marked in my Journal, is as follows: "I felt a foolish regret that he had left a court which bore his name;- but it was not foolish to be affected with some tenderness of regard for a place in which I had seen him a great deal, from whence I had often issued a better and a happier man than when I went in, and which had often appeared to my imagination while I trod its pavements, in the solemn darkness of the night, to be sacred to wisdom and piety." Being informed court,

No.

am

8, still

in giving this full and clear statement to the publick, to vindicate, by the authority of the greatest authour of his age, that respectable body of men, the Booksellers of London, from vulgar reflections, as if their profits were exorbitant, when, in truth, Dr. Johnson has here allowed them ^I

happy

more than they usually demand. ^He said, when in Scotland, that he was Johnson of that Ilk.

[1776

Mr. Thrale's, in the Borough, I hastened thither, and found Mrs. Thrale and him at breakfast. I was kindly welcomed. In a moment he was in a full glow of conversation, and I felt myself elevated as if brought into another state of being. Mrs. Thrale and I looked to each other while he talked, and our looks expressed our congenial admiration and affection was

that he

for

him.

at

I shall

pleasure.

I

ever recollect this scene with great

am now, intelam quite restored

exclaimed to her, "I

lectually, Hermippus redivivus, I

by him, by transfusion of mindJ'^ "There are (she replied) who admire and respect Mr. Johnson; but you and I love him." He seemed very happy in the near prospect of going to Italy with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. "But, (said he,) before leaving England I am to take a jaunt to Oxford, Birmingham, my native city Lichfield, and my old friend. Dr. Taylor's, at Ashbourn, in Derbyshire. I shall go in a few days, and you, Boswell, shall go with me." I was ready to accompany him; being willing even to leave London to have the pleasure of his conversation. I mentioned with much regret the extravagance of the representative of a great family in Scotland, by which there was danger of its being ruined; and as Johnson respected it for its antiquity, he joined with me in thinking it would be happy if this person should die. Mrs. Thrale seemed shocked at this, as feudal barbarity; and said, "I do not understand this preference of the estate to its owner; of the land to the man who walks upon that land." Johnson. "Nay Madam,

many

not a preference of the land to its owner, the preference of a family to an individual. Here is an establishment in a country, which is of importance for ages, not only to the chief but to his people; an establishment which extends upwards and downwards; that this should be destroyed by one idle fellow is a sad thing." He said, "Entails are good, because it is good to preserve in a country, series of men, to whom the people are accustomed to look up as to their leaders. But I am for leaving a quantity of land in commerce, to excite industry, and keep money in the country; for if no land were to be bought in the country, there would be no encouragement to acquire wealth, because a family could

it is it

is

not be founded there; or if it were acquired, it must be carried away to another country where land may be bought. And although the land in every country will remain the same, and be as fertile

where there

is

no money,

as

where there

yet all that portion of the happiness of civil life, which is produced by money circulating in is,

^See ante, p. 118.

LIFE OF

1776]

a country, would be lost." Boswell. "Then, Sir, would it be for the advantage of a country that all its lands were sold at once?" Johnson. "So far, Sir, as money produces good, it would be an advantage; for, then that country would

have as much money circulating in it as it is worth. But to be sure this would be counterbalanced by disadvantages attending a total change of proprietors."

dom

281

thinks but of his

own

particular trade.

To

a man must have extensive views. It is not necessary to have practised, to write well upon a subject." I mentioned law as a subject on which no man could write well without practice. Johnson. "Why, Sir, in

write a good book

upon

it,

much money is to be got by the practice of the law, most of our writers upon England, where so

have been in practice; though Blackstone had much in practice when he published his Commentaries. But upon the Continent, the great writers on law have not all been in practice: Grotius, indeed, was; but Puffendorf was not, Burlamaqui was not." When we had talked of the great consequence which a man acquired by being employed in his profession, I suggested a doubt of the justice of the general opinion, that it is improper in a lawyer to solicit employment; for why, I urged, should it not be equally allowable to solicit that it

expressed my opinion that the power of entailing should be limited thus: "That there should be one third, or perhaps one half of the land of a country kept free for commerce; that the proportion allowed to be entailed, should be parcelled out so that no family could entail above a certain quantity. Let a family according to the abilities of its representatives, be richer or poorer in different generations, or always rich if its representatives be always wise: but let its absolute permanency be moderate. In this way we should be certain of there being always a number of established roots; and as in the course of nature, there is in every age an extinction of some families, there would be continual openings for men ambitious of perpetuity, to plant a I

stock in the entail ground."^ Johnson. "Why, Sir, mankind will be better able to regulate the

system of entails, when the evil of too much land being locked up by them is felt, than we can do at present when it is not felt." I mentioned Dr. Adam Smith's book on The Wealth of Nations, which was just published, and John Pringle had observed to me, that Dr. Smith, who had never been in trade, could not be expected to write well on that subject any more than a lawyer upon physick. Johnson. "He is mistaken. Sir: a man who has never been engaged in trade himself may undoubtedly write well upon trade, and there is nothing which requires more to be illustrated by philosophy than trade does. As to mere wealth, that is to say, that Sir

money, it is clear that one nation or one individual cannot increase its store but by making another poorer: but trade procures what is more valuable, the reciprocation of the peculiar advantages of different countries. merchant sel-

A

^The privilege of perpetuating in a family an estate and arms indejeasibly from generation to generation, is enjoyed by none of his Majesty's subjects except in Scotland, where the legal fiction oifine

and

JOHNSON

recovery is unknown. It is a privilege so proud, that I should think it would be proper to have the exercise of it dependent on the royal prerogative. It seems absurd to permit the power of perpetuating their representation, to men, who having had no eminent merit, have truly no name. The King, as the impartial father of his people, would never refuse to grant the privilege to those who deserved it.

not been

as the

means

of consequence, as

votes to be elected a

it is

to solicit

member of Parliament? Mr.

Strahan had told me that a countryman of his and mine, who had risen to eminence in the law, had, when first making his way, soHcited him to get him employed in city causes. Johnson. "Sir, it is wrong to stir up law-suits; but when once it is certain that a law-suit is to go on, there is nothing wrong in a lawyer's endeavouring that he shall have the benefit, rather than another." Boswell. "You would not solicit employment, Sir, if you were a lawyer." Johnson. "No, Sir, but not because I should think it wrong, but because I should disdain it." This was a good distinction, which will be felt by men of just pride. He proceeded: "However, I would not have a lawyer to be wanting to himself in using fair means. I would have him to inject a little hint now and then, to prevent his being overlooked." Lord Mountstuart's bill for a Scotch Militia, in supporting which his Lordship had made an able speech in the House of Commons, was now a pretty general topick of conversation. Johnson. "As Scotland contributes so little land-tax towards the general support of the nation, it ought not to have a militia paid out of the general fund, unless it should be thought for the general interest, that Scotland should be protected from an invasion, which no man can think will happen; for what enemy would invade Scotland, where there is nothing to be got? No, Sir; now that the Scotch have not the pay of English soldiers spent among them, as so

many get

troops are sent abroad, they are trying to

money another way, by having a

paid. If they are afraid,

and

militia

seriously desire to

BOSWELL

282

[1776

have an armed force to defend them, they should pay for it. Your scheme is to retain a part of your land-tax, by making us pay and clothe your militia." Boswell. "You should not talk of M-'^ andyou. Sir: there is now an t/r?zo«." Johnson. "There must be a distinction of interest,

and how can it be ascertained how much is true and how much is false? Besides, Sir, what damages would a jury give me for having been represented as swearing?" Boswell. "I think. Sir, you should at least disavow such a publication, because the world and posterity might with

while the proportions of land-tax are so unequal. If Yorkshire should say, 'Instead of paying our land-tax, we will keep a greater number of militia,' it would be unreasonable." In this argument my friend was certainly in the wrong. The land-tax is as unequally proportioned between

much plausible ume which was

between England and Scotland; nay, it is considerably unequal in Scotland itself. But the land-tax is but a small part of the numerous branches of publick revenue, all of which Scotland pays precisely as England does. A French invasion made in Scotland would soon penetrate into England. He thus discoursed upon supposed obligation different parts of England, as

in settling estates:

— "Where a man gets the un-

limited property of an estate, there

no obligation upon him injustice to leave it to one person rather than to another. There is a motive of preference from kindness, and this kindness is is

generally entertained for the nearest relation. If I owe a particular man a sum of money, I ana

obliged to get,

but

let

that

and cannot if I

what

I

justitia

debitum

man

have the next money

in justice let another have

I

it:

no man, I may dispose of get as I please. There is not a debitum to a man's next heir; there is only a caritatis. It is plain, then, that I have

owe money

to

morally a choice, according to my liking. If I have a brother in want, he has a claim from affection to my assistance; but if I have also a brother in want, whom I like better, he has a

The

an heir

law is only this, that he is to have the succession to an estate, in case no other person is appointed to it by the owner. His right is merely preferable to that of the King." preferable claim.

We

right of

at

got into a boat to cross over to Black-

as we moved along the Thames, I him of a little volume, which, altogether unknown to him, was advertised to be

friars;

and

talked to

published in a few days, under the

title

of John-

Bon-Mots oj Dr. Johnson. Johnson. "Sir, it is a mighty impudent thing." Boswell. "Pray, Sir, could you have no redress if you were to prosecute a publisher for bringing out, under your name, what you never said, and ascribing to you dull stupid nonsense, or making you swear profanely, as many ignorant relaters of your ^on-mo/j do?" Johnson. "No, Sir; there will always be some truth mixed with the falsehood, soniana, or

foundation say, 'Here

out in Dr. Johnson's silence,

a vol-

is

publickly advertised and

own

time, and,

was admitted by him

came

by

his

to be genuine.'

"

Johnson. "I shall give myself no trouble about the matter." He was, perhaps, above suffering from such spurious publications; but I could not help thinking, that many men would be much injured in their reputation, by having absurd and vicious sayings

imputed to them; and that

re-

dress ought in such cases to be given.

He on

its

said,

"The

being true.

value of every story depends

A story is a picture either of an

human nature in general: if it be false, it is a picture of nothing. For instance: suppose a man should tell that Johnson, before setting out for Italy, as he had to cross the Alps, sat down to make himself wings. This many people would believe; but it would be a picture of nothing. ******** (naming a worthy friend of ours), used to think a story, a story, till I individual or of

shewed him that truth was

essential to it." I

observed, that Foote entertained us with stories

which were not

true; but that, indeed, it was properly not as narratives that Foote's stories pleased us, but as collections of ludicrous images. Johnson. "Foote is quite impartial, for he tells lies of every body." The importance of strict and scrupulous ver-

acity cannot be too often inculcated.

was known

Johnson

to be so rigidly attentive to

it,

that

even in his common conversation the slightest circumstance was mentioned with exact precision. The knowledge of his having such a principle and habit made his friends have a perfect reliance on the truth of every thing that he told, however it might have been doubted if told by many others. As an instance of this, I may mention an odd incident which he related as having happened to him one night in Fleet-street. "A gentlewoman (said he), begged I would give her my arm to assist her in crossing the street, which I accordingly did; upon which she offered me a shilling, supposing me to be the watchman. I perceived that she was somewhat in liquor." if told by most people, would have been thought an invention; when told by Johnson, it was believed by his friends as much as if they had seen what passed.

This,

— LIFE OF

1776]

We

JOHNSON

283

we

well in unison; but he will probably be offensive, or appear ridiculous, to other people."

I found him in the evening in Mrs. Williams's room. We talked of religious orders. He said, "It is as unreasonable for a man to go into a Carthusian convent for fear of being immoral, as for a man to cut off his hands for fear he should steal. There is, indeed, great resolution in the immediate act of dismembering himself; but when that is once done, he has no longer any merit: for though it is out of his power to steal, yet he may all his life be a thief in his heart. So when a man has once become a Carthusian, he is obliged to continue so, whether he chooses it or not. Their silence, too, is absurd. We read in the Gospel of the apostles being sent to preach, but not to hold their tongues. All severity that does not tend to increase good, or prevent evil, is idle. I said to the Lady Abbess of a convent,

He allowed very great influence to education. "I do not deny. Sir, but there is some original difference in minds; but it is nothing in compar-

landed at the Temple-stairs, where

parted.

'Madam, you are here, not for the love She

but the fear of

vice.'

member

long as she

this as

said, 'She lived.'

"

I

of virtue,

should rethought it

hard to give her this view of her situation, when she could not help it; and, indeed, I wondered

what he now said; because, both and Idler, he treats religious aus-

at the whole of in his Rambler

with much solemnity of respect. Finding him still persevering in his abstinence from wine, I ventured to speak to him of it. Johnson. "Sir, I have no objection to a man's drinking wine, if he can do it in moderation. I found myself apt to go to excess in it, and therefore, after having been for some time without it, on account of illness, I thought it better not to return to it. Every man is to judge for himself, according to the effects which he experiences. One of the fathers tells us, he found fasting made him so peevish that he did not practise it." Though he often enlarged upon the evil of intoxication, he was by no means harsh and unforgiving to those who indulged in occasional terities

One of his friends,

remember, came to sup at a tavern with him and some other gentlemen, and too plainly discovered that he had drunk too much at dinner. When excess in wine.

I

well

one who loved mischief, thinking to produce a severe censure, asked Johnson, a few days afterwards, "Well, Sir, what did your friend say to you, as an apology for being in such a situation?" Johnson answered, "Sir, he said all that

a

man should say:

he said he was sorry for it." heard him once give a very judicious practical advice upon this subject: "A man, who has been drinking wine at all freely, should never go into a new company. With those who have partaken of wine with him, he may be pretty I

ison of what is formed by education. instance the science of numbers, which

We may all

minds

are equally capable of attaining; yet we find a prodigious difference in the powers of different

men, in that

respect, after they are grown up, because their minds have been more or less exercised in it: and I think the same cause will explain the difference of excellence in other things, gradations admitting always some dif-

ference in the

This

first

principles."

a difficult subject; but it is best to hope that diligence may do a great deal. We arc sure of what it can do, in increasing our mechanical force

is

and

dexterity.

again visited him on Monday. He took occasion to enlarge, as he often did, upon the wretchedness of a sea-life. "A ship is worse than a gaol. There is, in a gaol, better air, better company, better conveniency of every kind; and a ship has the additional disadvantage of being in danger. When men come to like a sealife, they are not fit to live on land." "Then (said I) it would be cruel in a father to breed his son to the sea." Johnson. "It would be cruel in a father who thinks as I do. Men go to sea, before they know the unhappiness of that way of life; and when they have come to know it, they cannot escape from it, because it is then too late to choose another profession; as indeed is generally the case with men, when they have once engaged in any particular way of life." On Tuesday, March ig, which was fixed for our proposed jaunt, we met in the morning at the Somerset coffee-house in the Strand, where we were taken up by the Oxford coach. He was I

—

accompanied by Mr. Gwyn, the architect; and a gentleman of Merton College, whom we did not know, had the fourth seat. We soon got into conversation; for it was very remarkable of Johnson, that the presence of a stranger had no restraint upon his talk. I observed that Garrick, who was about to quit the stage, would soon have an easier life. Johnson. "I doubt that. Sir." BoswELL. "Why, Sir, he will be Atlas with the burthen off his back." Johnson. "But I know if he will be so steady without his load. However, he should never play any more, but be entirely the gentleman, and not partly the player: he should no longer subject himself to be hissed by a mob, or to be insolently treated by performers, whom he used to rule with a

not. Sir,

BOSWELL

284

high hand, and who would gladly retaliate." BoswELL. "I think he should play once a year for the benefit of decayed actors, as it has been said he means to do." Johnson. "Alas, Sir! he will soon be a decayed actor himself." Johnson expressed his disapprobation of ornamental architecture, such as magnificent columns supporting a portico, or expensive pilasters supporting merely their own capitals, "because it consumes labour disproportionate to its utility." For the same reason he sat)Tised statuary. "Painting (said he) consumes labour not disproportionate to its effect; but a fellow will hack half a year at a block of marble to make something in stone that hardly resembles a man. The value of statuary is owing to its difficulty. You would not .value the finest head cut upon a carrot." Here he seemed to me to be strangely deficient in taste; for surely statuary is a noble art of imitation, and preserves a wonderful expression of the varieties of the human frame; and although it must be allowed that the circumstances of difficulty enhance the value of a marble head, we should consider, that if it requires a long time in the performance, it has a proportionate value in durability. Gwyn was a fine lively rattling fellow. Dr. Johnson kept him in subjection, but with a kindly authority. The spirit of the artist, however, rose against what he thought a Gothick attack, and he made a brisk defence. "What, Sir, will you allow no value to beauty in architecture or in statuary? Why should we allow it then in writing? Why do you take the trouble to give us so many fine allusions, and bright images, and elegant phrases? You might convey all your instruction without these ornaments." Johnson smiled with complacency; but said,

"Why,

Sir, all these

ornaments are

useful, be-

cause they obtain an easier reception for truth; but a building is not at all more convenient for being decorated with superfluous carved work." Gwyn at last was lucky enough to make one reply to Dr. Johnson, which he allowed to be excellent. Johnson censured

him for taking down

a church which might have stood many years, and building a new one at a different place, for no other reason but that there might be a direct road to a new bridge; and his expression was, "You are taking a church out of the way, that the people may go in a straight line to the bridge." "No, Sir, (said Gwyn,) I am putting the church tn the way, that the people may not go out of the way." Johnson, (with a hearty loud laugh of approbation), "Speak no more. Rest your colloquial fame upon this."

—

[1776

Upon

our arrival at Oxford, Dr. Johnson and I went directly to University College, but were disappointed on finding that one of the fellows, his friend Mr. from Newcastle

Scott,

who accompanied him

Edinburgh, was gone to the country. We put up at the Angel inn, and passed the evening by ourselves in easy and familiar conversation. Talking of constitutional melancholy, he observed, "A man so afflicted. Sir, to

must divert distressing thoughts, and not combat with them." Boswell. "May not he think them down, Sir?" Johnson. "No, Sir. To attempt to think them down is madness. He should have a lamp constantly burning in his bedchamber during the night, and if wakefuUy disturbed, take a book, and read, and compose himself to rest. To have the management of the mind is a great art, and it may be attained in a considerable degree by experience and habitual exercise." Boswell. "Should not he provide amusements for himself? Would it not, for instance, be right for him to take a course of chymistry?" Johnson. "Let him take a course of chymistry, or a course of rope-dancing, or a

course of any thing to which he

is

inclined at

treats for his

him contrive to have as many remind as he can, as many things to

which

fly

the time. Let

it

can

from

itself.

Burton's Anatomy of

a valuable work. It is, perhaps, overloaded with quotation. But there is great spirit and great power in what Burton says, Melancholy

is

writes from his own mind." Next morning we visited Dr. Wetherell, Master of University College, with whom Dr. Johnson conferred on the most advantageous mode

when he

of disposing of the books printed at the Claren-

don

press,

on which subject

inserted in a former page.

I

his letter has

often

been

had occasion

to remark, Johnson loved business, loved to

have

wisdom actually operate on real life. Dr. Wetherell and I talked of him without reserve in his own presence. Wetherell. "I would have given him a hundred guineas if he would his

have written a preface to

way of a Discourse on the

his Political Tracts,

by

British Constitution."

BoswTELL. "Dr. Johnson, though in his writings, and upon all occasions a great friend to the constitution both in church and state, has never

written expressly in support of either. There is upon him for both. I am sure he could give a volume of no great bulk upon each, which would comprise all the substance, and

really a claim

with his spirit would eff"ectually maintain them. He should erect a fort on the confines of each." I could perceive that he was displeased with this dialogue. He burst out, "Why should I be

LIFE OF

1776]

always writing?" I hoped he was conscious that the debt was just, and meant to discharge it,

though he dishked being dunned. We then went to Pembroke College, and waited on his old friend Dr. Adams, the master of it, whom I found to be a most polite, pleasing, communicative man. Before his advancement to the headship of his college, I had intended to go and visit him at Shrewsbury, where he was rector of St. Chad's, in order to get from him what particulars he could recollect of Johnson's academlife. He now obligingly gave me part of that authentick information, which, with what I afterwards owed to his kindness, will be found incorporated in its proper place in this work. Dr. Adams had distinguished himself by an able answer to David Hume's Essay on Miracles.

ical

told me he had once dined in company with Hume in London; that Hume shook hands with

He

said, "You have treated me much betthan I deserve"; and that they exchanged visits. I took the liberty to object to treating an infidel writer with smooth civility. Where there is a controversy concerning a passage in a classick authour, or concerning a question in antiq-

him and ter

uities,

or

any other subject

in

which human

not deeply interested, a man may treat his antagonist with politeness and even respect. But where the controversy is concerning the truth of religion, it is of such vast importance to him who maintains it, to obtain the victory, that the person of an opponent ought not to be spared. If a man firmly believes that religion is an invaluable treasure, he will consider a writer who endeavours to deprive mankind of it as a robber; he will look upon him as odious, though the infidel might think himself in the right. A robber who reasons as the gang do in the Beggar^ s Opera, who call themselves practical happiness

is

philosophers,

and may have

as

much

as pernicious speculative philosophers, less

an object of just indignation.

profligate

may

bauch my him? And

wife,

sincerity

is

not the

An abandoned

it is not wrong to debut shall I, therefore, not detest if I catch him in making an attempt, shall I treat him with politeness? No, I will kick him down stairs, or run him through the body; that is, if I really love my wife, or have a true rational notion of honour. An infidel then shall not be treated handsomely by a Christian, merely because he endeavours to rob with ingenuity. I do declare, however, that I am exceedingly unwilling to be provoked to anger, and could I be persuaded that truth would not suffer from a cool moderation in its defenders, I should wish to preserve good humour, at least, in every con-

think that

JOHNSON

285

do I see why a man should lose his temper while he does all he can to refute an opponent. I think ridicule may be fairly used against an infidel; for instance, if he be an ugly fellow, and yet absurdly vain of his person, we may contrast his appearance with troversy; nor, indeed,

Cicero's beautiful image of Virtue, could she be seen.

Johnson coincided with

"When

a

me and

said,

man

voluntarily engages in an important controversy, he is to do all he can to lessen his antagonist, because authority from personal respect has much weight with most

and often more than reasoning. If my antagonist writes bad language, though that may not be essential to the question, I will attack him for his bad language." Adams."You would not jostle a chimney-sweeper." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, if it were necessary to jostle him^/own." Dr. Adams told us, that in some of the Colleges at Oxford, the fellows had excluded the students from social intercourse with them in people,

the

common room. Johnson. "They

are in the

can be no real conversation, no fair exertion of mind amongst them, if the young men are by; for a man who has a character does not choose to stake it in their presence." BosWTELL. "But, Sir, may there not be very good conversation without a contest for superiority?" Johnson. "No animated conversation. Sir, for it cannot be but one or other will come off superiour. I do not mean that the victor must have the better of the argument, for he may take the weak side; but his superiority of parts and knowledge will necessarily appear: and he to whom he thus shews himself superiour is lessened in the eyes of the young men. You know it was said, 'Mallem cum Scaligero errare quam cum Clavio recte sapere.'' In the same manner take Bentley's and Jason de Nores' Comments upon Horace, you will admire Bentley more when wrong, than Jason when right." We walked with Dr. Adams into the master's garden, and into the common room. Johnson (after a reverie of meditation,) "Ay! Here I used to play at draughts with Phil. Jones and Fludyer. Jones loved beer, and did not get very forward in the church. Fludyer turned out a scoundrel, a Whig, and said he was ashamed of having been bred at Oxford. He had a living at Putney, and got under the eye of some retainers right. Sir: there

and so became a vioWhig: but he had been a scoundrel all along to be sure." Boswell. "Was he a scoundrel, Sir, in any other way than that of being a political scoundrel? Did he cheat at draughts?" to the court at that time,

lent

Johnson. "Sir, we never played

for money.''

—

BOSWELL

286

then carried me to visit Dr. Bentham, of Christ-Church, and Divinity Professor, with whose learned and lively conversation we were much pleased. He gave us an invitation to dinner, which Dr. Johnson told me was a high honour. "Sir, it is a great thing to dine with the Canons of Christ-Church." We could not accept his invitation, as we were engaged to dine

He

Canon

at University College.

We had an excellent din-

ner there, with the Master and Fellows, it being St. Cuthbert's day, which is kept by them as a festival, as he was a saint of Durham, with which this college is much connected. We drank tea with Dr. Home, late President of Magdalen College, and Bishop of Norwich, of whose abilities, in different respects, the pubhad eminent proofs, and the esteem

lick has

annexed to whose character was increased by knowing him personally. He had talked of publishing an edition of Walton's Lives, but had laid aside that design, upon Dr. Johnson's telling him, from mistake, that Lord Hailes intended to do it. I had wished to negotiate between Lord Hailes and him, that one or other should perform so good a work. Johnson. "In order to do be necessary to collect all the ediBy way of adapting the book to the taste of the present age, they have, in a later edition, left out a vision which he relates Dr. Donne had, but it should be restored; and there should be a critical catalogue given of the works of the different persons whose lives were written by Walton, and therefore their works must be carefully read by the editor." We then went to Trinity College, where he introduced me to Mr. Thomas Warton, with whom we passed a part of the evening. We talked of biography. ^Johnson. "It is rarely well executed. They only who live with a man can v^Tite his life with any genuine exactness and discrimination; and few people who have lived with a man know what to remark about him. The chaplain of a late Bishop, whom I was to assist in writing some memoirs of his Lordship, could tell me scarcely any thing."' I said, Mr. Robert Dodsley's life should be written, as he had been so much connected with the wits of his time, and by his literary merit had raised himself from the station of a footman. Mr. Warton said, he had published a little it

well,

it

will

tions of Walton's Lives.

has been mentioned to me by an accurate English friend, that Dr. Johnson could never have used the phrase almost nothing, as not being English; and therefore I have put another in its place. At the same time, I am not quite convinced it is not good English. For the best writers use the phrase ^Little or nothing"; i.e. almost so little as to be nothing. ^It

[1776

volume under the title of The Muse in Livery. Johnson. "I doubt whether Dodsley's brother would thank a man who should write his life: yet Dodsley himself was not unwilling that his original low condition should be recollected. When Lord Lyttelton's Dialogues oj the Dead came out, one of which is between Apicius, an ancient epicure, and Dartineixf, a modern epicure, Dodsley said to me, 'I knew Dartineuf " well, for I was once his footman.' Biography led us to speak of Dr. John Campbell,

who had

written a considerable part of the

Biographia Britannica. Johnson, though he valued

him highly, was of opinion

much

in his great work,

that there

was not

so

A Political Survey oJ Great

world had been taught to expect;^ me, that he believed Campbell's disappointment, on account of the bad success of that work, had killed him. He this evening observed of it, "That work was his death." Mr. Warton, not adverting to his meaning, answered, "I believe so; from the great attention he bestowed on it." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, he died of want of attention, if he died at all by that book." We talked of a work much in vogue at that time, written in a very mellifluous style, but which, under pretext of another subject, conBritain, as the

and had

tained

said to

much

artful infidelity. I said

it

was not

attack us thus unexpectedly; he should have warned us of our danger, before we entered his garden of flowery eloquence, by ad-

fair to

vertising,

"Spring-guns and men-traps set here."

The authour had been an Oxonian, and was remembered there for having "turned Papist." I

observed, that as he had changed several from the Church of England to the

times

—

Church

of

Rome, — from

—

the

Church

of

Rome

did not despair yet of seeing him a methodist preacher. Johnson (laughing,) "It is said, that his range has been more extensive, and that he has once been Mahometan. However, now that he has published his infidelity, he will probably persist in it." Bosvs^ll. "I to infidelity,

I

am not quite sure of that. Sir." I

mentioned

Sir

Richard Steele having pub-

lished his Christian Hero, with the

avowed pur-

pose of obliging himself to lead a religious

life;

conduct was by no means strictly suitable. Johnson. "Steele, I believe, practised yet, that his

the lighter vices."

Mr. Warton, being engaged, could not sup with us at our inn; we had therefore another evening by ourselves. I asked Johnson, whether ^Yet surely it derful research

executed.

is

a very useful work, and of won-

and labour

for

one

man

to

have

— LIFE OF

1776]

JOHNSON

287

a man's being forward to make himself known to eminent people, and seeing as much of life, and getting as much information as he could in every way, was not yet lessening himself by his forwardness. Johnson. "No, Sir; a man always makes himself greater as he increases his knowledge." I censured some ludicrous fantastick dialogues between two coach-horses and other such stuff,

in

which Baretti had lately published. He joined with me, and said, "Nothing odd will do long,

cannot be: there must always be some degree and anxiety. The master of the house is anxious to entertain his guests; the guests are anxious to be agreeable to him: and no man, but a very impudent dog indeed, can as freely command what is in another man's house, as if it were his own. Whereas, at a tavern, there is a general freedom from anxiety. You are sure you are welcome: and the more noise you make, the

Tristram Shandy did not last."

I expressed a debe acquainted with a lady who had been much talked of, and universally celebrated for extraordinary address and insinuation. Johnson. "Never believe extraordinary characters which you hear of people. Depend upon it. Sir, they are exaggerated. You do not see one man shoot a great deal higher than another." I mentioned Mr. Burke. Johnson. "Yes; Burke is an extraordinary man. His stream of mind is perpetual." It is very pleasing to me to record, that Johnson's high estimation of the talents of this gentleman was uniform from their early acquaintance. Sir Joshua Reynolds informs me, that when Mr. Burke was first elected a member of Parliament, and Sir John Hawkins expressed a wonder at his attaining a seat, Johnson said, "Now we who know Mr. Burke, know, that he will be one of the first men in this country." And once, when Johnson was ill, and unable to exert himself as much as usual without fatigue, Mr. Burke having been mentioned, he said, "That fellow calls forth all my powers. Were I

sire to

to see Burke now it would kill me." So much was he accustomed to consider conversation as a contest, and such was his notion of Burke as an opponent. Next morning, Thursday, March 21, we set out in a postchaise to pursue our ramble. It was a delightful day, and we rode through Blenheim

When

looked at the magnificent bridge built by John, Duke of Marlborough, over a small

park.

rivulet,

I

and recollected the Epigram made upon

it

The lofty arch his high ambition shows. The stream, an emblem oj his bountyflows.

and saw that now, by the genius of Brown, a magnificent body of water was collected, I said, "They have drowned the Epigram." I observed to him, while in the midst of the noble scene around us, "You and I, Sir, have, I think, seen together the extremes of what can be seen in Britain: the wild rough island of Mull, and Blenheim park." We dined at an excellent inn at Chapel-house, where he expatiated on the felicity of England

—

and

and triumphed over the French for not having, in any perfection, the tavern life. "There is no private house, (said he,) in which people can enjoy themselves so well, as its

taverns

inns,

at a capital tavern. Let there be ever so great plenty of good things, ever so much grandeur, ever so much elegance, ever so much desire that every body should be easy; in the nature of things it

of care

more trouble you give, the more good things you welcomer you are. No servants wiU attend you with the alacrity which waiters do, who are incited by the prospect of an immediate call for, the

reward

in proportion as they please. No, Sir; nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.""^ He then repeated, with great emotion, Shenstone's lines:

there

is

Whoe'er has travelled life's dull round. Where'er his stages may have been.

May sigh

to

think he still has found

The warmest welcome

at

an inn?

My illustrious friend, I thought, did not sufficiently admire Shenstone. That ingenious and elegant gentleman's opinion of Johnson appears in

one of his

letters to

Mr. Graves, dated Feb.

9,

Hawkins has preserved very few Memorabilia of Johnson. There is, however, to be found, in his bulky tome [p. 87], a very excellent one upon this subject: "In contradiction to those, who, having a wife and children, prefer domestick enjoyments to those which a tavern affords, I have heard ^Sir John

—

him

assert, that a tavern chair

— 'As soon,' said he,

was

the throne of

human

enter the door of a tavern, I experience an oblivion of care, and a freedom from solicitude: when I am seated, I find the master courteous, and the servants obsequious to

felicity.

'as I

my call; anxious to know and ready to supply my wants: wine there exhilarates my spirits, and promps me to free conversation and an interchange of discourse with those whom I most love I dog:

matise and am contradicted, and in this conflict of " opinions and sentiments I find delight.' ^We happened to lie this night at the inn at Henley, where Shenstone vwote these lines. I give them as they are found in the corrected edition of his Works, published after his death. In Dodsley's collection the stanza ran thus: Whoe'er has travell'd life's dull round, Whate'er his various tour has been.

May

sigh

to

think

how

His warmest welcome

oft he found at

an Inn.

—

BOSWELL

288

[1776

been reading one or two volumes of The Rambler; who, excepting against some few hardnesses^ in his manner, and the want of more examples to enliven, is one of the most nervous, most perspicuous, most concise, [and] most harmonious prose writers I know. A learned diction improves by time." In the afternoon, as we were driven rapidly along in the post-chaise, he said to me "Life has not many things better than this." We stopped at Stratford-upon-Avon, and drank tea and coffee; and it pleased me to be with him upon the classick ground of Shaks-

This passage does not appear in the printed work. Dr. Grainger, or some of his friends, it should seem, having become sensible that introducing even Rats in a grave poem, might be liable to banter. He, however, could not bring himself to relinquish the idea; for they are thus,

peare's native place.

was

1760. "I have lately

—

spoke slightingly of Dyer's Fleece. "The cannot be made poetical. How can a man write poetically of serges and druggets? Yet you will hear many people talk to you gravely

He

subject, Sir,

poem. The Fleece." Having talked I mentioned to him Mr. Langton's having told me, that this poem, when read in manuscript at Sir Joshua Reynolds's had made all the assembled wits burst into a laugh, when, after much blank-verse pomp, the poet began a new paragraph thus: of that

excellent

of Grainger's Sugar-Cane,

Now, Muse,

let's

sing q/rats.

And what increased the ridicule was, that one of the company, who slily overlooked the reader, perceived that the word had been originally mice, and had been altered to rats, as more dignified. ^

i"He too often makes use of the Shenstone.

abstract for the

concrete.'''

^Such is this little laughable incident, which has been often related. Dr. Percy, the Bishop of Dromore, who was an intimate friend of Dr. Grainger, and has a particular regard for his memory, has

communicated

me the

—

following explanation: was originally not liable to such a perversion; for the authour having occasion in that part of his work to mention the havock made by rats and mice, had introduced the subject in a kind of mock heroick, and a parody of Homer's battle of the frogs and mice, invoking the Muse of the old Grecian bard in an elegant and well-turned manner. In that state I had seen it; but afterwards, unknown to me and other friends, he had been persuaded, contrary to his to

"The passage

own

in question

better judgement, to alter it, so as to produce the unlucky effect above-mentioned." The above was written by the Bishop when he had not the Poem itself to recur to; and though the account given was true of it at one period, yet as Dr. Grainger afterwards altered the passage in question, the remarks in the text do not now apply to the printed poem. The Bishop gives this character of Dr. Grainger: "He was not only a man of genius and learning, but had many excellent virtues; being one of the most generous, friendly, and benevolent men I ever

—

knew."

in a

still

more ludicrous manner,

ly exhibited in his

Nor with

less

poem

as

it

periphrastical-

now

stands:

waste the whisker' d vermin race

A countless clan despoil the lowland cane. Johnson

said, that Dr.

Grainger was an agree-

man; a man who would do any good

able

that

power. His translation of Tibullus, he thought, was very well done; but The Sugar-Cane, a poem, did not please him;^ for, he exclaimed, "What could he make of a sugar-cane? One might as well write the 'Parsley-bed, a Poem'; or 'The Cabbage-garden, a Poem.' " Boswell. "You must then pickle your cabbage with the sal atticum." Johnson. "You know there is already 'The Hop-Garden, a Poem': and, I think, one could say a great deal about cabbage. The poem might begin with the advantages of civilized society over a rude state, exemplified by the Scotch, who had no cabbages till Oliver Cromwell's soldiers introduced them; and one might thus shew how arts are propagated by conquest, as they were by the Roman arms." He seemed to be much diverted with the fertility of his own fancy. I told him, that I heard Dr. Percy was writing the history of the wolf in Great-Britain. Johnson. "The wolf. Sir! why the wolf? Why does he not write of the bear, which we had formerly? Nay, it is said we had the beaver. Or why does he not write of the grey rat, the Hanover rat, as it is called, because it is said to have come into this country about the time that the family of Hanover came? I should like to see The History of the Grey Rat, by Thomas Percy, D.D., Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty," (laughing immoderately). Boswell. "I am afraid a court chaplain could not decently write of the grey rat." Johnson. "Sir, he need not give it the name of the Hanover rat." Thus could he indulge a luxuriant sportive imagination, when talking of a friend whom he loved and esteemed. in his

He mentioned to me the singular history of an ingenious acquaintance. "He had practised physick in various situations with no great emolument. A West-India gentleman, whom he delighted by his conversation, gave him a bond for a

handsome annuity during

his

life,

on the

^Dr. Johnson said to me, "Percy, Sir, was angry with me for laughing at The Sugar-Cane: for he had a mind to make a great thing of Grainger's rats."

LIFE OF

1776]

condition of his accompanying him to the WestIndies, and living with him there for two years. He accordingly embarked with the gentleman; but upon the voyage fell in love with a young woman who happened to be one of the passengers, and married the wench. From the imprudence of his disposition he quarrelled with the gentleman, and declared he would have no connection with him. So he forfeited the annuity. He settled as a physician in one of the Leeward Islands. man was sent out to him merely to compound his medicines. This fellow set up as a rival to him in his practice of physick, and got so much the better of him in the opinion of the people of the island that he carried away all the

A

business,

upon which he returned

and soon

after died."

to England,

On Friday, March 22, having set out early from Henley, where we had lain the preceding night, we arrived at Birmingham about nine o'clock, and, after breakfast, went to call on his old schoolfellow Mr. Hector.^ A very stupid maid, who opened the door, told us, that "her master was gone out; he was gone to the country; she could not tell when he would return." In short, she gave us a miserable reception; and Johnson observed, "She would have behaved no better to people who wanted him in the way of his profession." He said to her, "My name is Johnson; tell him I called. Will you remember the name?" She answered with rustick simplicity, in the Warwickshire pronunciation, "I don't understand you. Sir."— "Blockhead, (said he,) I'll write." I never heard the word blockhead applied to a woman before, though I do not see why it should not, when there is evident occasion for it.^ He, how-

—

^Mr. Hector's house was in the Square now as the Old Square. It afterwards formed part of the Stork Hotel, but it was pulled down when Corporation Street was made. A marble tablet had been placed on the house at the suggestion

known

Mr. George Dawson, marking the spot where "Edmund Hector was the host, Samuel Johnof the late

son the guest." This tablet, together with the wainscoting, the door, and the mantelpiece of one of the rooms, was set up in Aston Hall, at the Johnson Centenary, in a room that is to be known as Dr. Johnson's Room. 2My worthy friend Mr. Langton, to whom I am under innumerable obligations in the course of my Johnsonian History, has furnished me with a droll illustration of this question. An honest carpenter, after giving some anecdote in his presence of the ill-treatment which he had received from a clergyman's wife, who was a noted termagant, and whom he accused of unjust dealing in some transaction with him, added, "I took care to let her know what I thought of her." And being asked, "What did you say?" answered, "I told her she was a scoundrel."

JOHNSON ever,

289 made another attempt to make her under-

stand him, and roared loud in her ear, "Johnson," and then she catched the sound. We next called on Mr. Lloyd, one of the people called Quakers. He too was not at home; but Mrs. Lloyd was, and received us courteously, and asked us to dinner. Johnson said to me, "After the uncertainty of all human things at Hector's, this invitation came very well." We walked about the town, and he was pleased to see

it

increasing.

by subsequent marwhich obtained in the Roman law, and still obtains in the law of Scotland. Johnson. "I think it a bad thing; because the chastity of women being of the utmost importance, as all property depends upon it, they who forfeit it should not have any possibility of being restored to good character; nor should the children, by an illicit connection, attain the full right of lawful children, by the posteriour consent of the ofI

talked of legitimation

riage,

fending parties." His opinion upon this subject deserves consideration.

may,

Upon his principle there

at times, be a hardship,

strange one,

and seemingly a

upon

good of society

is

individuals; but the general better secured. And, after all,

unreasonable in an individual to repine that he has not the advantage of a state which is it is

made different from his own, by the tution under which he

born.

social insti-

A woman

does not complain that her brother, who is younger than her, gets their common father's estate. Why then should a natural son complain that a younger brother, by the same parents lawfully begotten, gets it? The operation of law is similar in both cases. Besides, an illegitimate son, who has a younger legitimate brother by the same father and mother, has no stronger claim to the father's estate, than if that legitimate brother had only the same father, from whom alone the estate depends. Mr. Lloyd joined us in the street; and in a little while we met Friend Hector, as Mr. Lloyd called him. It gave me pleasure to observe the joy which Johnson and he expressed on seeing each other again. Mr. Lloyd and I left them together, while he obligingly shewed me some of the manufactures of this very curious assemblage of artificers. We all met at dinner at Mr. Lloyd's, where we were entertained with great hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd had been married the same year with their Majesties, and like them, had been blessed with a numerous family of fine children, their numbers being exactly the same. Johnson said, "Marriage is the best state for a man in general; and every man is a worse is

BOSWELL

ago man,

in proportion as

he

is

unfit for the

mar-

ried state." I

have always loved the simplicity of man-

and the spiritual-mindedness of the Quakand talking with Mr. Lloyd, I observed, that the essential part of religion was piety, a devout intercourse with the Divinity; and that many a man was a Quaker without knowing it. As Dr. Johnson had said to me in the morning, while we walked together, that he liked

[1776

where the great events of our religion are not solemnly commemorated by its ecclesiastical establishment, on days set apart for Protestant,

ners,

the purpose.

ers;

troducing any questions concerning the peculiarities of their faith. But I having asked to look

so good as to accompany me works of Mr. Bolton, at a place which he has called Soho, about two miles from Birmingham, which the very ingenious proprietor shewed me himself to the best advantage. I wish Johnson had been with us: for it was a scene which I should have been glad to contemplate by hislight. The vastness and thecontrivance of some of the machinery would have "matched his mighty mind." I shall never forget Mr. Bol-

at Baskerville's edition of 5arc/ayj^/>o/o^^, John-

ton's expression to

son laid hold of it; and the chapter on baptism happening to open, Johnson remarked, "He says there is neither precept nor practice for baptism, in the scriptures; that is false." Here he was the aggressor, by no means in a gentle man-

the world desires to have

individuals among the Quakers, but not the sect; when we were at Mr. Lloyd's, I kept clear of in-

and the good Quakers had the advantage had read negligently, and had not

ner;

of him; for he

observed that Barclay speaks of infant baptism; which they calmly made him perceive Mr. Lloyd, however, was in as great a mistake; for when insisting that the rite of baptism by water was to cease, when the spiritual administration of Christ began, he maintained, that John the Baptist said, "Aly baptism shall decrease, but his shall in.

Mr. Hector was

to see the great

me: "I sell here, Sir, what all —PovvTR."He had about

seven hundred people at work. I contemplated him as an iron chieftain, and he seemed to be a father to his tribe. One of them came to him, complaining grievously of his landlord for having distrained his goods. "Your landlord is in the right. Smith, (said Bolton). But I'll tell you what: find you a friend who will lay down one half of your rent, and I'll lay down the other half; and you shall have your goods again."

From Mr. Hector I now learnt many particu-

crease."

Dr. Johnson's early life, which, with othhe gave me at different times since, have contributed to the formation of this work. Dr. Johnson said to me in the morning, "You

crease, but /

will see. Sir, at

Whereas the words are, "//e must inmust decrease."^ One of them having objected to the "observance of days, and months, and years," Johnson answered, 'The Church does not superstitiously observe days, merely as days, but as memorials of important facts. Christmas might be kept as

upon one day of the year as another; but day for commemorating

well

there should be a stated

danbe done on any day, will be

the birth of our Saviour, because there

ger that

what may

is

neglected.'

He said to me at another time, "Sir, the holidays observed by our church are of great use in religion." There can be no doubt of this, in a limited sense, I mean if the number of such consecrated portions of time be not too extensive. The excellent Mr. Nelson's Festivals and Fasts, which has, I understand, the greatest sale of any book ever printed in England, except the Bible, is a most valuable help to devotion; and in addition to it I would recommend two sermons on same

by Mr. Pott, Archdeacon of St. Alban's, equally distinguished for piety and elegance. I am sorry to have it to say, that Scotthe

land

is

subject,

the only Christian country, Catholick or

^Jokn, 3. 30.

lars of

ers that

Mr. Hector's, his sister, Mrs. widow. She was the first woman with whom I was in love. It dropt out of my head imperceptibly; but she and I shall always have a kindness for each other." He laughed at the notion that a man never can be really in love but once, and considered it as a mere Careless, a clergyman's

romantick fancy. On our return from Mr. Bolton's, Mr. Hector took me to his house, where we found Johnson sitting placidly at tea, with his first love; who, though now advanced in years, was a genteel

woman, very

agreeable, and well-bred. Johnson lamented to Mr. Hector the state of one of their school-fellows, Mr. Charles Congreve, a clergyman, which he thus described:

"He obtained, I believe, considerable preferment in Ireland, but now lives in London, quite as a valetudinarian, afraid to go into any house but his own. He takes a short airing in his post-chaise

every day.

He has an elderly woman, whom he who lives with him, and jogs his el-

calls cousin,

bow when

his glass has stood too long

and encourages him

in drinking, in

empty,

which he

is

very willing to be encouraged; not that he gets drunk, for he is a very pious man, but he is al-

LIFE OF

1776] ways muddy.

He

confesses to one bottle of port

every day, and he probably drinks more. He is quite unsocial; his conversation is quite monosyllabical: and w^hen, at my last visit, I asked him what a clock it was? that signal of my departure had so pleasing an effect on him. that he sprung up to look at his watch, like a greyhound bounding at a hare." When Johnson took

Mr. Hector, he said, "Don't gro^v like Congreve; nor let me grow like him, when you are near me." When he again talked of Mrs. Careless tonight, he seemed to have had his affection revived; for he said, "If I had married her, it might have been as happy for me." Boswell. "Pray, Sir, do you not suppose that there are fifty women in the world, with any one of whom a man may be as happy, as with any one woman in particular?" Johnson. "Ay, Sir, fifty thousand." Boswell. "Then, Sir, you are not of opinion with some who imagine that certain men and certain women are made for each other; and that they cannot be happy if they miss their counterparts?" Johnson. "To be sure not, Sir. I believe marriages would in general be as happy, and often more so, if they were all made by leave of

Lord Chancellor, upon a due consideration and circumstances, without the parties having any choice in the matter." I wished to have staid at Birmingham to-night, to have talked more with Mr. Hector; but my friend was impatient to reach his native city; so we drove on that stage in the dark, and were long pensive and silent. When we came within the

of characters

the focus of the Lichfield lamps,

we up

"Now (said he,)

are getting out of a state of death."

We

put

Three Crowns, not one of the great inns, but a good old fashioned one, which was kept by Mr. Wilkins, and was the very next house to that in which Johnson was born and brought up, and which was still his own property.^ We had a comfortable supper, and got into high spirits. I felt all my Toryism glow in this old capital of Staffordshire. I could have offered incense genio loci; and I indulged in libations of that ale, which Boniface, in The Beaux Stratagem, recommends with such an eloquent jollity. Next morning he introduced me to Mrs. Lucy Porter, his step-daughter. She was now an old maid, with much simplicity of manner. She had never been in London. Her brother, a Captain at the

went through the house where my illustrious friend was born, with a reverence with which it doubtless will long be visited. An engraved view of ^I

with the adjacent buUdings, Magazine for Feb., 1785. it,

is

in The Gentleman's

JOHNSON in the navy,

had

291

her a fortune of ten thousand pounds; about a third of which she had laid out in building a stately house, and making a handsome garden, in an elevated situation in Lichfield. Johnson, when here by himself, used to live at her house. She reverenced him, and he had a parental tenderness for her. We then visited Mr. Peter Garrick, who had that morning received a letter from his brother David, announcing our coming to Lichfield. He was engaged to dinner, but asked us to tea, and to sleep at his house. Johnson, however, would not quit his old acquaintance Wilkins, of the Three Crowns. The family likeness of the Garricks was very striking; and Johnson thought that David's vivacity was not so peculiar to himself as was supposed. "Sir, (said he,) I don't know but if Peter had cultivated all the arts of gaiety as much as David has done, he might left

have been as brisk and lively. Depend upon it, Sir, vivacity is much an art, and depends greatly on habit." I believe there is a good deal of notwithstanding a ludicrous story a lady abroad, of a heavy German baron, who had lived much with the young English at Geneva, and was ambitious to be as lively as they; with which view, he, with assiduous exertion, was jumping over the tables and chairs in his lodgings; and when the people of the house ran in and asked, with surprize, what was the truth in told

this,

me by

.''''

matter, he answered, "Sh' apprens V etre fij dined at our inn, and had with us a Mr.

We

Jackson, one of Johnson's schoolfellows, whom he treated with much kindness, though he seemed to be a low man, dull and untaught. He had a coarse grey coat, black waistcoat, greasy leather breeches, and a yellow uncurled wig; and his countenance had the ruddiness which betokens

one who is in no haste to "leave his can." He drank only ale. He had tried to be a cutler at Birmingham, but had not succeeded; and now he lived poorly at home, and had some scheme of dressing leather in a better manner than common; to his indistinct account of which, Dr. Johnson listened with patient attention, that he might assist him with his advice. Here was an instance of genuine humanity and real kindness in this great man, who has been most unjustly represented as altogether harsh and destitute of tenderness. A thousand such instances might have been recorded in the course of his long life;

though that his temper was warm and hasty, and manner often rough, cannot be denied. I saw here, for the first time, oat ale; and oat cakes not hard as in Scotland, but soft like a Yorkshire cake, were served at breakfast. It was his

BOSWELL

292

me to find, that Oats, the food oj horses, were so much used as ihe/ood of the people in Dr. Johnson's own town. He expatiated in praise of pleasant to

Lichfield

and

its

inhabitants, who, he said, were

[1776

ing to Garrick's account, "he was the most vulgar ruffian that ever went upon boards."

We

had promised Mr. Stanton to be at his Monday. Dr. Johnson jocularly pro-

theatre on

me to write a Prologue for the occasion: Prologue, by James Boswell, Esq. from the Hebrides." I was really inclined to take the hint. Methought, "Prologue, spoken before Dr. Sam-

"the most sober, decent people in England, the genteelest in proportion to their wealth, and spoke the purest English." I doubted as to the last article of this eulogy: for they had several

posed

provincial sounds; as there, pronounced like fear, instead of like fair; once pronounced woonse, instead of wunse, or wonse. Johnson himself never

uel Johnson, at Lichfield, 1776";

got entirely free of those provincial accents. Garrick sometimes used to take him off, squeezing a

ond's time.

lemon into a punch-bowl, with uncouth gesticulations, looking round the company, and calling out, "Who's for pooruh?" Very little business appeared to be going forward in Lichfield. I found however two strange manufactures for so inland a place, sail-cloth and streamers for ships; and I observed them making some saddle-cloths, and dressing sheepskins: but upon the whole, the busy hand of industry seemed to be quite slackened. "Surely, Sir, (said I,) you are an idle set of people." "Sir, (said Johnson,) we are a city of philosophers, we work with our heads, and make the boobies of Birmingham work for us with their hands." There was at this time a company of players performing at Lichfield. The manager, Mr. Stanton, sent his compliments, and begged leave to wait on Dr. Johnson. Johnson received him very courteously, and he drank a glass of wine with us. He was a plain decent well-behaved man, and expressed his gratitude to Dr. Johnson for having once got him permission from Dr. Taylor at Ashbourne to play there upon moderate terms. Garrick's name was soon introduced. Johnson. "Garrick's conversation is gay and grotesque. It is a dish of all sorts, but all good things. There is no solid meat in it: there is a want of sentiment in it. Not but that he has sentiment sometimes, and sentiment, too, very powerful and very pleasing: but it has not its full proportion in his conversation."

When we were by ourselves he told me, "Forty years ago. Sir, I

here, Mrs.

was

in love

Emmet, who acted

What

with an actress Flora, in

Hob

in

merit this lady had as an actress, or what was her figure, or her manner, I have not been informed: but, if we may believe Mr. Garrick, his old master's taste in theatrical merit was by no means refined; he was not an elegans formarum spectator. Garrick used to tell, that Johnson said of an actor, who played Sir Harry Wildair at Lichfield, "There is a courtly vivacity about the fellow" ; when in fact, accordthe Well.''''

"A

sounded

Duke

as well as, "Prologue,

would have spoken before the

of York, at Oxford," in Charles the Sec-

Much might have been said of what had done for Shakspeare, by producing Johnson and Garrick. But I found he was Lichfield

averse to

it.

We

went and viewed the museum of Mr. Richard Green, apothecary here, who told me he was proud of being a relation of Dr. Johnson's. was, truely, a wonderful collection, both of and natural curiosities, and ingenious works of art. He had all the articles accurately arranged, with their names upon labels, printed It

antiquities

own little

press; and on the staircase leadwas a board, with the names of contributors marked in gold letters. A printed catalogue of the collection was to be had at a bookseller's. Johnson expressed his admiration of the activity and diligence and good fortune of Mr.

at his

ing to

it

Green, in getting together, in great a variety of things;

his situation, so

and Mr. Green

that Johnson once said to him, "Sir,

told

me

should as soon have thought of building a man of war, as of collecting such a museum." Mr. Green's obliging alacrity in shewing it was very pleasing. His engraved portrait, with which he has favoured me, has a motto truely characteristical of his disposition.

A

Nemo

I

sibi vivat.

physician being mentioned

who had

lost

because his whimsically changing his religion had made people distrustful of him, I maintained that this was unreasonable, as religion is unconnected with medical skill. Johnson. "Sir, it is not unreasonable; for when people see a man absurd in what they understand, they may conclude the same of him in what they do not understand. If a physician were to take to eating of horse-flesh, nobody would employ him; though one may eat horse-flesh, and be a very skilful physician. If a man were educated in an absurd religion, his continuing to profess it would not hurt him, though his changing to it would." We drank tea and coff'ee at Mr. Peter Garrick's, where was Mrs. Aston, one of the maiden sisters of Mrs. Walmsley, wife of Johnson's first friend, and sister also of the lady of whom Johnson used to speak with the warmest admiration. his practice,

— LIFE OF

1776]

by the name of Molly Aston, who was afterwards married to Captain Brodie of the navy. On Sunday, March 24, we breakfasted with Mrs. Cobb, a widow lady, who lived in an agreeable sequestered place close by the town, called the Friary,

it

having been formerly a religious

house. She and her niece. Miss Adey, were great admirers of Dr. Johnson; and he behaved to them with a kindness and easy pleasantry, such

between old and intimate acquaintance. He accompanied Mrs. Cobb to St. Mary's church, and I went to the cathedral, where I was very much delighted with the musick, finding it to be peculiarly solemn and accordant with the words of the service. We dined at Mr. Peter Garrick's, who was in a very lively humour, and verified Johnson's saying, that if he had cultivated gaiety as much as his brother David, he might have equally excelled in it. He was to-day quite a London naras

we

see

rator, telling us a variety of anecdotes

earnestness

and attempt

at

with that

mimicry which we

usually find in the wits of the metropolis. Dr.

Johnson went with me to the cathedral in the afternoon. It was grand and pleasing to contem-

now full of fame, worshipping in the "solemn temple" of his naplate this illustrious writer, tive city.

returned to tea and coffee at Mr. Peter Garand then found Dr. Johnson at the Reverend Mr. Seward's Canon Residentiary, who inhabited the Bishop's palace, in which Mr. Walmsley lived, and which had been the scene of many happy hours in Johnson's early life. Mr. Seward had, with ecclesiastical hospitality and politeness, asked me in the morning, merely as a stranger, to dine with him; and in the afternoon, when I was introduced to him, he asked Dr. Johnson and me to spend the evening and sup with him. He was a genteel well-bred dignified clergyman, had travelled with Lord Charles Fitzroy, uncle of the present Duke of Grafton, who died when abroad, and he had lived much in the great world. He was an ingenious and literary man, had published an edition of Beaumont and Fletcher, and written verses in Dodsley's collection. His lady was the daughter of Mr. Hunter, Johnson's first schoolmaster. And now, for I

rick's,

the

first

time, I

had the pleasure of seeing his cele-

brated daughter. Miss Anna Seward, to whom I have since been indebted for many civilities, as well as some obliging communications concerning Johnson.

Mr. Seward mentioned to us the observations which he had made upon the strata of earth in volcanos, from which it appeared, that they were

JOHNSON

293

so very different in depth at different periods, that no calculation whatever could be made as to the time required for their formation. This

an antimosaical remark introduced I hope heedlessly, from a kind of vanity which is too common in those who have not sufficiently studied the most important of all subjects. Dr. Johnson, indeed, had said before independent of this observation, 'Shall all the accumulated evidence fully refuted

into Captain Brydone's entertaining tour,

'

of the history of the world; of what

— shall the authority

unquestionably the most ancient writing, be overturned by an uncertain remark such is

as this?"

On Monday, March

25,

we

breakfasted at

Mrs. Lucy Porter's. Johnson had sent an express to Dr. Taylor's acquainting him of our being at Lichfield, and Taylor had returned an answer that his postchaise should come for us this day.

While we sat at breakfast, Dr. Johnson received a letter by the post, which seemed to agitate him very much. When he had read it, he exclaimed, "One of the most dreadful things that has happened in my time." The phrase my time, like the word age, is usually understood to refer to an event of a publick or general nature. I imagined something like an assassination of the King like a gunpowder plot carried into execution or like another fire of London. When asked, "What is it. Sir?" he answered, "Mr. Thrale has lost his only son!" This was, no doubt, a very great affliction to Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, which their friends would consider accordingly; but from the manner in which the intelligence of it was communicated by Johnson, it appeared for the moment to be comparatively small. I, however, soon felt a sincere concern, and was curious to observe, how Dr. Johnson would be affected.

He

said,

"This

is

a total extinction to

much as if they were sold into captivity. Upon my mentioning that Mr. Thrale had daughters, who might inherit his wealth; their family, as '

'

"Daughters, (said Johnson, warmly,) he'll no more value his daughters than " I was going to speak.

— — "Sir, (said he,) don't you know how

you yourself think? Sir, he wishes to propagate his name." In short, I saw male succession strong in his mind, even where there was no name, no family of any long standing. I said, it was lucky he was not present when this misfortune happened. Johnson. "It is lucky for me. People in distress never think that you feel enough." Boswell. "And Sir, they will have the hope of seeing you, which will be a relief in the mean time; and when you get to them, the pain will be so far abated, that they will be capable of being

BOSWELL

294

consoled by you, which, in the first violence of it, I believe, would not be the case." Johnson. "No, Sir; violent pain of mind, like violent pain of body, must be severely felt." Boswell. "I own. Sir, I have not so much feeling for the distress of others, as some people have, or pretend to have:

would do all in my power to relieve them."JoHNSON. "Sir, it is affectation to but

I

know

this,

that

I

pretend to feel the distress of others, as much as they do themselves. It is equally so, as if one should pretend tofeelasmuchpain while afriend's leg is cutting off, as he does. No Sir; you have expressed the rational and just nature of sympathy. I would have gone to the extremity of the earth to have preserved this boy." He was soon quite calm. The letter was from Mr. Thrale's clerk, and concluded, "I need not say how much they wish to see you in London." He said, "We shall hasten back from Taylor's." Mrs. Lucy Porter and some other ladies of the place talked a great deal of him when he was out of the room, not only with veneration but affection. It pleased me to find that he was so

much

beloved in his native city.

Mrs. Aston, whom I had seen the preceding night, and her sister, Mrs. Gastrel, a widow lady, had each a house and garden, and pleasureground, prettily situated upon Stowhill, a gentle eminence, adjoining to Lichfield. Johnson walked away to dinner there, leaving me by myself without any apology; I wondered at this want of that facility of manners, from which a man has no difficulty in carrying a friend to a house where he is intimate; I felt it very unpleasant to be thus left in solitude in a country town, where I was an entire stranger, and began to think myself unkindly deserted: but I was soon relieved, and convinced that my friend, instead of being deficient in delicacy, had conducted the matter with perfect propriety, for I received the following note in his handwriting: "Mrs. Gastrel, at the lower house on Stowhill, desires Mr. Boswell's company to dinner at two." I accepted of the invitation, and had here another proof how amiable his character was in the opinion of those who knew him best. I was not informed, till afterwards, that Mrs. Gastrel's husband was the clergyman who, while he lived at Stratford upon Avon, where he was proprietor of Shakspeare's garden, with Gothick barbarity cut down his mulberry-tree,^ and, as Dr. Johnson told me, did 'See an accurate and Gastrel's barbarity, by

animated statement of Mr. Mr. Malone, in a note on

it

to

[1776

vex

his neighbours.

His lady,

I

have rea-

son to believe, on the same authority, participated in the guilt of what the enthusiasts for our immortal bard deem almost a species of sacrilege.

After dinner Dr. Johnson wrote a letter to Mrs. Thrale on the death of her son. I said it would be very distressing to Thrale, but she would soon as she

had

Johnson. "No,

Sir,

forget

it,

so

many

things to think

of.

Thrale will forget it first. She has many things that she may think of. He has many things that he must think of." This was a very just remark upon the different effect of those light pursuits which occupy a vacant and easy mind, and those serious engagements which arrest attention, and keep us from brooding over grief. He observed of Lord Bute, "It was said of Augustus, that it would have been better for Rome that he had never been born, or had never died. So it would have been better for this nation if Lord Bute had never been minister, or had never resigned."

In the evening we went to the Town-hall, which was converted into a temporary theatre, and saw Theodosius, with The Stratford Jubilee. I was happy to see Dr. Johnson sitting in a conspicuous part of the pit, and receiving affectionate homage from all his acquaintance. We were quite gay and merry. I afterwards mentioned to that I condemned myself for being so, when poor Mr. and Mrs. Thrale were in such distress. Johnson. "You are wrong. Sir; twenty years hence Mr. and Mrs. Thrale will not suffer much pain from the death of their son. Now, Sir, you

him

are to consider, that distance of place, as well

upon the human would not have you be gay in the presence of the distressed, because it would shock them; but you may be gay at a disas distance of time, operates

feelings.

I

tance. Pain for the loss of a friend, or of a relation

whom we

love, is occasioned by the want which we feel. In time the vacuity is filled with something else; or sometimes the vacuity closes

up of itself." Mr. Seward and Mr. Pearson, another clergyman here, supt with us at our inn, and after they left us, we sat up late as we used to do in London. Here I

shall record

friend's conversation

some fragments

during

of

my

this jaunt.

"Marriage, Sir, is much more necessary to a man than to a woman; for he is much less able to

Some account of the Life of William Shakspeare, prefixed to his admirable edition of that poet's works,

supply himself with domestick comforts. You will recollect my saying to some ladies the other day,

vol.

that

I

,

D.

I I

8.

I

had often wondered why young

women

LIFE OF

1776] should marry, as they have so

much more

free-

dom, and so much more attention paid to them while unmarried, than when married. I indeed did not mention the strong reason for their marrying the mechanical reason." Boswell. "Why, that is a strong one. But does not imagination make it much more important than it is in reality? Is it not, to a certain degree, a delusion in us as well as in women?" Johnson. "Why yes. Sir; but it is a delusion that is always beginning again." Boswell. "I don't know but there is upon the whole more misery than happiness produced by that passion." Johnson. "I don't think so. Sir." "Never speak of a man in his own presence. It is always indelicate, and may be offensive." "Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen. It is assuming a superiority, and it is particularly wrong to question a man concerning himself. There may be parts of his former life which he may not wish to be mads known to other persons, or even brought to his

—

own

recollection."

"A man

should be careful never to tell tales own disadvantage. People may be amused and laugh at the time, but they will be remembered, and brought out against him upon some subsequent occasion." "Much may be done if a man puts his whole mind to a particular object. By doing so, Norton^ has made himself the great lawyer that he is allowed to be." I mentioned an acquaintance of mine, a sectary, who was a very religious man, who not only attended regularly on publick worship with those of his communion, but made a particular study of the Scriptures, and even wrote a commentary on some parts of them, yet was known to be very licentious in indulging himself with women; maintaining that men are to be saved of himself to his

by faith alone, and that the Christian religion had not prescribed any fixed rule for the intercourse between the sexes. Johnson. "Sir, there is no trusting to that crazy piety." I observed that it was strange how well Scotchmen were known to one another in their own country, though born in very distant counties; for we do not find that the gentlemen of neighbouring counties in England are mutually known each other. Johnson, with his usual acuteonce saw and explained the reason of this; "Why, Sir, you have Edinburgh, where the gentlemen from all your counties meet, and

to

ness, at

^Sir Fletcher

Norton, afterwards Speaker of the in 1782 created Baron

House of Commons, and Grantley. [M.]

JOHNSON which There

295

not so large but they are all known. is no such common place of collection in England, except London, where from its great

size

is

and

diff'usion,

many

of those

contiguous counties of England,

main unknown

who reside in may long re-

to each other."

On Tuesday, March

26, there

came

for us

an

equipage properly suited to a wealthy well-beneficed clergyman; Dr. Taylor's large roomy

—

drawn by four stout plump horses, and driven by two steady jolly postillions, which post-chaise,

conveyed us to Ashbourne; where I found my upon an establishment perfectly corresponding with his substan-

friend's schoolfellow living

creditable equipag'e his house, garden, pleasure-grounds, table, in short every thing good, tial

:

and no scantiness appearing. Every man should form such a plan of living as he can execute completely. Let him not draw an outline wider than he can fill up. I have seen many skeletons of shew and magnificence which excite at once ridicule and pity. Dr. Taylor had a good estate of his own, and good preferment in the church, being a prebendary of Westminster, and rector of Bosworth. He was a diligent justice of the peace, and presided over the town of Ashbourne, to the inhabitants of which I was told he was very liberal; and as a proof of this it was mentioned to me, he had the preceding winter distributed two hundred pounds among such of them as stood in need of his assistance. He had consequently a considerable political interest in the county of Derby, which he employed to support the Devonshire family; for though the schoolfellow and friend of Johnson, he was a Whig. I could not perceive in his character

much

congeniality of

with that of Johnson, who however, said to me, "Sir, he has a very strong understanding." His size, and figure, and countenance, and manner, were that of a hearty English 'Squire, with the parson superinduced: and I took particular notice of his upper servant, Mr. Peters, a decent grave man, in purple clothes, and a large white wig, like the butler or major domo of a Bishop. Dr. Johnson and Dr. Taylor met with great cordiality; and Johnson soon gave him the same sad account of their school-fellow, Congreve, that he had given to Mr. Hector; adding a remark of such moment to the rational conduct of a man in the decline of life, that it deserves to be imprinted upon every mind: "There is nothing against which an old man should be so much upon his guard as putting himself to nurse." Innumerable have been the melancholy instances of men once distinguished for firmness,

any

sort

BOSWELL

296

who

in their latter days

Having

have been governed like children, by interested female artifice. Dr. Taylor commended a physician who was known to him and Dr. Johnson, and said, "I fight many battles for him, as many people in

stopped to

resolution,

and

spirit,

the country dislike him." Johnson. "But you should consider. Sir, that by every one of your victories he is a loser; for, every man of whom you get the better, will be very angry, and resolve not to employ him; whereas if people get the better of you in argument about him, they'll ****** neverthethink, 'We'll send for Dr. less.' " This was an observation deep and sure in

human

nature.

Next day we talked of a book in which an eminent judge was arraigned before the bar of the publick, as having pronounced an unjust decision in a great cause. Dr. Johnson maintained that this publication would not give any uneasiness to the judge. "For (said he,) either he acted honestly, or he meant to do injustice. he acted honestly, his own consciousness will protect him; if he meant to do injustice, he will be glad to see the man who attacks him, so much If

vexed."

Next day, as Dr. Johnson had acquainted Dr. Taylor of the reason for his returning speedily to London, it was resolved that we should set out after dinner. A few of Dr. Taylor's neighbours were his guests that day. Dr. Johnson talked with approbation of one

who had

attained to the state of the philosophwise man, that is, to have no want of any thing. "Then, Sir, (said I,) the savage is a wise

ical

"Sir, (said he,) I do not mean simply but not having a want." I being without, maintained, against this proposition, that it was better to have fine clothes, for instance, than not to feel the want of them. Johnson. "No, Sir; fine clothes are good only as they supply the want of other means of procuring respect. Was Charles the Twelfth, think you, less respected for his coarse blue coat and black stock? And you find the King of Prussia dresses plain, because the dignity of his character is sufficient." I here brought myself into a scrape, for I heedlessly said, "Would notyou, Sir, be the better for velvet and embroidery?" Johnson. "Sir, you put an end to all argument when you introduce

man."

—

your opponent himself. Have you no better manners? There is your want." I apologised by saying, I had mentioned him as an instance of one who wanted as little as any man in the world, and yet, perhaps, might receive some additional lustre from dress.

[1776 Ashbourne in the evening, we change horses at Derby, and availed left

ourselves of a

moment to enjoy the conversation

my

countryman, Dr. Butter, then physician there. He was in great indignation because Lord Mountstuart's bill for a Scotch militia had been lost. Dr. Johnson was as violent against it. "I am glad, (said he,) that Parliament has had the spirit to throw it out. You wanted to take advantage of the timidity of our scoundrels"; (meanof

ing, I suppose, the ministry). It

may

be ob-

served, that he used the epithet scoundrel very

commonly not

quite in the sense in which it is generally understood, but as a strong term of

disapprobation; as when he abruptly answered Mrs. Thrale, who had asked him how he did, "Ready to become a scoundrel, Madam; with

a little more spoiling you will, I think, make me a complete rascal":^ he meant, easy to become a capricious and self-indulgent valetudinarian; a character for which I have heard him express great disgust.

Johnson had with him upon this jaunt, // romance praised by Cervantes; but did not like it much. He said, he read it for the language, by way of preparation

Palmerino (T Inghilterra, a

for his Italian expedition.

— We lay this night at

Loughborough. On Thursday, March 28, we pursued our journey. I mentioned that old Mr. Sheridan complained of the ingratitude of Mr. Wedderburne and General Fraser, who had been much obliged to him when they were young Scotchmen entering upon life in England. Johnson. "Why, Sir, a man is very apt to complain of the ingratitude of those who have risen far above him.

A man when he

gets into a higher sphere,

cannot keep up all his former connections. Then, Sir, those who knew him formerly upon a level with themselves, may think that they ought still to be treated as on a level, which cannot be; and an acquaintance in a former situation may bring out things which it would be very disagreeable to have mentioned before higher company, though, perhaps, every body knows of them." He placed this subject in a new light to me, and shewed that a man who has risen in the world, must not be condemned too harshly for being distant to former acquaintance, even though he may have been much obliged to them. It is, no doubt, to be wished that a proper degree of attention should be shewn by great men to their early friends. But if either from obtuse insensibility to difference of situation, or presumptuous forwardness, which into other habits of

life,

^Anecdotes of Johnson, p.

1

76.

LIFE OF

1776]

submit even to an exteriour observance of it, the dignity of high place cannot be preserved, when they are admitted into the company of those raised above the state in which they once were, encroachment must be repelled, and the kinder feelings sacrificed. To one of the very fortunate persons whom I have mentioned, namely, Mr. Wedderburne, now Lord Loughborough, I must do the justice to relate, that I have been assured by another early acquaintance of his, old Mr. Macklin, who assisted in improving his pronunciation, that he found him very grateful. Macklin, I suppose, had not pressed upon his elevation with so much eagerness as the gentleman who complained of him. will not

Dr. Johnson's remark as to the jealousy entertained of our friends who rise far above us, is certainly very just. By this was withered the early friendship between Charles Townshend and Akenside; and many similar instances

might be adduced.

He

said, "It is

commonly a weak man who

marries for love."

We

women

and

then talked of marrying I mentioned a common remark, that a man may be, upon the whole, richer by marrying a woman with a very small portion, because a woman of fortune will be proportionally expensive; whereas a woman who brings none will be very moderate in expenses.

of fortune;

Johnson. "Depend upon

it,

Sir, this is

not true. A woman of fortune being used to the handling of money, spends it judiciously: but a woman who gets the command of money for the first time upon her marriage, has such a gust in

spending

it,

that she throws

it

away with

great

He

praised the ladies of the present age, insisting that they were more faithful to their hus-

bands, and more virtuous in every respect, than in former times, because their understandings

were better cultivated. It was an undoubted proof of his good sense and good disposition, that he was never querulous, never prone to inveigh against the present times, as is so common when superficial minds are on the fret. On the contrary, he was willing to speak favourably of his own age; and, indeed, maintained its superiority in every respect, except in its reverence for government; the relaxation of which he

imputed, as its grand cause, to the shock which our monarchy received at the Revolution, though

and secondly, to the timid concessions by successive administrations the reign of his present Majesty. I am happy

necessary; in

to faction

to think, that

he lived to see the Crown at

recover

influence.

its just

297

At Leicester we read in the news-paper that Dr. James was dead. I thought that the death of an old school-fellow, and one with whom he had lived a good deal in London, would have affected my fellow-traveller much: but he only said, "Ah! poor Jamy." Afterwards, however, when we were in the chaise, he said, with more tenderness, "Since I set out on this jaunt, I have lost an old friend and a young one; Dr. James, and poor Harry." (Meaning Mr. Thrale's son.) Having lain at St. Alban's, on Thursday, March 28, we breakfasted the next morning at

—

I expressed to him a weakness of mind could not help an uneasy apprehension that my wife and children, who were at a great distance from me, might, perhaps, be ill. "Sir, (said he,) consider how foolish you think it in them to be apprehensive lYidX you are ill." This sudden turn relieved me for the moment; but I afterwards perceived it to be an ingenious fallacy. I might, to be sure, be satisfied that they had no reason to be apprehensive about me, because I knew that I myself was well but we might have a mutual anxiety, without the charge of folly; because each was, in some degree, uncertain as to the condition of the

Barnet.

which

I

;

:

other. I enjoyed the luxury of our approach to London, that metropolis which we both loved so much, for the high and varied intellectual pleasure which it furnishes. I experienced immediate happiness while whirled along with such a companion, and said to him, "Sir, you observed one day at General Oglethorpe's, that a man is never

happy for the present, but when he is drunk. Will you not add, or when driving rapidly in a post-chaise?" Johnson. "No, Sir, you are

—

profusion."

made

JOHNSON

last

driving rapidly from something, or thing."

to

some-

Talking of melancholy, he said, "Some men, too, have not those vexing thoughts.-^ Sir Joshua Reynolds is the same

and very thinking men

^The phrase "vexing thoughts," is, I think, very been familiar to me from my childhood; for it is to be found in the Psalms in expressive. It has

Metre, used in the churches (I believe I should say Scotland, Psalms, 43. 5; Why art thou then cast down, my soul?

kirks) of

What should discourage thee? And why with vexing thoughts

art thou

Disquieted in me?

Some allowance must no doubt be made for early prepossession. But at a maturer period of life; after looking at various metrical versions of the Psalms, well satisfied that the version used in Scotland I is, upon the whole, the best; and that it is vain to

am

think of having a better. It has in general a simplicity and unction of sacred Poesy; and in many parts its transfusion is admirable.

BOSWELL

298 all

the year round. Beauclerk, except

when

ill

and in pain, is the same. But I believe most men have them in the degree in which they are capable of having them. If I were in the country, and were distressed by that malady, I would force myself to take a book; and every time I did it I should find it the easier. Melancholy, indeed, should be diverted by every means but drinking."

We

stopped at Messieurs Dillys, booksellers from whence he hurried away, in a hackney coach, to Mr. Thrale's, in the Borough. I called at his house in the evening, having promised to acquaint Mrs. Williams of his safe return; when, to my surprize, I found him sitting with her at tea, and, as I thought, not in a very good humour: for, it seems, when he had got to Mr. Thrale's, he found the coach was at the door waiting to carry Mrs. and Miss Thrale, and Signor Baretti, their Italian master, to Bath. This was not shewing the attention which might have been expected to the "Guide, Philosopher, and Friend," the Imlac who had hastened from the country to console a distressed mother, who he understood was very anxious for his return. They had, I found, without ceremony, proceeded on their intended journey. I was glad to understand from him that it was still resolved that his tour to Italy with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale should take place, of which he had entertained some doubt, on account of the loss which they had suffered; and his doubts afterwards proved to be well-founded. He observed, indeed very justly, that "their loss was an additional reason for their going abroad; and if it had not been fixed that he should have been one of the party, he would force them out; but he would not advise them unless his advice was asked, lest they might suspect that he recommended what he wished on his own account." I was not pleased that his intimacy with Mr. Thrale's family, though it no doubt contributed much to his comfort and enjoyment, was not without some degree of restraint: not, as has been grossly suggested, that it was required of him as a task to talk for the entertainment of them and their company; but that he was not quite at his ease; which, however, might partly be owing to his own honest pride that dignity of mind which is always jealous of appearing too compliant. On Sunday, March 31,1 called on him, and shewed him as a curiosity which I had discovin the Poultry;

—

ered, his Translation of Lobo' s Account of Abyssinia, which Sir John Pringle had lent me, it being

then

little

"Take no

known

as one of his works.

He

said,

notice of it," or "don't talk of it."

He

seemed

[1776

beneath him, though done at six-and-twenty. I said to him, "Your style. Sir, is much improved since you translated this." He answered with a sort of triumphant smile, "Sir, I hope it is." to think

it

On Wednesday, April 3, in the morning I found him very busy putting his books in order, and as they were generally very old ones, clouds of dust were flying around him. He had on a pair of large gloves such as hedgers use. His present appearance put me in mind of my uncle. Dr. Boswell's description of him, "A robust genius, born to grapple with whole libraries." I gave him an account of a conversation which had passed between me and Captain Cook, the day before, at dinner at Sir John Pringle's; and he was much pleased with the conscientious

accuracy of that celebrated circumnavigator, set me right as to many of the exaggerated accounts given by Dr. Hawkesworth of his Voyages. I told him that while I was with the Captain, I catched the enthusiasm of curiosity and adventure, and felt a strong inclination to go with him on his next voyage. Johnson. "Why, Sir, a man does feel so, till he considers how very little he can learn from such voyages." Bosvvell. "But one is carried away with the general grand and indistinct notion of A Voyage round the World." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, but a man is to guard himself against taking a thing in general." I said I was certain that a great part of what we are told by the travellers to the South Sea must be conjecture, because they had not enough of the language of those countries to understand so much as they have related. Objects falling under the observation of the senses might be clearly known; but every thing intellectual, every thing

who

abstract

— politicks,

morals, and religion, must

be darkly guessed. Dr. Johnson was of the same opinion. He upon another occasion, when a friend

mentioned

to

him

several

extraor-

dinary facts, as communicated to him by the circumnavigators, slily observed, "Sir, I never before knew how much I was respected by these gentlemen; they told me none of these things."

He had been

in company with Omai, a naone of the South Sea Islands, after he had been some time in this country. He was struck with the elegance of his behaviour, and accounted for it thus: "Sir, he had passed his time, while in England, only in the best company; so that all that he had acquired of our manners was genteel. As a proof of this, Sir, Lord Mulgrave and he dined one day at Streattive of

LIFE OF

1776] ham; they sat with their backs

to the light front-

ing me, so that I could not see distinctly; and there was so little of the savage in Omai, that I was afraid to speak to either, least I should mistake one for the other." We agreed to dine to-day at the Mitre-tavern, after the rising of the House of Lords, where a branch of the litigation concerning the Douglas Estate, in which I was one of the counsel, was to

come

on. I brought with

me Mr. Murray,

itor-General of Scotland,

now one

Solic-

of the Judges

Lord mentioned Mr. Solicitor's relation, Lord Charles Hay, with whom I knew Dr. Johnson had been acquainted. Johnson. "I wrote something for Lord Charles; and I thought he had nothing to fear from a court-martial. I suffered a great loss when he died; he was a mighty pleasing man in conversation, and a reading man. The character of a soldier is high. of the Court of Session, with the title of

Henderland.

I

They who stand

forth the foremost in danger,

community, have the respect of mankind. An officer is much more respected than any other man who has as little money. In a commercial country, money will always purchase respect. But you find, an officer, who has, properly speaking, no money, is every where well received and treated with attention. The for the

character of a soldier always stands him in I think that com-

stead." Bosw^LL. "Yet, Sir,

mon soldiers are worse thought of than other men in the same rank of life; such as labourers." Johnson. "Why, Sir, a common soldier is usually a very gross man, and any quality which procures respect may be overwhelmed by grossness.

A man of learning may be so vicious or so you cannot respect him. A com-

ridiculous that

mon

soldier too, generally eats

can pay

for.

But when a

more than he

common soldier is civil

him a depeculiar respect paid to

in his quarters, his red coat procures

gree of respect."

The

was mentioned. Bos WELL. "I should think that where military men are so numerous, they would be less valued as not being rare." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, wherever a particular character or profession is high the military character in France

in the estimation of a people, those

who

are of it

be valued above other men. We value an Englishman highly in this country, and yet Englishmen are not rare in it." Mr. Murray praised the ancient philosophers for the candour and good humour wdth which those of different sects disputed with each other. Johnson. "Sir, they disputed with good humour, because they were not in earnest as to religion. will

Had the ancients been serious in their belief, we

JOHNSON

299

should not have had their Gods exhibited in the manner vs^e find them represented in the Poets. The people would not have suffered it. They disputed with good humour upon their fanciful theories, because they were not interested in the truth of them: when a man has nothing to lose, he may be in good humour with his opponent. Accordingly you see in Lucian, the Epicurean, who argues only negatively, keeps his temper; the Stoick, who has something positive to preserve, grows angry. Being angry with one who controverts an opinion which you value, is a necessary consequence of the uneasiness which

you feel. Every man who attacks my belief, diminishes in some degree my confidence in it, and therefore makes me uneasy; and I am angry with him who makes me uneasy. Those only who believed in revelation have been angry at having their faith called in question; because they only had something upon which they could rest as matter of fact." Murray. "It seems to me that we are not angry at a man for controverting an opinion which we believe and value; we rather pity him." Johnson. "Why, Sir; to be sure when you wish a man to have that belief which you think is of infinite advantage, you wish well to him; but your primary consideration is your own quiet. If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first, and pity him afterwards. No, Sir; every man will dispute with great good humour upon a subject in which he is not interested. I will dispute very calmly upon the probability of another man's son being hanged; but if a man zeal-

my own son hanged, I shall certainly not be in a very good humour with him." I added this illustration, "If a man endeavours to convince me that my wife, whom I love very much, and in whom ously enforces the probability that

will be

I

place great confidence,

and

is

a disagreeable

wom-

even unfaithful to me, I shaU be very angry, for he is putting me in fear of being unhappy." Murray. "But, Sir, truth wiU always bear an examination." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, but it is painful to be forced to defend it. Consider, Sir, how should you like, though conscious of your innocence, to be tried before a jury for a capital crime, once a week." We talked of education at great schools; the advantages and disadvantages of which Johnson displayed in a luminous manner; but his arguments preponderated so much in favour of the benefit which a boy of good parts might receive an,

is

BOS WELL

300

have reason to believe Mr. Murray was very much influenced by what he had heard to-day, in his determination to send I have his own son to Westminster school. acted in the same manner with regard to my own two sons; having placed the eldest at Eton, and the second at Westminster. I cannot say which is best. But in justice to both those noble seminaries, I with high satisfaction declare, that my boys have derived from them a great deal of good, and no evil; and I trust they will, like Horace, be grateful to their father for giving them so valuable an education. I introduced the topick, which is often ignorantly urged, that the Universities of England at one of them, that I

—

are too rich;^ so that learning does not flourish in them as it would do, if those who teach had smaller salaries, and depended on their assiduity

income. Johnson. "Sir, the truth; the English Universities are not rich enough. Our fellowships are only sufficient to support a man during his studies to fit him for the world, and accordingly in general they are held no longer than till an opportunity offers of getting away. Now and then, perhaps, there is a fellow who grows old in his college; but this is against his will, unless he be a man very indolent indeed. A hundred a year is reckoned a good fellowship, and that is no more than is necessary to keep a man decently as a scholar. We do not allow our fellows to marry, because we consider academical institutions as preparatory to a settlement in the world. It is only by being employed as a tutor, that a fellow can obtain any thing more than a livelihood. To be sure a man, who has enough without teaching, will probably not teach; for we would all be idle if we could. In the same manner, a man who is to get nothing by teaching, will not exert himself. Gresham College was intended as a place of instruction for London; able professors were to read lectures gratis, they contrived to have no scholars; whereas, if they had been allowed to receive but sixpence a lecture from each scholar, they would have been emulous to have had many scholars. Every body will agree that it should be the interest of those who teach to have scholars; and this is the case in our Universities. That they are too rich is certainly not true; for they have nothing good enough to keep a man of eminent learning with for a great part of their

the very reverse of this

is

Adam

^Dr. Smith, who was for some time a Professor in the University of Glasgow, has uttered, in his Wealth of Nations, some reflections upon this

subject which are certainly not well founded, seem to be invidious.

and

them

[1776 for his

professorship

most

is

man can make by

as a

therefore

In the foreign Universities a a high thing. It is as much al-

life.

we

find the

his learning; and most learned men abroad

are in the Universities.

It is

not so with

us.

Our

Universities are impoverished of learning, by the penury of their provisions. I wish there were

many keep

places of a thousand a-year at Oxford, to

first-rate

men of learning from quitting the

University." Undoubtedly Literature

would have a

if this still

were the

case.

greater dignity

at Oxford, and there would be grander living sources of instruction. I mentioned Mr. Maclaurin's uneasiness on account of a degree of ridicule carelessly thrown on his deceased father, in Goldsmith's History of Animated Nature, in which that celebrated mathematician is represented as being subject to fits of yawning so violent as to render him incapable of proceeding in his lecture; a story altogether unfounded, but for the publication of which the law would give no reparation. ^ This led us to agitate the question, whether legal redress could be obtained, even when a man's deceased relation was calumniated in a publication. Mr. Murray maintained there should be reparation, unless the authour could justify himself by proving the fact. Johnson. "Sir, it is of so much more consequence that truth should be told, than that individuals should not be made uneasy, that it is much better that the law does not restrain writing freely concerning the characters of the dead. Damages will be given to a man who is calumniated in his life-time, because he may be hurt in his worldly interest, or at least hurt in his mind: but the law does not regard that uneasiness which a man feels on having his ancestor calumniated. That is too nice. Let him deny what is said, and let the matter have a fair chance by discussion. But, if a man could say nothing against a character but what he can prove, history could not be written; for a great deal is known of men of which proof cannot be brought. A minister may be notoriously known to take bribes, and yet you may not be able to prove it." Mr. Murray suggested, that the authour should be obliged to shew some sort of evidence, though he would not require a strict legal proof: but Johnson firmly and resolutely opposed any restraint

and splendour

^Dr. Goldsmith was dead before Mr. Maclaurin discovered the ludicrous errour. But Mr. Nourse, the bookseller, who was the proprietor of the work, upon being applied to by Sir John Pringle, agreed very handsomely to have the leaf on which it was contained cancelled, and re-printed without it, at his own expence.

LIFE OF

1776]

JOHNSON

301

whatever, as adverse to a free investigation of the characters of mankind.^

On Thursday, April 4, having called on Dr. Johnson, I said, it was a pity that truth was not

iWhat Dr. Johnson has here said, is undoubtedly good sense; yet I am afraid that law, though defined by Lord Coke "the perfection of reason," is not

so firm as to bid defiance to all attacks, so that

altogether with him; for

it is

held in the books, that

an attack on the reputation even of a dead man,

may

be punished as a libel, because tending to a breach of the peace. There is, however, I believe, no modern decided case to that effect. In the King's Bench, Trinity Term, 1 790, the question occurred on occasion of an indictment, The King v. Topham, who, as a proprietor of a news-paper entitled The World, was found guilty of a libel against Earl Cowper, deceased, because certain injurious charges against his Lordship were published in that paper. An arrest of Judgement having been moved for, the case was afterwards solemnly argued. My friend Mr. Const, whom I delight in having an opportunity to praise, not only for his abilities but his manners; a gentleman whose ancient German blood has been mellowed in England, and who may be

and the Barrister, was Mr. Topham. He displayed much learning and ingenuity upon the general question; which, however, was not decided, as the Court granted an arrest chiefly on the informality truely said to unite the Baron

one of the Counsel

for

of the indictment. No man has a higher reverence for the law of England than I have; but, with all deference I cannot help thinking, that prosecution by indictment, if a defendant is never to be allowed to justify, must often be very oppressive, un-

whom

am

more and more confirmed I Juries, in holding to be judges of law as well as of fact, resolutely interpose. Of late an act of Parliament has passed declaratory of their full right to one as well as the other, in matter of libel; and the bill having been brought in by a popular gentleman, many of his party have in most extravagant terms declaimed on the wonderful acquisition to the liberty of the press. For own part I ever was clearly of opinion that this right was inherent in the very constitution of a Jury, and indeed in sense and reason inseparable from their important function. To establish it, therefore, by Statute, is, I think, narrowing its foundation, which is the broad and deep basis of Law. Would it not rather weaken the right of primo-geniture, or any less

my

Common

other old and universally-acknowledged right, should the legislature pass an act in favour of it? In my Letter to the People of Scotland, against diminishing the number of the Lords of Session, published in 1785, there is the following passage, which, as a concise, and I hope a fair and rational state of the matter, I presume to quote: "The Juries of England are Judges of law as well as oi fact, in many

and in all criminal trials. That my principles of resistance may not be misapprehended any more than my principles of submission, I protest that I should be the last man in the world to encourage Juries to contradict rashly, wantonly, or perversely, the opinion of the Judges. On the contrary, I would have them listen respectfully to the advice they receive from the Bench, by which they may be often well directed in forming their own opinion; which, 'and not another's,' is the opinion they are to return upon their oaths. But where, after due attention to all that the Judge has said, they are decidedly of a different opinion from him, they have civil,

it

might be shot

and

at as

much

as people chose to

remain unhurt. Johnson. "Then, Sir, it would not be shot at. Nobody attempts to dispute that two and two make four: but with contests concerning moral truth, human passions are generally mixed, and therefore it must ever be liable to assault and misrepattempt,

yet

resentation."

On Friday, April 5, being Good Friday, after having attended the morning service at St. Clement's Church, I walked home with Johnson.

We talked of the Roman Catholick religion.

Johnson. "In the barbarous ages, Sir, priests and people were equally deceived; but afterwards there were gross corruptions introduced by the clergy, such as indulgencies to priests to have concubines, and the worship of images, not, indeed, inculcated, but knowingly permitted." at

He strongly censured the licensed stews

Rome. Boswell. "So

then, Sir,

you would

allow of no irregular intercourse whatever between the sexes?" Johnson. "To be sure I would not, Sir. I would punish it much more than it is done, and so restrain it. In all countries there

has has the the

been fornication, as in all countries there been theft; but there may be more or less of one, as well as of the other, in proportion to force of law. All men will naturally commit

men will naturally steal. And, very absurd to argue, as has been often done, that prostitutes are necessary to prevent

fornication, as all Sir, it is

the violent effects of appetite from violating the

decent order of life; nay, should be permitted, in order to preserve the chastity of our wives

and daughters. Depend upon it. Sir, severe laws, would be sufficient against those evils, and would promote marriage." I stated to him this case " Suppose a man has a daughter who he knows has been seduced, but her misfortune is concealed from the world? steadily enforced,

:

—

should he keep her in his house? Would he not, by doing so, be accessary to imposition? And, perhaps, a worthy, unsuspecting man might come and marry this woman, unless the father inform him of the truth." Johnson. "Sir, he is accessary to no imposition. His daughter is in his house; and if a man courts her, he takes his chance. If a friend, or, indeed, if any man asks his opinion whether he should marry her, he ought to advise him against it, without telling why, because his real opinion is then required. Or, if he has not only a power and a right, but they are bound bring in a verdict accordingly."

conscience to

in

BOSWELL

302

[1776

other daughters who know ofher fraihy, he ought not to keep her in his house. You are to consider the state of life is this; we are to judge of one another's characters as well as we can; and a man is not bound, in honesty or honour, to tell us the faults of his daughter or of himself. A man who has debauched his friend's daughter is not obliged 'Take care of me; don't to say to every body

from a gentleman whom I formerly knew very well; he had returned from that country with a handsome fortune, as it was reckoned, before means were found to acquire those immense sums which have been brought from thence of late; he was a scholar, and an agreeable man, and lived very prettily in London, till his wife

me into your houses without suspicion. I once debauched a friend's daughter. I may debauch

gaming, and lost all he had. One evening he lost a thousand pounds to a gentleman whose name I am sorry I have forgotten. Next morning he sent the gentleman five hundred pounds, with an apology that it was all he had in the world. The gentleman sent the money back to him, declaring he would not accept of it; and adding,

—

let

yours.'"

Mr. Thrale called upon him, and appeared manly composure. There was no affectation about him; and he talked, as usual, upon indifferent subjects. He seemed to me to hesitate as to the intended Italian tour, on which, I flattered myself, he and Mrs. Thrale and Dr. Johnson were soon to set to bear the loss of his son with a

out; and, therefore, I pressed it as much as I could. I mentioned, that Mr. Beauclerk had said, that Baretti, whom they were to carry with them, would keep them so long in the little towns of his own district, that they would not have time to see Rome. I mentioned this, to put them on their guard. Johnson. "Sir, we do not thank Mr. Beauclerk for supposing that we are to be directed by Baretti. No, Sir; Mr. Thrale is to go, by

my

advice, to

and

get from

Mr. Jackson (the all-knowing)^, him a plan for seeing the most that can be seen in the time that we have to travel. We must, to be sure, see Rome, Naples, Florence, and Venice, and as much more as we can." (Speaking with a tone of animation.) When I expressed an earnest wish for his remarks on Italy, he said, "I do not see that I could make a book upon Italy; yet I should be glad to get two hundred pounds, or five hundred pounds, by such a work." This shewed both that a journal of his Tour upon the Continent was not wholly out of his contemplation, and that he uniformly adhered to that strange opinion,

which

his indolent disposition

"No man for

made him

utter:

but a blockhead ever wrote, except

money." Numerous instances to refute

will occur to all

who

this

are versed in the history of

literature.

He gave us one of the many sketches of character which were treasured in his mind, and which he was wont to produce quite unexpectedly in a very entertaining manner. "I lately, (said he,) received a letter from the East Indies, ^A gentleman,

who from his extraordinary stores

of knowledge, has been stiled omniscient. Johnson, I think very properly, altered it to all-knowing, as it is a verbum solenne, appropriated to the Supreme Being.

died. After her death, he took to dissipation

and

that if Mr. had occasion for five hundred pounds more, he would lend it to him. He resolved to go out again to the East Indies, and

make his fortune anew. He got a considerable appointment, and I had some intention of accompanying him. Had I thought then as I do now, I should have gone: but, at that time, I had objections to quitting England." It was a very remarkable circumstance about Johnson, whom shallow observers have supposed to have been ignorant of the world, that very few men had seen greater variety of characters; and none could observe them better, as was evident from the strong, yet nice portraits which he often drew. I have frequently thought that if he had made out what the French call une catalogue raisonnee of all the people who had passed under his observation, it would have afforded a very rich fund of instruction and entertainment. The suddenness with which his accounts of some of them started out in conversation, was not less pleasing than surprizing. I remember he once observed to me, "It is wonderful. Sir, what is to be found in London. The most literary conversation that I ever enjoyed, was at the table of Jack Ellis, a money-scrivener behind the Royal Exchange, with whom I at one period used to

dine generally once a week."^ ^This Mr. Ellis was, I believe, the last of that profession called Scriveners, which is one of the London companies, but of which the business is no longer carried on separately, but is transacted by attornies and others. He was a man of literature and talents. He was the authour of a Hudibrastick version of Maphaeus's Canto, in addition to the /Eneid; of some poems in Dodsley's Collections; and various other small pieces; but being a very modhis name to anything. He shewa translation which he had made of Ovid's Epistles, very prettily done. There is a good engraved portrait of him by Pether, from a picture by Fry, which hangs in the hall of the Scriveners' company. I visited him October 4, 1790, in his est

man, never put

ed

me

ninety-third year,

and found

his

judgement

dis-

LIFE OF

1776]

Volumes would be required to contain a list of his numerous and various acquaintance, none of whom he ever forgot; and could describe and discriminate them all with precision and vivac-

He

ity.

associated with persons the most widely

and accomcompanion of

different in manners, abilities, rank,

plishments.

He was

at once the

the brilliant Colonel Forrester of the Guards, who wrote The Polite Philosopher, and of the aukward and uncouth Robert Levet; of Lord Thurlow, and Mr. Sastres, the Italian master; and has dined one day with the beautiful, gay, and fascinating Lady Craven,^ and the next with good Mrs. Gardiner, the tallow-chandler, on Snow-hill.

On my expressing my wonder at his discovering so much of the knowledge peculiar to different professions, he told me, "I learnt what I know

of law, chiefly from

able man.

I

Mr. Ballow, ^ a very from Chambers;

learnt some, too,

but was not so teachable then. One is not willing by a young man." When I expressed a wish to know more about Mr. Ballow, Johnson said, "Sir, I have seen him but once these twenty years. The tide of life has driven us different ways." I was sorry at the time to hear this; but whoever quits the creeks of private connections, and fairly gets into the great ocean of London, will, by imperceptible degrees, unavoidably experience such cessations of acquaintance. "My knowledge of physick, (he added,) I learnt from Dr. James, whom I helped in writing the proposals for his Dictionary and also a to be taught

little

in the Dictionary itself.^ I also learnt

from

Dr. Lawrence, but was then grown more stubborn."

A curious incident happened to-day, while Mr. Thrale and I sat with him. Francis announced that a large packet was brought to him tinct and clear, and his memory, though faded so as to fail him occasionally, yet, as he assured me,

and

I indeed perceived, able to serve him very well, after a little recollection. It was agreeable to observe, that he was free from the discontent and fretfulness which too often molest old age. He in

summer of that year walked to Rotherhithe, where he dined, and walked home in the evening. He died on the 31st of December, 1791. ^Lord Macartney, who with his other distinguished qualities, is remarkable also for an elegant pleasantry, told me, that he met Johnson at Lady Craven's, and that he seemed jealous of any inter-

the

ference: "So, (said his Lordship, smiling,) / kept back."

^There is an account of him in Sir John Hawkins's Life of Johnson. ^I have in vain endeavoured to find out what parts Johnson wrote for Dr. James. Perhaps medical may.

men

JOHNSON from the

303

post-office, said to

bon, and

it

was charged

have come from

Lis-

seven pounds ten shillings.

He would

not receive it, supposing it to be some nor did he even look at it. But upon enquiry afterwards he found that it was a real packet for him, from that very friend in the East Indies of whom he had been speaking; and the ship which carried it having come to Portugal, this packet, with others, had been put into the trick,

post-office at Lisbon. I mentioned a new gaming-club, of which Mr. Beauclerk had given me an account, where the members played to a desperate extent. Johnson. "Depend upon it. Sir, this is mere talk. Who is ruined by gaming? You will not find six instances in an age. There is a strange rout made about deep play: whereas you have many more people ruined by adventurous trade, and yet we do not hear such an outcry against it." Thrale. "There may be few people absolutely ruined by deep play; but very many are much hurt in their circumstances by it." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, and so are very many by other kinds of expence." I had heard him talk once before in the same manner; and at Oxford he said, "he wished he had

learnt to play at cards."

The

truth, however,

is,

that he loved to display his ingenuity in argu-

ment; and therefore would sometimes

in con-

versation maintain opinions which he was sensible were wrong, but in supporting which, his reasoning and wit would be most conspicuous. He would begin thus: "Why, Sir, as to the good or evil of card-playing " "Now, (said Garrick,) he is thinking which side he shall take." He appeared to have a pleasure in contradiction, especially when any opinion whatever was delivered with an air of confidence; so that there was hardly any topick, if not one of the great truths of Religion and Morality, that he might not have been incited to argue, either for or against. Lord Elibank^ had the highest admiration of his powers. He once observed to me, "Whatever opinion Johnson maintains, I will not say that he convinces me; but he never fails to shew me, that he has good reasons for it." I have heard Johnson pay his Lordship this high compliment: "I never was in Lord Elibank's company without learning something." We sat together till it was too late for the afternoon service. Thrale said he had come with intention to go to church with us. We went at seven to evening prayers at St. Clement's church, after having drank coffee; an indulgence, which I understood Johnson yielded to on this occa-

—

sion, in

compliment to Thrale. Lord Elibank, who died

^Patrick,

in 1778.

— BOSWELL

304

On

Sunday, April 7, Easter-day, after having been at St. Paul's Cathedral, I came to Dr. Johnson, according to my usual custom. It seemed to me, that there was always something peculiarly mild and placid in his manner upon this holy

festival, the

commemoration

of the

most

joyful event in the history of our world, the res-

urrection of our

Lord and Saviour, who, hav-

ing triumphed over death and the grave, proclaimed immortality to mankind. I repeated to him an argument of a lady of my acquaintance, who maintained, that her hus-

band's having been guilty of numberless infidelities, released her from conjugal obligations, because they were reciprocal. Johnson. "This is miserable stuff. Sir. To the contract of marriage, besides the man and wife, there is a third party Society; and if it be considered as a vow God: and, therefore, it cannot be dissolved by their consent alone. Laws are not made for particular cases, but for men in general. A woman may be unhappy with her husband; but she cannot be freed from him without the approbation of the civil and ecclesiastical power. A man may be unhappy, because he is not so rich as another; but he is not to seize upon another's property with his own hand." Bosw^ell. "But, Sir, this lady does not want that the contract should be dissolved; she only argues that she may indulge herself in gallantries with equal freedom as her husband does, provided she takes care not to introduce a spurious issue into his family. You know, Sir, what Macrobius has told us ofJulia.'"Johnson. "This lady of yours. Sir, I think, is very fit for a brothel." Mr. Macbean, authour of the Dictionary of

—

ancient Geography,

came

in.

He mentioned

that

he had been forty years absent from Scotland. "Ah, Boswell! (said Johnson, smiling,) what would you give to be forty years from Scotland?" I said, "I should not like to be so long absent from the seat of my ancestors." This gentleman, Mrs. Williams, and Mr. Levet, dined with us. Dr. Johnson

made a remark, which both Mr.

Macbean and

I

persons,

by

whom they would lose

their

money.

Accordingly there are instances of ladies being ruined, by having injudiciously sunk their fortunes for high annuities, which, after a few years, ^Nunquam enim chap.

6.

[1776

ceased to be paid, in conseqvience of the ruined circumstances of the borrower." Mrs. Williams was very peevish; and I wondered at Johnson's patience with her now, as I

The truth consideration of the forlorn and indigent state in which this lady was left by had often done on that his

is,

similar occasions.

humane

her father, induced him to treat her with the utmost tenderness, and even to be desirous of procuring her amusement, so as sometimes to incommode many of his friends, by carrying her

with him to their houses, where, from her manner of eating, in consequence of her blindness, she could not but offend the delicacy of persons of nice sensations.

we went to afternoon service in Clement's church. Observing some beggars

After coffee, St.

we walked along, I said to him supposed there was no civilized country in the world, where the misery of want in the lowest classes of the people was prevented. Johnson. "I believe. Sir, there is not; but it is better that some should be unhappy, than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a general in the street as I

state of equality."

When the service was ended, I went home with him, and we sat quietly by ourselves. He recommended Dr. Cheyne's books. I said, I thought Cheyne had been reckoned whimsical. "So he was,(said he,) in some things; but there is no end of objections. There are few books to which some objection or other may not be made. He added, "I would not have you read anything else of Cheyne, but his book on Health, and his English Malady.''^

Upon the question whether a man who had been guilty of vicious actions would do well to force himself into solitude and sadness; Johnson. "No, Sir, unless it prevent him from being viWith some people, gloomy penionly madness turned upside down. A man may be gloomy, till, in order to be relieved from gloom, he has recourse again to criminal cious again.

tence

is

indulgencies."

thought new. It was this: that "the law against usury is for the protection of creditors as well as of debtors; for if there were no such check, people would be apt, from the temptation of great interest, to lend to desperate

ii.

"

nisi navi plena tollo vector em.

Book

On

Wednesday, April 10, I dined with him Mr. Thrale's, where were Mr. Murphy and some other company. Before dinner, Dr. Johnson and I passed some time by ourselves. I was sorry to find it was now resolved that the proat

posed journey to Italy should not take place this year. He said, "I am disappointed, to be sure; but it is not a great disappointment." I wondered to see him bear, with a philosophical calmness, what would have made most people peevish and fretful. I perceived, however, that he had so warmly cherished the hope of enjoy-

LIFE OF

1776]

ing classical scenes, that he could not easily part with the scheme; for he said, "I shall probably contrive to get to Italy some other way. But I

won't mention it to Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, as it might vex them." I suggested, that going to Italy might have done Mr. and Mrs. Thrale good. Johnson. "I rather believe not, Sir. While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till grief be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of

At dinner, Mr. Murphy entertained us with Mr. Joseph Simpson, a schoolfellow of Dr. Johnson's, a barrister at law, of good but who fell into a dissipated course of incompatible with that success in his profession which he once had, and would otherwise have deservedly maintained; yet he still preserved a dignity in his deportment. He wrote a tragedy on the story of Leonidas, entitled The Patriot. He read it to a company of lawyers, who found so many faults, that he wrote it over again; so then there were two tragedies on the same subject and with the same title. Dr. Johnson told us, that one of them was still in his possession. This very piece was, after his death, published by some person who had been about him, and, for the sake of a little hasty profit, was fallaciously advertised, so as to make it be believed parts,

life,

have been written by Johnson himself.

said, I disliked the custom which some people had of bringing their children into company, because it in a manner forced us to pay foolish compliments to please their parents. I

We may be exmuch about other people's children, for there are many who care very little about their own children. It may be observed, that men, who from being engaged in business,

Johnson. "You are

right, Sir.

cused for not caring

or from their course in

whatever way, seldom see their children, do not care much about them. I myself should not have had much fondness for a child of my own." Mrs. Thrale. "Nay, Sir, how can you talk so?" Johnson. "At least, I never wished to have a child." Mr. Murphy mentioned Dr. Johnson's having a design to publish an edition of Cowley. Johnson said, he did not know but he should; and he expressed his disapprobation of Dr. Hurd, for having published a mutilated edition under the title of Select Works of Abraham Cowley. Mr. Murphy thought it a bad precedent; observing that any authour might be used in the same manner; and that it was pleasing to see the varilife

in

ety of an authour's compositions, at different periods.

305

We

talked of Flatman's Poems; and Mrs. Thrale observed, that Pope had pardy borrowed from him The dying Christian to his Soul. Johnson repeated Rochester's verses upon Flatman, which I think by much too severe:

Nor

that slow drudge in swift Pindarick strains, Flatman, who Cowley imitates with pains.

And rides a jaded Muse, whipt with loose reins. the passages that I heard stamps a value on them. He told us, that the book entitled The Lives of the Poets, by Mr. Gibber, was entirely compiled by Mr. Shiels, a Scotchman, one of his amanuenses. The bookseller (said he, ) gave Theophilus Gibber, who was then in prison, ten guineas, to allow Mr. Gibber to be put upon the title-page, as the authour; by this, a double imposition was I like to recollect all

Johnson repeat:

it."

the history of

to

JOHNSON

it

'

'

intended: in the first place, that it was the work of a Gibber at all; and, in the second place, that it was the work of old Gibber."^ iJn The Monthly Review for May, 1792, there is such a correction of the above passage, as I should think myself very culpable not to subjoin. "This account is very inaccurate. The following statement of facts we know to be true, in every material circumstance: Shiels was the principal collector and digester of the materials for the work; but as he was very raw in authourship, an indifferent writer in prose, and his language full of Scotticisms, Gibber, who was a clever, lively fellow, and then soliciting employment among the booksellers,

—

was engaged to correct the style and diction of the whole work, then intended to make only four volumes, with power to alter, expunge, or add, as he liked. He was also to supply notes, occasionally, especially concerning those dramatick poets with whom he had been chiefly conversant. He also engaged to write several of the Lives; which, (as we are told,) he, accordingly, performed. He was farther useful Ln striking out the Jacobitical and Tory sentiments, which Shiels had industriously interspersed wherever he could bring them in: and,

—

as the success of the

work appeared,

after all, very

doubtful, he was content with twenty-one pounds for his labour beside a few sets of the books, to disperse among his friends. Shiels had nearly seventy pounds, besides the advantage of many of the best Lives in the work being communicated by friends to the undertaking; and for which Mr. Shiels had the same consideration as for the rest, being paid by the sheet, for the whole. He was,

—

however, so angry with his Whiggish supervisor, (The., like his father, being a violent stickler for the political principles which prevailed in the Reign of George the Second,) for so unmercifully mutilating his copy, and scouting his politicks, that he wrote Gibber a challenge: but was prevented from sending it, by the publisher, who fairly laughed him out of his fury. The proprietors, too, were discontented, in the end, on account of Mr. Gibber's for his corrections and alterations in the proof-sheets were so numerous and considerable, that the printer made for them a

unexpected industry;

BOSWELL

3o6 Mr. Murphy

The Memoirs of Gray's Life set him much higher in his estimation than his poems did; for you there saw a man constantly at work in Hterature. Johnson acquiesced in this; but depreciated the book, I thought, very unreasonably. For he said, "I forced myself to read it, only because it was a common topick of conversation. I found it mighty dull; and, as to the style, it is fit for the second table." Why he thought so I was at a loss to conceive. He now gave it as his opinion, that "Akenside was a superiour poet both to Gray and Mason." said, that

Talking of the Reviews, Johnson said, "I them very iinpartial: I do not know an in-

think

and, in fine, all parthe whole, the work was productive of no profit to the undertakers, who had agreed, in case of success, to make Gibber a present of some addition to the twenty guineas which he had received, and for which his receipt is now in the booksellers' hands. We are farther assured, that he actually obtained an additional sum; when he, soon after, (in the year 1758,) unfortunately embarked for Dublin, on an engagement for one of the theatres there: but the ship was cast away, and every person on board perished. There were about sixty passengers, among whom was the Earl of Drogheda, with many other persons of consequence and property. "As to the alledged design of making the compilement pass for the work of old Mr. Gibber, the charges seem to have been founded on a somewhat uncharitable construction. We are assured that the thought was not harboured by some of the proprietors, who are still living; and we hope that it did not occur to the first designer of the work, who was also the printer of it, and who bore a respectable character. "We have been induced to enter thus circumstantially into the foregoing detail of facts relating to The Lives of the Poets, compiled by Messrs. Gibber and Shiels, from a sincere regard to that sacred principle of Truth, to which Dr. Johnson so rigidly adhered, according to the best of his knowledge; grievous addition to his ties

were

dissatisfied.

bill;

On

and which we believe, no consideration would have prevailed on him to violate. In regard to the matter, which we now dismiss, he had, no doubt, been misled by partial and wrong information: Shiels was the Doctor's amanuensis; he had quarrelled with Gibber;

natural to suppose that he told it is certain that he was not 'a very sturdy moralist.' " This explanation appears to me very satisfactory. It is, however, to be observed, that the story told by Johnson does not rest solely upon my record of his conversation; for he himself has published it in his Life of Hammond, where he says, "the manuscript of Shiels is it is

his story in his

own way; and

now in my possession." Very probably he had trusted to Shiels's word, and never looked at it so as to compare it with Th^ Lives of the Poets, as published under Mr. Gibber's name. What became of that manuscript I know not. I should have liked much to examine it. I suppose it was thrown into the fire in that impetuous combustion of papers, which Johnson I think rashly executed, when moribundus.

[1776

He

mentioned what had passed upon the subject of the Monthly and Critical Reviews, in the conversation with which his Majesty had honoured him. He expatiated a little more on them this evening. "The Monthly Reviewers (said he,) are not Deists; but they are stance of partiality."

Christians with as

and are

The

little

for pulling

Christianity as

down

all

Reviewers are

Critical

constitution both in church cal Reviewers,

may

be;

establishments.

for supporting the

and

state.

The Criti-

believe, often review

without reading the books through; but lay hold of a topick, and write chiefly from their own minds. The Monthly Reviewers are duller men, and are glad to read the books through." He talked of Lord Lyttelton's extreme anxiety as an authour; observing, that "he was thirty years in preparing his History, and that he employed a man to point it for him; as if (laughing) another man could point his sense better than himself." Mr. Murphy said, he understood his history was kept back several years for fear of Smollet. Johnson. "This seems strange to Murphy and me, who never felt that anxiety, but sent what we wrote to the press, and let it take its chance." Mrs. Thrale. "The time has been, Sir, when you felt it." Johnson. "Why really, Madam, I do not recollect a time when that

was the

I

case."

Talking of The derful that there

he said, "It is wonsuch a proportion of bad

Spectator, is

papers, in the half of the work which was not written by Addison; for there was all the world to write that half, yet not a half of that half is

good. One of the finest pieces in the English language is the paper on Novelty, yet we do not hear it talked of. It was written by Grove, a dissenting teacher."

him a

clergyman,

He would

not, I perceived, call

though he was candid enough

to allow very great merit to his composition.

Mr. Murphy said, he remembered when there were several people alive in London, who enjoyed a considerable reputation merely from having written a paper in The Spectator. He mentioned particularly Mr. I nee, who used to frequent Tom's coffee-house. "But (said Johnson,) you must consider how highly Steele speaks of Mr. Ince." He would not allow that the paper on carrying a boy to travel, signed Philip Homebred, which was reported to be written by the Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, had merit. He said, "it was quite vulgar, and had nothing luminous." Johnson mentioned Dr. Barry's^ System of Physick. "He was a man (said he,) who had ac^Sir

Edward

Barry, Baronet.

— LIFE OF

1776]

quired a high reputation in DubHn, came over to England, and brought his reputation with him, but had not great success. His notion was, that pulsation occasions death by attrition; and that, therefore, the way to preserve life is to retard pulsation. But we know that pulsation is strongest in infants, and that we increase in growth while it operates in its regular course; so it cannot be the cause of destruction." Soon after this, he said something very flattering to Mrs. Thrale, which I do not recollect; but it concluded with wishing her long life. "Sir, (said I,) if Dr. Barry's system be true, you have now shortened Mrs. Thrale's life, perhaps, some minutes, by accelerating her pulsation." On Thursday, April 1 1 I dined with him at General Paoli's, in whose house I now resided, and where I had ever afterwards the honour of being entertained with the kindest attention as his constant guest, while I was in London, till I had a house of my own there. I mentioned my having that morning introduced to Mr. Garrick, Count Neni, a Flemish Nobleman of great rank and fortune, to whom Garrick talked of Abel Drugger as a small part; and related, with pleas,

who had seen him low characters, exclaimed, "Com-

ant vanity, that a Frenchman in

one of

his

le croispas. Ce ri' est pas Monsieur Garrick, Grand Homme!" Garrick added, with an appearance of grave recollection, "If I were to begin life again, I think I should not play those

ment/ je ne

JOHNSON

307

were the four great empires of the world; the Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman. All our religion, almost all our law, almost all our arts, almost all that sets us above savages, has come to us from the shores of the Mediterranean." The General observed, that "The Mediterranean would be a noble subject for a poem." We talked of translation. I said, I could not define it, nor could I think of a similitude to illustrate it; but that it appeared to me the translation of poetry could be only imitation. Johnson. "You may translate books of science exact-

—

ly.

You may

also translate history, in so far as

it

not embellished with oratory, which is poetical. Poetry, indeed, cannot be translated; and, therefore, it is the poets that preserve languages; for we would not be at the trouble to learn a language, if we could have all that is written in it just as well in a translation. But as the beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which it was originally written, we learn the language." is

A gentleman maintained that the art of printing had hurt real learning, by disseminating idle writings. Johnson. "Sir, if it had not been for the art of printing, we should now have no learning at all; for books would have perished faster

ce

than they could have been transcribed." This observation seems not just, considering for how many ages books were preserved by writing

low characters." Upon which I observed, "Sir, you would be in the wrong; for your great excellence is your variety of playing, your repre-

alone.

senting so well, characters so very different." Johnson. "Garrick, Sir, was not in earnest in what he said; for, to be sure, his peculiar excellence

is

his variety: and, perhaps, there

is

not

any one character which has not been as well acted by somebody else, as he could do it." BoswELL. "Why then. Sir, did he talk so?" Johnson. " Why, Sir, to make you answer as you did." BoswELL. "I don't know. Sir; he seemed to dip deep into his mind for the reflection." Johnson. "He had not far to dip. Sir: he said the same thing, probably, twenty times before." Of a nobleman raised at a very early period to high office, he said, "His parts. Sir, are pretty well for a Lord; but would not be distinguished in a man who had nothing else but his parts." A journey to Italy was stiU in his thoughts. He said, "A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see. The grand object of travelling is to see the shores of the Mediterranean.

On

those shores

The same gentleman maintained, that a genamong a people was a disadvantage; for it made the vulgar rise above their humble sphere. Johnson. "Sir, while knowledge is a distinction, those who are possessed of it will naturally rise above those who

eral diffusion of knowledge

are not. Merely to read tion at

first;

ing have

but

we

become

see

and write was a

distinc-

when reading and

general, the

common

writ-

people

keep their stations. And so, were higher attainments to become general the effect would be the same." "Goldsmith (he said,) referred every thing to vanity; his virtues, and his vices too, were from that motive. He was not a social man. He never exchanged mind with you." We spent the evening at Mr. Hoole's. Mr. Mickle, the excellent translator of The Lusiad, was there. I have preserved little of the conversation of this evening. Dr. Johnson said, "Thomson had a true poetical genius, the power of viewing every thing in a poetical light. His fault is such a cloud of words sometimes, that the sense can hardly peep through. Shiels, who com-

—

BOSWELL

3o8

[1776 employ some address). Johnyou are to consider what is the

was one day sitting with me. I took down Thomson, and read aloud a large portion of him, and then asked,

often necessary to

not this fine? Shiels having expressed the highest admiration. Well, Sir, (said I,) I have omitted every other line." I related a dispute between Goldsmith and Mr. Robert Dodsley, one day when they and I

expel impurities from the human body. mind is subject to the same imperfection.

piled Gibber's Lives of the Poets,^

Is

"Why,

son.

meaning

Sir,

of purging in the original sense. It

passions are the great movers of

human

is

to

The The

actions;

pretty houses;

but they are mixed with such impurities, that it is necessary they should be purged or refined by means of terrour and pity. For instance, ambition is a noble passion; but by seeing upon the stage, that a man who is so excessively ambitious as to raise himself by injustice, is punished, we are terrified at the fatal consequences of such a passion. In the same manner a certain degree of resentment is necessary; but if we see that a

The

man

were dining at

Tom

Davies's, in 1762. Gold-

smith asserted, that there was no poetry produced in this age. Dodsley appealed to his own Collection, and maintained, that though you could not find a palace like Dryden's Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, you had villages composed of very

and he mentioned particularly Johnson. "I think Dodsley gave up the question. He and Goldsmith said the same thing; only he said it in a softer manner than Goldsmith did; for he acknowledged that there was no poetry, nothing that towered above the common mark. You may find wit and humour Spleen.

in verse,

and yet no poetry. Hudibras has a pro-

not to be reckoned a poem. The Spleen, in Dodsley's Collection, on which you say he chiefly rested, is not poetry." Boswell. "Does not Gray's poetry, Sir, tower above the common mark?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir; but we

fusion of these; yet

it is

between what men do if they would, and what every man may do if he would. Sixteen-string Jack- towered above the common mark." Boswell. "Then, Sir, what is poetry?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, it is much easier to say what it is not. We all know what light is; but it is not easy to tell what it is."

must attend

to the difference

in general cannot

On friend

Friday, April 12,

Tom

Davies's,

1

dined with him at our

where we met Mr. Cra-

dock, of Leicestershire, authour of^obeide, a tragedy; a very pleasing gentleman, to whom my friend Dr. Farmer's very excellent Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare is addressed; and Dr. Har-

wood, who has written and published various works; particularly a fantastical translation of the New Testament, in modern phrase, and

with a Socinian twist. I introduced Aristotle's doctrine in his Art of Poetry, of "the KadapcnsrSiv TradrifiaTcov, the purging of the passions," as the purpose of tragedy. "But how are the passions to be purged by terrour and pity?" (said I, with an assumed air of ignorance, to incite him to talk, for which it was

strings at the knees of his breeches.

it

too

far,

we

pity the object of

it,

I

observed, the great defect of the tragedy of it had not a moral; for that no

Othello was, that

man

could

resist

the circumstances of suspicion

which were artfully suggested to Othello's mind. Johnson. "In the first place. Sir, we learn from Othello this very useful moral, not to make an unequal match; in the second place, we learn not to yield too readily to suspicion. The handkerchief is merely a trick, though a very pretty trick; but there are no other circumstances of reasonable suspicion, except what is related by lago of Cassio's

warm

expressions concerning

Desdemona in his sleep; and that depended entirely upon the assertion of one man. No, Sir, I think Othello has more moral than almost any play."

Talking of a penurious gentleman of our acquaintance, Johnson said, "Sir, he is narrow, not so much from avarice, as from impotence to spend his money. He cannot find in his heart to pour out a bottle of wine; but he would not

much

care

He

said,

if it should sour." he wished to see John Dennis's Critical Works collected. Davies said they would not sell. Dr. Johnson seemed to think otherwise. Davies said of a well-known dramatick au-

thour, that

"he

lived

upon potted stories, and

that

he made his way as Hannibal did, by vinegar; having begun by attacking people; particularly the players."

He reminded

^See ante, note, p. 305.

^A noted highwayman, who after having been several times tried and acquitted, was at last hanged. He was remarkable for foppery in his dress, and particularly for wearing a bunch of sixteen

carries

and are taught to moderate that passion." My record upon this occasion does great injustice to Johnson's expression, which was so forcible and brilliant, that Mr. Cradock whispered me, "O that his words were written in a book!"

Dr. Johnson of Mr. Murphy's

having paid him the highest compliment that ever was paid to a layman, by asking his pardon for repeating

a

story.

some oaths

in the course of telling

— LIFE OF

1776]

Johnson and I supt this evening at the Crown and Anchor tavern, in company with Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Langton, Mr. Nairne, now one of the Scotch Judges, with the title of Lord Dunsinan, and my very worthy friend, Sir William Forbes, of

We

Pitsligo.

discussed the question whether drinking

improved conversation and benevolence. Sir Joshua maintained it did. Johnson. "No, Sir: before dinner men meet with great inequality of understanding; and those who are conscious of their inferiority, have the modesty not to talk. When they have drunk wine, every man feels himself happy, and loses that modesty, and grows impudent and vociferous: but he is not improved; he is only not sensible of his defects." Sir Joshua said the Doctor was talking of the effects of excess in wine; but that a moderate glass enlivened the mind, by giving a proper circulation to the blood. "I am (said he,) in very good spirits, when I get up in the morning. By dinnertime I am exhausted; wine puts me in the same state as when I got up and I am sure that moderate drinking makes people talk better." Johnson. "No, Sir, wine gives not light, gay, ideal hilarity; but tumultuous, noisy, clamorous merriment. I have heard none of those drunken, nay, drunken is a coarse word, none of those vinous flights." Sir Joshua. "Because you have sat by, quite sober, and felt an envy of the happiness of those who were drinking." Johnson. "Perhaps, contempt. And, Sir, it is not necessary to be drunk one's self, to relish the wit of drunkenness. Do we not judge of the drunken wit, of the dialogue between lago and Cassio, the most excellent in its kind, when we are quite sober? Wit is wit, by whatever means it is produced; and, if good, will appear so at all times. I admit that the spirits are raised by drinking, as by the common participation of any pleasure: ;

—

—

JOHNSON the fire?"

— "Nay,

309 (said

Johnson, laughing,) I

cannot answer that: that is too much for me." I observed, that wine did some people harm,

by inflaming, confusing, and

irritating their

minds; but that the experience of mankind had declared in favour of moderate drinking. Johnson. "Sir, I do not say it is wrong to produce self complacency by drinking; I only deny that it improves the mind. When I drank wine, I scorned to drink it when in company. I have

drunk many a

bottle by myself; in the first had need of it to raise my spirits; in the second place, because I would have nobody to witness its eff"ects upon me."

place, because

He told us,

I

"almost

Ramblers -were writfor the press; that he sent a certain portion of the copy of an essay, ten just as they were

all his

wanted

and wrote the remainder, while the former part it was printing. When it was wanted, and he had fairly sat down to it, he was sure it would of

be done."

He said, that for general improvement, a man should read whatever his immediate inclination prompts him to; though, to be sure, if a man has a science to learn, he must regularly and resolutely advance. He added, "what we read with inclination makes a much stronger impression. If we read without inclination, half the mind

is

employed

in fixing the attention; so

but one half to be employed on what we read." He told us, he read Fielding's Amelia through without stopping. ^ He said, "if a man begins to read in the middle of a book, and feels an inclination to go on, let him not quit it, to go to the beginning. He may perhaps not feel again there

is

the inclination."

cock-fighting,

Sir Joshua mentioned Mr. Cumberland's Odes, whichwerejust published. Johnson. "Why, Sir, they would have been thought as good as Odes commonly are, if Cumberland had not put his name to them; but a name immediately draws

spirits of

censure, unless

or bear-baiting, will raise the a company, as drinking does, though surely they will not improve conversation. I also admit, that there are some sluggish men who are improved by drinking; as there are fruits which are not good till they are rotten. There are such men, but they are medlars. I indeed allow that there have been a very few men

who were improved by drinking; but maintain that I am right as to the effects of drinking in general: and let it be considered, of talents I

no position, however false in its universality, which is not true of some particular man." Sir William Forbes said, "Might not a man warmed with wine be like a bottle of beer, which is made brisker by being set before that there

is

it be a name that bears down everything before it. Nay, Cumberland has made his Odes subsidiary to the fame of another man. ^

They might have run

well

enough by them-

but he has not only loaded them with a name, but has made them carry double." We talked of the Reviews, and Dr. Johnson spoke of them as he did at Thrale's. ^ Sir Joshua said, what I have often thought, that he wonselves;

^We have here an involuntary testimony to the excellence of this admirable writer, to whom wc have seen that Dr. Johnson directly allowed so little merit. ^Mr. Romney, the painter, who has now deservedly established a high reputation. ^See ante, p. 306.

—

BOSWELL

3IO

dered to find so much good writing employed in them, when the authors were to remain unknown, and so could not have the motive of fame. Johnson. "Nay, Sir, those who write in them, write well, in order to be paid well." Soon after this day, he went to Bath with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. I had never seen that beautiful city, and wished to take the opportunity of visiting it, while Johnson was there. Having written to him, I received the following answer.

To James Dear

Sir,

Boswell, Esq.

Why do you talk of neglect? When

neglect you? If you will come to Bath, we be glad to see you. Come, therefore, as soon as you can. But I have a little business for you at London. Bid Francis look in the paper-drawer of the chest of drawers in my bed-chamber, for two cases; one for the Attorney-General, and one for the Solicitor-General. They lie, I think, at the top of my papers; otherwise they are somewhere else, and will give me more trouble. Please write to me immediately, if they can be found. Make my compliments to all our friends, round the world, and to Mrs. Williams at home. I am, Sir, your, &c.

did

I

shall all

Sam Johnson if

Search for the papers as soon as you can, that, it is necessary, I may write to you again be-

fore

you come down.

On the 26th of April, I went to Bath; and on my arrival at the Pelican inn, found lying for me an obliging invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, by whom I was agreeably entertained almost constantly during my stay. They were gone to the rooms; but there was a kind note from Dr. Johnson, that he should sit at home all the evening. I went to him directly, and before Mr. and Mrs. Thrale returned, we had by ourselves some hours of tea-drinking and talk. I shall group together such of his sayings as I preserved during the few days that I was at Bath. Of a person who differed from him in politicks, he said, "In private life he is a very honest gentleman; but I will not allow him to be so in publick life. People may be honest, though they are doing wrong: that is, between their Maker and them. But we, who are suffering by their

We are We know

pernicious conduct, are to destroy them. sure that acts from interest.

his geniune principles were. They who allow their passions to confound the distinctions between right and wrong, are criminal. They may be convinced; but they have not come

what

honestly by their conviction."

having been mentioned, I know not with what truth, that a certain female political writer, It

[1776

whose doctrines he

disliked,

had of late become

very fond of dress, sat hours together at her toilet, and even put on rouge: ^Johnson. "She is better employed at her toilet, than using her pen. It is better she should be reddening her own cheeks, than blackening other people's characters."

He told us that "Addison wrote Budgell's papers in the Spectator, at least mended them so much, that he made them almost his own; and that Draper, Tonson's partner, assured Mr. Johnson, that the much admired Epilogue to The Distressed Mother, which came out in Budgell's name, was in reality written by Addison." "The mode of government by one may be ill adapted to a small society, but is best for a great nation. The characteristick of our own government at present is imbecility. The magistrate dare not call the guards for fear of being hanged. The guards will not come, for fear of being given up to the blind rage of popular juries." Of the father of one of our friends, he observed, "He never clarified his notions, by filtrating them through other minds. He had a canal upon his estate, where at one place the bank was too low. I dug the canal deeper, said he." He told me that "so long ago as 1 748 he had read The Grave, a Poem,^ but did not like it much." I differed from him, for though it is not equal throughout, and is seldom elegantly correct, it abounds in solemn thought, and poetical

—

imagery beyond the common reach. The world has differed from him; for the poem has passed through many editions, and is still much read by people of a serious cast of mind. A literary lady of large fortune was mentioned, as one who did good to many, but by no means

"by stealth," and instead of "blushing to find it fame," acted evidently from vanity. Johnson. "I have seen no beings who do as much good from benevolence, as she does, from whatever motive. If there are such under the earth, or in the clouds, I wish they would come up, or come down. What Soame Jenyns says upon this subject is not to be minded; he is a wit. No, Sir; to act from pure benevolence is not possible for ^I am sorry that there are no memoirs of the Reverend Robert Blair, the authour of this poem. He was the representative of the ancient family of Blair, of Blair, in Ayrshire, but the estate had descended to a female, and afterwards passed to the son of her husband by another marriage. He was minister of the parish of Athelstanford, where Mr. John Home was his successor; so that it may truely

be called classick ground. His son,

same name, and a man eminent

who

is

of the

for talents

and

learning, is now, with universal approbation, Solicitor-General of Scotland.

LIFE OF

1776] finite beings.

with vanity,

Human

benevolence

interest, or

is

mingled at

Bath; observing, "She does not gain upon me, Sir; I think her empty-headed." He was, indeed, a stern critick upon characters and manners. Even Mrs. Thrale did not escape his friendly

animadversion at times. When he and I were one day endeavouring to ascertain, article by article, how one of our friends could possibly spend as much money in his family as he told us he did, she interrupted us by a lively extravagant sally, on the expence of clothing his children, describing it in a very ludicrous and fanciful manner. Johnson looked a little angry, and said, "Nay, Madam, when you are declaiming, declaim; and when you are calculating, calculate." At another time, when she said, perhaps affectedly, "I don't like to fly." Johnson. "With your wings, Madam, you must fly: but have a

How very well has experience proved the truth of it But have they not clipped rather rudely, and gone a great deal closer than care, there are clippers abroad."

was

this said,

and how

fully

!

was necessary?

A

gentleman expressed a wish to go and

live

three years at Otaheite, or New-Zealand, in

order to obtain a

full

acquaintance with people,

all that we have ever known, and be satisfied what pure nature can do for man. Johnson. "What could you learn, Sir? What can savages tell, but what they themselves have seen? Of the past, or the invisible, they can tell nothing. The inhabitants of Otaheite and New-Zealand are not in a state of pure nature; for it is plain they broke off from some other people. Had they grown out of the ground, you might have judged of a state of

so totally different

pewterer,

Hugh

some other motive."

He would not allow me to praise a lady then

JOHNSON

from

can

tell

of their religion."

On Monday, April 29, he and I made an excursion to Bristol, where I was entertained with seeing him enquire upon the spot, into the authenticity of "Rowley's Poetry," as I had seen him enquire upon the spot into the authenticity of "Ossian's Poetry." George Catcot, the

for Ossian, (I trust

my

as Dr.

Rever-

will

We

deed, has been clearly demonstrated from internal evidence, by several able cri ticks. ^ Honest Catcot seemed to pay no attention

whatever to any objections, but insisted, as an end of all controversy, that we should go with him to the tower of the church of St. Mary, Redcliff", and view with our own eyes the ancient chest in which the manuscripts were found. To this. Dr. Johnson good-naturedly agreed; and though troubled with a shortness of breathing, laboured up a long flight of steps, till we came to the place where the wonderous chest stood. " There, (said Catcot, with a bouncing confident credulity,) there is

He

brought to

lander, a

itself."

After this

was no more

to be said.

the very chest

ocular demonstration, there

man

my

recollection a Scotch

of learning too,

High-

and who had the same time

seen the world, attesting, and at giving his reasons for the authenticity of Fin" I have heard all that poem when I was gal:

—

— "Have you, Sir? Pray what have you — "I have heard Ossian, Oscar, and every

describe

ten gross

Rowley

looking into Dr. Johnson's face, wondering that called on Mr. he was not yet convinced. Barret, the surgeon, and saw some of the originals as they were called, which were executed very artificially; but from a careful inspection of them, and a consideration of the circumstances with which they were attended, we were quite satisfied of the imposture, which, in-

general pretty well observed: yet ask the

first

zealous for

excuse the comparison,) attended us at our inn, and with a triumphant air of lively simplicity called out, "I'll make Dr. Johnson a convert." Dr. Johnson, at his desire, read aloud some of Chatterton's fabricated verses, while Catcot stood at the back of his chair, moving himself like a p>endulum, and beating time with his feet, and now and then

pure nature. Fanciful people may talk of a mythology being amongst them; but it must be invention. They have once had religion, which has been gradually debased. And what account of their religion can you suppose to be learnt from savages? Only consider, Sir, our own state: our religion is in a book; we have an order of men whose duty it is to teach it; we have one day in the week set apart for it, and this is in meet, and hear what they

was

Blair

end friend

young." heard?"

men you

311

who was as

one of them."

Johnson said of Chatterton, "This is the most extraordinary young man that has encountered my knowledge. It is wonderful how the whelp has written such things." We were by no means pleased with our inn at Bristol. "Let us see now, (said I,) how we should it. Johnson was ready with his raillery. "Describe it. Sir? Why, it was so bad that Boswell wished to be in Scotland!" After Dr. Johnson's return to London, I was several times with him at his house, where I occasionally slept, in the room that had been assigned to me. I dined with him at Dr. Taylor's, at General Oglethorpe's, and at General Paoli's. iMr. Tyrwhitt, Mr. Warton, Mr. Malone. '

'

—

BOSWELL

312

To avoid

group

a tedious minuteness, gether what I have preserved of his conversation during this period also, without specifying each scene where it passed, except one, which will be found so remarkable as certainly to deserve a very particular relation. Where the place or the persons do not contribute to the zest of I shall

to-

it is unnecessary to encumber ny page with mentioning them. To know of

the conversation,

[1776

"Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his Son, I think, might be made a very pretty book. Take out the immorality, and it should be put into the hands of every young gentleman. An elegant manner and easiness of behaviour are acquired gradually and imperceptibly. No man can say T'll be genteel.' There are ten genteel women for one genteel man, because they are more restrained. A man without some degree of restraint is in-

we

restrained than

what vintage our wine is, enables us to judge of its value, and to drink it with more relish: but to

sufferable; but

have the produce of each vine of one vineyard, in the same year, kept separate, would serve no purpose. To know that our wine, (to use an advertising phrase,) is "of the stock of an Ambassadour lately deceased," heightens its flavour: but it signifies nothing to know the bin where each bottle was once deposited. "Garrick (he observed,) does not play the part of Archer in The Beaux Stratagem well. The gentleman should break out through the footman, which is not the case as he does it." "Where there is no education, as in savage countries, men will have the upper hand of women. Bodily strength, no doubt, contributes to this; but it would be so, exclusive of that; for it is mind that always governs. When it comes to dry understanding, man has the better." "The little volumes entitled Respublicce, which are very \vell done, were a bookseller's work."

put out her legs before her as most men do, we should be tempted to kick them in." No man was a more attentive and nice observer of behaviour in those in whose company he happened to be, than Johnson; or, however

"There is much talk of the misery which we cause to the brute creation; but they are recompensed by existence. If they were not useful

man, and therefore protected by him, they would not be nearly so numerous." This argument is to be found in the able and benignant Hutchinson's Moral Philosophy. But the question is, whether the animals who endure such sufferings of various kinds, for the service and entertainment of man, would accept of existence upon the terms on which they have it. Madame Sevigne, who, though she had many enjoyments, to

felt

with delicate sensibility the prevalence of

misery, complains of the task of existence hav-

upon her without her consent. never happy for the present is

ing been imposed

"That man

is

so true, that all his relief

from unhappiness

is

only forgetting himself for a little while. Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoy-

ment

to

enjoyment"

"Though many men

are nominally entrusted with the administration of hospitals and other publick institutions, almost all the good is done by one man, by whom the rest are driven on; owing to confidence in him, and indolence in them."

are

all less

women. Were a woman

sitting in

company

to

it may seem to many, had a higher estimation of its refinements. Lord Eliot informs me, that one day when Johnson and he were at dinner at a gentleman's house in London, upon Lord Chesterfield's Letters being mentioned, Johnson surprized the company by this sentence: "Every man of any education would rather be called a rascal, than accused of deficiency in the graces.^' Mr. Gibbon, who was present, turned to a lady who knevvf Johnson well, and lived much with him, and in his quaint manner, tapping his box, addressed her thus: "Don't you think. Madam, (looking towards Johnson,) that among all your acquaintance, you could find one exception?" The lady smiled, and seemed to acquiesce. "I read (said he,) Sharpe's letters on Italy over again, when I was at Bath. There is a great deal of matter in them." "Mrs. Williams was angry that Thrale's fam-

strange

did not send regularly to her every time they heard from me while I was in the Hebrides. Little people are apt to be jealous: but they should not be jealous; for they ought to consid-

ily

er, that superiour attention will necessarily be paid to superiour fortune or rank. Two persons may have equal merit, and on that account may have an equal claim to attention; but one of

them may have also fortune and may have a double claim."

rank, and so

Talking of his notes on Shakspeare, he said, "I despise those who do not see that I am right in the passage where as is repeated, and 'asses of great charge' introduced. That on 'To be, or not to be,' is disputable."^ iJt may be observed, that Mr. Malone, in his very valuable edition of Shakspeare, has fully vindicated Dr. Johnson from the idle censures which the first of these notes has given rise to. The interpretation of the other passage, which Dr. Johnson allows to be disputable, he has clearly shown to be erroneous.

LIFE OF

1776]

A gentleman, whom I found sitting with him one morning, said, that in his opinion the character of an infidel was more detestable than that of a man notoriously guilty of an atrocious crime. I differed from him, because we are surer of the odiousness of the one, than of the errour of the other. Johnson. "Sir, I agree with him; for the infidel

would be

inclined to it." "Many things

from book

guilty of

any crime

if

he were

which are false are transmitted and gain credit in the world.

to book,

One of these is the cry against the evil of luxury. Now the truth is, that luxury produces much good. Take the luxury of buildings in London. Does it not produce real advantage in the conveniency and elegance of accommodation, and this all from the exertion of industry? People will you, with a melancholy face, how many builders are in gaol. It is plain they are in gaol, man not for building; for rents are not fallen. gives half a guinea for a dish of green peas. How much gardening does this occasion? how many labourers must the competition to have such things early in the market, keep in employment? You will hear it said, very gravely. Why was not the half-guinea, thus spent in luxury, given to tell

—A

To how many might it have afforded a good meal. Alas has it not gone to the industrious poor, whom it is better to support than the idle poor? You are much surer that you are doing good when yanpay money to those who work, as the recompence of their labour, than when the poor?

!

give money merely in charity. Suppose the ancient luxury of a dish of peacock's brains were

you

be revived, how many carcases would be left poor at a cheap rate: and as to the rout that is made about people who are ruined by extravagance, it is no matter to the nation that to

to the

individuals suffer. When so much general productive exertion is the consequence of luxury, the nation does not care though there are debtors in gaol; nay, they would not care though

some

their creditors

were there too."

The uncommon

vivacity of General Ogle-

thorpe's mind,

and

variety of knowledge, hav-

ing sometimes

made

his conversation

seem too

Johnson observed, "Oglethorpe, Sir, never completes what he has to say." He on the same account made a similar remark on Patrick, Lord Elibank: "Sir, there is nothing conclusive in his talk." When I complained of having dined at a splendid table without hearing one sentence of conversation worthy of being remembered, he said, "Sir, there seldom is any such conversation." BoswELL. "Why then meet at table?" desultory,

JOHNSON

313

Johnson. "Why, to eat and drink together, and to promote kindness; and, Sir, this is better done when there is no solid conversation; for when is, people differ in opinion, and get into bad humour, or some of the company who are

there

not capable of such conversation, are left out, and feel themselves uneasy. It was for this reason, Sir Robert Walpole said, he always talked bawdy at his table, because in that all could join."

Being irritated by hearing a gentleman ask Mr. Levett a variety of questions concerning him, when he was sitting by, he broke out, "Sir, you have but two topicks, yourself and me. I am sick of both." "A man, (said he,) should not talk of himself, nor much of any particular person.

He

should take care not to be made a proverb; and, therefore, should avoid having any one topick of which people can say, 'We shall hear him upon it.' There was a Dr. Oldfield, who was always talking of the Duke of Marlborough. He came into a coffee-house one day, and told that his Grace had spoken in the House of Lords for half an hour. 'Did he indeed speak for half an hour?' (said Belchier, the surgeon,) 'Yes.' 'And what did he say of Dr. Oldfield?'— 'Noth'Why then, Sir, he was very ungrateful; ing.' for Dr. Oldfield could not have spoken for a quarter of an hour, without saying something of him.'" "Every man is to take existence on the terms on which it is given to him. To some men it is given on condition of not taking liberties, which other men may take without much harm. One may drink wine, and be nothing the worse for it; on another, wine may have

—

—

—

inflammatory as to injure him both body and mind, and perhaps, make him commit something for which he may deserve effects so

in

to

be hanged."

"Lord Hailes's Annals of Scotland have not that painted form which is the taste of this age; but it is a book which will always sell, it has such a stability of dates, such a certainty of facts, and such a punctuality of citation. I never before read Scotch history with certainty." I asked him whether he would advise me to read the Bible with a commentary, and what commentaries he would recommend. Johnson. "To be sure, Sir, I would have you read the Bible with a commentary; and I would recommend Lowth and Patrick on the Old Testament,

and Hammond on the New." During my stay in London licited his attention to

which

I

this spring, I so-

another law case, in

was engaged. In the course of a con-

BOSWELL

314 tested election for the

Borough of Dumfermline,

attended as one of my friend Colonel (afterwards Sir Archibald) Campbell's counsel; one of his political agents, who was charged with having been unfaithful to his employer, and having deserted to the opposite party for a pecuniary reward attacked very rudely in a

which

I

—

news-paper the Reverend Mr. James Thomson, one of the ministers of that place, on account of a supposed allusion to him in one of his sermons. Upon this the minister, on a subsequent Sunday, arraigned him by name from the pulpit with some severity; and the agent, after the sermon

was

over, rose

up and asked

the minister aloud,

"What bribe he had received for telling so many lies

this

from the chair of verity."

I

was present

at

The person arand brother, who had

very extraordinary scene.

raigned, and his father also a share

both of the reproof from the pulpit,

and in the retaliation, brought an action against Mr. Thomson, in the Court of Session, for defamation and damages, and I was one of the counsel for the reverend defendant. The Liberty was our great ground of defence; but we argued also on the provocation of the

of the Pulpit

previous attack, and on the instant retaliation. The Court of Session, however the fifteen Judges, who are at the same time the Jury, decided against the minister, contrary to my humble opinion; and several of them expressed themselves with indignation against him. He

—

was an aged gentleman, formerly a military chaplain, and a man of high spirit and honour. Johnson was satisfied that the judgement was wrong, and dictated to me the following argument in confutation of it:

—

"Of the

censure pronounced from the pulpit, our determination must be formed, as in other cases, by a consideration of the action itself, and the particular circumstances with which it is invested.

"The essarily

right of censure

appendant

and rebuke seems nec-

to the pastoral office.

He, to

whom the care of a congregation is entrusted,

is

considered as the shepherd of a flock, as the teacher of a school, as the father of a family. As a shepherd tending not his own sheep but those of his master, he is answerable for those that stray, and that lose themselves by straying. But

man can be answerable for losses which he has not power to prevent, or for vagrancy which he has not authority to restrain. "As a teacher giving instruction for wages, and liable to reproach, if those whom he undertakes to inform make no proficiency, he must have the power of enforcing attendance, of

no

[1776

awakening negligence, and repressing contradiction.

"As a

father, he possesses the paternal au-

thority of admonition, rebuke,

and punishment.

He

cannot, without reducing his office to an empty name, be hindered from the exercise of any practice necessary to stimulate the idle, to reform the vicious, to check the petulant, and correct the stubborn. "If we enquire into the practice of the primiChurch, we shall, I believe, find the ministers of the word exercising the whole authority tive

of this complicated character.

We shall find them

not only encouraging the good by exhortation, but terrifying the wicked by reproof and denunciation. In the earliest ages of the Church, while religion was yet pure from secular advantages, the punishment of sinners was publick censure, and open penance; penalties inflicted merely by ecclesiastical authority, at a time while the Church had yet no help from the civil power; while the hand of the magistrate lifted only the rod of persecution; and when governours were ready to afford a refuge to all those who fled from clerical authority.

"That the Church,

therefore,

er of publick censure

is

had once a pow-

evident, because that

power was frequently exercised. That it borrowed not its power from the civil authority, is likewise certain, because civil authority was at that time its enemy.

"The hour came at length, when after three hundred years of struggle and distress. Truth took possession of imperial power, and the civil laws lent their aid to the ecclesiastical constitutions.

The magistrate from that time co-operated with the priest, and clerical sentences were made efficacious by secular force. But the State, when it came to the assistance of the Church, had no intention to diminish its authority. Those rebukes and those censures which were lawful before, were lawful still. But they had hitherto operated only upon voluntary submission. The refractory and contemptuous were at first in no danger of temporal severities, except what they might suffer from the reproaches of conscience, or the detestation of their fellow Christians.

When

reli-

gion obtained the support of law, if admonitions and censures had no effect, they were seconded by the magistrates with coercion and punish-

ment. "It therefore appears from ecclesiastical his-

shame by pubbeen always considered as inherent in the Church; and that this right was not conferred bv the civil power; for it was exertory, that the right of inflicting

lick censure, has

LIFE OF

1776] cised

when

By the

civil

power operated against it. power it was never taken away; for

the civil

the Christian magistrate interposed his office, not to rescue sinners from censure, but to supply more powerful means of reformation; to add

pain where shame was insufficient; and when men were proclaimed unworthy of the society of the faithful, to restrain them by imprisonment, from spreading abroad the contagion of wicked-

and er,

not improbable that from this acknowledged power of publick censure, grew in time the practice of auricular confession. Those who dreaded the blast of publick reprehension, were willing to submit themselves to the priest, by a private accusation of themselves; and to obtain a reconciliation with the Church by a kind of is

clandestine absolution and invisible penance; conditions with which the priest would in times

and corruption, easily comply, as they increased his influence, by adding the knowledge of secret sins to that of notorious offences, and enlarged his authority, by making him the sole arbiter of the terms of reconcilement. "From this bondage the Reformation set us free. The minister has no longer power to press of ignorance

315

to publish at will the crimes of a parishion-

he

may

often blast the innocent,

and

distress

He may

be suspicious, and condemn without evidence; he may be rash, and judge without examination; he may be severe, and treat slight ofTences with too much harshness; he may be malignant and partial, and gratify his private interest or resentment under the timorous.

the shelter of his pastoral character.

"Of all

ness.

"It

JOHNSON

this there is possibility,

and

of all this

danger. But if possibility of evil be to exclude good, no good ever can be done. If nothing is to be attempted in which there is danger, we roust all sink into hopeless inactivity. The evils that may be feared from this practice arise not from any defect in the institution, but from the infirmities of human nature. Power, in whatever hands it is placed, will be sometimes improperly exerted; yet courts of law must judge, there

is

though they will sometimes judge amiss. A father must instruct his children, though he himself

may

often

want

instruction.

A

minister must

into the retirements of conscience, to torture us

censure sinners, though his censure may be sometimes erroneous by want of judgement, and sometimes unjust by want of honesty. "If we examine the circumstances of the present case, we shall find the sentence neither erroneous nor unjust; we shall find no breach of

by

private confidence, no intrusion into secret trans-

interrogatories, or put himself in possession

of our secrets

and our

lives.

But though we have

thus controlled his usurpations, his just and original

power remains unimpaired. He may

The fact was notorious and indubitable;

actions.

no proof was desired. was base and treacherous, the perpeinsolent and open, and the example nat-

so easy to be proved, that

The

act

though he may not pry: he may yet hear, though he may not question. And that knowledge which his eyes and ears force upon him it is still his duty to use, for the benefit of his flock. A father who lives near a wicked neighbour, may forbid a son to frequent his company. A minister who has in his congregation a man of open

ing retired and recluse, had not yet heard what was publickly known throughout the parish; and on occasion of a publick election, warned his

and scandalous wickedness, may warn

warning was

still see,

rishioners to shun his conversation

his pa-

To warn

them is not only lawful, but not to warn them would be criminal. He may warn them one by one in friendly converse, or by a parochial visitation. But if he may warn each man singly, what shall forbid him to warn them altogether? Of that which is to be made known to all, how is there any difference whether it be communicated to each singly, or to all together? What is to all, must necessarily be publick. Whether it shall be publick at once, or publick by degrees, is the only question. And of a sudden and solemn publication the impression is deeper, and the warning more effectual. "It may easily be urged, if a minister be thus left at liberty to delate sinners from the pulpit.

known

tration

urally mischievous.

The

minister however, be-

people, according to his duty, against the crimes which publick elections frequently produce. His felt

by one of

his parishioners, as

pointed particularly at himself. But instead of producing, as might be wished, private compunction and immediate reformation, it kindled only rage and resentment. He charged his minister, in a publick paper, with scandal, defamation, and falsehood. The minister, thus reproached, had his own character to vindicate, upon which his pastoral authority must necessarily depend. To be charged with a defamatory lie is an injury which no man patiently endures in common life. To be charged with polluting the pastoral office with scandal and falsehood, was a violation of character still more atrocious, as it affected not only his personal but his clerical veracity. His indignation naturally rose in proportion to his honesty, and with all the forti-

BOSWELL

3i6

tude of injured honesty, he dared this calumniator in the church, and at once exonerated himself from censure, and rescued his flock from deception and from danger. The man whom he accuses pretends not to be innocent; or at least only pretends; for he declines a trial. The crime of which he is accused has frequent opportunities and strong temptations. 1 1 has already spread

with

far,

much

and much

depravation of private morals,

injury to publick happiness.

To warn

the people, therefore, against it was not wanton and officious, but necessary and pastoral.

"What then is the fault with which this worthy minister

is

charged?

ion over conscience.

He has usurped no dominHe has exerted no authori-

ty in support of doubtful

He

ions.

and

and controverted opin-

has not dragged into light a bashful was directed

corrigible sinner. His censure

against a breach of morality, against an act man who appropri-

which no man justifies. The

ated this censure to himself, is evidently and notoriously guilty. His consciousness of his own

wickedness incited him to attack his faithful reprover with open insolence and printed accusations. Such an attack made defence necessary; and we hope it will be at last decided that the means of defence were just and lawful." When I read this to Mr. Burke, he was highly pleased, and exclaimed, "Well; he does his work

workman-like manner."^ Mr. Thomson wished to bring the cause by appeal before the House of Lords, but was dissuaded by the advice of the noble person who lately presided so ably in that Most Honourable House, and who was then Attorney-General. As my readers will no doubt be glad also to read the opinion of this eminent man upon the same subin a

ject, I shall

here insert

it.

Case There

is

herewith laid before you.

Petition for theReverend Mr. James Thomson, minister of Dumfermline. 2. Answers thereto. 3. Copy of the judgement of the Court of Session upon both. 4. Notes of the opinions of the Judges, being the reasons upon which their decree is 1.

grounded. i.'^

he dictated the

eight paragraphs on the loth of May, and the remainder on the 1 3th, that there are in the whole only seven corrections, or rather variations, and those not considerable. Such were at once the vigorous and accurate emanations of his

mind.

will please to peruse,

and

Whether there

is a probability of the above decree of the Court of Session being reversed, if Mr. Thomson should appeal from the same? I don't think the appeal adviseable: not only because the value of the judgement is in no degree adequate to the expence; but because there are many chances, that upon the general complexion of the case, the impression will be taken to the disadvantage of the appellant. It is impossible to approve the style of that sermon. But the complaint was not less ungracious

from that man, who had behaved original libel, and, at the time,

so

ill

by

his

when he received

the reproach he complains of. In the last article, the plaintiflfs are equally concerned. It struck me also with some wonder, that the Judges should think so much fervour apposite to the occasion of reproving the defendant for a little excess. Upon the matter, however, I agree with them in condemning the behaviour of the minister; and in thinking it a subject fit for ecclesiastical censure; and even for an action, if any individual could qualify^ a wrong, and a damage arising from it. But this I doubt. The circumstance of publishing the reproach in a pulpit, though extremely indecent, and culpable in another view, does not constitute a different sort of wrong, or any other rule of law, than would have obtained, if the same words had been pronounced elsewhere. I don't know, whether there be any difference in the law of Scotland, in the definition of slander, before the Commissaries, or the Court of Session. The common law of England does not give way to actions for every reproachful word. An action cannot be brought for general damages, upon any words which import less than an offence cognisable by law; consequently no action could have been brought here for the words in question. Both laws admit the truth to be a justification in action /or words; and the law of England does the same in acall

tions for libels. The judgement, therefore, seems to me to have been wrong, in that the Court re-

pelled that defence.

E.

Thurlow

I am now to record a very curious incident in Dr. Johnson's Life, which fell under my own ob-

servation; of

am

which pars magna Jui, and which

persuaded

much a proof of Dr. Johnson's extraordinary pow-

ers of composition, it appears from the original manuscript of this excellent dissertation, of which

1776

These papers you give your opinion.

will,

I

with the liberal-minded, be

to his credit.

My desire of being acquainted with celebrated men

of every description,

had made me, much

first

2It is curious to observe that Lord Thurlow has here, perhaps in compliment to North Britain, made use of a term of the Scotch Law, which to an

English reader may require explanation. To a wrong, is to point out and establish it.

qualify

"

;

JOHNSON

LIFE OF

1776]

about the same time, obtain an introduction to

therefore, while

Dr. Samuel Johnson and to John Wilkes, Esq. Two men more different could perhaps not be

selves at his

mankind. They had even attacked one another with some asperity in their

selected out of all

writings; yet I lived in habits of friendship with both. I could fully relish the excellence of each;

have ever delighted in that intellectual chymistry, which can separate good qualities from evil in the same person. for I

Sir

John

Pringle,

friend and my whom and Dr. John-

"mine own

Father's friend," between

vain wished to establish an acquaintance, as I respected and lived in intim.acy with both of them, observed to me once, very ingeniously, "It is not in friendship as in mathematicks, where two things, each equal to a third, are equal between themselves. You agree with Johnson as a middle quality, and you agree with me as a middle quality; but Johnson and I should not agree." Sir John was not sufficiently flexible so I desisted; knowing, indeed, that the repulsion was equally strong on the part of Johnson; who, I know not from what cause, unless his being a Scotchman, had formed a very erroneous opinion of Sir John. But I conceived an irresistible wish, if possible, to bring Dr. Johnson and Mr. Wilkes together. How to manage it, was a nice and difficult matter. worthy booksellers and friends, Messieurs Dilly in the Poultry, at whose hospitable and well-covered table I have seen a greater number of literary men than at any other, except that of Sir Joshua Reynolds, had invited me to meet Mr. Wilkes and some more gentlemen on Wednesday, May 15. "Pray (said I,) let us have Dr. Johnson."— "What with Mr. Wilkes? not for the world, (said Mr. Edward Dilly): Dr. Johnson would never forgive me." "Come, (said I,) if you'll let me negotiate for you, I will be answerable that all shall go well." Dilly. "Nay, if you will take it upon you, I am sure I shall be very happy to see them both here." Notwithstanding the high veneration which I entertained for Dr. Johnson, I was sensible that he was sometimes a little actuated by the spirit

son

I in

My

—

of contradiction,

should gain

and by means of that I hoped I was persuaded that if

my point.

I I

had come upon him with a direct proposal, "Sir, will you dine in company with Jack Wilkes?" he would have flown into a passion, and would probably have answered, "Dine with Jack Wilkes, Sir! Pd as soon dine with Jack Ketch."^ I ^This has been circulated as if actually said by Johnson; when the truth is, it was only supposed by

317

we were

sitting quietly

by our-

house in an evening, took occasion plan thus: "Mr. Dilly, Sir, sends his respectful compliments to you, and would be happy if you would do him the honour to dine with him on Wednesday next along with me, as I must soon go to Scotland." Johnson. "Sir, I am obliged to Mr. Dilly. I will wait upon him Bos WELL. "Provided, Sir, I suppose, that the company which he is to have, is agreeable to you." Johnson. "What do you mean, Sir? What to

open

—

my

—

do you take me

for?

Do you

think

I

am

so ig-

norant of the world, as to imagine that I am to prescribe to a gentleman what company he is to have at his table?" Boswell. "I beg your pardon. Sir, for wishing to prevent you from meeting people whom you might not like. Perhaps he may have some of what he calls his patriotick friends with him." Johnson. "Well, Sir, and what then? What care /for his patriotick friends? Poh!" Boswtell. "I should not be surprized to find Jack Wilkes there." Johnson. "And if Jack Wilkes should be there, what is that to me, Sir? dear friend, let us have no more of this. I am sorry to be angry with you; but really it is treating me strangely to talk to me as if I could not

My

meet any company whatever, occasionally." Boswell. "Pray forgive me. Sir: I meant well. But you shall meet whoever comes, for me." Thus I secured him, and told Dilly that he would find

him very well pleased

to be

one of his guests

on the day appointed. Upon the much-expected Wednesday, I called on him about half an hour before dinner, as I often did when we were to dine out together, to see that he was ready in time, and to accompany him. I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion,^ covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad. "How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?" Johnson. "Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly's: it went out of my head. I have ordered dinner at home with Mrs. Williams." Boswell. "But, my dear Sir, you know you were engaged to Mr. Dilly, and I told him so. He will expect you, and will be much disappointed ifyou don't come. "Johnson. "You must talk to Mrs. Williams about this." Here was a sad dilemma. I feared that what I was so confident I had secured would yet be frustrated. He had accustomed himself to shew Mrs. Williams such a degree of humane attenimposed some restraint upon him; and I knew that if she should be obstinate, he would not stir. I hastened down stairs to the tion, as frequently

^See ante, p. 298.

— BOSWELL

3i8

was in great uneasiness, for Dr. Johnson had engaged to me to dine this day at Mr. Dilly's, but that he had told me he had forgotten his engagement, and had ordered dinner at home. "Yes, Sir, (said she, pretty peevishly,) Dr. Johnson is to dine at home." "Madam, (said I,) his respect for you is such, that I know he will not leave you unless you absolutely desire it. But as you have so much of his company, I hope you will be good enough to forego it for a day; as Mr. Dilly is a very worthy man, has frequently had agreeable parties at his house for Dr. Johnson, and will be vexed if the Doctor neglects him to-day. And blind lady's room,

and

told her I

—

then,

Madam,

tion;

I

be pleased to consider my situaand I assured Mr.

carried the message,

and no doubt he has made a dinner, and invited a company, and boasted of the honour he expected to have. I shall be quite disgraced if the Doctor is not there." She gradually softened to my solicitations, which were certainly as earnest as most Dilly that Dr. Johnson was to come,

entreaties to ladies

upon any

graciously pleased to

occasion,

empower me

and was

to tell Dr.

Johnson, "That all things considered, she thought he should certainly go." I flew back to him, still in dust, and careless of what should be the event, "indifferent in his choice to go or stay"; but as soon as I had announced to him Mrs. William's consent, he roared, "Frank, a clean shirt," and was very soon drest. When I had him fairly seated in a

hackney-coach with me,

as a fortune-hunter

I

exulted as

who has got an

much

heiress into a

post-chaise with him to set out for Gretna-Green.

When we entered Mr. Dilly's drawing room, he found himself in the midst of a company he did not know. I kept myself snug and silent, watching how he would conduct himself. I observed him whispering to Mr. Dilly, "Who is that gentleman, Sir?" "Mr. Arthur Lee." Johnson. "Too, too, too," (under his breath,) which was one of his habitual mutterings. Mr. .^thur Lee could not but be very obnoxious to Johnson, for he was not only a patriot but an American. He was afterwards minister from the

—

United States at the court of Madrid. "And who the gentleman in lace?" "Mr. Wilkes, Sir." This information confounded him still more; he

is

—

had some difficulty to restrain himself, and taking up a book, sat down upon a window-seat and read, or at least kept his eye upon it intently for some time, till he composed himself. His feelings, I dare say, were aukward enough. But he no doubt recollected his having rated me for supposing that he could be at all disconcerted by any company, and he, therefore, resolutely set him-

[

1776

behave quite as an easy man of the world, who could adapt himself at once to the disposition and manners of those whom he might chance self to

to meet.

The cheering sound

of "Dinner

is upon the and we all sat down without any symptom of ill humour. There were present, beside Mr. Wilkes, and Mr. Arthur Lee, who was an old companion of mine when he studied physick at Edinburgh, Mr. (now Sir John) Miller, Dr. Lettsom, and Mr. Slater the druggist. Mr. Wilkes placed himself next to Dr. Johnson, and behaved to him with so much attention and politeness, that he gained upon him insensibly. No man ate more heartily than Johnson, or loved better what was nice and delicate. Mr. Wilkes was very assiduous in helping him to some fine veal. "Pray give me leave, Sir: It is better here A little of the brown Some fat.

table," dissolved his reverie,

—A

—

—

—

—

—

little of the stuffing Some gravy Let have the pleasure of giving you some butter Allow me to recommend a squeeze of this orange; or the lemon, perhaps, may have more

Sir

me

—

zest."

—— "Sir, Sir,

I

am obliged to you. Sir," cried

Johnson, bowing, and turning his head to him with a look for some time of "surly virtue,"^ but, in a short while, of complacency. Foote being mentioned, Johnson said, "He is not a good mimick." One of the company added, "A merry Andrew, a buffoon." Johnson. "But he has wit too, and is not deficient in ideas, or in fertility and variety of imagery, and not empty of reading; he has knowledge enough to fill up his part. One species of wit he has in an eminent degree, that of escape. You drive him into a corner with both hands; but he's gone, Sir, when you think you have got him like an animal that jumps over your head. Then he has a great range for wit; he never lets truth stand between him and a jest, and he is sometimes mighty coarse. Garrick is under many restraints from which Foote is free." Wilkes. "Garrick's wit is more like Lord Chesterfield's." Johnson. "The first time I was in company with Foote was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased; and it is very difficult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him. But the dog was so very comi-

—

was obliged to lay down my knife and throw myself back upon my chair, and fairly laugh it out. No, Sir, he was irresistible. - He upon cal, that I

fork,

^Johnson's London, a Poem, v. 145. -Foote told me that Johnson said of him, "For loud obstreperous broad-faced mirth, I know not his equal."

LIFE OF

1776]

one occasion experienced, in an extraordinary degree, the efficacy of his powers of entertaining.

Amongst the many and various modes which

he tried of getting money, he became a partner with a small-beer brewer, and he was to have a share of the profits for procuring customers amongst his numerous acquaintance. Fitzherbert was one who took his small-beer; but it was so bad that the servants resolved not to drink it. They were at some loss how to notify their resolution, being afraid of offending their master, v/ho they knew liked Foote much as a com.panion. At last they fixed upon a little black boy, who was rather a favourite, to be their deputy, and deliver their remonstrance; and having invested him with the whole authority of the kitchen, he v/as to inform Mr. Fitzherbert, in all their names, upon a certain day, that they would drink Fcote's small-beer no longer. On that day Foote happened to dine at Fitzherbert's, and this boy served at table; he was so delighted with Foote's stories, and merriment, and grimace, that when he went down stairs, he told them, 'This is the finest man I have ever seen. I will not deliver your message. I will drink his smallbeer.'"

Somebody observed have done

this.

that Garrick could not Wilkes. "Garrick would have

made the small-beer still smaller. He is now leaving the stage; but he will play Scrub all his life." I knew that Johnson would let nobody attack Garrick but himself, as Garrick once said to mx, and

I

had heard him praise

his liberality; so to

JOHNSON "When

319

was a young fellow I wanted to write the Life of Dryden, and in order to get materials, I applied to the only two persons then alive who had seen him; these were old Swinney, and old Gibber. Swinney's information was no more than this, 'That at Will's cofi^ee-house Dryden had a particular chair for himself, which was set by the fire in winter, and was then called his winter-chair; and that it was carried out for him to the balcony in summer, and was then called his summer-chair.' Gibber could tell no us,

I

more but 'That he remembered him a decent old man, arbiter of critical disputes at Will's.' You are to consider that Gibber was then at a great distance from Dryden, had perhaps one leg only in the room, and durst not draw in the other." BoswELL. "Yet Gibber was a man of observation?" Johnson. "I think not." Boswell. "You will allow his Apology to be well done."

Johnson. "Very well done, to be sure. Sir. That book is a striking proof of the justice of Pope's remark: Each might his several province well command. Would all but stoop to what they understand.

BoswELL. "And his plays are good." Johnson. "Yes; but that was his trade; I'esprit du corps: he had been all his life among players and playwriters. I wondered that he had so little to say in conversation, for he had kept the best company, and learnt all that can be got by the ear. He abused Pindar to me, and then shewed me an Ode of his own, with an absurd couplet, making a linnet soar on an eagle's wing.^ I told him that

made a simile, they always something real." Mr.Wilkes remarked, that"among all the bold

bring out his commendation of his celebrated pupil, I said, loudly, "I have heard Garrick is liberal." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, I know that Garrick has given away more money than any man in England that I am acquainted with, and that not from ostentatious views. Garrick was very

when made

poor when he began life; so when he came to have money, he probably was very unskilful in giving away, and saved when he should not. But Garrick began to be liberal as soon as he could;

wood in Scotland! ha! ha! ha!" And he also observed, that "the clannish slavery of the Highlands of Scotland was the single exception to

and I am of opinion, the reputation of avarice which he has had, has been very lucky for him, and prevented his having many enemies. You despise a man for avarice, but do not hate him. Garrick might have been much better attacked for living with more splendour than is suitable to a player: if they had had the wit to have assaulted him in that quarter, they might have galled him more. But they have kept clamouring about his avarice, which has rescued him from much obloquy and envy." Talking of the great

difficulty of obtaining au-

thentick information for biography, Johnson told

the ancients

it

like

flights of

Shakspeare's imagination, the boldest

was making Birnam-wood march to Dunsinane; creating a wood where there never was a shrub; a

Milton's remark of 'The Mountain Nymph, sweet Liberty,' being worshipped in all hilly "When I was at Inverary (said he,) countries." on a visit to my old friend, Archibald, Duke of Argyle, his dependents congratulated me on being such a favourite of his Grace. I said, 'It is then, gentlemen, truely lucky for me; for if I had

—

and he had wished it, there not a Campbell among you but would have been ready to bring John Wilkes's head to him in a charger. It would have been only Off with his head! So much for Aylesbury. I was then member for Aylesbury." displeased the Duke, is

^See ante, 113.

.

BOSWELL

320

Dr. Johnson and Mr. Wilkes talked of the contested passage in Horace's Art of Poetry, "Difficile est proprie communia dicere." Mr. Wilkes according to my note, gave the interpretation thus; "It is difficult to speak with propriety of common

SON.

[1776

"He means that

it is

difficult to

appropriate

line drinking tea,

which are commankind, as Homer has done." Wilkes. "We have no City-Poet now: that is an office which has gone into disuse. The last was Elkanah Settle. There is something in names which one cannot help feeling. Now Elkanah Settle sounds so queer, who can expect much from that name? We should have no hesitation to give it for John Dryden, in preference to Elkanah Settle, from the names only, without knowing their different merits." Johnson. "I suppose. Sir,

what

Settle did as well for Aldermen in his time, as John Home could do now. Where did Beckford and Trecothick learn English?"

Queen Carohe must endeavour to avoid the vulgarity of cups and saucers." But upon reading my note, he tells me that he meant to say, that "the word communia, being a Roman law term, signifies here things communis juris, that is to say, what have never yet been treated by any body; and this appears clearly from things; as,

if

a poet had to speak of

followed,

Tuque carmen deducts in actus, siprqferres ignota indictaque primus

to particular persons qualities

mon

to all

Rectiiis Iliacum

Quam

You

make

a tragedy out of the Iliad than on any subject not handled before."^ Johnwill easier

^My

very pleasant friend himself, as well as others who remember old stories, will no doubt be surprized, when I observe that John Wilkes here shews himself to be of the Warburtonian School. It is nevertheless true, as appears from Dr. Hurd the Bishop of Worcester's very elegant commentary and notes on the Epistola and Pisones. It is necessary to a fair consideration of the question, that the whole passage in which the words occur should be kept in view: Si quid inexpertum scene committis, et audes

Personam Jormare novam, servetur ad imum Qualis ab incepto processerit, Difficile est proprie

Rectiiis Iliacum

Quam

communia

dicere: tuque in actus,

primus. Publico materies privati juris erit, si Non circa vilem patulumque moraberis orbem. Nee verbum verba curabis reddere fidus si projerres ignota indictaque

Interpres; nee desilies imitator in

Unde pedem projerre pudor

The "Commentary"

"But the

formation of quite new characters is a work of great difficulty and hazard. For here there is no generally received and fixed archetype to work after, but every one judges of common right, according to the

and comprehension of his own idea; therefore he advises to labour and refit old characters and subjects, particularly those made known and au-

extent

thorised by the practice of writers."

The "Note"

Homer and

the Epick

is,

communi adicere. Lam'Communia hoc loco appellat Horatius argumenta Jabularum a nullo adhuc tractata: et ita, que cuivis exposita sunt et in medio quodammodo posita, ^'Difficile

bin's

EST proprie

Comment

is,

quasi vacua et a nemine occupata.^

And

that this

ii,

p. 164.)

Where,

put a wrong construction on the word communia, he employs it to introduce an impertinent criticism. For where does the poet prefer the glory of refitting old subjects to that of inventing new ones? The contrary is implied in what he urges about the superiour difficulty of the latter, from which he dissuades his countrymen, only in respect of their abilities and inexperience in these matters; and in order to cultivate in them, which is the main view of the Epistle, a spirit of correctness, by sending them to the old subjects, treated

having

first

My

artum it:

novo exhibere.^ (Poet. Prael. v.

sage, "Difficile est proprie communia dicere," to be a crux for the criticks on Horace. Lord of Worcester The explication which treats with so much contempt, is nevertheless countenanced by authority which I find quoted by the learned Baxter in his edition of Horace: "Difficile

vetet aut operis lex.

thus illustrates

major videtur esse gloria fabulam Jormare penitHs novam, quam veterem, utcunque mutatam, de nii ratione habitd,

by the Greek writers." For my own part (with aU deference for Dr. Hurd, who thinks the case clear,) I consider the pas-

et sibi constet.

carmen deducis

propria videatur, ultro corwedimus; et maximi procul dubio ponderis ista est observatio. Sed omnibus utrinque collatis, et tum difficilis, turn venusti, tamjudicii quam inge-

is

the

meaning of communia is evidently fixed by the words ignota indictaque, which are explanatory of it; so that the sense given it in the commentary is untrue

questionably the right one. Yet, notwithstanding the clearness of the case, a late critick has this strange passage: 'Difficile quidem esse proprie communia dicere, hoc est, materiam vulgarem, notam et e medio petitam, ita immutare atque exornare, ut nova et scriptori

est

proprie communia dicere, h. e. res vulgares disertis

verbis enarrare, vel humile thema cum dignitate tractare. Difficile est communes res propriis explicare verbis. Vet. Schol." I was much disappointed to find that the great critick. Dr. Bentley, has no note upon this very difficult passage, as from his vigorous and

illuminated

mind

I

should have expected to re-

more

satisfaction than I have yet had. Sanadon thus treats of it: "Proprie communia dicere; c'est a dire, qu'il n'est pas aise de former a ces personnages d'' imagination, des caracteres particuliers et cependant vraisemblables. Comme Von a ete le maitre de les former tels qu'on a voulu, lesjautes que Von fait en cela sont moins pardonnables. C'est pourquoi Horace conseille de prendre toujours des sujets connus tels que sont par exem-

ceive

des poemes d'Homere." it, "Apres avoir marque les deux qualites qu'il faut donner aux personnages qu'on invente, il conseille aux Poetes tragiques, de n'user pas trop facilement de cette liberte qu'ils ont d'en inventer, car

ple ceux que I'on peut

And

tirer

Dacier observes

il est tres difficile

upon

de reussir dans ces nouveaux caracteres.

mal aise, dit Horace, de traiter proprement, c'est a dire convenablement, des sujets communs; c'est a II est

dire, des sujets inventes, et qui n'ont

aucun fondement ni

LIFE OF

1776]

Mr. Arthur Lee mentioned some Scotch who had taken possession of a barren part of America, and wondered why they should choose it. Johnson. "Why, Sir, all barrenness is comparative. The Scotch would not know it to be barren." BoswELL. "Come, come, he is flattering the English. You have now been in Scotland, Sir, and say if you did not see meat and drink enough there." Johnson. "Why yes. Sir; meat and drink enough to give the inhabitants sufficient strength to run away from home." All these quick and lively sallies were said sportively, quite in jest, and with a smile, which shewed that he meant only wit. Upon this topick he and Mr. Wilkes could perfectly assimilate; here was a bond of union between them, and I was conscious that as both of them had visited Caledonia, both were fully satisfied of the strange narrow ignorance of those who imagine that it is a land of famine. But they amused themselves with persevering in the old jokes. When I claimed a superiority for Scotland over England in one respect, that no man can be arrested there for a debt merely because another swears it against

him; but there must first be the judgement of a court of law ascertaining its justice; and that a

judgement

obtained, can take place only, if his creditor should swear that he is about to fly from the country, or, as it is technically expressed, is in meditatione jugce: Wilkes. "That, I should think, may be safely sworn of all the Scotch nation." Johnson. seizure of the person, before

is

dans VHistoire ni dans la Fable; et il les appelle communs, parce qi^ils sont en disposition a tout le monde, et que tout le monde a le droit de les inventer, et quails sont, comme on dit, au premier occupant^'' See his observations at large on this expression and the following. After all, I cannot help entertaining some doubt

whether the words, Difficile est proprie communia dimay not have been thrown in by Horace to form a separate article in a "choice of difficulties" which a poet has to encounter, who chooses a new subject; in which case it must be uncertain which cere,

of the various explanations is the true one, and every reader has a right to decide as it may strike his own fancy. And even should the words be understood as they generally are, to be connected both with what goes before and what comes after, the exact sense cannot be absolutely ascertained; for instance, whether proprie is meant to signify in an appropriated manner, as Dr. Johnson here understands it, or, as it is often used by Cicero, with propriety, or elegantly. In short, it is a rare instance of a defect in perspicuity in an admirable writer, who with almost every species of excellence, is peculiarly remarkable for that quality. The length of this note perhaps requires an apology. Many of my readers, I doubt not, will admit that a critical discussion of a passage in a favourite classick is very engaging. [Boswell's French in this note is left as

he printed

it.]

JOHNSON

321

Mr. Wilkes,) "You must know. Sir, I lately took my friend Boswell and shewed him genuine civilised life in an English provincial town. I (to

turned him loose at Lichfield, my native city, that he might see for once real civility: for you know he lives among savages in Scotland, and among rakes in London." Wilkes. "Except when he is with grave, sober, decent people like

you and me." Johnson, (smiling,) "And we ashamed of him." They were quite frank and easy. Johnson told the story of his asking Mrs. Macaulay to allow her footman to sit down with them, to prove the ridiculousness of the argument for the equality of mankind and he said to me afterwards, with a nod of satisfaction, "You saw Mr. Wilkes ac;

quiesced." Wilkes talked with all imaginable freedom of the ludicrous title given to the Attorney-General, Diabolus Regis; adding, "I have reason to know something about that officer; for I was prosecuted for a libel." Johnson, who many people would have supposed must have been furiously angry at hearing this talked of so lightly, said not a word. He was now, indeed, "a good-

humoured

fellow."

we had an accession of Mrs. Knowles, the Quaker lady, well known for her various talents, and of Mr Alderman Lee. Amidst After dinner

.

some patriotick groans, somebody (I think the Alderman) said, "Poor old England is lost." Johnson. "Sir, it is not so much to be lamented that Old England is lost, as that the Scotch have found it."^ Wilkes. "Had Lord Bute governed Scotland only, I should not have taken the trouble to write his eulogy,

and dedicate Mortimer to

him."

Mr. Wilkes held a candle of a beautiful female figure

shew a fine print which hung in the

to

room, and pointed out the elegant contour of the bosom with the finger of an arch connoisseur. He afterwards, in a conversation with me, waggishly insisted, that all the time Johnson shewed visible signs of a fervent admiration of the corresponding charms of the fair Quaker. This record, though by no means so perfect as could wish, will serve to give a notion of a very was not only pleasing at the time, but had the agreeable and benignant effect of reconciling any animosity, and sweetening any acidity, which in the various bustle of I

curious interview, which

had been produced in the minds two men, who though widely different, had

political contest,

of

^It would not become me to expatiate on this strong and pointed remark, in which a very great deal of meaning is condensed.

BOSWELL

322 so

many

things in

common — classical

modern

literature, wit,

repartee

— that

learning,

and humour, and ready would have been much to be regretted if they had been for ever at a distance from each other. Mr. Burke gave me much credit for this successful negotiation; and pleasantly said, that "there was nothing to equal it in the whole history of it

the Corps Diplomatique.^''

attended Dr. Johnson home, and had the him tell Mrs. Williams how much he had been pleased with Mr. Wilkes's company, and what an agreeable day he had I

satisfaction to hear

passed. I talked a good deal to him of the celebrated Margaret Caroline Rudd, whom I had visited, induced by the fame of her talents, address, and irresistible power of fascination. To a lady who disapproved of my visiting her, he said on a former occasion, "Nay, Madam, Boswell is in the right; I should have visited her myself, were it not that they have now a trick of putting every

1776

admit that the beadle within him was often so eager to apply the lash, that the Judge had not I

time to consider the case with sufficient deliberation.

That he was occasionally remarkable lence of temper

for vio-

may

be granted: but let us ascertain the degree, and not let it be supposed that he was in a perpetual rage, and never without a club in his hand, to knock down every one who approached him. On the contrary, the truth is, that by much the greatest part of his time he w^s civil, obliging, nay, polite in the true sense of the word; so much so, that many gentlemen, who were long acquainted with him, never received, or even heard a strong expression from him. The following letters concerning an Epitaph which he wrote for the monument of Dr. Goldsmith, in Westminster-Abbey, afford at once a proof of his unaffected modesty, his carelessness

own

as to his

writings,

which he entertained

ment

of the excellent

and of the great respect and judgeand eminent person to

for the taste

thing into the news-papers." This evening he exclaimed, "I envy him his acquaintance with

whom

Mrs. Rudd."

Sir Joshua Reynolds have been kept away from you, I know not well how, and of these vexatious hindrances I know not when there will be an end. I therefore send you the poor dear Doctor's epitaph. Read it first yourself; and if you then think it right, shew it to the Club. I am, you know, willing to be corrected. If you think any thing

To

mentioned a scheme which I had of making a tour to the Isle of Man, and giving a full account of it; and that Mr. Burke had playfully I

suggested as a motto.

The proper study

of

mankind

is

Man.

Johnson. "Sir, you will get more by the book than the jaunt will cost you; so you will have your diversion for nothing, and add to your reputation."

On the evening of the next day I took leave of him, being to set out for Scotland. I thanked him with great warmth for all his kindness. "Sir, (said he,) you are very welcome. Nobody repays it with more." How very false is the notion which has gone round the world of the rough, and passionate, and harsh manners of this great and good man. That he had occasional sallies of heat of temper, and that he was sometimes, perhaps, too "easily provoked" by absurdity and folly, and sometimes too desirous of triumph in colloquial contest, must be allowed. The quickness both of his perception and sensibility disposed him to sudden explosions of satire; to which his extraordinary readiness of wit was a strong and almost irresistible incitement. To adopt one of the finest images in Mr. Home's Douglas,

On each glance of thought Decision followed, as the thunderbolt Pursues the flash!

they are addressed:

Dear

Sir,

I

much

amiss, keep it to yourself, till we come together. I have sent two copies, but prefer the card. The dates must be settled by Dr. Percy. I am. Sir, your most humble servant,

Sam. Johnson

May

16,

1776

To the Same Miss Reynolds has a mind to send the Epitaph to Dr. Beattie; I am very willing, but having no copy, cannot immediately recollect it. She tells me you have lost it. Try to recollect and put down as much as you retain; you perhaps may have kept what I have dropped. The lines for which I am at a loss are something of rerum civilium sive naturalium} It was a sorry trick to lose it; help me if you can. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson June 22, 1776 The gout grows better but slowly. Sir,

It

was,

I

think, after I

had

left

London

this

year, that this Epitaph gave occasion to a Remonstrarwe to the

Monarch

of Literature,

for

^These words must have been in the other copy. They are not in that which was preferred.

— LIFE OF

1776] an account of which

Ham

I

am

indebted to Sir Wil-

Forbes, of Pitshgo.

would

323

alter the

consent

to

Nullum quod

My readers are presented with a faithful tran-

scribendi genus

tetigit,

tetigit

script of a paper,

non ornavit:

ing desirous to

Sive risus essent movendi,

Sir

Sive lacrymcE,

Aflectuum potens at lenis dominator:

I

doubt not of their be-

William Forbes's observation

nent

coluit

men

very just.

of his time, in various departments,

Sodalium amor,

and even by such of them

Amicorum fides,

him; while

Lectorum veneratio. Hibernid Fornice Longfordiensis, In loco cui nomen Pallas,

in

Nov. XXIX. MDCCXXXI;

Eblana

is

proves, in the strong-

est manner, the reverence and awe with which Johnson was regarded, by some of the most emi-

Oratione grandis, nitidus, venustus:

Uteris institutus;

Obiit Londini,

April IV, MDCCLXxrv.

William Forbes writes to me thus: "I enclose the Round Robin. This jeu d^ esprit took its rise one day at dinner at our friend Sir Joshua Reynolds's. All the company present, except myself, were friends and acquaintance of Dr. Goldsmith. The Epitaph, written for him by Dr. Johnson, became the subject of conversation, and various emendations were suggested, which it was agreed should be submitted to the Doctor's consideration. But the question was, who should have the courage to propose them to him? At last it was hinted, that there could be no way so good as that of a Round Robin, as the sailors call it, which they make use of when they enter into a conspiracy, so as not to let it be known who puts his name first or last to the paper. This proposition was instantly assented to; and Dr. Barnard, Dean of Derry, now Bishop of Killaloe, drew up an address to Dr. Johnson on the occasion, replete with wit and humour, but which it was feared the Doctor might think treated the subject with too much levity. Mr. Burke then proposed the address as it stands in the paper in writSir

ing, to which I

which

see.-

The anecdote now related

Ingenio sublimis, vividus, versatilis,

Hoc monumento memoriam

Round Robin as a species of worth preserving, as it marks,

this

in a certain degree, Dr. Johnson's character."

Poetce, Physici, Historici,

Non

but he would never Abbey

with an English inscription. literary curiosity

OuvARii Goldsmith,

it;

disgrace the walls of Westminster

"I consider

the Epitaph.

Qui nullum fere

Epitaph in any manner they

pleased, as to the sense of

That my readers may have the subject more fully and clearly before them, I shall first insert

Natus

JOHNSON

had the honour to officiate as clerk.

"Sir Joshua agreed lo carry it to Dr. Johnson, who received it with much good humour,^ and desired Sir Joshua to tell the gentlemen, that he

^He however, upon seeing Dr. War ton's name to the suggestion, that the Epitaph should be in English, observed to Sir Joshua, "I wonder that Joe Warton, a scholar by profession, should be such a fool." He said too, "I should have thought Burke would have had more sense." Mr. Langton,

Mund

as lived

most with

what I have again and again inculcated, that he was by no means of that ferocious and irascible character which it

also confirms

has been ignorantly imagined. This hasty composition is also to be remarked as one of a thousand instances which evince the extraordinary promptitude of Mr. Burke; who while he is equal to the greatest things, can adorn

who was one

of the company at Sir Joshua's, like a sturdy scholar, resolutely refused to sign the Round Robin. The Epitaph is engraved upon Dr. Goldsmith's monument without any alteration. At another time, when somebody endeavoured to argue in favour of its being in English, Johnson said, "The language of the country of which a learned man was a native, is not the language fit for his epitaph, which should be in ancient and permanent language. Consider, Sir; how you should feel, were you to find at Rotterdam an epitaph upon Erasmus in Dutch/" For my own part I think it would be best to have Epitaphs written both in a learned language, and in the language of the country; so that they might have the advantage of being more universally understood, and at the same time be secured of classical stability. I cannot, however, but be of opinion, that it is not sufficiently discriminative. Applying to Goldsmith equally the epithets of "Poeta, Historici, Physici," is surely not right for as to his claim to the last of those epithets, I have heard Johnson himself say, "Goldsmith, Sir, will give us a very fine book upon the subject; but if he can distinguish a cow from a horse, that I believe, may be the extent of his knowledge of natural history." His book is indeed an excellent performance, though in some instances he appears to have trusted too much to Buffon, who, with all his theoretical ingenuity and extraordinary eloquence, I suspect had little actual information in the science on which he wrote so admirably. For instance, he tells us that the cow sheds her horns every two years; a most palpable errour, which Goldsmith has faithfully transferred into his book. It is wonderful that Buffon, who lived so much in the country, at his noble seat, should have fallen into such a blunder. I suppose he has confounded the cow with the deer. ;

^Omitted in

this edition.

Ed.

BOSWELL

324

the least; can, with equal facility, embrace the vast and complicated speculations of politicks, or

the ingenious topicks of literary investigation.^

Dr. Johnson to Mrs. Boswell Madam, You must not think me uncivil in omitting to answer the letter with which you favoured me some time ago. I imagined it to have been written without Mr. Boswell's knowledge, and therefore supposed the answer to require, what I could not find, a private conveyance. The difference with Lord Auchinleck is now over; and since young Alexander has appeared, I hope no more difBculties will arise among you; for I sincerely wish you all happy. Do not teach the young ones to dislike me, as you dislike me yourself; but let me at least have Veron-

my

acquaintance. You will now have Mr. Boswell home, it is well that you have him; he has led a wild life. I have taken him to Lichfield, and he has followed Mr. Thrale to Bath. Pray take care of him, and tame him. The only thing in which I have the honour to agree with you is, in loving him; and while we are so much of a mind in a matter of so much importance, our other quarrels will, I hope, produce no great bitterness. I am, Madam, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson May i6, 1776 ica's kindness,

because she

is

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, Jw/z^ 25, 1776 formerly complained that my letters were too long. There is no danger of that complaint being made at present; for I find it difficult for me to write to you at all. [Here an account of having been afflicted with a return

You have

of melancholy or bad spirits.] The boxes of books^ which you sent to me are arrived; but I have not yet examined the contents. I

gro,

.

.

.

send you Mr. Maclaurin's paper for the newho claims his freedom in the Court of

Session.

[

[Here a

series of reflections

—

1776

upon melancholy

what I could not help thinking strangely unreasonable in him who had suffered so much and

from

it

himself,

— a good deal of severity and re-

proof, as if it were owing to that I was, perhaps, affecting

my own it

fault, or

from a desire of

distinction.]

Read Cheyne's English Malady; but do not let him teach you a foolish notion that melancholy isa proof of acuteness. To hear that you have not opened your boxes of books is very offensive. The examination and .

.

.

arrangement of so many volumes might have afforded you an amusement very seasonable at present, and useful for the whole of life. I am, I confess, very angry that you manage yourself so

ill.

.

.

.

do not now say any more, than that I am, with great kindness, and sincerity, dear Sir, your humble servant, Sam. Johnson I

July

1776 year determined by Lord Mansfield, in the Court of King's Bench, that a negro cannot be taken out of the kingdom without his It

own

2,

was

last

consent.

Dr. Johnson to Mr. Boswell

Dear

Sir, I

make

haste to write again, lest too much pain. If

my last letter should give you

you are really oppressed with overpowering and involuntary melancholy, you arc to be pitied rather than reproached. Now, my dear Bozzy, let us have done with quarrels and with censure. Let me know whether I have not sent you a pretty library. There are, perhaps, many books among them which you never need read through; but there are none which it is not proper for you to know, and .

.

.

sometimes to consult. Of these books, of which the use is only occasional, it is often sufficient to the contents, that, when any question arises, you may know where to look for infor-

know

mation. Since

I have looked over Mr. Macand think it excellent. How is the suit carried on? If by subscription, I commission you to contribute, in my name, what is proper. Let nothing be wanting in such a case. Dr.

I

wrote,

laurin's plea,

Dr. Johnson to Mr. Boswell black fits, of which you com-

Dear Sir, These

your memory as well as your imagination. When did I complain that your letters were too long?^ Your last letter, after a very long delay, brought very bad news. ^Beside this Latin Epitaph, Johnson honoured the memory of his friend Goldsmith with a short one in Greek. See ante, July 5, 1774. ^Upon a settlement of our account of expences on a Tour to the Hebrides, there was a balance due to me, which Dr. Johnson chose to discharge by sending books. ^Baretti told me that Johnson complained of my writing very long letters to him when I was upon the continent; which was most certainly true; but it seems my friend did not remember it. plain, perhaps hurt

Drummond,*

superseded. His father lived to obtain the pleasure of his son's election, and died before that pleasure was abated. Langton's lady has brought him a girl, and both are well; I dined with him the other day I see,

is

would have grieved; but he

*The son of Johnson's old

friend,

Mr. William

(See pp. 151 -2.) He was a young man of such distinguished merit, that he was nominated to one of the medical professorships in the College of Edinburgh without solicitation while he was at Naples. Having other views, he did not accept of the honour, and soon afterwards died.

Drummond.

]

LIFE OF

1776]

It vexes me to tell you, that on the evening of the 29th of May I v^as seized by the gout, and am not quite well. The pain has not been violent, but the weakness and tenderness were very troublesome, and what is said to be very uncommon, it has not alleviated my other disorders. Make use of youth and health while you have them; make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell. I

am,

my dear Sir,

July

6,

your most affectionate, Sam. Johnson

1776

Edinburgh,

1776 second of this month was rather a harsh medicine; but I was delighted with that spontaneous tenderness, which, a few days afterwards, sent forth such balsam as your next brought me. I found myself for some time so iU that all I could do was to preserve a decent appearance, while all within was weakness and distress. Like a reduced garrison that has some spirit left, I hung out flags, and planted all the force I could muster, upon

Dear

Your

Jw/)) 18,

letter of the

am now much better,

the walls. I ly

Sir,

and

I sincere-

thank you for your kind attention and friend-

ly counsel.

.

.

.

Count Manucci^ came here last week from travelling in Ireland. I have shewn him what civilities I could on his own account, on your's, and on that of Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. He has had a fall from his horse, and been much hurt. I regret this unlucky accident, for

he seems to be a

very amiable man.

As the evidence of what the beginning of this year,

I

have mentioned at from his pri-

I select

vate register the following passage:

O

God, who hast ordained 'July 25, 1776. that whatever is to be desired should be sought by labour, and who, by thy blessing, bringest honest labour to good effect, look with mercy

O

my studies and endeavours. Grant me, Lord, to design only what is lawful and right; and afford me calmness of mind, and steadiness of purpose, that I may so do thy will in this short life, as to obtain happiness in the world to come, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." It appears from a note subjoined, that this was composed when he "purposed to apply vigorupon

ously to study, particularly of the Greek Italian tongues."

devotion,

when they see a man

of such enlarged powers as Johnson, thus in the genuine earnestness of secrecy, imploring the aid of that Supreme Being, "from whom cometh down every good and every perfect gift." intellectual

To

Sir Joshua Reynolds

a young

man, whose name is Paterson, evening to the Academy. He is the son of a man for whom I have long had a kindness, and who is now abroad in distress. I shall be glad that you will be pleased to shew him any little countenance, or pay him any small distinction. How much it is in your power to favour or to forward a young man I do not know; nor do I know how much this candidate deserves favour by his personal merit, or what Sir,

offers himself this

Mr. Boswtell to Dr. Johnson

My

JOHNSON

and

Such a purpose, so expressed, at the age of is admirable and encouraging; and must impress all the thinldng part of my read-

hopes his proficiency may now give of future eminence. I recommend him as the son of my friend. Your character and station enable you to give a young man great encouragement by very easy means. You have heard of a man who asked no other favour of Sir Robert Walpole, than that he would bow to him at his levee. I am. Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson ^ug. 3, 1776

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, August

30, 1776

[After giving him an account of my having examined the chests of books which he had sent to me, and which contained what may be truely called a numerous and miscellaneous Stall Li-

—

thrown together at random: Lord Hailes was against the decree

brary,

in the case of my client, the minister; not that he justified the minister, but because the parishioner both provoked and retorted. I sent his Lordship your able argument upon the case for his perusal. His observation upon it in a letter to me was, "Dr. Johnson's Suasorium is pleasantly^ and artfully composed. I suspect, however, that he has not convinced himself; for, I believe that he is better read in ecclesiastical history, than to imagine that a Bishop or a Presbyter has a right to begin censure or discipline e cathedra.."^ For the honour of Count Manucci, as well as to observe that exactness of truth which you have taught me, I must correct what I said in a former letter. He did not fall from his horse,

which might have been an imputation on

his

^Why his Lordship uses the epithet pleasantly, when speaking of a grave piece of reasoning, I can-

^A Florentine nobleman, mentioned by Johnson

not conceive. But different men have different notions of pleasantry. I happened to sit by a gentleman one evening at the Opera-house in London, who, at the moment when Medea appeared to be in great agony at the thought of killing her children, turned to me with a smUe, and said, "funny

in his Motes of his Tour in France. I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with him in London, in the spring of this year.

enough." ^Dr. Johnson afterwards told me, that he was of opinion that a clergyman had this right.

sixty-seven, it

ers

with a consolatory confidence in habitual

BOSWELL

326 skill

as

an

officer of cavalry; his horse fell

with

him.

!

have, since I saw you, read every word of Granger's Biographical History. It has entertained me exceedingly, and I do not think him the Whig that you supposed. Horace Walpole's being his patron is, indeed, no good sign of his political principles. But he denied to Lord Mountstuart that he was a Whig, and said he I

had been accused by both It seems he was like Pope, While Tories

call

parties of partiality.

me a Whig, and Whigs a

Tory,

wish you would look more into his book; and as Lord Mountstuart wishes much to find a proper person to continue the work upon Granger's plan, and has desired I would mention it to you; if such a man occurs, please to let me know. His Lordship will give him generous encouragement. I

To Mr. Robert Levett Dear

Sir,

this place,

Having spent about

six

weeks at

at length resolved upon reexpect to see you all in Fleet-street on

we have

turning. I the 30th of this month. I did not go into the sea till last Friday, but think to go most of this week, though I know not nights are very that it does me any good. restless and tiresome, but I am otherwise well. I have wTitten word of my coming to Mrs. Williams. Remember me kindly to Francis and Betsy. I am. Sir, your humble servant,

My

Sam. Johnson^ Brighthelmstone, Oct. 21, 1776 I again wrote to Dr. Johnson on the 21st of October, informing him, that my father had, in the most liberal manner, paid a large debt for me, and that I had now the happiness of being upon very good terms with him; to which he returned the following answer.

To James

Boswell, Esq. had great pleasure in hearing that you are at last on good terms with your father. Cultivate his kindness by all honest and manly means. Life is but short; no time can be

Dear

[1776

father pass the remainder of your time in reciprocal benevolence

Sir, I

afforded but for the indulgence of real sorrow, or contests upon questions seriously momentous. Let us not throw away any of our days upon useless resentment, or contend who shall hold out longest in stubborn malignity. It is best not to be angry; and best, in the next place, to be quickly reconciled. May you and your ^For this and Dr. Johnson's other letters to Levett, I am indebted to my old acquaintance

Mr. Mr.

Nathaniel Thomas, whose worth and ingenuity have been long known to a respectable, though not a wide circle; and whose collection of medals would do credit to persons of greater opulence.

.

.

.

Do you

ever hear from Mr. Langton? I visit him sometimes, but he does not talk. I do not like his scheme of life; but as I am not permitted to understand it, I cannot set any thing right that is wrong. His children are sweet babies. I hope my irreconcileable enemy, Mrs. Boswell, is well. Desire her not to transmit her malevolence to the young people. Let me have Alexander, and Veronica, and Euphemia, for

my friends. Mrs. Williams,

whom

you may reckon as one a feeble and languishhope of growing better. She

of your well-wishers,

ing state, with

little

is

in

of the autumn into the counbenefited; and Dr. Lawrence confesses that his art is at an end. Death is, however, at a distance; and what more than that can we say of ourselves? I am sorry for her pain, and more sorry for her decay. Mr. Levett is sound, wind and limb. I was some weeks this autumn at Brighthelmstone. The place was very dull, and I was not well; the expedition to the Hebrides was the most pleasant journey that I ever made. Such an effort annually would give the world a little

went for some part try,

but

is little

diversification.

Every year, however, we cannot wander, and must therefore endeavour to spend our time at

home

as well as

throw

life

bring

we can. I believe it is best to into a method, that every hour may

employment, and every employment

its

hour. Xenophon observes, in his Treatise of Oeconomy, that if every thing be kept in a certain place, when any thing is worn out or consumed, the vacuity which it leaves will shew what is wanting; so if every part of time has its duty, the hour will call into remembrance its

have

its

proper engagement. I have not practised all this prudence myself, but I have suffered much for want of it; and I would have you, by timely recollection and steady resolution, escape from those evils which have lain heavy upon me. I am, my dearest Boswell, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson Bolt-court, Nov. 16, 1776

On the

1

6th of November

Mr. Strahan had sent me

I

informed him that

twelve copies of the

Journey to the Western Islands, handsomely bound, instead of the twenty copies which were stipulated; but which, I supposed, were to be only in sheets; requested to

know how they should be

and mentioned that I had another son born to me, who was named David, and was a sickly infant. distributed:

To James Dear

Sir, I

Bosv^tell, Esq.

some time

ill

of a

made an excuse

to

my-

have been

cold, which, perhaps,

I

for

LIFE OF

1777] self for

what

not writing,

when

in reality I

knew not

to say.

The books you must

my

think best, in inclined, or as

at last distribute as you name, or your own, as you are

you judge most proper. Every body cannot be obliged; but I wish that nobody may be offended. Do the best you can. I congratulate you on the increase of your family, and hope that little David is by this time well, and his mamma perfectly recovered.

am much

pleased to hear of the reestablishof kindness between you and your father. Cultivate his paternal tenderness as much as you can. To live at variance at all is uncomfortable; and variance with a father is still more uncomfortable. Besides that, in the whole dispute you have the wrong side; at least you gave the first provocations, and some of them very offensive. Let it now be all over. As you have no reason to think that your new mother has shewn you any foul play, treat her with respect, and with some degree of confidence; this will secure your I

ment

When once a discordant family has felt the pleasure of peace, they will not willingly

father. lose

it.

If

with me,

Mrs. Boswell would but be friends shut the temple of

we might now

Janus.

What came of Dr. Memis's cause? Is the question about the negro determined? Has Sir Allan any reasonable hopes? What is become of poor Macquarry? Let me know the event of all these litigations. I wish particularly well to the negro and Sir Allan. Mrs. Williams has been much out of order; is something better, is likely, in her physician's opinion, to endure her malady

and though she

though she may, perhaps, die of some is big, and fancies that she carries a boy; if it were very reasonable to wish much about it, I should wish her not to be disappointed. The desire of male heirs is not appendant only to feudal tenures. A son is almost for

life,

other. Mrs. Thrale

necessary to the continuance of Thrale's fortune; for what can misses do with a brewhouse? Lands are fitter for daughters than trades. Baretti went away from Thrale's in some whimsical fit of disgust, or ill-nature, without taking any leave. It is well if he finds in any other place as good an habitation, and as many conveniences. He has got five-and-twenty guineas by translating Sir Joshua's Discourses into Italian, and Mr. Thrale gave him an hundred in the spring; so that he is yet in no difficulties. Colman has bought Foote's patent, and is to allow Foote for life sixteen hundred pounds a year, as Reynolds told me, and to allow him to play so often on such terms that he may gain four hundred pounds more. What Colman can get by this bargain, but trouble and hazard, I do not see. I am, dear Sir, your humble servant,

Sam. Johnson Dec. 21, 1776

JOHNSON

327

The Reverend Dr. Hugh

Blair,

who had

long been admired as a preacher at Edinburgh, thought now of diffusing his excellent sermons more extensively, and encreasing his reputation, by publishing a collection of them. He transmitted the manuscript to Mr. Strahan, the printer, who after keeping it for some time, wrote a letter to him, discouraging the publication. Such at first was the unpropitious state of one of the most successful theological books that has ever appeared. Mr. Strahan, however, had sent one of the sermons to Dr. Johnson for his opinion; and after his unfavourable letter to Dr. Blair had been sent off, he received from Johnson on Christmas-eve, a note in which was the following paragraph: "I have read over Dr. Blair's first sermon with more than approbation; to say it is good, is to say too little. I believe Mr. Strahan had very soon after this time a conversation with Dr. Johnson concerning them; and then he very candidly wrote again to Dr. Blair, enclosing Johnson's note, and agreeing to purchase the volume, for which he and Mr. Cadell gave one hundred pounds. The sale was so rapid and extensive, and the approbation of the publick so high, that to their honour be it recorded, the proprietors made Dr. Blair a present first of one sum, and afterv/ards of another, of fifty pounds, thus voluntarily doubling the stipulated price; and when he prepared another volume, they gave him at once three hundred pounds, being in all five hundred pounds, by an agreement to which I am a subscribing witness; and now for a third octavo volume he has received no less than six hundred pounds.

— In

it appears from Johnson suffered much from a state of mind "unsettled and perplexed," and from that constitutional gloom, which, together with his extreme humility and

1777: iETAT. 68.]

1777,

his Prayers and Meditations, that

anxiety with regard to his religious state, made him contemplate himself through too dark and unfavourable a medium. It may be said of him, that he "saw God in clouds." Certain we may

be of his injustice to himself in the following

la-

mentable paragraph, which it is painful to think came from the contrite heart of this great man, to whose labours the world is so much indebted: "When I survey my past life, I discover nothing but a barren waste of time, with some disorders of body, and disturbances of the mind, very near to madness,

I hope He that made me will many faults, and excuse many But we find his devotions in this

which

suffer to extenuate

deficiencies."^

^Prayers and Meditations, p. 155.

—

:

BOSWELL

328

year eminently fervent; and we are coinforted by observing intervals of quiet, composure, and

[1777

You

tion.

good news.

will tell the

am,

Sir,

your most, &c. Sam. Johnson

gladness.

On

I

Easter-day

we

find the following

emphat-

February 25, 1777

ick prayer:

"Almighty and most merciful Father, who seest all our miseries, and knowest all our necessities, look down upon me, and pity me. Defend me from the violent incursion [incursions] of evil thoughts, and enable me to form and keep such resolutions as may conduce to the discharge of the duties which thy providence shall appoint me; and so help me, by thy Holy Spirit, that my heart may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found, and that I may serve thee with pure affection and a cheerful mind. Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me; years and infirmities oppress me, terrour and anxiety beset me. Have mercy upon me, my Creator and my Judge. [In all dangers protect me.] In all perplexities relieve and free me; and so help me by thy Holy Spirit, that I may now so commemorate the death of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, as that when this short and painful life shall have an end, I may, for his sake, be received to everlasting happiness. Amen."^ While he was at church, the agreeable impressions upon his mind are thus commemorated "I was for some time distressed but at last obtained, I hope from the God of Peace, more quiet than I have enjoyed for a long time. I had made no resolution, bur as my heart grew lighter, my hopes revived, and my courage increased; and I wrote with my pencil in my Common Prayer Book,

Theologia opera danda. et

Edinburgh, Feb.

14,

1777

My Dear Sir, My state of epistolary accounts with you at present ance, as to number,

is

extraordinary.

is

on your

The

side. I

bal-

am

in-

you for two letters; one dated the i6th of November, upon which very day I wrote to you, so that our letters were exactly exchanged, and one dated the 21st of December last. My heart was warmed with gratitude by the truely kind contents of both of them; and it is amazing and vexing that I have allowed so debted

to

much

time to elapse without writing to you. But delay is inherent in me, by nature or by bad habit. I waited till I should have an opportunity of paying you my compliments on a new year. I have procrastinated till the year is no longer new. Dr. Memis's cause was determined against him, with £40 costs. The Lord President, and two other of the Judges, dissented from the majority, upon this ground; that although there may have been no intention to injure him by .

.

.

—

him

Doctor oj Medicine, instead of Physihe remonstrated against the designation before the charter was printed off", and represented that it was disagreeable, and even hurtful to him, it was ill-natured to refuse to alter it, and let him have the designation to which own opinion is, he was certainly entitled. that our court has judged wrong. The defendants were in mala fide, to persist in naming him in a way that he disliked. You remember poor calling

cian, yet, as

My

Goldsmith, when he grew important, and wished to appear Doctor Major, could not bear your calling him Goldy. Would it not have been wrong to have named him so in your Preface to Shakspeare, or in any serious permanent writing of

Vita ordinanda.

Biblia legenda.

Serviendum

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson

latandum.

Mr. Steevens whose generosity is well known, joined Dr. Johnson in kind assistance to a female relation of Dr. Goldsmith, and desired that on her return to Ireland she would procure authen-

any

sort?

The

difficulty

is,

whether an action

should be allowed on such petty wrongs. De minimis non curat

lex.

is not yet decided. A memopreparing on the side of slavery. I shall send you a copy as soon as it is printed. Maclaurin is made happy by your approbation of

The Negro cause

rial is

tick particulars of the life of her celebrated rela-

Concerning her there

tion.

is

the following

let-

ter:

his

To George

Steevens, Esq.

Dear Sir, You will be glad to hear that from Mrs. Goldsmith, whom we lamented as drowned, I have received a letter full of gratitude to us all, with promise to make the enquiries which we recommended I

to her.

would have had the honour of conveying

this intelligence to

letter

is

Miss Caulfield, but that her I know not the direc-

not at hand, and

Ubid., p.

1

58.

memorial

for the black.

in the winter, and we passed an evening together. The sale of his estate cannot be prevented. Sir Allan Maclean's suit against the Duke of Argyle, for recovering the ancient inheritance of his family, is now fairly before all our judges. I spoke for him yesterday, and Maclaurin today; Crosbie spoke to-day against him. Three more counsel are to be heard, and next week the cause will be determined. I send you the Infor-

Macquarry was here

mations, or Cases,

on each

side,

which

I

hope you

.

LIFE OF

1777] will read.

You

said to

me when we were under

Sir Allan's hospitable roof, "I will help

him with

my pen." You said it with a generous glow; and though his Grace of Argyle did afterwards mount you upon an excellent horse, upon which "you looked like a Bishop," you must not swerve from your purpose at Inchkenneth. I wish you may understand the points at issue, amidst our Scotch law principles and phrases. [Here followed a full state of the case, in which I endeavoured to make it as clear as I could to an Englishman, who had no knowledge of the formularies and technical language of the law of Scotland.] "I shall inform you how the cause is decided here. But as it may be brought under the review of our Judges, and is certainly to be carried by appeal to the House of Lords, the assistance of such a mind as yours will be of consequence. Your paper on Vicious Intromission is a noble proof of what you can do even in Scotch law.... I have not yet distributed all your books. Lord Hailes and Lord Monboddo have each received one, and return you thanks. Monboddo dined with me lately, and having drank tea, we were a good while by ourselves, and as I knew that he had read the Journey superficially, as he did not talk of it as I wished, I brought it to him, and read aloud sever?.! passages; and then he talked so, that I told him he was to have a copy from the authour. He begged that might be marked on it. ... I ever am, my dear Sir, your most faithful,

Sir

and

affectionate

humble servant, James Bosvvell

Alexander Dick to Dr. Samuel Johnson Prestonfield, Feb. 17, 1777

had yesterday the honour of receiving your book of your Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, which you was so good as to send me, by the hands of our mutual friend, Mr. Boswell, of Auchinleck; for which I return you my most hearty thanks; and after carefully reading it Sir, I

over again, shall deposit in my little collection of choice books, next our worthy friend's Journey to Corsica. As there are many things to admire in both performances, I have often wished that no Travels or Journeys should be published but those undertaken by persons of integrity and capacity to judge well, and describe faithfully, and in good language, the situation, condition,and manners of the countries past through. Indeed our country of Scotland, in spite of the union of the crowns, is still in most places so devoid of clothing, or cover from hedges and plantations, that it was well you gave your readers a sound Monitoire with respect to that circumstance. The truths you have told, and the purity of the language in which they are expressed, as your Journey is universally read, may, and already appear to have a very good effect. For a man of my acquaintance, who has the largest

JOHNSON

329

nursery for trees and hedges in this country,

me, that of late the demand upon him for these articles is doubled, and sometimes tripled. I have, therefore, listed Dr. Samuel Johnson in some of my memorandums of the principal planters and favourers of the enclosures, under a name which I took the liberty to invent from the Greek, Papadendrion. Lord Auchinleck and some few more are of the list. I am told that one gentleman in the shire of Aberdeen, viz. Sir Archibald Grant, has planted above fifty millions of trees on a piece of very wild ground at tells

Monimusk: I must enquire if he has fenced them well, before he enters my list; for, that is I began myself to plant a our ground being too valuable for much,

the soul of enclosing. little,

is now fifty years ago; and the trees, now in my seventy-fourth year, I look up to with reverence, and shew them to my eldest son now

and that

in his fifteenth year, and they are full the height of country-house here, where I had the pleasure of receiving you, and hope again to have that satisfaction with our mutual friend, Mr. Boswell. I shall always continue, with the truest esteem, dear Doctor, your much obliged, and obedient humble servant,

my

Alexander Dick^

To James Boswell, Dear

Sir, It

is

Esq.

so long since I

heard any

thing from you,^ that I am not easy about it; write something to me next post. When you sent your last letter, every thing seemed to be mending; I hope nothing has lately grown worse. I suppose young Alexander continues to thrive, and Veronica is now very pretty company. I do not suppose the lady is yet reconciled to me, yet let her know that I love her very well, and value her very much. Dr. Blair is printing some sermons. If they are all like the first, which I have read, they are sermones aurei, ac aura magis aurei. It is excellently vwitten both as to doctrine and language. Mr. Watson's book^ seems to be much esteemed. Poor Beauclerk still continues very ill. Langton lives on as he used to do. His children are very pretty, and, I think, his lady loses her Scotch. Paoli I never see. I have been so distressed by difficulty of breath.

ing, that I lost, as

.

was computed, six-and-thirty

ounces of blood in a few days. I am better, but not well. I wish you would be vigilant and get me Graham's Telemachus that was printed at Glasgow, a very little book; and Johnstoni Poemata, another little book, printed at Middleburgh. ^For a character of this very amiable man, see Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. 36. [Aug. 17.] ^By the then course of the post, my long letter of the 14th had not yet reached him. ^History of Philip the Second.

—

]

BOSWELL

330

Mrs. Williams sends her compliments, and promises that when you come hither, she will accommodate you as well as ever she can in the old room. She wishes to know whether you sent her book to Sir Alexander Gordon. My dear Boswell, do not neglect to write to me; for your kindness is one of the pleasures of my life, which I should be sorry to lose. I am, Sir, your humble servant, Sam. Johnson February i8, 1777

To Dr. Samuel Johnson Edinburgh, Feb. 24, 1777 dated the i8th instant, had the pleasure to receive last post. Although

Dear

I

Sir,

Your

letter

my late long neglect, or rather delay, was truely culpable, I am tempted not to regret it, since it has produced me so valuable a proof of your regard. I did, indeed, during that inexcusable silence, sometimes divert the reproaches of my own mind, by fancying that I should hear again from you, inquiring with some anxiety about me, because, for aught you knew, I might have

been

[1777

The immediate cause of my writing One Shaw, who seems a modest and

this:

a decent man, has written an Erse Grammar, which a very learned Highlander, Macbean, has, at my request, examined and approved. The book is very little, but Mr. Shaw has been persuaded by his friends to set it at half a guinea, though I advised only a crown, and thought myself liberal. You, whom the authour considers as a great encourager of ingenious men, will receive a parcel of his proposals and receipts. I have undertaken to give you notice of them, and to solicit your countenance. You must ask no poor man, because the price is really too high. Yet such a work deserves patronage. It is proposed to augment our club from twenty to thirty, of which I am glad; for as we have several in it whom I do not much like to consort with,2 I am for reducing it to a mere miscellaneous collection of conspicuous men, without any determinate character. ... I am, dear Sir, most affectionately your's,

Sam. Johnson

March

ill.

is

My

11,

1777

You are pleased to shew me, that my kindheart is ness is of some consequence to you. elated at the thought. Be assured, my dear Sir, that my affection and reverence for you are exalted and steady. I do not believe that a more perfect attachment ever existed in the history of mankind. And it is a noble attachment; for the attractions are Genius, Learning, and Piety.

respects to Madam, to Veronica, to Alexander, to Euphemia, to David.

breathing alarms me, and brings into my imagination an event, which although in the natural course of things, I must expect at some period, I cannot view with com-

think it hard that I should be a whole year without seeing you. May I presume to petition for a meeting with you in the autumn? You have, I believe, seen all the cathedrals in England, except that of Carlisle. If you are to be with Dr. Taylor, at Ashbourne, it would not be a great journey to come thither. We may pass a few most agreeable days there by ourselves, and I will accompany you a good part of the way to the southward again. Pray think of this. You forget that Mr. Shaw's Erse Grammar was put into your hands by myself last year. Lord Eglintoune put it into mine. I am glad that Mr. Macbean approves of it. I have received Mr. Shaw's Proposals for its publication, which I can perceive are written by the hand of a Master.

My

Your

difficulty of

posure. wife is much honoured by what you say of her. She begs you may accept of her best .

.

.

My

compliments. She is to send you some marmalade of oranges of her own making. ... I ever am, my dear Sir, your most obliged and faithful

humble

servant,

James Boswell

To James Boswell, Dear

have been

Esq.

much

pleased with your late letter, and am glad that my old enemy, Mrs. Boswell, begins to feel some remorse. As to Miss Veronica's Scotch, I think it cannot be helped. An English maid you might easily have; but she would still imitate the greater Sir, I

number, as they would be likewise those whom she must most respect. Her dialect will not be gross. Her has not much Scotch, and you have yourself very little. I hope she knows my name, and does not call me Johnston}

Mamma

^^ohnson is the most common English formation of the Sirname from John; Johnston the Scotch. illustrious friend observed that many North Britons pronounced his name in their own way.

My

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, April 4, 1777. him of the death of my little son David, and that I could not come to Lon[After informing

don

this spring:

—

I

.

.

.

Pray get for me all the editions of Walton's have a notion that the republication of them with Notes will fall upon me, between Dr. Home and Lord Hailes.

Lives: I

Mr. Shaw's Proposals Scotch Celtick Language,

f for

An

Analysis of the

were thus illuminated by

the pen of Johnson: "Though the Erse dialect of the Celtick lan-

guage has, from the

earliest times,

20n account of their and politicks.

religion

differing

been spoken

from him as

to

LIFE OF

1777] in Britain,

and

still

subsists in the northern parts

and adjacent islands, yet, by the negligence of a people rather warlike than lettered, it has hitherto been left to the caprice and judgement of every speaker, and has floated in the living voice, without the steadiness of analogy, or direction of rules. An Erse Grammar is an addition to the stores of literature; and its authour hopes for the indulgence always shewn to those that attempt to do what was never done befoix. If his work

be found defective, it is at least all his own: not like other grammarians, a compiler or transcriber; what he delivers, he has learned by attentive observation among his countrymen, who perhaps will be themselves surprized to see that speech reduced to principles, which they have used only by imitation. shall

he

is

"The use of this book v/ill, however, not be confined to the mountains and islands; it will afford a pleasing and important subject of speculation, to those whose studies lead them to trace the affinity of languages, and the migrations of the ancient races of

mankind."

Glasgow, April 24, 1777

Our worthy

Sir,

friend Thrale's

death having appeared in the news-papers, and been afterwards contradicted, I have been placed in a state of very uneasy uncertainty, from which I hoped to be relieved by you: but my hopes have as yet been vain. How could you omit to write to me on such an occasion? I shall wait with anxiety. I am going to Auchinleck to stay a fortnight with my father. It is better not to be there very long at one time. But frequent renewals of attention are agreeable to him. Pray tell me about this edition of " The English Poets, with a Preface, biographical and critical, to each Authour,by Samuel Johnson,LL.D." which I see advertised. I am delighted with the prospect of it. Indeed I am happy to feel that I am capable of being so much delighted with literature. But is not the charm of this publica-

owing to the magnum nomen

tion chiefly front of it?

What do you say of Lord oirs

and

Chesterfield's

in the

Mem-

last Letters?

My

wife has made marmalade of oranges for you. I left her and my daughters and Alexander all well yesterday. I have taught Veronica to speak of you thus: Dr. ]oh.nson, not Johnston. I remain, my dear Sir, your most affectionate, and obliged humble servant,

—

James Boswell

To James

Boswtell, Esq. Mr. Thrale's death, as he had neither been sick nor in any other

Dear

Sir,

The

story of

331

danger, made so little impression upon me, that I never thought about obviating its effects on any body else. It is supposed to have been produced by the English custom of making April fools, that is, of sending one another on some foolish errand on the first of April. Tell Mrs. Boswell that I shall taste her marmalade cautiously at first. Timeo Danaos et dona Jerentes. Beware, says the Italian proverb, of a reconciled enemy. But when I find it does me no harm, I shall then receive it and be thankful for it, as a pledge of firm, and, I hope, of unalterable kindness. She is, after all, a dear, dear lady.

Please to return Dr. Blair thanks for his sermons. The Scotch write English wonderfully well.

.

.

.

Your frequent

visits to Auchinleck, and your short stay there, are very laudable and very judicious. Your present concord with your father gives me great pleasure; it was all that you seemed to want. health is very bad, and my nights are very unquiet. What can I do to mend them? I have for this summer nothing better in prospect than a journey into Staff'ordshire and

My

Derbyshire, perhaps with Oxford and Birming-

To Dr. Samuel Johnson

My Dear

JOHNSON

ham in my way. Make my compliments must leave

it

to Miss Veronica; I to her philosophy to comfort you

for the loss of little David.

You must remember,

that to keep three out of four is more than your share. Mrs. Thrale has but four out of eleven. I am engaged to write little Lives, and little Prefaces, to a little edition of The English Poets. I think I have persuaded the booksellers to insert something of Thomson; and if you could give me some information about him, for the life which we have is very scanty, I should be glad. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate humble servant,

Sam. Johnson

Mayi, 1777 To those who

delight in tracing the progress

of works of literature, to

it

will be

an entertainment

compare the limited design with the ample

execution of that admirable performance. The Lives oj the English Poets, which is the richest, most beautiful and indeed most perfect production of Johnson's pen. His notion of it at this time appears in the preceding letter. He has a memorandum in this year, "29 May, Easter Eve, I treated with booksellers on a bargain, but the time was not long."^ The bargain was concerning that undertaking; but his tender conscience seems alarmed lest it should have intruded too much on his devout preparation for the solemn-

ensuing day. But, indeed, very little time was necessary for Johnson's concluding a

ity of the

^Prayers and Meditations, p. 155.

BOSWELL

332

treaty with the booksellers; as he had, less attention to profit from his labours than I

man

to

believe,

any

whom literature has been a profession. I from a letter to me from my

shall here insert

worthy friend Mr. Edward

late

Dilly,

though of

a later date, an account of this plan so happily conceived; since it was the occasion of procuring for us an elegant collection of the best biography and criticism of which our language can boast.

To James Boswell, Dear

Sir,

You

calm retreat, from the noise London, as when I wrote to you last. I am happy to find you had such an agreeable meeting with your old friend Dr. Johnson; I have no doubt your stock is much increased by the interview; few men, nay I may say, scarcely any man, has got that fund of knowledge and entertainment as Dr. Johnson in conversation. When he opens freely, every one is attentive to what he says, and cannot fail of improvement as well as pleasure. bustle of

The

edition of The Poets,

do honour to the English

now

press;

printing, will

the reputation of this edition superiour to any thing that is gone before. The first cause that rise to this

undertaking,

I

believe,

was ow-

ing to the little trifling edition of The Poets, printing by the Martins, at Edinburgh, and to be sold by Bell, in London. Upon examining the volumes which were printed, the type was found so extremely small, that many persons could not read them; not only this inconvenience attended it, but the inaccuracy of the press was very conspicuous. These reasons, as well as the idea of an invasion of what we call our Literary Property, induced the London Booksellers to print an elegant and accurate edition of all the English Poets of reputation, from Chaucer to the present time. Accordingly a select number of the most respectable booksellers met on the occasion; and, on consulting together, agreed, that all the proprietors of copy-right in the various Poets should be summoned together; and when their opinions were given, to proceed immediately on the business. Accordingly a meeting was held, consisting of about forty of the most respectable booksellers of London, when it was agreed that an elegant and uniform edition of The English Poets should be immediately printed, with a concise account of the life of each authour, by Dr. Samuel Johnson; and that three persons should be deputed to wait upon Dr. Johnson, to solicit him to undertake the Lives, viz., T. Davies, Strahan, and Cadell. The Doctor very politely

undertook

it,

Sherwin, Hall, etc. Likewise another committee for giving directions about the paper, printing, etc., so that the whole will be conducted with spirit, and in the best manner, with respect to authourship, editorship, engravings, etc., etc. brother will give you a list of the Poets we mean to give, many of which are within the time of the Act of Queen ers, viz., Bartolozzi,

Anne, which Martin and Bell cannot give, as they have no property in them; the proprietors are almost all the booksellers in London, of consequence. I am, dear Sir, ever your's, Edward Dilly I shall

afterwards have occasion to consider and varied range which Johnson

the extensive

took, when he was once led upon ground which he trod with a peculiar delight, having long been intimately acquainted with all the circumstances

of

it

that could interest

and

please.

and a concise

account of the life of each authour, by Dr. Johnson, will be a very valuable addition, and stamp

gave

it

was left entirely to the Doctor to name his own: he mentioned two hundred guineas:^ it was iinmediately agreed to; and a farther compliment, I believe, will be made him. A committee was likewise appointed to engage the best engrav-

My

Esq.

Southill, Sept. 26, 1777 will find by this letter, that I

am still in the same

and

[1777

pleased with the proposal. As to the terms,

and seemed exceedingly

Dr. Johnson to Charles O'Connor, Esq,.^ Sir, Having had the pleasure of conversing with Dr. Campbell about your character and your literary undertaking, I am resolved to gratify myself by renewing a correspondence which began and ended a great while ago, and ended, I am afraid, by my fault; a fault which, if you have not forgotten it, you must now forgive. If I

to

tell

me.

I

have ever disappointed you, give me leave you, that you have likewise disappointed expected great discoveries in Irish antiq-

and large publications in the Irish language; but the world still remains as it was, doubtful and ignorant. What the Irish language 'Johnson's moderation in demanding so small a sum is extraordinary. Had he asked one thousand, or even fifteen hundred guineas, the booksellers, uity,

who knew

the value of his name, would doubtless have readily given it. They have probably got five thousand guineas by this work in the course of twenty-five years. [M.]

^Mr. Joseph Cooper Walker, of the Treasury, Dublin, who obligingly communicated to me this and a former letter from Dr. Johnson to the same

gentleman (for which see p. 89), writes to me as follows: "Perhaps it would gratify you to have some account of Mr. O'Connor. He is an amiable, learned, venerable old gentleman, of an independent fortune, who lives at Belanagar, in the county of Roscommon; he is an admired writThe above er, and Member of the Irish Academy. Letter is alluded to in the Preface to the 2nd edit,

—

—

—

Mr. O'Connor afterwards of his Dissert., p. 3." died at the age of eighty-two. See a well-drawn character of him in The Gentleman's Magazine for August 1 791.

LIFE OF

1777]

to what languages it has affinity, are very interesting questions, which every man wishes to see resolved that has any philological or historical curiosity. Dr. Leland begins his history too late: the ages which deserve an exact enquiry are those times (for such there were) when Ireland was the school of the west, the quiet habitation of sanctity and literature. If you could give a history, though imperfect, of the Irish nation, from its conversion to Chrisis

in

itself,

and

from England, you would amplify knowledge with new views and new objects. Set about it therefore, if you can: do what you can easily do without anxious exactness. tianity to the invasion

the foundation, and leave the superstructure to posterity. I am. Sir, your most humble servant,

Lay

Sam. Johnson

May

19,

1777

Early in this year came out, in two volumes quarto, the posthumous works of the learned Dr. Zachary Pearce, Bishop of Rochester; being

A

Commentary, with Notes, on

the

four Evangelists

with other theological pieces. Johnson had now an opportunity of making a grateful return to that excellent prelate, who, we have seen, was the only person who gave him any assistance in the compilation of his Dictionary. The Bishop had left some account and

the Acts of the Apostles,

life and character, written by himself. To Johnson made some valuable additions, f and also furnished to the editor, the Reverend Mr. Derby, a Dedication, f which I shall here insert, both because it will appear at this time with peculiar propriety; and because it will tend to propagate and increase that "fervour oi Loyalty," which in me, who boast of the name of Tory, is not only a principle, but a passion.

of his this

Sir, I

To THE King presume to lay before your Majesty the who died in the He is now beyond

last labours of a learned Bishop,

and duties of his calling. the reach of all earthly honours and rewards; and only the hope of inciting others to imitate him, makes it now fit to be remembered, that he enjoyed in his life the favour of your Majesty. The tumultuary life of Princes seldom permits them to survey the wide extent of national interest, without losing sight of private merit; to exhibit qualities which may be imitated by the highest and the humblest of mankind; and to be toils

JOHNSON

333

oured. I am, may it please your Majesty, with the most profound respect, your Majesty's most dutiful

and devoted Subject and Servant

summer he wrote

a Prologue* which was spoken before A Word to the Wise, a comedy by Mr. Hugh Kelly, which had been brought upon the stage in 1 770; but he being a writer for

In the

ministry, in one of the news-papers, fice to

it fell a sacripopular fury, and in the playhouse phrase,

was damned. By the generosity of Mr. Harris, the proprietor of Covent Garden theatre, it was now exhibited for one night, for the benefit of the authour's widow and children. To conciliate the favour of the audience was the intention ofJohnson's Prologue, which, as

it is not long, I shall here insert, as a proof that his poetical talents were in no degree impaired.

This night presents a play, which publick rage.

Or right or wrong, once hootedfrom the stage: From zeal or malice, now no more we dread. For English vengeance wars not with the dead.

A generousfoe regards with pitying eye The man whom Fate has laid where all must lie. To wit, reviving from its authour's dust, Be kind, ye judges, or at least bejust: Let no renewed

hostilities

Let one great payment every claim appease. And him who cannot hurt, allow to please;

To please by scenes, unconscious of offence. By harmless merriment, or useful seme. Where aught of bright Approve

it

or fair the piece displays.

only; 'tis too late to praise.

If want of skill or want of care appear, Forbear to hiss; the poet cannot hear.

—

By

all, like

him, must praise and blame be found.

At last, a fleeting gleam, Yet then shall calm

or

empty sound;

reflection bless the night.

When liberal pity dignified delight; When pleasure fir' d her touch at virtue'sflame. And mirth was bounty with an humbler name.

A circumstance which could not fail to be very pleasing to Johnson occurred this year. The Tragedy of Sir Thomas Overbury, written by his early companion in London, Richard Savage, was brought out with alterations at Drury-lane theatre.^ The Prologue to it was written by Mr. Richard Brinsley Sheridan; in which, after describing very pathetically the wretchedness of

at once amiable and great. Such characters, if now and then they

Ill-fated Savage, at

in history, are

No parent but the Muse,

appear contemplated with admiration. May it be the ambition of all your subjects to make haste with their tribute of reverence: and as posterity may learn from your Majesty how Kings should live, may they learn, likewise, from your people, how they should be hon-

invade

TK oblivious grave's inviolable shade.

whose birth was giv'n no friend but Heav'n:

he introduced an elegant compliment to Johnson on his Dictionary, that wonderful perform^It

was not

theatre, that

at Drury-lane, but at it

was acted. [M.]

Covent Garden

—

BOSWELL

334

ance which cannot be too often or too highly praised; of which Mr. Harris, in his Philological Inquiries,^ justly and liberally observes: "Such is its merit, that our language docs not possess a

more copious, learned, and valuable work."

The concluding

lines

of this Prologue were

cal materials. You say that the Life which we have of Thomson is scanty. Since I received your letter I have read his Life, published under the name of Cibber, but as you told me, really

written by a Mr. Shiels;^ that written by Dr. Murdoch; one prefixed to an edition of the ^^asojis,

tale" that gives to future times

son's misfortunes

There shall his fame Fix'd by

and

{if

own' d to-night) survive, bids our language live.

the hand that

zealous in acknowledging the brilliant merit of his son. While it had as yet been displayed only

drama, Johnson proposed him as a member of The Literary Club, observing, that "He who has written the two best comedies of his age, is surely a considerable man." And he had, accordingly, the honour to be elected; for an honour it undoubtedly must be allowed to be, when in the

considered of whom that society consists, and that a single black ball excludes a candidate.

it is

Mr. Bosw^ll to Dr. Johnson Julyg, 1777

My Dear Sir, For the health of my wife and children I have taken the little country-house at which you visited my uncle. Dr. Boswell, lost his wife, is gone to live with his took possession of our villa about a week ago; we have a garden of three quarters of an acre, well stocked with fruit-trees and flowers, and gooseberries and currants, and peas and beans, and cabbages, &c. &c., and my children are quite happy. I now write to you in a little study, from the window of which I see around me a verdant grove, and beyond it the lofty mountain called Arthur's Seat.

who, having

We

Your

last letter, in

which you desire

Thomson from prison; the abridgement of Murdoch's account of him, in the Biographia Britannica, and another abridgement of it in the Biographical Dictionary, enriched dote of Quin's relieving

the parent's crimes;

Mr. Sheridan here at once did honour to his taste and to his liberality of sentiment, by shewing that he was not prejudiced from the unlucky difference which had taken place between his worthy father and Dr. Johnson. I have already mentioned, that Johnson was very desirous of reconciliation with old Mr. Sheridan. It will, therefore, not seem at all surprizing that he was

son.

[1777

me such questions as may lead to biographi-

pubUshed at Edinburgh, which is compounded of both, with the addition of an anec-

these:

So pleads the

The

send

me

to

send you some additional information concerning Thomson, reached me very fortunately just as I was going to Lanark, to put my wife's two nephews, the young Campbells, to school there, under the care of Mr. Thomson, the master of it, whose wife is sister to the authour of The Seasons. She is an old woman; but her memory is very good; and she will with pleasure give me for you every particular that you wish to know, and she can tell. Pray then take the trouble to iPart First, Chap. 4. ^Life of Richard Savage, by Dr. Johnson.

with Dr. Joseph Warton's

critical

panegyrick on

the Seasons in his Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope: from all these it appears to me that we have a pretty full account of this poet. However, you will, I doubt not, shew me many blanks,

and

I

do what can be done to have them As Thomson never returned to Scot-

shall

up.

filled

land, (which jo« will think very wise,) his sister can speak from her own knowledge only as to the early part of his life. She has some letters from him, which may probably give light as to his more advanced progress, if she will let us see them, which I suppose she will. I believe George Lewis Scotf* and Dr. Armstrong are now his only surviving companions, while he lived in and about London; and they, I dare say, can own notell more of him than is yet known. tion is, that Thomson was a much coarser man than his friends are willing to acknowledge. His Seasons are indeed full of elegant and pious sentiments: but a rank soil, nay a dunghill, will produce beautiful flowers. Your edition of The English Poets^ will be very valuable, on account of the Prefaces and Lives. But I have seen a specimen of an edition of The Poets at the Apollo press, at Edinburgh, which, for excellence in printing and engraving, highly deserves a liberal encouragement. Most sincerely do I regret the bad health and

My

with which you have been afflicted; hope you are better. I cannot believe that the Prologue which you generously gave to Mr. Kelly's widow and children the other day, is the effusion of one in sickness and in disquietude: but

bad and

rest

I

external circumstances are never sure indications of the state of man. I send you a letter which I wrote to you two years ago at Wilton; and did not send it at the time, for fear of being reproved as indulging too much tenderness; and one written to you at the tomb of Melancthon, which I kept back, lest I should appear at once too superstitious and too enthusiastick. I now imagine that perhaps they may please you. ^See ante, pp. 305-6.

^Formerly Sub-preceptor to

his present

Majesty,

and afterwards a Commissioner of Excise. [M.] ^Dr. Johnson was not the editor of this Collection of The English Poets; he merely furnished the biographical prefaces. [M.]

— LIFE OF

1777]

JOHNSON

335

You do not take the least notice of my proposal for our meeting at Carlisle. ^ Though I have meritoriously refrained from visiting London this year, I ask you if it would not be wrong that I should be two years without having the benefit of your conversation, when, if you come down as far as Derbyshire, we may meet at the expence of a few days' journeying,

You have said nothing to me of Dr. Dodd. I know not how you think on that subject; though

and not many pounds. I wish you to see Carwhich made me mention that place. But if you have not a desire to complete your tour of

If for ten righteous men the Almighty would have spared Sodom, shall not a thousand acts of goodness done by Dr. Dodd counterbalance one crime? Such an instance would do more to encourage goodness, than his execution would do to deter from vice. I am not afraid of any bad consequence to society; for who will persevere

lisle,

the English cathedrals, I will take a larger share of the road between this place and Ashbourne. So tell me where you will fix for our passing a few days by ourselves. Now don't cry "foolish fellow," or "idle dog." Chain your humour, and let your kindness play. You will rejoice to hear that Miss Macleod, of Rasay, is married to Colonel Mure Campbell, an excellent man, with a pretty good estate of his own, and the prospect of having the Earl of Loudoun's fortune and honours. Is not

Hebridean? How happy am I that she is to be in Ayrshire. We shall have the Laird of Rasay, and old Malthis

a noble

colm, and

I

lot for

know

our

not

fair

how many

gallant

the newspapers give us a saying of your's in favour of mercy to him. But I own I am very desirous that the royal prerogative of remission of punishment should be employed to exhibit an illustrious instance of the regard which GOD's Vicegerent will ever shew to piety and virtue.

for a long course of years in a distinguished discharge of religious duties, with a view to com-

mit a forgery with impunity? Pray make my best compliments acceptable to Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, by assuring them of my hearty joy that the Master, as you call him, is alive. I

—

I

My

you might knock Hume's and Smith's heads together, and make vain and ostentatious infidelity exceedingly ridiculous. Would it not be worth your while to crush such noxious weeds in the moral garden? ^Dr. Johnson had himself talked of our seeing Carlisle together. High was a favourite word of his to denote a person of rank. He said to me, "Sir, I believe we may meet at the house of a Roman Catholick lady in Cumberland; a high lady, Sir." I

afterwards discovered that he meant Mrs. Strickland, sister of Charles Townley, Esq., whose very noble collection of statues and pictures is not more to be admired, than his extraordinary and polite readiness in shewing it, which I and several of my friends have agreeably experienced. They who are possessed of valuable stores of gratification to persons of taste, should exercise their benevolence in imparting the pleasure. Grateful acknowledgments are due to Welbore EUis Agar, Esq., for the liberal access which he is pleased to allow to his exquisite collection of pictures.

shall often taste his

Champagne

have not heard from Langton is

...

I

tionate,

remain,

and

my

faithful

for

a long

as usual,

Studious the busy moments

leods,

to it. Is not this an age of daring effrontery? friend Mr. Anderson, Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow, at whose house you and I supped, and to whose care Mr. Windham, of Norfolk, was entrusted at that University, paid me a visit lately; and after we had talked with indignation and contempt of the poisonous productions with which this age is infested, he said there was now an excellent opportunity for Dr. Johnson to step forth. I agreed with him that

I

time. I suppose he

Mac-

and bagpipes, &c. &c. at Auchinleck. Perhaps you may meet them all there. Without doubt you have read what is called The Life of David Hume, written by himself, with the letter from Dr. Adam Smith subjoined

hope

soberly.

dear

Sir,

humble

to deceive.

your most

affec-

servant,

James Boswbll

On the 23rd of June, I again wrote to Dr. Johnson, enclosing a ship-master's receipt for a jar of orange-marmalade, and a large packet of Lord

Hailes's Annals of Scotland.

To James Boswell, Dear

Esq,.

have just received your packet from Mr. Thrale's, but have not day-light enough to look much into it. I am glad that I have credit enough with Lord Hailes to be trusted with more copy. I hope to take more care of it than of the last. I return Mrs. Boswell my affectionate thanks for her present, which I value as Sir, I

a token of reconciliation. Poor Dodd was put to death yesterday, in opposition to the recommendation of the jury the petition of the city of London and a subsequent petition signed by three-and-twenty thousand hands. Surely the voice of the publick, when it calls so loudly, and calls only for mercy, ought to be heard. The saying that was given me in the papers I never spoke; but I wrote many of his petitions, and some of his letters. He applied to me very often. He was, I am afraid, long flattered with hopes of life; but I had no part in the dreadful delusion; for, as soon as the King had signed his sentence, I obtained from Mr. Chamier an account of the disposition of the court towards him, with a declaration that there was no hope even oj a respite. This letter immediately was laid

—

BOSWELL

336 before

Dodd; but he believed those

whom

he within

wished to be right, as it is thought, till three days of his end. He died with pious composure and resolution. I have just seen the Ordinary that attended him. His address to his fellow-convicts offended the Methodists; but he had a Moravian with him much of his time. His moral character is very bad: I hope all is not true that is charged upon him. Of his behaviour in prison an account will be published. I give you joy of your country-house, and your pretty garden; and hope some time to see you in your felicity. I was inuch pleased with your two letters that had been kept so long in store;^ and rejoice at Miss Rasay's advancement, and wish Sir Allan success. ^Since they have been so

Johnson

I shall

much honoured by

here insert them:

—

Dr.

"To Mr. Samuel Johnson

"My ever dear and

much-respected Sir, You know my solemn enthusiasm of mind. You love me it, and I respect myself for it, because in so far resemble Mr. Johnson. You will be agreeably surprized when you learn the reason of my writing this letter. I am at Wittemberg in Saxony. I am in the old church where the Reformation was first preached, and where some of the reformers lie interred. I cannot resist the serious pleasure of writing to Mr. Johnson from the Tomb of Melancthon. My paper rests upon the grave-stone of that great and good man, who was undoubtedly the worthiest of all the reformers. He wished to reform abuses which had been introduced into the Church; but had no private resentment to gratify. So mild

for

I

[1777

hope to meet you somewhere towards the

north, but

am

loath to

come

quite to Carlisle.

Can we

not meet at Manchester? But we will settle it in some other letters. Mr. Seward, 2 a great favourite at Streatham, has been, I think, enkindled by our travels with a curiosity to see the Highlands. I have given him letters to you and Beattie. He desires that a lodging may be taken for him at Edinburgh, against his arrival.

He

is

just setting out.

Langton has been exercising the

militia. Mrs. Williams is, I fear, declining. Dr. Lawrence says he can do no more. She is gone to summer in the country, with as many conveniences about her as she can expect; but I have no great hope. We must all die: may we all be prepared! I suppose Miss Boswell reads her book, and young Alexander takes to his learning. Let me hear about them; for every thing that belongs to you, belongs in a more remote degree, and not, I hope, very remote, to, dear Sir, yours

affectionately,

Sam. Johnson

I

was he, that when his aged mother consulted him with anxiety on the perplexing disputes of the times, he advised her 'to keep to the old religion.' At this tomb, then, my ever dear and respected friend! I vow to thee an eternal attachment. It shall be my study to do what I can to render your life happy: and, if you die before me, I shall endeavour to do honour to your memory; and, elevated by the remembrance of you, persist in noble piety. May God, the Father of all beings, ever bless you and may you continue to love, your most af!

fectionate friend,

"Sunday,

and devoted

Sept. 30,

servant,

1764" "James Boswell"

"To Dr. Samuel Johnson "Wilton-house, April 22, 1775. Every scene of my life confirms the truth of what you have told me, 'there is no certain happiness in this state of being.' I am here, amidst aU that you know is at Lord Pembroke's; and yet I am weary and gloomy. I am just setting out for the house of an old friend in Devonshire, and shall not get back to London for a week yet. You said to me last Good-Friday, with a cordiality that warmed my heart, that if I came to settle in London, we should have a day fixed every week, to meet by ourselves and talk freely. To be thought worthy of such a privilege cannot but exalt me. During my present absence from you, while, notwithstanding the gaiety which you allow

"My Dear Sir,

—

me to possess, I am darkened by temporary clouds, I beg to have a few lines from you; a few lines merely of kindness, as a viaticum till I see you again.

June 28, 1777

To THE Same Dear

gentleman is a great favourStreatham, and therefore you will easily believe that he has very valuable qualities. Our narrative has kindled him with a desire of visiting the Highlands, after having already seen a great part of Europe. You must receive him as a friend, and when you have directed him to the curiosities of Edinburgh, give him instructions Sir, This

ite at

and recommendations for the rest of his journey. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson June 2^, 1777 Johnson's benevolence to the unfortunate was, I am confident, as steady and active as that of any of those who have been most eminently distinguished for that virtue. Innumerable proofs of it I have no doubt will be for ever concealed from mortal eyes. We may, however, form some judgement of it, from the many and very various instances which have been discovered. One,

which happened in the course of this summer, is remarkable from the name and connection of the person who was the object of it. The circumIn your Vanity of Human Wishes, and in Parnell's Contentment, I find the only sure means of enjoying happiness; or, at least, the hopes of happiness. I ever am, with reverence and affection, most faithfully yours,

.^^^^^ Boswell"

^William Seward, Esq., F.R.S., editor of AnecSome Distinguished Persons, etc., in four volumes, 8vo., well known to a numerous and valuable acquaintance for his literature, love of the fine arts, and social virtues. I am indebted to him for several communications concerning Johnson. dotes of

LIFE OF

1777]

JOHNSON and

337

letters,

lavish in the praise he bestows upon his favourite, Hugo Grotius. I am really sorry that I cannot find this letter, as it is worthy of the writer. That which I send you enclosed^ is at

ing kindly received in his early years.

your service. It is very short, and will not perhaps be thought of any consequence, unless you should judge proper to consider it as a proof of the very humane part which Dr. Johnson took in behalf of a distressed and deserving person. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

stance to which

I

allude

is

ascertained by two

one to Mr. Langton, and another to the Reverend Dr. Vyse, rector of Lambeth, son of the respectable clergyman at Lichfield, who was contemporary with Johnson, and in whose father's family Johnson had the happiness of be-

Dr. Johnson to Bennet Langton, Esq. Sir, I have lately been much disordered by a difficulty of breathing, but am now better. I hope your house is well. You know we have been talking lately of St. Cross, at Winchester; I have an old acquaintance whose distress makes him very desirous of an hospital, and I am afraid I have not strength enough to get him into the Chartreux. He is a

Dear

who never rose higher than to get his immediate living, and from that, at eightythree, he is disabled by a slight stroke of the painter,

palsy, such as does not

make him

at all helpless

on common occasions, though his hand is not steady enough for his art. My request is, that you will try to obtain a promise of the next vacancy, from the Bishop of Chester. It is not a great thing to ask, and I hope we shall obtain it. Dr. Warton has promised to favour him with his notice, and I hope he may end his days in peace. I am. Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

is

W. Vyse Dr. Johnson to Mr. Edward Dilly

To

the collection of English Poets, I have the volume of Dr. Watts to be added; his name has long been held by me in veneration, and I would not willingly be reduced to tell of him only that he was born and Sir,

recommended

died. Yet of his life I know very little, and therefore must pass him in a manner very unworthy of his character, unless some of his friends will

favour of

me with the necessary information; many

them must be known

fluence, perhaps I

Sir, I

doubt not but you

will readily forgive

Charter-house. His name is De Groot; he was born at Gloucester; I have known him many years. He has all the common claims to charity, being old, poor, and infirm, in a great degree. He has likewise another claim, to which no scholar can refuse attention; he is by several descents the nephew of Hugo Grotius; of him, from whom perhaps every man of learning has learnt something. Let it not be said that in any lettered country a nephew of Grotius asked a charity and was refused. I am, reverend Sir, your most humble servant,

Sam. Johnson jM/yg, 1777

Reverend Dr. Vyse to Mr. Bosw^ll Lambeth, June 9, 1 787 have searched in vain for the letter which I spoke of, and which I wished, at your desire, to communicate to you. It was from Dr. Johnson, to return me thanks for my application to Archbishop Cornwallis in favour of poor De Sir, I

He

in-

tinguish Watts, a man who never wrote but for a good purpose. Be pleased to do for me what you can. I am. Sir, your humble servant, Sam. Johnson

Bolt-Court, Fleet-street July 7, 1777

To Dr. Samuel Johnson Vyse, at Lambeth

me for taking the liberty of requesting your assistance in recommending an old friend to his Grace the Archbishop, as Governour of the

Groot.

and by your

My plan does not exact much; but I wish to dis-

June 29, 1777

To THE Reverend Dr.

to you;

may obtain some instruction.

rejoices at the success

it

met with,

Edinburgh, July 15, 1777 fate of poor Dr. Dodd made a dismal impression upon my mind. I had sagacity enough to divine that you wrote his speech to the Recorder, before sentence was pronounced. I am glad you have written so much for him; and I hope to be favoured with an exact list of the several pieces

My

Dear

Sir,

The

.

.

.

when we meet. I received Mr. Seward as the friend of Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, and as a gentleman recommended by Dr. Johnson to my attention. I have introduced him to Lord Kames, Lord Monboddo, and Mr. Nairne. He is gone to the High-

lands with Dr. Gregory; when he returns I shall for him. Sir Allan Maclean has carried that branch of his cause, of which we had good hopes: the President and one other Judge only were against him. I wish the House of Lords may do as well as the Court of Session has done. But Sir Allan has not the lands of Brolos quite cleared by this judgement, till a long account is made up of debts and interests on the one side, and rents on the other. I am, however, not much afraid of the balance.

do more

Macquarry's estates, StafFa and all, were sold and bought by a Campbell. I fear he

yesterday,

^The preceding

letter.

BOSWELL

338

have little or nothing left out of the purchase money. I send you the case against the negro, by Mr. will

Cullen, son to Dr. Cullen, in opposition to Maclaurin's for liberty, of which you have approved. Pray read this, and tell me what you think as a well as a Poet,

Politician, as

Be

so kind as to let

upon the

subject.

me know how your

time

is

to be distributed next autumn. I will meet you at Manchester, or where you please; but I wish you would complete your tour of the cathedrals, and come to Carlisle, and I will accompany you ever, most a part of the way homewards. I

am

faithfully yours,

James Boswell

To James

Boswell, Esq.

De.\r Sir, Your notion of the necessity of an yearly interview is very pleasing to both my vanity and tenderness. I shall, perhaps, come to Carlisle another year; but my money has not held out so well as it used to do. I shall go to Ashbourne, and I purpose to make Dr. Taylor invite you. If you live awhile with me at his house, we shall have much time to ourselves, and our stay will be no expence to us or him. I shall leave London the 28th; and after some stay at Oxford and Lichfield, shall probably come to Ashbourne about the end of your Ses-

you shall have notice. Be meet somewhere. What passed between me and poor Dr. Dodd you shall know more fully when we meet. Of lawsuits there is no end; poor Sir Allan must have another trial, for which, however, his antagonist cannot be much blamed, having two Judges on his side. I am more afraid of the debts than of the House of Lords. It is scarcely to be imagined to what debts will swell, that are daily increasing by small additions, and how caresion,

but of

satisfied

we

all this

will

a state of desperation debts are contracted. Poor Macquarry was far from thinking that when he sold his islands he should receive nothing. For what were they sold? And what was their yearly value? The admission of money

lessly in

into the Highlands will soon put an end to the feudal modes of life, by making those m.en landlords who were not chiefs. I do not know that the people will suff"er by the change; but there was in the patriarchal authority something venerable and pleasing. Every eye must look with pain on a Campbell turning the Macquarries at will out of their sedes avitts, their hereditary island. Sir Alexander Dick is the only Scotsman liberal enough not to be angry that I could not find trees, where trees were not. I was much delighted by his kind letter. I remember Rasay with too much pleasure not to partake of the happiness of any part of that amiable family. Our ramble in the islands

hangs upon my imagination, I can hardly help imagining that we shall go again. Pennant seems

[1777

have seen a great deal which we did not see: when we travel again let us look better about us. You have done right in taking your uncle's house. Some change in the form of life, gives from time to time a new epocha of existence. In a new place there is something new to be done, and a diff'erent system of thoughts rises in the mind. I wish I could gather currants in your garden. Now fit up a little study, and have your books ready at hand; do not spare a little money, to make your habitation pleasing to yourself. I I have dined lately with poor dear do not think he goes on well. His table is rather coarse, and he has his children too much about him.^ But he is a very good man. Mrs. Williams is in the country to try if she can improve her health; she is very ill. Matters have come so about that she is in the country with very good accommodation; but age and sickness, and pride, have made her so peevish that I was forced to bribe the maid to stay with her, by a secret stipulation of half a crown a to

.

week over her wages. Our Club ended its session about six weeks ago. We now only meet to dine once a fortnight. Mr. Dunning, the great lawyer, is one of our members. The Thrales are well. I long to know how the Negro's cause will be decided. What is the opinion of Lord Auchinleck, or Lord Hailes, or Lord Monboddo? I am,

dear

Sir,

your most

&c. Sam. Johnson

aff"ectionate,

July 22, 1777

Dr. Johnson to Mrs. Boswell I am well enough pleased

Madam, Though

with the taste of sweetmeats, very

little of the pleasure which I received at the arrival of your jar of marmalade arose from eating it. I received it as a token of friendship, as a proof of reconciliation, things much sweeter than sweetmeats, and upon this consideration I return you, dear Madam, my sincerest thanks. By having your kindness I think I have a double security for the continuance of Mr. Boswell's, which it is not to be expected that any man can long keep, when the influence of a lady so highly and so justly valued operates against him. Mr. Boswell will tell you that I was always faithful to your

interest,

and always endeavoured

to exalt

you

in his estimation. You must now do the same must all help one another, and you for me.

We

^This very just remark I hope will be constantly held in remembrance by parents, who are in general too apt to indulge their own fond feelings for their children at the expence of their friends. The common custom of introducing them after dinner is highly injudicious. It is agreeable enough that they should appear at any other time; but they should not be suffered to poison the moments of festivity by attracting the attention of the company, and in a manner compelling them from politeness to say what they do not think.

— LIFE OF

1777]

must now consider me, as, dear Madam, your most obliged, and most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

JOHNSON

339 which had occurred, and therefore requesting

to

know

July 22, 1777

Dear

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh, July 28, 1777 This is the day on which you were to leave London, and I have been amusing myself in the intervals of my law-drudgery, with figuring you in the Oxford post-coach. I doubt, however, if you have had so merry a journey as you and I had in that vehicle last year, when you made so much sport with Gwyn, the architect. Incidents upon a journey are recollected with peculiar pleasure; they are preserved in brisk spirits, and come up again in our minds, tinctured with that gaiety, or at least that animation with which we first perceived them [I added, that something had occurred, which I was afraid might prevent me from meeting him; and that my wife has been affected with complaints which threatened a consumption, but was now better.]

My Dear Sir,

Dear

To James Boswell, Esq. Do not disturb yourself about

Sir,

our

interviews; I hope we shall have many; nor think it any thing hard or unusual, that your have design of meeting me is interrupted. both endured greater evils, and have greater evils to expect. Mrs. Boswell's illness makes a more serious distress. Does the blood rise from her lungs or from her stomach? From little vessels broken in the stomach there is no danger. Blood from the

We

lungs is, I believe, always frothy, as mixed with wind. Your physicians know very well what is to be done. The loss of such a lady would, indeed, be very afflictive, and I hope she is in no danger. Take care to keep her mind as easy as is possible. I have left Langton in London. He has been down with the militia, and is again quiet at home, talking to his little people, as, I suppose, you do sometimes. Make my compliments to Miss Veronica. The rest are too young for ceremony. I cannot but hope that you have taken your country-house at a very seasonable time, and that it may conduce to restore, or establish Mrs. Boswell's health, as well as provide room and exercise for the young ones. That you and your lady may both be happy, and long enjoy your happiness, is the sincere and earnest wish of, dear Sir, your most, &c.

Sam. Johnson Oxford, Aug.

Mr.

4,

1777

Bosvvtell

to Dr. Johnson my wife had continued

[Informing him that

to grow better, so that my alarming apprehensions were relieved: and that I hoped to disengage myself from the other embzirrassment

particularly

when he intended

to be at

Ashbourne.]

To James Boswell, Esq. am this day come to Ashbourne,

Sir, I

and have only to tell you, that Dr. Taylor says you shall be welcome to him, and you know how welcome you will be to me. Make haste to let me know when you may be expected. Maie my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, and tell her, I hope we shall be at variance no more. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson August 30, 1777

To James

Boswell, Esq. Saturday I wrote a very short letter, immediately upon my arrival hither, to shew you that I am not less desirous of the interview than yourself. Life admits not of delays; when pleasure can be had, it is fit to catch it. Every hour takes away part of the things that please us, and perhaps part of our disposition to be pleased. When I came to Lichfield, I found my old friend Harry Jackson dead. It was a loss, and a loss not to be repaired, as he was one of the companions of my childhood. I hope we may long continue to gain friends, but the friends which merit or usefulness can procure us, are not able to supply the place of old acquaintance, with whom the days of youth may be retraced, and those images revived which gave the earliest delight. If you and I live to be

Dear

Sir,

On

much older, we shall take great delight in talking over the Hebridean Journey. In the mean time it may not be amiss to contrive some other little adventure, but what it can be I know not; leave it, as Sidney says, To

virtue, fortune,

wine, and woman's breast;^

^By an odd mistake, in the first three editions we find a reading in this line to which Dr. Johnson would by no means have subscribed, wine having been substituted for time. That error probably was a mistake in the transcript of Johnson's original letter. The other deviation in the beginning of the line {virtue instead of nature) must be attributed to his memory having deceived him. The verse quoted is the concluding line of a sonnet of Sidney's: Who doth desire that chast his wife should bee, First be he true, for truth doth truth deserve; Then be he such, as she his worth may see. And, alwaies one, credit with her preserve: Mot toying kynd nor causelessly unkynd. Nor stirring thoughts, nor yet denying right. Nor spying faidts nor in plaine errors blind. Never hard hand, nor ever rayns (reins) too light; As far from want, as far from vaine experwe, Th' one doth enforce, the t'other doth entice: Allow good companie, but drive from therwe ,

All filthie mouths that glorie in their vice: This done, thou hast no more but leave the rest To nature, fortune, time, and woman's breast. [xM.]

'

!

BOSWELL

340 believe Mrs. Boswell in the consuhation.

for

I

One I

]

thing you will

can judge,

is

like.

must have some part

The Doctor,

likely to leave us

so far as to our-

enough

out to-day before I came down, fancy, will stay out till dinner. I have brought the papers about poor Dodd, to show

selves.

and,

He was

I

you, but you will soon have dispatched them. Before I came away I sent poor Mrs. Williams into the country, very ill of a pituitous defluxion, which wastes her gradually away, and which her physician declares himself unable to stop. I supplied her as far as could be desired, with all conveniences to make her excursion and abode pleasant and useful. But I am afraid she can only linger a short time in a morbid state of weakness

and

The

pain. Thrales,

little

and

great, are all well,

and

purpose to go to Brighthelmstone at Michaelmas. They will invite me to go with them, and perhaps I may go, but I hardly think I shall like to stay the whole time; but of futurity we knowbut little. Mrs. Porter is well; but Mrs. Aston, one of the ladies at Stowhill, has been struck with a palsy, from which she is not likely ever to recover. How soon may such a stroke fall upon us Write to me, and let us know when we may expect you. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant,

Sam. Johnson

Ashbourne,

Sept. i,

1777

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh,

him

Sept. 9,

1777

was to set out meet him at Ashbourne: I have a present for you from Lord Hailes; the fifth book of Lactantius, which he has published with Latin notes. He is also to give you a [After informing next day, in order to

that

I

who

I

was private tutor to the present Earl of Hadington, Lord Hailes's cousin, a circumstance not mentioned by Dr. Murdoch. I have keen expectations of delight from your edition of The find

English Poets. I am sorry for poor Mrs. Williams's situation. You will, however, have the comfort of reflecting on your kindness to her. Mr.Jackson's death, palsy, are gloomy circumYet surely we should be habituated to

and Mrs. Aston's

the uncertainty of

mind

—

—

may, indeed, be great improvements made there, both in fishing and agriculture; but the interest of the purchase-money exceeds the rent so very much, that I doubt if the bargain will be profitable. There is an island called Little Colonsay, of £10 yearly rent, which I am informed has belonged to the Macquarrys of Ulva for many ages, but which was lately claimed by the Presbyterian Synod of Arg>'ll, in consequence of a grant made to them by Queen Anne. It is believed that their claim will be dismissed, and that Little Colonsay will also be sold for the advantage of Macquarry's creditors. What think you of purchasing this island, and endowing a school or college there, the master to be a clergyman of the Church of England? How venerable would such an institution make the name of Dr. Samuel Johnson in the Hebrides I have, like yourself, a wonderful pleasure in recollecting our travels in those islands. The pleasure is, I think, greater than it reasonably should be, considering that we had not much either of beauty or elegance to charm our imaginations, or of rude novelty to astonish. Let us, by all means, have another expedition. I shrink a little from our scheme of going up the Baltick.^ I am !

—

few anecdotes for your Life of Thomson,

stances.

[1777

of Auchnaba: our friend Macquarry was proprietor of two-thirds of it, of which the rent was £156 5^-. lyzd. This parcel was set up at £4,069 5^. \d., but it sold for no less than £5,540. The other third of Ulva, with the island of Staff"a, belonged to Macquarry of Ormaig. Its rent, including that of Staff~a, £83 12s. lyid. sold for no less than set up at £2 178 iGj. 4 unhappy years past has been dreadfully erroneous. "Johnson's expression was hypocritical; but his remark on the margin is "With this

he said he could not charge himself."

Having thus authentically

settled

what part

of the Occasional Papers, concerning Dr. Dodd's

whoever will take the trouble to look at the printed copy, and attend to what I mention, will be

came from the pen of Johnproceed to present my readers with my record of the unpublished \vTitings relating to that extraordinary and interesting matter. I found a letter to Dr. Johnson from Dr. Dodd, May 23, 1777, in which The Convicts Address seems clearly to be meant: "I am so penetrated, my ever dear Sir, with a sense of your extreme benevolence towards me, that I cannot find words equal to the sentiments

satisfied of this.

of

was, therefore, irresistibly convinced that they were not offenders against the laws, but martyrs to the truth."

Dr. Johnson was so good as to mark for me with his own hand, on a copy of this sermon which is now in my possession, such passages as were added by Dr. Dodd. They are not many:

miserable situation,

son,

I

my

shall

heart.

"You

.

.

.

There is a short introduction by Dr. Dodd, and he also inserted this sentence, "You see ^v•ith what confusion and dishonour I now stand beno more in the pulpit of instruction, fore you; but on this humble seat with yourselves." The notes are entirely Dodd's own, and Johnson's

me. I from it. I am sure that effects still more salutary and important must follow irorayour kind and in-

writing ends at the words, "the thief whom he pardoned on the cross." What follows was sup-

er,

—

plied

by Dr. Dodd

the slightest hint from me, of

the

what

infinite util-

Speech- on the aweful day has been to experience, every hour, some good effect

ity the

tendedfavour. I will

labour

— to do justice to

had

himself.

The other pieces mentioned by Johnson in

are too conversant in the world to need

I

it

God

from the

being

pulpit. I

my helpam sure,

your sentiments constantly to deliver from all their mighty force and power, not

thence, in

above-mentioned collection, are two letters, one to

Lord North, erroneously supposed,) and one to Lord Mansfield; Petition from Dr. Dodd to the

Newgate, for the crime of forgery, has for a great part of his life set a useful and laudable example of diligence in his calling, [and as we have reason to believe, has exercised his ministry with great fidel-

King;

ity and efficacy,] which, in many instances, has produced the most happy effect.

the Lord Chancellor Bathurst, (not as

is

—A — APetitionfromMrs.DoddtotheQueen;

— Observations

of

some length

inserted in the

news-papers, on occasion of Earl Percy's having presented to his Majesty a petition for mercy to Dodd, signed by twenty thousand people, but all in

vain.

He

told

me

had also written London; "but (said

that he

a petition from, the city of

he, with a significant smile) they mended it."^

^Having unexpectedly, by the favour of Mr. Stone, of London Field, Hackney, seen the original in Johnson's hand-writing, of The Petition of the City of London to his Majesty, in favour of Dr. Dodd, I now present it to readers, with such passages as were omitted inclosed in crotchets, and the additions or variations marked in Italicks.

my

"That William Dodd, Doctor of Laws, now ing under sentence of death

in your

ly-

Majesty's gaol of

"That he has been the first institutor, [or] and a a very earnest and active promoter of several modes of useful charity, and [that] therefore [he] may be considered as having been on many occasions a benefactor to the publick. "[That when they consider his past

life,

they are

willing to suppose his late crime to have been not the consequence of habitual depravity, but the suggestion of some sudden and violent temptation.] "[That] Your Petitioners therefore considering his case as in some of its circumstances unprecedented and peculiar, and encouraged by your Majestf s known clemency, [they] most humbly recommend the said William Dodd to [his]_>'OMr Majesty's most gracious consideration, in hopes that he will be found not altogether [unfit] unworthy to stand an example of

Royal Mercy." ^His Speech at the Old Bailey, when found guilty.

—

BOSWELL

344 a soul could be

suaded.

.

.

."

left

unconvinced and unper-

I

—

added: "May God Almighty bless and reward, with his choicest comforts, your philanthropick actions, and enable me at all times to express what I feel of the high and uncommon obligations which I owe to the Jirst man in our -

He

times."

On Sunday, June 22, he writes, begging Dr. Johnson's assistance in framing a supplicatory letter to his Majesty: "If his Majesty could be moved of his royal clemency to spare me and my family the horrours and ignominy oi a publick death, which the publick itself is solicitous to wave, and to grant me in some silent distant corner of the globe, to pass the remainder of my days in penitence and prayer, I would bless his clemency and be humbled."

This letter was brought to Dr. Johnson when He stooped down and read it, and wrote, when he went home, the following letter for Dr. Dodd to the King: in church.

May it not ofTend your Majesty,

that the applies himself to your clemency, as his last hope and his last refuge; that your mercy is most earnestly and humbly Sir,

most miserable of

men

implored by a clergyman, whom your Laws and Judges have condemned to the horrour and ig-

nominy

of a publick execution. confess the crime, and own the enormity of its consequences, and the danger of its example. Nor have I the confidence to petition for impunity; but humbly hope, that publick security may be established, without the spectacle of a clergyman dragged through the streets, to a I

death of infamy, amidst the derision of the profligate and profane; and that justice may be satisfied with irrevocable exile, perpetual disgrace, and hopeless penury. My life, Sir, has not been useless to mankind. I have benefited many. But my offences against God are numberless, and I have had little time for repentance. Preserve me, Sir, by your prerogative of mercy, from the necessity of appearing unprepared at that tribunal, before which Kings and Subjects must stand at last together. Permit me to hide my guilt in some obscure corner of a foreign country, where, if I can ever attain confidence to hope that my prayers will be heard, they shall be poured with all the fervour of gratitude, for the life and happiness of your Majesty. I am, Sir, your Majesty's, &c.

Subjoined to

it

was written

as follows:

—

—

1 1 happened luckily that Mr. Allen was pitched on to assist in this melancholy office, for he was a great friend of Mr. Akerman, the keeper of Newgate. Dr. Johnson never went to see Dr. Dodd. He said to me, "it would have done him more harm, than good to Dodd, who once expressed a desire to see him, but not

earnestly."

Dr. Johnson, on the 20th of June, wrote the following letter:

To THE Right Honourable Charles Jenkinson and condemnation

Sir, Since the conviction

Dodd, I have had, by the intervention of a friend, some intercourse with him, and I am sure I shall lose nothing in your opinion by tenderness and commiseration. Whatever be the crime, it is not easy to have any knowledge of the delinquent, without a wish that his life may be spared; at least when no life has been taken away by him. I will, therefore, take the liberty of suggesting some reasons for which I wish this unhappy being to escape the utmost rigour of his sentence. He is, so far as I can recollect, the first clergyman of our church who has suff"ered publick execution for immorality; and I know not whether it would not be more for the interest of religion to bury such an offender in the obscurity of perpetual exile, than to expose him in a cart, and on the gallows, to all who for any reason are enemies to the clergy. The supreme power has, in all ages, paid some attention to the voice of the people; and that voice does not least deserve to be heard, when it calls out for mercy. There is now a very general desire that Dodd's life should be spared. More is not wished; and, perhaps, this is not too much to be granted. If you. Sir, have any opportunity of enforcing these reasons, you may, perhaps, think them worthy of consideration: but whatever you determine, I most respectfully intreat that you will be pleased to pardon for this intrusion. Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant, of Dr.

Sam. Johnson It has been confidently circulated, with invidious remarks, that to this letter no attention whatever was paid by Mr. Jenkinson (afterwards Earl of Liverpool), and that he did not even deign to

shew the

To Dr. Dodd most seriously enjoin you not to let it be known that I have written this letter, and

at all

common

civility of

owning the receipt

could not but wonder at such conduct in the noble Lord, whose own character and just elevation in life, I thought, must have impressed him with all due regard for great abilities and of it.

Sir, I

[1777

copy to Mr. Allen in a cover to me. hope I need not tell you, that I wish it success. But do not indulge hope. Tell nobody.

to return the

I

LIFE OF

1777]

had been much talked of, and apparently from good authority, I could not but have animadverted upon it in this work, had it been as was alledged; but from my earnest love of truth, and having found reason to think that there might be a mistake, I presumed to write to his Lordship, requesting an explanation; and it is with the sincerest pleasure that I am enabled to assure the world, that there is no foundation for it, the fact being, that owing to some neglect, or accident, Johnson's letter never came to Lord Hawkesbury's hands. I should have thought it strange indeed, if that noble Lord had attainments. As the story

undervalued my illustrious friend; but instead of this being the case, his Lordship, in the very polite answer with which he was pleased immediately to honour me, thus expresses himself: "I have always respected the memory of Dr. Johnson, and admire his writings; and I frequently read many parts of them with pleasure and great improvement." All applications for the Royal Mercy having failed. Dr. Dodd prepared himself for death; and, with a warmth of gratitude, wrote to Dr.

—

Johnson

as follows:

June 25, Midnight Accept, thou great and good heart, my earnest and fervent thanks and prayers for all thy benOh Dr. evolent and kind efforts in my behalf. Johnson! as I sought your knowledge at an

—

!

early hour in life, would to heaven I had cultivated the love and acquaintance of so excellent I pray God most sincerely to bless you a man with the highest transports the infelt satisfacAnd tion oi humane and benevolent exertions admitted, as I trust I shall be, to the realms of bliss before you, I shall hail your arrival there with transports, and rejoice to acknowledge that !

—

—

!

you was Friend!

my

God

Comforter,

my

—

Advocate and

my

JOHNSON

Under

the copy of this letter I found written,

in Johnson's

own hand, "Next day, June

27,

he

was executed."

To

conclude

episode with an attend to the re-

this interesting

useful application, let us

now

flections of Johnson at the

end of the

Occasional

concerning the unfortunate Dr. Dodd: "Such were the last thoughts of a man whom we have seen exulting in popularity, and sunk in shame. For his reputation, which no man can Papers,

give to himself, those

answer.

Of

who

conferred

it

are to

means of He must be

his publick ministry the

judging were sufficiently attainable. allowed to preach well, whose sermons strike his audience with forcible conviction. Of his life, those who thought it consistent with his doctrine, did not originally form false notions. He was at first what he endeavoured to make others; but the world broke down his resolution, and he in time ceased to exemplify his

own

instructions.

"Let those who are tempted to his faults, tremble at his punishment; and those whom he impressed from the pulpit with religious sentiments, endeavour to confirm them, by considering the regret and self-abhorrence with which he reviewed in prison his deviations from rectitude."

Johnson gave us this evening, in his happy discriminative manner, a portrait of the late Mr. Fitzherbert, of Derbyshire.

no

be ever With, you I

345

In requital of those well-intended offices which you are pleased so emphatically to acknowledge, let me beg that you make in your devotions one petition for my eternal welfare. I am, dear Sir, your affectionate servant, Sam. Johnson June 26, 1777

sparkle,

no

"There was (said he,)

brilliancy in Fitzherbert; but I

man who was so generally accepHe made every body quite easy, overpow-

never knew a Dr. Johnson lastly wrote to Dr. solemn and soothing letter:

Dodd

this

To THE Reverend Dr. Dodd Dear Sir, That which is appointed to all men is now coming upon you. Outward circumand the thoughts of men, are below the notice of an immortal being about to

stances, the eyes

stand the trial for eternity, before the Supreme Judge of heaven and earth. Be comforted: your crime, morally or religiously considered, has no very deep dye of turpitude. It corrupted no man's principles; it attacked no man's life. Of this, and of all other sins, you are earnestly to repent; and may God, who knoweth our frailty, and desireth not our death, accept your repentance, for the sake of his Son Jesus Christ our

Lord.

table.

ered nobody by the superiority of his talents, made no man think worse of himself by being his rival, seemed always to listen, did not oblige you to hear much from him, and did not oppose what you said. Every body liked him; but he had no friend, as I understand the word, nobody with whom he* exchanged intimate thoughts. People were willing to think well of every thing about

him.

A gentleman was making an affected rant,

many

people do, of great feelings about 'his dear son,' who was at school near London; how anxious he was lest he might be ill, and what he would give to see him. 'Can't you (said Fitzherbert,) take a post-chaise and go to him.' This to be sure, finished the affected man, but there as

BOSWELL

346

much

However, this was circulated as wit for a whole winter, and I believe part of a summer too; a proof that he was no very witty man. He was an instance of the truth of the observation, that a man will please more upon the whole by negative qualities than by positive; by never oflending, than by giving a

was not

in

it.^

great deal of delight. In the first place, men hate more steadily than they love; and if I have said

something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this, by saying many things to please him." Tuesday, September i6, Dr. Johnson having mentioned to me the extraordinary size and price of some cattle reared by Dr. Taylor, I rode out with our host, surveyed his farm, and was shown one cow which he had sold for a hundred and twenty guineas, and another for which he had been offered a hundred and thirty. Taylor thus

;

—

See Winter, from the frozen north

Drives his iron chariotjorth!

His grisly hand

me his old schoolfellow and friend, "He is a man of a very clear head,

power of words, and a very gay imaginais no disputing with him. He will not hear you, and having a louder voice than you, must roar you down." In the afternoon I tried to get Dr. Johnson to like the Poems of Mr Hamilton of Bangour,which I had brought with me I had been much pleased with them at a very early age; the impression still remained on my mind; it was confirmed by the opinion of my friend the Honourable Andrew Erskine, himself both a good poet and a good critick, who thought Hamilton as true a poet as ever wrote, and that his not having fame was unaccountable. Johnson, upon repeated occasions, while I was at Ashbourne, talked slightingly of Hamilton. He said there was no power great

tion; but there

.

:

of thinking in his verses, nothing that strikes one,

nothing better than what you generally find in magazines; and that the highest praise they deserved was, that they were very well for a gentleman to hand about among his friends. He said the imitation of Ne sit ancillce tibi amor, &c. was

Hf

read the beautiful pathetick song, "Ah the poor shepherd's mournful fate," and did not seem to give attention to what I had been used to think tender elegant strains, but laughed at the rhyme, in Scotch pronunciation, wishes and blushes, reading washes and there he stopped. He owned that the epitaph on Lord Newhall was pretty well done. He read the Inscription in a Summerhouse, and a little of the imitations of Horace's Epistles; but said he found nothing to make him desire to read on. When I urged that there were some good poetical passages in the book. "Where (said he,) will you find so large a collection without some?" I thought the description of Winter might obtain his approbation:

described to

Johnson:

[1777

too solemn he read part of it at the beginning.

Fair Tweedd" s

in icy chains silver flood constrains,

&c.

He asked why an "iron chariot"? and said "icy chains" was an old image. I was struck with the uncertainty of taste, and somewhat sorry that a poet whom I had long read with fondness, was not approved by Dr. Johnson. I comforted myself with thinking that the beauties were too delicate for his robust perceptions. Garrick maintained that he had not a taste for the finest productions of genius: but I was sensible, that

when he took

the trouble to analyse critically,

he generally convinced us that he was right. In the evening, the Reverend Mr. Seward, of Lichfield, who was passing through Ashbourne in his way home, drank tea with us. Johnson "Sir, his ambition is to be described him thus: a fine talker; so he goes to Buxton, and such places, where he may find companies to listen to him. And, Sir, he is a valetudinarian, one of those who are always mending themselves. I do not know a more disagreeable character than a valetudinarian, who thinks he may do any thing

—

that

is

for his ease,

and indulges himself

in the

grossest freedoms: Sir, he brings himself to the ^Dr. Gisborne, Physician to his Majesty's Household, has obligingly communicated to me a fuller account of this story than had reached Dr. Johnson. The affected Gentleman was the late John Gilbert Cooper, Esq., author of a Life of Socrates, and of some poems in Dodsley's Collection. Mr. Fitz-

herbert found him one morning, apparently, in such violent agitation, on account of the indispo-

seem beyond the power of comfort. At length, however, he exclaimed, "I'll write an Elegy." Mr. Fitzherbert being satisfied, by this, of the sincerity of his emotions, slyly said, "Had not you better take a post-chaise and go and see him?" It was the slirewdness of the insinuation which made the story be circulated. sition of his son, as to

hog in a stye." Dr. Taylor's nose happening to bleed, he said, it was because he had omitted to have himself blooded four days after a quarter of a year's interval. Dr. Johnson, who was a great dabbler in physick, disapproved much of periodical bleed-

state of a

ing.

"For

(said he,)

you accustom yourself to an

evacuation which Nature cannot perform of herself, and therefore she cannot help you, should you, from forgetfulness or any other cause, omit it; so you may be suddenly suffocated. You may accustom yourself to other periodical evacua-

LIFE OF

1777]

JOHNSON

347

because should you omit them, Nature can supply the omission; but Nature cannot open a "I do not like to take an vein to blood you." emetick, (said Taylor,) for fear of breaking some "Poh! (said Johnson,) if you small vessels."

live in thick air,

have so many things that will break, you had better break your neck at once, and there's an end on't. You will break no small vessels" (blowing with high derision.) I mentioned to Dr. Johnson, thatDavid Hume's persisting in his infidelity, when he was dying, shocked me much. Johnson. "Why should it shock you. Sir? Hume owned he had never read the New Testament with attention. Here then was a man, who had been at no pains to inquire

of death;

tions,

—

—

:

into the truth of religion,

and had continually

turned his mind the other way. It was not to be expected that the prospect of death would alter his way of thinking, unless God should send an angel to set him right." I said, I had reason to believe that the thought of annihilation gave Hume no pain. Johnson. "It was not so. Sir. He had a vanity in being thought easy. It is more probable that he should assume an appearance of ease, than that so very improbable a thing should be, as a man not afraid of going (as, in spite of his delusive theory, he cannot be sure but he may go,) into an unknown state, and not being uneasy at leaving all he knew. And you are to consider, that upon his own principle of annihilation he had no motive to speak the truth." The horrour of death which I had always observed in Dr. Johnson, appeared strong to-night. I ventured to tell him, that I had been, for moments in my life, not afraid of death; therefore I could suppose another man in that state of mind for a considerable space of time. He said, "he never had a moment in which death was not terrible to him." He added, that it had been observed, that scarce any man dies in publick, but with apparent resolution; from that desire of praise which never quits us. I said, Dr. Dodd seemed to be willing to die, and full of hopes of happiness. "Sir, (said he,) Dr. Dodd would have given both his hands and both his legs to have lived. The better a man is, the more afraid he is of death, having a clearer view of infinite purity." He owned, that our being in an unhappy uncertainty as to our salvation, was mysterious; and said, "Ah we must wait till we are in another state of being, to have many things explained to us." Even the powerful mind of Johnson seemed !

by futurity. But I thought, that the gloom solemn religious speculation, being mingled with hope, was yet more consolatory than the emptiness of infidelity. A man can

foiled

of uncertainty in

but perishes in an exhausted

receiver.

Dr. Johnson was

much pleased with a remark

him was made me — "That it is impossibleto not tobybeGeneral Paoli: afraid

which

I

told

and that those who

at the time of dying

are not afraid, are not thinking of death, but of else, which keeps death out of their sight: so that all men are equally afraid of death when they see it; only some have a power of turning their sight away from it better than others." On Wednesday, September 17, Dr. Butter, physician at Derby, drank tea with us; and it was settled that Dr. Johnson and I should go on Friday and dine with him. Johnson said, "I'm glad of this." He seemed weary of the uniformity of life at Dr. Taylor's. Talking of biography, I said, in writing a life, a man's peculiarities should be mentioned, because they mark his character. Johnson. "Sir, there is no doubt as to peculiarities: the question is, whether a man's vices should be mentioned; for instance, whether it should be mentioned

applause, or something

that Addison

and Parnell drank too

freely: for

people will probably more easily indulge in drinking from knowing this; so that more ill may be done by the example, than good by telling the whole truth." Here was an instance of his varying himself in talk; for when Lord Hailes and he sat one morning calmly conversing in my house at Edinburgh, I well remember that Dr. Johnson maintained, that "If a man is to write A Panegyrick, he may keep vices out of sight; but if

he professes to write A Life, he must represent it it was": and when I objected to the danger of telling that Parnell drank to excess, he said, that "it would produce an instructive cau-

really as

tion to avoid drinking, when it was seen, that even the learning and genius of Parnell could be debased by it." And in the Hebrides he maintained, as appears from my Journal,^ that a man's intimate friend should mention his faults, if he

writes his

He had

life.

this

evening, partly,

I

the spirit of contradiction to his

suppose, from

Whig

friend, a

argument with Dr. Taylor, as to the inclinations of the people of England at this time towards the Royal Family of Stuart. He grew so outrageous as to say, "that, if England were fairly polled, the present King would be sent away tonight, and his adherents hanged to-morrow." Taylor, who was as violent a Whig as Johnson was a Tory, was roused by this to a pitch of belviolent

^Journal of a Tour

240 [Sept.

22].

to

the Hebrides.

3rd

edit., p.

BOSWELL

348

lowing. He denied, loudly, what Johnson said; and maintained, that there was an abhorrence against the Stuart family, though he admitted that the people were not much attached to the

present King.- Johnson. "Sir, the state of the

country is this: the people knowing it to be agreed on all hands that this King has not the hereditary right to the crown, and there being no hope that he who has it can be restored, have grown

and indifferent upon the subject of loyalty, and have no warm attachment to any King. They would not, therefore, risk any thing to restore the exiled family. They would not give cold

twenty shillings a piece to bring it about. But, if a mere vote could do it, there would be twenty to one; at least, there would be a very great majority of voices for

it.

who

For, Sir, you are to consid-

King has a right to has to his estate, which is the just opinion, would be for restoring the King who certainly has the hereditary right, could he be trusted with it; in which there would be no danger now, when laws and every thing else are so much advanced: and every King will govern that

er,

his

all

those

crown, as a

think a

man

by the laws. And you must also consider. Sir, that there is nothing on the other side to oppose to this; for it is not alledged by any one that the present family has any inherent right: so that the Whigs could not have a contest between two rights."

Dr. Taylor admitted, that

if

the question as

were to be tried by a poll of the people of England, to be sure the abstract doctrine would be given in favour of the family of Stuart; but he said, the conduct of that family, which occasioned their expulsion, was so fresh in the minds of the people, that they would not vote for a restoration. Dr. Johnson, I think, was to hereditary right

contented with the admission as to the hereditary right, leaving the original point in dispute, viz.

what the people upon the whole would do, taking in right and affection; for he said, people were afraid of a change, even though they think it right. Dr. Taylor said something of the slight foundation of the hereditary right of the house of Stuart. "Sir, (said Johnson,) the house of Stuart succeeded to the full right of both the houses of York and Lancaster, whose common source had the undisputed right. A right to a throne is like a right to any thing else. Possession is suffiwas very ready to make this admisbecause the party with which he was connected was not in power. There was then some truth in it, owing the pertinacity of factious clamour. Had he lived till now, it would have been impossible for him to deny that his Majesty pos^Dr. Taylor

sion,

sesses the

warmest

afTection of his people.

[1777

where no better right can be shown. This was the case with the Royal Family of England, as it is now with the King of France: for as to the cient,

beginning of the right, we are in the dark." Thursday, September 18. Last night Dr. Johnson had proposed that the crystal lustre, or chandelier, in Dr. Taylor's large room, should be lighted up some time or other. Taylor said, it should be lighted up next night. "That will do very well, (said I,) for it is Dr. Johnson's birthday." When we were in the Isle of Sky, Johnson had desired me not to mention his birth-day. He did not seem pleased at this time that I mentioned it, and said (somewhat sternly,) "he would not have the lustre lighted the next day." Some ladies, who had been present yesterday when I mentioned his birth-day, came to dinner to-day, and plagued him unintentionally, by wishing him joy. I know not why he disliked having his birth-day mentioned, unless it were that it reminded him of his approaching nearer to death, of which he had a constant first

dread. I mentioned to him a friend of mine who was formerly gloomy from low spirits, and much distressed by the fear of death, but was now uniformly placid, and contemplated his dissolution without any perturbation. "Sir, (said Johnson,) this is only a disordered imagination taking a

different turn."

We

talked of a collection being

made

of all

who had

published a volume of poems. Johnson told me "that a Mr. Coxeter, whom he knew, had gone the greatest length towards this; having collected, I think, about the English Poets

hundred volumes of poets whose works were known; but that upon his death Tom Osborne bought them, and they were dispersed, which he thought a pity, as it was curious to see any series complete; and in every volume of poems something good may be found." He observed, that a gentleman of eminence in literature had got into a bad style of poetry of five

little

common thing he does not know it himself, and thinks other people do not know it." BoswELL. "That is owing to his being so much versant in old English poetry." Johnson. "What is that to the purpose, Sir? If I say a man is drunk, and you tell me it is owing to his taking much drink, the matter is not mended. No, Sir. has taken to an odd mode. For example, he'd write thus: late.

"He

puts (said he,) a very

in a strange dress

till

Hermit hoar, in solemn cell. Wearing out life's evening gray.

d

LIFE OF

1777] Gray evening he'd think

is

common

fine.

enough; but

— Stay; — we'll

evening gray

make out

the

stanza:

Hermit hoar, in solemn cell, Wearing out life's evening gray; Smite thy bosom, sage, and tell. What is bliss? and which the way?

BoswELL. "But why smite his bosom, Sir?" Johnson. "Why, to shew he was in earnest," (smiling.) He at an after period added the following

—

stanza:

Thus I spoke; and speaking sigKd;

— Scarce repressed starting — — smiling sage — Come, my lad, and drink some beer} tear;

the

When

reply'

the

cannot help thinking the first stanza very good solemn poetry, as also the three first lines of the I

Its last line is an excellent burlesque suron gloomy sentimental enquirers. And, perhaps, the advice is as good as can be given to a "Don't trouble low-spirited dissatisfied being: your head with sickly thinking: take a cup, and

second. prise

—

be merry." Friday, September 19, after breakfast Dr. Johnson and I set out in Dr. Taylor's chaise to go to Derby. The day was fine, and we resolved to go by Keddlestone, the seat of Lord Scarsdale, that I might see his Lordship's fine house. I was struck with the magnificence of the building; and the extensive park, with the finest verdure, covered with deer, and cattle, and sheep, delighted me. The number of old oaks, of an immense size, filled me with a sort of respectful admiration: for one of them sixty pounds was offered. The excellent smooth gravel roads; the large piece of water formed by his Lordship from some smaU brooks, with a handsome barge upon it; the venerable Gothick church, now the family chapel, just by the house; in short, the ^As some of my readers may be gratified by reading the progress of this little composition, I shall

from

my

"When

Dr. Johnson and I Mitre tavern. May 9, 1778, he said ''Where is bliss,' would be better. He then added a ludicrous stanza, but would not repeat it, lest I should take it down. It was somewhat insert

were

it

notes.

sitting tete-a-tete at the

as follows; the last line I

While I thus

am

sure

I

remember:

cried, seer.

The hoary

reply' d.

Come, my lad, and drink some beer. In spring, 1779, when in better humour, he made the second stanza, as in the text. There was only one variation afterwards made on my suggestion, which was changing hoary in the third line to smiling, both to avoid a sameness with the epithet in the first line, and to describe the hermit in his pleasantry. He was then very well pleased that I would preserve it."

JOHNSON

349

grand group of objects agitated and distended my mind in a most agreeable manner. "One should think (said I,) that the proprietor of all this TTzuxi be happy." "Nay, Sir, (said Johnson,) all this excludes but one evil poverty."^

—

—

Our names were sent up, and a well-drest elderly housekeeper, a most distinct articulator, shewed us the house; which I need not describe, as there is an account of it published in Adam's Works in Architecture. Dr. Johnson thought better of it to-day than when he saw it before; for he had lately attacked it violently, saying, "Itwould do excellently for a town-hall. The large room with the pillars (said he,) would do for the Judges

to

sit

in at the assizes; the circular

room

for a

jury-chamber; and the room above for prisoners." Still he thought the large room ill lighted, and of no use but for dancing in; and the bedchambers but indiff"erent rooms; and that the

immense sum which it cost was injudiciously laid out. Dr. Taylor had put him in mind of his appearing pleased with the house. "But (said he,) that was when Lord Scarsdale was present. Poappear pleased with a man's works when he is present. No man will be so ill bred as to question you. You may therefore pay compliments without saying what is not true. I should say to Lord Scarsdale of his large room, 'My Lord, this is the most costly room that I ever saw'; which is true." Dr. Manningham, physician in London, who was visiting at Lord Scarsdale's, accompanyed us through many of the rooms, and soon afterwards my Lord himself, to whom Dr. Johnson was known, appeared, and did the honours of the house. We talked of Mr. Langton. Johnson, with a warm vehemence of affectionate regard, liteness obliges us to

exclaimed, "The earth does not bear a worthier man than Bennet Langton. " We saw a good many fine pictures, which I think are described in one of Toung's Tours. There is a printed catalogue of them which the housekeeper put into my hand; I

I was much Nebuchadnezdream by Rembrandt. We were shown a

should like to view them at leisure.

struck with Daniel interpreting zar's

pretty large library. In his Lordship's dressing2 When I mentioned Dr. Johnson's remark to a lady of admirable good sense and quickness of understanding, she observed, "It is true, all this excludes only one evil; but how much good does it let in?" To this observation much praise has been justly given. Let me then now do myself the honour to mention that the lady who made it was the late Margaret Montgomerie, my very valuable wife, and the very affectionate mother of my children, who, if they inherit her good qualities, will have no reason to complain of their lot. Dos magna parentum

—

virtus.

BOSWELL

350

room

lay Johnson's small Dictionary: he shewed

to me, with some eagerness, saying, "Look'ye Quce terra nostri non plena iaborts.'^ He observed, also, Goldsmith's Animated Nature; and said, "Here's our friend The poor Doctor would have been happy to hear of this." In our way, Johnson strongly expressed his love of driving fast in a post-chaise. "If (said he,) it

!

!

I had no duties, and no reference to futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-

chaise with a pretty w^oman; but she should be

one who could understand me, and would add something to the conversation." I observed, that we were this day to stop just where the Highland army did in 1745. Johnson. "It was a noble attempt." Boswell. "I wish we could have an authentick history of it." Johnson. "If you were not an idle dog you might write it, by collecting from every body what they can tell, and putting down your authorities." Boswell. "But I could not have the advantage of it in my lifetime." Johnson. "You might have the satisfaction of its fame, by printing it in Holland; and as to profit, consider how long it was before writing came to be considered in a pecuniary view. Baretti says, he is the first man that ever received

copy-money in Italy." I said that I would endeavour to do what Dr. Johnson suggested; and I thought that I might write so as to venture to publish my History oj the Civil War in Great-Britain 1 745 and 1 746, without being obliged to go to a foreign press.^ When we arrived at Derby, Dr. Butter accompanied us to see the manufactory of china there. I admired the ingenuity and delicate art with which a man fashioned clay into a cup, a saucer, or a tea-pot, while a boy turned round a wheel to give the mass rotundity. I thought this as excellent in its species of power, as making good verses in its species. Yet I had no respect for this potter. Neither, indeed, has a man of any extent of thinking for a mere verse-maker, in whose numbers, however perfect, there is no poetry, no mind. The china was beautiful, but Dr. Johnson justly observed it was too dear; for that he could have vessels of silver, of the same size, as cheap as what were here made of porce-

in

lain.

a pleasure in walking about Derby such always have in walking about any town to which I am not accustomed. There is an imI felt

as

I

^I am now happy to understand, that Mr. John Home, who was himself gallantly in the field for

the reigning family, in that interesting warfare, but is generous enough to do justice to the other side, is preparing an account of it for the press.

[1777

mediate sensation of novelty; and one speculates on the way in which life is passed in it, which, although there is a sameness every where upon the whole, is yet minutely diversified. The minute diversities in every thing are wonderful.

Talking of shaving the other night at Dr. Taylor's, Dr. Johnson said, "Sir, of a thousand shavers, two do not shave so much alike as not to be distinguished." I thought this not possible, till he specified so many of the varieties in shaving; holding the razor more or less perpendicular; drawing long or short strokes; beginning at the upper part of the face, or the under; at the right side or the left side. Indeed, when one considers what variety of sounds can be uttered by the windpipe, in the compass of a very small aperture, we may be convinced how many degrees of diff'erence there may be in the application of a razor. We dined with Dr. Butter, whose lady is daughter of my cousin Sir John Douglas, whose grandson is now presumptive heir of the noble family of Queensberry. Johnson and he had a good deal of medical conversation. Johnson said, he had somewhere or other given an account of Dr. Nichols's discourse De Animd Medicd. He told us "that whatever a man's distemper was. Dr. Nichols would not attend him as a physician, if his mind was not at ease; for he believed that no medicines would have any influence. He once attended a man in trade, upon whom he found none of the medicines he prescribed had any effect: he asked the man's wife privately whether his aff"airs were not in a bad way? She said no. He continued his attendance some time, still without success. At length the man's wife told him, she had discovered that her husband's affairs were in a bad way. When Goldsmith was dying. Dr. Turton said to him, 'Your pulse is in greater disorder than it should be, from the degree of fever which you have: is your mind at ease?' Goldsmith answered it was not." After dinner, Mrs. Butter went with me to see the silk-mill which Mr. John Lombe had^ had a patent for, having brought away the contrivance from I taly. I am not very conversant with mechanicks; but the simplicity of this machine, and its multiplied operations, struck me with an ag"eeable surprize. I had learnt from Dr. Johnson, during this interview, not to think with a dejected indiff^erence of the works of art, and the

— —

—

—

2See Hutton's History of Derby, a book which is deservedly esteemed for its information, accuracy, and good narrative. Indeed the age in which we live is eminently distinguished by topographical excellence.

LIFE OF

1777]

because life is uncertain and short; but to consider such indifference as a failure of reason, a morbidness of mind; for happiness should be cultivated as much as we can, and the objects which are instrumental to it should be steadily considered as of importance, with a refence not only to ourselves, but to multitudes in successive ages. Though it is proper to value pleasures of

life,

small parts, as Sands make

yet

the mountain,

moments make

we must contemplate,

;^ the year

collectively, to

have a

One moment's

being uneasy or not, seems of no consequence; yet this may be thought of the next, and the next, and so on, till there is a large portion of misery. In the same way one must think of happiness, of learning, of friendship. We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over. We must not divide objects of our attention into minute parts, and think separately of each part. It is by contemplating a large mass of human existence, that a man, while he sets a just value on his own life, does not think of his death as annihilating all that is great and

just estimation of objects.

pleasing in the world, as

if

actually contained in

according to Berkeley's reverie. If his imagination be not sickly and feeble, it "wings its distant way" far beyond himself, and views the world in unceasing activity of every sort. It must be acknowledged, however, that Pope's plaintive reflection, that all things would be as gay as ever, on the day of his death, is natural and common. We are apt to transfer to all around us our own gloom, without considering that at any given point of time there is, perhaps, as much youth and gaiety in the world as at another. Behis mind,

fore

came

I

into this

life,

in

which

I

have had so

many

pleasant scenes, have not thousands and ten thousands of deaths and funerals happened, and have not families been in grief for their near-

estrelationsPButhavethosedismal circumstances at all affected me? Why then should the gloomy scenes

which

I

experience, or which I know, af-

Let us guard against imagining that an end of felicity upon earth, when we ourselves grow old, or are unhappy. Dr. Johnson told us at tea, that when some of Dr. Dodd's pious friends were trying to console him by saying that he was going to leave "a wretched world," he had honesty enough not to join in the cant: "No, no, (said he,) it has been fect others?

there

is

—

^Young.

JOHNSON

351

a very agreeable world to me." Johnson added, "I respect Dodd for thus speaking the truth; for, to be sure, he had for several years enjoyed a life of great voluptuousness."

He

Dodd's city friends stood by pounds were ready to be given to the gaoler, if he would let him escape. He added, that he knew a friend of Dodd's, who walked about Newgate for some time on the evening before the day of his execution, with five hundred pounds in his pocket, ready to be paid to any of the turnkeys who could get him out: but it was too late; for he was watched with much circumspection. He said, Dodd's friends had an image of him made of wax, which was to have been left in his place; and he believed it was carried into the prison. Johnson disapproved of Dr. Dodd's leaving the world persuaded that The Convict'' s Address to his unhappy Brethren was of his own writing. "But, Sir, (said I,) you contributed to the deception; for when Mr. Seward expressed a doubt to you that it was not Dodd's own, because it had a great deal more force of mind in it than any 'Wh^ thing known to be his, you answered, should you think so? Depend upon it. Sir, wher a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.' " Johnson. "Sir, as Dodd got it from me to pass as his own, while that could do him any good, there was an implied promise that I should not own it. To own it, therefore, would have been telling a lie, with the addition of breach of promise, which was worse than simply telling a lie to make it be believed it was Dodd's. Besides, Sir, I did not di-

him

told us, that

so,

that a thousand

—

a lie: I left the matter uncertain. Perthought that Seward would not believe it the less to be mine for what I said; but I would not put it in his power to say I had owned it." He praised Blair's sermons: "Yet," said he, (willing to let us see he was aware that fashionable fame, however deserved, is not always the most lasting,) "perhaps, they may not be reprinted after seven years; at least not after Blair's rectly tell

haps

I

death."

He

"Goldsmith was a plant that flowThere appeared nothing remarkable about him when he was young; though when he had got high in fame, one of his friends began to ered

said,

late.

recollect

something of his being distinguished at

College. Goldsmith in the lected

more

same manner

recol-

of that friend's early years, as he

grew a greater man." I mentioned that Lord Monboddo told me, he awaked every morning at four, and then for his health got up and walked in his room naked,

BOSWELL

352

1777

with the window open, which he called taking an

Taylor remarked,

air bath; after

which he went to bed again, and two hours more. Johnson, who was always ready to beat down any thing that seemed to be exhibited with disproportionate importance, thus observed: "I suppose. Sir, there is no more in it than this, he awakes at four, and cannot sleep till he chills himself, and makes the warmth of the bed a grateful sensation."

man who

slept

the ordinary time, instead of being stronger than

I

talked of the difficulty of rising in the

ing. Dr.

Johnson

told

morn-

me, "that the learned Mrs.

when she was eager in awake as early as she wished, and she therefore had a contrivance, that, at a certain hour, her chamber-light should burn a string to which a heavy weight was suspended, which then fell with a strong sudden noise: this roused her from sleep, and then she had no difficulty in getting up." But I said that was my difficulty; and wished there could be some medicine invented which would make one rise without pain, which I never did, unless after lying in bed a Carter, at that period

study, did not

may be something Nature which could do this. I

very long time. Perhaps there in the stores of

have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my internal inclination. I would have something that can dissipate the vis inertia, and give elasticity to the muscles. As I imagine that the human body may be put, by the operation of other substances, into any state in which it has ever been; and as I have experienced a state in which rising from bed was not disagreeable but easy, nay, sometimes agreeable; I suppose that this state may be produced, if we knew by what. We can heat the body, we can cool it; we can give

it

tension or relaxation

sible to bring it into

;

and

surely

it is

pos-

a state in which rising from

bed will not be a pain. Johnson observed, that "a man should take a sufficient quantity of sleep, which Dr. Mead says is between seven and nine hours." I told him, that Dr. Cullen said to me, that a man should not take more sleep than he can take at once. Johnson. "This rule. Sir, cannot hold in all cases; for many people have their sleep broken by sickness; and surely, Cullen would not have a man to get up, after having slept but an hour. Such a regimen would soon end in a long sleep. Dr. ''''^

iThis regimen was however, practised by Bishop Ken, of whom Hawkins {not Sir John) in his life of that venerable Prelate, p. 4, tells us: "And that neither his study might be the aggressor on his hours of instruction, or what he judged his duty prevent his improvements; or both, his closet addresses to his God; he strictly accustomed himself to but one sleep, which often obliged him to rise at

think very justly, that "a does not feel an inclination to sleep at I

other people, must not be well; for a man in health has all the natural inclinations to eat,

and sleep, in a strong degree." Johnson advised me to-night not to

drink,

the education of

my

refine

in

children. "Life (said he,)

bear refinement: you must do as other people do." As we drove back to Ashbourne, Dr. Johnson recommended to me, as he had often done, to drink water only: "For (said he,) you are then sure not to get drunk; whereas if you drink wine you are never sure." I said, drinking wine was a pleasure which I was unwilling to give up, "Why, Sir, (said he,) there is no doubt that not to drink wine is a great deduction from life; but it may be necessary." He however owned, that in his opinion a free use of wine did not shorten life; and said, he would not give less for the life of a certain Scotch Lord (whom he named) celebrated for hard drinking, than for that of a sober man. "But stay, (said he, with his usual intelligence, and accuracy of enquiry,) does it take much wine to make him drunk?" I answered, "a great deal either of wine or strong punch." "Then (said he,) that is the worse." I presume to illustrate my friend's observation thus: "A fortress which soon surrenders has its walls less shattered than when a long and obstinate resistance

will not

—

is

made." I

ventured to mention a person who was as Scotsman as he was an Englishman;

violent a

and

literally

had the same contempt for an Eng-

lishman compared with a Scotsman, that he had for a Scotsman compared with an Englishman; and that he would say of Dr. Johnson, "Damned rascal! to talk as he does of the Scotch." This seemed, for a moment, "to give him pause." It, perhaps, presented his extreme prejudice against the Scotch in a point of view somewhat new to him, by the effect of contrast. By the time when we returned to Ashbourne, Dr. Taylor was gone to bed. Johnson and I sat up a long time by ourselves. one or two of the clock in the morning, and sometimes sooner; and grew so habitual, that it continued with him almost till his last illness. And so lively and chearful was his temper, that he would be very facetious and entertaining to his friends in the evening, even when it was perceived that with difficulty he kept his eyes open; and then seemed to go to rest with no other purpose than the refreshing and enabling him with more vigour and chearfulness to sing his morning hymn, as he then used to do to his lute before he put on his cloaths."

LIFE OF 1777] with an article which He was much diverted I shewed him in The Critical Review of this year, giving an account of a curious pubUcation, en-

A

titled,

Rutty,

Spiritual Diary

and

Soliloquies,

M.D. Dr. Rutty was one

by John

of the people

called Quakers, a physician of some

eminence in

Dublin, and authour of several works. This Diary, which was kept from 1 753 to 1 775, the year in which he died, and was now published in two

volumes octavo, exhibited, in the simplicity of his heart, a minute and honest register of the state of his mhid; which, though frequently laughable enough, was not more so than the history of many men would be, if recorded with equal fairness.

The

following specimens were extracted by

the Reviewers:

"Tenth month,

1753.

Indulgence in bed an hour too long. Twelfth month, 17. An hypochondriack ob23.

nubilation from

Ninth month, 29.

A dull,

First

wind and

An

28.

indigestion.

over-dose of whisky.

cross, cholerick day.

month,

1

757

— 22. A

little

swinish at din-

ner and repast.

Dogged on provocation. Second month, 5. Very dogged or snappish. 14. Snappish on fasting. 26. Cursed snappishness to those under me, on a bodily indisposition. Third month, 1 1 On a provocation, exercised a dumb resentment for two days, instead of 31.

.

22.

Scolded too vehemently.

23.

Dogged

again.

Fourth month, 29. Mechanically and sinfully dogged." Johnson laughed heartily at this good Quietist's self-condemning minutes; particularly at his mentioning, with such a serious regret, occasional instances oi" swinishness in eating, and doggedness of temper" He thought the observations of the Critical Reviewers upon the importance of a man to himself so ingenious and so well expressed, that I shall here introduce them. After observing, that "There are few writers who have gained any reputation by recording

own

353

are so noble, his morality so sublime, that his meditations are universally admired. In the third class we have some others of tolerable credit,

who have given importance to their own private by an intermixture of literary anecdotes, and the occurrences of their own times: the celebrated Huetius, has published an entertaining volume upon this place De rebus ad eum perti-

history

In the fourth class we have the journaltemporal and spiritual: Elias Ashmole, William Lilly, George Whitefield, John Wesley, and a thousand other old women and fanatick writnentibus. ists,

memoirs and meditations." mentioned to him that Dr. Hugh Blair, in his lectures on Rhetorick and Belles Lettres, which I heard him deliver at Edinburgh, had animadverted on the Johnsonian style as too pompous; and attempted to imitate it, by giving a sentence of Addison in The Spectator, No. 41 1, in the maners of I

ner of Johnson.

When

treating of the utility of

the pleasures of imagination in preserving us it is observed of those "who know not be idle and innocent," that "their very first step out of business is into vice or folly"; which Dr. Blair supposed would have been expressed in The Rambler thus: "Their very first step out of the regions of business is into the per-

from

vice,

how

to

turbation of vice, or the vacuity of foUy."^ Johnwords I should have used. No, Sir; the imitators of my style have not hit it. Miss Aikin has done it the best; for she has imitated the sentiment as well as the dic-

son. "Sir, these are not the

tion."

scolding.

their

JOHNSON

actions," they say:

"We may

reduce the egotists to four classes. In the first we have Julius Caesar: he relates his own transactions; but he relates them with peculiar grace and dignity, and his narrative is supported by the greatness of his character and achievements. In the second class we have Marcus Antoninus: this writer has given us a series of reflections on his own life; but his sentiments

I

intend, before this

work

is

concluded, to ex-

hibit specimens of imitation of

my

friend's style

modes; some caricaturing or mimicking it, and some formed upon it, whether intentionally or with a degree of similarity to it, of which, perhaps, the writers were not conscious. In Baretti's Review, which he published in Italy, under the title of Frusta Letteraria, it is observed, that Dr. Robertson the historian had formed his style upon that of // celebre Samuele in various

Johnson.

My friend himself was of that opinion;

he once said to me, in a pleasant humour, "Sir, if Robertson's style be faulty, he owes it to me; that is, having too many words, and those

for

too big ones."

^When Dr. Blair published his Lectures, he was invidiously attacked for having omitted his censure on Johnson's style, and, on the contrary, praising it highly. But before that time Johnson's Lives of the Poets had appeared, in which his style was considerably easier than when he wrote The Rambler.

would, therefore have been uncandid in even supposing his criticism to have been to have preserved it. It

Blair, just,

BOSWELL

354

read to him a letter which Lord Monboddo had written to me, containing some critical remarks upon the style of his Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. His Lordship praised the very I

fine passage

upon landing

at Icolmkill;^ but his

own style being exceedingly dry and hard, he disapproved of the richness of Johnson's language, of his frequent use of metaphorical expressions. Johnson. "Why, Sir, this criticism would be just, if in my style, superfluous words, or words

and

too big for the thoughts, could be pointed out;

do not believe can be done. For inwhich Lord Monboddo admires, 'We were now treading that illustrious region,' the word illustrious, contributes nothing to the mere narration; for the fact inight be told but

this I

stance; in the passage

without

it:

but

not, therefore, superfluous;

it is

it wakes the mind to peculiar attention, where something of more than usual importance is to be presented. 'Illustrious !' for what? and then the sentence proceeds to expand the circumstances connected with lona. And, Sir, as to metaphori-

for

—

cal expression, that

when

is

a great excellence in

style,

used with propriety, for it gives you conveys the meaning more luminously, and generally with a perception of it is

two ideas

for one;

—

delight."

He

told

take the

more

[1777

impartiality than might have been expect-

ed from a Separatist, it were to have been wished that the superintendence of this literary Temple of Fame had been assigned to "a friend to the constitution in Church and State." We should not then have had it too much crowded with obscure dissenting teachers, doubtless

men of merit

and worth, but not quite to be numbered amongst "the most eminent persons who have flourished in Great-Britain and Ireland."^ On Saturday, September Qo, after breakfast, when Taylor was gone out to his farm, Dr. Johnson and I had a serious conversation by ourselves on melancholy and madness; which he was, I always thought, erroneously inclined to confound together. Melancholy, like "great wit,"

may

be

madness"; but there is, in my opinion, a distinct separation between them. When he talked of madness, he was to be underpin this censure which has been carelessly ut"near

allied to

But injustice to Dr. Kipwith that manly candid good temper

tered, I carelessly joined. pis,

who

which marks

his character, set

me

right, I

now

with pleasure retract it; and I desire it may be particularly observed, as pointed out by him to me,

"The new lives of dissenting Divines, in the four volumes of the second edition of the Biographia Britannica are those of John Abernethy, that first

Thomas Amory, George Benson, Hugh Broughton, me, that he had been asked to under-

new

edition of the Biographia Britannica,

but had declined it; which he afterwards said to me he regretted. In this regret many will join, because it would have procured us more of John-

most delightful species of writing; and although my friend Dr. Kippis has hitherto discharged the task judiciously, distinctly, and with son's

'"We were now treading that illustrious island, which was once the luminary of the Caledonian regions, whence savage clans and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge, and the blessings of religion. To abstract the mind from all local emotion would be impossible if it were endeavoured, and would be foolish if it were possible. Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses, whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future, predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking beings. Far from me, and from my friends, be such frigid philosophy, as may conduct us, indiff"erent and unmoved, over any ground which has been dignified by wisdom, bravery, or virtue. The man is little to be envied, whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer

among the ruins of Zona." Had our Tour produced nothing

else

but

this

sublime passage, the world must haveacknowledged that it was not made in vain. Sir Joseph Banks, the present respectable President of the Royal Society, told me, he was so much struck on reading it, that he clasped his hands together, and remained for some time in an attitude of silent admiration.

the learned Puritan, Simon Browne, Joseph Boyse of Dublin, Thomas Gartwright the learned Puritan,

and Samuel Ghandler. The only doubt

I have whether there should have Amory. But I was convinced, convinced, that he was entitled to one,

ever heard suggested been an article of Dr.

is,

and am still from the reality of his learning, and the excellent and candid nature of his practical writings. "The new lives of clergymen of the Ghurch of England, in the same four volumes, are as follows: John Balguy, Edward Bentham, George Berkley Bishop of Cloyne, William Berriman, Thomas Birch, William Borlase, Thomas Bott, James Bradley, Thomas Broughton, John Brown, John Burton, Joseph Butler Bishop of Durham, Thomas Garte, Edmund Gastell, Edmund Ghishull, Gharles Ghurchill, William Glarke, Robert Glayton Bishop of Glogher, John Gonybeare Bishop of Bristol, George Gostard, and Samuel Groxall. 'I am not conscious (says Dr. Kippis,) of any partiality in conducting the work. I would not willingly insert a Dissenting Minister that does not justly deserve to be noticed, or omit an established Glergyman that does. At the same time, I shall not be deterred from introducing Dissenters into the Biographia, when I am satisfied that they are entitled to that distinction, from their writings, learning, and mer"

—

it.'

Let me add that the expression "A friend to the constitution in Ghurch and State," was not meant by me, as any reflection upon this reverend gentleman, as if he were an enemy to the political constitution of his country, as established at the revolution, but, from my steady and avowed predilection for a Tory, was quoted from Johnson's Dictionary, where that distinction is so defined.

LIFE OF

1777]

J

OHNSON

355

stood as speaking of those who were in any great degree disturbed, or as it is commonly expressed, "troubled in mind." Some of the ancient philos-

blame you for your wish to live there: yet, Sir, were I in your father's place, I should not con-

ophers held, that all deviations from right reason were madness; and whoever wishes to see the opinions both of ancients and moderns upon this subject, collected and illustrated with a variety of curious facts, may read Dr. Arnold's

dal notions, and

very entertaining work.^

sent to your settling there; for

have the old feu-

I

should be afraid that Auchinleck would be deserted, as you would soon find it more desirable to have a country-seat in a better climate. I own, however, that to consider it as a duty to reside on a family estate is a prejudice; for we must consider, that working-people I

Johnson said, "A madman loves to be with people whom he fears; not as a dog fears the lash; but of whom he stands in awe." I was struck with the justice of this observation. To be with those of whom a person, whose mind is wavering and dejected, stands in awe, represses and composes an uneasy tumult of spirits, and consoles him with the contemplation of something steady, and at least comparatively great.

get

He added, "Madmen are all sensual in the lower stages of the distemper. They are eager for gratifications to sooth their minds, and divert their attention from the misery which they suffer: but when they grow very ill, pleasure is too

bourhood in civility and elegance, and give an example of good order, virtue, and piety; and so

weak for them, and they seek for pain. ^ Employment, Sir, and hardships, prevent melancholy. I suppose in all our army in America there was not one man who went mad." We entered seriously upon a question of much importance to me, which Johnson was pleased to consider with friendly attention. I had long complained to him that I felt myself discontented in Scotland, as too narrow a sphere, and that I wished to make my chief residence in London, the great scene of ambition, instruction, and amusement: a scene, which was to me, comparatively speaking, a heaven upon earth. Johnson. "Why, Sir, I never knew any one who had such a gust for London as you have: and I cannot ^Observations

on

Insanity,

by Thomas Arnold,

M.D., London, 1782.

^We read in the Gospels, that those unfortunate who were possessed with evil spirits (which,

persons

after all, I think is the most probable cause of remadness, as was first suggested to me by spectable friend Sir John Pringle), had recourse to

my

pain, tearing themselves, and jumping sometimes into the fire, sometimes into the water. Mr. Seward has furnished me with a remarkable anecdote in confirmation of Dr. Johnson's observation. A tradesman, who had acquired a large fortune in London, retired from business, and went to live at

Worcester. His mind, being without its usual occupation, and having nothing else to supply its place, preyed upon itself, so that existence was a torment to him. At last he was seized with the stone; and a friend who found him in one of its severest fits, having expressed his concern, "No, no. Sir, (said he,) don't pity me: what I now feel is ease compared with that torture of mind from which it relieves

me."

employment

and the produce of whether a great family resides at home or not; and if the rents of an estate be carried to London, they return again in the circulation of commerce; nay, Sir, we must perhaps allow, that carrying the rents to a disland

is

equally,

sold equally,

a good, because it contributes to that We must, however, allow, that a wellregulated great family may improve a neightance

is

circulation.

may be of much advantage. a great family be disorderly and vicious, its residence at home is very pernicious to a neighbourhood. There is not now the same inducement to live in the country as formerly; the pleasures of social life are much better enjoyed in town; and there is no longer in the country that power and influence in proprietors of land its

residence at home

But

if

which they had

in old times,

and which made

The Laird of Auchinleck now is not near so great a man as the Laird of Auchinleck was a hundred years the country so agreeable to them.

ago." I

told him, that

one of

my

ancestors never

wentfromhomewithoutbeing attended by thirty men on horseback. Johnson's shrewdness and spirit of enquiry were exerted upon every occasion. "Pray (said he,) how did your ancestor support his thirty men and thirty horses, when he went at a distance from home, in an age when there was hardly any money in circulation?" I suggested the same difl&culty to a friend, who mentioned Douglas's going to the Holy Land with a numerous train of followers. Douglas could, no doubt, maintain followers enough while living upon his own lands, the produce of which supplied them with food; but he could not carry that food to the Holy Land; and as there was no commerce by which he could be supplied with money, how could he maintain them in foreign countries? I suggested a doubt, that if I were to reside in London, the exquisite zest with which I relished it in occasional visits might go off, and I might grow tired of it. Johnson. "Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave

'

BOSWELL

356

London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of Hfe; for there is in London all that life can afford." To obviate his apprehension, that by settling in London I might desert the seat of my ancestors, I assured him, that I had old feudal principles to a degree of enthusiasm; and that I felt all the dulcedo of the natale solum. I reminded him, that the Laird of Auchinleck had an elegant house, in front of which he could ride ten miles forward upon his own territories, upon which he had upwards of six hundred people attached to him; that the family seat was rich in natural romantick beauties of rock, wood, and water; and that in my "morn of life," I had appropriated

and growing fretful,

American savage, who, when an European was expatiating on all the advantages of money, put this question: "Will it purchase occupationV Johnson. "Depend upon it. Sir, this saying is too refined for a savage. And, Sir, money will purchase occupation; it will purchase all the conveniences of life; it will purchase variety of company it will purchase all sorts of entertainment. '

;

I

like

He listened to all this, and might be as I now supposed." He said, "A country gentleman should bring his lady to visit London as soon as he can, that they may have agreeable topicks for conversation when they are by themselves." As I meditated trying my fortune in Westit

many

"You

chances

and those who get large practice so few. He said, it was by no means true that a man of good parts and application is sure of having business, though the law; the candidates are so numerous,

if such a man could but appear in a few causes, his merit would be known, and he would get forward; but that the great risk was, that a man might pass half a life-time in the Courts, and never have an opportunity of shewing his abilities."^ We talked of employment being absolutely necessary to preserve the mind from wearying

he, indeed, allowed that

^Now,

at the distance of fifteen years since this

conversation passed, the observation which I have had an opportunity of making in Westminster Hall has convinced me, that, however true the opinion of Dr. Johnson's legal friend may have been some time ago, the same certainty of success cannot now be promised to the same display of merit. The reasons, however, of the rapid rise of some, and the disappointment of others equally respectable, are such as it might seem invidious to mention, and would requii-e a longer detail than would be proper for this work.

"Sir, (said he,) there

same

size. I felt

I

to the

South

found he did not is

a great affecta-

•

great satisfaction in con-

was supported in my fondness for solemn publick worship by the general concurrence and munificence of mankind. Johnson and Taylor were so different from each other, that I wondered at their preserving an intimacy. Their having been at school and college together, might, in some degree, account for this; but Sir Joshua Reynolds has furnished me with a stronger reason; for Johnson mentioned to him, that he had been told by Taylor he was to be his heir. I shall not take upon me to animadvert upon this; but certain it is, that Johnson paid great attention to Taylor. He now, however, said to me, "Sir, I love him; but I do not love him more; my regard for him does not increase. As it is said in the Apocrypha, 'his talk is of bullocks'^: I do not suppose he is very fond of my company. His habits are by no means sufficiently clerical: this he knows that I see; and no man likes to live under the eye of perpetual sidering that

upon the

against any man's success in the profession of

which pleased me; but it.

of the

must not indulge too sanguine hopes, should you be called to our bar. I was told, by a very sensible lawyer, that there are a great

of Forster's Voyage

Boswell. "But he carries you along with him." Johnson. "No, Sir; he does not carry me along with him: he leaves me behind him: or rather, indeed, he sets me before him; for he makes me turn over many leaves at a time." On Sunday, September 12, we went to the church of Ashbourne, which is one of the largest and most luminous that I have seen in any town

of the metropolis.

minster Hall, our conversation turned

him

tion of fine writing in it."

my mind. That when all this was considered, I

profession of the law in England. Johnson.

talked to

Seas,

should certainly pass a part of the year at home, and enjoy it the more from variety, and from bringing with me a share of the intellectual stores kindly "hoped

[1777 who have

a tendency to melancholy; and I mentioned to him a saying which somebody had related of an

the finest descriptions in the ancient Classicks to certain scenes there, which were thus associated in

especially in those

I

disapprobation." I have no doubt that a good many sermons were composed for Taylor by Johnson. At this time I found, upon his table, a part of one which he had newly begun to write: and Conciopro Tayloro appears in one of his diaries. When to these circumstances we add the internal evidence from the power of thinking and style, in the collection

^Ecclesiasticus, 38. 25. The whole chapter may be read as an admirable illustration of the superiority of cultivated minds over the gross and illiterate.

LIFE OF

1777]

which the Reverend Mr. Hayes has published, with the

significant title

of "Sermons left for publi-

cation by the Reverend John Taylor, conviction wUl be complete.

LL.D." our

JOHNSON

357

keep up the dignity of his rank. He was so generally civil, that nobody thanked him for it." "Did we not hear so much said of Jack Wilkes,

we

should think more highly of his conversaJack has great variety of talk. Jack is a scholar, and Jack has the manners of a gentleman. But after hearing his name sounded from pole to pole, as the phoenix of convivial felicity, we are disappointed in his company. He has always been at me: but I would do Jack a kindness, rather than not. The contest is now over." "Garrick's gaiety of conversation has delicacy and elegance: Foote makes you laugh more; but Foote has the air of a buffoon paid for entertaining the company. He indeed, well deserves his

however, would not have it thought, that Dr. Taylor, though he could not write like Johnson, (as, indeed, who could?) did not sometimes compose sermons as good as those which we generally have from very respectable divines. He shewed me one with notes on the margin in Johnson's hand-writing, and I was present when he read another to Johnson, that he might have his opinion of it, and Johnson said it was "very well." These, we may be sure, were not Johnson's: for he was above little arts, or tricks of deception. Johnson was by no means, of opinion, that every man of a learned profession should consider it as incumbent upon him, or as necessary to his credit, to appear as an authour. When in the ardour of ambition for literary fame, I regretted to him one day that an eminent Judge had nothing of it, and therefore would leave no perpetual monument of himself to posterity. "Alas, Sir (said Johnson,) what a mass of confusion should we, have, if every Bishop, and every Judge, every Lawyer, Physician, and Divine, were to write books." I mentioned to Johnson a respectable person of a very strong mind, who had little of that

tion.

tenderness which is common to human nature; as an instance of which, when I suggested to him

or a ballad-singer?" Boswell. "No, Sir; but

I,

that he should invite his son,

who had been setcome home

hire."

"CoUey Gibber once consulted me

Sir

!

respect a great player, as a

claps a

I

when

shall present

fresh.

my readers with a series of what

gathered this evening from the Johnsonian garden. "My friend, the late-Earl of Corke, had a great desire to maintain the literary character of his family: he was a genteel man, but did not I

man who

we

can con-

and can express them "What, Sir, a fellow who back, and a lump on his

ceive lofty sentiments,

and pay him a visit, his answer was, "No, no, let him mind his business." Johnson. "I do not agree with him, Sir, in this. Getting money is

of their taste

one

was

what merit? Do you respect a rope-dancer,

gracefully." Johnson.

out delay. To record his sayings, after some distance of time, was like preserving or pickling long-kept and faded fruits, or other vegetables, which, when in that state, have little or nothing

it

wanted. I objected very freely to several passages. Gibber lost patience, and would not read his Ode to an end. When we had done with criticism, we walked over to Richardson's, the authour of Clarissa, and I wondered to find Richardson displeased that I 'did not treat Gibber with more respect.^ Now, Sir to talk oi respect for a player!" (smiling disdainfully.) Boswell. "There, Sir, you are always heretical: you never will allow merit to a player." Johnson. "Merit,

tled ten years in foreign parts, to

not all a man's business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life." In the evening, Johnson, being in very good spirits, entertained us with several characteristical portraits. I regret that any of them escaped my retention and diligence. I found, from experience, that to collect my friend's conversation so as to exhibit it with any degree of its original flavour, it was necessary to write it down with-

as to

of his birthday Odes, a long time before

hump on

and

leg,

cries '/

his

am Richard

the Third'''?

Nay,

Sir,

a ballad-singer is a higher man, for he does two things; he repeats and he sings: there is both recitation and musick in his performance: the player only recites." Bosvvtell. "My dear Sir! you may turn anything into ridicule. I allow, that a player of farce is not entitled to respect; he does a little thing: but he who can represent exalted characters, and touch the noblest passions, has very respectable powers; and mankind have agreed in admiring great talents for the stage. We must consider, too, that a great player does what very few are capable to do his :

art

a very rare faculty. Who can repeat Hamsoliloquy, 'To be, or not to be,' as Garrick

is

let's

does it?" Johnson.

"Any body may. Jemmy,

there (a boy about eight years old, who was in the room,) will do it as well in a week." Boswell. "No, no. Sir: and as a proof of the merit

and of the value which mankind Garrick has got a hundred thousand pounds." Johnson. "Is getting a hundred thouof great acting, set

upon

it,

BOSWELL

358

sand pounds a proof of excellence? That has been done by a scoundrel commissary." This was most fallacious reasoning. I was sure, for once, that I

had the

best side of the argu-

ment. I boldly maintained the just distinction between a tragedian and a mere theatrical droll; between those who rouse our terrour and pity, and those who only make us laugh. "If (said I,) Betterton and Foote were to walk into this room, you would respect Betterton much more than Foote." Johnson. "If Betterton were to walk into this room with Foote, Foote would soon drive him out of it. Foote, Sir, quatenils Foote, has powers superiour to them all."

On Monday,

September 22, when at breakunguardedly said to Dr. Johnson, "I wish I saw you and Mrs. Macaulay together." He grew very angry; and, after a pause, while a cloud gathered on his brow, he burst out, "No, Sir; you would not see us quarrel, to make you sport. Don't you know that it is very uncivil to pit two people against one another?" Then, fast, I

checking himself, and wishing to be more gentle, he added, " I do not say you should be hanged or drowned for this; but it is very uncivil." Dr. Taylor thought him in the wrong, and spoke to him privately of it; but I afterwards acknowledged to Johnson that I was to blame, for I candidly owned, that I meant to express a desire to see a contest between Mrs. Macaulay and him; but then I knew how the contest would end; so that I was to see him triumph. Johnson. "Sir, you cannot be sure how a contest will end; and no man has a right to engage two people in a dispute by which their passions may be inflamed, and they may part with bitter resentment against each other. I would sooner keep company with a man from whom I must guard my pockets, than with a man who contrives to bring me into a dispute with somebody that he may hear it. This is the great fault of (naming one of our friends,) endeavouring to introduce a subject upon which he knows two people in the company differ." Boswell. "But he told me, Sir, he does it for instruction." Johnson. "Whatever the motive be. Sir, the man who does so, does very wrong. He has no more right to instruct himself at such risk, than he has to make two people fight a duel, that he may learn how to defend himself." He found great fault with a gentleman of our acquaintance for keeping a bad table. "Sir, (said he,) when a man is invited to dinner, he is disappointed if he does not get something good. I advised Mrs. Thrale, who has no card-parties at her house, to give sweet-meats, and such good ,

[1777

an evening, as are not commonly given, and she would find company enough come to her; for every body loves to have things which please the palate put in their way, without trouble or preparation." Such was his attention tc the minutiae of life and manners. He thus characterised the Duke of Devonthings, in

shire,

grandfather of the present representative

of that very respectable family:

man

"He was

of superiour abilities, but he

strictly faithful to his

word.

If,

not a

was a man

for instance, he

had promised you an acorn, and none had grown that year in his woods, he would not have contented himself with that excuse; he would have sent to Denmark for it. So unconditional was he in keeping his word; so high as to the point of honour." This was a liberal testimony from the Tory Johnson to the virtue of a great Whig nobleman. Mr. Burke's Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol, on the affairs of America, being mentioned, Johnson censured the composition much, and he ridiculed the definition of a free government, viz- "For any practical purpose, it is what the people think so."^ "I will let the King of France govern me on

—

those conditions, (said he,) for it just as I please. "And

is

to be

when Dr. Taylor

governed

talked of a

being sent to a parish workhouse, and asked she could be obliged to work, "Why, (said Johnson,) as much as is reasonable: and

girl

how much

is that? as much as she thinks reasonable." Dr. Johnson obligingly proposed to carry me to see Islam, a romantick scene, now belonging to a family of the name of Port, but formerly the seat of the Congreves. I suppose it is well de-

what

scribed in it

some of the Tours. Johnson described and vividly, at which I could not

distinctly

but express to him my wonder; because, though as he observed, were better than his, I could not by any means equal him in representing visible objects. I said, the difference between us in this respect was as that between a man who has a bad instrument, but plays well on it, and a man who has a good instrument, on which he can play very imperfectly. I recollect a very fine amphitheatre, surrounded with hills covered with woods, and walks neatly formed along the side of a rocky steep, on the quarter next the house, with recesses under projections of rock, overshadowed with trees; in one of which recesses, we were told, Congreve wrote his Old Bachelor. We viewed a remarkable

my eyes,

natural curiosity at Islam; two rivers bursting near each other from the rock, not from immediate springs, but after having run for many miles

^Second

edit., p. 53,

LIFE OF

1777]

under ground. Plott, in his History of Staffordshire,^ gives an account of this curiosity; but Johnson would not believe it, though we had the attestation of the gardener, who said, he had put in corks, where the river Manyfold sinks into

and had catched them in a net, placed before one of the openings where the water bursts out. Indeed, such subterraneous courses of water are found in various parts of our globe. ^ Talking of Dr. Johnson's unwillingness to believe extraordinary things, I ventured to say, "Sir, you come near Hume's argument against miracles, 'That it is more probable witnesses should lie, or be mistaken, than that they should happen." Johnson. "Why, Sir, Hume, taking the proposition simply, is right. But the Christian revelation is not proved by the miracles alone, but as connected with prophecies, and with the doctrines in confirmation of which the miracles were wrought." He repeated his observation, that the differences among Christians are really of no consequence. "For instance (said he,) if a Protestant objects to a Papist, 'You worship images'; the Papist can answer, 'I do not insist on your doing it; you may be a very good Papist without it: I do it only as a help to my devotion."' I said, the ground,

'

the great article of Christianity

is

the revelation

of immortality. Johnson admitted

it was. In the evening, a gentleman-farmer, who was on a visit at Dr. Taylor's, attempted to dispute with Johnson in favour of Mungo Campbell, who shot Alexander, Earl of Eglintoune, upon

having fallen, when retreating from his Lordwho he believed was about to seize his gun, as he had threatened to do. He said, he should have done just as Campbell did. Johnhis

ship,

son.

"Whoever would do

as

serves to be hanged; not that

man, have found him

Campbell I

did, de-

could, as a jury-

murder; but I am glad they found means to convict him." The gentleman-farmer said, "A poor man has as much honour as a rich man; and Campbell had that to defend." Johnson exclaimed, "A poor man has no honour." The English yeoman, not dismayed, proceeded: "Lord Eglintoune was a damned fool to run on upon Cam.pbell, after being warned that Campbell would shoot him if he did." Johnson, who could not bear any thing like swearing, angrily replied, "He was not a damned fool: he only thought too well of Campbell. He did not believe Campbell would be such a damned scoundrel, as to do so damned a legally guilty of

iPage 89. ^See Plott's History of Staffordshire, p. authorities referred to by him.

i,

and the

JOHNSON

359

thing." His emphasis on damned, accompanied

with frowning looks, reproved his opponent's

want

of

decorum

in his presence.

Talking of the danger of being mortified by rejection, when making approaches to the acquaintance of the great, I observed: "I am, however, generally for trying, 'Nothing venture, nothing have.'" Johnson. "Very true. Sir; but I have always been more afraid of failing, than hopeful of success." And, indeed, though he had all just

respect for rank,

no man ever

less

court-

ed the favour of the great. During this interview at Ashbourne, Johnson seemed to be more uniformly social, cheerful, and alert, than I had almost ever seen him. He was prompt on great occasions and on small.

who

Taylor,

praised every thing of his

own

to

"whose geese were all swans," as the proverb says, expatiated on the excellence of his bull-dog, which, he told us, was "perfectly well shaped." Johnson, after exam-

excess; in short,

ining the animal attentively, thus repressed the vain-glory of our host: "No, Sir, he is not well

—

shaped; for there

is

not the quick transition from

— the — behind, — which a bull-dog ought to

the thickness of the fore-part, to the tenuity thin part

have." This tenuity was the only hard word that I heard him use during this interview, and it will be observed, he instantly put another expression in its place. Taylor said, a small bull-dog was as good as a large one. Johnson. "No, Sir; for, in proportion to his size, he has strength: and your argument would prove, that a good bull-dog may be as small as a mouse." It was amazing how he entered with perspicuity and keenness upon every thing that occurred in con-

Most men, whom I know, would no more think of discussing a question about a bull-

versation.

dog, than of attacking a bull. I cannot allow any fragment whatever that floats in my memory concerning the great subject of this work to be lost. Though a small particular

may appear

trifling to

some,

it

will

be

by others; while every little spark adds something to the general blaze: and to please relished

the true, candid,

and

in

warm

admirers of Johnson,

any degree increase the splendour of his

reputation,

I

bid defiance to the shafts of ridi-

cule, or even of malignity.

been discharged at Hebrides; yet

it still

of time, and, as

Showers of them have

my

Journal of a Tour to the sails unhurt along the stream

an attendant upon Johnson,

Pursues the triumph, and partakes the gale.

One morning after breakfast, when the sun shone bright, we walked out together, and

BOSWELL

360

"pored" for some time with placid indolence upon an artificial water-fall, which Dr. Taylor had made by building a strongdyke of stone across the river behind the garden. It was now somewhat obstructed by branches of trees and other rubbish, which had come down the river, and settled close to it. Johnson, partly from a desire to see it play more freely, and partly from that inclination to activity which will animate, at times, the most inert and sluggish mortal, took a long pole which was lying on a bank, and pushed down several parcels of this wreck with I stood quietly by, wondering to behold the sage thus curiously employed, and smiling with an humorous satisfaction each time when he carried his point. He worked till he was quite out of breath; and hav-

painful assiduity, while

ing found a large dead cat so heavy that he could not move it after several efforts, "Come," said he, (throwing down the pole,) "you shall take it now"; which I accordingly did, and being a fresh man, soon made the cat tumble over the cascade. This may be laughed at as too trifling to record; but it is a small characteristick trait in the Flemish picture which I give of my friend, and in which, therefore I mark the most

minute particulars. that

Msop

at play is

And

be remembered, one of the instructive apolet it

I mentioned an old gentleman of our acquaintance whose memory was beginning to fail. Johnson. "There must be a diseased mind, where there is a failure of memory at seventy. A man's head. Sir, must be morbid, if he fails so soon." My friend, being now himself sixty-eight, might think thus: but I imagine, that threescore and ten,

the Psalmist's period of sound

may have

a

failure,

human

life

in lat-

though there be no

disease in the constitution.

Talking of Rochester's Poems, he said, he had given them to Mr. Steevens to castrate for the edition of the poets, to which he was to write Prefaces. Dr. Taylor (the only time I ever heard him say any thing witty)^ observed, that "if Rochester had been castrated himself, his exceptionable poems would not have been written." I asked if Burnet had not given a good Life of Rochester. Johnson. "We have a good Death: there is not much Life." I asked whether Prior's Poems were to be printed entire: Johnson said they were. I mentioned Lord Hailes's censure of Prior, in his Preface to a collection of Sacred Poems, by various hands, published by

am

told that Horace, Earl of Orford, has a collection of Bon-Mots by persons who never said but one. ^I

great

many years ago, where

he mentions, "those impure tales which will be the eternal opprobrium of their ingenious authour." Johnson. "Sir, Lord Hailes has forgot. There is nothing in Prior that will excite to lewdness. If Lord Hailes thinks there is, he must be more combustible than other people." I instanced the tale of Paulo Purganti and his Wife. Johnson. "Sir, there is nothing there, but that his wife wanted to be kissed when poor Paulo was out of pocket. No, Sir, Prior is a lady's book. No lady is ashamed to have it standing in her library."

The hypochondriack

disorder being menJohnson did not think it so common as I supposed. "Dr. Taylor (said he,) is the same one day as another. Burke and Reynolds are the same; Beauclerk, except when in pain, is the same. I am not so myself; but this I do not mention commonly." I complained of a wretched changefulness, so that I could not preserve, for any long continuance, the same views of any thing. It was most comfortable to me to experience, in Dr. Johnson's company, a relief from this uneasiness. His tioned. Dr.

steady vigorous objects

which

mind held firm

before

me

those

my own feeble and tremulous im-

agination frequently presented, in such a wavmy reason could not judge well of them. Dr. Johnson advised me to-day, to have as many books about me as I could; that I might read upon any subject upon which I had a desire for instruction at the time. "What you read ering state, that

logues of antiquity.

er ages,

[1777

him at Edinburgh a

you will remember; but if you have not a book immediately ready, and the subject moulds in your mind, it is a chance if you again have a desire to study it." He added, "If a man never has an eager desire for instruction, he should prescribe a task for himself. But it is better when a man reads from immediate inthen (said he,)

clination."

many lines of Horace's we were in the chaise. I remember particularly the Ode "Eheufugaces."

He

repeated a good

Odes, while

He said, cellence of

"We

the dispute as to the comparative ex-

Homer

must consider

am

or VirgiP was inaccurate. (said he,)

whether

Homer

informed by Mr. Langton, that a great years ago he was present when this question was agitated between Dr. Johnson and Mr. Burke; and, to use Johnson's phrase, they "talked their best" Johnson for Homer, Burke for Virgil. It may well be supposed to have been one of the ablest and most brilliant contests that ever was exhibited. How much must we regret that it has not been preserved. 21

many

;

"

LIFE OF

1777]

was not the greatest poet, though Virgil may have produced the finest poem. Virgil was indebted to Homer for the whole invention of the structure of an epick poem, and for many of his told

me

that

Bacon was a favourite auth-

our with him; but he had never read his works till he was compiling the English Dictionary, in which, he said, I might see Bacon very often quoted. Mr. Seward recollects his having mentioned, that a Dictionary of the English language might be compiled from Bacon's writings alone, and that he had once an intention of giving an edition of Bacon, at least of his English works, and writing the Life of that great man. Had he executed this intention, there can be no doubt that he would have done it in a most masterly manner. Mallet's Life of Bacon has no inconsiderable merit as an acute and elegant dissertation relative to its subject; but Mallet's

mind was not comprehensive enough

to

em-

brace the vast extent of Lord Verulam's genius and research. Dr. Warburton therefore observed, with witty justness, "that Mallet, in his Life of Bacon, had forgotten that he was a philosopher; and if he should write the Life of the Duke of Marlborough, which he had undertaken to do, he would probably forget that he was a general." Wishing to be satisfied what degree of truth there was in a story which a friend of Johnson's and mine had told me to his disadvantage, I

him

and it was to this eff"ect: that a gentleman who had lived in great intimacy with him, shewn him much kindness, and even relieved him from a spunging-house, having afterwards fallen into bad circumstances, was one day, when Johnson was at dinner with him, seized for debt, and carried to prison; that Johnson sat still undisturbed, and went on eating and drinking; upon which the gentleman's sister, who was present, could not suppress her indignation: "What, Sir, (said she,) are you so unfeeling, as not even to offer to go to my brother in his distress; you who have been so much obliged to him?" And that Johnson answered, "Madam, I owe him no obligation; what he did for me he would have done for a dog. Johnson assured me, that the story was absomentioned

it

to

in direct terms;

lutely false: but like a

man conscious of being in

and desirous of completely vindicating himself from such a charge, he did not arrogantly rest on a mere denial, and on his general "Sir, Iwasvery character, but proceeded thus: intimate with that gentleman, and was once relieved by him from an arrest; but I never was present when he was arrested, never knew that the right,

—

361

he was arrested, and loved

him much;

character,

I

believe he never

time

difficulties after the

member

beauties."

He

JOHNSON

I

in

when he relieved me.

I

yet, in talking of his general

may have said, though I do

I

that

was

ever did say

so,

not re-

that as his gen-

proceeded from no principle, but was a part of his profusion, he would do for a dog what he would do for a friend: but I never aperosity

remark

plied this

to

any particular

instance,

and

certainly not to his kindness to me. If a pro-

fuse

man, who does not value

his

money, and

sum to a whore, gives half as much, an equally large sum to relieve a friend, it

gives a large

or

cannot be esteemed as virtue. This was all that I could say of that gentleman; and, if said at all, it must have been said after his death. Sir, I would have gone to the world's end to relieve him. The remark about the dog, if made by me, was such a sally as might escape one when painting a

man

highly."

On Tuesday,

September 23, Johnson was remarkably cordial to me. It being necessary for me to return to Scotland soon, I had fixed on the next day for my setting out, and I felt a ten der concern at the thought of parting with him. He had, at this time, frankly communicated to

me many particulars, which are inserted in this work in their proper places; and once, when I happened to mention that the expence of my jaunt would come to much more than I had computed, he said, "Why, Sir, if the expence were to be an inconvenience, you would have reason to regret it: but, if you have had the money to spend, I know not that you could have purchased as much pleasure with it in any other way." During this interview at Ashbourne, Johnson and I frequently talked with wonderful pleasure of mere trifles which had occurred in our tour to the Hebrides; for it had left a most agreeable and lasting impression upon his mind. He found fault with me for using the phrase to make money. "Don't you see (said he,) the impropriety of it? To make money is to coin it: you should say get money." The phrase, however,

was

is,

I

think, pretty current.

But Johnson

at all times jealous of infractions

upon

the

genuine English language, and promipt to repress colloquial barbarisms; such as, pledging myself,

as,

for undertaking;

the

civil line,

line,

for department, or branch,

the banking

line.

He was

partic-

ularly indignant against the almost universal use of the word idea in the sense of notion or opin-

when it is clear that idea can only signify something of which an image can be formed in the mind. We may have an idea or image of a ion,

BOSWELL

362

mountain, a tree, a building; but we cannot surely have an idea or image of an argument or proposition. Yet we hear the sages of the law "delivering their ideas upon the question under consideration"; and the first speakers in parliament "entirely coinciding in the idea which has been ably stated by an honourable member"; or "reprobating an idea unconstitutional, and fraught with the most dangerous consequences

—

and free countiy." Johnson "modern cant."

to a great this

called

perceived that he pronounced the word with a double e, heerd, instead of sounding it herd, as is most usually done. He I

heard, as if spelt

reason was, that if it was pronounced would be a single exception from the English pronounciation of the syllable ear, and he thought it better not to have that exception.

said, his

herd, there

He praised Grainger's Ode on Solitude, in Dodsley's Collection,

and repeated, with great energy,

the exordium: Solitude, rornantick maid.

Whether by nodding towersyou tread;

Or haunt the desart's trackless gloom. Or hover o'er the yawning tomb; Or climb the Andes'" clijted side, Or by the Nile's coy source abide;

[1777

the mountains of the north,"

man"

in this

all only struggles for happiness. entered Ranelagh, it gave an expansion and gay sensation to my mind, such as I never experienced any where else. But, as

are

Sir, these

is

mind," played over again, and appeared to give a patient attention to it; though he owned to me that he was very insensible to the power told him, that

it

a degree, as often to agitate ly,

producing in

my mind

affected

my

me to such

nerves painful-

alternate sensations

of pathetick dejection, so that

I

was ready

as displayed in his Vanity of

and crowded with company. Johnson. "Alas

very noble." In the evening our gentleman-farmer, and two others, entertained themselves and the company with a great number of tunes on the fiddle. Johnson desired to have "Let ambition fire thy

I

life,

houses were built, fine gardens were made, splendid places of publick amusement were contrived

Tadnor's marble waste survey;

of musick.

of

brave Highlanders were going abroad, never to return. Whereas the airs in The Begger's Opera, many of which are very soft, never fail to render me gay, because they are associated with the warm sensations and high spirits of London. This evening, while some of the tunes of ordinary composition were played with no great skill, my frame was agitated, and I was conscious of a generous attachment to Dr. Johnson, as my preceptor and friend, mixed with an affectionate regret that he was an old man, whom I should probably lose in a short time. I thought I could defend him at the point of my sword. My reverence and affection for him were in full glow. I said to him, "My dear Sir, we must meet every year, if you don't quarrel with me." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, you are more likely to quarrel with me, than I with you. My regard for you is greater almost than I have words to express; but I do not choose to be always repeating it; write it down in the first leaf of your pocketbook, and never doubt of it again." I talked to him of misery being "the doom of

Human Wishes. Yet I observed that things were done upon the supposition of happiness; grand

Or, starting from your half-year's sleep. From Hecla view the thawing deep; Or, at the purple dawn of day,

observing, "This, Sir

and numbers

to

When

I first

Xerxes wept when he viewed his immense army, and considered that not one of that great multitude would be alive a hundred years afterwards, so

it

went

to

not one in

my heart to consider that there was

all

afraid to go

that brilliant circle, that

home and

was not

think; but that the

thoughts of each individual there, would be diswhen alone." This reflection was ex-

tressing

perimentally

just.

The

feeling

of

languor,^

shed tears; and of daring resolution, so that I was inclined to rush into the thickest part of the battle. "Sir, (said he,) I should never hear it, if it made me such a fool." Much of the effect of musick, I am satisfied,

which succeeds the animation of gaiety, is itself a very severe pain; and when the mind

is owing to the association of ideas. That air, which instantly and irresistibly excites in the

be true?

when

Swiss,

pais, has, I

in a foreign land, the maladie du

am told, no intrinsick power of sound.

know from my own experience, that Scotch reels, though brisk, make me melancholy,

And

I

because I used to hear them in my early years, at a time when Mr. Pitt called for soldiers "from

then vacant, a thousand disappointments in and excruciate. Will not many even of my fairest readers allow this to

is

and vexations rush

^Pope mentions. Stretch' d on the rack of a too easy chair. But I recollect a couplet quite apposite to my subject in Virtue, an Ethick Epistle, a beautiful and instructive poem, by an anonymous writer, in 1758; who, treating of pleasure in excess, says: Till languour, suffering on the rack of bliss. Confess that man was never made for this.

— LIFE OF

1777]

and flattered with hopes of success; or having some favourite scheme in view for the next day, might prevent that wretchedness of which we had been talking. Johnson. "Why, Sir, it may sometimes be so as you suppose; but my conclusion is in genI

suggested, that being in love,

eral but too true."

While Johnson and

I

stood in calm confer-

ence by ourselves in Dr. Taylor's garden, at a pretty late hour in a serene autumn night, looking up to the heavens, I directed the discourse to the subject of a future state. My friend was in a placid and most benignant frame. "Sir, (said he,) I do not imagine that all things will be made clear to us immediately after death, but that the ways of Providence will be explained to us very gradually." I ventured to ask him whether, although the words of some texts of Scripture seemed strong in support of the dreadful doctrine of an eternity of punishment, we might not hope that the denunciation was figurative, and would not literally be executed. Johnson. "Sir, you are to consider the intention of punishment in a future state. We have no reason to be sure that we shall then be no longer liable to offend against God. We do not know that even the angels are quite in a state of security;

know

that

some of them have

therefore, perhaps

serve both

nay we may,

fallen. It

be necessary, in order

to pre-

men and

angels in a state of rectitude, that they should have continually before them the punishment of those who have devi-

ated from it; but we may hope that by some other means a fall from rectitude may be prevented. Some of the texts of Scripture upon this subject are, as you observe, indeed strong; but they may admit of a mitigated interpretation." He talked to me upon this aweful and delicate question in a gentle tone,

and

as

if

afraid to be

decisive.

After supper I accompanied him to his apartment, and at my request he dictated to me an argument in favour of the negro who was then claiming his liberty, in an action in the Court of Session in Scotland. He had always been very zealous against slavery in every form, in which I, with all deference, thought that he discovered "a zeal without knowledge." Upon one occasion, when in company with some very grave men at Oxford, his toast was, "Here's to the next insurrection of the negroes in the West Indies." His violent prejudice against our West Indian and American settlers appeared when-

ever there was an opportunity. Towards the conclusion of his Taxation no Tyranny, he says, "how is it that we hear the loud&st yelps for lib-

JOHNSON

363

among

the drivers of negroes?" and in his conversation with Mr. Wilkes, he asked, "Where

erty

did Beckford and Trecothick learn English?""^ That Trecothick could both speak and write good English is well known. I myself was favoured with his correspondence concerning the brave Corsicans. And that Beckford could speak it with a spirit of honest resolution even to his Majesty, as his "faithful Lord-Mayor of London," is commemorated by the noble monument erected to him in Guildhall. The argument dictated by Dr. Johnson was as follows:

"It must be agreed that in most ages many had part of their inhabitants in a state of slavery; yet it may be doubted whether slavery can ever be supposed the natural condition of man. It is impossible not to conceive

countries have

that

men in

their original state

were equal; and

very difficult to imagine how one would be subjected to another but by violent compulsion. An individual may, indeed, forfeit his liberty by a crime; but he cannot by that crime forfeit the liberty of his children.

What

is

true of a crim-

inal seems true likewise of a captive.

A man may

from a conquering enemy on condition of perpetual servitude; but it is very doubtful whether he can entail that servitude on his descendants; for no man can stipulate without commission for another. The condition which he himself accepts, his son or grandson perhaps would have rejected. If we should admit, what perhaps may with more reason be denied, that there are certain relations between man and man which may make slavery necessary and just, yet it can never be proved that he who is now suing for his freedom ever stood in any of those relations. He is certainly subject by no law, but that accept

life

of violence, to his present master;

who

pretends

no claim to his obedience, but that he bought him from a merchant of slaves, whose right to sell him never was examined. It is said that, according to the constitutions of Jamaica, he was legally enslaved; these constitutions are

merely

and apparendy injurious to the rights of mankind, because whoever is exposed to sale is condemned to slavery without appeal; by whatever fraud or violence he might have been positive;

originally brought into the merchant's power.

In our own time Princes have been sold, by wretches to whose care they were entrusted, that they might have an European education; but when once they were brought to a market in the plantations,

little

dignity or their wrongs. ^See ante, p. 320.

would

avail either their

The laws of Jamaica

af-

BOSWELL

364

[1777

ford a Negro no redress. His colour is considered as a sufficient testimony against him. It is to be

Whatever may have passed elsewhere concerning it, The House of Lords is wise and in-

lamented that moral right should ever give way to political convenience. But if temptations of interest are sometimes too strong for human v'irtue, let us at least retain a virtue where there is

dependent:

to quit it. In the present case apparent right on one side, and no convenience on the other. Inhabitants of this island can neither gain riches nor power by taking away the liberty of any part of the human spe-

Intaminatis fulget honoribus;

Nee sumit

no temptation there

is

—

The sum of the argument is this: No man by nature the property of another: The defendant is, therefore, by nature free: The rights of nature must be some way forfeited before they can be justly taken away: That the defendant has by any act forfeited the rights of nature we require to be proved; and if no proof of such forfeiture can be given, we doubt not cies. is

aid ponit secures

Arbitrio popularis aurce.

have read, conversed, and thought much

I

upon the

subject,

and would recommend

to all

who are capable of conviction, an excellent Tract by

my

learned and ingenious friend John Ran-

by, Esq., entitled Doubts on the Abolition ojthe Slave Trade. To Mr. Ranby's Doubts I will apply Lord Chancellor Hardwicke's expression in praise of a Scotch Law Book, called Dirleton's Doubts; HIS Doubts, (said his Lordship,) are better than

most people's

Certainties.

When I said now to Johnson, that I was afraid

but the justice of the court will declare him

I kept him too late up. "No, Sir, (said he,) I don't care though I sit all night with you." This was an animated speech from a man in his six-

free."

ty-ninth year.

record Dr. Johnson's argument fairly upon this particular case; where, perhaps, he was in the right. But I beg leave to enter my most solemn protest against his general doctrine with respect to the Slave Trade. For I will resolutely say I

— that his unfavourable notion of

it was owing and imperfect or false information. The wild and dangerous attempt which has for some time been persisted in to obtain an act of

Had

I been as attentive not to displease him ought to have been, I know not but this vigil might have been fulfilled; but I unluckily entered upon the controversy concerning the right of Great-Britain to tax America, and attempted to argue in favour of our fellow-subjects on the

as I

to prejudice,

other side of the Atlantick. I insisted that Am.erica inight be very well governed, and made to

our Legislature, to abolish so very important and necessary a branch of commercial interest, must have been crushed at once, had not the in-

ence,

significance of the zealots

made

who

vainly took the

body of Planters, Merchants, and others, whose immense properties are involved in that trade, reasonably enough suppose that there could be no danger. The encouragement which the attempt has received excites my wonder and indignation: and though some men of superiour abilities have supported it; whether from a love of temporary popularity,

lead in

when when

it,

the vast

prosperous; or a love of general mischief, desperate, my opinion is unshaken. To

status, which in all ages God has sancand man has continued, would not only be robbery to an innumerable class of our fellowsubjects; but it would be extreme cruelty to the

abolish a tioned,

African Savages, a portion of whom it saves from massacre, or intolerable bondage in their own country, and introduces into a much haplife; especially now when their passage to the West-Indies and their treatment there is humanely regulated. To abolish that trade

pier state of

would be

to

—shut

the gates of

mercy on mankind.

yield sufficient revenue

by the means of

influ-

as exemplified in Ireland, while the people

might be pleased with the imagination of their participating of the British constitution, by having a body of representatives, without whose consent money could not be exacted from them. Johnson could not bear my thus opposing his avowed opinion, which he had exerted hiinself with an extreme degree of heat to enforce; and the violent agitation into which he was thrown, while answering, or rather reprimanding me, alarmed me so, that I heartily repented of my having unthinkingly introduced the subject. I myself, however, grew warm, and the change was great, from the calm state of philosophical discussion in which we had a little before been pleasingly employed. I

talked of the corruption of the British Par-

liament, in which

I alledged that any question, however unreasonable or unjust, might be carried by a venal majority; and I spoke with high admiration of the Roman Senate, as if composed of men sincerely desirous to resolve what

they should think best for their country. My friend

would allow no such character to the Roman Senate; and he maintained that the British Parliament was not corrupt, and that there was no

LIFE OF

1777]

occasion to corrupt its members; asserting, that there was hardly ever any question of great importance before Parliament, any question in which a man might not very well vote either upon one side or the other. He said there had been none in his time except that respecting America. We were fatigued by the contest, which was produced by my want of caution; and he was not then in the humour to slide into easy and cheerful talk. It therefore so happened, that we after an hour or two very willing to sep-

were

arate

On

and go to bed. Wednesday, September

went

24, I

into

Dr. Johnson's room before he got up, and finding that the storm of the preceding night was quite laid,

I

down upon his bed-side, and he much readiness and good-huHe recommended to me to plant

sat

talked with as

mour

as ever.

a considerable part of a large moorish farm which I had purchased, and he made several calculations of the expence and profit: for he de-

JOHNSON

365

any other return but her most grateful thanks, and cerest prayers for his happiness in time, eternity.

— Tuesday

From

and in a

sin-

blessed

morn.''''

meeting at Ashbourne I derived a considerable accession to my Johnsonian store. I communicated my original Journal to Sir William Forbes, in whom I have always placed deserved confidence; and what he wrote to me concerning it is so much to my credit as the biographer of Johnson, that my readers will, I hope, grant me their indulgence for here inserting it: "It is not once or twice going over it (says this

Sir William,) that will satisfy me; for I find in it a high degree of instruction as well as entertainment; and I derive more benefit from Dr. Johnson's admirable discussions than I should be able to draw from his personal conversation; for, I suppose there is not a man in the world to whom he discloses his sentiments so freely as to

yourself."

spoke with gratitude of Dr. Taylor's hosevidence that it was not on account of his good table alone that Johnson visited him often, I mentioned a little anecdote which had escaped my friend's recollection, and at hearing which repeated, he smiled. One evening, when I was sitting with him, Frank delivered this message: "Sir, Dr. Taylor sends his compliments to you and begs you will dine with him to-morrow. He has got a hare." "My compliments (said Johnson,) and I'll dine with him

I cannot omit a curious circumstance which occurred at Edensor-inn, close by Chatsworth, to survey the magnificence of which I had gone a considerable way out of my road to Scotland. The inn was then kept by a very jolly landlord, whose name, I think, was Malton. He happened to mention that "the celebrated Dr. Johnson had been in his house." I inquired who this Dr. Johnson was, that I might hear mine host's notion of him. "Sir, (said he,) Johnson, the great writer; Oddity, as they call him. He's the greatest writer in England; he writes for the mmistry; he has a correspondence abroad, and lets them know what's going on." My friend, who had a thorough dependance upon the authenticity of my relation without any embellishment, 2& falsehood or fiction is too gentiy called, laughed a good deal at this represen-

— hare or rabbit."

tation of himself.

mind on the science of numbers. He pressed upon me the importance of planting at the first in a very sufficient man-

lighted in exercising his

ner, quoting the saying "7n bello non rare'' :

and adding,

"this

is

licet bis er-

equally true in plant-

ing." I

pitality; and, as

—

departed, and pursued my journey northwards. I took my post-chaise from the Green Man, a very good inn at Ashbourne, After breakfast

I

the mistress of which, a mighty civil gentlewoman, courtseying very low, presented me with an engraving of the sign of her house; to which she had subjoined, in her own hand-writing, an address in such singular simplicity of style, that I have preserved it pasted upon one of the boards of my original Journal at this time, and shall

here insert

it

for the

amusement of my

"M. KILLINGLEY's duty well,

is

exceedingly obliged

to

waits upon

him for

readers:

Mr. Bos-

this

favour;

whenever he comes this way, hopes for a continuance of the same. Would Mr. Boswell name the house to his extensive acquaintance, conferr'^d on one

it

who has

would be a singular favour not in her power to make

it

Mr. Boswtell to Dr. Johnson Edinburgh,

My Dear Sir,

By

Sept. 29,

1777

post I inform you of my safe arrival at my own house, and that I had the comfort of finding my wife and children all in good health. When I look back upon our late interview, it appears to me to have answered expectation better than almost any scheme of happiness that I ever put in execution. Journal is stored

the

first

My

with wisdom and wit; and my memory is filled with the recollection of lively and afTectionate feelings, which now, I think, yield me more satisfaction than at the time when they were first excited. I have experienced this upon other occasions. I shall be obliged to you if you will explain it to me; for it seems wonderful that pleasure should be more vivid at a distance than

BOSWELL

366

when near. I wish you may find humour to do me this favour; but I

yourself in a

flatter myself with no strong hope of it; for I have observed, that unless upon very serious occasions, your letters to me are not answers to those which I write. [I then expressed much uneasiness that I had

mentioned to him the name of the gentleman who had told me the story so much to his disadvantage, the truth of which he had completely refuted; for that my having done so might be interpreted as a breach of confidence, and oftherefore earfend one whose society I valued: nestly requesting that no notice might be taken of it to any body, till I should be in London, and have an opportunity to talk it over with

—

Sam. Johnson

London, Nov.

To

My Dear me

To James

Bosv^ll,

Esq,.

Dear Sir, You will wonder, or you have wondered, why no letter has come from me. What at your return, had in it such a strain of cowardly caution as gave me no pleasure. I could not well do what you wished; I had no need to vex you with a refusal. I have seen Mr. and as to him have set all right, without any inconvenience, so far as I know, to you. Mrs. Thrale had forgot the story. You may now

you wrote

,

be at ease.

And at ease I certainly wish you, for the kindness that you shewed in coming so long a journey to see me. It was pity to keep you so long in upon reviewing the matter, I do not what I could have done better than as I did. I hope you found at your return my dear enemy and all her little people quite well, and had no reason to repent of your journey. I think on pain, but, see

it

with great gratitude.

was not well when you left me at the Docand I grew worse; yet I staid on, and at Lichfield was very ill. Travelling, however, did not make me worse; and when I came to LonI

tor's,

don, I complied with a summons to go to Brighthelmston, where I saw Beauclerk, and staid three days. Our Club has recommenced last Friday, but I was not there. Langton has another wench.^ Mrs. Thrale is in hopes of a young brewer. They got by their trade last year a very large sum, and their expenses are proportionate. Mrs. Williams's health is very bad. And I have had for some time a very difficult and laborious respiration; but I am better by purges, abstinence, and other methods. I am yet, however, much behind-hand in my health and rest. Dr. Blair's Sermons are now universally commended; but let him think that I had the honour of first finding and first praising his excellencies. I did not stay to add my voice to that of the publick. dear friend, let me thank you once more for your visit; you did me great honour, and I ^A daughter born to him.

My

25, 1777

Dr. Samuel Johnson Edinburgh, Nov. 29, 1777

Sir, This day's post has at length

me from much

uneasiness, by bringing was, indeed, doubly uneasy; on my own account and yours. I was very anxious to be secured against any bad consequences from my imprudence in mentioning the gentleman's name who had told me a story to your disadvantage; and as I could hardly suppose it possible, that you would delay so long to make me easy, unless you were ill, I was not a little apprehensive about you. You must not be offended when I venture to tell you that you appear to me to have been too rigid upon this occasion. "The cowardly caution which gave you no pleasure" was suggested to me by a friend here, to whom I mentioned the strange story and the detection of its falsity, as an instance how one inay be deceived by what is apparently very good authority. But, as I am still persuaded, that as I might have obtained the truth, without mentioning the gentleman's name, it was wrong in me to do it, I cannot see that you are just in blaming my caution. But if you were ever so just in your disapprobation, might you iiot have dealt more tenderly with me? I went to Auchinleck about the middle of October, and passed some time with my father very comfortably. I am engaged in a criminal prosecution against a country schoolmaster, for indecent behaviour to his female scholars. There is no statute against such abominable conduct; but it is punishable at common law. I shall be obliged to you for your assistance in this extraordinary trial. I ever

relieved

the gentleman.]

[1777

hope met with nothing that displeased you. I staid long at Ashbourne, not much pleased, yet aukward at departing. I then went to Lichfield, where I found my friend at Stow-hill^ very dangerously diseased. Such is life. Let us try to pass it well, whatever it be, for there is surely something beyond it. Well, now I hope all is well, write as soon as you can to, dear Sir, your aff'ectionate servant,

a letter from you.

.

am,

my

dear

Sir,

I

.

.

your

humble servant, James Boswtill

faithful

About this time I wrote to Johnson, giving him an account of the decision of the Negro cause, by the court of Session, which by those who hold even the mildest and best regulated slavery in abomination, (of which number I do not hesitate to declare that I am none,) should be remembered with high respect, and to the credit of Scotland; for it went upon a much broader ground than the case of Somerset, which was de"Mrs. Aston.

LIFE OF

1778]

cided in England;^ being truly the general question, whether a perpetual obligation of service to one master in any mode should be sanctified negro, then called by the law of a free country.

A

Joseph Knight, a native of Africa, who having been brought to Jamaica in the usual course of

and purchased by a Scotch gentleman in that island, had attended his master to Scotland, where it was officiously suggested to him that he would be found entitled to his liberty without any limitation. He accordingly brought his action, in the course of which the advocates on both sides did themselves great honour. Mr. Maclaurin has had the praise of Johnson, for his argument^ in favour of the negro, and Mr. Macconochie distinguished himself on the same side, by his ingenuity and extraordinary research. Mr. Cullen, on the part of the master, discovered good information and sound reasoning; in which he was well supported by Mr. James Ferguson, remarkable for a manly understanding, and a knowledge both of books and of the world. But I cannot too highly praise the speech which Mr. Henry Dundas the slave trade,

generously contributed to the cause of the sooty stranger.

Mr. Dundas's

Scottish accent,

which

has been so often in vain obtruded as an objection to his powerful abilities in parliament, was no disadvantage to him in his own country.

And

upon question he impressed me and I

do

declare, that

this I

memorable

believe all his

audience, with such feelings as were produced by some of the most eminent orations of antiquity. This testimony I liberally give to the excellence of an old friend, with whom it has been

my lot to differ very widely upon many political topicks; yet I persuade myself without malice.

A great majority of the Lords of Session decided But four of their number, the Lord Lord Elliock, Lord Monboddo, and

for the negro.

President,

Lord Covington,

resolutely maintained the law-

which has been acknowledged in all ages and countries, and that when freedom flourished, as in old Greece and Rome.

fulness of a status,

Boswtell, Esq. Dear Sir, This is the time of the year in which all express their good wishes to their

^The motto

to

it

xi, p.

339,

and Mr. Mar-

and

I

said will easily occur.

Mr. Shaw, the authour of the mar, desires

me

to

make a

Gaelick

request for

Gram-

him

to

Lord Eglintoune, that he may be appointed Chaplain to one of the new-raised regiments. All our friends are as they were; little has happened to them of either good or bad. Mrs. Thrale ran a great black hair-dressing pin into her eye; but by great evacuation she kept it from inflaming, and it is almost well. Miss Reynolds has been out of order, but is better. Mrs. Williams is in a very poor state of health. If I should write on, I should, perhaps, write only complaints, and therefore I will content myself with telling you, that I love to think on you, and to hear from you; and that I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, Sam. Johnson December 27, 1777

To Dr.

Samltel Johnson Edinburgh, Jan. 8, 1778 Dear Sir, Your congratulations upon a new year are mixed with complaint: mine must be so too. My wife has for some time been very ill, having been confined to the house these three months by a severe cold, attended with alarming symptoms. [Here I gave a particular account of the distress which the person, upon every account most dear to me, suffered; and of the dismal state of apprehension in which I now was: adding that I never stood more in need of his consoling philosophy.]

Did you every look at a book written by WilScotchman, under the Latin name of Volusenus, according to the custom of literary men at a certain period. It is entitled De Animi

son, a

Bobut I fear I shall never attain it: for, when unoccupied, I grow gloomy, and occupation agitates me to feverishness. ... I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate humble servant, na

res quies:

James Boswell

was happily chosen:

Quamvis ille niger, quamvis tu candidus esses. cannot avoid mentioning a circumstance no less strange than true, that a brother Advocate in considerable practice, but of whom it certainly cannot be said, Ingenuas didicitfideliter artes, asked Mr. Maclaurin, with a face of flippant assurance, "Are these words your own?" I

367

send mine to you and your family. May your lives be long, happy, and good. I have been much out of order, but, I hope, do not grow worse. The crime of the schoolmaster whom you are engaged to prosecute is very great, and may be suspected to be too common. In our law it would be a breach of the peace, and a misdemeanour: that is, a kind of indefinite crime, not capital, but punishable at the discretion of the Court. You cannot want matter: all that needs to be

friends,

Tranquillitate. I earnestly desire tranquillity.

To James

^See State Trials, vol. grave's argument.

JOHNSON

Dear

To James Boswell, Esq. To a letter so interesting

as your proper to return some answer, however little I may be disposed to write. Your alarm at your lady's illness was reasonable, and not disproportionate to the appearlast, it is

Sir,

BOSWELL

368

hope your physical friend's conjecture is now verified, and all fear of a consumption at an end: a little care and exercise will then restore her. London is a good air for ladies; and if you bring her hither, I will do for her what she did for me I will retire from my apartments, for her accommodation. Behave kindly to her, and keep her chearful. You always seem to call for tenderness. Know ance of the disorder.

I

—

then, that in the first month of the present year I very highly esteem and very cordially love you. I hope to tell you this at the beginning of every year as long as we live; and why should we trouble ourselves to tell or hear it oftener?

Tell Veronica, Euphemia, and Alexander, that I wish them, as well as their parents, many

happy

years.

You have ended the negro's cause much to my mind. Lord Auchinleck and dear Lord Hailes were on the side of liberty. Lord Hailes's name reproaches me; but if he saw my languid neglect of my own affairs, he would rather pity than resent my neglect of his. I hope to mend, ut et mihi vivam et amicis. I am, dear Sir, your's affectionately,

Sam. Johnson January 24, 1778

My service to my fellow-traveller, Joseph. Johnson maintained a long and intimate Mr. Welch, who succeeded the celebrated Henry Fielding as one of his Majesty's friendship with

Justices of the Peace for Westminster; kept a reg-

ular office for the police of that great district;

and discharged

his

years, faithfully

and

important

eager and unceasing curiosity to life

in all

its

Mr. Welch

many who had an know human

trust, for

ably. Johnson,

variety, told

me, that he attended

in his office for a whole winter, to

hear the examinations of the culprits; but that he found an almost uniform tenor of misfortune, wretchedness and profligacy. Mr. Welch's health being impaired, he was advised to try the effect of a

warm climate; and Johnson, by his interest

with Mr. Chamier, procured him leave of absence to go to Italy, and a promise that the pension or salary of two hundred pounds a year, which Government allowed him, should not be discontinued. Mr. Welch accordingly went abroad, accompanied by his daughter Anne, a young lady of uncommon talents and literature.

To Saunders Welch,

Esq., at the English Coffee-House, Rome Dear Sir, To have suffered one of my best and dearest friends to pass almost two years in

foreign countries without a letter, has a very shameful appearance of inattention. But the truth is, that there was no particular time in which I had any thing particular to say; and

[1778

general expressions of good will, I hope, our long friendship is grown too solid to want. Of publick affairs you have information from the newspapers wherever you go, for the English keep no secret; and of other things, Mrs. Nollekens informs you. intelligence could therefore be of no use; and Miss Nancy's letters made it unnecessary to write to you for information: I was likewise for some time out of humour, to find that motion,and nearer approaches to the sun, did not restore your health so fast as I expected. Of your health, the accounts have lately been more pleasing; and I have the gratification of imaging to myself a length of years which I hope you have gained, and of which the enjoyment will be improved by a vast accession of images and observations which your journeys and various residence have enabled you to make

My

and accumulate. You have

travelled with this almost peculiar to yourself, that your companion is not to part from you at your journey's end; but you are to live on together, to help each other's recollection, and to supply each other's omissions. The world has few greater pleasures than that which two friends enjoy, in

felicity,

tracing back, at some distant time, those transactions and events through which they have passed together. One of the old man's miseries is, that he cannot easily find a companion able to partake with him of the past. You and your fellow-traveller have this comfort in store, that

your conversation will be not easily exhausted; one will always be glad to say what the other will always be willing to hear. That you may enjoy this pleasure long, your health must have your constant attention. I suppose you purpose to return this year. There is no need of haste: do not come hither before the height of summer, that you may fall gradually into the inconveniences of your native clime. July seems to be the proper month. August and September will prepare you for the winter. After having travelled so far to find health, you must take care not to lose it at home; and I hope a little

care will effectually preserve

it.

Miss Nancy has doubtless kept a constant and copious journal. She must not expect to be welcome when she returns, without a great mass of information. Let her review her journal often, and set down what she finds herself to have

may trust to memory as little as possible, for memory is soon confused by a quick succession of things; and she will grow every day less confident of the truth of her own narratives, unless she can recur to some written memorials. If she has satisfied herself with hints, omitted, that she

instead of full representations, deficiencies

now

and while her

let

her supply the

memory is yet fresh, memory may help her. If

while her

father's

she observes this direction, she will not have travelled in vain; for she will bring home a book with which she may entertain herself to the end

LIFE OF

1778] were not now too

JOHNSON

369

wanted

would advise her to note the impression which the first sight of any thing new and wonderful made upon her mind. Let her now set her thoughts down as she can recollect them; for faint as they may already be, they will grow every day fainter. Perhaps I do not flatter myself unreasonably when I imagine that you may wish to know

to have it copied; and I have now put that off so long, that it will be better to bring it with me than send it, as I shall probably get you to look at it sooner, when I solicit

something of me. I can gratify your benevolence with no account of health. The hand of time, or of disease, is very heavy upon me. I pass restless and uneasy nights, harassed with convulsions of my breast, and flatulencies at my stomach; and restless nights make heavy days. But nothing will be mended by complaints, and therefore I will make an end. When we meet, we will try to forget our cares and our maladies, and contribute, as we can, to the chearfulness of each other. If I had gone with you, I believe I should have been better; but I do not know that it was in my power. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson Feb. 3, 1778

if

of

life.

This

how

If it

letter,

while

it

late, I

gives admirable advice

to travel to the best advantage,

therefore be of very general use,

inent proof of Johnson's

is

warm and

and

will

another emaffectionate

heart. ^

be, that I

you

Dr. Samuel Johnson Edinburgh, Feb. 26, 1778 My Dear Sir, Why I have delayed, for near a month, to thank you for your last affectionate letter, I cannot say; for my mind has been in better health these three weeks than for some years past. I believe I have evaded till I could send you a copy of Lord Hailes's opinion on the negro's cause, which he wishes you to read, and correct any errours that there may be in the language; for, says he, "we live in a critical, though not a learned age; and I seek to screen myself under the shield of Ajax." I communicated to

him your apology

keeping the sheets of his Annals so long. He says, "I am sorry to see that Dr. Johnson is in a state of languor. Why should a sober Christian, neither an enthusiast nor a fanatick, be very merry or very sad?" I envy his Lordship's comfortable constitution: but weU do I know that languor and dejection will afflict

My

^The friendship between Mr. Welch and him was unbroken. Mr. Welch died not many months before him, and bequeathed him five guineas for a ring, which Johnson received with tenderness, as a kind memorial. His regard was constant for his friend Mr. Welch's daughters; of whom, Jane is married to Mr. Nollekens the statuary, whose merit is too well known to require any praise from me.

is

and courteous offer of your apartment; but, she goes to London, it will be best for her to have lodgings in the more airy vicinity of HydePark. I, however, doubt much if I shall be able to prevail with her to accompany me to the metropolis; for she is so different from you and me, that she dislikes travelling; and she is so anxious about her children, that she thinks she should be unhappy if at a distance from them. She therefore wishes rather to go to some country place in Scotland, where she can have them with her. I purpose being in London about the 20th of next month, as I think it creditable to appear in the House of Lords as one of Douglas's Counsel, in the great and last competition between Duke

lite

Hamilton and him.

.

.

.

am sorry poor Mrs. Williams is so ill: though

I

her temper

is

unpleasant, she has always been

and obliging to me. I wish many happy years to good Mr. Levett, who I suppose holds polite

his usual place at

your breakfast

table.^ I ever

my dear Sir, your affectionate humble serv-

ant,

James Boswell

To THE Same Edinburgh, Feb.

28, 1778

My Dear Sir, You are at present busy amongst the English poets, preparing, for the publick instruction and entertainment. Prefaces, biographical and critical. It will not, therefore, be out of season to appeal to you for the decision of a controversy which has arisen between a lady and me concerning a passage in Parnell. That poet tells us,

for

the best, however excellent their principles. I am in possession of Lord Hailes's opinion in his own hand-writing, and have had it for some time. excuse then for procrastination must

who is, I thank Gk)D, a good deal much obliged to you for your very po-

wife,

better,

am,

To

in person.

My

"

that his

Hermit quitted

his cell

know the world by sight. To find if books or swains report it right; to

{Foryet by swains alone the world he knew.

Whose feet came wand'ring

o'er the nightly

dew.)"

maintain, that there is an inconsistency here; for as the Hermit's notions of the world were formed from the reports both of books and swains, he could not justly be said to know by swains alone. Be pleased to judge between us, and let us I

have your reasons.^ 2Dr. Percy, the Bishop of Dromore, humorously observed, that Levett used to breakfast on the crust of a roll, which Johnson, after tearing out the for himself, threw to his humble friend. BoswELL. [Perhaps the word threw is here too strong. Dr. Johnson never treated Levett with contempt. M.]

crumb

—

3See this subject discussed in a subsequent page, under May 3, 1779.

BOSWELL

370

What do you say to

Taxation no Tyranny, now, after Lord North's declaration, or confession, or whatever else his conciliatory speech should be called? I never differed from you in politicks but upon two points, the Middlesex Election, and the Taxation of the Americans by the British Houses of Representatives. There is a charm in a the word Parliament, so I avoid it. As I

am

steady and warm a Tory, I regret that the King does not see it to be better for him to receive constitutional supplies from his American sub-

by the voice of their own assemblies, where Royal Person is represented, than through

jects his

the

medium

of his British subjects.

I

am

per-

suaded that the power of the Crown, which I wish to increase, would be greater when in contact with all its dominions, than if "the rays of regal bounty" ^ were to shine upon America through that dense and troubled body, a modern British Parliament. But, enough of this sub-

your angry voice at Ashbourne upon it, still sounds aweful "in my mind's ears" I ever am, my dear Sir, your most affectionate humble

ject; for

servant,

James Bosv^ll

To THE Same Edinburgh, March 12, 1778 The alarm of your late illness distressed me but a few hours; for on the evening of the day that it reached me, I found it contradicted in The London Chronicle, which I could depend upon as authentick concerning you, Mr. Strahan being the printer of it. I did not see the paper in which "the approaching extinction of a bright luminary" was announced. Sir William Forbes told me of it; and he says, he sav/ me so uneasy, that he did not give me the report in such strong terms as he read it. He afterwards sent me a letter from Mr. Langton to him, which relieved me much. I am, however, not quite easy, as I have not heard from you; and now I shall not have that comfort before I see you, for I set out for London to-morrow before the post comes in. I hope to be with you on Wednesday morning; and I ever am, with the highest veneration, my dear Sir, your much

My Dear Sir,

obliged, faithful, ant,

and

affectionate,

humble

serv-

James Boswell

he was employed when I came in, and on which he seemed much intent. Finding him thus engaged, I made my visit very short, and had no

more

of his conversation, except his expressing a serious regret that a friend of ours was living at too much expence, considering how poor an appearance he made: "If (said he,) a man has

splendour from his expence,

money if

he

^Alluding to a line in his Vanity of Human Wishes, describing Cardinal Wolsey in his state of eleva-

if

he spends

his

in pride or in pleasure, he has value: but

lets

others spend

commonly

it

which is most no advantage from

for him,

the case, he has

it."

On Friday, March 20,

I

found him at

house, sitting with Mrs. Williams,

his

own

and was

in-

formed that the room formerly allotted to me was now appropriated to a charitable purpose; Mrs. Desmoulins,^ and I think her daughter, and a Miss Carmichael, being all lodged in it. Such was his humanity, and such his generosity, that Mrs. Desmoulins herself told me, he allowed her half-a-guinea a week. Let it be remembered, that this was above a twelfth part of his pension.

His liberality, indeed, was at all periods of his very remarkable. Mr. Howard, of Lichfield, at whose father's house Johnson had in his early years been kindly received, told me, that when he was a boy at the Charter-House, his father wrote to him to go and pay a visit to Mr. Samuel Johnson, which he accordingly did, and found him in an upper room, of poor appearance. Johnson received him with much courteousness, and talked a great deal to him, as to a life

school-boy, of the course of his education, and other particulars. When he afterwards came to

know and understand

the high character of this

great man, he recollected his condescension with

wonder. He added, that when he was going away, Mr. Johnson presented him with half-aguinea; and

time

On Wednesday, March 1 8, I arrived in London, and was informed by good Mr. Francis that his master was better, and was gone to Mr. Thrale's at Streatham, to which place I wrote to him, begging to know when he would be in town. He was not expected for some time; but

[1778

next day having called on Dr. Taylor, in Dean'syard, Westminster, I found him there, and was told he had come to town for a few hours. He met me with his usual kindness, but instantly returned to the writing of something on which

this,

said

Mr. Howard, was

when he probably had not

We room.

retired

at a

another.

from Mrs. Williams

to another

Tom Davies soon after joined us. He

had

now

unfortunately failed in his circumstances, and was much indebted to Dr. Johnson's kindness for obtaining for him many alleviations of his distress. After he went away, Johnson blamed his folly in quitting the stage, by which he and his wife got five hundred pounds a year. I

^Daughter of Dr. Swinfen, Johnson's godfather,

tion:

Through him

the rays of ?egal bounty shine.

and widow of Mr. Desmoulins, a writing-master.

— LIFE OF

1778] said, I believed

was owing

it

upon him,

tack

He mouths a sentence,

he,

who

is

so too, Sir.

to be driven

Another

line?

as curs mouth a bone.

But what a man from the stage by a would have driven him from

Johnson. "I believe is

to Churchill's at-

line

his shop."

was engaged as Counsel at House of Commons to oppose a road-bill in the county of Stirling, and asked him what mode he would advise me to follow in addressing such an audience. Johnson. "Why, Sir, you m.ust provide yourself with a good deal of extraneous matter, which you are to produce occasionally, so as to fill up the time; for you must consider, that they do not listen much. If you begin with the strength of your cause, it I

told him, that I

the bar of the

may

be

lost

before they begin to

listen.

When

you catch a moment of attention, press the merits of the question upon them." He said, as to one point of the merits, that he thought "it would be a wrong thing to deprive the small landholders of the privilege of assessing themselves for making and repairing the high roads; it

was

destroying a certain portion of liberty, without a

reason, which was always a bad thing. When mentioned this observation next day to Mr. Wilkes, he pleasantly said, "What! does he talk

good

''^

I

as ridiculous in his

of liberty? Liberty

is

Religion in mine.''

Mr. Wilkes's advice,

mouth

as

as to the

mode of speaking at the bar of the House of Commons, was not more respectful towards the best

senate, than that of Dr. Johnson. "Be as impudent as you can, as merry as you can, and say whatever comes uppermost. Jack Lee is the best heard there of any Counsel; and he is the most impudent dog, and always abusing us." In my interview with Dr. Johnson this eve-

was quite easy, quite as his companion; upon which I find in my Journal the following reflection: "So ready is my mind to suggest matning, I

ter for dissatisfaction, that I felt a sort of regret

that

I

was

so easy. I missed that aweful rever-

Mr.

ence with which

I

Samuel Johnson,

in the

complex magnitude of

and

religious character. I

his literary, moral,

used to contemplate

have a wonderful superstitious love of mystery; when, perhaps, the truth is, that it is owing to the cloudy darkness of my own mind. I should be glad that I am more advanced in my progress of being, so that I can view Dr. Johnson with a steadier and clearer eye. My dissatisfaction to-night was foolish. Would it not be foolish to regret that we shall have less mystery in a future state? That we 'now see in a glass darkly,'

JOHNSON

371

but shall 'then see face to face?'" This reflection, which I thus freely communicate, will be valued by the thinking part of my readers, who may have themselves experienced a similar state of mind. He returned next day to Streatham, to Mr. Thrale's; where, as Mr. Strahan once complained to me, "he was in a great measure absorbed from the society of his old friends." I was kept in London by business, and wrote to him

on the 27th, that a separation from him for a when we were so near, was equal to a separation for a year, when we were at four hundred miles distance. I went to Streatham on week,

Monday, March

30. Before he appeared, Mrs. Thrale made a very characteristical remark: "I do not know for certain what will please Dr. Johnson: but I know for certain that it will displease him to praise any thing, even what he likes,

—

extravagantly."

At dinner he laughed at querulous declamations against the age, on account of luxury, increase of London, scarcity of provisions, and other such topicks. "Houses (said he,) will be built till rents fall and corn is more plentiful

— :

now than

was." I had before dinner repeated a ridiculous story told me by an old man who had been a passenger with me in the stage-coach to-day. Mrs. Thrale, having taken occasion to allude to it in ever

it

talking to me, called

the old woman."

me

it

"The

story told

— "Now, Madam, (said

you by I,)

give

was not an old woman, but an old man, whom I mentioned as having told me this." I presumed to take an leave to catch you in the fact;

it

opportunity, in presence of Johnson, of shewing this lively

lady

how ready she was,

unintention-

deviate from exact authenticity of nar-

ally, to

ration.

must be a world has opened its arms to receive it. It is said to have been printed, in one language or other, as many times as there have been months since it first came out.^ I always was struck with this sentence in it: "Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be." He said, "I was angry with Hurd about Cowley, for having published a selection of his works: Tho?nas a Kempis (he observed,)

good book,

upon

but,

as the

better consideration, I think there

no impropriety '^The

iod

man's publishing

as

is

much

edition was in 1492. Between that per792, according to this account, there

first

and

1

were 3600 [M.]

in a

editions.

But

this

is

very improbable.

BOSWELL

372

he chooses of any authour, if he does not put the rest out of the way. A man, for instance, may print the Odes of Horace alone." He seemed to as

be in a more indulgent humour, than

when

this

was discussed between him and Mr. Murphy.^ When we were at tea and coffee, there came in Lord Trimlestown, in whose family was an ancient Irish peerage, but it suffered by taking

subject

the generous side in the troubles of the last century. - He was a man of pleasing conversation,

and was accompanied by a young gendeman, his son. I

mentioned that

I

had

in

my

possession the

Life of Sir Robert Sibbald, the celebrated Scottish

[1778

as a lady adjusts her dress before a mirror, a

man adjusts his character by looking at his jourI next year found the very same thought Atterbury's Funeral Sermon on Lady Cutis;

nal." in

where, having mentioned her Diary, he says, "In this glass she every day dressed her mind." This is a proof of coincidence, and not of plagiarism; for I had never read that sermon before. Next morning, while we were at breakfast, Johnson gave a very earnest recommendation of what he himself practised with the utmost conscientiousness: I mean a strict attention to truth, even in the most minute particulars. "Accustom your children (said he,) constantly to this; if a thing happened at one window, and

when

antiquary, and founder of the Royal College of Physicians at Edinburgh, in the original manuscript in his own handwriting; and that it was I believed the most natural and candid account of

they,

himself that ever was given by any man. As an Duke of Perth, then

door: and

instance, he tells that the

Chancellor of Scotland, pressed him very much to come over to the Roman Catholick faith: that he resisted all his Grace's arguments for a considerable time, till one day he felt himself, as it were, instantaneously convinced, and with tears in his eyes ran into the Duke's arms, and embraced the ancient religion that he continued ;

very steady in it for some time, and accompanied his Grace to London one winter, and lived in his household; that there he found the rigid fasting prescribed by the church very severe upon him; that this disposed him to reconsider the controversy, and having then seen that he was in the wrong, he returned to Protestantism. I talked of some time or other publishing this curious life. Mrs. Thrale. "I think you had as well let alone that publication. To discover such weakness, exposes a man when he is gone." Johnson. "Nay, it is an honest picture of human nature. How often are the primary motives of our greatest actions as small as Sibbald's, for his re-conversion." Mrs. Thrale. "But may they not as well be forgotten?'' Johnson. "No, Madam, a man loves to review his own mind. That is the use of a diary, or journal." Lord TrimSir. As the ladies love to see themselves in a glass; so a man likes to see himself in his journal." Boswell. "A very pretty allusion. "Johnson. "Yes, indeed. "Boswtell." And

lestown. "True,

^See ante, p. 305. ^Since this was written the attainder has been reversed; and Nicholas Barnewall is now a peer of

Ireland with this title. The person mentioned in the text had studied physick, and prescribed gratis to the poor. Hence arose the subsequent conversation. [M.]

relating

it,

say that

it

happened

at

another, do not let it pass, but instantly check them; you do not know where deviation from truth will end." Boswtell. "It may come to the

when once an account is at all varied one circumstance, it may by degrees be varied so as to be totally different from what really happened." Our lively hostess, whose fancy was in

impatient of the rein, fidgeted at this, and ventured to say, "Nay, this is too much. If Mr. Johnson should forbid me to drink tea, I would comply, as I should feel the restraint only twice a day; but little variations in narrative must happen a thousand times a day, if one is not perpetually watching." Johnson. "Well, Madam, and you ought to be perpetually watching. It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentional lying, that there

hood

is

so

much

false-

in the world."

In his review of Dr. Warton's Essay on

the

Writings and Genius of Pope, Johnson has given the following salutary caution upon this subject:

"Nothing but experience could evince the frequency of false information, or enable any man to conceive that so many groundless reports should be propagated, as every man of eminence may hear of himself. Some men relate what they think, as what they know; some men of confused memories and habitual inaccuracy, ascribe to one man what belongs to another; and some talk on, without thought or care. A few men are sufficient to broach falsehoods, which are wards innocendy diffused by successive

afterrelat-

ers."^

Had he lived to read what Sir John Hawkins and Mrs. Piozzi have related concerning himself, how much would he have found his observation illustrated. He was indeed so much impressed with the prevalence of falsehood, vol-

untary or unintentional, that

I

never knew any

^The Literary Magazine, 1756, p. 37.

LIFE OF

1778]

who upon

hearing an extraordinary circumstance told, discovered more of the incredulus odi. He would say, with a significant look and decisive tone, "It is not so. Do not tell this again. "^ He inculcated upon all his friends the importance of perpetual vigilance against the slightest degrees of falsehood; the effect of which, as Sir Joshua Reynolds observed to me, has been, person

who were

JOHNSON

373 judgement of a King, who, as a suitable reward to a man that by long perseverance had attained to the art of throwing a barley-corn through the

eye of a needle, gave him a bushel of barley." Johnson. "He must have been a King of Scotland, where barley is scarce." F. "One of the most remarkable antique figures of an animal is the boar at Florence." Johnson. "The first boar

made in marble, should be preserved

of his school are distinguished

that

is

and accuracy, which they would not have possessed in the same degree, if they had not been acquainted with Johnson.

as a

wonder.

that

all

for a love of truth

Talking of ghosts, he

said, "It is

that five thousand years have

the creation of the world,

now

and

wonderful

elapsed since

still it is

undecid-

ed whether or not there has ever been an

in-

stance of the spirit of any person appearing after death. All is

argument

is

against

it;

but

all belief

for it."

He said, "John Wesley's conversation is good, but he is never at leisure. He is always obliged to go at a certain hour. This is very disagreeable to a man who loves to fold his legs and have out his talk, as I do." On Friday, April 3, I dined with him in London, in a company where were present several eminent men, whom I shall not name, but distinguish their parts in the conversation by different letters. this

!

The

first

man who

nose; Johnson, time; in short,

balanced a straw upon his

who rode upon three horses at a all such men deserved the ap-

plause of mankind, not on account of the use of did, but of the dexterity which they exhibited." Boswell. "Yet a misapplication of time and assiduity is not to be encouraged. Ad-

what they

dison, in

one of

his Spectators,

commends

the

^The following plausible but overprudent counsel on this subject is given by an Italian writer, quoted by "'Rludi de generatione insectarum," with the epithet oi " divini poete" : Sempre a quel ver cKhaJaccia di menzogna Dee I'uom chiuder le labbra quanta ei puote; Pero che senza colpafa vergogna.

When men

arrive at a facility of

making boars well, then the workmanship is not of such value, but they should however be preserved as examples, and as a greater security for the restoration of the art, should

it be lost." hear prodigious complaints at present of emigration. I am convinced that emigration makes a country more populous." J. "That sounds very much like a paradox." E. "Exportation of men, like exportation of all other commodities, makes more be produced." Johnson. "But there would be more people were there not emigration, provided there were food for more." E. "No; leave a few breeders, and you'll have more people than if there were no emigra-

E.

"We

Johnson. "Nay, Sir, it is plain there will be more people, if there are more breeders. Thirty cows in good pasture will produce more calves than ten cows, provided they have good bulls." tion."

E.

have been looking at

famous antique m.arble dog of Mr. Jennings, valued at a thousand guineas, said to be Alcibiades's dog." Johnson. "His tail then must be docked. That was the mark of Alcibiades's dog." E. "A thousand guineas The representation of no animal whatever is worth so much. At this rate a dead dog would indeed be better than a living lion." Johnson. "Sir, it is not the worth of the thing, but of the skill in forming it which is so highly estimated. Every thing that enlarges the sphere of human powers, that shews man he can do what he thought he could not do, is valuable. F. "I

well

"There are

bulls

enough

in Ireland."

John-

should think from your argument." Boswell. "You said, exportation of men, like exportation of other commodities, makes more be produced. But a bounty is given to encourage the exportation of corn, and no bounty is given for the exportation of men; though, indeed, those who go, gain by it." R. "But the bounty on the exportation of corn is paid at home." E. "That's the same thing." son, (smiling,) "So, Sir,

I

Johnson. "No, Sir." R. "A man who stays at home, gains nothing by his neighbours emigrating." Boswell. "I can understand that emigration may be the cause that more people may be produced in a country; but the country will not therefore be the

from

more populous;

for the people

can only be said that there is a flow of people. It is an encouragement to have children, to know that they can get a living by emigration." R. "Yes, if there were an emigration of children under six years of age. But they don't emigrate till they could earn their livelihood in some way at home." C. "It is remarkable that the most unhealthy countries, where there are the most destructive diseases, such as Egypt and Bengal, are the most populous." Johnson. "Countries which are the most populous have the most destructive diseases. That is issue

it.

It

BOSWELL

374

C. "Holland the true state of the proposition is very unhealthy, yet it is exceedingly popu-

Johnson. "I know not that Holland is unhealthy. But its populousness is owing to an influx of people from all other countries. Disease cannot be the cause of populousness, for it not lous."

only carries off a great proportion of the people, but those who are left are weakened and unfit for the purposes of increase." R. "Mr. E., I don't mean to flatter, but when posterity reads one of your speeches in Parliament, it will be difficult to believe that you took

much pains, knowing with certainty that it could produce no effect, that not one vote would be gained by it." E. "Waiving your compliment to me, I shall say in general, that it is very w-ell worth while for a man to take pains to speak well in Parliament. A man, who has vanity, speaks to display his talents; and if a man speaks well, he gradually establishes a certain reputation and consequence in the general opinion, which sooner or later will have its political reward. Besides, though not one vote is gained, a good speech has its effect. Though an act which has been ably opposed passes into a law, yet in its progress it is modelled, it is softened in such a manner, that we see plainly the Minister has been told, that the Members attached to him are so sensible of its injustice or absurdity from what they have heard, that it must be altered." Johnson. "And, Sir, there is a gratification of pride. Though we cannot out-vote them we will out-argue them. They shall not do wrong without its being shown both to themselves and to the world." E. "The House of Commons is a mixed body. (I except the Minority, which I hold to be pure, [smiling,] but I take the whole House.) It is a mass by no means pure; but neither is it wholly corrupt, though there is a large proportion of corruption so

in

it.

There are many members who generally

go with the Minister,

who will not go all lengths.

There are many honest well-meaning country gentlemen who are in parliament only to keep up the consequence of their families. Upon most of these a good speech will have influence." Johnson. "We are all more or less governed by interest. But interest will not make us do every thing. In a case which admits of doubt, we try to think on the side which is for our interest, and generally bring ourselves to act accordingly. But the subject must admit of diversity of colouring; it must receive a colour on that side. In the House of Commons there are members enough who will not vote what is grossly unjust or absurd. No, Sir, there must always be right enough, or appearai.ce of right, to keep wrong

[1778 Boswell. "There

in countenance."

is

surely al-

ways a majority in parliament who have places, or who want to have them, and who therefore will be generally ready to support government without requiring any pretext." E. "True, Sir; that majority will always follow

Qvo clamor

vocal et turbajavenlium.

Bosw^LL. "Well now, phrase, Placehunters.

let I

us take the

common

thought they had hunt-

ed without regard to any thing, just as their huntsmen, the Minister, leads, looking only to the prey."^ J. "But taking your metaphor, you know that in hunting there are few so desperately keen as to follow without reserve. Some do not choose to leap ditches and hedges and risk their necks, or gallop over steeps, or even to dirty themselves in bogs and mire." Boswell. "I am glad there are some good, quiet, moderate political hunters." E. "I believe, in any body of men in England, I should have been in the Minority; I have always been in the Minority." P. "The House of Commons resembles a private company. How seldom is any man convinced by another's argument; passion and pride rise againstit." R. "Whatwould be the consequence, if a Minister, sure of a majority in the House of Commons, should resolve that there should be no speaking at all upon his side." E. "He must soon go out. That has been tried; but it was ." found it would not do. E. "The Irish language is not primitive; it is Teutonick, a mixture of the northern tongues: it has much English in it." Johnson. "It may have been radically Teutonick; but English and High Dutch have no similarity to the eye, though radically the same. Once, when looking into LowDutch, I found, in a whole page, only one word .

.

similar to English; stroem, like stream, nified

tide.''''

E. "I

and

it

sig-

remember having seen a Dutch

Sonnet, in which

I

found

this

word,

roesnopies.

Nobody would at first think that this could be English; but, when we enquire, we find roes, rose, and nopie, knob; so we have rosebuds." Johnson. "I have been reading Thicknesse's

which I think are entertaining." Bos"What, Sir, a good book?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir, to read once; I do not say you are to make a study of it, and digest it; and I believe it to be Travels,

WTELL.

^Lord Bolingbroke, who, however detestable as a metaphysician, must be allowed to have had admirable talents as a political writer, thus describes

House of Commons, in his Letter to Sir William Wyndham: "You know the nature of that assem-

the

—

like hounds, fond of the man who shews them game, and by whose halloo they are used to be encouraged."

bly; they

grow,

LIFE OF

1778]

a true book in his intention. All travellers generally mean to tell truth; though Thicknesse observes, upon SmoUet's account of his alarming a whole town in France by firing a blunderbuss, and frightening a French nobleman till he made him tie on his portmanteau, that he would be loth to say Smollet had told two lies in one page; but he had found the only town in France where these things could have happened. Travellers must often be mistaken. In every thing, except where mensuration can be applied, they may honestly differ. There has been, of late, a strange turn in travellers to be displeased." E. "From the experience which I have had, and I have had a great deal, I have learnt

—

—

to think better of mankind." Johnson.

"From my

experience I have found them worse in commercial dealings, more disposed to cheat, than I had any notion of; but more disposed to do one another good than I had conceived." J. "Less just and more beneficent." Johnson. "And really

it is

tention

is

wonderful, considering how much atmen to take care of them-

necessary for

and ward

immediate evils which press upon them, it is wonderful how much they do for others. As it is said of the greatest liar, that he tells more truth than falsehood; so it may be said of the worst man, that he does more good than evil." Boswtell. "Perhaps from experience men may be found happier than we suppose." Johnson. "No, Sir; the more we enquire, we shall find men the less happy." P. "As to thinking better or worse of mankind from experience, some cunning people will not be satisfied unless they have put men to the test, as they think. There is a very good story told of Sir Godfrey selves,

off

Kneller, in his character of a Justice of the peace.

A gentleman brought his servant before him, upon an accusation of having stolen some money from him; but it having come out that he had laid it purposely in the servant's way, in order to try his honesty, Sir Godfrey sent the master to prison."^ Johnson. "To resist temptation once, not a sufficient proof of honesty. If a servant, indeed, were to resist the continued temptation is

of silver lying in a

window,

as

some people

let it

when he is sure his master does not know how much there is of it, he would give a strong

lye,

proof of honesty. But this is a proof to which you have no right to put a man. You know, humanly speaking, there is a certain degree of tempta^Pope thus introduces this story: Faith in such case if you should prosecute, I think Sir Godfrey should decide the

suit,

Who sent the thief who [that] stole the cask away. And punish' d him that put it in his way. Imitations of Horace, book ii, epist. 2.

JOHNSON

375 which will overcome any virtue. Now, in so far as you approach temptation to a man, you do him an injury; and, if he is overcome, you share his guilt." P. "And, when once overcome, it is easier for him to be got the better of again." Boswell. "Yes, you are his seducer; you have debauched him. I have known a man resolved to put friendship to the test, by asking a friend to lend him money merely with that view, when he did not want it." Johnson. "That is very v^^rong, Sir. Your friend may be a narrow man, and yet have many good qualities: narrowness may be his only fault. Now you are trying his general character as a friend, by one particular singly, in which he happens to be defective, when, in truth, his character is composed tion,

of

many

particulars."

which was favoured with by our friend the

E. "I understand the hogshead of claret, this society

Dean,

I think he should be writsend another of the same kind. Let the request be made with a happy ambiguity of ex-

ten

nearly out;

is

to, to

we may have

the chance of his Johnson. "I am willing to offer my services as secretary on this occasion." P. "As many as are for Dr. Johnson being secretary hold up your hands. Carried unanimously." Boswell. "He will be our Dictator." Johnson. " 'No, the company is to dictate to me. I am only to write for wine; and I am quite disinterested, as I drink none; I shall not be suspected of having forged the application. I am no more than humble scribe." E. "Then you shall />r^scribe." Boswell. "Very well. The first play of words to-day." J. "No, no; the bulls in Ireland." Johnson. "Were I your Dictator you should have no wine. It would be my business cavere ne quid detrimenti Respublica caperet, and wine pression, so that

sending

it

also as a present."

—

Rome was

ruined by luxury," you allow no wine as Dictator, you shall not have me for your master of horse." On Saturday, April 4, I drank tea with Johnson at Dr. Taylor's, where he had dined. He entertained us with an account of a tragedy written by a Dr. Kennedy, (not the Lisbon physiis

dangerous.

(smiling.) E. "If

"The catastrophe of it (said he,) was, that a King, v/ho was jealous of his Queen with his prime-minister, castrated himself.^ This tragedy cian.)

^The reverse of the story of Combabus, on which Hume told Lord Macartney, that a friend of his had written a tragedy. It is, however, possible that I may have been inaccurate in my perception of what Dr. Johnson related, and that he may have been talking of the same ludicrous tragical subject that Mr. Hume had mentioned. [The story of Combabus, which was originally told by Lucian, may be found in Bayle's Dictionary. M.]

Mr. David

—

BOSWELL

376

[1778

was actually shewn about in manuscript to several people, and, amongst others, to Mr. Fitzherbert, who repeated to me two lines of the

shot a man.^ Few minds are fit to be trusted with so great a thing." Boswell. "Then, Sir, you

Prologue:

be vexed afterwards for that too." Thrale's carriage not having come for him, as he expected, I accompanied him some part of the way home to his own house. I told him, that I had talked of him to Mr. Dunning a few days before, and had said, that in his company we did not so much interchange conversation, as listen to him; and that Dunning observed, upon this, "One is always willing to listen to Dr. Johnson": to which I answered, "That is a great deal from "Yes, Sir, (said Johnson,) a great you. Sir." deal indeed. Here is a man willing to listen, to whom the world is listening all the rest of the year." Boswell. "I think, Sir, it is right to tell one man of such a handsome thing, which has been said of him by another. It tends to increase benevolence." Johnson. "Undoubtedly

Our hero'sfate we have but gently touched; The fair might blame us, if it were less couched. It is hardly to be believed what absurd and indecent images men will introduce into their writings, without being sensible of the absurdity and indecency. I remember Lord Orrery told me, that there was a pamphlet written against Sir Robert Walpole, the whole of which was an allegory on the phallick obscenity. The Duchess of Buckingham asked Lord Orrery who this person was? He answered he did not know. She said, she would send to Mr. Pulteney, who, she supposed, could inform her.

So then,

to prevent her

ridiculous,

Lord Orrery

which he gave her to meant." in

from making herself Grace a note, understand what was

sent her

down

one,

and taking up another. talked of going to Streatham that night. Taylor. "You'll be robbed if you do: or you

must shoot a highwayman. Now I would rather be robbed than do that; I would not shoot a highwayman." Johnson. "But I would rather in the instant when he is attempting me, than afterwards swear against him at the Old-Bailey, to take away his life, after he has robbed me. I am surer I am right in the one case than in the other. I may be mistaken as to the man, when I swear: I cannot be mistaken, if

shoot

him

to rob

I shoot him in the act. Besides, we feel less reluctance to take away a man's life, when we are heated by the injury, than to do it at a distance of time by an oath, after we have cooled." Boswell. "So, Sir, you would rather act from the motive of private passion, than that of publick advantage." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, when I shoot

highwayman I act from both." Boswell. "Very well, very well. There is no catching him." Johnson. "At the same time one does not know what to say. For perhaps one may, a year after, hang himself from uneasiness for having the

—

iThe late Duke of Montrose was generally said have been uneasy on that account; but I can contradict the report from his Grace's own authority. As he used to admit me to very easy conversation with him, I took the liberty to introduce the subject. His Grace told me, that when riding one night near London, he was attacked by two highwaymen on horseback, and that he instantly shot one of them, upon which the other galloped off;

might

right. Sir."

it is

He

at his house.

mentioned land

He

I

—

On Tuesday, April

He was very silent this evening; and read in a variety of books: suddenly throwing

would not shoot him?" Johnson. "But

to

said,

him a

breakfasted with him "nobody was content." I 7, 1

respectable person in Scot-

whom he knew; and I

asserted, that I real-

ly believed he was always content. Johnson.

' '

No,

not content with the present; he has always some new scheme, some new plantation, something which is future. You know he was not content as a widower; for he married again." Boswell. "But he is not restless." Johnson. "Sir, he is only locally at rest. A chymist is locally at rest; but his mind is hard at work. This gentleSir,

he

man

is

has done with external exertions. It

him

is

too

engage in distant projects." Boswell. "He seems to amuse himself quite well; to have his attention fixed, and his tranquillity preserved by very small matters. I have tried this; but it would not do with me." Johnson (laughing,) "No, Sir; it must be born with a man to be contented to take up with little things. Women have a great advantage that they may take up with little things, without disgracing themselves: a man cannot, except with fiddling. Had I learnt to fiddle, I should have done nothing else." Boswell. 'Pray Sir,did you ever play on any musical instrument?" Johnson. "No, Sir. I once bought me a fiagelet; but I never made out a tune." Boswell. "A fiagelet. Sir! so small an instru-

late for

to

'

,

—

to

who was very well mounted, proposed to pursue him and take him, but that his Grace said, "No, we have had blood enough: I hope the man may live to repent." His Grace, upon my presuming to put the question, assured me, that his mind was not at all clouded by what he had thus done in self-defence. that his servant,

LIFE OF

1778]

have liked to hear you play on the violoncello. That should have been your instrument." Johnson. "Sir, I might as well have played on the violoncello as another but I should have done nothing else. No, Sir; a man would never undertake great things, could he be amused with small. I once tried knotting. Dempster's sister undertook to teach me; but I could not learn it." Boswell."So, Sir; it will be related in pompous narrative, 'Once for his amusement he ment?"^ I should

;

tried knotting; nor did this Hercules disdain the

" Johnson. "Knitting of stockings is a good amusement. As a freeman of Aberdeen I distaff.'

should be a knitter of stockings." He asked me to go down with him and dine at Mr. Thrale's at Streathain, to which I agreed. I had lent him An Account of Scotland, in 1702, written by a man of various enquiry, an English chaplain to a regiment stationed there. Johnson. "It is sad stuff, Sir, miserably written, as books in general then were. There is now an elegance of style universally diffused.

No man now writes so ill as MarA man could

tin's Account of the Hebrides is written.

not write so clerk

now

ill,

if

he should

to write,

and

try.

he'll

Set a merchant's

do

better."

He talked to me with serious concern of a cerand in— "I am as much vexed (said

tain female friend's "laxity of narration,

attention to truth." he,) at the ease

with which she hears

it

mention-

'Madam, you are contented to hear every day said to you, what the highest of mankind have died

ed

to her, as at the thing itself. I told her,

for,

—

You know. Sir, the highhave died rather than bear to be

rather than bear.'

est of mankind

told they had uttered a falsehood. Do talk to her of it: I am weary." BoswELL. "Was not Dr. John Campbell a very inaccurate man in his narrative, Sir? He once told me, that he drank thirteen bottles of port at a sitting."^ Johnson. "Why, Sir, I do not know

^When I told this to Miss Seward, she smiled, and repeated, with admirable readiness, from Acis and Galatea, Bring me a hundred reeds of ample growth. To make a pipe for my capacious mouth. ^Lord Macartney observes upon this passage, "I

have heard him tell many things, which, though embellished by their mode of narrative, had their foundation in truth; but I never remember any thing approaching to this. If he had written it, I should have supposed some wag had put the figure of one before the three." I am, however, absolutely certain that Dr. Campbell told me it, and I gave particular attention to it, being myself a lover of wine, and therefore curious to hear whatever is remarkable concerning drinking. There can be no doubt that some men can drink, without suffering any injury, such a quantity as to others appears incredible. It is but fair to add, that Dr. Campbell

—

JOHNSON Campbell ever

377

with pen and ink; but you could not entirely depend on any thing he that

told

you

with

it.

lied

in conversation: if there was fact mixed However, I loved Campbell: he was a solid orthodox man: he had a reverence for religion. Though defective in practice, he was religious in principle; and he did nothing grossly wrong that I have heard." I told him, that I had been present the day before, when Mrs. Montagu, the literary lady, sat to Miss Reynolds for her picture; and that she said, "she had bound up Mr. Gibbon's History without the last two offensive chapters; for that she thought the book so far good, as it gave, in an elegant manner, the substance of the bad writers medii cevi, which the late Lord Lyttelton advised her to read." Johnson. "Sir, she has not read them: she shews none of this impetuosity to me: she does not know Greek, and, I fancy, knows little Latin. She is willing you should think she knows them; but she does not say she does." Bos WELL. "Mr. Harris, who was present, agreed with her." Johnson. "Harris was laughing at her, Sir. Harris is a sound sullen scholar; he does not like interlopers. Harris, however, is a prig, and a bad prig.' I looked into his book, and thought he did not understand his own system." BoswELL. "He says plain things in a formal and abstract way, to be sure: but his method is good: for to have clear notions upon any subject, we must have recourse to analytick arrangement."JoHNSON. "Sir, it is what every body does, whether they will or no. But sometimes things may be made darker by definition. I see

a cow,

I

define her. Animal quadrupes ruminans

cornutum.

But a goat ruminates, and a cow horns. Cow is plainer." Boswell.

may have no

"I think Dr. Franklin's definition of Man a good one 'A tool-making animal.' "Johnson. "But many a man never made a tool; and suppose a man without arms, he could not make a tool."

—

told me, he took a very long time to this great potation; and I have heard Dr. Johnson say, "Sir, if a man drinks very slowly, and lets one glass evaporate before he takes another, I know not how long he may drink." Dr. Campbell mentioned a Colonel of Militia who sat with him all the time, and drank equally. ^What my friend meant by these words concerning the amiable philosopher of Salisbury, I am at a loss to understand. friend suggests, that Johnson thought his manner as a writer affected, while at the same time the matter did not compensate for that fault. In short, that he meant to make a remark quite different from that which a celebrated gentleman made on a very eminent physician: "He is a coxcomb, but a satisfactory coxcomb."

A

—

—

BOSWELL

378

Talking of drinking wine, he said, "I did not leave off wine, because I could not bear it; I have drunk three bottles of port without being the worse for it. University College has witnessed this." BoswELL. "Why then, Sir, did you leave off?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, because it is so much better for a man to be sure that he is never

it

to be intoxicated, never to lose the

himself.

I

shall not begin to drink

power over wine again,

[1778

man

that you now are." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, if I had been there from fifteen to twenty-five; but not if from twenty-five to thirty-five." Boswell. "I own, Sir, the spirits which I have in London make me do every thing with more readiness and vigour. I can talk twice as much in London as any where else." Of Goldsmith he said, "He was not an agreeable companion, for he talked always for fame.

grow old, and want it." Bosvvell. "I think. you once said to me, that not to drink wine was a great deduction from life." Johnson. "It is a diminution of pleasure, to be sure; but I do not say a diminution of happiness. There is more happiness in being rational." Boswell. "But if we could have pleasure always, should not we be happy? The greatest part of men would compound for pleasure." Johnson. "Supposing we could have pleasure always, an intellectual man

A man who does so

would not compound for it. The greatest part of men would compound, because the greatest part of men are gross." Boswell. "I allow there may be greater pleasure than from wine. I have had more pleasure from your conversation, I have indeed; I assure you I have." Johnson. "When

Bible,

till I

Sir,

we

talk of pleasure,

we mean

sensual pleasure.

he had pleasure with a woman, he does not mean conversation, but something of a very different nature. Philosophers

When a man says,

you, that pleasure is contrary to happiness. Gross men prefer animal pleasure. So there are tell

among savages. Now what a wretch must he be, who is content with such conversation as can be had among savages You may remember an officer at Fort Augustus, who had served in America, told us

men who have

preferred living

!

woman whom they were obliged to bind, in order to get her back from savage life." Boswtell. "She must have been an animal, a beast." Johnson. "Sir, she was a speaking cat." I mentioned to him that I had become very weary in a company where I heard not a single of a

intellectual sentence, except that "a man who had been settled ten years in Minorca was become a much inferiour man to what he was in London, because a man's mind grows narrow in a narrow place." Johnson. "A man's mind grows narrow in a narrow place, whose mind is

enlarged only because he has lived in a large place: but what is got by books and thinking is preserved in a narrow place as well as in a large place. A man cannot know modes of life as well in Minorca as in London; but he may study mathematicks as well in Minorca." Boswell. "I don't know. Sir: if you had remained ten years in the Isle of Col, you would not have been the

—

—

never can be pleasing.

The

man who talks to unburthen his mind is the man to delight you. An eminent friend of ours is not so agreeable as the variety of his knowledge would otherwise make him, because he talks partly

from ostentation." Soon after our arrival at Thrale's, I heard one of the maids calling eagerly on another, to go to Dr. Johnson. I wondered what this could mean. I

it was to give her a which he had brought from London as a

afterwards learnt, that

present to her.

He was for a considerable time occupied in reading Memoires de Fontenelle, leaning and swinging upon the low gate into the court, without his hat. I

looked into Lord Kames's Sketches of the HisMan; and mentioned to Dr. Johnson his

tory oj

censure of Charles the Fifth, for celebrating his funeral obsequies in his lifetime, which, I told him, I had been used to think a solemn and af-

"Why, Sir, a man may dispose his mind to think so of that act of Charles; but it is so liable to ridicule, that if one man out of ten thousand laughs at it, he'll make the other nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine laugh too." I could not agree with him in this. Sir John Pringle had expressed a wish that I would ask Dr. Johnson's opinion what were the best English sermons for style. I took an opportunity to-day of mentioning several to him. " Atterbury" Johnson. "Yes, Sir, one of the best." Boswell." H//o/w«.'"' Johnson. "Why, not now. I should not advise a preacher at this day to imitate Tillotson's style: though I don't know; I should be cautious of objecting to what has been

fecting act. Johnson.

applauded by so many suffrages. South is one of the best, if you except his peculiarities, and his violence, and sometimes coarseness of lanSeed has a very fine style; but he is not guage. very theological. JortirCs sermons are very eleSherlock's style too is very elegant, though gant. he has not made it his principal study. And you may add Smallridge. All the latter preachers have a good style. Indeed, nobody now talks much of style: every body composes pretty well. There are no such unharmonious periods as there

—

—

LIFE OF

1778]

should recommend Dr. darkens sermons, were he orthodox. However, it is very well known where he was not orthodox, which was upon the doctrine of the Trinity, as to which he is a condemned heretick; so one is aware of it." Boswell. "I like Ogden's Sermons on Prayer very much, both for neatness of style and subtilty of reasoning." Johnson. "I should like to read all that Ogden has written." Boswell. "What I wish to know is, what sermons afford the best specimen of English pulpit eloquence." Johnson. "We have no sermons addressed to the passions that are good for any thing; if you mean that kind of eloquence." A Clergyman: (whose name I do not recollect.) "Were notDodd's sermons addressed to the passions?" Johnson. "They were nothing, Sir, be they addressed to what they may." At dinner, Mrs. Thrale expressed a wish to go and see Scotland. Johnson. "Seeing Scotland, Madam, is only seeing a worse England. It is seeing the flower gradually fade away to the naked stalk. Seeing the Hebrides, indeed, is seeing quite a different scene." Our poor friend, Mr. Thomas Davies, was soon to have a benefit at Drury-lane theatre, as some relief to his unfortunate circumstances. We

were a hundred

yeeirs ago. I

were all warmly interested for his success, and had contributed to it. However, we thought there was no harm in having our joke, when he could not be hurt by it. I proposed that he should be brought on to speak a Prologue upon the occasion; and I began to mutter fragments of what it might be: as, that when now grown old, he was obliged to cry, "Poor Tom's a-cold"; that he owned he had been driven from the stage by a Churchill, but that this was no disgrace, for a Churchill had beat the French; that he had been satyrised as "mouthing a sentence as curs mouth a bone," but he was now glad of a bone to pick. "Nay, (said Johnson,) I would have

—

—

—

him

to say.

Mad Tom

is

come

to see the

world again"

He and I returned to town in Upon the road, I endeavoured to

the evening.

maintain, in is not under

argument, that a landed gentleman

any obligation to reside upon his estate; and that by living in London he does no injury to his country. Johnson. "Why, Sir, he does no injury to his country in general, because the

which he draws from

it

gets

money

back again in circu-

but to his particular district, his particuhe does an injury. All that he has to give away is not given to those who have the first claim to it. And though I have said that the lation;

lar parish,

JOHNSON money

379

circulates back,

it is

a long time before

that happens. Then, Sir, a man of family and ought to consider himself as having the charge of a district, over which he is to diffuse estate

and happiness." Next day I found him

civility

ing.

at home in the mornpraised Delany's Observations on Swift;

He

book and Lord Orrery's might both be true, though one viewed Swift more, and the other less favourably; and that, between both, we might have a complete notion of Swift. Talking of a man's resolving to deny himself the use of wine, from moral and religious considerations, he said, "He must not doubt about it. When one doubts as to pleasure, we know what will be the conclusion. I now no more think of drinking wine, than a horse does. The wine upon the table is no more for me, than for the said that his

dog that

is under the table." Thursday, April 9, I dined with him at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, with the Bishop of St. Asaph, (Dr. Shipley,) Mr. Allan Ramsay, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Cambridge, and Mr. Langton. Mr. Ramsay had lately returned from Italy, and entertained us with his observations upon Horace's villa, which he had examined with great care. I relished this much, as it brought fresh into my mind what I had viewed with great pleasure thirteen years before. The Bishop, Dr. Johnson, and Mr. Cambridge, joined with Mr. Ramsay,

On

in recollecting the various lines in

Horace

relat-

ing to the subject.

Horace's journey to Brundusium being menJohnson observed, that the brook which he describes is to be seen now, exactly as at that time, and that he had often wondered how it happened, that small brooks, such as this, kept the same situation for ages, notwithstanding earthquakes, by which even mountains have been changed, and agriculture, which produces such a variation upon the surface of the earth. Cambridge. "A Spanish writer has this thought in a poetical conceit. After observing that most of tioned,

the solid structures of Rome are totally perished,

while the Tiber remains the same, he adds,

Lo Lo

que era Firme huio solamente, Fugitivo permanece y dura."

Johnson. "Sir, that

is

taken from Janus

Vitalis:

immota labescunt;

Et quce perpetuo sunt agitata manent."

The Bishop

it appeared from Horace's was a cheerful contented man. Johnson. "We have no reason to believe that, my Lord. Are we to think Pope was happy, be-

said,

writings that he

BOSWELL

38o

cause he says so in his writings? We see in his writings what he wished the state of his mind to appear. Dr. Young, who pined for preferment, talks with contempt of it in his writings, and affects to despise every thing that he did not despise." Bishop of St. Asaph. "He was Hke other chaplains, looking for vacancies: but that is not peculiar to the clergy. I remember when I was with the army, after the battle of Lafeldt, the officers seriously grumbled that no general was killed."

Cambridge.

more when he

"We may

believe

Horace

says,

RomcE Tibur amem, ventosus Tibure Romam;

when he

than

boasts of his consistency:

Me constare mihi sets, et decedere tristem, Quandocunque trahunt invisa negotia Romam."

BoswELL. "How hard is it that man can never be at rest." Ramsay. "It is not in his nature to be at rest. When he is at rest, he is in the worst state that he can be in; for he has nothing to agitate him.

He

is

There

then like the liv'd

a young

man

man

in the Irish song,

in Ballinacrazy.

Who wanted a wife for to make him

unaisy."

Goldsmth being mentioned, Johnson observit was long before his merit came to be acknowledged. That he once complained to him, ed, that

in ludicrous terms of distress,

any

"Whenever I write

thing, the publick make a point to

know nothhim

ing about it": but that his Traveller brought

Langton. "There is not poem; not one of Dryden's careless verses." Sir Joshua. "I was glad to hear Charles Fox say, it was one of the finest poems in the English language." Langton. "Why was you glad? You surely had no doubt of this before." Johnson. "No; the merit of The Traveller is so well established, that Mr. Fox's praise cannot augment it, nor his censure diminish it." Sir Joshua. "But his friends may suspect they had too great a partiality for him." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, the partiality of his friends was always against him. It was with difficulty we could give him a hearing. Goldsmith had no settled notions upon any subject; so he talked always at random. It seemed to be his intention to blurt out whatever was in his mind, and see what would become of it. He was angry too, when catched in an absurdity; but it did not prevent him from falling into another the next minute. I remember Chamier, after talking with him for some time, said, 'Well, I do believe he wrote this poem himself: into high reputation.

one bad

and, deal.'

let

line in that

me

tell

you, that

is

believing a great

Chamier once asked him, what he meant

by

[1778

slow, the last

word

in the

first

line of

The

Traveller,

Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow.

Did he mean tardiness of locomotion? Goldsmith, who would say something without consideration,

answered, 'Yes.'

'No, Sir; you do not

I

was

mean

sitting by,

and

said,

tardiness of locomo-

tion; you mean, that sluggishness of mind which comes upon a man in solitude. Chamier believed then that I had written the line as much as if he had seen me write it. Goldsmith, however, was a man, who, whatever he wrote, did it better than any other man could do. He deserved a place in Westminster-Abbey, and every year he lived, would have deserved it better. He had, indeed, been at no pains to fill his mind with knowledge. He transplanted it from one place to another; and it did not settle in his mind; so he could not tell what was in his own books." We talked of living in the country. Johnson. '

"No wise man will go to live in

the country, unhe has something to do which can be better done in the country. For instance: if he is to shut himself up for a year to study a science, it is better to look out to the fields, than to an opposite v/all. Then, if a man walks out in the country, there is nobody to keep him froin walking in again: but if a man walks out in London, he is not sure when he shall walk in again. A great city is, to be sure, the school for studying life; and 'The proper study of mankind is man,' as Pope observes." Boswell. "I fancy London is the best place for society; though I have heard less

that the very

any thing question

first

that

if

society of Paris

we have

is still

beyond

here." Johnson. "Sir,

in Paris such a

company

as

is

I

sitting

round

this table could be got together in less than half a year. They talk in France of the fe-

men and women living together: the men are not higher than the women, they know no more than the women do, and they are not held down in their converlicity of

truth

is,

sation

that there the

by the presence of women." Ramsay. "Lit-

is upon the growth, it is in its spring in France. Here it is rather />aj-j-|^." Johnson. "Literature was in France long before we had it. Paris was the second city for the revival of let-

erature

ters: Italy

done

had

the Stephani ture

it first,

to

be sure.

for literature, equal to

and others

What have we

what was done by

in France?

Our

litera-

came to us through France. Caxton printed

only two books, Chaucer and Gower, that were not translations from the French; and Chaucer, we know, took much from the Italians. No, Sir, if literature be in its spring in France, it is a sec-

LIFE OF ond spring; it is after a winter. We are now be1778]

French in Hterature; but we had it long them. In England, any man who wears a sword and a powdered wig is ashamed to be illiterate. I believe it is not so in France. Yet there is, probably, a great deal of learning in France, because they have such a number of religious establishments; so many men who have nothing else to do but to study. I do not know this; but I take it upon the common principles of chance. Where there are many shooters, some will fore the

JOHNSON

after

hit."

We it is

I must borrow Garagantua's mouth.

Miss Reynolds not perceiving at once the meanthis, he was obliged to explain it to her, which had something of an awkward and ludiing of crous

from want of use,

if

is

his

a man's

own

wish then,

Sir, is ynpaaKeiv bLbaanbnevos."

John-

my

Lord." His Lordship mentioned a charitable establishment in Wales, where people were maintained, and supplied with every thing, upon the condition of their contributing the weekly produce of their labour; and he said, they grew quite torpid for want of property. Johnson. "They have no object for hope. Their condition cannot be better. It is rowing without a port." One of the company asked him the meaning of the expression in Juvenal, unius lacertce. "I think it clear enough; as much ground as one may have a chance to find a lizard upon." Commentators have differed as to the exact meaning of the expression by which the Poet intended to enforce the sentiment contained in the passage where these words occur. It is enough that they mean to denote even a very small possession, provided it be a man's own: son. "Yes,

Est aliquid quocunque loco quocunque Unius sese dominumfecisse lacertce.

recessu,

This season there was a whimsical fashion in the newspapers of applying Shakspeare's words to describe living persons well known in the world; which was done under the title of Modern

Characters from Shakspeare;

many

of which were

admirably adapted. The fancy took so much, that they were afterwards collected into a pamphlet. Somebody said to Johnson, across the table, that he had not been in those characters. ''Yes (said he,) I have. I should have been sorry

it

has a reference

He would notflatter Neptune Jor his trident.

fault,

The Bishop asked, if an old man does not lose faster than he gets. Johnson. "I think not, my Lord, if he exerts himself." One of the company rashly observed, that he thought it was happy for an old man that insensibility comes upon him. Johnson, (with a noble elevation and disdain,) "No, Sir, I should never be happy by being less rational." Bishop of St. Asaph. "Your

"Why, Madam,

which require the mouth of a giant to pronounce them. Garagantua is the name of a giant in Rabelais." Boswell. "But, Sir, there is another amongst them for you: Or Jovefor

mind grows torpid in

old age."

effect.

to me, as using big words,

talked of old age. Johnson (now in his

seventieth year,) said, "It

381

be left out." He then repeated what had been applied to him, to

his power to thunder.^'

Johnson. "There is nothing marked in that. No, Sir, Garagantua is the best." Notwithstanding this ease and good humour, when I, a little while afterwards, repeated his sarcasm on Kenrick,^ which was received with applause, he asked, "Who said that?" and on my suddenly answering, Garagantua, he looked serious, which was a sufficient indication that he did not wish it to be kept up.

When we went to the drawing-room there was a rich assemblage. Besides the company who had been at dinner, there were Mr. Garrick, Mr. Harris of Salisbury, Dr. Percy, Dr. Burney, Honourable Mrs. Cholmondeley, Miss Hannah More, &c. &c. After wandering about in a kind of pleasing distraction for

some

time,

I

got into a corner,

with Johnson, Garrick, and Harris. Garrick. (to Harris,) "Pray, Sir, have you read Potter's Mschylusl" Harris. "Yes; and think it pretty." Garrick. (to Johnson,) "And what think you, Sir, of it?" Johnson. "I thought what I read of it verbiage: but upon Mr. Harris's recommendation, I will read a play. (To Mr. Harris,) Don't prescribe two." Mr. Harris suggested one, I do not remember which. Johnson. "We must try its effect as an English poem; that is the way to judge of the merit of a translation. Translations are, in general, for people who cannot read the original." I mentioned the vulgar saying, that Pope's Homer was not a good representation of the original. Johnson. "Sir, it is the greatest work of the kind that has ever been produced."

Boswell. "The truth

is, it is

impossible perfect-

language it be the same tune, but it has not the same tone. Homer plays it on a bassoon; Pope on a flagelet." Harris. "I think Heroick poetry is best in blank verse; yet it appears that rhyme is essential to English poetry, from our deficiency ly to translate poetry. In a different

may

^See p. 142.

BOSWELL

382

in metrical quantities. In my opinion, the chief excellence of our language is numerous prose."

Johnson. "Sir WilliamTemple was the first writer who gave cadence to English prose. Before his time they were careless of arrangement, and did not mind whether a sentence ended with an important word or an insignificant word, or with what part of speech it was concluded." Mr. Langton, who now had joined us, commended Clarendon. Johnson. "He is objected to for his parentheses, his involved clauses, It

is,

his style

Mr.

and

his

want

supported by his matter. indeed, owing to a plethory of matter that

of harmony. But he

is

so faulty.

Harris,) has so

tinct,

is

Every

many

substance, (smiling to accidents.

we must talk analytically.

If

— To be dis-

we analyse lan-

guage, we must speak of it grammatically; if we analyse argument, we must speak of it logically." Garrick. "Of all the translations that ever were attempted, I think Elphinston'sMariz'a/ the

most extraordinary.

who am

a

little

He

consulted

me upon

it,

of an epigrammatist myself,

you know. I told him freely, 'You don't seem to have that turn.' I asked him if he was serious; and finding he was, I advdsed him against publishing. Why, his translation is more difficult to understand than the original. I thought him a man of some talents; but he seems crazy in this." Johnson. "Sir, you have done what I had not courage to do. But he did not ask my advice, and I did not force it upon him, to make him angry ." with me." Garrick. "But as a friend. Sir Johnson. "Why, such a friend as I am with him no." Garrick. "But if you see a friend going to tumble over a precipice?" Johnson. "That is an extravagant case. Sir. You are sure a friend will thank you for hindering him from tumbling over a precipice; but, in the other case, I should

—

—

hurt his vanity, and do him no good. He would not take my advice. His brother-in-law, Strahan, sent him a subscription of fifty pounds, and said he would send him fifty more, if he would not publish." Garrick. "What! eh! is Strahan a good judge of an Epigram? Is not he rather an obtuse man, eh?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, he may not be a judge of an Epigram: but you see he is

a judge of what "It

is

is

not

an Epigram." Boswell.

easy for you, Mr. Garrick, to talk to an

authour as you talked to Elphinston; you, who have been so long the manager of a theatre, rejecting the plays of poor authours. You are an old Judge, who have often pronounced sentence of death. You are a practiced surgeon, who have often amputated limbs ;and though this may have been for the good of your patients, they cannot like you. Those who have undergone a dreadful

[1778

operation, are not very fond of seeing the operator

again." Garrick. "Yes, I know enough of that. There was a reverend gentleman, (Mr. Hawkins,) who wrote a tragedy, the siege of something,^ which I refused." Harris. "So, the siege was raised." Johnson. "Ay, he came to me and complained; and told me, that Garrick said his play was wrong in the concoction. Now, what is the concoction of a play?" (Here Garrick started,

and twisted himself, and seemed sorely vexed; for Johnson told me, he believed the story was I I said/ri'/ concoction." true.) Garrick. "I Johnson, (smiling,) "Well, he left out first. And

———

Rich, he said, refused him

in jalse English:

he

could shew it under his hand." Garrick. "He wrote to me in violent wrath, for having refused his play: 'Sir, this is growing a very serious and terrible affair. I am resolved to publish my play. I will appeal to the world; and how will your judgement appear?' I answered, 'Sir, nothwithstanding all the seriousness, and all the terrours, I have no objection to your publishing your play;

and

as

you live at a great distance, (Devonyou wiU send it to me, I will the press.' I never heard more of it,

shire, I believe,) if

convey

it

to

ha! ha! ha!"

On Friday, April 10, 1 found Johnson at home We resumed the conversation

in the morning.

of yesterday. He put me in mind of some of it which had escaped my memory, and enabled me to record it more perfectly than I otherwise could have done. He was much pleased with my paying so great attention to his recommendation

when our acquaintance beshould keep a journal; and I could perceive he was secretly pleased to find so much of the fruit of his mind preserved; and as he had been used to imagine and say that he always laboured when he said a good thing it delighted him, on a review, to find that his conversation teemed with point and imagery. I said to him, "You were yesterday, Sir, in remarkably good humour: but there was nothing to offend you, nothing to produce irritation or violence. There was no bold offender. There was not one capital conviction. It was a maiden assize. You had on your white gloves." He found fault with our friend Langton for having been too silent. "Sir, (said I,) you will recollect, that he very properly took up Sir Joshua for being glad that Charles Fox had praised Goldsmith's Traveller, and you joined in

1

763, the period

gan, that

I

—

^It was called The Siege of Aleppo. Mr. Hawkins, the author of it, was formerly Professor of Poetry at Oxford. It is printed in his Miscellanies, 3 vols., 8vo.

— LIFE OF

1778]

him." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, I knocked Fox on the head, without ceremony. Reynolds is too much under Fox and Burke at present. He is under the Fox star and the Irish constellation. He is always under some planet." Boswell. "There is no Fox star. "Johnson. "But there is a dog star." Boswell. "They say, indeed, a fox and a dog are the same animal." I reminded him of a gentleman, who, Mrs.

Cholmondeley said, was first talkative from afand then silent from the same cause;

fectation,

thought, "I shall be celebrated as in every company"; and then, all at once, "O it is much more respectable to be grave and look wise." "He has reversed the Pythagorean discipline, by being first talkative, and then silent. He reverses the course of Nature too: he was first the gay butterfly, and then the creeping worm." Johnson laughed loud and long at this expansion and illustration of what that he

first

the liveliest

man !

he himself had told me. We dined together with Mr. Scott (now Sir William Scott, his Majesty's Advocate General,)

nobody else there. Johnson was not in

at his chambers in the Temple,

The company being such

and

spirits as

small,

he had been the preceding day,

for a considerable time little

was

said.

At

'

Subordination is sadly broken now, has the same except a gaolauthority which his father had, er. No master has it over his servants: it is diminished in our colleges; nay, in our grammarschools." BoswTELL. "What is the cause of this. Sir?" Johnson. "Why, the coming in of the Scotch," (laughing sarcastically.) Boswell. "That is to say, things have been turned topsy turvey. But your serious cause." Johnson. "Why, last he burst forth,

down

in this age.

'

No man,

—

—

Sir, there

are

many causes,

the chief of which

is,

money. No man now depends upon the Lord of a Manour, when he can send to another country, and fetch proI

think, the great increase of

visions. The shoeblack at the entry of my court does not depend on me. I can deprive him but of a penny a day, which he hopes somebody else will bring him; and that penny I must carry to another shoe-black, so the trade suffers nothing. I have explained, in my Journey to the Hebrides, how gold and silver destroy feudal subordination. But, besides, there is a general relaxation of reverence. No son now depends upon his father as in former times. Paternity used to be considered as of itself a great thing, which had a

right to many claims.

That is, in general, reduced My hope is, that as an-

to very small bounds.

produces tyranny, this extreme relaxation produce /r^tt? strictio."

airchy will

JOHNSON

383

Talking of fame, for which there is so great a desire, I observed how little there is of it in reality, compared with the other objects of human attention. "Let every man recollect, and he will be sensible how small a part of his time is employed in talking or thinking of Shakspeare, Voltaire, or any of the most celebrated men that have ever lived, or are now supposed to occupy the attention and admiration of the world. Let this be extracted and compressed; into what a narrow space will it go !" I then slily introduced Mr. Garrick's fame, and his assuming the airs of a great man. Johnson. "Sir, it is wonderful how little Garrick assumes. No, Sir, Garrick fortunam r everenter habet.

Consider, Sir: celebrated men,

such as you have mentioned, have had their applause at a distance; but Garrick had it dashed in his face,

sounded

in his ears,

and went home

every night with the plaudits of a thousand in his cranium. Then, Sir, Garrick did not find, but made his way to the tables, the levees, and al-

most the bed-chambers of the great. Then, Sir, Garrick had under him a numerous body of people; who, from fear of his power, and hopes of his favour, and admiration of his talents, were con-

And here is a man has advanced the dignity of his profession. Garrick has made a player a higher character." Scott. "And he is a very sprightly writer too."

stantly submissive to him.

who

Johnson. "Yes, great wealth of

had happened

and

Sir;

his

to

own

me,

I

all this

supported by

acquisition. If all this

should have had a cou-

ple of fellows with long poles walking before me,

knock down every body that stood in the way. if all this had happened to Gibber or Quin, they'd have jumped over the moon. Yet Garrick speaks to us." (smiling.) Boswell. "And Garrick is a very good man, a charitable man." Johnson. "Sir, a liberal man, He has given away more money than any man in England. There may be a little vanity mixed; but he to

Consider,

has shewn, that

money

is

not his

first

object."

Boswell. "Yet Foote used to say of him, that he walked out with an intention to do a generous action; but, turning the corner of a street, he

met with the ghost of a halfpenny, which frightened him." Johnson. "Why,

Sir, that is very never knew a man of whom it could be said with less certainty to-day, what he will do to-morrow, than Garrick; it depends so much on his humour at the time." Scott. "I am glad to hear of his liberality. He has been represented as very saving." Johnson. "With his domestick saving we have nothing to do. I remember drinking tea with him long ago, when Peg Woffington made it, and he grumbled at

true, too; for I

:

BOSWELL

384

her for making it too strong.* He had then begun to feel money in his purse, and did not know when he should have enough of it." On the subject of wealth, the proper use of it,

and the effects of that omy, he observed: "It

art

which

is

called a?con-

wonderful to think how men of very large estates not only spend their yearly incomes, but are often actually in want of money. It is clear, they have not value for what they spend. Lord Shelburne told me, that a man of high rank, who looks into his own affairs, may have all that he ought to have, all that can be of any use, or appear with any advantage for five thousand pounds a year. Therefore, a great proportion must go in waste; and, indeed, this is the case with most people, whatever their fortune is." BoswELL. "I have no doubt. Sir, of this. But how is it? What is waste?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, breaking bottles, and a thousand other things. Waste cannot be accurately told, though we are sensible

how

is

destructive

it is.

(Economy on

the

one hand, by which a certain income is made to maintain a man genteely, and waste on the other, by which, on the same income, another man lives shabbily, cannot be defined. It is a very nice thing: as one man wears his coat out much sooner than another, we cannot tell how." We talked ofwar.JoHNSON. "Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea." Boswell. "Lord Mansfield does not." Johnson. "Sir, if Lord Mansfield were in a company of General Officers and Admirals who have been in service, he would shrink; he'd wish to creep under the table." Bosv^ELL. "No; he'd think he could try them all." Johnson. "Yes, if he could catch them: but they'd try him much sooner. No, Sir; were Socrates and Charles the Twelfth of Sweden both present in any company, and Socrates to say, 'Follow me, and hear a lecture on philosophy';

and Charles, laying his hand on his sword, to me, and dethrone the Czar'; a man would be ashamed to follow Socrates. Sir, the impression is universal; yet it is strange. As to the sailor, when you look down from the quarter deck to the space below, you see the utmost exsay, 'Follow

[1778

kind reverence those who have got over fear, which is so general a weakness." Scott. "But is not courage mechanical, and to be acquired?" Johnson. "Why yes, Sir, in a collective sense. Soldiers consider themselves only as parts of a great machine." Scott. "We find people fond of being sailors." Johnson. "I cannot account for that, any more than I can account for other strange perversions of imagination." His abhorrence of the profession of a sailor was uniformly violent; but in conversation he always exalted the profession of a soldier. And yet

I

have, in

his writings,

my large and various collection a

letter to

an eminent

of

friend, in

which he expresses himself thus: "My god-son called on me lately. He is weary, and rationally weary, of a military life. If you can place him in some other state, I think you may increase his happiness, and secure his virtue. A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption." Such was his cool reflection in his study; but whenever he was warmed and animated by the presence of company, he, like other philosophers, whose minds are impregnated with

common enthusiasm renown. He talked of Mr. Charles Fox, of whose abilities he thought highly, but observed, that he did not talk much at our Club. I have heard Mr. Gibbon remark, "that Mr. Fox could not be afraid of Dr. Johnson; yet he certainly was very shy of saying any thing in Dr. Johnson's presence." Mr. Scott now quoted what was said of Alcibiades by a Greek poet, to which Johnson

poetical fancy, caught the for splendid

assented.

He told us, that he had given Mrs. Montagu a catalogue of all Daniel Defoe's works of imagination; most, if not all of which, as well as of his other works, he now enumerated, allowing a considerable share of merit to a man, who, bred a tradesman, had written so variously and so well. Indeed, his Robinson Crusoe self to establish his

He

is

enough of

it-

reputation.

expressed great indignation at the impos-

ture of the Cock-lane Ghost,

and

related, with

much satisfaction, how he had assisted in detect-

human misery; such crowding, such such stench!" Boswell. "Yet sailors are happy." Johnson. "They are happy as brutes with the are happy, with a piece of fresh meat,

ing the cheat, and had published an account of it in the news-papers. Upon this subject I incautiously offended him, by pressing him with

grossest sensuality. But, Sir, the profession of sol-

ure. I apologised, saying that

tremity of filth,

—

diers

and sailors has the dignity of danger. Man-

iWhen Johnson told this little anecdote to Sir Joshua Reynolds, he mentioned a circumstance which he omitted to-day: "Why, (said Garrick,)

—

it is

as red as blood."

too

many

questions,

and he shewed

his displeas-

"I asked questions

and entertained; I repaired eagerly to the fountain; but that the moment he gave me a hint, the moment he put a "But, Sir, (said lock upon the well, I desisted." he, ) that is forcing one to do a disagreeable thing' ' in order to be instructed

—

— LIFE OF

1778]

and he continued to rate me. "Nay, Sir, (said I,) when you have put a lock upon the well, so that I can no longer drink, do not make the fountain of your wit play upon me and wet me."

He sometimes could not bear being teazed with questions. I was once present when a gentleman asked so many as, "What did you do. Sir?" "What did you say, Sir?" that he at last grew enraged, and said, "I will not be put to the question. Don't you consider. Sir, that these are not the manners of a gentleman? I will not be baited with what, and why; what is this? what is that? why is a cow's tail long? why is a fox's tail bushy?" The gentieman, who was a good deal out of countenance, said, "Why, Sir, you are so good, that I venture to trouble you." Johnson. "Sir, my being so good is no reason why you should be so 111." Talking of the Justitia hulk at Woolwich, in which criminals were punished, by being confined to labour, he said, "I do not see that they are punished by this: they must have worked equally had they never been guilty of stealing. They now only work; so, after all, they have gained; what they stole is clear gain to them; the confinement is nothing. Every man who works is confined: the smith to his shop, the tailor to his garret." Boswell. "And Lord Mansfield to his Court." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, you know the notion of confinement may be extended, as in the song, 'Every island is a prison.' There is, in Dodsley's Collection, a copy of verses to the authour of that song." Smith's Latin verses on Pococke, the great traveller, were mentioned. He repeated some of them, and said they were Smith's best verses. He talked with an uncommon animation of mind and that an acquisition of dignity of character was derived from it. He extravelling into distant countries; that the

was enlarged by

it,

pressed a particular enthusiasm with respect to visiting the wall of China. I catched it for the

moment, and said I really believed I should go and see the wall of China had I not children, of whom it was my duty to take care. "Sir, (said he,) by doing so, you would do what would be of importance in raising your children to emi-

upon them from your spirit and curiosity. They would

nence. There would be a lustre reflected

be at

all

times regarded as the children of a man to view the wall of China. I am

who had gone serious, Sir."

When we had left Mr. Scott's, he said, "Will you go home with me?" "Sir, (said I,) it is late; but I'll go with you for three minutes." Johnson. "Or fow-y We went to Mrs. Williams's

J

OHNSON

385

room, where we found Mr. Allen the printer, the landlord of his house in Bolt-court, a worthy obliging man, and his very old acquaintance; and what was exceedingly amusing, though he was of a very diminutive size, he used, even in Johnson's presence, to imitate the stately periods and slow and solemn utterance of the great man. I this evening boasted, that although

who was

—

did not write what is called stenography, or short-hand, in appropriated characters devised for the purpose, I had a method of my own of writing half words, and leaving out some altogether so as yet to keep the substance and lanI

guage of any discourse which

I

had heard

so

much in view, that I could give it very completehad taken it down. He defied me, had once defied an actual short-hand writer, and he made the experiment by reading slowly and distinctly a part of Robertson's History of

ly soon after I

as he

endeavoured to write it in my was found that I had it very imperfectly; the conclusion from which was, that its excellence was principally owing to a studied arrangement of words, which could not be varied or abridged without an essential America, while I

way

of taking notes. It

injury.

On

Sunday, April

12, I

found him at home

before dinner; Dr. Dodd's poem entitled Thoughts in Prison was lying upon his table. This appear-

me an extraordinary effort by a man who

ing to

was

Newgate

in

for a capital crime, I

sirous to hear Johnson's opinion of

it:

to

was de-

my sur-

me

he had not read a line of it. I took up the book and read a passage to him. Johnson. "Pretty well, if you are previously disposed to like them." I read another passage, with which he was better pleased. He then took the book into his own hands, and having looked at the prayer at the end of it, he said, "What eviprize,

he told

is there that this was composed the night before he suffered? 7 do not believe it." He then read aloud where he prays for the King, &c., and observed, "Sir, do you think that a man the

dence

night before he is to be hanged cares for the sucThough, he may have cession of a royal family? man who has composed this prayer, then. been canting all his life, may cant to the last.

—

A

And

man who has been refused a pardon much petitioning, would hardly be pray-

yet a

after so

ing thus fervently for the King." He and I, and Mrs. Williams, went to dine with the Reverend Dr. Percy. Talking of Goldsmith, Johnson said, he was very envious. I defended him, by observing that he owned it frankly upon all occasions. Johnson. "Sir, you are enforcing the charge. He had so much envy, that

1

BOSWELL

386

he could not conceal it. He was so full of it that he overflowed. He talked of it to be sure often enough. Now, Sir, what a man avows, he is not ashamed to think; though many a man thinks, what he is ashamed to avo\v. We are all envious naturally; but by checking envy, we get the better of it. So we are all thieves naturally; a child always tries to get at what it wants, the nearest way; by good instruction and good habits this is cured, till a man has not even an inclination to seize what is another's; has no struggle with himself about it."

And here I shall record a scene of too much heat between Dr. Johnson and Dr. Percy, which I should have suppressed, were it not that it gave occasion to display the truely tender and benevolent heart of Johnson, who, as soon as he found a friend was at all hurt by any thing which he had "said in his wrath," was not only prompt

[1778

which

is

representing

is

trim.

a citizen's parterre, when the truth is, there is a very large extent of fine turf and gravel walks." Johnson. "According to your own account. Sir, Pennant trim,

is

right. It

Here

it

is

like

grass cut close,

gravel rolled smooth. Is not that trim?

The

and ex-

nothing against that; a mile may be as trim as a square yard. Your extent puts me in mind of the citizen's enlarged dinner, two pieces of roast-beef, and two puddings. There is no variety, no mind exerted in laying out the ground, no trees." Percy. "He pretends to give the nattent

is

and yet takes no notice of the immense number of trees planted there of late." Johnson. "That, Sir, has nothing to do with the natural history; that is civil hisural history of Northumberland,

tory.

A man who gives the natural history of the

Percies,

is not to tell how many oaks have been planted in this place or that. A man who gives the natural history of the cow, is not to tell how many cows are milked at Islington. The animal is the same, whether milked in the Park or at Islington." Percy. "Pennant does not describe well; a carrier who goes along the side of Lochlomond would describe it better." Johnson. "I think he describes very well." Percy. "I trav-

ful

elled after

and desirous self to

to

be reconciled, but exerted him-

make ample

reparation.

Books of Travels having been mentioned, Johnson praised Pennant very highly,as he did at

Dunvegan, in the Isle of Sky.^ Dr. Percy, knowing himself to be the male heir of the ancient - and having the warmest and most dutiattachment to the noble House of Northumberland, could not sit quietly and hear a man praised, who had spoken disrespectfully of Alnwick-Castle and the Duke's pleasure grounds, especially as he thought meanly of his travels. He therefore opposed Johnson eagerly. Johnson. "Pennant in what he has said of Alnwick, has done what he intended; he has made you very angry." Percy. "He has said the garden is

'^Journal of a

Tour

to the

Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. 22

[Sept. 17].

^See this accurately stated, and the descent of his family from the Earls of Northumberland clearly deduced in the Reverend Dr. Nash's excellent History oj Worcestershire, vo\. ii, p. 318. The Doctor

has subjoined a note, in which he says, "The Editor hath seen and carefully examined the proofs of all the particulars above-mentioned, now in the possession of the Reverend Thomas Percy." The same proofs I have also myself carefully examined, and have seen some additional proofs which have occurred since the Doctor's book was published; and both as a Lawyer accustomed to the consideration of evidence, and as a Genealogist versed in the study of pedigrees, I am fully satisfied. I cannot help observing, as a circumstance of no small moment, that in tracing the Bishop of Dromore's genealogy, essential aid was given by the late Elizabeth, Duchess of Northumberland, Heiress of that illustrious House; a lady not only of high dignity of spirit, such as became her noble blood, but of excellent understanding and lively talents. With a fair pride I can boast of the honour of her Grace's correspondence, specimens of which adorn my archives.

oak,

him." Johnson. "And /travelled after him." Percy. "But, my good friend, you are

and do not see so well as I do." I wondered at Dr. Percy's venturing thus. Dr. Johnson said nothing at the time; but inflammable particles were collecting for a cloud to short-sighted,

Percy said something disparagement of Pennant. Johnson. (pointedly,) "This is the resentment of a narrow mind, because he did not find every thing in Northumberland." Percy, (feeling the stroke,) "Sir, you may be as rude as you please." Johnson. "Hold, Sir! Don't talk of rudeness; remember. Sir, you told me (puffing hard with passion struggling for a vent,) I was short-sighted. We have done with civility. We are to be as rude as we please." Percy. "Upon my honour, Sir, I did not mean to be uncivil." Johnson. "I cannot say so, Sir; for I did mean to be uncivil, thinking j;oM had been uncivil." Dr. Percy rose, ran up to him, and taking him by the hand, asburst. In a little while Dr.

more

in

sured

him

affectionately that his

meaning had

been misunderstood; upon which a reconciliation instantly took place. Johnson. "My dear Sir, I am willing you shall hang Pennant. " Percy. (resuming the former subject,) "Pennant complains that the helmet is not hung out to invite to the hall of hospitality. Now I never heard that it was a custom to hang out a helmet.'''' Johnson. "Hang him up, hang him up." Bosw^ll. (hu-

LIFE OF

1778]

mouring the joke,) "Hang out his skull instead of a helmet, and you may drink ale out of it in your hall of Odin, as he is your enemy; that will be truly ancient. There will be Northern AntiquiJohnson. "He's a Whig, Sir; a sad dog.

ties.''''^

(smiling at his

own

violent expressions, merely

for political difference of opinion.)

But he's the

ever read he observes more things than any one else does." I could not help thinking that this was too best traveller

I

;

high praise of a writer

who had traversed

a wide

extent of country in such haste, that he could

put together only curt frittered fragments of his own, and afterweirds procured supplemental intelligence from parochial ministers, and others not the best qualified or most impartial narrators, whose ungenerous prejudice against the house of Stuart glares in misrepresentation; a writer, who at best treats merely of superficial objects, and shews no philosophical investigation of char-

acter

and manners, such

Johnson has exhibsame should seem from a desire of as

ited in his masterly J'oMra^', over part of the

ground; and

who it

ingratiating himself with the Scotch, has flat-

tered the people of North-Britain so inordinate-

and with so little discrimination, that the juand candid amongst them must be disgusted, while they value more the plain, just,

ly

dicious

yet kindly report of Johnson.

Having impartially censured Mr. Pennant, as a Traveller in Scotland, let me allow him, from authorities much better than mine, his deserved praise as an able Zoologist; and let me also from

my own understanding and feelings, acknowledge the merit of his London, which, though said to be not quite accurate in some particulars, is one of the most pleasing topographical performances that ever appeared in any language. Mr. Pennant, like his countrymen in general, has the true spirit of a Gentleman. As a proof of it, I shall quote from his London the passage, in which he speaks of my illustrious friend. "I must by no means omit Bolt-court, the long residence of Doctor Samuel Johnson, a man of the strongest natural abilities, great learning, a most retentive memory, of the deepest and most unaffected piety and morality, mingled with those numerous weaknesses and prejudices which his friends have kindly taken care to draw from their dread abode."^ I brought on myself his transient an^The

of a book translated by Dr. Percy. the common cant against faithful Biography. Does the worthy gentleman mean that I, who was taught discrimination of character by Johnson, should have omitted his frailties, and, in short, have bedawbed him as the worthy gentleman has bedawbed Scotland? ^This

title is

JOHNSON

387

by observing that in his tour in Scotland, he once had "long and woeful experience of oats being the food of men in Scotland as they were of horses in England.'''' It was a national reflection unworthy of him, and I shot my bolt. In return he gave me a tender hug. Con amore he also said of me " The dog is a Whig"; I admired the virtues of Lord Russell, and pitied his fall. I should have been a Whig at the Revolution. There have been periods since, in which I should have been, what I now am, a moderate Tory, a supporter, as far ger,

as

my little influence extends, of a well-poised bal-

ance between the crown and people: but should the scale preponderate against the Salus populi, that moment may it be said " The dog''s a Whig!" We had a calm after the storm, staid the evening and supped, and were pleasant and gay. But Dr. Percy told me he was very uneasy at what had passed; for there was a gentleman there who was acquainted with the Northumberland family, to whom he hoped to have appeared more respectable, by shewing how intimate he was with Dr. Johnson, and who might now, on the contrary, go away with an opinion to his disadvantage. He begged I would mention this to Dr. Johnson, which I afterwards did. His observation upon it was, "This comes of stratagem; had he told me that he wished to appear to advantage before that gentleman, he should have been at the top of the house, all the time." He spoke of Dr. Percy in the handsomest terms. "Then, Sir, (said I,) may I be allowed to suggest a mode by which you may eflfectually counteract any unfavourable report of what passed. I will write a letter to you upon the subject of the unlucky contest of that day, and you will be kind enough to put in writing as an answer to that letter, what you have now said, and as Lord Percy is to dine with us at General Paoli's soon, I will take an opportunity to read the correspondence in his Lordship's presence. " This

scheme was accordingly carried into execution without Dr. Percy's knowledge. Johnson's letter placed Dr. Percy's unquestionable merit in the fairest point of view; and I contrived that Lord Percy should hear the correspondence, by introducing it at General Paoli's, as an instance of Dr. Johnson's kind disposition towards

friendly

one in whom his Lordship was interested. Thus every unfavourable impression was obviated that could possibly have been made on those by whom he wished most to be regarded. I breakfasted the day after with him, and informed him of my scheme, and its happy completion, for

which he thanked me in the warmest terms, and was highly delighted with Dr. Johnson's letter

BOSWELL

388

gave him a copy. He said, "I would rather have this than degrees from all the Universities in Europe. It will be for me, and my children and grand-children." Dr. Johnson having afterwards asked me if I had given him a copy of it, and being told I had, was offended, and insisted that I should get it back, which I did. As, however, he did not dein his praise, of

sire

which

I

me to destroy either the original or the copy, me to let it be seen, I think myself at

or forbid

liberty to apply to

it

his general declaration to

concerning his other letters, "That he did not choose they should be published in his lifetime; but had no objection to their appearing after his death." I shall therefore insert this kindly correspondence, having faithfully narrated

me

the circumstances

accompanying

it.

To Dr. Samuel Johnson

My Dear

Sir, I beg leave to address you in behalf of our friend Dr. Percy, who was much hurt by what you said to him that day we dined at his house ;^ when, in the course of the dispute as to Pennant's merit as a traveller, you told Percy that "he had the resentment of a narrow mind against Pennant, because he did not find

everything in Northumberland." Percy is sensible that you did not mean to injure him; but he is vexed to think that your behaviour to him upon that occasion may be interpreted as a proof that he is despised by you, which I know is not the case. I have told him, that the charge of being narrow-minded was only as to the particular point in question; and that he had the merit of being a martyr to his noble family. Earl Percy is to dine with General Paoli next Friday; and I should be sincerely glad to have it in my power to satisfy his Lordship how well you think of Dr. Percy, who, I find, apprehends that your good opinion of him may be of very essential consequence; and who assures me, that he has the highest respect and the warmest affection for you. suggesting this I have only to add, that occasion for the exercise of your candour and generosity, is altogether unknown to Dr. Percy,

my

and proceeds from my good-will towards him, and my persuasion that you will be happy to do him an essential kindness. I am, more and more, my dear Sir, your most faithful and affectionate humble servant, James Boswell

To James Boswell,

Esq.

Sir, The debate between Dr. Percy and me is one of those foolish controversies, which begin upon a question of which neither party cares how it is

decided, and which

iSunday, April

is,

12, 1778.

nevertheless, contin-

[1778

acrimony, by the vanity with which every man resists confutation. Dr. Percy's warmth proceeded from a cause which, perhaps, does him more honour than he could have derived from juster criticism. His abhorrence of Pennant proceeded from his opinion that Pennant had wantonly and indecently censured his patron. His anger made him resolve, that, for having been once wrong, he never should be right. Pennant has much in his notions that I do not like; but still I think a very intelligent traveller. If Percy is really offended, I am sorry; for he is a man whom I never knew to offend any one. He is a man very willing to learn, and very able to teach; a man, out of whose company I never go without having learned something. It is sure that he vexes me sometimes, but I am afraid it

ued

to

me feel my own ignorance. So extension of mind, and so much minute accuracy of enquiry, if you survey your whole circle of acquaintance, you will find so scarce, if you find it at all, that you will value Percy by comparison. Lord Hailes is somewhat like him: but Lord Hailes does not, perhaps, go beyond him in research; and I do not know that he equals him in elegance. Percy's attention to poetry has given grace and splendour to his studmere antiquarian is a rugged ies of antiquity. is

by making

much

A

being.

Upon the whole, you see that what I might say in sport or petulance to him, is very consistent with full conviction of his merit. I am, dear Sir, your most, &c. Sam. Johnson April 23, 1778

To THE Reverend

Dr. Percy, Northumberland-House Dear Sir, I wrote to Dr. Johnson on the subject of the Pennantian controversy; and have received from him an answer which will delight you. I read it yesterday to Dr. Robertson, at the Exhibition; and at dinner to Lord Percy, General Oglethorpe, &c. who dined with us at General Paoli's; who was also a witness to the high

your honour. General Paoli desires the favour of your company next Tuesday to dinner, to meet Dr. Johntestimony to

son. If I can, I will call on you to-day. with sincere regard, your most obedient

I

am,

hum-

ble servant,

James Boswell^ South Audley-street, April 25 ^Though the Bishop of Dromore kindly answered the letters which I wrote to him, relative to Dr. Johnson's early history; yet, in justice to him, I think it proper to add, that the account of the foregoing conversation and the subsequent transaction, as well as some other conversations in which he is mentioned, has been given to the publick without previous communication with his Lordship.

LIFE OF

1778]

dined with Johnson On Monday, April at Mr. Langton's, where were Dr. Porteus, then Bishop of Chester, now of London, and Dr. Stinton. He was at first in a very silent mood. Before dinner he said nothing but "Pretty baby," to one of the children. Langton said very well to me afterwards, that he could repeat Johnson's 13, I

conversation before dinner, as Johnson had said that he could repeat a complete chapter of The Natural History oj Iceland, from the Danish of Horrebow, the whole of which was exactly thus:

Chap,

lxxii. Concerning snakes.

"There are no snakes

be met with throughout the whole

to

island."

Parcus deorum Insanientis

cultor, et injrequens,

dum

sapientia

write a great deal to

make

discernible.

relictos:

being well applied to Soame Jenyns; who, after having wandered in the wilds of infidelity, had returned to the Christian faith. Mr. Langton asked Johnson as to the propriety of sapientice consultus.

Johnson. "Though

consultus

was

pri-

marily an adjective, Wkc amicus it came to be used as a substantive. So we have Juris consultus, a consult in law." talked of the styles of different painters,

and how certainly a connoisseur could distinguish them; I asked, if there was as clear a difference of styles in language as in painting, or

even as in hand-writing, so that the composition of every individual may be distinguished? Johnson. "Yes. Those who have a style of eminent excellence, such as Dryden and Milton, can always be distinguished." I had no doubt of this, but what I wanted to know was, whether there was really a peculiar style to every man whatever, as there is certainly a peculiar hand-writing, a peculiar countenace, not widely different in many, yet always enough to be distinctive:

—

-jacies nan omnibus una.

Nee

diversa tamen.

The Bishop thought

many

not;

and

said,

he supposed

pieces in Dodsley's collection of po-

ems, though

all

man must

his style obviously

As

logicians say, this appropria-

is

infinite in potestate, limited in

tion of style actu.^^

Mr. Topham Beauclerk came in the evening, and he and Dr. Johnson and I staid to supper. It was mentioned that Dr. Dodd had once wished to be a member of The Literary Club. Johnson. "I should be sorry if any of our Club were hanged. I will not say but some of them deserve it."-^ Beauclerk. (supposing this to be aimed at persons for whom he had at that time a wonderful fancy,

which, however, did not

last long,)

and eagerly said, "You, Sir, have a (naming him) who deserves to be hanged;

irritated,

friend,

he speaks behind their backs against those with whom he lives on the best terms, and attacks them in the news-papers. He certainly ought to be kicked." Johnson. "Sir, we all do this in for

petimus damusque vicissim.'

To be sure it may be done so much, that a man may deserve to be kicked." Beauclerk. "He is

Vela dare, atque iterare cursus

that

others: but a

some degree, 'Veniam

Consultus erro, nunc retrorsHm

CogOT

389

and comparison with

was

At dinner we talked of another mode in the newspapers of giving modern characters in sentences from the classicks, and of the passage

We

JOHNSON

very pretty, had nothing appro-

priated in their style, and in that particular could

not be at all distinguished. Johnson. "Why, Sir, I think every man whatever has a peculiar style, which may be discovered by nice examination

very malignant." Johnson. "No, Sir; he is not malignant. He is mischievous, if you will. He would do no man an essential injury; he may, indeed, love to make sport of people by vexing their vanity. I, however, once knew an old gentleman who was absolutely malignant. He really wished evil to others, and rejoiced at it." Boswell. "The gentleman, Mr. Beauclerk, against whom you are so violent, is, I know, a man of good principles." Beauclerk. "Then he does not wear them out in practice." Dr. Johnson, who, as I have observed before, delighted in discrimination of character, and having a masterly knowledge of human nature, was willing to take men as they are, imperfect and with a mixture of good and bad qualities, I suppose thought he had said enough in defence of his friend, of whose merits, notwithstanding his exceptional points, he had a just value;

and added no more on the

On

subject.

Tuesday, April 14, I dined with him at General Oglethorpe's, with General Paoli and Mr. Langton. General Oglethorpe declaimed against luxury. Johnson. "Depend upon it. Sir, every state of society is as luxurious as it can be. Men always take the best they can get." Oglethorpe. "But the best depends much upon ourselves; and if we can be as well satisfied with plain things, we are in the wrong to accustom our palates to what is high-seasoned and expensive. What says Addison in his Cato, speaking of the Numidian? ^See note, ante. p. 330.

—

BOSWELL

390

1778

Polemomiddinia of Drummond of Hawthorn-

Coarse are his meals, the fortune of the chace,

The

Amid the running stream

a jumble of many lanwere all in Latin, is well known. Mr. Langton made us laugh heartily at one in the Grecian mould, by Joshua Barnes, in which are to be found such comical Anglo-Ellenisms as KXvpfioicTLu i^avxQiv they were banged

den, in which there

he slakes hts thirst,

Toils all the day, and at the approach of night,

On Or

the first friendly rests his

And if the following

A

new

bank he throws him down. till morn;

head upon a rock

day he chance

to find

repast, or an untastcd spring.

and thinks

Blesses his stars,

it's

guages moulded, as

is

if it

:

luxury.

with clubs. kind of luxury, Sir, if you will." Sir; to be merely satisfied not enough. It is in refinement and elegance

Let us have

that

Johnson. "But hold. is

that the civilized

man

differs

from the savage.

A great part of our industry, and all our ingenuexercised in procuring pleasure; and. Sir, a hungry man has not the same pleasure in eating

ity

is

a plain dinner, that a hungry man has in eating a luxurious dinner. You see I put the case fairly. A hungry man may have as much, nay more pleasure in eating a plain dinner, than a man fastidious has in eating a luxurious din-

grown

But I suppose the man who decides between the two dinners, to be equally a hungry man." Talking of different governments, ^Johnson. ner.

"The more easily

it is

contracted that power is, the more A country governed by a

destroyed.

an inverted cone. Government there cannot be so firm, as when it rests upon a broad basis gradually contracted, as the government of Great Britain, which is founded on the parliadespot

is

ment, then is in the privy council, then in the King." BoswELL. "Power, when contracted into the person of a despot, may be easily destroyed, as the prince may be cut off. So Caligula wished that the people of Rome had but one neck, that he might cut them off at a blow." Oglethorpe. "It was of the Senate he wished that. The Senate by its usurpation controuled both the Emperour and the people.

you think that we

see too

much

And

don't

of that in our

own

Parliament?" Dr. Johnson endeavoured to trace the ety-

mology of Maccaronick verses, which he thought were of Italian invention from Maccaroni; but on being informed that this would infer that they were the most common and easy verses, maccaroni being the most ordinary and simple food, he was at a loss; for he said, "He rather should it to import in its primitive sigcomposition of several things; for Maccaronick verses are verses made out of a mixture of different languages, that is, of one language with the termination of another." I suppose we scarcely know of a language in any country where there is any learning, in which that motley ludicrous species of composition may not be found. 1 1 is par ticularly droll in Low Dutch.

have supposed nification, a

On Wednesday, April 15, I dined with Dr. Johnson at Mr. Dilly's, and was in high spirits, for I had been a good part of the morning with Mr. Orme, the able and eloquent historian of Hindostan, who expressed a great admiration of Johnson. "I do not care (said he,) on what subject Johnson talks; but I love better to hear him talk than any body. He either gives you new thoughts, or a new colouring. It is a shame to the nation that he has not been more liberally rewarded. Had I been George the Third, and thought as he did about America, I would have given Johnson three hundred a year for his Taxation no Tyranny alone." I repeated this, and Johnson was much pleased with such praise from such a

man

as

Orme.

were Mrs. Knowles, the ingenious Quaker lady,^ Miss Seward, the poetess of Lichfield, the Reverend Dr. Mayo, and

At Mr.

the Rev.

Dilly's to-day

Mr. Beresford, Tutor

to the

Duke

of

Bedford. Before dinner Dr. Johnson seized upon Mr. Charles Sheridan's Account of the late Revolution in Sweden, and seemed to read it ravenously,

which was to all appearance "He knows how to read better than any one (said Mrs. Knowles;) he gets at the substance of a book directly; he tears out the heart of it." He kept it wrapt up in the as

if

his

he devoured

method

it,

of studying.

tablecloth in his lap during the time of dinner,

from an avidity readiness

to

have one entertainment

when he should have

resembling

(if I

may

in

finished another;

use so coarse a simile) a

dog who holds a bone

in his

paws

in reserve,

while he eats something else which has been thrown to him. The subject of cookery having been very naturally introduced at a table where Johnson,

who

boasted of the niceness of his palate,

owned

"he always found a good dinner," he said, "I could write a better book of cookery than has ever yet been written; it should be a book upon that

philosophical principles.

much more

simple.

Pharmacy is now made

Cookery may be made

so

^Dr. Johnson, describing her needle-work in one of his letters to Mrs. Thrale, i, p. 326, uses the learned word sutile; which Mrs. Thrale has mistaken, and made the phrase injurious by writing "futile pictures."

— LIFE OF

1778] too.

A

prescription which

of five ingredients,

cookery,

if

is

now compounded

had formerly

fifty in

it.

So

in

the nature of the ingredients be well

known, much fewer will do. Then as you cannot make bad meat good, I would tell what is the best butcher's meat, the best beef, the best pieces;

how

to choose

young

fowls; the proper seasons

and then how to roast and boil, and compound." Dilly. "Mrs. Glasse's Cookery, which is the best, was written by Dr. Hill. Half the trade^ know this." Johnson. "Well,

of different vegetables;

Sir. This shews how much better the subject of cookery may be treated by a philosopher. I doubt if the book be written by Dr. Hill; for, in Mrs. Glasse's Cookery, which I have looked into, salt-petre and sal-prunella are spoken of as different substances, whereas sal-prunella is only salt-petre burnt on charcoal; and Hill could not be ignorant of this. However, as the greatest part of such a book is made by transcription, this mistake may have been carelessly adopted. But you shall see what a Book of Cookery I shall make I shall agree with Mr. Dilly for the copyright." Miss Seward. "That would be Hercules with the distaff indeed." Johnson. "No, Madam. Women can spin very well; but they cannot make a good book of Cookery." Johnson. "O Mr. Dilly you must know that an English Benedictine Monk at Paris has translated The Duke of Berwick'' s Memoirs, from the original French, and has sent them to me to sell. I offered them to Strahan, who sent them back with this answer: 'That the first book he had published was the Duke oj Berwick'' s Life, by which he had lost: and he hated the name.' Now I honestly tell you, that Strahan has refused them; but I also honestly tell you, that he did it upon no principle, for he never looked into them." Dilly. "Are they well translated. Sir?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, very well in a style very current and very clear. I have written to the Benedictine to give me an answer upon two points What evidence is there that the letters are authentick? (for if they are not authentick they are nothing;) And how long will it be before the original French is published? For if the French edition is not to appear for a considerable time, the translation will be almost as valuable as an original book. They will make two volumes in octavo; and I have undertaken to correct every !

—

!

—

—

—

—

sheet as sired to

comes from the press." Mr. Dilly desee them, and said he would send for

it

^As Physicians are called sellors at

Law the Profession;

the Faculty,

and Coun-

the Booksellers of LonTrade. Johnson disap-

don are denominated the proved of these denominations.

JOHNSON

391

He

asked Dr. Johnson if he would write a Preface to them. Johnson. "No, Sir. The Benedictines were very kind to me, and I'll do what I undertook to do; but I will not mingle my name with them. I am to gain nothing by them. I'll turn them loose upon the world, and let them take their chance." Dr. Mayo. "Pray, Sir, are Ganganelli's letters authentick?" Johnson. "No, Sir. Voltaire put the same question to the editor of them, that I did to Macpherson Where are

them.

—

the originals?"

Mrs. Knowles affected to complain that men had much more liberty allowed them than women.

Johnson. "Why,

Madam, women have

the liberty they should wish to have. all

the labour

We

all

have

and the danger, and the women

We go to sea, we build houses, we do everything, in short, to pay our court to the women." Mrs. Knout^es. "The Doctor reasons very wittily, but not convincingly. Now, all

the advantage.

take the instance of building; the mason's wife, she is ever seen in liquor, is ruined; the mason

if

may

get himself

drunk

as often as

he pleases,

nay may let his wife and children starve." Johnson. "Madam, you must consider, if the mason does get himself drunk, and let his wife and children starve, the with

little loss

of character;

parish will oblige

him

to find security for their

We

have different modes of restraining evil. Stocks for the men, a duckingstool for women, and a pound for beasts. If we requre more perfection from women than from ourselves, it is doing them honour. And women have not the same temptations that we have: they may always live in virtuous company; men must mix in the world indiscriminately. If a woman has no inclination to do what is wrong, being secured from it is no restraint to her. I am at liberty to walk into the Thames; but if I were to try it, my friends would restrain me in Bedlam, and I should be obliged to them." Mrs. Knowles. "Still, Doctor, I cannot help thinking maintenance.

a hardship that more indulgence is allowed to than to women. It gives a superiority to men, to which I do not see how they are entitled." Johnson. "It is plain. Madam, one or other must have the superiority. As Shakspeare it

men

says, 'If two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind.' " Dilly. "I suppose. Sir, Mrs.

Knowles would have them to ride in panniers, one on each side." Johnson. "Then, Sir, the horse would throw them both." Mrs. Knowles. "Well, I hope that in another world the sexes will be equal." Boswell. "That is being too ambitious, Madam. We might as well desire to be equal with the angels.

We

shall

all, I

hope, be

—

BOSWELL

392

happy

in a future state,

to be all if

happy

we be happy

ties.

but

we must

same degree.

in the

not expect

It is

enough

according to our several capaci-

A worthy carman will get to heaven as well

Newton. Yet, though equally good, they will not have the same degrees of happias Sir Isaac

Johnson. "Probably not." this subject I had once before sounded him, bymentioningthelateReverendMr. Brown, of Utrecht's, image; that a great and small glass, though equally full, did not hold an equal quantity; which he threw out to refute David Hume's saying, that a little miss, going to dance at a ball, in a fine dress, was as happy as a great oratour, after having made an eloquent and applauded speech. After some thought, Johnson said, "I come over to the parson." As an inness."

Upon

stance of coincidence of thinking, Mr. Dilly told me, that Dr. King, a late dissenting minister in

London, said

to him,

future state of good

upon

men

the happiness in a

of different capacities,

pail does not hold so much as a tub; but, if be equally full, it has no reason to complain. Every Saint in heaven will have as much happiness as he can hold." Mr. Dilly thought this a clear, though a familiar illustration of the phrase, "One star differeth from another in brightness." Dr. Mayo having asked Johnson's opinion of

"A

it

Soame Jenyns's View Christian Religion;

of the Internal Evidence of the

—Johnson. "I think

it

a pretty

[1778

approve of this; for, you call all men friends.'' Mrs. Knowles. "We are commanded to do good to all men, 'but especially to them who are of the household of Faith.' "Johnson. "Well, Madam. The household of Faith is wide enough." Mrs. Knowles. "But, Doctor, our Saviour had twelve Apostles, yet there was one whom he loved. John was called' the disciple whomjESUs loved. '"Johnson, (with eyes sparkling benignantly,) well, indeed,

Madam. You have

"Very

said very well."

BoswELL."A fine application. Pray, Sir, had you ever thought of it?" Johnson. "I had not, Sir." From this pleasing subject, he, I know not

how

or why,

made

a sudden transition to one

upon which he was a said,

violent aggressor; for he

am willing to love all mankind,

"I

except an

American": and his inflammable corruption bursting into horrid fire, he "breathed out threaten-

and slaughter"; calling them, "Rascals Robbers Pirates"; and exclaiming, he'd "burn and destroy them." Miss Seward, looking to him ings

—

with mild but steady astonishment, said, "Sir, this is an instance that we are always most violent He was against those whom we have injured." irritated still more by this delicate and keen reproach; and roared out another tremendous volley, which one might fancy could be heard across the Atlantick. During this tempest I sat in great uneasiness, lamenting his heat of temper; till, by

—

degrees,

I

diverted his attention to other topicks.

book; not very theological indeed; and there seems to be an affectation of ease and carelessness, as if it were not suitable to his character to be very serious about the matter." Bosw^ll. "He may have intended this to introduce his book the better among genteel people, who might be unwilling to read too grave a treatise. There is a general levity in the age. We have physicians now with bag-wigs; may we not have airy divines, at least somewhat less solemn in their appearance than they used to be?" Johnson. "Jenyns might mean as you say." Bosv^^ll. "Tou

Dr. Mayo, (to Dr. Johnson,) "Pray, Sir, have you read Edwards, of New England, on Grace!''' Johnson. "No, Sir." Bosw^ll. "It puzzled me so much as to the freedom of the human will, by

should like his book, Mrs. Knowles, as it maintains, as you friends do, that courage is not a Christian virtue." Mrs. Knowtles. "Yes, indeed, I like him there; but I cannot agree with him,

pears.

that friendship son.

is

not a Christian virtue." John-

"Why, Madam, strictly speaking, he is right.

All friendship is preferring the interest of a friend, to the neglect, or, perhaps, against the interest

of others; so that an old

has friends has no friend.''

Greek

Now

said,

'He that

Christianity rec-

ommends universal benevolence, to consider all men as our brethren, which is contrary to the virtue of friendship, as described by the ancient

philosophers. Surely,

Madam, your

sect

must

with wonderful acute ingenuity, our being actuated by a series of motives which we cannot resist, that the only relief I had was to forget it." Mayo. "But he makes the proper distinction between moral and physical necessity." Bosv>/ELL. "Alas, Sir, they come both to the same thing. You may be bound as hard by chains when covered by leather, as when the iron apstating,

The argument

human

actions

is

for the

always,

I

moral necessity of

observe, fortified by

supposing universal prescience to be one of the attributes of the Deity." Johnson. "You are surer that you are free, than you are of prescience; you are surer that you can lift up your finger or not as you please, than you are of any conclusion

from a deduction of reasoning. But let us consider a little the objection from prescience. It is certain I am either to go home to-night or not; that does not prevent my freedom." Boswell. "That it is certain you are either to go home or not, does not prevent your freedom; because the liberty of choice between the two is compatible with

— LIFE OF

1778]

JOHNSON

393 must be considered, that all the good gained by this, through the gradation of alehouse-keeper, brewer, maltster, and farmer, is overbalanced by the evil caused to the man and his family by his getting drunk. This is the way to try what is vicious, by ascertaining whether more evil than good is produced by it upon the whole, which is the case in all vice. It may happen that good is produced by vice; but not as

that certainty.

But if one of these events be certain now, you have no future power of volition. If it be certain you are to go home to-night, you must go home" Johnson. " If I am well acquainted with a man, I can judge with great probability how he will act in any case, without his being restrained by my judging. God may have this probability increased to certainty." Boswell. "When it is increased to certainty, freedom ceases,

But

because that cannot be certainly foreknown, is not certain at the time; but if it be certain at the time, it is a contradiction in terms to maintain that there can be afterwards any con-

vice; for instance, a

which

dependent upon the exercise of will or any thing else." Johnson. "All theory is against the freedom of the will; all experience for it." I did not push the subject any farther. I was glad tingency

to find

him

so mild in discussing a question of

the most abstract nature, involved with theological tenets, which he generally would not suf-

be in any degree opposed.^ as usual defended luxury; "You cannot spend money in luxury without doing good to

fer to

He

the poor. Nay, you do more good to spending it in luxury, than by giving

by

how

it:

for

happiness of Heaven will be, that pleasure

and

virtue will be perfectly consistent.

Mande-

puts the case of a man who gets drunk in an alehouse; and says it is a publick benefit, because so much money is got by it to the publick.

ville

^If any of my readers are disturbed by this thorny question, I beg leave to recommend to them Letter 69 of Montesquieu's Lettres Persanes; and the late Mr. John Palmer of Islington's Answer to Dr.

mechanical arguments for what he ab-

its

tion of society.

that

The

surdly calls "Philosophical Necessity."

robber may take money owner, and give it to one who will make a better use of it. Here is good produced; but not by the robbery as robbery, but as translation of property. I read Mandeville forty, or, I believe, fifty years ago. He did not puzzle me; he opened my views into real life very much. No, it is clear that the happiness of society depends on virtue. In Sparta, theft was allowed by general consent: theft, therefore, was there not a crime, but then there was no security; and what a life must they have had, when there was no security. Without truth there must be a dissolu-

from

them by

spending it in luxury, you make them exert industry, whereas by giving it, you keep them idle. I own, indeed, there may be more virtue in giving it immediately in charity, than in spending it in luxury; though there may be a pride in that too." Miss Seward asked, if this was not Mandeville's doctrine of "private vices publick benefits." Johnson. "The fallacy of that book is, that Mandeville defines neither vices nor benefits. He reckons among vices everything that gives pleasure. He takes the narrowest system of morality, monastick morality, which holds pleasure itself to be a vice, such as eating salt with our fish, because it makes it eat better; and he reckons wealth as a publick benefit, which is by no means always true. Pleasure of itself is not a vice. Having a garden, which we all know to be perfectly innocent, is a great pleasure. At the same time, in this state of being there are many pleasures vices, which however are so immediately agreeable that we can hardly abstain from them.

Priestley's

it

As

it is,

there

is

so little truth,

we

are almost afraid to trust our ears; but should we be, if falsehood were multiplied

ten times? Society is held together by communication and information; and I remember this remark of Sir Thomas Brown's, 'Do the devils " lie? No; for then Hell could not subsist.'

Talking of Miss a literary lady, he "I was obliged to speak to Miss Reynolds, to let her know that I desired she would not flat,

said,

much." Somebody now observed, "She Garrick." Johnson. "She is in the right to flatter Garrick. She is in the right for two reasons; first, because she has the world with her, who have been praising Garrick these thirty ter m.e so

flatters

and secondly, because she is rewarded for by Garrick. Why should she flatter me? I can do nothing for her. Let her carry her praise to a better market. (Then turning to Mrs. Knowles.) You, Madam, have been flattering me all the evening; I wish you would give Boswell a little now. If you knew his merit as well as I do, you would say a great deal; he is the best travelling companion in the world." Somebody mentioned the Reverend Mr. Mason's prosecution of Mr. Murray, the bookseller, years; it

for

having inserted in a collection of Gray's Po-

ems, only fifty lines, of

which Mr. Mason had

the exclusive property, under the statute of Queen Anne; and that Mr. Mason had persevered, notwithstanding his being requested to still

name 2See

his

A

own terms

Bookseller in

of compensation.^ Johnson

W. Mason, A.M., from J. Murray, London; 2nd edit., p. 20.

Letter to

BOSWELL

394

Mr. Mason's conduct very strongly; but added, by way of shewing that he was not surprized at it, "Mason's a Whig." Mrs. Knowles. (not hearing distinctly,) "What! a Prig, Sir?" Johnson. "Worse, Madam; a Whig! But he is both." signified his displeasure at

I

expressed a horrour at the thought of death.

Mrs. Knowles. "Nay, thou should'st not have a horrour for what is the gate of life." Johnson. (standing upon the hearth rolling about, with a serious, solemn, and somewhat gloomy air,) "No rational

man

can die without uneasy apprehen-

Mrs. Knowles. "The Scriptures tell us, 'The righteous shall have hope in his death.' " Johnson. "Yes, Madam; that is, he shall not have despair. But, consider, his hope of salvation must be founded on the terms on which it is promised that the mediation of our Saviour shall be applied to us, namely, obedience; and where obedience has failed, then, as suppletory to it, repentance. But what man can say that his obedience has been such, as he would approve of in another, or even in himself upon close examination, or that his repentance has not been sion."

—

such as to require being repented of? No man can be sure that his obedience and repentance will obtain salvation." Mrs. Knowles. "But divine intimation of acceptance may be made to the soul." Johnson. "Madam, it may; but I should not think the better of a man who should tell me on his death-bed he was sure of salvation. A man cannot be sure himself that he has divine intimation of acceptance; much less can he make others sure that he has it." Boswtell. "Then, Sir, we must be contented to acknowledge that death is a terrible thing." Johnson. "Yes, Sir. I have made no approaches to a state which can look on it as not terrible." Mrs. Knowles. (seeming to enjoy a pleasing serenity in the persuasion of benignant divine light,) "Does not St. Paul say, T have fought the good fight of faith, I have finished my course; henceforth is laid up for me a crown of life?' " Johnson. "Yes, Madam; but here was a man inspired, a man who had been converted by supernatural interposition." BoswELL. "In prospect death is dreadful; but in fact we find that people die easy." Johnson. "Why, Sir, most people have not thought much of the matter, so cannot say much, and it is supposed they die easy. Few believe it certain they are then to die; and those who do, set themselves to behave with resolution, as a man does who is going to be hanged. He is not the less unwilling to be hanged." Miss Seward. "There is one mode of the fear of death, which is certainly absurd; and that is the dread of annihilation,

[1778

which is only a pleasing sleep without a dream." Johnson. "It is neither pleasing, nor sleep; it is nothing. Now mere existence is so much better than nothing, that one would rather exist even in pain, than not exist." Boswell. "If annihilation be nothing, then existing in pain is not a comparative state, but is a positive evil, which I cannot think we should choose. I must be allowed to differ here; and it would lessen the hope of a future state founded on the argument, that the Supreme Being, who is good as he is great, will hereafter compensate for our present sufferings in this life. For if existence, such as we have it here, be comparatively a good, we have no reason to complain, though no more of it should be given to us. But if our only state of existence were in this world, then we might with some reason complain that we are so dissatisfied with our enjoyments compared with our desires." Johnson. "The lady confounds annihilation, which is nothing, with the apprehension of it, which is dreadful. It is in the apprehension of it that the horrour of annihilation consists." Of John Wesley, he said, "He can talk well on any subject." Boswell. "Pray, Sir, what has he made of his story of a ghost?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, he believes it; but not on sufficient authority. He did not take time enough to examine the

was at Newcastle, where the ghost was have appeared to a young woman several times, mentioning something about the right to an old house, advising application to be made to an attorney, which was done; and, at the same time, saying the attorney would do nothing, which proved to be the fact. 'This (says John,) is a proof that a ghost knows our thoughts.' Now (laughing,) it is not necessary to know our thoughts, to tell that an attorney will sometimes do nothing. Charles Wesley, who is a more stagirl. It

said to

tionary man, does not believe the story.

I

am

John did not take more pains to inquire into the evidence for it." Miss Seward. (with an incredulous smile,) "What, Sir! about sorry that

a ghost?" Johnson, (with solemn vehemence,) "Yes, Madam: this is a question which, after five thousand years, is yet undecided; a question, whether in theology or philosophy, one of the most important that can come before the human understanding." Mrs. Knowles mentioned, as a proselyte to Quakerism, Miss a young lady well known to Dr. Johnson, for whom he had shewn much affection; while she ever had, and still retained, a great respect for him. Mrs. Knowles at the same time took an opportunity of letting him know "that the amiable young creature was sor,

LIFE OF

1778]

ry at finding that he was offended at her leaving the Church of England and embracing a simpler faith"; and, in the gentlest and most persuasive manner, solicited his kind indulgence for

what was sincerely a matter of conscience. Johnson, (frowning very angrily,)

"Madam,

she

is

an odious wench. She could not have any proper conviction that it was her duty to change her religion, which is the most important of all subjects, and should be studied with all care, and with all the helps we can get. She knew no more of the Church which she left, and that which she embraced, than she did of the difference between the Copernican and Ptolemaick systems." Mrs. Knowles. "She had the New Testament before her." Johnson. "Madam, she could not understand the New Testament, the most difficult book in the world, for which the study of a life is required." Mrs. Knowles. "It is clear as to essentials." Johnson. "But not as to controversial points. The heathens were easily converted, because they had nothing to give up; but we ought not, without very strong conviction indeed, to desert the religion in which we have been educated. That is the religion given you, the religion in which it may be said Providence has placed you. If you live conscientiously in that religion, you may be safe. But errour is dangerous indeed, if you err when you choose a religion for yourself." Mrs. Knowles. "Must we then go by implicit faith?" Johnson. "Why, Madam, the greatest part of our knowledge is implicit faith; and as to religion, have we heard

Ma-

JOHNSON

395

We

remained together till it was pretty late. Notwithstanding occasional explosions of violence, we were all delighted upon the whole with Johnson. I compared him at this time to a warm West-Indian climate, where you have a bright sun, quick vegetation, luxuriant foliage, luscious fruits; but where the same heat sometimes produces thunder, lightning, earthquakes, in a terrible degree. April 17, being Good Friday, I waited on Johnson, as usual. I observed at breakfast that although it was a part of his abstemious discipline on this most solemn fast, to take no milk in his tea, yet when Mrs. Desmoulins inadvertently poured it in, he did not reject it. I talked of the strange indecision of mind, and imbecility in the common occurrences of life, which we may observe in some people. Johnson. "Why,

am

in the habit of getting others to do me." Boswell. "What, Sir! have you that weakness?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir. But I always think afterv/ards I should have done better Sir, I

things for

for myself."

him that at a gentleman's house where was thought to be such extravagance or bad management, that he was living much beyond his income, his lady had objected to the cutting of a pickled mango, and that I had taken an opportunity to ask the price of it, and found it was only two shillings; so here was a very poor I told

there

saving. Johnson. "Sir, that

the blundering

is

oeconomy of a narrow understanding.

It is stop-

ping one hole in a sieve."

again into passion, and attacked the young pro-

expressed some inclination to publish an acmy Travels upon the continent of Europe, for which I had a variety of materials col-

selyte in the severest terms of reproach, so that

lected.

all

that a disciple of Confucius, all that a

hometan, can say for himself?"

both the ladies seemed to be

He

much

then rose

shocked.^

^Mrs. Knowles, not satisfied with the fame of her needlework, the "sutile pictures" mentioned by Johnson, in which she has indeed displayed much dexterity, nay, with the fame of reasoning better than women generally do, as I have fairly shewn her to have done, communicated to me a Dialogue of considerable length, which after many years had elapsed, she v/rote down as having passed between Dr. Johnson and herself at this interview. As I had not the least recollection of it, and did not find the smallest trace of it in my Record taken at the time, I could not in consistency with my firm regard to authenticity, insert it in my work. It has, however, been published in The Gentleman' s Magazine for June, 1 791 It chiefly relates to the principles of the sect called Quakers; and no doubt the Lady appears to have greatly the advantage of Dr. Johnson in .

as well as expression. From what I have stated, and from the internal evidence of the

argument

now

paper itself, any one who may have the curiosity to peruse it, will judge whether it was wrong in me to reject it, however willLng to gratify Mrs. Knowles.

I

count of

Johnson. "I do not say. Sir, you may not publish your travels; but I give you my opin-

you would

ion, that

can you

upon

tell

lessen yourself

of countries so well

by

known

it.

What

as those

the continent of Europe, which you have

visited?"

Boswell. "But

taining narrative, with

I

can give an enter-

many

incidents, anec-

and remarks, so as to make very pleasant reading." Johnson. "Why, Sir, most modern travellers in Europe who have published their travels, have been laughed at: I would not have you added to the number.^ The world dotes, jeux d^ esprit,

is

now

by a

not contented to be merely entertained

traveller's narrative; they

want

to learn

something. Now some of my friends asked me, why I did not give some account of my travels in France. The reason is plain; intelligent read-

my

er believe, however, I shall follow own opinion; for the world has shewn a very flattering partiality to writings, on many occasions.

my

BOSWELL

396

had seen more of France than I had. Tou might have hked my travels in France, and The Club might have Uked them; but, upon the whole, there would have been more ridicule than good produced by them." Boswell. "I cannot agree with you, Sir. People would like to read what you say of any thing. Suppose a face has been painted by fifty painters before; still we love to see it done by Sir Joshua." Johnson. "True, Sir, but Sir Joshua cannot paint a face when he has not time to look on it." Boswell. Sir, a sketch of any sort by him is valuable. And, Sir, to talk to you in your own style (raising my voice, and shaking my head,) you should have given us your travels in France. I am sure I am right, and ers

there's

an end

on't.''

that it was certainly true, as my Dempster had observed in his letter to me upon the subject, that a great part of what was in his Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland had been in his mind before he left London. Johnson. "Why yes. Sir, the topicks were; and books of travels will be good in proportion to what a man has previously in his mind; his knowing what to observe; his power of contrasting one mode of life with another. As the Spanish proverb says, 'He, who would bring home the wealth of the Indies, must carry the wealth of the Indies with him.' So it is in travelling; a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge." Boswell. "The proverb, I suppose. Sir, means, he must carry a large stock with him to trade with." Johnson. "Yes, I

said to

him

friend

curls, accosted

Johnson with familiar confidence,

knowing who he was, while Johnson returned with a courteous formality, as to a stranger. But as soon as Edwards had brought to his recollection their having been at PembrokeCollege together nine-and-forty years ago, he seemed much pleased, asked where he lived, and said he should be glad to see him in Bolt-court. his salutation

Edwards. "Ah, Sir we are old men now." John(who never liked to think of being old,) "Don't let us discourage one another." Edwards. "Why, Doctor, you look stout and hearty, I am happy to see you so; for the news-papers told us you were very ill." Johnson. "Ay, Sir, they are !

son,

always telling

Wishing

to

of us old fellows."

lies

be present at more of so singular a

conversation as that between two fellow-collegians, who had lived forty years in London without ever having chanced to meet, I whispered to Mr. Edwards that Dr. Johnson was going

home, and that he had better accompany him now. So Edwards walked along with us, I eagerly assisting to keep up the conversation. Mr. Edwards informed Dr. Johnson that he had practised long as a solicitor in Chancery, but that he

now

lived in the country

upon a

by Stevenage

about

sixty acres, just

shire,

and that he came

to

London

little

farm,

in Hertford-

(to

Barnard's

Inn, No. 6), generally twice a week. Johnson appearing to me in a reverie, Mr. Edwards ad-

dressed himself to me, and expatiated on the

Sir." It

[1778

was in Butcher-row that this meeting happened. Mr. Edwards, who was a decent-looking elderly man in grey clothes, and a wig of many It

was a

delightful day: as

we walked

to St.

again remarked that Fleetstreet was the most cheerful scene in the world. "Fleet-street (said I,) is in my mind more delightful than Tempe." Johnson. "Ay, Sir; but let it be compared with Mull." There was a very numerous congregation today at St. Clement's church, which Dr. Johnson said he observed with pleasure. And now I am to give a pretty full account of one of the most curious incidents in Johnson's life, of which he himself has made the following minute on this day: "In my return from church, I was accosted by Edwards, an old fellow-collegian, who had not seen me since 1 729. He knew me, and asked if I remembered one Edwards; I did not at first recollect the name, but gradually as we walked along, recovered it, and told him a conversation that had passed at an alehouse between us. My purpose is to continue our acquaintance."^

Clement's church,

I

^Prayers and Meditations, p. 164.

pleasure of living in the country. Boswell. "I

have no notion of

this. Sir.

What you have

to

an hour." Edwards. "What? don't you love to have hope realized? I see my grass, and my corn, and

entertain you,

is,

I

think, exhausted in half

my trees growing. Now, for instance, I am curious to see if this frost has not nipped my fruittrees." Johnson, (who we did not imagine was attending,)

"You

well as hopes."

find, Sir,

you have

fears as

— So well did he see the whole,

when another saw but the half of a subject. When we got to Dr. Johnson's house, and were seated in his library, the dialogue went on ad-

mirably. Edwards. "Sir,

not

let

I

remember you would

us say prodigious at College. For even

then. Sir, (turning to me,) he was delicate in language, and we all feared him."^ Johnson, (to

Edwards,)

"From your having practised the law

^Johnson said to me afterwards, "Sir, they respected me for my literature; and yet it was not great but by comparison. Sir, it is amazing how little literature there is in the world."

—

—

2

LIFE OF

1778]

"

JOHNSON and

397

presume you must be rich." Edwards. "No, Sir; I got a good deal of money; but I had a number of poor relations to whom I gave a greatpartof it." Johnson. "Sir, you have been rich in the most valuable sense of the word." Edwards. "But I shall not die rich." Johnson. "Nay, sure. Sir, it is better to live rich than to die rich." Edwards. "I wish I had continued at College." Johnson. "Why do you wish that, Sir?" Edwards. "Because I think I should have had a much easier life than mine has been. I should have been a parson, and had a good living, like Bloxam and several others, and lived comfortably." Johnson. "Sir, the life of a par-

wine: for

son, of a conscientious clergyman,

I

some years drank a great deal. Edwards. Some

have always considered a clergyman as the father of a larger family than he is able to maintain. I would rather have Chancery suits upon my hands than the cure of souls. No, Sir, I do not envy a clergyman's life as an easy life, nor do I envy the clergyman who makes it an easy life." Here taking himself up all of a sudden, he exclaimed, "O Mr. Edwards! I'll convince you that I recollect you. Do you remember our drinking together at an alehouse near Pembroke gate? At that time, you told me of the Eton boy, who, when verses on our Saviour's turning water into wine were prescribed as an exercise, brought up a single line, which was highly admired,

warrant you." Johnson. "I then had a severe illness, and left it off, and I have never begun it again. I never felt any difference upon myself from eating one thing rather than another, nor from one kind of weather rather than another. There are people, I believe, who feel a difference; but I am not one of them. And as to regular meals, I have fasted from the Sunday's dinner to the Tuesday's dinner, without any inconvenience. I believe it is best to eat just as one is hungry: but a man who is in business, or a man who has a family, must have

long, Sir, I

is

not easy.

!

Vidit et erubuit

lympha pudica Deum,^

severe, at least so grave as to exclude all

gaiety.

Edwards. "I have been twice married. DocYou, I suppose, have never known what it was to have a wife." Johnson. "Sir, I have known what it was to have a wife, and (in a solemn, tender, faultering tone) I have known what it was to lose a wife. It had almost broke my tor.

—

heart."

Edwards. "How do you live. Sir? For my must have my regular meals, and a glass of good wine. I find I require it." Johnson. "I now drink no wine. Sir. Early in life I drank part, I

many

years

I

drank none.

I

'

hogsheads,

then for '

'

'

I

am

a straggler. I may leave this Cairo, without being missed here or observed there." Edwards. "Don't you eat supper. Sir?" Johnson No, Sir stated meals.

town and go

I

to

Grand

'

.

.

'

and

you of another fine line in Camden's Remains, an eulogy upon one of our Kings, who was succeeded by his son, a prince of equal I

told

merit:

Mira

cano, Sol occubuit, nox nulla secuta est"

Edwards. "You are a philosopher. Dr. Johnhave tried too in my time to be a philosopher; but, I don't know how, cheerfulness was always breaking in." Mr. Burke, Sir Joshua

son. I

—

Reynolds, Mr. Courtenay, Mr. Malone, and, indeed, all the eminent men to whom I have mentioned this, have thought it an exquisite trait of character. religion,

is

The

truth

is,

that philosophy, like

too generally supposed to be hard

Edwards. "For

part, now, I consider supper as a turnpike through which one must pass, in order to get to bed."^ Johnson. "You are a lawyer, Mr. Edwards. Lawyers know life practically. A bookish man should always have them to converse with. They have what he wants." Edwards. "I am grown old: I am sixty-five." Johnson. "I shall be sixtyeight next birth-day. Come, Sir, drink water, and put in for a hundred." Mr. Edwards mentioned a gentleman who had left his whole fortune to Pembroke College. Johnson. "Whether to leave one's whole fortune to a College be right, must depend upon circumstances. I I

^This line has frequently been attributed to Dryden, when a King's Scholar at Westminster. But neither Eton nor Westminster have in truth any claim to it, the line being borrowed, with a slight change, from an Epigram by Crashaw:

JOANN.

Aqua

vinum verses TJnde rubor vestris et non sua purpura lymphis? Qua rosa mirantes tarn nova mutat aquas? Numen, conviva, prcesens agnoscite numen, Nympha pudica Deum vidit, et erubuit. [M.] in

my

would leave the

bequeathed

friends, for their lives. It

College,

interest of the fortune

my relations or my the same thing to a

to a College to

which

is

is

a permanent society, whether

money now or twenty years hence; and I would wish to make my relations or friends

it

gets the

feel the benefit of it."

This interview confirmed

am

my opinion ofJohn-

not absolutely sure but this was my own suggestion, though it is truly in the character of ^I

Edwards.

"

BOSWELL

398

most humane and benevolent heart. His and placid behaviour to an old fellowcollegian, a man so diflerent from himself; and his telling him that he would go down to his farm and visit him, shewed a kindness of disposition very rare at an advanced age. He observed, "how wonderful it was that they had both been in London forty years, without having ever once met, and both walkers in the street too !" Mr. Edwards, when going away, again recurred to his consciousness of senility, and look-

son's

cordial

ing

full in

Johnson's face, said to him, "You'll

find in Dr.

Johnson did not relish this at all; but shook his head with impatience. Edwards walked oflf, seemingly highly pleased with the honour of having been thus noticed by Dr. Johnson. When he was gone, I said to Johnson, I thought him but a weak man. Johnson. "Why, yes, Sir. Here is a

man who

has passed through life without experience: yet I should rather have him with me than a more sensible man who will not talk read-

always willing to say what he has to say." Yet Dr. Johnson had himself by no means that willingness which he praised so much, and I think so justly; for who has not felt the painful effect of the dreary void, when there is a

This

man

is

total silence in a

time; or, vv'hich

when

company, is

for

the conversation

me

any length of

perhaps vv'orse, with difficulty kept up

as bad, or is

by a perpetual effort? Johnson once observed to me,

"Tom Tyers de-

you are like a ghost: you never speak till you are spoken to.' The gentleman whom he thus familiarly mentioned was Mr. Thomas Tyers, son of Mr. Jona-

scribed

the best: 'Sir, (said he,)

than Tyers, the founder of that excellent place of publick amusement, Vauxhall Gardens, which

must ever be an

estate to

its

proprietor, as

it is

peculiarly adapted to the taste of the English

nation; there being a mixture of curious show,

— gay exhibition, musick, vocal and instrumennot too refined for the general ear; — for

all

tal,

which only a shilling is paid;^ and, though last, not least, good eating and drinking for those who choose to purchase that regale. Mr. Thom-

summer

and more expenhaving been introduced, the price of admission was raised to two shillings. I cannot approve of this. The company may be more select; but a number of the honest commonalty are, I fear, excluded from sharing in elegant and innocent entertainment. An attempt to abolish the one-shilling gallery at the playhouse has been very properly ^In

1792, additional

sive decorations

counteracted.

regularity of practice.

He

therefore ran about

the world with a pleasant carelessness, amusing everybody by his desultory conversation. He

abounded

in anecdote, but

attentive to accuracy.

I

was not

sufficiently

therefore cannot ven-

ture to avail myself much of a biographical sketch ofJohnson which he published, being one among

the vairious persons ambitious of appending their names to that of my illustrious friend. That sketch is, however, an entertaining little collection of fragments. Those which he published of Pope and Addison are of higher merit; but his fame

Young,

O my coevals/ remnants ofyourselves.'"

ily.

[1778

as Tyers was bred to the law; but having a handsome fortune, vivacity of temper, and eccentricity of mind, he could not confine himself to the

must chiefly rest upon his Political Conferences, in which he introduces several eminent persons delivering their sentiments in the

way of dialogue,

and discovers a considerable share of learning, various knowledge, and discernment of charThis much may I be allowed to say of a man who was exceedingly obliging to me, and who lived with Dr. Johnson in as easy a manacter.

ner as almost any of his very numerous acquaintance.

Mr. Edwards had said to me aside, that Dr. Johnson should have been of a profession. I repeated the remark to Johnson that I might have his own thoughts on the subject. Johnson. "Sir, it would have been better that I had been of a profession. I ought to have been a lawyer." BoswELL. "I do not think. Sir, it would have been better, for we should not have had the English Dictionary." Johnson. "But you would have had Reports." Boswell. "Ay; but there would not have been another, who could have written the Dictionary. There have been many very good Judges. Suppose you had been Lord Chancellor; you would have delivered opinions with more extent of mind, and in a more ornamented manner, than perhaps any Chancellor ever did, or ever will do. But, I believe, causes have been as judiciously decided as you could have done." Johnson. "Yes. Sir. Property has

been as well settled." Johnson, however, had a noble ambition floating in his mind, and had, undoubtedly, often speculated on the possibility of his supereminent powers being rewarded in this great and liberal country by the highest honours of the state. Sir William Scott informs me, that upon the death of the late Lord Lichfield, who was Chancellor of the University of Oxford, he said to Johnson, "What a pity it is, Sir, that you did not follow the profession of the law. You might have been Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, and attained

:

LIFE OF

1778]

and now that the title of Lichfield, your native city, is extinct, you might have had it." Johnson, upon this seemed much agitated and, in an angry tone, exclaimed, "Why will you vex me by suggesting this, when to the dignity of the peerage;

;

it is

too late?"

But he did not repine at the prosperity of others. The late Dr. Thomas Leland told Mr. Cour tenay, that when Mr. Edmund Burke shewed Johnson his fine house and lands near Beaconsfield, Johnson cooly said, "jVbn equidem invideo; miror magis."^

Yet no

man had a higher notion of the dignity

than Johnson, or was more determined in maintaining the respect which he justof literature

ly considered as

due

to

it.

Of

this,

besides the

general tenor of his conduct in society, some characteristical instances

He

may be

mentioned. once when

told Sir Joshua Reynolds, that

he dined in a numerous company of booksellers, where the room being small, the head of the table, at which he sat, was almost close to the fire, he perservered in suff'ering a great deal of inconvenience from the heat, rather than quit his place, and let one of them sit above him. Goldsmith, in his diverting simplicity, complained one day, in a mixed company, of Lord Camden. "I met him (said he,) at Lord Clare's house in the country, and he took no more notice of me than if I had been an ordinary man." The company having laughed heartily, Johnson ^I am not entirely without suspicion that Johnson may have felt a little momentary envy; for no man loved the good things of this life better than he did; and he could not but be conscious that he deserved a much larger share of them, than he ever had. I attempted in a news-paper to comment on the above passage, in the manner of Warburton, who must be allowed to have shewn uncommon ingenuity, in giving to any authour's text whatever meaning he chose it should carry. As this imitation may amuse my readers, I shall here introduce it "No saying of Dr. Johnson's has been more misunderstood than his applying to Mr. Burke when he first saw him at his fine place at Beaconsfieid, JVon equidem invideo; miror magis. These two celebrated men had been friends for many years before Mr. Burke entered on his parliamentary career. They were both writers, both members of The Literary Club; when, therefore, Dr. Johnson saw Mr. Burke in a situation so much more splendid than that to which he himself had attained, he did not mean to express that he thought a disproportionate prosperity; but while he, as a philosopher, asserted an exemption from envy, nan equidem invideo, he went on in the words of the poet miror magis; thereby signifying, either that he was occupied in admiring what he was glad to see; or, perhaps, that considering the general lot of men of superiour abilities, he wondered that Fortune, who is represented as blind, should, in this instance, it

have been so just."

JOHNSON

399

stood forth in defence of his friend. "Nay, Gentlemen, (said he,) Dr. Goldsmith is in the right.

A

nobleman ought

to

have

rrtade

up

to such

a

man as Goldsmith; and I think it is much against Lord Camden that he neglected him." Nor could he patiently endure to hear that such respect as he thought due only to higher intellectual qualities, should be bestowed on men of slighter, though perhaps more amusing talents. I told him, that one morning, when I went to breakfast with Garrick, who was very vain of his intimacy with Lord Camden, he accosted me "Pray now, did you did you meet a litthus: "No, Sir, tle lawyer turning the corner, eh?" (said L) Pray what do you mean by the ques"Why, (replied Garrick, with an aftion?" fected indifference, yet as if standing on tip-toe,) Lord Camden has this moment left me. We have had a long walk together." Johnson. "Well, Sir, Garrick talked very properly. Lord Camden was a little lawyer to be associating so familiarly with

—

—

—

—

a player." SirJoshuaReynoldsobserved, with greattruth, that Johnson considered Garrick to be as it were his property. He would allow no man either to blame or to praise Garrick in his presence, without contradicting him. Having fallen into a very serious frame of mind, in which mutual expressions of kindness passed between us, such as would be thought too vain in me to repeat, I talked with regret of the sad inevitable certainty that one of liS must survive the other. Johnson. "Yes, Sir, that is an affecting consideration.

I

remember

Swift, in

one

come over, that we may meet once more; and when we must part, it is what happens to all human beings.' " Bosw^ell. "The hope that we shall of his letters to Pope, says,

'I

intend to

must support the mind." Johnson. "Why yes. Sir." Boswell. "There is a strange unwillingness to part with life, independent of serious fears as to futurity. A reverend friend of ours (naming him) tells me, that he feels an uneasiness at the thoughts of see our departed friends again

leaving his house, his study, his books." Johnman need not son. "This is foolish in *****.

A

be uneasy on these grounds; for, as he will retain his consciousness, he may say with the philosopher. Omnia mea mecum porto.^'' Boswell. "True, Sir: we may carry our books in our heads; but still there is something painful in the thought of leaving for ever what has given us pleasure. I remember, many years ago, when my imagination was warm, and I happened to be in a melancholy mood, it distressed me to think of going into a state of being in which Shakspeare's po-

BOSWELL

400

A lady whom I then much admired, a very amiable woman, humoured my fancy, and relieved me by saying, 'The first thing etry did not exist.

will meet in the other world, will be an elegant copy of Shakespeare's works presented to you.' " Dr. Johnson smiled bcnignantly at this, and did not appear to disapprove of the notion. We went to St. Clement's church again in the afternoon, and then returned and drank tea and coffee in Mrs. Williams's room; Mrs. Desmoulins doing the honours of the tea-table. I observed that he would not even look at a proofsheet of his Life of Waller on Good-Friday. Mr. Allen, the printer, brought a book on agriculture, which was printed, and was soon to be published. It was a very strange performance, the authour having mixed in it his own thoughts upon various topicks, along with his remarks on ploughing, sowing, and other farming operations. He seemed to be an absurd profane fellow, and had introduced in his book many sneers at religion, with equal ignorance and conceit. Dr. Johnson permitted me to read some passages aloud. One was, that he resolved to work on Sunday, and did work, but he owned he felt some weak compunction; and he had this very curious reflection: "I was born in the wilds of

you

—

Christianity,

and the

briars

and thorns still hang

about me." Dr. Johnson could not help laughing at this ridiculous image, yet was very angry at the fellow's impiety.

"However,

(said he,) the

Reviewers will make him hang himself." He, however, observed, "that formerly there might have been a dispensation obtained for working on Sunday in the time of harvest." Indeed in ritual observances, were all the ministers of religion what they should be, and what many of them are, such a power might be wisely and safely lodged with the Church. On Saturday, April 14, I drank tea with him. He praised the late Mr. Duncombe,^ of Canterbury, as a pleasing man. "He used to come to me: I did not seek much after him. Indeed I never sought much after any body." Boswell. "Lord Orrery, I suppose." Johnson. "No, Sir; I never went to him but when he sent for me." Boswell. "Richardson?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir. But I sought after George Psalmanazar the most. I used to go and sit with him at an alehouse in the city." I

I am happy to mention another instance which discovered of his seeking after a man of merit.

^William Duncombe, Esq. He married the sister of John Hughes the poet; was the authour of two tragedies and other ingenious productions; and died 26th Feb., 1769, aged 79. [M.]

[1778

Soon after the Honourable Daines Barrington had published his excellent Observations on the Statutes, Johnson waited on that worthy and learned gentleman and, having told him his name, courteously said, "I have read your book. Sir, with great pleasure, and wish to be better known to you." Thus began an acquaintance, which was continued with mutual regard as long as John;

son lived.

Talking of a recent seditious delinquent, he said,

"They should

set

him

in the pillory, that

may

be punished in a way that would disgrace him." I observed, that the pillory does not always disgrace. And I mentioned an instance of a gentleman who I thought was not dishonoured by it. Johnson. "Ay, but he was. Sir. He could not mouth and strut as he used to do, after having been there. People are not willing to ask a man to their tables who has stood in the pil-

he

lory."

The Gentleman who had dined with us at Dr. came in. Johnson attacked the Ameri-

Percy's'^

cans with intemperate vehemence of abuse. I and added, that I was always sorry when he talked on that subject. This, it seems, exasperated him; though he said nothing at the time. The cloud was charged with sulphureous vapour, which was afterwards We talked of a gentleman to burst in thunder. who was running out his fortune in London; and I said, "We must get him out of it. All his friends must quarrel with him, and that will soon drive him away." Johnson. "Nay, Sir; we'll stnd you to him. If your company does not drive a man out of his house, nothing will." This was a horrisaid something in their favour;

—

which there was no visible cause. him why he had said so harsh a thing. Johnson. "Because, Sir, you made me angry about the Americans." Boswell. "But why did you not take your revenge directly?" Johnson, (smiling,) "Because, Sir, I had nothble shock, for I

afterwards asked

A man cannot strike till he has his weapons." This was a candid and pleasant coning ready. fession.

He shewed me

to-night his drawing-room,

very genteelly fitted up; and said, "Mrs. Thrale sneered when I talked of my having asked you and your lady to live at my house. I was obliged to tell her, that you would be in as respectable a situation in my house as in hers. Sir, the insolence of wealth will creep out." Boswell. "She has a little both of the insolence of wealth, and the conceit of parts." Johnson.

"The

insolence

a wretched thing; but the conceit of

of wealth

is

parts has

some foundation. To be sure

^See ante, p. 387.

it

should

LIFE OF

1778] not be. But

who is without it?" Boswell. "Your-

Johnson. "Why, I play no tricks: I lay no traps." Boswell. "No, Sir. You are six feet high, and you only do not stoop." We talked of the numbers of people that sometimes have composed the household of great families. I mentioned that there were a hundred self,

Sir."

in the family of the present Earl of Eglintoune's

seeming to doubt it, I began "Let us see: my Lord and my Lady two." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, if you are to count by twos, you may be long enough." Boswell. "Well, but now I add two sons and seven daughters, and a servant for each, that will make twenty; so we have the fifth part already." Johnson. "Very true. You get at twenty pretty readily; but you will not so easily get further on. We grow to five feet pretty readily; but is not so easy to grow to seven." On Sunday, April i g, being Easter-day, after the solemnities of the festival in St. Paul's Church, father. Dr. Johnson

to enumerate.

I visited him, but could not stay to dinner. I expressed a wish to have the arguments for Chris-

tianity always in readiness, that

my

religious

might be as firm and clear as any proposition whatever, so that I need not be under the

faith

least uneasiness, when it should be attacked. Johnson. "Sir, you cannot answer all objections. You have demonstration for a First Cause: you see he must be good as well as powerful, because there is nothing to make him otherwise, and goodness of itself is preferable. Yet you have against this, what is very certain, the unhappiness of human life. This, however, gives us reason to hope for a future state of compensation, that there may be a perfect system. But of that we were not sure, till we had a positive revela-

tion." I told him, that his Rasselas

had often

made me unhappy; for it represented the misery of human life so well, and so convincingly to a thinking mind, that if at any time the impression wore off, and I felt myself easy, I began to suspect some delusion.

On Monday,

April 20, I found him at home We talked of a gentleman who we apprehended was gradually involving his circumstances by bad management. Johnson. in the morning.

"Wasting a fortune is evaporation by a thousand imperceptible means. If it were a stream, they'd stop it. You must speak to him. It is really miserable. Were he a gamester, it could be said he had hopes of winning. Were he a bankrupt in trade, he might have grown rich; but he has neither spirit to spend nor resolution to spare. He does not spend fast enough to have pleasure from it. He has the crime of prodigality, and

JOHNSON

401

the wretchedness of parsimony. If a in a duel, he

is

killed as

many

man is killed

a one has been

a sad thing for a man to lie down because he has not fortitude enough to sear the wound, or even to stitch it up." I cannot but pause a moment to admire the fecundity of fancy, and choice of language, which in this instance, and, indeed, on almost all occasions, he displayed. It was well observed by Dr. Percy, now Bishop of Dromore, "The conversation of Johnson is strong and clear, and may be compared to an antique statue, where every vein and muscle is distinct and bold. Ordinary conversation resembles an inferiour cast." On Saturday, April 25, I dined with him at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, with the learned Dr. Musgrave. Counsellor Leland of Ireland, son to the historian, Mrs. Cholmondeley, and some more ladies. The Project, a new poem, was read to the company by Dr. Musgrave. Johnson. "Sir, it has no power. Were it not for the well-known names with which it is filled, it would be nothing: the names carry the poet, not the poet the names." Musgrave. "A temporary poem always entertains us." Johnson. "So does an account of criminals hanged yesterday entertain us." He proceeded: "Demosthenes Taylor, as he was called, (that is, the Editor of Demosthenes) was the most silent man, the merest statue of a man that I have ever seen. I once dined in company with him, and all he said during the whole time was no more than Richard. How a man should say only Richard, it is not easy to imagine. But it was thus: Dr. Douglas was talking of Dr. Zachary Grey, and ascribing to him something that was written by Dr. Richard Grey. So to correct him, Taylor said, (imitating his affected sententious emphasis and nod,) ''Richard.''" Mrs. Cholmondeley, in a high flow of spirits, killed;

and

but

it is

die; to bleed to death,

—

exhibited

some lively sallies of hyperbolical com-

pliment to Johnson with whom she had been long acquainted, and was very easy. He was quick in catching the manner of the moment, and answered her somewhat in the style of the hero of a romance, "Madam, you crown me with unfading laurels." I happened, I know not how, to say that a pamphlet meant a prose piece. Johnson. "No, Sir. A few sheets of poetry unbound are a pamphlet,^ as much as a few sheets of prose." Mus^Dr. Johnson is supported by the usage of preceding writers. So in Musarum Delicia, 8vo., 1656 (the writer is speaking of Suckling's play entitled Aglaura, printed in folio):

—

This great voluminous pamphlet may be said To be like one that hath more hair than head.

[M.]

BOSWELL

402 GRAVE. "A pamphlet may be understood

to

mean

a poetical piece in Westminster-Hall, that is, in formal language; but in common language it is understood to mean prose." Johnson, (and here

was one of the many instances of his knowing clearly and telling exactly how a thing is,) "A pamphlet is understood in common language to mean prose, only from this, that there is so much more prose written than poetry; as when we say a book, prose is understood for the same reason, though a book may as well be in poetry as in prose. We understand what is most general, and we name what is less frequent." We talked of a lady's verses on Ireland. Miss Reynolds. "Have you seen them, Sir?" Johnson. "No, Madam. I have seen a translation from Horace, by one of her daughters. She shewed it me." Miss Reynolds. "And how was it. Sir?" Johnson. "Why, very well for a young Miss's that is to say compared with excellence, verses ;

—

,

nothing; but, very well, for the person who wrote them. I am vexed at being shewn verses in that manner." Miss Reynolds. "But if they should be good, why not give them hearty praise?" Johnson. "Why, Madam, because I have not then got the better of my bad humour from having been shewn them. You must consider, Madam; beforehand they may be bad, as well as good. Nobody has a right to put another under such a difficulty, that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth, or hurt himself by telling

what

is

not true." Boswell.

"A man

of-

ten shews his writings to people of eminence, to

obtain from them, either from their good-nature, or from their not being able to tell the truth firmly, a commendation, of which he may afterwards avail himself." Johnson. "Very true. Sir. Therefore the man, who is asked by an authour, what he thinks of his work, is put to the torture, and is not obliged to speak the truth; so that what he says is not considered as his opinion; yet he has said it, and cannot retract it; and this authour, when mankind are hunting him with a cannister at his tail, can say, 'I would not have published, had not Johnson, or Reynolds, or Musgrave, or some other good judge commended the work.' Yet I consider it as a very difficult question in conscience, whether one should advise a

man

not to publish a work,

be his obnot been for you, I should have had the money.' Now you cannot be sure; for you have only your own opinion, and the publick may think very differently." Sir Joshua Reynolds. "You must upon such an occasion have two judgements; one as to the real value of the work, the other as to what

ject; for the

man may

say,

if

profit

'Had

it

may please son.

[1778 the general taste at the time." John-

"But you can be

sure of neither;

and

there-

should scruple much to give a suppressive vote. Both Goldsmith's comedies were once refused his first by Garrick, his second by Colman, who was prevailed on at last by much solicitation, nay, a kind of force, to bring it on. His Vicar oj Wakefield I myself did not think would have had much success. It was written and sold to a bookseller before his Traveller; but published after; so little expectation had the bookseller from it. Had it been sold after the Traveller, he might have had twice as much money for it, though sixty guineas was no mean price. The bookseller had the advantage of Goldsmith's reputation from The Traveller in the sale, though Goldsmith had it not in selling the copy." Sir Joshua Reynolds. " The Beggar'' s Opera affords a proof how strangely people will differ in opinion about a literary performance. Burke thinks it has no merit." Johnson. "It was refused by one of the houses; but I should have thought it would succeed, not from any great excellence in the writing, but from the novelty, and the general spirit and gaiety of the piece, which keeps the fore

I

;

audience always attentive, and dismisses them

good humour." went to the drawing-room, where was a considerable increase of company. Several of us got round Dr. Johnson, and complained that he would not give us an exact catalogue of his works, that there might be acomplete edition. He smiled, and evaded our entreaties. That he intended to dfe it, I have no doubt, because I have heard him say so; and I have in my possession an imperfect list, fairly written out, which he entitles Historia Studiorum. I once got from one of his friends a list, which there was pretty good reason to suppose was accurate, for it was written down in his presence by this friend, who enum.erated each article aloud, and had some of them mentioned to him by Mr. Levett, in concert with whom it was made out; and Johnson, who heard all this, did not contradict it. But when I shewed a copy of this list to him, and mentioned the evidence for its exactness, he laughed, and said, "I was willing to let them go on as they pleased, and never interfered." Upon which I read it to him, article by article, and got him positively to own or refuse; and then, having obtained certainty so far, I got some other articles confirmed by him directly; and afterwards, from time to time, made additions under his sanction. His friend Edward Cave having been menin

We

tioned, he told us, "Cave used to sell ten thousand of The Gentleman'' s Magazine; yet such was

LIFE OF

1778]

then his minute attention and anxiety that the sale should not suffer the smallest decrease, that he would name a particular person who he heard had talked of leaving off the Magazine, and would say, 'Let us have something good next

month.'" It was observed, that avarice was inherent in some dispositions. Johnson. "No man was born a miser, because no man was born to possession.

—

man is born cupidus desirous of getting; but not avarus desirous of keeping." Boswell. "I have heard old Mr. Sheridan maintain, with much ingenuity, that a complete miser is a happy man a miser who gives himself wholly to the one passion of saving." Johnson. "That is flying in the face of all the world, who have called an avaricious man a miser, because he is miserable. No, Sir; a man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments." The conversation having turned on Bon-Mots, he quoted, from one of the Ana, an exquisite instance of flattery in a maid of honour in France, who being asked by the Queen what o'clock it was, answered, "What your Majesty pleases." He admitted that Mr. Burke's classical pun upon Mr. Wilkes's being carried on the shoulders Every

—

;

of the

mob,

JOHNSON

403

he has been at Richmond; he is sure he is six feet high: but he cannot be sure he is wise, or that he has any other excellence. Then, all censure of a man's self is oblique praise. It is in order to shew how much he can spare. It has all the invidiousness of self-praise, and all the reproach of falsehood." Boswell. "Sometimes it may proceed from a man's strong consciousness of his faults being observed. He knows that others would throw him dov/n, and therefore he had better lye

down

softly of his

own

at General Paoli's, where, as I

in a hackney-coach.

tom

We stopped first at the bot-

which he went to leave a letter,"with good news for a poor man in distress," as he told me. I did not question him particularly as to this. He himself often resembled of Hedge-lane, into

Lady Bolingbroke's that

"he was un

lively description of

things floating in conjecture: est. I

believe

I

talent of wit^, he also

man

the

laughed with approbation

which was, "Horace has in one line given a description of a good desirable manour: at another of his playful conceits;

that

Est modus

that

is

to say, a

in rebus, sunt certi denique fines;

modus as to the tithes and certain

fines.''''

He observed, "A man cannot with propriety speak of himself, except he relates simple facts; as, 'I

was

at

mensuration;

Richmond': or what depends on as,

T am six feet high.' He

is

sure

^See this question fully investigated in the Notes upon my Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. Q.i,et seq. [Aug. 1 5]. And here, as a lawyer mindful of the maxim Suum cuique tribuito, I cannot forbear to mention, that the additional Note beginning with "I find since the former edition," is not mine, but was obligingly furnished by Mr. Malone, who was so kind as to superintend the press while I was in Scotland, and the first part of the second edition was printing. He would not allow me to ascribe it to its proper authour; but, as it is exquisitely acute and elegant, I take this opportunity, without his knowledge, to do him justice.

Omne

ignotum pro

ventured to dissipate the

cloud, to unveil the mystery, willing to allow to that extraordinary

Pope;

politique aux choux et aux raves."

He would say, "I dine to-day in Grosvenorsquare"; this might be with a Duke: or, perhaps, "I dine to-day at the other end of the town": or, "A gentleman of great eminence called on me yesterday." He loved thus to keep magnifico

was admirable; and though he was strangely un-

have already ob-

was still entertained in elegant hospitality, and with all the ease and comfort of a home. I called on him, and accompanied him served, I

Numerisque jertur Lege solutus.

accord."

On Tuesday, April 28, he was engaged to dine

more

frequently than any of his friends.

freely

We

and

stopped

again at Wirgman's, the well-known toy-shop, in St. James's-street, at the corner of St. James'splace, to which he had been directed, but not clearly, for he searched about some time, and could not find it at first; and said, "To direct one only to a corner shop is toying with one." I suppose he meant this as a play upon the word toy: it was the first time that I knew him stoop to such sport. After he had been some time in the shop, he sent for me to come out of the coach, and help him to choose a pair of silver buckles, as those he had were too small. Probably this alteration in dress had been suggested by Mrs. Thrale, by associating with whom, his external appearance was much improved. He got better cloaths; and the dark colour, from which he never deviated, was enlivened by metal buttons. His wigs, too, were much better; and during their travels in France, he was furnished with a Paris-made wig, of handsome construction. This choosing of silver buckles was a negotiation: "Sir, (said he,) I will not have the ridiculous large ones now in fashion; and I will give no more than a guinea for a pair." Such vvere the princi-

BOSWELL

404

pies of the business; and, after some examination, he was fitted. As we drove along, I found him in a talking humour, of which I availed myself.

was this morning in Ridley's shop. and was told, that the collection called Johnsoniana has sold very much." Johnson. "Yet the Journey to the Hebrides has not had a great sale."^ BoswELL. "That is strange." Johnson. Bosvs'ELL. "I Sir;

"Yes, Sir; for in that book I have told the world a great deal that they did not know before." BoswELL. "I drank chocolate. Sir, this morning with Mr. Eld; and, to my no small surprize, found him to be a Staffordshire Whig, a being

which

I

did not believe had existed." Johnson.

Boswell. "Eld said, a Tory was a creature generated between a non-juring parson and one's grandmother." Johnson. "And I have always said, the first Whig was the Devil." Boswell. "He certainly was, Sir. The Devil was impatient of subordination; he was the first who resisted "Sir, there are rascals in all countries."

power: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in

Heaven"

At General Paoli's were Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Langton, Marchese Gherardi of Lombard y, and Mr. John Spottiswoode the younger, of Spottiswoode, ^ the solicitor. At this time fears of an invasion were circulated; to obviate which, Mr. Spottiswoode observed, that Mr. Eraser the engineer, who had lately come from Dunkirk, said, that the French had the same fears of us. Johnson. " It is thus that mutual cowardice keeps us in peace. Were one half of mankind brave, and one half cowards, the brave would be always beating the cowards. Were all brave, they would lead a very uneasy life; all would be continually fighting: but being all cowards,

we go

on very well."

We

talked of drinking wine. Johnson. "I re-

I am alone. I have then and often taken it." Spottiswoode. "What, by way of a companion, Sir?"

quire wine, only

often wished for

when

it,

Johnson. "To get rid of myself, to send myself away. Wine gives great pleasure; and every ^Here he either was mistaken, or had a different notion of an extensive sale from what is generally entertained: for the fact is, that four thousand copies of that excellent work were sold very quickly. A new edition has been printed since his death, besides that in the collection of his works. ^In the phraseology of Scotland, I should have said, "Mr. John Spottiswoode the younger, of that ilk." Johnson knew that sense of the word very well, and has thus explained it in his Dictionary, "It also signifies 'the same'; as. Mackinvoce Ilk: tosh of that ilk, denotes a gentleman whose surname and the title of his estate are the same."

—

[1778

a good, unless counter-balanced by evil. A man may have a strong reason not to drink wine; and that may be greater than the pleasure. Wine makes a man better pleased with himself. I do not say that it

pleasure

is

of

itself

a good. It

is

makes him more pleasing to others. Sometimes it does. But the danger is, that while a man grows better pleased with himself, he may be growing less pleasing to others.^ Wine gives a man nothing. It neither gives him knowledge nor wit; it only animates a man, and enables him to bring out what a dread of the company has repressed. It only puts in motion what has been locked up in frost. But this may be good, or it may be bad." Spottiswoode. "So, Sir, wine is a key which opens a box; but this box maybe either full or empty." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, conversation is the key: wine is a picklock, which forces open the box and injures it. A man should cultivate his mind so as to have that confidence and readiness without wine, which wine gives." Boswell. "The great difficulty of resisting wine is from benevolence. For instance, a good worthy man asks you to taste his wine, which he has had twenty years in his cellar." Johnson. "Sir, all this notion about benevolence arises from a man's imagining himself to be of more importance to others, than he really is. They don't care a farthing whether he drinks wine or not." Sir Joshua Reynolds. "Yes, they do for the If they care time." Johnson. "For the time!

—

this

minute, they forget

it

the next.

And

as for

man; how do you know he is good and worthy? No good and worthy man will insist upon another man's drinking wine. As to the good worthy

the wine twenty years in the cellar,

— of ten men,

three say this, merely because they must say something; three are telling a lie, when they

—

—

say they have had the wine twenty years; three would rather save the wine; one, perhaps cares. I allow it is something to please one's company: and people are always pleased with those

—

who partake pleasure with them. But after a man has brought himself to relinquish the great personal pleasure which arises from drinking wine, any other consideration is a trifle. To please others by drinking wine, is something only, if there be nothing against it. I should, however, be sorry to oflTend worthy men: 3It is observed in Waller's Life, in the Biographia Britamiica, that he drank only water; and that while he sat in a company who were drinking wine, "he had the dexterity to accommodate his discourse to the pitch of theirs as it sunk." If excess in drinking be meant, the remark is acutely just. But surely, a

moderate use of wine gives a gaiety of spirits which water-drinkers

know

not.

LIFE OF

1778]

how well so e'er itflow. make one worthy man my foe."

to

BoswELL. "Curst be the spring, the wa^^r." Johnson. "But let us consider what a sad thing it would be, if we were obliged to drink or do any thing else that may happen to be agreeable to the company where we are." Langton. "By the same rule you must join with a gang of cut-purses." Johnson. "Yes, Sir: but yet we must do justice to wine; we must allow it the power it possesses.

me

To make

tell

you,

is

a

man

pleased with himself,

doing a very great thing;

SipatrieB volumus, si I

was

let

Nobis

vivere cari."

at this time myself a water-drinker up-

by Johnson's recommendation. Johnis a bolder combatant than Sir Joshua: he argues for wine without the help of wine; but Sir Joshua with it." Sir Joshua Reynolds. "But to please one's company is a strong motive." Johnson, (who, from drinking only water, supposed every body who drank wine to be elevated,) "I won't argue any more with you, on

trial,

son. "Boswell

Sir.

You are too far gone."

Sir Joshua. "I should

have thought so indeed, Sir, had I made such a speech as you have now done." Johnson, (drawing himself in, and, I really thought blushing,) "Nay, don't be angry. I did not mean to offend you." Sir Joshua. "At first the taste of wine was disagreeable to me; but I brought myself to drink it, that I might be like other people. The pleasure of drinking wine is so connected with pleasing your company, that altogether there is something of social goodness in it." Johnson. "Sir, this is only saying the same thing over again." Sir Joshua. "No, this is new." Johnson. "You put it in new words, but it is an old thought. This is one of the disadvantages of wine. It makes a man mistake words for thoughts." Boswell. "I think it is a new thought; at least, it is in a new attitude.'''' Johnson. "Nay, Sir, it is only in a new coat; or an old coat with a new facing. (Then laughing heartily,) It is the old dog in a new doublet. An extraordinary instance however may occur where a man's patron will do nothing for him, unless he will drink: there may be a good reason for drinking." I mentioned a nobleman, who I believed was really uneasy if his company would not drink hard. Johnson. "That is from having had people about him whom he has been accustomed to command." Boswell. "Supposing I should be

—

tete-a-tete with,

him at table. "Johnson.

"Sir, there

no more reason for your drinking with him, than his being sober withj;oM." Boswell. "Why, that is true; for it would do him less hurt to be

is

405

would do me to get drunk." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; and from what I have heard of him, one would not wish to sacrifice himself to such a man. If he must always have somebody to drink with him, he should buy a slave, and then he would be sure to have it. They who subsober, than

Curst be the verse,

That tends

JOHNSON it

mit to drink as another pleases, make themselves his slaves." Boswell. "But, Sir, you will surely make allowance for the duty of hospitality. A

gentleman who loves drinking, comes to visit me." Johnson. "Sir, a man knows whom he visits; he comes to the table of a sober man." BosWTELL. "But, Sir, you and I should not have been so well received in the Highlands and Hebrides, if I had not drunk with our worthy friends. Had I drunk water only as you did, they would not have been so cordial." Johnson. "Sir William

Temple mentions that in his travels through the Netherlands he had two or three gentlemen with him; and when a bumper was necessary, he put it on them. Were I to travel again through the islands, I would have Sir Joshua with me to take the bumpers." Boswell. "But, Sir, let me put a case. Suppose Sir Joshua should take a jaunt into Scotland he does me the honour to pay me a visit at my house in the country; I am overjoyed at seeing him; we are quite by ourselves, ;

I unsociably and churlishly let him sit drinking by himself? No, no, my dear Sir Joshua, you shall not be treated so, I will take a bottle with you." The celebrated Mrs. Rudd being mentioned. Johnson. "Fifteen years ago I should have gone to see her." Spottiswoode. "Because she was fifteen years younger?" Johnson. "No, Sir; but now they have a trick of putting every thing into the news-papers." He begged General Paoli to repeat one of the introductory stanzas of the first book of Tasso's Jerusalem, which he did, and then Johnson found fault with the simile of sweetening the edges of a cup for a child, being transferred from Lucretius into an epick poem. The CJeneral said he did not imagine Homer's poetry was so ancient as is supposed, because he ascribes to a Greek colony circumstances of refinement not found in

shall

Greece itself at a later period, when Thucydides wrote. Johnson. "I recollect but one passage quoted by Thucydides from Homer, which is not to be found in our copies of Homer's works; I am for the antiquity of Homer, and think that a Grecian colony, by being nearer Persia, might be more refined than the mother country." On Wednesday, April 29, I dined with him at Mr. Allan Ramsay's, where were Lord Binning, Dr. Robertson the historian, Sir Joshua

'

BOSWELL

4o6

Reynolds, and the Honourable Mrs. Boscawen, widow of the Admiral, and mother of the present Viscount Falmouth; of whom, if it be not

presumptuous in me to praise her, I would say, that her manners are the most agreeable, and her conversation the best, of any lady with whom I ever had the happiness to be acquainted. Before Johnson came we talked a good deal of him; Ramsay said he had always found him a very polite man, and that he treated him with great respect, which he did very sincerely. I said I worshipped him. Robertson. "But some of you spoil him; you should not worship him; you should worship no man." Boswell. "I cannot help worshipping him, he is so much superiour to other men." Robertson. "In criticism, and in wit in conversation, he is no doubt very excellent but in other respects he is not above other men; he will believe any thing, and will strenuously defend the most minute circumstance connected with the Church of England." Bosv/ell. "Believe me. Doctor, you are much mistaken as to this; for when you talk with him calmly in ;

very liberal in his way of thinking. "He and I have been always very gracious; the first time I met him was one evening at Strahan's, when he had just had an unlucky altercation with Adam Smith, to whom he private, he

'

is

Robertson.

had been so rough, that Strahan, after Smith was gone, had remonstrated with him, and told him that I was coming soon, and that he was uneasy to think that he might behave in the same manner to me. 'No, no. Sir, (said Johnson,) I warrant you Robertson and I shall do very well.' Accordingly he was gentle and good-humoured, and courteous with me the whole evening; and he has been so upon every occasion that we have met since. I have often said (laughing,) that I have been in a great measure indebted to Smith for my good reception." Boswell. "His power of reasoning is very strong, and he has a peculiar art of drawing characters, which is as rare as good portrait painting." Sir Joshua Reynolds.

"He

undoubtedly admirable in this; but, in order to mark the characters which he draws, he overcharges them, and gives people more than they really have, whether of good or bad." No sooner did he, of whom we had been thus talking so easily, arrive, than we were all as quiet as a school upon the entrance of the headmaster; and were very soon set down to a table covered with such a variety of good things, as contributed not a little to dispose him to be is

pleased.

Ramsay. "I am old enough to have been a contemporary of Pope. His poetry was highly

[1778

admired

in his life-time,

more a great deal than

Johnson. "Sir, it has not been admired since his death; no authours ever had so much fame in their own life-time as Pope and Vollaire; and Pope's poetry has been as much admired since his death as during his life; it has only not been as much talked of, but that is owing to its being now more distant, and people having other writings to talk of. Virgil is less talked of than Pope, and Homer is less talked of after his death." less

than Virgil; but they are not less admired. We must read what the world reads at the moment. It has been maintained that this superfoetation, this teeming of the press in modern times, is prej u dicial to good literature, because it obliges us to read so much of what is of inferiour value, in order to be in the fashion; so that better works are neglected for want of time, because a man will have more gratification of his vanity in conversation, from having read modern books, than from having read the best works of antiquity. But it must be considered, that we have now more knowledge generally diffused; all our ladies read now, which is a great extension. Modern writers are the moons of literature; they shine with reflected light, with light borrowed from the ancients. Greece appears to me to be the fountain of knowledge; Rome of elegance." Ramsay. "I suppose Homer's Iliad to be a collection of pieces which had been written before his time. I should like to see a translation of it in

book of Ruth or Job." Robertson. "Would you. Dr. Johnson, who are master of the English language, but try your hand upon a part of it." Johnson. "Sir, you

poetical prose like the

could not read

We

it

without the pleasure of verse. "^

talked of antiquarian researches.

son. "All that

of Britain

is

is

contained in a few pages.

know no more than what told us; yet

John-

really known of the ancient state

We

can

the old writers have

what large books have we upon

it,

the whole of which, excepting such parts as are

taken from those old writers, is all a dream, such as Whitaker's Manchester. I have heard Henry's History of Britain well spoken of: I am told it is carried on in separate divisions, as the

civil,

military, the religious history: I wish

much

the to

have one branch well done, and that is the history of manners, of common life." Robertson. "Henry should have applied his attention to that ^This experiment which

Madame

Dacier

made

in vain, has since been tried in our own language, by the editor of Ossian, and we must either think very meanly of his abilities, or allow that Dr. Johnson was in the right. And Mr. Cowper, a man of real genius, has miserably failed in his blank verse translation.

LIFE OF

1778] alone,

which

is

enough

for

any man; and he

might have found a great deal scattered in various books, had he read solely with that view. Henry erred in not selling his first volume at a moderate price to the booksellers, that they might have pushed him on till he had got reputation. I sold my History of Scotland at a moderate price, as a work by which the booksellers might either gain or not; and Cadell has told me that Millar and he have got six thousand pounds by it. I afterwards received a much higher price for my writings. An authour should sell his first work for what the booksellers will give, till it shall appear whether he is an authour of merit, or, which is the same thing as to purchasemoney, an authour who pleases the publick." Dr. Robertson expatiated on the character of a certain nobleman that he was one of the strongest-minded men that ever lived; that he would sit in company quite sluggish, while there was nothing to call forth his intellectual vigour; but the moment that any important subject was started, for instance, how this country is to be defended against a French invasion, he would rouse himself, and shew his extraordinary talents with the most powerful ability and animation. Johnson. "Yet this man cut his own throat. The true strong and sound mind is the mind that can embrace equally great things and small. ;

Now I am

told the

servant, 'Bring

came

in such a year;

the cellars.' things,

me

King

I

of Prussia will say to a

me a bottle of such a wine, which it lies

would have a

and elegant

afterwards,

in

little

in such a corner of

man

great in great

things."

when we were by

He

said to

ourselves,

"Robertson was in a mighty roman tick humour, he talked of one whom he did not know; but I downed him with the King of Prussia." "Yes, Sir, (said I,) you threw a bottle at his head." An ingenious gentleman was mentioned, concerning whom both Robertson and Ramsay agreed that he had a constant firmness of mind; for after a laborious day, and amidst a multiplicity of cares and anxieties, he would sit down with his sisters and be quite cheerful and good-

humoured. Such a disposition, it was observed, was a happy gift of nature. Johnson. "I do not think so; a man has from nature a certain portion of mind; the use he makes of it depends upon his own free will. That a man has always the same firmness of mind I do not say; because every man feels his mind less firm at one time than another; but I think a man's being in a good or bad humour depends upon his will." I, however, could not help thinking that a man's humour is often uncontroulable by his will.

JOHNSON

407

Johnson harangued against drinking wine. "A man (said he,) may choose whether he will have abstemiousness and knowledge, or claret and ignorance." Dr. Robertson, (who is very companionable,) was beginning to dissent as to the proscription of claret. Johnson, (with a placid smile,) "Nay, Sir, you shall not differ with me; as I have said that the man is most perfect v/ho takes in the most things, I am for knowledge and claret." Robertson, (holding a glass of generous claret in his hand,) "Sir, I can only drink your health." Johnson. "Sir, I should be sorry iiyou should be ever in such a state as to be able

do nothing more." Robertson. "Dr. Johnme to say, that in one respect I have the advantage of you when you were in Scotland you would not come to hear any of our to

son, allow

;

preachers, whereas,

when

I

am

here, I attend

your publick worship without scruple, and indeed, with great satisfaction." Johnson. "Why, Sir, that is

am

not so extraordinary: the King of Si-

sent ambassadors to Louis the Fourteenth;

but Louis the Fourteenth sent none to the of Siam."i

King

Here my friend for once discovered a want of knowledge or forgetfulness; for Louis the Fourteenth did send an embassy to the King of Siam, and the Abbe Choisi, who was employed in it, published an account of it in two volumes. Next day, Thursday, April 30, I found him at home by himself. Johnson. "Well, Sir, Ramsay gave us a splendid dinner. I love Ramsay. You will not find a man in whose conversation there is more instruction, more information, and more elegance, than in Ramsay's." Boswell. "What I admire in Ramsay, is his continuing to be so young." Johnson. "Why, yes. Sir, it is to be admired. I value myself upon this, that there nothing of the old man in my conversation.

am now

is

I

have no more of it than at twenty-eight." Boswell. "But, Sir, would not you wish to know old age? He who is never an old man, does not know the whole of human life; for old age is one of the divisions of it." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, what talk is this?" Boswell. "I mean. Sir, the Sphinx's description of morning, noon, and night. I would know it; night as well as morning and noon." Johnson. "What, Sir, would you know what it is to feel the evils of old age? Would you have the gout? Would you have decrepitude?" Seeing him heated, I would not argue any further; but I was confident that I was in the right. I would, in due time, be a Nestor, an elder of the people; sixty-eight,

and

I

—

—

^Mrs. Piozzi confidently mentions this as having passed in Scotland. Anecdotes, p. 62.

—

BOSWELL

4o8 and there

should be

some

difference between the

conversation of twenty-eight and sixty-eight. A grave picture should not be gay. There is a serene, solemn, placid old age. Johnson. "Mrs. Thrale's mother said of me what flattered me much. A clerg^Tnan was complaining of want of

where he lived; and said, is, young cows). 'Sir, (said Mrs. Salusbury,) Mr. Johnson would learn to talk of runts' meaning that I was a man who would make the most of my situation, whatever society in the country

'They

talk oi

runts'';

(that

;

it

was."

He added,

"I think myself a very polite

On Saturday, May 2,

dined with him at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, where there was a very large company, and a great deal of conversation; but owing to some circumstance which I cannot now recollect, I have no record of any part of it, except that there were several people there by no means of the Johnsonian school; so that less attention was paid to him than usual, which put him out of humour; and upon some imaginary offence from me, he attacked me with such rudeness, that I was vexed and angry, because it gave those persons an opportunity of enlarging upon his supposed ferocity, and ill treatment of his

was

best friends. I

much

so

1

much

hurt,

and had

my

kept away from him for a week; and, perhaps, might have kept away much longer, nay, gone to Scotland without seeing him again, had not we fortunately met and been reconciled. To such unhappy chances are human friendships liable. On Friday, May 8, I dined with him at Mr. Langton's. I was reserved and silent, which I suppose he perceived, and might recollect the cause. After dinner when Mr. Langton was called out of the room, and we were by ourselves, he drew his chair near to mine, and said, in a tone of conciliating courtesy, "Well, how have you done?" BosvsTELL. "Sir, you have made me very uneasy by your behaviour to me when we were last at Sir Joshua Reynolds's. You know, my dear Sir, no man has a greater respect and affection for you, or would sooner go to the end of ." the world to serve you. Now to treat me so pride so

[1778

not like falling on stones, which is the case when I think this a pretty good enemies are present.

—

image. Sir." Johnson. "Sir, it is one of the happiest I have ever heard." The truth is, there was no venom in the wounds which he inflicted at any time, unless they were irritated by some malignant infusion by other hands. We were instantly as cordial again as ever, and joined in hearty laugh at some ludicrous but innocent peculiarities of one of our friends. Boswell. "Do you think. Sir, it is always culpable to laugh at a man to his face?" Sir, that depends upon the man and the thing. If it is a slight man, and a slight thing, you may; for you take nothing valuable from him." He said, "I read yesterday Dr. Blair's sermon on Devotion, from the text ''Cornelius, a devout

Johnson. "Why,

man."

roused, that

I

—

He

—

—

had interrupted him, which I assured him was not the case; and proceeded "But why treat me so before people who neither love you nor me?" Johnson. "Well, I am sorry for it. I'll make it up to you twenty different insisted tliat I

ways, as you please." Boswell. "I said to-day to Sir Joshua, when he observed that you tossed me sometimes I don't care how often, or how high he tosses me, when only friends are present, for then I fall upon soft ground: but I do

—

His doctrine is the best limited, the best expressed there is the most warmth without fanaticism, the most rational transport. There is one part of it which I disapprove, and I'd have man.''

:

him

correct

it;

which

is,

that 'he

who

does not

from the kingdom of many good men whose fear of God predominates over their love. It maydiscourage. It was rashly said. A noble sermon it is indeed. I wish Blair would come over to the Church of England." When Mr. Langton returned to us, the "flow of talk" went on. An eminent authour being menjoy in religion heaven!' There are

feel

is

far

^Johnson. "He is not a pleasant man. His conversation is neither instructive nor brilliant. He does not talk as if impelled by any fulness of knowledge or vivacity of imagination. His conversation is like that of any other sensible man. He talks with no wish either to inform or to hear, but only because he thinks it does not becom.e to sit in a company and say nothing." Mr. Langton having repeated the anecdote of Addison having distinguished between his powers in conversation and in writing, by saying "I have only nine-pence in my pocket; but I can draw for a thousand pounds"; ^Johnson. "He had not that retort ready, Sir; he had prepared it before-hand." Langton. (turning to me,) "A fine surmise. Set a thief to catch a thief." Johnson called the East-Indians barbarians. Bosw^LL. "You will except the Chinese, Sir?" Johnson. "No, Sir." Bosv^ell. "Have they not arts?" Johnson. "They have pottery." Bosw^ll. tioned;

"What do you

say to the written characters of

language?" Johnson. "Sir, they have not an alphabet. They have not been able to form what all other nations have formed." Boswell. their

— LIFE OF

1778]

"There is more learning in their language than in any other, from the immense number of their characters." Johnson. "It is only more difficult from its rudeness; as there is more labour in hewing down a tree with a stone than with an axe." He said, "I have been reading Lord Kames's Sketches of the History of Man. In treating of se-

JOHNSON

409

custom, 'the custom of the manor,' the custom of the mitre." Johnson. "Sir, so

it

shall be."

On Saturday, May 9, we fulfilled our purpose

Ma-

by ourselves at the Mitre, according There was, on these occasions, a little circumstance of kind attention to Mrs. Williams, which must not be omitted. Before coming out, and leaving her to dine alone, he

Russia, but he does not give

gave her her choice of a chicken, a sweetbread,

have looked at Chappe D'Auteroche, from whom he has taken it. He stops where it is said that the spectators thought her innocent, and leaves out what follows; that she nevertheless was guilty. Now this is being as culpable as one can conceive, to misrepresent fact in a book, and for what motive? It is like one of those lies which people tell, one cannot see why. The woman's life was spared; and no punishment was too great for the favourite of an Empress who had conspired to dethrone her mistress." BoswELL. "He was only giving a picture of the lady in her sufTerings." Johnson. "Nay, don't endeavour to palliate this. GuUt is a prin-

nice thing, which was carefrom the tavern, ready-drest. Our conversation to-day, I know not how, turned, (I think for the only time at any length, during our long acquaintance,) upon the sensual intercourse between the sexes, the delight of which he ascribed chiefly to imagination. "Were it not for imagination, Sir, (said he,) a man would be as happy in the arms of a chambermaid as of a Duchess. But such is the adventitious charm of fancy, that we find men who have violated the best principles of society, and ruined their fame and their fortune, that they might possess a woman of rank." It would not be proper to re-

cipal feature in the picture. Kames is puzzled with a question that puzzled me when I was a very young man. Why is it that the interest of

cord the particulars of such a conversation in moments of unreserved frankness, when nobody was present on whom it could have any hurtful

money is lower, when money is plentiful;

effect.

verity of punishment, he mentions that of

dame Lapouchin, in it fairly;

for I

for five

of dining

to old custom.

or any other

little

fully sent to her

That

may

subject,

when philosophically

treat-

pounds has the same proportion of value to a hundred pounds when money is plentiful, as when it is scarce? A lady explained it to me. 'It

employ the mind in as curious discussion, and as innocently, as anatomy; provided that those who do treat it keep clear of

when money is plentiful many more who have money to lend, that they bid down one another. Many have then

inflammatory incentives. "From grave to gay, from lively to severe," we were soon engaged in very different specu-

is

(said she,) because

there are so

—

a hundred pounds; and one says, Take mine rather than another's, and you shall have it at four per cent.' " Boswell. "Does Lord Kames decide the question?" Johnson. "I think he leaves as he found it." Boswell. "This must have been an extraordinary lady who instructed you. Sir. May I ask who she was?" Johnson. "Molly Aston,^ Sir, the sister of those ladies with whom you dined at Lichfield. I shall be at home to-morrow." Boswell. "Then let us dine by ourselves at the Mitre, to keep up the old 'Johnson had an extraordinary admiration of this lady, notwithstanding she was a violent Whig. it

In answer to her high-flown speeches for Liberty, he addressed to her the following Epigram, of which I presume to offer a translation: Liber ut esse velim suasisti pulchra Maria, Ut maneam liber pulchra Maria vale. Adieu, Maria since you'd have me free; For, who beholds thy charms a slave must be. A correspondent of The Gentleman's Magazine, !

subscribes himself Sciolus, to whom I am indebted for several excellent remarks, observes, "The turn of Dr. Johnson's lines to Miss Aston, whose Whig principles he had been combating, appears

who

ed,

lation;

surely

humbly and

wondering

reverently considering and

mystery of all things, our imperfect faculties can now judge of them. "There are (said he,) innumerable questions to which the inquisitive mind can in this state receive no answer: Why do you and I exist? Why was this world created? Since it was to be created, why was it not created sooner?" On Sunday, May 10, I supped with him at Mr. Hoole's, with Sir Joshua Reynolds. I have at the universal

as

neglected the memorial of this evening, so as to

remember no more

of

it

than two particulars;

argument was preferable to vice,

one, that he strenuously opposed an

by

Sir Joshua, that virtue

to

me

to be taken

the Menagiana on a

masquerade,

from an ingenious epigram in young lady who appeared at a

habillee en Jesuite,

during the

contentions of the followers of Molinos senius concerning free-will:

On s'etonne ici que Caliste Aitpris r habit de Moliniste. Puisque cettejeune beaute Ote a chacun sa liberie, Jfest-ce pas une Janseniste?''

fierce

and Jan-

—

BOSWELL

4IO

considering this life only; and that a man would be virtuous were it only to preserve his character: and that he expressed much wonder at the curious formation of the bat, a mouse with wings; saying, that "it was almost as strange a thing in physiology, as

if

the fabulous dragon could be seen." 12, I waited on the Earl of

On Tuesday, May

Marchmont, to know if his Lordship would favour Dr. Johnson with information concerning Pope, whose Life he was about to write. Johnson had not flattered himself with the hopes of receiving any civility from this nobleman; for he said to me, when I mentioned Lord Marchmont as one who could tell him a great deal about Pope, "Sir, he will tell me nothing." I had the honour of being known to his Lordship, and applied to him of myself, without being commissioned by Johnson. His Lordship behaved in the most polite and obliging manner, promised to tell all he recollected about Pope, and was so very courteous as to say, "Tell Dr. Johnson I have a great respect for him, and am ready to shew it in any way I can. I am to be in the city to-morrow, and will call at his house as I return." His Lordship however asked, "Will he

—

write the Lives of the Poets impartially? the

first

that brought

He was

Whig and Tory into a Dic-

And what do you think of his definition of Excise? Do you know the history of his aversion to the word transpire?'" Then taking down tionary.

shewed it with this censure secondary sense: "To escape from secrecy to notice; a sense lately innovated from France, without necessity." "The truth was Lord Bolingbroke, who left the Jacobites, first used it; therefore, it was to be condemned. He should have shewn what word would do for it, if it was unnecessary." I afterwards put the question to Johnson: "Why, Sir, (said he,) get abroad." Boswell. "That, Sir, is using two words." Johnson. the folio Dictionary, he

on

its

is no end of this. You may as well inhave a word for old age." Boswell. "Well, Sir, Senectus." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, to insist always that there should be one word to express a thing in English, because there is one in another language, is to change the language." I availed myself of this opportunity to hear from his Lordship many particulars both of Pope and Lord Bolingbroke, which I have in writing. I proposed to Lord Marchmont that he should revise Johnson's Life of Pope: "So (said his Lordship,) you would put me in a dangerous situation. You know he knocked down Osborne the

"Sir, there sist

to

bookseller."

Elated with the success of my spontaneous exand respectable aid

ertion to procure material

[1778

to Johnson for his very favourite work.

The Lives

I hastened down to Mr. Thrale's at Streatham, where he now was, that I might insure his being at home next day; and after dinner, when I thought he would receive the good

of the Poets,

news

in the best

humour,

I

announced

it

eager-

"I have been at work for you to-day. Sir. I have been with Lord Marchmont. He bade me tell you he has a great respect for you, and will

ly:

on you to-morrow at one o'clock, and communicate all he knows about Pope." Here I paused, in full expectation that he would be pleased with this intelligence, would praise my call

—

and would be alert to embrace from a nobleman. But whether I had shewn an over-exultation, which provoked his spleen; or whether he was seized with a suspicion that I had obtruded him on Lord Marchmont, and humbled him too much; or whether there was any thing more than an unlucky fit of active merit,

such an

off"er

ill-humour,

I

know

not; but, to

Johnson. "I

result was,

my surprize, the

shall not be in

town

don't care to know about Pope." Mrs. Thrale. (surprized as I was, and a little angry,) "I suppose, Sir, Mr. Boswell thought, that as you are to write Pope's Life, you would

to-morrow.

I

know about him." Johnson. "Wish!

wish to

If it rained knowledge I'd hold out my hand; but I would not give myself the trouble to go in quest of it." There was no arguing with him at the moment. Some time afterwards he said, "Lord Marchmont will call on me, and then I shall call on Lord Marchmont." Mr. Thrale was uneasy at his unaccountable caprice; and told me, that if I did not take care to bring about a meeting between Lord Marchmont and him, it would never take place, which would be a great pity. I sent a card to his Lordship, to be left at Johnson's house, acquainting him, that Dr. Johnson could not be in town next day, but would do himself the honour of waiting on him at another time. I give this account fairly, as a specimen of that unhappy temper with which this great and good man had occasionally to struggle, from something morbid in his constitution. Let the most censorious of my readers suppose himselfto have a violent fit of the toothache, or to have received a severe stroke on the shin-bone, and when in such a state to be asked a question; and if he has any candour, he will not be surprized at the answers which Johnson sometimes gave in moments of irritation, which, let me assure them, is exquisitely painful. But it must not be erroneously supposed that he was, in the smallest degree, careless concerning any work which he undertook, or that he was gener-

why yes.

LIFE OF

1778]

ally thus peevish. It will be seen, that in the following year he had a very agreeable interview with Lord Marchmont, at his Lordship's house; and this very afternoon he soon forgot any fret-

and fell into conversation as usual. mentioned a reflection having been thrown out against four Peers for having presumed to fulness, I

opposition to the opinion of the twelve

rise in

Judges, in a cause in the House of Lords, as

if

no censure. The Peers are Judges them-

that were indecent. Johnson. "Sir, there

is

ground for selves; and supposing them really to be of a different opinion, they might from duty be in opposition to the Judges, who were there only to be consulted." In this observation I fully concurred with him; for, unquestionably, all the Peers are vested with the highest judicial powers; and when they are confident that they understand a cause, are not obliged, nay ought not to acquiesce in the opinion of the ordinary Law Judges, or even in that of those who from their studies and experience

Law

are called the

Lords.

I

consider the Peers

do a Jury, who ought

in general as I

to listen

with respectful attention to the sages of the law; but, if after hearing them, they have a firm opinion of their own, are bound, as honest men, to decide accordingly. Nor is it so difficult for them to understand even law questions, as is generally thought; provided they will bestow sufficient attention upon them. This observation was made by my honoured relation the late Lord Cathcart,

the

upon most of the causes that came before House of Lords, "as they were so well enu-

cleated in the Cases."

Mrs. Thrale told

us, that

a curious clergyman

had discovered a licentious which Pope had originally in his Uni-

of our acquaintance

stanza,

versal Prayer,

before the stanza.

What conscience dictates to be done. Or warns us not to do, &c. It

was

Can sins

of moment claim the rod

Oj everlasting fires? And that offend great Nature's God, Which Nature'' s self inspires?

and that Dr. Johnson observed, "it had been borrowed from Guarini." There are, indeed, in

many such flimsy superficial reason-

ings, as that in the last

is

two

lines of this stanza.

BoswELL. "In that stanza of Pope's, ''rod offires'' certainly a bad metaphor." Mrs. Thrale.

"And its

'of moments.'

'sins of

Of moment,

is

moment'

true import

is

is

a faulty expression; for which cannot be in-

momentous,

momentous; of moments,

Pope wrote and some friend struck it out. Boileau wrote some such thing, and Arnaud struck momentary. I warrant you, however. this stanza,

it

out, saying,

'

Vous gagnerez deux ou

trots impies, et

perdrezje ne scats combien des honnettes gens.'

fellows

want

to say

These

a daring thing, and don't

know how

to go about it. Mere poets know no more of fundamental principles than ." Here he was interrupted somehow. Mrs. Thrale men-

—

tioned Dryden. Johnson. "He puzzled himself about predestination. How foolish was it in

—

Pope

to give all his friendship to Lords,

who

thought they honoured him by being with him; and to choose such Lords as Burlington, and Cobham, and Bolingbroke Bathurst was negative, a pleasing man; and I have heard no ili of Marchmont; and then always saying, 'I do not value you for being a Lord'; which was a sure proof that he did. I never say, I do not value Boswell more for being born to an estate, because I do not care." Boswell. "Nor for being a Scotchman?" Johnson. "Nay, Sir, I do value you more for being a Scotchman. You are a Scotchman without the faults of a Scotchman. You would not have been so valuable as you are, had you not been a Scotchman." Talking of divorces, I asked if Othello's doctrine was not plausible? !

He

that is robb'd, not

wanting what

is stolen.

Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at

all.

Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Thrale joined against this. Johnson. "Ask any man if he'd wish not to know of such an injury." Boswell. "Would you tell your friend to make him unhappy?" Johnson. "Perhaps, Sir, I should not; but that would be from prudence on my own account. A man would tell his father." Boswell. "Yes; because he would not have spurious children to get any share of the family inheritance." Mrs. Thrale.

"Or he would

tell

Boswell. "CerJohnson. "You would

his brother."

tainly his elder brother."

thus:

Pastor Fido,

411

tended." Johnson. "It must have been written

who had spent his life in camps and courts;

yet assured me, that he could form a clear opin-

ion

JOHNSON

your friend of a woman's infamy, to prevent marrying a whore: there is the same reason to tell him of his wife's infidelity, when he is martell

his

prevent the consequences of imposition. a breach of confidence not to tell a friend." ?" (namBoswell. "Would you tell Mr.

ried, to It is

ing a gentleman

who

least danger of such

assuredly was not in the a miserable disgrace, though

married to a fine woman.) Johnson. "No, Sir; because it would do no good: he is so sluggish, he'd never go to parliament and get through a divorce."

BOSWELL

412

[1778

one of our friends, "He is ruining himself without pleasure. A man who loses at

does not hurt a man's character." Boswell. "Yes, Sir, debauching a friend's wife will."

who runs out his fortune at court, makes

Johnson. "No, Sir. Who thinks the worse of for it?" Boswell. "Lord was not his friend." Johnson. "That is only a circum-

He

said of

plav, or

hopes of making it bigger: (I am sure of this word, which was often used by him:) but it is a sad thing to pass through the quagmire of parsimony, to the gulph of ruin. To pass over the flowery path of extravagance is very well." Amongst the numerous prints pasted on the walls of the dining-room at Streatham, was Hogarth's "Modern Midnight Conversation." I asked him what he knew of Parson Ford, who makes a conspicuous figure in the riotous group. Johnson. "Sir, he was my acquaintance and relation, my mother's nephew. He had purchased a living in the country, but not simoniacally. I never saw him but in the country. I have been told he was a man of great parts; very profligate, but I never heard he was impious." Boswtell. "Was there not a story of his ghost having appeared?" Johnson. "Sir, it was believed. A waiter at the Hummums, in which house Ford died, had been absent for some time, and returned, not knowing that Ford was dead. Going down to the cellar, according to the story, he met him; going down again he met him a second time. When he came up, he asked some of the people of the house what Ford could be doing there. They told him Ford was dead. The waiter took a fever, in which he lay for some time. When he recovered, he said he had a message to deliver to some women from Ford; but he was not to tell what, or to whom. He walked out; he was followed; but somewhere about St. Paul's they lost him. He came back, and said he had delivered the message, and the women exclaimed, 'Then we are all undone!' Dr. Pellet, who was not a credulous man, inquired into the truth of this story, and he said, the evidence was irrehis estate less, in

My

wife went to the Hummums; (it is a place where people get themselves cupped.) I believe she went with intention to hear about this story of Ford. At first they were unwilling to tell her; but, after they had talked to her, she came away satisfied that it was true. To be sure

sistible.

man had a fever; and this vision may have been the beginning of it. But if the message to the women, and their behaviour upon it, were true as related, there was something supernatural. That rests upon his word; and there it remains." After Mrs. Thrale was gone to bed, Johnson and I sat up late. We resumed Sir Joshua Reynolds's argument on the preceding Sunday, that a man would be virtuous though he had no other motive than to preserve his character. Johnson. "Sir, it is not true: for as to this world vice the

stance. Sir; a slight distinction. into the house but

by Lord

chosen Knight of the

shire,

He could not get A man is .

not the

ing debauched ladies." Boswell.

less for

"What,

havSir,

he debauched the ladies of gentlemen in the county, will not there be a general resentment against him?" Johnson. "No, Sir. He will lose those particular gentlemen; but the rest will not trouble their heads about it," (warmly.) Boswell. "Well, Sir, I cannot think so." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, there is no talking with a man who will dispute what every body knows, (angrily.) Don't you know this?" Boswell. "No, Sir; and I wish to think better of your country than you represent it. I knew in Scotland a gentleman if

obliged to leave it for debauching a lady; and in one of our counties an Earl's brother lost his election, because he had debauched the lady of another Earl in that county, and destroyed the

peace of a noble family." Still he would not yield. He proceeded: "Will you not allow. Sir, that vice does not hurt a man's character so as to obstruct his prosperity in life, ^ was loadthat

when you know

ed with wealth and honours; a man who had acquired his fortune by such crimes, that his consciousness of

them impelled him

throat." Boswell.

"You

to cut his

own

will recollect, Sir, that

Dr. Robertson said, he cut his throat because he was weary of still life; little things not being sufficient to move his great mind." Johnson, (very angry,) "Nay, Sir,

more

what stuff is

this

!

You had no

opinion after Robertson said it, than before. I know nothing more offensive than repeating what one knows to be foolish things, by way of continuing a dispute, to see what a man will answer, to make him your butt!" (angrier still.) Boswell. "My dear Sir, I had no such intentions as you seem to suspect; I had not indeed. Might not this nobleman have felt every this

—

flat, and unprofitable,' as Hamlet says?" Johnson. "Nay, if you are to bring in gabble, I'll talk no more. I will not, upon my honour." My readers will decide upon this dis-

thing 'weary, stale,

—

pute.

Next morning I stated to Mrs. Thrale at breakbefore he came down, the dispute of last night as to the influence of character upon success in life. She said he was certainly wrong; and told me, that a Baronet lost an election in Wales,

fast,

i[Lord Clive.]

LIFE OF

1778]

J

OHNSON

413

and that was of a large serpent in one of the Pyramids of Egypt." Boswell. "Well, I happened to hear him tell the same thing, which made me mention him."

because he had debauched the sister of a gentleman in the county, whom he made one of his daughters invite as her companion at his seat in the country, when his lady and his other children were in London. But she would not en-

seen,

counter Johnson upon the subject. I staid all this day with him at Streatham. He talked a great deal, in very good humour. Looking at Messrs. Dilly's splendid edition of Lord Chesterfield's miscellaneous works, he laughed, and said, "Here now are two speeches ascribed to him, both of which were written by me: and the best of it is, they have found out that one is like Demosthenes, and the other like

would not devote myself to the acquisition of popularity; I would live in a much better way, much more happily; I would have my time at my own command." Boswell. "But, Sir, is it not a sad thing to be at a distance from all our literary friends?" Johnson " Sir, you will by and by have enough of this conversation, which now delights you so much." As he was a zealous friend of subordination, he was at all times watchful to repress the vulgar cant against the manners of the great; "High

Cicero."

He tory of

censured Lord Karnes's Sketches of the HisMan, for misrepresenting Clarendon's ac-

count of the appearance of Sir George ghost, as

if

Villiers's

Clarendon were weakly credulous;

when the truth is, that Clarendon only says, that the story was upon a better foundation of credit, than usually such discourses are founded upon; nay, speaks thus of the person who was reported to have seen the vision, "the poor man, if he had been at all waking'^; which Lord Kames has omitted. He added, "in this book it is maintained that virtue is natural to man, and that if we would but consult our own hearts we should be virtuous. Now after consulting our own hearts all we can, and with all the helps we have, we find how few of us are virtuous. This is saying a

talked of a country

I

life.

Johnson. "Were

I

to live in the country, I

.

people. Sir, (said he,) are the best; take a hundred ladies of quality, you'll find them better wives, better mothers,

own pleasure

more

willing to sacrifice

than a hundred other women. Tradeswomen (I mean the wives of tradesmen) in the city, who are worth from ten to fifteen thousand pounds, are the their

to their children

worst creatures upon the earth, grossly ignorant, and thinking viciousness fashionable. Farmers, I think, are often worthless fellows. Few lords will cheat; and, if they do, they'll be ashamed of it: farmers cheat and are not ashamed of it: they have all the sensual vices too of the nobili-

will spit

with cheating into the bargain. There is as m.uch fornication and adultery among farmers as amongst noblemen." Boswell. "The notion of the world. Sir, however is, that the morals of women of quality are worse than those in lower stations." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, the licentiousness of one woman of quality makes more noise than that of a number of women in lower stations; then, Sir, you are to consider the malignity of

What

women

thing which all mankind know not to be true." BoswELL. "Is not modesty natural?" Johnson. "I cannot say, Sir, as we find no people quite in a state of nature; but I think the more they are taught, the

more modest they

are.

The French

are a gross, ill-bred, untaught people a lady there ;

on the floor and rub it with her foot. gained by being in France was, learning to be better satisfied with my own country. Time may be employed to more advantage from nineteen to twenty-four almost in any way than in I

travelling;

when you

set travelling against

negation, against doing nothing,

it is

mere

better to

be sure; but how much more would a young man improve were he to study during those years. Indeed, if a young man is wild, and must run after women and bad company, it is better this should be done abroad, as, on his return, he can break off such connections, and begin at home a new man, with a character to form, and acquaintances to make. How little does travelling supply to the conversation of any man who has

how little to Beauclerk!" Bosv^ell. ?" Johnson. "I say you to Lord never but once heard him talk of what he had travelled;

"What

ty,

in the city against

women

of quality,

which will make them believe any thing of them, such as that they call their coachmen to bed. No, Sir, so far as I have observed, the higher in rank, the richer ladies are, they are the better instructed and the more virtuous."

This year the Reverend Mr. Home published Mr. Dunning on the English Particle; Johnson read it, and though not treated in it with sufficient respect, he had candour enough to say to Mr. Seward, "Were I to make a new edition of my Dictionary, I would adopt several his Letter to

Mr. Home Tooke's enlargement of that Letwhich he has since published with the title of E-n-ea irTepokvra; or, the Diversions of Purley; he mentions this compliment, as if Dr. Johnson instead of several of his etymologies had said all. His recolleciJn

ter,

tion having thus magnified it, shews how ambitious he was of the approbation of so great a man.

— BOS WELL

414

Mr. Home's etymologies; I hope they did not put the dog in the pillory for his libel; he has too of

much

literature for that."

On

Saturday,

May

i6,

I

dined with him

Mr. Beauclerk's with Mr. Langton, Mr. Steevens, Dr. Higgins, and some others. I regret at

very feelingly every instance of my remissness in recording his memorabilia; I am afraid it is the condition of humanity (as Mr. Windham, of Norfolk, once observed to me, after having made an admirable speech in the House of Commons, which was highly applauded, but which

he afterwards perceived might have been better:) "that we are more uneasy from thinking of our wants, than happy in thinking of our acquisitions." This is an unreasonable mode of disturbing our tranquillity, and should be corrected; let me then comfort myself with the large treasure of Johnson's conversation which I have preserved for my own enjoyment and that of the world, and let me exhibit what I have upon each occasion, whether more or less, whether a bulse, or only a few sparks of a diamond. He said, "Dr. Mead lived more in the broad sunshine of life than almost any man." The disaster of General Burgoyne's army was then the common topic of conversation. It was asked why piling their arms was insisted upon as a matter of such consequence, when it seemed to be a circumstance so inconsiderable in itself.

Johnson. "Why, Sir, a French authour y a beaucoup de puerilites dans la guerre.^ All tions are

trifles,

here; as

men become

it

modes of

denoting honourable preference are invented."

He

day made the observations upon the between Rasselas and Candide, which I have inserted in its proper place, when considering his admirable philosophical Romance. He said Candide he thought had more power in it than any thing that Voltaire had written. He said, "the lyrical part of Horace never can be perfectly translated; so much of the excellence is in the numbers and the expression. Francis has done it the best; I'll take his, five out of this

similarity

six,

against

On

them

possessed the

better?" Johnson. "Why, yes. Sir, when we are weary of this relaxation. So the City of London will appoint its Mayors again by seniority." BosW'ELL. "But is not that taking a mere chance for having a good or a bad Mayor?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir;

but the

evil of

that of the worst

competition

Mayor

is

that can

greater than

come;

besides,

no more reason to suppose that the choice of a rabble will be right, than that chance will there

is

be right."

On Tuesday, May 1 9, 1 was to set out for Scotland in the evening. He was engaged to dine with me at Mr. Dilly's, I waited upon him to remind him of his appointment and attend him thither; he gave me some salutary counsel, and recommended vigorous resolution against any deviation from moral duty. Boswell. "But you would not have me to bind myself by a solemn

ing erect, in the middle of his library, and roll-

at the table

civilized, various

"Lord Chatham was a Dictator; he power of putting the State in motion; now there is no power, all order is relaxed." BoswELL. "Is there no hope of a change to the said,

distinc-

because great things can seldom

in the kitchen, as eat

He

says, '//

and those distinctions are settled by custom. A savage would as willingly have his meat

him

he would be a good traveller."

Bible,

(much agitated,) "What! vow is a horrible thing, it is a snare for sin. The man who cannot go to Heaven without a vow — may go — " Here, stand-

occur,

sent to

[1778

what we had from ancient travellers; ancient travellers guessed; modern travellers measure. The Swiss admit that there is but one errour in Stanyan. If Brydone were more attentive to his

all."

Sunday, May 1 7, I presented to him Mr. Fullarton, of FuUarton, who has since distinguished himself so much in India, to whom he naturally talked of travels, as Mr. Brydone accompanied him in his tour to Sicily and Malta. He said, "The information which we have from modern travellers is much more authentick than

obligation?" Johnson,

a

vow — O,

no. Sir, a

ing grand, his pause was truly a curious comof the solemn and the ludicrous; he half-

pound

whistled in his usual way,

when

pleasant,

and

he paused, as if checked by religious awe. Methought he would have added to Hell but was restrained. I humoured the dilemma. "What! Sir, (said I,) In calum jusseris ibit?" alluding to

—

—

his imitation of

it,

And bid him go had mentioned

Hell, to Hell he goes.

to

him a slight fault in his noble Imitation oj the Tenth Satire oj Juvenal, a too near recurrence of the verb spread, in his description of the young Enthusiast at College: I

Through

to

all his veins the fever of

Spreads/rom

renown,

the strong contagien of the

gown;

O'er Bodley's dome his future labours spread,

And Bacon's mansion

He had

desired

me

trembles o'er his head.

to

change

spreads to burns,

but for perfect authenticity, I now had it done with his own hand. ^ I thought this alteration not ^The

slip of

rection,

which

is

it

paper on which he made the cor-

deposited by

relates,

and

me

to

in the noble library to

which

other pieces of his hand-writing.

I

have presented

LIFE OF

1778]

only cured the fault, but was more poetical, as it might carry an allusion to the shirt by which Hercules wais inflamed. had a quiet comfortable meeting at Mr.

We

nobody there but ourselves. Mr. Dilly mentioned somebody having wished that Milton's Tractate on Education shouldhe printed along

Dilly's;

with his Poems in the edition of The English Poets then going on. Johnson. "It would be breaking in upon the plan; but would be of no great consequence. So far as it would be any thing, it would be wrong. Education in England has been in danger of being hurt by two of its greatest men, Milton and Locke. Milton's plan is impracticable, and I suppose has never been tried. Locke's, I fancy, has been tried often enough, but is very imperfect; it gives too much to one side,

and too

—

little

to the other;

do what

it gives too little

to

can for Dr. Watts; but my materials are very scanty. His poems are by no means his best works; I cannot praise his poetry itself highly; but I can praise its design." My illustrious friend and I parted with assur-

literature.

I shall

I

ances of affectionate regard. I wrote to him on the 25th of

May, from Thorpe in Yorkshire, one of the seats of Mr. Bosville, and gave him an account of my having passed a day at Lincoln, unexpectedly, and therefore without having any letters of introduction, but that I had been honoured with civilities from the Reverend Mr. Simpson, an acquaintance of his, and Captain Broadley, of the Lincolnshire Militia; but more particularly from the Reverend Dr. Gordon, the Chancellor, who first

received

me with great politeness as a stran-

informed him who I was, enterwith the most flattering attention; I also expressed the pleasure with which I had found that our worthy friend Langton was highly esteemed in his own county town. ger,

and when

tained

me

I

at his house

To Dr. Samuel Johnson Edinburgh, June

My Dear

Sir,

.

.

.

Since

18,

my return

1778 to Scot-

I have been again at Lanark, and have had more conversation with Thomson's sister. It is strange that Murdoch, who was his intimate friend, should have mistaken his mother's maiden name, which he says was Hume, whereas Hume was the name of his grandmother by the mother's side. His mother's name was Beatrix Trotter,^ a daughter of Mr. Trotter, of Fogo, a small proprietor of land. Thomson had one brother, whom he had with him in England

land,

'Dr. Johnson was by no means attentive to minute accuracy in his Lives of the Poets; for notwithstanding my having detected this mistake, he has continued it.

JOHNSON

415

as his amanuensis; but he

was seized with a con-

sumption, and having returned to Scotland, to try what his native air would do for him, died young. He had three sisters, one married to Mr. Bell, minister of the parish of Strathaven; one to Mr. Craig, father of the ingenious architect, who gave the plan of the New Town of Edinburgh; and one to Mr. Thomson, master of the grammar-school at Lanark. He was of a humane and benevolent disposition; not only sent valuable presents to his sisters, but a yearly allowance in money, and was always wishing to have it in his power to do them more good. Lord Lyttelton's observation, that "he loathed much to write," was very true. His letters to his sister, Mrs. Thomson, were not frequent, and in one of them he says, "All my friends who know me, know how backward I am to write letters; and never impute the negligence of my hand to the coldness of my heart." I send you a copy of the last letter which she had from him; she never heard that he had any intention of going into holy orders. From this late interview with his sister, I think much more favourably of him, as I hope you will. I am eager to see more of your Prefaces to the Poets; I solace myself with the few proof-sheets which I have. I send another parcel of Lord Hailes's Annals, which you will please to return to me as soon as you conveniently can. He says, "he wishes you would cut a little deeper"; but he may be proud that there is so little occasion to use the critical knife. I ever am, my dear Sir, your faithful and affectionate,

humble

servant,

James Boswell

Mr. Langton has been pleased, at my request, me with some particulars of Dr. Johnson's visit to War ley-camp, where this gentleman was at the time stationed as a Captain in the Lincolnshire militia. I shall give them in his own words in a letter to me. "It was in the summer of the year 1778, that to favour

he complied with my invitation to come down to the Camp at Warley, and he staid with me about a week; the scene appeared, notwithstanding a great degree of ill health that he seemed to labour under, to interest and amuse him, as agreeing with the disposition that I believe you constantly manifested towards enquiring into subjects of the military kind. He sate, with a patient degree of attention, to observe

know he

the proceedings of a regimental court-martial, that happened to be called, in the time of his

and one night, as late as at eleven he accompanied the Major of the regiment in going what are styled the Rounds, where he might observe the forms of visiting the guards, for the seeing that they and their sentries are ready in their duty on their several posts. He stay with us; o'clock,

BOSWELL

4i6

took occasion to converse at times on military topicks, one in particular, that I see the mention of, in your Journal oj a Tour

to the

Hebrides,

which lies open before me,^ as to gun-powder; which he spoke of to the same effect, in part, that you relate. "On one occasion, when the regiment were going through their exercise, he went quite close to the men at one of the extremities of it, and watched all their practices attentively; and, when he came away, his remark \vas, 'The men indeed do load their muskets and fire with wonderful celerity.' He was likewise particular in requiring to know what was the weight of the musquet balls in use, and within what distance they might be expected to take effect when fired off.

"In walking among the

tents,

and observing and

the difference between those of the officers

private men, he said that the superiority of ac-

commodation

of the better conditions of

that of the inferiour ones, to to

life,

to

was never exhibited

him in so distinct a view. The civilities paid him in the camp were, from the gentlemen of

the Lincolnshire regiment, one of the officers of which accommodated him with a tent in which he slept; and from General Hall, who very courteously invited him to dine with him, where he appeared to be very well pleased with his entertainment, and the civilities he received on the

part of the General;- the attention likewise, of the General's aide-de-camp, Captain Smith,

seemed to be very welcome to him, as appeared by their engaging in a great deal of discourse together. The gentlemen of the East York regiment likewise on being informed of his coming, solicited his company at dinner, but by that time he had fixed his departure, so that he could not comply with the invitation."

To James Boswell,

Esq.

Dear Sir, I have received two letters from you, of which the second complains of the neglect shewn to the first. You must not tye your friends to such punctual correspondence. You have all possible assurances of my affection and esteem; and there ought to be no need of reiterated professions. When it may happen that I can give you either counsel or comfort, I hope it will never happen to me that I should neglect you; but you must not think me criminal or cold if I say nothing when I have nothing to say.

^Third edition, p.

When I one Hall my sense 2

friend,

our."

1 1 1

[Aug. 28].

day at Court expressed to General of the honour he had done my he politely answered, "Sir, I did myself hon-

[1778

You

are now happy enough. Mrs. Boswell is recovered; and I congratulate you upon the probability of her long life. If general approbation will add anything to your enjoyment, I can tell you that I have heard you mentioned as a man whom everybody likes. I think life has little more to give. has gone to his regiment. He has laid down his coach, and talks of making more contractions of his expence: how he will succeed I

know

reform a household be better done by a system totally new. I am afraid he has always something to hide. When we pressed him to go to he objected the necessity of attending his navigation; yet he could talk of going to Aberdeen, a place not much nearer his navigation. I believe he cannot bear the thought of living at in a state of diminution; and of appearing among the gentlemen of the neighbourhood shorn of his beams. This is natural, but it is cowardly. What I told him of the encreasing expence of a growing family seems to have struck him. He certainly had gone on with very confused views, and we have, I think, shewn him that he is wrong; though, with the common deficience of advisers, we have not shewn him not. It

gradually;

it

is

difficult to

may

,

how

to

do

right.

wish you would a little correct or restrain your imagination, and imagine that happiness, such as life admits, may be had at other places I

London. Without asserting Stoicism, it is our business to exempt ourselves as much as we can from the power of external things. There is but one solid basis of happiness; and that is, the reasonable hope of a happy futurity. This may be had every where. I do not blame your preference of London to as well as it

may

be said, that

other places, for it is really to be preferred, if the choice is free; but few have the choice of their place, or their manner of life; and mere pleasure ought not to be the prime motive of action.

Mrs. Thrale, poor thing, has a daughter. Mr. Thrale dislikes the times, like the rest of us. Mrs. Williams is sick; Mrs. Desmoulins is poor. I have miserable nights. Nobody is well but Mr. Levett. I am, dear Sir, your most, &c. Sam. Johnson London, July 3, 1778 In the course of this year there was a difference between him and his friend Mr. Strahan; the particulars of which it is unnecessary to relate. Their reconciliation was communicated to

me

in a letter from Mr. Strahan, in the following words: "The notes I shewed you that passed between

him and me were dated in March last. The matter lay dormant till July 27, when he wrote to

me

as follows:

LIFE OF

1778]

To William

Strahan, Esq.

would be very foolish for us to continue any longer. You can never by persistency make wrong right. If I resented too acriSir, It

moniously, I resented only to yourself. Nobody ever saw or heard what I wrote. You saw that my anger was over, for in a day or two I came to your house. I have given you longer time; and I hope you have made so good use of it, as to be no longer on evil terms with, Sir, your, &c. I called

Sam. Johnson upon him; and he has since

dined with me. After this time, the

same friendship

as for-

merly continued between Dr. Johnson and Mr. Strahan. My friend mentioned to me a little circumstance of his attention, which, though we may smile at it, must be allowed to have its foundation in a nice and true knowledge of human life. "When I write to Scodand, (said he,) I employ Strahan to frank my letters, that he may have the consequence of appearing a Parliament-man among his countrymen."

To Captain Langton,^ Warley-camp Sir, When I recollect how long ago

Dear

I

was received with so much kindness at Warley Common, I am ashamed that I have not made some enquiries after my friends. Pray how many sheep-stealers did you convict? and how did you punish them? When are you to be cantoned in better habitations? The air grows cold, and the ground damp. Longer stay in the camp cannot be without much danger to the health of the common men, if even the officers can escape.

You

see that Dr. Percy is now Dean of Carabout five hundred a year, with a power of presenting himself to some good living. He is provided for. The session of the club is to commence with that of the Parliament. Mr. Banks desires to be admitted; he wiU be a very honourable acceslisle

;

sion.

Did the King please you? The Coxheath men, have some reason to complain: Rey-

I think,

camp is better than theirs. hope you find yourself able to encounter

nolds says your I

this

weather. Take care of your own health; and, as you can, of your men. Be pleased to make my compliments to all the gentlemen whose notice I have had, and whose kindness I have experienced. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant,

Sam. Johnson October 3i, 1778

Johnson here addresses his worthy friend, his title as Captain of the Lincolnshire militia, in which he has since been most deservedly raised to the rank of Major. ^Dr.

Bennet Langton, Esq., by

417

wrote to him on the i8th of August, the 18th of September, and the 6th of November; informing him of my having had another son born, whom I had called James; that I had passed some time at Auchinleck; that the Countess of Loudoun, now in her ninet^^-ninth year, was as fresh as when he saw her, and remembered him with respect; and that his mother by adoption, the Countess of Eglintoune, had said to me, "Tell Mr. Johnson I love him exceedingly"; that I had again suffered much from bad spirits; and that as it was very long since I heard from him, I was not a little uneasy. The continuance of his regard for his friend Dr. Burney, appears from the following letters: I

strangers

On this

JOHNSON

To the Reverend

Dr. Wheeler, Oxford

Dear Sir,

Dr. Burney, who brings this paper, is engaged in a History of Musick; and having been told by Dr. Markham of some MSS. relating to his subject, which are in the library of your College, is desirous to examine them. He is my friend; and therefore I take the liberty of intreating your favour and assistance in his enquiry: and can assure you, with great confidence, that if you knew him he would not want any intervenient solicitation to obtain the kindness of one who loves learning and virtue as you love

them. I have been flattering myself all the summer with the hope of paying my annual visit to my friends; but something has obstructed me: I still hope not to be long without seeing you. I should be glad of a little literary talk; and glad to shew you, by the frequency of my visits, how eagerly I love it, when you talk it. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson London, November 2, 1778

To THE Reverend Dr. The

Edv^ards,

Oxford

Dr. Burney, has had some account of a Welsh Manuscript in the Bodleian library, from which he hopes to gain some maSir,

bearer.

History of Musick; but being ignorant of the language, is at a loss where to find assistance. I make no doubt but you. Sir, can help him through his difficulties, and therefore take the liberty of recommending him to your favour, as I am sure you will find him a man worthy of every civility that can be shewn, and every benefit that can be conferred. But we must not let Welsh drive us from Greek. What comes of Xenophon? If you do not like the trouble of publishing the book, do not let your commentaries be lost; contrive that they may be published somewhere. I am. Sir, your humble servant, terials for his

Sam Johnson London, November

2,

1778

BOSWELL

4i8

These letters procured Dr. Burney great kindness and friendly offices from both of these gentlemen, not only on that occasion, but in future visits to the university. The same year Dr. Johnson not only wrote to Dr. Joseph Warton in favour of Dr. Burney's youngest son, who was to be placed in the college of Winchester, but accompanied him when he went thither. We surely cannot but admire the benevolent exertions of this great and good man, especially when we consider how grievously he was afflicted with bad health, and how uncomfortable his home was made by the perpetual jarring of those whom he charitably accommodated under his roof. He has sometimes suffered me to talk jocularly of his group of females, and call them his Seraglio. He thus mentions them, together with honest Levett, in one of his letters to Mrs. Thrale :^ "Williams hates every body; Levett hates Desmoulins, and does not love Williams; Desmoulins hates them both; Poll - loves none of them."

To James Boswell, Dear

Esq.

indeed a long time since I wrote, and I think you have some reason to complain; however,you must not let small things disturb you, when you have such a fine addition to your happiness as a new boy, and I hope your lady's health restored by bringing him. It seems very probable that a little care will now restore her, if any remains of her complaints are Sir, It

is

left.

You seem, if I understand your letter, to be gaining ground at Auchinleck, an incident that would give me gieat delight. When any fit of anxiety, or gloominess, or perversion of mind, lays hold upon you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaints, but exert your whole care to hide it; by endeavouring to hide it, you will drive it away. Be always .

.

.

to read. I

am, dear

Sir,

Sam. Johnson November 21, 1778

About

time the Rev. Mr. John Hussey, time in trade, and was then a clergyman of the Church of England, being about to undertake a journey to Aleppo, and other parts of the East, which he accomplished, Dr. Johnson, (who had long been in habits of intimacy with him,) honoured him with the this

who had been some

following letter:

To Mr. John Hussey Dear

have sent you the Grammar, and you two books more, by which I hope to be remembered; write my name in them: we may perhaps see each other no more, you part with my good wishes, nor do I despair of seeing you return. Let no opportunities of vice corrupt you; let no bad example seduce you; let the blindness of Mahometans confirm you in Christianity. God bless you. I am, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, Sam. Johnson have

Sir, I

left

December 29, 1778

year expressed great satisfaction first volunne of Discourses to the Royal Academy, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, whom he always considered as one of his literary school. Much praise indeed is due to those excellent Discourses, which are so universally admired, and for which the authour received from the Empress of Russia a gold snuflf-box, adorned

Johnson

this

at the publication of the

with the profile in bas

relief,

set in

diamonds;

and containing what is infinitely more valuable, a slip of paper, on which are written with her Imperial Majesty's own hand, the following words: ''''Pour le Chevalier Reynolds en temoignage du contentement que fai ressentie a la lecture de ses excel-

busy.

The club

meet with the Parliament; we talk of electing Banks, the traveller; he will be a reputable member. Langton has been encamped with his company of militia on Warley-common; I spent five days amongst them; he signalized himself as a diligent officer, and has very high respect in the regiment. He presided when I was there at a is

to

court-martial; he shire; his lady

Paoli

[1779

you a few lines your most affectionate, to send

came

is

and

to the

now quartered little

camp

in Hertfordones are in Scotland. and commended the

lens discours sur la peinture."

In 1779, Johnson gave the world a luminous proof that the vigour of his mind in all its faculties, whether memory, judgement, or imagination, was not in the least abated; for this year came out the first four volumes of his Prefaces, biographical and critical, to the most eminent of the English Poets,* published by the booksellers of London. The remaining volumes came out in

The Poets were selected by the who had the honoreiry copy which is still preserved among them by

the year

1

780.

soldiers.

several booksellers

Of myself I have no great matter to say, my health is not restored, my nights are restless and tedious. The best night that I have had these twenty years was at Fort-Augustus. I hope soon

right,

iVol.

ii,

p. 38.

^Miss Carmichael.

mutual compact, notwithstanding the decision of the House of Lords against the perpetuity of Literary Property. We have his own authority,^ that by his recommendation the poems of Black^Life of Watts.

LIFE OF

1779]

JOHNSON

419

On the 23rd of February I wrote to him again,

more, Watts, Pomfret, and Yalden, were added to the collection. Of this work I shall speak more

complaining of

particularly hereafter.

was

On

the 22nd of January, I wrote to him on and mentioned that as he had

several topicks,

been so good as to permit me to sheets of his Lives oj the Poets, I his servant, Francis, to

Edinburgh, Feb. 2, 1779 death is a striking event; not that we should be surprised with the death of any man, who has lived sixty-two years but because there was a vivacity in our late celebrated friend, which drove away the thoughts oi death from any association v/ith him. I am sure you will be tenderly affected with his departure; and I would wish to hear from you upon the subject. I was obliged to him in my days of effervescence in London, when poor Derrick was my governour; and since that time I received many civilities from him. Do you remember how pleasing it was, when I received a letter from him at Inverary, upon our first return to civilized living after our Hebridean journey? I shall always remember him with affection as well as Sir, Garrick's

On Saturday last, being the 30th of January, drank coffee and old port, and had solemn conversation with the Reverend Mr. Falconer, a nonjuring bishop, a very learned and worthy man. He gave two toasts, which you will believe I drank with cordiality, Dr. Samuel Johnson, and Flora Macdonald. I sat about four hours with him, and it was really as if I had been living in the last century. The Episcopal Church of Scotland, though faithful to the royal house of Stuart, has never accepted of any conge I

since the Revolution; it is the only true Episcopal Church in Scotland, as it has its own succession of bishops. For as to the episcopal clergy who take the oaths to the present government, they indeed follow the rites of the Church of England, but, as Bishop Falconer observed, "they are not Episcopals; for they are under no bishop, as a bishop cannot have authority beyond his diocese." This venerable gentleman did me the honour to dine with me yesterday, and he laid his hands upon the heads of my little ones. We had a good deal of curious literary

d'elire,

conversation, particularly about Mr. Thomas lived in great friend-

Ruddiman, with whom he ship.

Any

fresh instance of the uncertainty of

To James Dear

Sir,

life

makes one embrace more closely a valuable friend. My dear and much respected Sir, may God preserve you long in this world while I am in it. I am ever, your much obliged, and affectionate humble servant, James Boswell

to

Boswell, Esq.

Why should you

take such delight

Mr. Thrale that I am negligent, and to Francis to do what is so very unnecessary. Thrale, you may be sure, cared not about it; and I shall spare Francis the trouble, by ordering a set both of the Lives and to

make a

bustle, to write to

acknowledgemarmalade. Persuade her to accept

Poets to dear Mrs. Boswell,^ in

ment

of her

them, and accept them kindly. If I thought she would receive them scornfully, I would send them to Miss Boswell, who, I hope, has yet none of her

mamma's

ill-will

to me.

would send sets of Lives, four volumes, to some other friends, to Lord Hailes first. His second volume lies by my bed-side; a book surely of great labour, and to every just thinker of great delight. Write me word to whom I shall send besides; would it please Lord Auchinleck? Mrs. Thrale waits in the coach. I am, dear Sir, I

&c.,

Sam. Johnson

March

admiration.

his silence, as I

and had written

have the proof

had v/ritten to take care of them for me.

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson

My Dear

had heard he Mr. Thrale, for information concerning him; and I announced my intention of soon being again in London. ill,

13,

1779

This letter crossed me on the road to London, where I arrived on Monday, March 15, and next morning at a late hour, found Dr. Johnson sitting over his tea, attended by Mrs. Desmoulins, Mr. Levett, and a clergyman, who had come to submit some poetical pieces to his revision. It is wonderful what a number and variety of writers some of them even unknown to him, prevailed on his good-nature to look over their works, and suggest corrections and im-

My

arrival interrupted for a little provements. while the important business of this true representative of Bayes; upon its being resumed, I

found that the subject under immediate consid-

was a translation, yet in manuscript, of the Carmen Seculare of Horace, which had this year been set to musick, and performed as a eration

publick entertainment in London, for the joint benefit of Monsieur Philidor and Signor Baretti. When Johnson had done reading, the authour asked him bluntly, "If upon the whole it was a good translation?" Johnson, whose regard for truth was uncommonly strict, seemed to be puzzled for a

moment, what answer

certainly could not honestly

to

make;

commend

as

he

the per-

formance: with exquisite address he evaded the question thus, "Sir, I do not say that it may not

^He sent a set elegantly bound and gilt, which was received as a very handsome present.

BOSWELL

420

be made a very good translation." Here nothing whatever in favour of the performance was affirmed, and yet the writer was not shocked. A printed Ode to the Warlike Genius of Britain, came next in review; the bard was a lank bony figure, with short black hair; he was writhing himself in agitation, while Johnson read, and shewing his teeth in a grin of earnestness, exclaimed in broken sentences, and in a keen sharp tone, "Is thatpoetry. Sir?

— Is

it

"Why,

Pin^/or?" Johnson.

here a great deal of what is called poetry." Then, turning to me, the poet cried, "My muse has not been long upon the town, and (pointing to the Ode) it trembles under the hand of the great critick." Johnson, in a tone of Sir, there is

"Why do you praise Anhim by asking his reason He proceeded, "Here is an er-

displeasure, asked him,

son?"

I

did not trouble

for this question.

you have made Genius feminine." "Palpable, Sir; (cried the enthusiast,) I know it. rour. Sir;

lower tone,) it was to pay a compliment Duchess of Devonshire, with which her Grace was pleased. She is walking across Coxheath, in the military uniform, and I suppose her to be the Genius of Britain." Johnson. "Sir, you are giving a reason for it; but that will not make it right. You may have a reason why two and two should make five; but they will still

But

(in a

to the

make but

four."

Although

I

was several times with him

in the

course of the following days such it seems were my occupations, or such my negligence, that I

have preserved no memorial of his conversation till Friday, March 26, when I visited him. He said he expected to be attacked on account of

hh Lives of the Poets "However .

(said he,) I

would

rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an authour to his works.

An

assault

thing; but starving

may

is

to

be

upon a town

it is still

silent as

a bad worse; an assault is

be unsuccessful; you may have more men than you kill; but if you starve the town,

killed

you are sure of victory." Talking of a friend of ours associating with persons of very discordant principles and characters;

I

said he

was a very universal man, quite

man of the world. Johnson. "Yes, Sir; but one may be so much a man of the world as to be a

nothing in the world. I remember a passage in Goldsmith's Vicar oj Wakefield, which he was afterwards fool enough to expunge: T do not love a man who is zealous for nothing.' " Boswell.

"Thatwas a fine passage." Johnson. "Yes, Sir: was another fine passage too, which he struck out: 'When I was a young man, being anxious to distinguish myself, I was perpetually there

[1779

starting

new

propositions. But

I

soon gave

this

found that generally what was new was false.' " I said I did not like to sit with people of whom I had not a good opinion. Johnson. "But you must not indulge your delicacy too much; or you will be a tete-d-tete man all your over; for,

I

life."

During my stay in London this spring, I find was unaccountably negligent in preserving Johnson's sayings, more so than at any time when I was happy enough to have an opportunity of hearing his wisdom and wit. There is no help for it now. I must content myself with presenting such scraps as I have. But I am nevertheless ashamed and vexed to think how much has been lost. It is not that there was a bad crop this year; but that I was not sufficiently careful in gathering it in. I, therefore, in some instances I

can only exhibit a few detached fragments. Talking of the wonderful concealment of the authour of the celebrated letters signed Junius; he said, "I should have believed Burke to be Junius, because I know no man but Burke who is capable of writing these letters; but Burke spontaneously denied it to me. The case would have been different had I asked him if he was the authour; a man so questioned, as to an anonymous publication, may think he has a right to deny it." He observed that his old friend, Mr. Sheridan, had been honoured with extraordinary attention in his own country, by having had an exception made in his favour in an Irish Act of Parliament concerning insolvent debtors. "Thus to be singled out (said he,) by a legislature, as an object of publick consideration and kindness, is a proof of no common merit." At Streatham, on Monday, March 29, at breakfast he maintained that a father had no right to control the inclinations of his daughters in marriage.

On

Wednesday, March

31,

when

I visited

him, and confessed an excess of which I had very seldom been guilty; that I had spent a whole night in playing at cards, and that I could not look back on it with satisfaction; instead of a harsh animadversion, he mildly said, "Alas, Sir, on how few things can we look back with satisfaction."

On Thursday,

he commended one of for "a dogged veracity."^ He said too, "London is nothing to some people; but to a man whose pleasure is intellectual, London is the place. And there is no place where oeconomy can be so well practised as in the

April

i,

Dukes of Devonshire

iSee ante, p. 358.

LIFE OF

1779]

London. More can be had here for the money, even by ladies, than any where else. You cannot play tricks with your fortune in a small place; you must make an uniform appearance. Here a lady may have well-furnished apartments, and elegant dress, without any meat in her kitchen." I was amused by considering with how much ease and coolness he could write or talk to a friend, exhorting

him not to suppose

that happi-

was not to be found as well in other places in London; when he himself was at all times

ness as

sensible of

its

being, comparatively speaking, a

heaven upon earth. The truth is, that by those who from sagacity, attention, and experience, have learnt the full advantage of London, its preeminence over every other place, not only for variety of enjoyment, but for comfort, will be

felt

with a philosophical exultation.

The free-

dom from remark and petty censure, with which life may be passed there, is a circumstance which a man who knows the teazing restraint of a narrow

circle

must

relish highly.

Mr. Burke, whose

orderly and amiable domestic habits might make

him than most men, said once very pleasantly, in my hearing, "Though I have the honour to reprethe eye of observation less irksome to to

sent Bristol, I should not like to live there; I

should be obliged to be so much upon my good behaviour.'''' In London, a man may live in splendid society at one time, and in frugal retirement at another, without animadversion. There, and there alone, a man's own house is truly his castle, in which he can be in perfect safety from intrusion whenever he pleases. I never shall forget how well this was expressed to me one day by Mr. Meynell: "The chief advantage of London (said he,) is, that a man is always so near his burrow" He said of one of his old acquaintances, "He is very fit for a travelling governour. He knows French very well. He is a man of good principles; and there would be no danger that a young gentleman should catch his manner; for it is so very bad, that it must be avoided. In that respect he would be like the drunken Helot." A gentleman has informed me, that Johnson said of the same person, "Sir, he has the most inverted understanding of any man whom I have ever known." On Friday, April 2, being Good-Friday, I visited

that

him in the morning as usual; and finding we insensibly fell into a train of ridicule up-

on the foibles of one of our friends, a very worthy man, I, by way of a check, quoted some good admonition from The Government of the Tongue, that very pious book. It happened also remarkably enough, that the subject of the sermon

JOHNSON

421

preached to us to-day by Dr. Burrows, the rector of St. Clement Danes, was the certainty that at the last day we must give an account of "the deeds done in the body"; and, amongst various acts of culpability he mentioned evil-speaking. As we were moving slowly along in the crowd from church, Johnson jogged my elbow, and said, "Did you attend to the sermon?" "Yes, Sir, (said I,) it was very applicable to us." He, however, stood upon the defensive. "Why, Sir, the sense of ridicule is given us, and may be lawfully used. The authour of The Government oj the Tongue would have us treat all men alike." In the interval between morning and evening service, he endeavoured to employ himself earnestly in devotional exercises; and as he has mentioned in his Prayers and Meditations,^ gave me Les Pensees de Pascal, that I might not interrupt him. I preserve the book with reverence. His presenting it to me is marked upon it with his own hand, and I have found in it a truly divine unction. We went to church again in the afternoon.

On Saturday, April 3, I visited him at night, and found him sitting in Mrs. Williams's room, with her, and one who he afterwards told me was a natural son of the second Lord Southwell. The table had a singular appearance, being covered with a heterogeneous assemblage of oysters and porter for his company, and tea for himself. I mentioned my having heard an eminent physician, who was himself a Christian, argue in favour of universal toleration, and maintain, that no man could be hurt by another man's differing from him in opinion. Johnson. "Sir, you are to a certain degree hurt by knowing that even one man does not believe." On Easter-day, after solemn service at St. Paul's, I dined with him: Mr. Allen the printer

He was uncommonly silent; have not written down any thing, except a single curious fact, which, having the sanction

was and

also his guest. I

may be received as a human insensibility and in-

of his inflexible veracity, striking instance of

As he was passing by a fishmongskinning an eel alive, he heard him "curse it, because it would not lye still." On Wednesday, April 7, I dined with him at Sir Joshua Reynolds's. I have not marked what consideration. er

who was

company was

Johnson harangued upon and spoke with great contempt of claret, as so weak, that "a man would be drowned by it before it made him drunk." He was persuaded to drink one glass of it, that he might judge, not from recollection, there.

the qualities of different liquors;

iSee p. 173.

BOSWELL

422

which might be dim, but from immediate sensation. He shook his head, and said, "Poor stuff! No, Sir, claret is the Hquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero (smiling,) must drink brandy. In the first place, the flavour of brandy is most grateful to the palate; and then brandy will do soonest for a man what drinking can do for him. There are, indeed, few who are able to drink brandy. That is a power rather to be wished for than attained. And yet, (proceeded he,) as in all pleasure hope is a considerable part,

I

know not but

fruition

comes

too quick by brandy. Florence wine I think the it is wine only to the eye; it is wine nei-

[1779

more years than I can tell." This was a handsome compliment to the antiquity of the House of Montrose. His Lordship told me afterwards, that he had only afancestors have borne

it

lest, if he had spoken as favourably of his country as he really thought, Dr. Johnson might have attacked it. Johnson was very courteous to Lady Margaret

fected to complain of the climate;

Macdonald. "Madam, in the Isle of Sky,

I

(said he,)

when

I

was

heard of the people running

to take the stones off the road, lest

Lady Mar-

garet's horse should stumble."

Lord Graham commended

man

Df".

Drummond

of extraordinary talents;

worst;

at Naples, as a

ther while you are drinking it, nor after you have drunk it; it neither pleases the taste, nor exhilarates the spirits." I reminded him how heartily he and I used to drink wine together, when we were first acquainted; and how I used to have a head-ache after sitting up with him. He did not like to have this recalled, or, perhaps,

and added, that he had a great love of liberty. Johnson. "He is young, my Lord; (looking to his Lordship with an arch smile,) all boys love lib-

thinking that

I

boasted improperly, resolved to

have a witty stroke at me: "Nay, Sir, it was not the wine that made your head ache but the sense that I put into it." Boswell. "What, Sir! will sense make the head ache?" Johnson. "Yes, Sir, No (with a smile,) when it is not used to it." man who has a true relish of pleasantry could be offended at this; especially if Johnson in a long intimacy had given him repeated proofs of his regard and good estimation. I used to say, that as he had given me a thousand pounds in praise, he had a good right now and then to take a guinea from me. On Thursday, April 8, I dined with him at Mr. Allan Ramsay's, with Lord Graham and

—

some other company. witches. Johnson. creation; they are

We talked of Shakspeare's

"They are beings of his own a compound of malignity and

abilities; and are quite from the Italian magician. King James

meanness, without any different

says in his Dcemonology, 'Magicians

command

the devils: witches are their servants.

The

Ital-

ian magicians are elegant beings.' " Ramsay.

"Opera witches, not Drury-lane witches. "Johnson observed, that abilities might be employed in a narrow sphere, as in getting money, which he said he believed no man could do, without vigorous parts, though concentrated to a point. Ramsay. "Yes, like a strong horse in a mill; he pulls better."

Lord Graham, while he praised the beauty of Lochlomond, on the banks of which is his family seat, complained of the climate, and said he could not bear it. Johnson. "Nay, my Lord, don't talk so: you may bear it well enough. Your

experience convinces them they are not govern themselves as they imagined. We are all agreed as to our own liberty; we would have as much of it as we can get; but we are not agreed as to the liberty of others: for in propor-

erty,

till

so

to

fit

tion as

we

take, others

must

lose. I believe

we

hardly wish that the mob should have liberty to govern us. When that was the case some time ago, no man was at liberty not to have candles in his

order result

windows." Ramsay. "The result is, that better than confusion." Johnson. "The is, that order cannot be had but by sub-

is

ordination."

On

had been present at Mr. Hackman, who, jealous love, had shot Miss

Friday, April 16,

I

the trial of the unfortunate in a

fit

of frantick

Ray, the favourite of a nobleman. Johnson, in whose company I dined to-day with some other friends, was much interested by my account of what passed, and particularly with his prayer for the mercy of heaven. He said, in a solemn fervid tone, "I hope he shall find mercy." This day a violent altercation arose between Johnson and Beauclerk, which having made

much noise at the tiine, I think it proper, in order to prevent any future misrepresentation, to give a minute account of it. In talking of Hackman, Johnson argued, as Judge Blackstone had done, that his being furnished with two pistols was a proof that he meant to shoot two persons. Mr. Beauclerk said, "No; for that every wise man who intended to shoot himself, took two pistols, that he might be sure 's cook of doing it at once. Lord shot himself with one pistol, and lived ten days who loved buttered in great agony. Mr. muffins, but durst not eat them because they disagreed with his stomach, resolved to shoot himself; and then he eat three buttered muffins ,

LIFE OF

1779]

for breakfast, before shooting himself,

JOHNSON

knowing

"I

423

am always for getting a boy forward in his

that he should not be troubled with indigestion:

learning; for that

one was found lying charged upon the table by him, after he had shot himself with the other." "Well, (said Johnson, with an air of triumph,) you see here one

at first read any English

I would let him book which happens to engage his attention; because you have done a great deal when you have brought him to have entertainment from a book. He'll get better

was sufficient." Beau clerk replied smart"Because it happened to kill him." And either then or a very little afterwards, being piqued at Johnson's triumphant remark, added, "This is what you don't know, and I do." There was then a cessation of the dispute; and some minutes intervened, during which, dinner and the glass went on cheerfully; when Johnson sudden-

books afterwards." "Mallet, I believe, never wrote a single line of his projected life of the Duke of Marlborough. He groped for materials; and thought of it, till he had exhausted his mind. Thus it sometimes happens that men entangle themselves in their own schemes." "To be contradicted, in order to force you to

and abruptly exclaimed, "Mr. Beauclerk,

mighty unpleasing. You shine, indeed; by being ground.'" Of a gentleman who made some figure among the Literati of his time, (Mr. Fitzherbert.) he said, "What eminence he had was by a felicity of manner; he had no more learning than what he could not help." On Saturday, April 24, I dined with him at Mr. Beauclerk's, with Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr, Jones, (afterwards Sir William,) Mr. Langton, Mr. Steevens, Mr. Paradise, and Dr. Higgins. I mentioned that Mr. Wilkes had attacked Garrick to me, as a man who had no friend. "I believe he is right. Sir. 01 i\os He had friends, but no friend.^ Garrick was so diffused, he had no man to whom he wished to unbosom himself. He found people always ready to applaud him, and that always for the same thing: so he saw life with great uniformity." I took upon me, for once, to fight with Goliath's weapons, and play the sophist. "Garrick did not need a friend, as he got from every body all he

he

had two charged

pistols;

pistol ly,

ly

how came you

me, as 'This is what you don't know, but what I know'? One thing I know, whichj^o« don't seem to know, that you are very uncivil." Beauclerk. "Because you began by being uncivil, (which you always are.)" The words in parenthesis were, I believe, not heard by Dr. Johnson. Here again there was a cessation of arms. Johnson told me, that the reason why he waited at first some time without taking any notice of what Mr. Beauclerk said, was because he was thinking whether he should resent it. But when he considered that there were present a young Lord and an eminent traveller, two men of the world with whom he had never dined before, he was apprehensive that they might think they had a right to take such liberties with him as Beauclerk did, and therefore resolved he would not let it pass; adding, that "he would not appear a coward." A little

to talk so petulantly to

while after

this,

the conversation turned

on the violence of Hackman's temper. Johnson then said, "It was his business to command his temper, as my friend, Mr. Beauclerk, should have done some time ago. " Beauclerk. I should learn oiyou. Sir." Johnson. "Sir, you have given me opportunities enough of learning, when I have been in your company. No man loves to be treated with contempt." Beauclerk. (with a polite inclination towards Johnson,) "Sir, you have known me twenty years, and however I may have treated others, you may be sure I could never treat you with contempt." Johnson. "Sir, you have said more than was necessary." Thus it ended; and Beauclerk's coach not having come for him till very late. Dr. Johnson and another gentleman sat with him a long time after the rest of the company were gone; and he and I dined at Beauclerk's on the Saturday se'n'

'

night following. After this tempest had subsided, I recollect the following particulars of his conversation:

is

a sure good.

talk, is

but

it is

—

—

wanted.

What

is

a friend?

One who

supports

you and comforts you, while others do not. Friendship, you know, Sir, is the cordial drop,

make

the nauseous draught of

go down': be all sweet, there is no occasion for that drop." Johnson. "Many men would not be content to live so. I hope I should not. They would wish to have an intimate friend, with whom they might compare minds, and cherish private virtues." One of the company mentioned Lord Chesterfield, as a man who had no friend. Johnson. 'to

but

if

life

the draught be not nauseous,

if it

"There were more materials to make friendship had he not been so diffused." Bosvs^LL. "Garrick was pure gold, but beat out to thin leaf. Lord Chesterfield was tinsel." Johnson. "Garrick was a very good man, the cheerin Garrick,

fullest

sion 1

See

man

which

of his age; a decent liver in a profesis

supposed to give indulgence to and 392.

ante, p. 56,

li-

BOSWELL

424

and a man who gave away, freely, money acquired by himself. He began the world with a great hunger for money; the son of a half-pay officer, bred in a family, whose study was to make four-pence do as much as others made four-pence halfpenny do. But, when he had got money, he was very liberal." I presumed to animadvert on his eulogy on Garrick, in his centiousness;

Lives of the Poets.

"You say. Sir, his death eclipsed

Johnson. "I could not have said more nor less. It is the truth; eclipsed, not extinguished; and his death did eclipse; it was like a storm." Boswell. "But why nations? Did his gaiety extend farther than his own nation?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, some exaggeragaiety

the

of nations."

Besides, nations may be allow the Scotch to be a nation, and which they have not. Tou are to have gaiety, an exception, though. Come, gentlemen, let us

must be allowed.

tion said

—

if

we

—

is one Scotchman Beauclerk. "But he is a very unnatural Scotchman." I, however, continued to think the compliment to Garrick hyperbolically untrue. His acting had ceased some time before his death; at any rate he had acted in Ireland but a short time, at an early period of his life, and never in Scotland. I objected also to what appears an anticlimax of praise, when con-

candidly admit that there

who

is

cheerful."

—

"and trasted with the preceding panegyrick, diminished the public stock of harmless pleasure!" "Is not harmless pleasure very tame?" Johnson. "Nay, Sir, harmless pleasure is the highest praise. Pleasure is a word of dubious import; pleasure is in general dangerous, and pernicious to virtue; to be able therefore to furnish pleasure that is harmless, pleasure pure and unalloyed, is as great a power as man can possess." This was, perhaps, as ingenious a defence as could be made; still, however I was not

—

celebrated wit being mentioned, he said,

"One may

home, when I had drunk too much. A man accustomed to self-examination will be conscious when he is drunk, though an habitual drunkard will not be conscious of it. I knew a physician who for twenty years was not sober; yet in a pamphlet, which he wrote upon fevers, he appealed to Garrick and me for his vindication from a charge of drunkenness. A bookseller (naming him,) who got a large fortune by trade, was so habitually and equably drunk, that his most intimate friends never perceived that he was more sober at one time than another." Talking of celebrated and successful irregular practisers in physick; he said, "Taylor was the most ignorant man I ever knew; but sprightly. Ward the dullest. Taylor challenged me once to talk Latin with him, (laughing). I quoted some of Horace, which he took to be a part of my own speech. He said a few words well enough. " Beauclerk. "I remember. Sir, you said that Taylor was an instance how far impudence could carry ignorance." Mr. Beauclerk was very entertaining this day, and told us a number of short stories in a lively elegant manner, and with that air of the world which has I know not what impressive effect, as if there were something more than is expressed, or than perhaps we could perfectly understand. As Johnson and I accompanied Sir Joshua Reynolds in his coach, Johnson said, "There is in Beauclerk a predominance over his company, that one does not like. But he is

a

man who

has lived so

say of

wit, // n'a de

him

l' esprit

as

was

French have been

said of a

que contre Dieu. I

much

in the world,

on every occasion; he is and is never exhausted."

that he has a short story

always ready to

Johnson and

talk, I

passed the evening at Miss

Reynolds's, Sir Joshua's

satisfied.

A

1779

drunk, readily enough goes into a new company which a man who has been drinking should never do. Such a man will undertake any thing; he is without skill in inebriation. I used to slink

an eminent friend of

mon "this

sister. I

mentioned that

ours, talking of the

remark, that affection descends,

was wisely contrived

com-

said, that

for the preservation

perceived any strong power of wit. He produces a general effect by various means; he has a cheerful countenance and a gay voice. Besides his trade is wit. It would be as wild in him to come into company without merriment, as for a highwayman to take the road without his

was not so necessary that there should be affection from children to parents, as from parents to children; nay, there would be no harm in that view though children should at a certain age eat their parents." Johnson. "But, Sir, if this were known generally to be the case, parents would not have affection

pistols."

for children."

Talking of the effects of drinking, he said, "Drinking may be practised with great prudence; a man who exposes himself when he is intoxicated, has not the art of getting drunk; a sober man who happens occasionally to get

expectation of a return that parents are so attentive to their children; and I know a very pretty instance of a little girl of whom her father was very fond, who once when he was in a melancholy fit, and had gone to bed, persuaded

several times in

company with him, but never

of mankind; for which

it

Boswell. "True,

Sir; for

it is

in

— LIFE OF

1779]

good humour by saying, 'My dear papa, please to get up, and let me help you on with your clothes, that I may learn to do it when you are an old man.' " Soon after this time a little incident occurred, which I will not suppress, because I am desirous that my work should be, as much as is consistent with the strictest truth, an antidote to the false and injurious notions of his character, which have been given by others, and therefore I infuse every drop of genuine sweetness into my

him

to rise in

JOHNSON

he had again failed to come. "Sir, would rather have given twenty pounds than not have come." I accompanied him to Streatham, where we dined, and returned to town in the evening. On Monday, May 3, I dined with him at Mr. Dilly's; I pressed him this day for his opinion on the passage in Parnell, concerning which I had in vain questioned him in several letters, and at

been vexed

length obtained

"Case

prevented from having the pleasure to dine at Mr. Ramsay's to-day, which is very hard; and my spirits are sadly sunk. Will you be so friendly as to come and sit an hour with me in the evening. I am ever your most faithful, and affectionate

humble

servant,

James Boswell South Audley-street

Monday,

April 26

To Mr. Boswell Mr. Johnson laments the absence of Mr. BosHarley-street. well, and wUl come to him.

—

He came

me

and brought need scarcely say, that their conversation, while they sate by my bedside, was the most pleasing opiate to pain that could have been administered. Johnson being now better disposed to obtain information concerning Pope than he was last Sir

to

in the evening,

Joshua Reynolds.

I

by me to my Lord Marchmont a present of those volumes of his Lives of the Poets which were at this time published, with a request to have permission to wait on him; and his Lordship, who had called on him twice, obligingly year,^ sent

appointed Saturday, the

first

of

May,

for re-

ceiving us.

On

that

morning Johnson came

to

me from

Streatham, and after drinking chocolate at General Paoli's, in South-Audley-street, we proceeded to Lord Marchmont's in Curzon-street. His Lordship met us at the door of his library, and with great politeness said to Johnson, "I am not going to make an encomium upon myself, by telling you the high respect I have ior you, Sir." Johnson was exceedingly courteous; and the interview, which lasted about two hours, during which the Earl communicated his anecdotes of Pope, was as agreeable as I could have wished. When we came out, I said to Johnson, that con1

See

ante, p. 41 o.

if

(said he,) I

biographical cup.

To Dr. Johnson My Dear Sir, I am in great pain with an inflamed foot, and obliged to keep my bed, so am

425

sidering his Lordship's civility, I should have

it

in due form of law.

for Dr.

Johnson's Opinion

3rd of May, 1779 "Parnell, in his Hermit, has the following passage:

To clear this doubt, to know the world by sight. To find if books and swains report it right: {For yet by swains alone the world he knew.

Whose

feet

came wand'ring

o'er the nightly

dew.)

Is there not a contradiction in its being first supposed that the Hermit knew both what books and swains reported of the world; yet afterwards said, that he knew it by swains alonel

"/

think

it

one in the

—

He mentions two and says he had only

an inaccuracy.

instructors in the first line, next.''''^

This evening

I set

out for Scotland.

To Mrs. Lucy Porter, in Lichfield Dear Madam, Mr. Green has informed me that you are much better; I hope I need not tell you that

much

am glad of it. I cannot boast of being my old nocturnal complaint still me, and my respiration is dfficult,

I

better;

pursues 2" I do not

(says Mr. Malone,) see any difficulty in this passage, and wonder that Dr. Johnson should have acknowledged it to be inaccurate. The Hermit, it should be observed, had no actual experience of the world whatsoever: all his knowledge concerning it had been obtained in two ways; from books, and from the relations of those country swains, who had seen a little of it. The plain meaning, therefore, is, 'To clear his doubts concerning Providence, and to obtain some knowledge of the world by actual experience; to see whether the accounts furnished by books, or by the oral communications of swains, were just representations of it; [I say, swains^ for his oral or viva voce information had been obtained from that part of mankind alone, &c.' The word alone here does not relate to the whole of the preceding line, as has been supposed, but, by a common licence, to the words, of all mankind, which are understood, and of which it is restrictive." Mr. Malone, it must be owned, has shewn much critical ingenuity in the explanation of this passage. His interpretation, however, seems to me much too recondite. The meaning of the passage may be certain enough; but surely the expression is confused, and one part of it contradictory to the

other.

—

BOSWELL

426

though much easier than when I left you the summer before last. Mr. and Mrs. Thrale are well; Miss has been a little indisposed; but she is got well again. They have since the loss of their boy had two daughters; but they seem likely to

want a

son.

hope you had some books which I sent you. I was sorry for poor Mrs. Adey's death, and ain afraid you will be sometimes solitary; but endeavour, whether alone or in company, to keep I

yourself cheerful.

My

friends likewise die very

is the state of man. I am, dear your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson May 4, 1779

but such

fast;

love,

He had, before I left London, resumed the conversation concerning the appearance of a ghost at Newcastle

upon Tyne, which Mr. John to which Johnson did not

Wesley believed, but give credit.

I

was, however, desirous to examine

and at the same time wished to be made acquainted with Mr. John Wesley; for though I differed from him in some points, I admired his various talents, and loved the question closely,

his pious zeal.

Johnson gave

At

me

my

request, therefore, Dr.

a letter of introduction to

him.

To THE Reverend Mr. John Wesley Mr. Boswell, a gentleman who has been long known to me, is desirous of being known to you, and has asked this recommendation, which I give him with great willingness, because I think it very much to be wished that worthy and religious men should be acquainted with Sir,

each other.

I

am,

Sir,

your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

May^, 1779 Mr. Wesley being try at

Edinburgh,

I

in the course of his minispresented this letter to him,

and was very politely received. I begged to have it returned to me, which was accordingly done. His state of the evidence as to the ghost did not satisfy me. I did not write to Johnson, as usual, upon my return to my family, but tried how he would be affected by my silence. Mr. Dilly sent me a copy of a note which he received from him on the 13th of July, in these words:

To Mr. Dilly Sir, Since Mr. Boswell's departure I have never heard from him; please to send word what you know of him, and whether you have sent my books to his lady. I am, &c. Sam. Johnson

1779

To James

BoswrELL, Esq.

Dear Sir, What can possibly have happened, that keeps us two such strangers to each other? I expected to have heard from you when you came home; I expected afterwards. I went into the country and returned; and yet there is no letter from Mr. Boswell. No ill I hope has happened; and if ill should happen, why should it be concealed from him who loves you? Is it a of humour, that has disposed you to try who can hold out longest without writing? If it be, you have the victory. But I am afraid of something bad; set me free from my suspicions. My thoughts are at present employed in guessing the reason of your silence: you must not expect that I should tell you any thing, if I had any thing to tell. Write, pray write to me, and let me know what is, or what has been the cause of this long interruption. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate humble servant, Sam. Johnson July 13, 1779 fit

To

Dr. Samuel Johnson Edinburgh, July 17, 1779 My Dear Sir, What may be justly denominated a supine indolence of mind has been my state of existence since I last returned to Scotland. In a livelier state I had often suffered severely from long intervals of silence on your part; and I had even been chid by you for expressing my uneasiness. I was willing to take advantage of my insensibility, and while I could bear the experiment, to try whether your affection for me would, after an unusual silence on my part, make you write first. This afternoon I have had very high satisfaction by receiving your kind letter of inquiry, for which I most gratefully thank you. I am doubtful if it was right to make the experiment; though I have gained by it. I was beginning to grow tender, and to upbraid myself, especially after having dreamt two nights ago that I was with you. I and my wife, and my four children, are all well. I would not delay one post to answer your letter; but as it is late, I have not time to do more. You shall soon hear from me, upon many and various particulars; and I shall never again put you to any test. I am, with veneration, my dear Sir, your much obliged, and faithful humble servant,

James Boswell

On the 22nd of July, I wrote to him again; and gave him an account of my last interview with my worthy friend, Mr. Edward Dilly, at house at Southill, in Bedfordshire, after I parted from him, a very kind remembrance of his re-

his brother's

where he died soon leaving

me

gard.

My readers will not doubt that his solicitude about

me was

very flattering.

I informed him that Lord Hailes, who had promised to furnish him with some anecdotes

LIFE OF

1779] for his Lives of the Poets,

had

sent

me

tixree in-

stances of Prior's borrowing from Gombauld, in

tome

3.

^'great obligation,''^

p.

Recueil des Poetes,

owed

Noailles,

To

25.

the

Duke

of

My

letter was a pretty long one, and contained a variety of particulars; but he, it should seem, had not attended to it; for his next to me

as follows:

To James Boswell,

My Dear

Sir,

Esq^.

Are you playing the same

trick again, and trying who can keep silence longest? Remember that all tricks are either knavish or childish; and that it is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife. What can be the cause of this second fit of silence, I cannot conjecture; but after one trick, I wUl not be cheated by another, nor will harass my thoughts with conjectures about the motives of a man who, probably, acts only by caprice. I therefore suppose you are well, and that Mfs. Boswell is well too; and that the fine summer has restored Lord Auchinleck. I am much better than you left me; I think I am better than when I was in Scotland. I forgot whether I informed you that poor Thraie has been in great danger. Mrs. Thrale likewise has miscarried, and been much indisposed. Every body else is well; Langton is in camp. I intend to put Lord Hailes's description of Dryden^ into another edition, and as I

know

wish he would consider the could not always settle to my own

his accuracy,

which

dates,

I

mind.

Mr. Thrale goes to Brighthelmston, about Michaelmas, to be jolly and ride a hunting. I shall go to town, or perhaps to Oxford. Exercise and

gaiety, or rather carelessness, will, I hope, dissipate all remains of his malady; and I like-

wise hope by the change of place, to find some opportunities of growing yet better myself. I am, dear Sir, your humble servant,

Sam. Johnson Streatham,

My

Sept. 9,

1779

readers will not be displezised at being

manner in amuse his sol-

told every slight circumstance of the

which Dr. Johnson contrived to itary hours. He sometimes employed himself in chymistry, sometimes in watering and pruning a vine, sometimes in small experiments, at which those

who may smile,

^Which

I

should recollect that there

communicated

to

him from

his

Lord-

has not yet been published. I have a copy of it. [The few notices concerning Dryden, which Lord Hailes had collected, the authour aftship,

by

427 moments which admit of being soothed only

trifles.^

On

the 20th of September

against his suspicion of me,

I

defended myself I did not de-

which

and added, "Pray let us write frequently. strikes me, that we should send off" a sheet once a week, like a stage-coach, whether it be full or not; nay, though it should be empty. The very sight of your hand-writing would comfort me; and were a sheet to be thus sent regularly, we should much oftener convey somediing, were it only a few kind words." My friend Colonel James Stuart, second son of the Earl of Bute, who had distinguished himself as a good officer of the Bedfordshire militia, had taken a publick-spirited resolution to serve his country in its difficulties, by raising a regular regiment, and taking the command of it himself. This, in the heir of the immense property of Wordey, was highly honourable. Having been serve;

A whim

P- 25.

was

are

Epigram To John I

32. Sauntering Jack and Idle Joan,

p.

JOHNSON

but

it

erwards gave to Mr. Malone.

— M.]

in Scotland recruiting, he obligingly asked

me

accompany him to Leeds, then the head-quarters of his corps; from thence to London for a short time, and afterwards to other places to which the regiment might be ordered. Such an off"er, at a time of the year when I had full leisure, was very pleasing; especially as I was to accompany a man of sterling good sense, information, discernment, and conviviality; and was to have a second crop in one year of London and Johnson. Of this I informed my illustrious to

friend, in characteristical

warm

terms, in a let-

dated the 30th of September, from Leeds. On Monday, October 4, I called at his house before he was up. He sent for me to his bedside, ter

and expressed

his satisfaction at this incidental

meeting, with as much vivacity as if he had been in the gaiety of youth. He called briskly, "Frank, go and get coffee, and let us breakfast in splendour.''^

During

this visit to

London

which

I

had

several in-

unnecessary to distinguish particularly. I consulted him as to terviews with him,

it is

2ln one of his manioscript Diaries, there is the following entry, which marks his curious minute attention: "July 26, 1768. I shaved my nail by accident in whetting the knife, about an eighth of an inch from the bottom, and about a fourth from the top. This I measure that I may know the growth of naUs; the whole is about five eighths of an inch." Another of the same kind appears, "Aug. 7, 1779, Partem brachii dextri carpo proximam et cutem pKstoris circa mamillam dextram rasi, ut notumfieret quantemporis pili renovarentur." And, "Aug. 15, 1773. I cut from the vine 41 leaves, which weighed five oz. and a half, and eight scruples: I lay them upon book-case, co see what weight they will lose by drying." ta

—

my

—

BOSWELL

428 the appointment of guardians to

my

children,

my death. "Sir, (said he,) do not appoint a number of guardians. When there are many, they trust one to another, and the business is neglected. I would advise you to choose only one; let him be a man of respectable charin case of

acter,

who,

for his

him be a

right; let

own rich

credit, will

man,

do what

so that he

may

is

be

under no temptation to take advantage; and let him be a man of business, who is used to conduct affairs with ability and expertness, to whom, therefore, the execution of the trust will not be

burdensome." On Sunday, October lo, we dined together at Mr. Strahan's. The conversation having turned on the prevailing practice of going to the East-Indies in quest of wealth; ^Johnson. better have ten thousand pounds at

"A man had

the end of ten years passed in England, than twenty thousand pounds at the end of ten years

passed in India, because you must compute what you give for money; and a man who has lived ten years in India, has given up ten years of soall those advantages which from living in England. The ingenious Mr. Brown, distinguished by the name of Capability Brown, told me, that he was once at the seat of Lord Clive, who had returned from India with great wealth; and that he shewed him at the door of his bed-chamber a large chest, which he said he had once had full of gold; upon which Brown observed, 'I am glad you can bear it so " near your bed-chamber.' We talked of the state of the poor in London. ^Johnson. "Saunders Welch, the Justice, who was once High-Constable of Holborn, and had the best opportunities of knowing the state of the poor, told me, that I under-rated the number, when I computed that twenty a week, that is, above a thousand a year, died of hunger; not absolutely of immediate hunger; but of the wasting and other diseases which are the consequences of hunger. This happens only in so large a place as London, where people are not known. What we are told about the great sums got by beg-

cial

comfort and

arise

—

ging

is

not true: the trade

you may depend upon cannot get work.

it,

is

And many who

overstocked.

there are

A particular kind of manufac-

those

who have been used

some

time,

to work at work at nothing else. You meet a man begging; you charge him with idle-

ture it,

fails:

can, for

ness:

he

says, 'I

give

me

work?'

to labour. Will you —am willing — 'Why, then you cannot.' 'I

have no right to charge me with idleness.' " We left Mr. Strahan's at seven, as Johnson had said he intended to go to evening prayers.

[1779

As we walked along, he complained of a little gout in his toe, and said, "I shan't go to prayers to-night; I shall go to-morrow: Whenever I miss church on a Sunday, I resolve to go another day. But I do not always do it." This was a fair exhibition of that vibration between pious resolutions and indolence, which many of us have

too often experienced. I

went home with him, and we had a long

quiet conversation. I read him a letter from Dr. Hugh Blair concerning Pope, (in writing whose life he was now employed,) which I shall insert as a literary

curiosity.^

To James Boswell,

Esq. In the year 1 763, being at London, I was carried by Dr. John Blair, Prebendary of Westminster, to dine at old Lord Bathurst's; where we found the late Mr. Mallet, Sir James

Dear Sir,

Porter, who had been Ambassadour at Constantinople, the late Dr. Macaulay, and two or three more. The conversation turning on Mr. Pope, Lord Bathurst told us, that The Essay on Man was originally composed by Lord Bolingbroke in prose, and that Mr. Pope did no more than put it into verse: that he had read Lord Bolingbroke's manuscript in his own hand-writing; and remembered well, that he was at a loss whether m_ost to admire the elegance of Lord Bolingbroke's prose, or the beauty of Mr. Pope's verse. When Lord Bathurst told this, Mr. Mallet bade me attend, and remember this remarkable piece of information; as, by the course of Nature, I might survive his Lordship, and be a witness of his having said so. The conversation was indeed too remarkable to be forgotten.

A

few days after, meeting with you, who were then also in London, you will remember that I mentioned to you what had passed on this subject, as I was much struck with this anecdote. But what ascertains my recollection of it be^The Rev. Dr. Law, Bishop of Carlisle, in the Preface to his valuable edition of Archbishop King's Essay on the Origin of Evil, mentions that the principles maintained in it had been adopted by Pope in his Essay on Man; and adds, "The fact, notwith-

standing such denial (Bishop Warburton's), might have been strictly verified by an unexceptionable testimony, viz. that of the late Lord Bathurst, who saw the very same system of the to ^kXriov (taken from the Archbishop) in Lord Bolingbroke's own hand, lying before Mr. Pope, while he was composing his Essay.'" This is respectable evidence; but that of Dr. Blair is more direct from the fountain-head, as well as more full. Let me add to it that of Dr. Joseph Warton; "The late Lord Bathurst repeatedly assured me that he had read the whole scheme of The Essay on Man, in the handwriting of Bolingbroke, and drawn up in a series of propositions, which Pope was to versify and illustrate." Essays on the Genius and Writings oj Pope, vol. ii, p. 62.

— LIFE OF

1779]

yond doubt, is that being accustomed to keep a journal of what passed when I was in London, which I wrote out every evening, I find the particulars of the above information, just as I have now given them, distinctly marked; and am thence enabled to fix this conversation to have passed on Friday, the 22 nd of April, 1763. I remember also distinctly, (though I have not for this the authority of my journal,) that the conversation going on concerning Mr. Pope, I took notice of a report which had been sometimes propagated that he did not understand Greek. Lord Bathurst said to me, that he knew that to be false; for that part of the Iliad, was translated by Mr. Pope in his house in the country; and that in the mornings when they assembled at breakfast, Mr. Pope used frequently to repeat, with great rapture, the Greek lines which he had been translating, and then to give them his version of

them, and to compare them to-

gether. If these circumstances can be of any use to Dr. Johnson, you have my full liberty to give them to him. I beg you will, at the same time, present to him my most respectful compliments, with best wishes for his success and fame in all his literary undertakings. I am, with great respect, my dearest Sir, your most affectionate, and obliged humble servant, ^^ ^

Hugh

Broughton Park,

Sept. 21,

Blair

1779

Johnson. "Depend upon it, Sir, this is too Pope may have had from Bol-

strongly stated.

ingbroke the philosophick stamina of his Essay; and admitting this to be true. Lord Bathurst did not intentionally falsify. But the thing is not true in the latitude that Blair seems to imagine; we are sure that the poetical imagery, which makes a great part of the poem, was Pope's own. It is amazing, Sir, what deviations there are from precise truth, in the account which is given of almost every thing. I told Mrs. Thrale, 'You ha JC so little anxiety about truth, that you never tax your memory with the exact thing.' Now what is the use of the memxory to truth, if one is careless of exactness?

Lord

Hailes's Annals of

Scotland are very exact; but they contain

mere

dry particulars. They are to be considered as a Dictionary. You know such things are there; and may be looked at when you please. Robertson paints; but the misfortune is, you are sure he does not know the people whom he paints; so you cannot suppose a likeness. Characters should never be given by an historian, unless he knew the people whom he describes, or copies from those who knew them." Bosw^ELL. "Why, Sir, do people play this trick which I observe now, when I look at your grate, putting the shovel against

it

to

make

the

fire

JOHNSON

429

burn?" Johnson. "They play the does not

make

trick,

but

it

burn. There is a better; (setting the poker perpendicularly up at right angles with the grate.) In days of superstition they thought, as it made a cross with the bars, it would drive away the witch." the

fire

BoswELL. "By associating with you. Sir, I am always getting an accession of wisdom. But perhaps a man, after knowing his own character the limited strength of his own mind, should not be desirous of having too much wisdom, considering, quid valeant humeri, how little he can carry." Johnson. "Sir, be as wise as you can; let a man be aliis Icetus, sapiens sibi: Though pleas'' d to see the dolphins play, I mind my compass and my way}

You may be wise in your study in the morning, and gay in company at a tavern in the evening. Every man is to take care of his own wisdom and his own virtue, without minding too much what

others think."

He

said, "Dodsley first mentioned to me the scheme of an English Dictionary; but I had long thought of it." BoswELL. "You did not know what you were undertaking." Johnson. "Yes, Sir, I knew very well what I was undertaking, and very well how to do it, and have done it very well." Boswell. "An excellent climax! and it has availed you. In your Preface you say, 'What would it avail me in this gloom of solitude?' You have been agreeably mistaken." In his Life of Milton he observes, "I cannot but remark a kind of respect, perhaps unconsciously, paid to this great man by his biographers: every house in which he resided is historically mentioned, as if it were an injury to neglect naming any place that he honoured by

—

—

his presence." I had, before I

read

this obser-

vation, been desirous of shewing that respect to

Johnson, by various inquiries. Finding him this evening in a very good humuor, I prevailed on him to give me an exact list of his places of residence, since he entered the metropolis as an authour, which I subjoin in a note.^ I mentioned to him a dispute between a friend of mine and his lady, concerning conjugal infidelity, which my friend had maintained was by no means so bad in the husband, as in the "^The Spleen, ^ I

.

a Poem.

Exeter-street, off Catherine-street, Strand. 2.

Greenwich. 3. Woodstock-street, near Hanoversquare. 4. Castle-street, Cavendish-square, No. 6. 5. Strand. 6 Boswell-Court. 7. Strand, again. 8. Bow-street. 9. Holborn. i o. Fetter-lane. 1 1 Hoiborn, again. 12. Gough-square. 13. Staple Inn. 14. Gray's Inn. 15. Inner Temple-lane, No. i. 16. Johnson's-court, No. 7. 1 7. Bolt-court, No. 8. .

BOSWELL

430 wife.

Johnson. "Your

friend

was

in the right,

Sir. Between a man and his Maker it is a different question: but between a man and his wife, a husband's infidelity is nothing. They are connected by children, by fortune, by serious con-

siderations of community. Wise married women don't trouble themselves about the infidelity in their husbands." Boswell. "To be sure there is a great difference between the offence of infidelity in a

"The

man and

difTerence

is

that of his wife." Johnson.

boundless.

The man imposes

no bastards upon his wife." Here it may be questioned whether Johnson was entirely in the right. I suppose it will not be controverted that the difference in the degree of is very great, on account of consequences: but still it may be maintained, that, criminality

independent of moral obligation, infidelity is by no means a light offence in a husband; because it must hurt a delicate attachment, in which a mutual constancy is implied, with such refined sentiments as Massinger has exhibited in his play of The Picture. ^Johnson probably at another time would have admitted this opinion. And let it be kept in remembrance, that he was very

—

careful not to give

ular conduct. distinction

any encouragement

to irreg-

A gentleman,

made by him

not adverting to the upon this subject, sup-

posed a case of singular perverseness in a wife, and heedlessly said, "That then he thought a husband might do as he pleased with a safe conscience." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, this is wild indeed (smiling;) you must consider that fornication is a crime in a single inan; and you cannot have more liberty by being married." He this evening expressed himself strongly

against the

Roman

Catholics; observing,

"In

every thing in which they differ from us they are wrong." He was even against the invocation of saints; in short, he was in the humour of opposition.

Having regretted

to

him

that

I

had learnt

lit-

Greek, as is too generally the case in Scotland; that I had for a long time hardly applied at all to the study of that noble language, and that I was desirous of being told by him what tle

method

to follow;

he recommended to

me

as

easy helps, Sylvanus's First Book of the Iliad; Dawson's Lexicon to the Greek New Testament; and Hesiod, with Pasoris Lexicon at the

end of

it.

On

Tuesday, October 12, I dined with him at Mr. Ramsay's, with Lord Newhaven, and

some other company, none of whom I recollect, but a beaut-iful Miss Graham,^ a relation of his Lordship's, who asked Dr. Johnson to hob or ^Now the Lady of Sir Henry Dashwood, Bart.

nob with

[1779

He was

by such pleasing attention, and politely told her, he never drank wine; but if she would drink a glass of water, he was much at her service. She accepted. "Oho, Sir! (said Lord Newhaven,) you are caught." Johnson. "Nay, I do not see how I am caught; her.

flattered

am caught, I I am caught, I

don't want to get free hope to be kept." Then when the two glasses of water were brought, smiling placidly to the young lady, he said,

but

if I

again. If

"Madam,

let

us reciprocate."

Lord Newhaven and Johnson carried on an argument for some time, concerning the Middlesex election. Johnson said, "Parliament may be considered as bound by law as a man is bound where there is nobody to tie the knot. As it is clear that the House of Commons may expel, and expel again and again, why not allow of the power to incapacitate for that parliament, rather than have a perpetual contest kept up between parliament and the people." Lord Newhaven tbok the opposite side; but respectfully said, "I speak with great deference to you. Dr. Johnson; I speak to be instructed." This had its full effect on my friend. He bowed his head almost as low as the table, to a complimenting nobleman; and called out, "My Lord, my Lord, I do not desire all this ceremony; let us tell our minds to one another quietly." After the debate was over, he said, "I have got lights on the subject to-day, which I had not before." This was a great deal from him, especially as he had writ-

ten a pamphlet He observed,

upon

it.

"The House

of

Coinmons was

originally not a privilege of the people, but a

check for the Crown on the House of Lords. I remember Henry the Eighth wanted them to do something; they hesitated in the morning, but did it in the afternoon. He told them, 'It is well you did; or half your heads should have been upon Temple-bar.' But the House of Commons is now no longer under the power of the crown, and therefore must be bribed." He added, "I have no delight in talking of publick affairs."

Of his fellow-collegian, the celebrated Mr. George Whitefield, he said, "Whitefield never drew as much attention as a mountebank does; he did not draw attention by doing better than others, but by doing what was strange. Were Astley to preach a sermon standing upon his head on a horse's back, he would collect a multitude to hear him; but no wise man would say he had made a better sermon for that. I never treated Whitefield's ministry with contempt; I believe he did good. He had devoted himself to

the lower classes of mankind,

and among them

1779]

LIFE OF

he was of use. But when familiarity and noise claim the praise due to knowledge, art, and elegance, we must beat down such pretensions." What I have preserved of his conversation during the remainder of my stay in London at this time, is only what follows: I told him that when I objected to keeping company with a notorious infidel, a celebrated friend of ours said to me, "I do not think that men who live laxly in the world, as you and I do, can with propriety assume such an authority. Dr. Johnson may, who is uniformly exemplary in his conduct. But it is not very consistent to shun an infidel to-day, and get drunk to-morrow." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, this is sad reasoning. Because a man cannot be right in all things, is he to be right in nothing? Because a man sometimes gets drunk, is he therefore to steal? This doctrine would very soon bring a man to the gallows." After all, however, it is a difficult question how far .sincere Christians should associate with the avowed enemies of religion; for in the first place, almost every man's mind may be more or fess "corrupted by evil communications"; secondly, the world may very naturally suppose that they are not really in earnest in religion, who can easily bear its opponents; and thirdly, if the profane find themselves quite well received by the pious, one of the checks upon an open declaration of their infidelity, and one of the probable chances of obliging them seriously to reflect, which their being shunned would do, is removed. He, I know not why, shewed upon all occasions an aversion to go to Ireland, where I proposed to him that we should make a tour. Johnson. "It is the last place where I should wish to travel." Boswtell. "Should you not like to see Dublin, Sir?" Johnson. "No, Sir! Dublin is only a worse capital." Boswell. "Is not the Giant'sCauseway worth seeing?" Johnson. "Worth seeing? yes; but not worth going to see." Yet he had a kindness for the Irish nation, and thus generously expressed himself to a gentleman from that country, on the subject of an union which artful Politicians have often had in view "Do not make an union with us. Sir. We should unite with you, only to rob you. We should have robbed the Scotch, if they had had any thing of which we could have robbed them." Of an acquaintance of ours, whose manners and every thing about him, though expensive, were coarse, he said, "Sir, you see in him vulgar

—

prosperity."

A foreign minister of no very high talents, who had been in his company for a considerable time

JOHNSON

431

happened luckily to mention that he had read some of his Rambler in Italian, and admired it much. This pleased him greatly; he observed that the title had been translated, // Genio errante, though I have been told it was rendered more ludicrously, II Vagabondo; and quite overlooked,

finding that this minister gave such a proof of his taste, he was all attention to him, and on the

remark which he made, however simple, exclaimed, "The Ambassadour says well His Excellency observes " And then he expanded and enriched the little that had been said, in so strong a manner, that it appeared something of consequence. This was exceedingly entertaining to the company who were present, and many a time afterwards it furnished a pleasant topick of merriment: "The Ambassadour says well," became a laughable term of applause, when no mighty matter had been expressed. first

—

—

I left London on Monday, October 18, and accompanied Colonel Stuart to Chester, where his regiment was to lye for some time.

Mr. Boswell to Dr. Johnson Chester, October 22, 1779 not till one o'clock on Colonel Stuart and I left London; for we chose to bid a cordial adieu to Lord Mountstuart, who was to set out on that day on his embassy to Turin. drove on excellently, and reached Lichfield in good time enough that night. The Colonel had heard so preferable a character of the George, that he would not put up at the Three Crowns, so that I did not see our host Wilkins. found at the

My

Dear Sir, It was Monday morning, that

We

We

good accommodation as we could wish to have, and I fully enjoyed the comfortable thought that / was in Lichfield again. Next morning it rained very hard; and as I had much to do in a little time, I ordered a post-chaise, and between eight and nine sallied forth to make a round of visits. I first went to Mr. Green, hoping to have had him to accompany me to all my other friends, but he was engaged to attend the Bishop of Sodor and Man, who was

George

as

then lying at Lichfield very ill of the gout. Having taken a hasty glance at the additions to Green's museum, from which it was not easy to break away, I next went to the Friery, where I at first occasioned some tumult in the ladies, who were not prepared to receive company so early: but my name, which has by wonderful felicity come to be closely associated with yours,

made all easy; and Mrs. Cobb and Miss Adye re-assumed their seats at the breakfast table, which they had quitted with some precif>itation. They received me with the kindness of an old acquaintance; and after we had joined in a cordial chorus to your praise, Mrs. Cobb gave soon

BOSWELL

432

mc the high satisfaction of hearing that you said, "Boswell is a man who I believe never left a house without leaving a wish for his return." And she afterwards added, that she bid you tell me, that if ever I came to Lichfield, she hoped I would take a bed at the Friery. From thence I drove to Peter Garrick's, where I also found a very flattering welcome. He appeared to me to enjoy his usual chearfulness; and he very kindly asked me to come when I could, and pass a week with him. From Mr. Garrick's, I went to the Palace to wait on Mr. Seward. I was first entertained by his lady and daughter, he himself being in bed with a cold, according to his valetudinary custom. But he desired to see me; and I found him drest in his black gown, with a white flannel night-gown above it; so that he looked like a Dominican friar. He was good-humoured and polite; and under his roof too my reception was very pleasing. I then proceeded to Stow-hill, and first paid my respects to Mrs. Gastrell, whose conversation I was not willing to quit. But my sand-glass was now beginning to run low, as I could not trespass too long on the Colonel's kindness, who obligingly waited for me; so I hastened to Mrs. Aston's, whom I found much better than I feared I should; and there I met a brother-in-law of these ladies, who talked much of you, and very well too, as it appeared to me. It then only remained to visit Mrs. Lucy Porter, which I did, I really believe, with sincere satisfaction on both sides. I am sure I was glad to see her again; and, as I take her to be very honest, I trust she was glad to see me again; for she expressed herself so, that I could not doubt of her being in earnest. What a great key-stone of kindness, my dear Sir, were you that morning for we were all held together by our common attachment to you. I cannot say that I ever passed two hours with more selfcomplacency than I did those two at Lichfield. Let me not entertain any suspicion that this is idle vanity. Will not you confirm me in my persuasion, that he who finds himself so regarded has just reason to be happy? VVe got to Chester about midnight on Tuesday; and here again I am in a state of much enjoyment. Colonel Stuart and his officers treat me with all the civility I could wish; and I play my part admirably. Latus aliis, sapiens sibi, the classical sentence which you, I imagine, invented the other day, is exemplified in my present existence. The Bishop, to whom I had the honour to be known several years ago, shews me much attention; and I am edified by his conversation. I must not omit to tell you, that his Lordship admires, very highly, your Prefaces to the Poets. I am daily obtaining an extension of agreeable acquaintance, so that I am kept in animated variety; and the study of the place itself, by the assistance of books, and of the Bishop, is sufficient occupation. Chester pleases my fan!

[1779

cy more than any town I ever saw. But I will not enter upon it at all in this letter. How long I shall stay here I cannot yet say. I told a very pleasing young lady,^ niece to one of the Prebendaries, at whose house I saw her, "1 have come to Chester, Madam, I cannot tell how; and far less can I tell how I am to get away from it." Do not think me too juvenile. I beg it of you, my dear Sir, to favour me with a letter while I am here, and add to the happiness of a happy friend, who is ever, with aflfectionate ven-

most sincerely yours, James Boswtell If you do not write directly, so as to catch me here, I shall be disappointed. Two lines from you will keep my lamp burning bright.

eration,

To James Bosw^ll,

Esq.

Why should

you importune me so earnestly to write? Of what importance can it

Dear

Sir,

be to hear of distant friends, to a man who finds himself welcome wherever he goes, and makes

new

friends faster

than he can want them?

If to

the delight of such universal kindness of reception, any thing can be added by knowing that you retain my good-will, you may indulge yourself in the full enjoyment of that small addition. I am glad that you made the round of Lichfield with so much success: the oftener you are seen, the more you will be liked. It was pleasing to me to read that Mrs. Aston was so well, and that Lucy Porter was so glad to see you. In the place where you now are, there is much to be observed; and you will easily procure yourself skilful directors. But what will you do to keep away the black dog that worries you at

home?

If

you would,

in

compliance with your

father's advice, enquire into the old tenures

and

old charters of Scotland, you would certainly open to yourself many striking scenes of the manners of the middle ages. The feudal system, in a country half-barbarous, is naturally productive of great anomalies in civil life. The knowledge of past times is naturally growing less in all cases not of publick record; and the past time of Scotland is so unlike the present, that it is already difficult for a Scotchman to image the oeconomy of his grandfather. Do not be tardy nor negligent; but gather up eagerly what can yet be found.^ We have, I think, once talked of another project,

a History oj

with

all its incidents.

the late insurrection in Scotland,

Many falsehoods are pass-

^Miss Letitia Barnston. have a valuable collection made by my Father, which, with some additions and illustrations of my own, I intend to publish. I have some hereditary claim to be an Antiquary; not only from my Father, but as being descended, by the mother's side, from the able and learned Sir John Skene, whose merit bids defiance to all the attempts which have been made to lessen his fame. 21

LIFE OF

1779]

ing into uncontradicted history. Voltaire, who loved a striking story, has told what he could not find to be true.

You may make

which Burton has left to men disordered like you, is this. Be not solitary; be not idle: which I would thus modify; If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary, be not idle. There is a letter for you, from your humble tion

—

servant,

Sam. Johnson October 27, 1779

To Dr. Samuel Johnson Carlisle, Nov. 7,

1779 should importune you to write to me at Chester, is not wonderful, when you consider what an avidity I have for delight; and that the amor of pleasure, like the amor nummi, increases in proportion with the quantity which we possess of it. Your letter, so full of polite kindness and masterly counsel, came like a large treasure upon me, while already glittering with riches. I was quite enchanted at Chester, so that I could with difficulty quit it.

My Dear Sir,

That

I

But the enchantment was the reverse of that of Circ6; for so far Vv'as there from being any thing sensual in it, that I was all mind. I do not mean all reason only; for my fancy was kept finely in play. And why not? If you please I will send you a copy, or an abridgement of my Chester journal, which is truly a log-book of felicity. The Bishop treated me with a kindness which was very flattering. I told him, that you regretted you had seen so little of Chester. His Lordship bade me tell you, that he should be glad to shew you more of it. I am proud to find the friendship with which you honour me is

—

in so many places. arrived here late last night. Our friend the Dean has been gone from hence some months; but I am told at my inn, that he is very populous (popular). However, I found Mr. Law, the Archdeacon, son to the Bishop, and with him I have breakfasted and dined very agreeably. I got acquainted with him at the assizes here, about a year and a half ago; he is a man of great variety of knowledge, uncommon genius, and I believe, sincere religion. I received the holy sacrament in the Cathedral in the morning, this being the first Sunday in the month; and was at prayers there in the evening. It is divinely cheering to me to think that there is a Cathedral so near Auchinleck; and I now leave Old England in such a state of mind as I am thankful to God

known I

for granting

The

me.

black dog that worries

me

home

canhave been for some time at

I

not but dread; yet as I past in a military train, I trust I shall repulse him. To hear from you will animate me like the

433

sound of a trumpet,

I

therefore hope, that soon

after my return to the northern field, ceive a few lines from you.

Colonel Stuart did

collections for either of these

projects, or for both, as opportunities occur, and digest your materials at leisure. The great direc-

London,

JOHNSON

me

in his carriage to

me

I shall re-

the honour to escort me Liverpool, and

shew

from thence back again to Warrington, where

we

parted.^ In justice to

my

valuable wife,

I

must inform you she wrote to me, that as I was so happy, she would not be so selfish as to wish

me to return sooner than business absolutely required my presence. She made my clerk write to me a post or two after to the same purpose, by commission from her; and this day a kind letter from her met me at the Post-Office here, acquainting me that she and the little ones were well, and expressing all their wishes for my return home. I am, more and more, my dear Sir, your aflfectionate and obliged humble servant, James Boswtell

To James Boswell, Dear

Sir,

Your

last letter

Esq.

was not only kind

but fond. But I wish you to get rid of all intellectual excesses, and neither to exalt your pleasures, nor aggravate your vexations, beyond their real and natural state. should you not be

Why

happy

Edinburgh

as at Chester? In culpa animus, qui se non effugit usquam. Please yourself with your wife and children, and studies,

as

at

est

and

practice.

have sent a petition^ from Lucy Porter, with which I leave it to your discretion whether it is proper to comply. Return me her letter, which I have sent, that you may know the v/hole case, and not be seduced to any thing that you may afterwards repent. Miss Doxy perhaps you know I

to be

Mr. Garrick's

niece.

Dean Percy can be popular

at Carlisle, he be very happy. He has in his disposal two livings, each equal, or almost equal in value to the deanery; he may take one himself, and give the other to his son. How near is the Cathedral to Auchinleck, that you are so much delighted with it? It is, I suppose, at least an hundred and fifty miles off. If

may

However,

if

you are pleased,

it is

so far well.

Let me know what reception you have from your father, and the state of his health. Please him as much as you can, and add no pain to his last years.

our friends here I can recollect nothing to I have neither seen nor heard of Langton. Beauclerk is just returned from BrighthelmOjF

tell

you.

^His regiment was afterwards ordered to Jamaica, life

where he accompanied it, and almost lost his by the climate. This impartial order I should

think a sufficient refutation of the idle rumour that "there was still something behind the throne greater than the throne itself." ^Requesting me to inquire concerning the family of a gentleman who was then paying his addresses to Miss

Doxy.

——

—

BOSWELL

434 ston,

I

am

told,

much

to be visibly

Mr. Thrale and

better.

his family are still there;

and

his health

is

said

improved; he has not bathed, but

hunted.

At Bolt-court there is much malignity, but of open hostility.^ I have had a cold, but

late little it is

gone.

Make my compliments to Mrs. am,

Sir,

Boswell, &c. I

your humble servant, Sam. Johnson

London, Nov.

13,

i779

and December 21, I v^^rote him from Edinburgh, giving a very favour-

able report of the family of Miss Doxy's lover; that after a good deal of enquiry I had discovered the sister of Mr. Francis Stewart, one of his

—

amanuenses when writing his Dictionary; that I had, as desired by him, paid her a guinea for an old pocket-book of her brother's which he had retained; and that the good woman, who was in very moderate circumstances, but contented and placid, wondered at his scrupulous and liberal honesty, and received the guinea as That I had repeatif sent her by Providence. edly begged of him to keep his promise to send me his letter to Lord Chesterfield, and that this memento, like Delenda est Carthago, must be in every letter that I should write to him, till I had

—

obtained

my

[1780

actcr which ought to make all that know you your friends, you may wonder that you have yet

heard nothing from me. I have been hindered by a vexatious and incessant cough, for which within these ten days I have been bled once, fasted four or five times, taken physick five times, and opiates, I think, This day it seems to remit. The loss, dear Sir, which you have lately suf-

six.

fered,

I felt

object.

In 1780, the world was kept in impatience for the completion of his Lives of the Poets, upon which he was employed so far as his indolence allowed him to labour. 1780: ^TAT. 71.]

wrote to him on January i and March 1 3, sending him my notes of Lord Marchmont's information concerning Pope; complaining that I had not heard from him for almost four months, though he was two letters in my debt; that I had suffered again from melancholy; hoping that he had been in so much better company, (the Poets,) that he had not time to think of his distant friends; for if that were the case, I should have some recompence for my uneasiness; that the state of my affairs did not admit of my coming to London this year; and begging he would return me Goldsmith's two poems, with his lines marked. His friend Dr. Lawrence having now suffered I

,

— —

the greatest affliction to which a

man

is

liable,

and which Johnson himself had felt in the most severe manner; Johnson wrote to him in an admirable strain of sympathy and pious consolation.

ought to iSee

To Dr. Lawrence At a time when all your friends shew their kindness, and with a char-

Sir,

ante, p.

418.

ago,

and know therefore

has been taken from you, and how little help can be had from consolation. He that outlives a wife whom he has long loved, sees himself disjoined from the only mind that has the same hopes, and fears, and interest; from the only companion with whom he has shared much good or evil; and with whom he could set his mind at liberty, to retrace the past or anticipate the future. The continuity of being is lacerated; the settled course of sentiment and action is stopped; and life stands suspended and motionless, till it is driven by external causes into a new channel. But the time of suspense is dreadful. Our first recourse in this distressed solitude, is, perhaps for want of habitual piety, to a gloomy acquiescence in necessity. Of two mortal beings, one must lose the other; but surely there is a higher and better comfort to be drawn from the consideration of that Providence which watches over all, and a belief that the living and the dead are equally in the hands of God, who will reunite those whom he has separated; or who sees that it is best not to reunite. I am, dear Sir,

your most affectionate, and most humble

servant,

Sam. Johnson January 20,

—

Dear

many years

how much

On November 22, to

—

i

780

To James Dear

Boswell, Esq.

had resolved to send you the Chesterfield letter; but I will write once Sir, Well,

I

again without it. Never impose tasks upon mortals. To require two things is the way to have them both undone. For the difficulties which you mention in your affairs I am sorry; but difficulty is now very general: it is not therefore less grievous, for there is less hope of help. I pretend not to give you advice, not knowing the state of your afl'airs; and general counsels about prudence and frugality would do you little good. You are, however, in the right not to increase your own perplexity by a journey hither; and I hope that by staying at

home you

will please your father. Poor dear Beauclerk nee, ut soles, dabis joca. His wit and his folly, his acuteness and maliciousness, his merriment and reasoning, are now over. Such another will not often be found among mankind. He directed himself to be buried by the side of his mother, an instance of tenderness which I hardly expected. He has left his children to the care of Lady Di, and if she dies, of

LIFE OF

78o]

Mr- Langton, and of Mr. Leicester his relation, and a man of good character. His Hbrary has been offered to sale to the Russian ambassador.^ Dr. Percy, notwithstanding all the noise of the news-papers, has had no literary loss.^ Clothes and moveables were burnt to the value of about one hundred pounds; but his papers, and I think his books, were all preserved. Poor Mr. Thrale has been in extreme danger from an apoplectical disorder, and recovered, beyond the expectation of his physicians; he is now at Bath, that his mind may be quiet, and Mrs. Thrale and Miss are with him. Having told you what has happened to your friends, let me say something to you of yourself. You are always complaining of melancholy, and I conclude from those complaints that you are fond of it. No man talks of that which he is desirous to conceal, and every man desires to conceal that of which he is ashamed. Do not pretend to deny it; manifestum habemus furem; make it an invariable and obligatory law to yourself,

JOHNSON

435

Mrs. Thrale to Dr. Johnson I had a very kind letter from you yesterday, dear Sir, with a most circumstantial date. You took trouble with my circulating letter, Mr. Evans writes me word, and I thank you sincerely for so doing: one might do mischief else not being on the spot. Yesterday's evening was passed at Mrs. Montagu's: there was Mr. Melmoth; I do not like him though, nor he me; it was expected we should have pleased each other; he is, however, Tory enough to hate the Bishop of Peter-

just

borougy

Whiggism, and Whig enough to

for

abhor you

hour speak no more, think no more, about

Toryism. Mrs. Montagu flattered him finely: so he had a good afternoon on't. This evening we spend at a concert. Poor Oueeny's^ sore eyes have just released her; she had a long confinement, and could neither read nor write, so my master^ treated her very good-naturedly with the visits of a young woman in this town, a taylor's daughter, who professes niusick,and teaches so as to give six lessons a day to ladies, at five and threepence a lesson. Miss Bumey says she is a great performer; and I respect the wench for getting her living so prettily; she is very modest and pretty-mannered, and not seventeen years old. You live in a fine whirl indeed; if I did not write regularly you would half forget me, and that would be very wrong, for I felt my regard

them.

for

never to mention your own mental diseases; if you are never to speak of them, you will think on them but little, and if you think little of them, they will molest you rarely. When you talk of them, it is plain that you want either praise or pity; for praise there is no room, and pity will do you no good; therefore, from this

Your transaction with Mrs. Stewart gave me great satisfaction; I am much obliged to you for your attention. Do not lose sight of her; your countenance may be of great credit, and of consequence of great advantage to her. The memory of her brother is yet fresh in my mind; he was an ingenious and worthy man. Please to make my compliments to your lady, and to the young ladies. I should like to see them, pretty loves. I am, dear Sir, yours affectionately,

Sam. Johnson April 8,

1

780

Mrs. Thrale being now at Bath with her husband, the correspondence between Johnson and her was carried on briskly. I shall present my readers with one of her original letters to him at this time, which will amuse them probably more than those well-written but studied epistles which she has inserted in her collection, because it exhibits the easy vivacity of their literary interis also of value as a key to Johnson's answer, which she has printed by itself, and of which I shall subjoin extracts.

course. It

you in my face last night, when the criticisms were going on. This morning it was all connoisseurship; we went to see some pictures painted by a gentleman-artist, Mr. Taylor, of this place; my master makes one, every where, and has got a good dawling companion to ride with him now. He looks well enough, but I have no notion of health for a man whose mouth cannot be sewed up. Buroey and I and Queeney teize him every meal he eats, and Mrs. Montagu is quite serious with him; but what can one do? He will eat, I think, and if he does eat I know he will not live; it makes me very unhappy, but I must bear it. Let me always have your friendship. I am, most sincerely, dear Sir, your faithful servant, H. L. T. Bath, Friday, April 28 .

Dr. Johnson to Mrs. Thrale Dearest Madam, Mr. Thrale never will abstinently,

by rule.

,

.

.

.

.^

.

.

live

he can persuade himself to live Encourage, as you can, the musical till

girl.

Nothing is more common than mutual diswhere mutual approbation is particularly

like,

3Dr.

^Mr. Beauclerk's library was sold by publick auction in April and May 1 781 for £501 1 [M.] ^By a fire in Northumberland-house, where he had an apartment, in which I have passed many an agreeable hour.

for

John

Hinchliffe,

*A kind of nick-name given to Mrs. Thrale's eldest daughter, whose name being Esther, she might be assimilated to a Queen. 6Mr. Thrale. ^I have taken the liberty to leave out a few lines.

BOSWELL

436

[1780

expected. There is often on both sides a vigilance not over-benevolent; and as attention is strongly excited, so that nothing drops unheeded, any difference in taste or opinion, and soine difference where there is no restraint will commonly appear, immediately generates dislike. Never let criticisms operate upon your face or your mind; it is very rarely that an authour is hurt by his criticks. The blaze of reputation cannot be blown out, but it often dies in the socket; a very few names may be considered as perpetual lamps that shine unconsumed. From the authour oi Fitzosborne'' s Letters I cannot think myself in much danger. I met him only once about thirty years ago, and in some small dispute reduced him to whistle; having not seen him since, that is the last impression. Poor Moore, the fabulist, was one of the company. Mrs. Montagu's long stay, against her own inclination, is very convenient. You would, by

which he had

your own confession, want a companion; and is par pluribus; conversing with her you may

probably seen, The Tour to the Northern Parts of Europe; a very agreeable ingenious man; Dr. Warren, Mr. Pepys, the Master in Chancery, whom I believe you know, and Dr. Barnard, the Provost of Eton. As soon as Dr. Johnson was come in and had taken a chair, the company began to collect round him, till they became not less than four, if not five, deep; those behind standing, and listening over the heads of those that were sitting near him. The conversation for some time was chiefly between Dr. Johnson and the Provost of Eton, while the others contributed occasionally their remarks. Without attempt-

she

find variety in one.

London,

On

May

i,

the 2nd of

quested that

somewhere

1780

May

I

wrote to him, and

re-

we might have another meeting

in the

North of England,

in the au-

tumn of this year. From Mr. Langton

I received soon after this time a letter, of which I extract a passage, relative both to Mr. Beauclerk and Dr. Johnson. "The melancholy information you have received concerning Mr. Beauclerk's death is true.

Had

his talents

been directed in any

sufficient

degree as they ought, I have always been strongly of opinion that they were calculated to make

an illustrious figure; and that opinion, as it had been in part formed upon Dr. Johnson's judgment, receives more and more confirmation by hearing what, since his death, Dr. Johnson has said concerning them; a few evenings ago, he was at Mr. Vesey's, where Lord Althorpe, who was one of a numerous company there, addressed Dr. Johnson on the subject of Mr. Beauclerk's death, saying, 'Our Club has had a great loss since we met last.' He replied, 'A loss, that perhaps the whole nation could not repair!' The Doctor then went on to speak of his endowments, and particularly extolled the wonderful ease with which he uttered what was highly excellent. He said, that 'no man ever was so free when he was going to say a good thing, from a look that expressed that it was coming; or, when he had said it, from a look that expressed that it had come.' At Mr. Thrale's, some days before when we were talking on the same subject, he said, referring to the same idea of his wonderful facility, 'That Beauclerk's talents were those

felt

himself more disposed to envy,

than those of any whom he had known.' "On the evening I have spoken of above, at Mr. Vesey's, you would have been much gratified, as it exhibited an instance of the high importance in which Dr. Johnson's character is held, I think even beyond any I ever before was to. The company among whom were

witness

consisted chiefly of la-

dies,

the Duchess

Dowager

of Portland, the Duchess of Beaufort, whom I suppose from her rank I must name before her

mother Mrs. Boscawen, and her elder sister Mrs. Lewson, who was likewise there; Lady Lucan, Lady Clermont, and others of note both for their station and understandings. Among the gentlemen were Lord Althorpe, whom I have before named. Lord Macartney, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lord Lucan, Mr. Wraxal, whose book you have

ing to detail the particulars of the conversation, did, I should spin my account out to a tedious length, I thought, my dear Sir, this general account of the respect with which our valued friend was attended to, might be acceptable."

which perhaps if I

To THE Reverend Dr. Farmer May 25,

1780

Sir, I know your disposition to second any literary attempt, and therefore venture upon the liberty of entreating you to procure from

College or University registers, all the dates, or other informations which they can supply, re-

Ambrose

Broome, and Gray, of whose lives I am to give such accounts as I can gather. Be pleased to forgive this trouble from. Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

lating to

Philips,

who were all of Cambridge, and

While Johnson was thus engaged in preparing a delightful literary entertainment for the world, the tranquillity of the metropolis of Great-Britain was unexpectedly disturbed, by the most horrid series of outrage that ever disgraced a civilised country. relaxation of some of the se-

A

LIFE OF

1780]

vere penal provisions against our fellow-subjects of the Catholick communion had been granted by the legislature, with an opposition so inconsiderable that the genuine mildness of Christianity, united with liberal policy, seemed to have become general in this island. But a dark and malignant spirit of persecution soon

shewed

itself,

in

an unworthy petition

peal of the wise and

humane

statute.

for the re-

That pe-

tition was brought forward by a mob, with the evident purpose of intimidation, and was justly rejected. But the attempt was accompanied and followed by such daring violence as is unexampled in history. Of this extraordinary tumult, Dr. Johnson has given the following concise, lively,

and

just account in his Letters

to

Mrs.

JOHNSON

full

without sentinels, without trepidation, as men lawfully employed, in full day. Such is the cowardice of a commercial place. On Wednesday they broke open the Fleet, and the King's-Bench, and the Marshalsea, and Woodstreet Compter, and Clerkenweli Bridewell, and security,

released

all

the prisoners.

"At night they set fire to the Fleet, and to the King's-Bench, and I know not how many other places; and one might see the glare of conflagration fill the sky from many parts. The sight was dreadful. Some people were threatened: Mr. Strahan advised me to take care of myself. Such a time of terrour you have been happy in not seeing.

"The King

Thrale'}

437

dred; but they did their work at leisure, in

said in Council, 'That the magis-

had not done their duty, but that he would do his own'; and a proclamation was published, trates

"On

Friday," the good Protestants

Saint George's-Fields, at the

summons

met in Lord

of

George Gordon, and marching to Westminster, insulted the Lords and Commons, who all bore it with great tameness. At night the outrages began by the demolition of the mass-house by Lincoln's-Inn.

"An exact journal of a week's defiance of govI cannot give you. On Monday, Mr. Strahan, who had been insulted, spoke to Lord Mansfield, who had I think been insulted too, of the licentiousness of the populace; and his Lordship treated it as a very slight irregularity.

ernment

On Tuesday night they pulled down

upon Lord Mansfield's house, which they pulled down; and as for his goods, they totally burnt them. They have since gone to Caenwood, but a guard was there before them. They plundered some Papists, I think, and burnt a mass-house in Moorfields the same night. "On Wednesday I walked with Dr. Scott to look at Newgate, and found it in ruins, with the fire yet glowing. As I went by, the Protestants were plundering the Sessions-house at the Old-Bailey. There were not, I believe, a hun-

fastened

^June

2.

letters,

"The

where within call: there is no longer any body of rioters, and the individuals are hunted to their holes, and led to prison; Lord George was last night sent to the Tower. Mr. John Wilkes was this day in my neighbourhood, to seize the publisher of a seditious paper.

"Several chapels have been destroyed, and

but the high sport was to burn the gaols. This was a good rabble trick. The debtors and the criminals were all set at liberty; but of the criminals, as has always happened, many are already retaken; and two pirates have surrendered themselves, and it is expected that they will be pardoned. "Government now acts again with its prop-

found all the prisoners released, and Newgate in a blaze. They then went to Bloomsbury, and

p. 143, et seq. I

is now [June 9] at quiet. soldiers are stationed so as to be every

and the town

They

been seized demolishing the chapel. The keeper could not release them but by the Mayor's permission, which he went to ask; at his return he

ii,

peace was now to be preserved by force. were sent out to different parts,

soldiers

several inoffensive Papists have been plundered;

had gutted on Monday Sir George Savile's house, but the building was saved. On Tuesday evening, leaving Fielding's ruins, they went to Newgate to demand their companions who had

^Vol.

as the

The

Fielding's

house, and burnt his goods in the street.

from several

directing us to keep our servants within doors,

have selected passages

without mentioning dates.

and we are all under the protection of King and the law. I thought that it would be agreeable to you and my master to have my testimony to the publick security; and that you would sleep more quietly when I told you that you are safe. "There has, indeed, been an universal panick from which the King was the first that recovered. Without the concurrence of his ministers, er force;

the

or the assistance of the civil magistrate, he put the soldiers in motion, and saved the town from calamities, such as a rabble's

government m^ust

naturally produce.

"The publick has escaped a very heavy calamThe rioters attempted the Bank on Wednes-

ity.

day night, but in no great number; and like oth-

BOSWELL

438 no great

[1780

Jack Wilkes headed the party that drove them away. It is agreed, that if they had seized the Bank on Tuesday, at the height of the panick, when no resistance had been prepared, they might have carried irrecoverably away whatever they had found. Jack, who was always zealous for order and de-

and that if they would engage to be quiet, he himself would come in to them, and conduct them to the further end of the building, and would not go out till they gave him leave. To this proposal they agreed; upon which Mr. Akerman, having first made them fall back from the gate, went in, and \vith a de-

cency, declares that if he be trusted with power, he will not leave a rioter alive. There is, how-

upon no account

er thieves, wdth

resolution.

now no longer any need of heroism or bloodshed; no blue ribband^ is any longer worn." Such was the end of this miserable sedition, from which London was delivered by the magnanimity of the Sovereign himself. Whatever some may maintain, I am satisfied that there was no combination or plan, either domestic or foreign; but that the mischief spread by a gradual contagion of frenzy, augmented by the quantities of fermented liquors, of which the deluded populace possessed themselves in the course of their depredations. I should think myself very much to blame, did I here neglect to do justice to my esteemed friend Mr. Akerman, the keeper of Newgate, who long discharged a very important trust with

ever,

an uniform intrepid firmness, and at the same time a tenderness and a liberal charity, which entitle

him

to be recorded with distinguished

honour.

Upon

this occasion,

from the timidity and

negligence of magistracy on the one hand, and the almost incredible exertions of the mob on the other, the first prison of this great country was laid open, and the prisoners set free; but that Mr. Akerman, whose house was burnt, would have prevented all this, had proper aid been sent to him in due time, there can be no

built with stone;

termined resolution, ordered the outer turnkey to open the gate, even though the prisoners (though he trusted they would not) should break their word, and by force bring himself to order it. "Never mind me, (said he,) should that happen." The prisoners peaceably followed him, while he conducted them through passages of which he had the keys, to the extremity of the gaol which was most distant from the fire. Having, by this very judicious conduct,

them that there was no immediate any at all, he then addressed them thus: "Gentlemen, you are now convinced that I told you true. I have no doubt that the engines

fully satisfied risk, if

soon extinguish this fire; if they should not, a sufficient guard will come, and you shall all be taken out and lodged in the Compters. I assure you, upon my word and honour, that I have not a farthing insured. I have left my house, that I might take care of you. I will keep my promise, and stay with you if you insist upon it; but if you will allow me to go out and look after my family and property, I shall be obliged to you." Struck with his behaviour, they called out, "Master Akerman, you have done bravely; it was very kind in you: by all means go and take care of your own concerns." He did so accordingly, while they remained, and were all will

preserved.

Johnson has been heard

to relate the sub-

doubt.

stance of this story with high praise, in which he

Many years ago, a fire broke out in the brick part which was built as an addition to the old gaol of Newgate. The prisoners were in consternation and tumult, calling out, "We shall be burnt we shall be burnt Down with the gate

was joined by Mr. Burke. My illustrious friend, speaking of Mr. Akerman's kindness to his prisoners, pronounced this eulogy upon his character: "He who has long had constandy in his view the worst of mankind, and is yet eminent for the humanity of his disposition, must have had it originally in a great degree, and continued to cultivate it very carefully." In the course of this month my brother David waited upon Dr. Johnson, with the following letter of introduction, which I had taken care should be lying ready on his arrival in London.

—

!

— down with the gate!" Mr. Akerman hastened

shewed himself at the gate, and havsome confused vociferation of "Hear him hear him!" obtained a silent attention, he then calmly told them, that the gate must not go down; that they were under his care, and to them,

ing, after

—

that they should not be permitted to escape: but that he could assure them, they need not be

—

afraid of being burnt, for that the fire was not in the prison, properly so called, which was strongly

^Lord George Gordon and his followers, during these outrages, wore blue ribbands in their hats. [M.]

To Dr. Samuel Johnson

My by

my

You

Dear

Edinburgh, April 29, 1 780 Sir, This will be delivered to you

brother David, on his return from Spain. be glad to see the man who vowed to

will

— LIFE OF

1780]

"stand by the old castle of Auchinleck, with heart, purse, and sword"; that romantick family solemnity devised by me, of which you and I talked with complacency upon the spot. I trust that twelve years of absence have not lessened his feudal attachment; and that you will find him worthy of being introduced to your acquaintance. I have the honour to be, with affectionate veneration, my dear Sir, your most faithful hum-

JOHNSON humble

servant,

Sam. Johnson Bolt-court, Fleet-street

August 21, 1780

To James Dear

ble servant,

James Boswell

439

you, and therefore you must be contented with hearing, what I know not whether you much wish to hear, that I am. Sir, your most tell

Sir, I find

of taciturnity,

fits

Boswell, Esq. you have taken one of your and have resolved not to

till you are written to; it is but a peevish humour, but you shall have your way. I have sat at home in Bolt-court, all the summer, thinking to write the Lives, and a great

write

Johnson received him very politely, and has thus mentioned him in a letter to Mrs. Tlirale:^ "I have had with me a brother of Boswell's, a Spanish merchant,^

from

whom

the

war has driven

his residence at Valentia;

he

is

gone to

and will find Scotland but a sorry

see his friends,

place after twelve years' residence in a happier climate. He is a very agreeable man, and speaks

no Scotch."

To Dr.

Beattie, at Aberdeen

More

years than I have any delight to reckon, have past since you and I saw one another; of this, however, there is no reason for making any reprehensory complaint Sic fata ferunt. But methinks there might pass some small interchange of regard between us. If you say, that I ought to have written, I now 'WTite; and I write to tell you, that I have much kindness for you and Mrs. Beattie; and that I wish your health better, and your life long. Try change of air, and come a few degrees Southwards: a softer climate may do you both good; winter is coming on; and London will be warmer, and gayer, and busier, and more fertile of amuseSir,

ment than Aberdeen.

My

health is better; but that will be little in the balance, when I tell you that Mrs. Montagu ill, and is I doubt now but weakMr. Thrale has been very dangerously disordered; but is much better, and I hope will totally recover. He has withdrawn himself from business the whole summer. Sir Joshua and his sister are well; and Mr. Davies has got great success as an author,^ generated by the corruption of a bookseller. More news I have not to

has been very

ly.

'Vol.

ii,

p.

163.

Mrs. Piozzi has omitted the

name, she best knows why. ^Now settled in London. ^Meaning his entertaining Memoirs of David Garrick, Esq., of which Johnson (as Davies informed me) wrote the first sentence; thus giving, as it were, the key-note to the performance. It is, indeed, very characteristical of its authour, beginning with a

—

maxim, and proceeding to illustrate. "All excellence has a right to be recorded. I shaU, therefore, think it superfluous to apologise for ^vriting the life of a man, who by an uncommon assemblage of private virtues, adorned the highest eminence in a publick profession."

part of the time only thinking. Several of them, however, are done, and I still think to do the rest.

Mr. Thrale and

his family have, since his illpassed their time first at Bath, and then at Brighthelmston; but I have been at neither place. I would have gone to Lichfield, if I could have had time, and I might have had time if I had been active; but I have missed much, and ness,

done

little.

In the late disturbances, Mr. Thrale's house and stock were in great danger; the mob was pacified at their first invasion, with about fifty pounds in drink and meat; and at their second, were driven away by the soldiers. Mr. Strahan got a garrison into his house, and maintained them a fortnight; he was so frighted that he removed part of his goods. Mrs. Williams took shelter in the country. I

know not whether I shall get a ramble this it is now about the time when we were

autumn;

travelling. I have,

however, better health than

I

had then, and hope you and I may yet shew ourselves on some part of Europe, Asia, or Africa.'* In the mean time let us play no trick, but keep each other's kindness by all means in our power.

The bearer of this is Dr. Dunbar, of Aberdeen, who has written and published a very ingenious book,5 and who I think has a kindness for me, and will, when he knows you, have a kindness for you. I suppose your little ladies are grown tall; and your son is become a learned young man. I love them all, and I love your naughty lady, whom I never shall persuade to love me. When ^It will, no doubt, be remarked how he avoids the rebellious\a.nd of America. This puts me in mind of an anecdote, for which I am obliged to my

worthy social friend, Governour Richard Penn: "At one of Miss E. Hervey's assemblies, Dr. Johnson was following her up and down the room; upon which Lord Abingdon observed to her, 'Your great friend is very fond of you; you can go no where witliout him.' 'Ay, (said she,) he would follow me to any part of the world.' 'Then (said the " Earl,) ask him to go with you to America.'

—

—

^Essays on the History of Mankind.

BOSWELL

440

the Lives are done, I shall send them to complete her collection, but must send them in paper, as for want of a pattern, I cannot bind them to fit the rest. I am, Sir, yours most affectionately,

Sam. Johnson

London, Aug.

21, 1780

This year he wrote to a young clergyman in the country, the following very excellent letter, which contains valuable advice to Divines in

[1780

parson. The Dean of Carlisle,^ who was then a little rector in Northamptonshire, told me, that it might be discerned whether or no there was a clergyman resident in a parish by the civil or savage manner of the people. Such a congregation as yours stands in need of much reformation; and I would not have you think it impossible to reform them. A very savage parish was civilised by a decayed gentlewoman, who came among them to teach a petty school. My learned friend Dr. Wheeler of Oxford, when he was a

young man, had the care of a neighbouring parpounds a year, which he was never

general:

ish for fifteen

Dear Sir, Not many days ago Dr. Lawrence shewed me a letter, in which you make mention of me: I hope, therefore, you will not be displeased that I endeavour to preserve your goodwill by some observations which your letter suggested to me. You are afraid of falling into some improprieties in the daily service by reading to an audience that requires no exactness. Your fear, I hope, secures you from danger. They who contract absurd habits are such as have no fear. It is impossible to do the same thing very often, without some peculiarity of manner: but that manner may be good or bad, and a little care will at least preserve it from being bad: to make it good, there must, I think, be something of natural or casual felicity, which cannot be taught. Your present method of making your sermons seems very judicious. Few frequent preachers can be supposed to have sermons more their own than yours will be. Take care to register, somewhere or other, the authours from whom your several discourses are borrowed; and do not imagine that you shall always remember, even what perhaps you now think it impossible to forget. advice, however, is, that you attempt, from time to time, an original sermon; and in the labour of composition, do not burthen your mind with too much at once; do not exact from yourself at one effort of excogitation, propriety of thought and elegance of expression. Invent first, and then embellish. The production of something, where nothing was before, is an act of greater energy than the expansion or decoration of the thing produced. Set down diligently your thoughts as they rise, in the first words that occur; and, when you have matter, you will easily give it form: nor, perhaps, will this method be always necessary; for by habit, your thoughts and diction will flow together. The composition of sermons is not very difficult: the divisions not only help the memory of the hearer, but direct the judgement of the writer; they supply sources of invention, and keep every part in its proper place.

My

What

I

like least in

your

letter

is

your account

of the manners of your parish; from which I gather, that it has been long neglected by the

paid; but he counted

it a convenience that it compelled him to make a sermon weekly. One woman he could not bring to the communion; and, when he reproved or exhorted her, she only answered, that she was no scholar. He was

advised to set some good woman or man of the parish, a little wiser than herself, to talk to her in a language level to her mind. Such honest, I

may

call them holy artifices, must be practised by every clergyman; for all means must be tried by which souls may be saved. Talk to your people, however, as much as you can; and you will find, that the more frequently you converse with them upon religious subjects, the more willingly they will attend, and the more submissively they will learn. A clergyman's diligence always makes him venerable. I think I have now only to say, that in the momentous work you have undertaken, I pray God to bless you. I am. Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

Bolt-court, Aug. 30, 1780

My next letters to him were dated August 24, September

6,

and October

i,

and from them

I

extract the following passages:

"My brother David and I find the long indulged fancy of our comfortable meeting again at Auchinleck, so well realised, that it in some degree confirms the pleasing hope of O! preclarum diem! in a future state." "I beg that you may never again harbour a suspicion of my indulging a peevish humour, or playing tricks; you will recollect that when I confessed to you, that I had once been intentionally silent to try your regard, I gave you my word and honour that I would not do so again." "I rejoice to hear of your good state of health; I pray God to continue it long. I have often said, that I would willingly have ten years added to my life, to have ten taken from yours; I mean, that I would be ten years older to have you ten years younger. But let me be thankful for the years during which I have enjoyed your friendship, and please myself with the hopes of enjoying

it

many

come in this state now Bishop of Dromore.

years to

^Dr. Percy,

of being,

LIFE OF

1780]

trusting always, that in another state,

we

shall

meet never to be separated. Of this we can form no notion; but the thought, though indistinct, is delightful, when the mind is calm and clear." "The riots in London were certainly horrible; but you give me no account of your own situation,

during the barbarous anarchy.

tion of

it

painting;^

A descrip-

by Dr. Johnson would be a great you might write another London, a

Poem." "I am charmed with your condescending affectionate expression, 'let us keep each other's kindness by all the means in our power'; my revered Friend how elevating is it to my mind, that I am found worthy to be a companion to Dr. Samuel Johnson All that you have said in grateful praise of Mr. Walmsley, I have long thought of you; but we are both Tories, which has a very general influence upon our sentiments. I hope that you will agree to meet me at York, about the end of this month; or if you will come to Carlisle, that would be better still, in case the Dean be there. Please to consider, that to keep each other's kindness, we should every year have that free and intimate communication of mind which can be had only when we are together. We should have both our solemn and our pleasant talk." "I write now for the third time, to tell you that my desire for our meeting this autumn, is much increased. I wrote to 'Squire Godfrey Bosville, my Yorkshire chief, that I should, perhaps, pay him a visit, as I was to hold a conference with Dr. Johnson at York. I give you my word and honour that I said not a word of his inviting you; but he wrote to me as follows: " 'I need not tell you I shall be happy to see you here the latter end of this month, as you propose; and I shall likewise be in hopes that you will persuade Dr. Johnson to finish the conference here. I will add to the favour of your own company, if you prevail upon such an associate, to assist your observations. I have often been entertained with his writings, and I once belonged to a club of which he was a member, and I never spent an evening there, but I heard something from him well worth remembering.' "We have thus, my dear Sir, good comfortable quarters in the neighbourhood of York, where you may be assured we shall be heartily welcome. I pray you then resolve to set out; and let not the year 1780 be a blank in our social calendar, and in that record of wisdom and wit, which I keep with so much diligence, to your hon!

JOHNSON

441

Mr. Thrale had now another contest for the representation in parliament of the borough of Southwark, and Johnson kindly lent him his assistance, by writing advertisements and letters for him. I shall insert one as a specimen:*

to the worthy electors

of the

Borough of Southwark Gentlemen, A new Parliament

being

now

honour of being elected one of your representatives; and solicit it

called, I again solicit the

for

with the greater confidence, as I am not conscious of having neglected my duty, or of having acted otherwise than as becomes the independent representative of independent constituents; superiour to fear, hope, and expectation, who has no private purposes to promote, and whose

!

our, ^I

and the

instruction

had not then seen

and delight of others."

his letters to

Mrs. Thrale.

prosperity is involved in the prosperity of his country. As my recovery from a very severe distemper is not yet perfect, I have declined to attend the Hall, and hope an omission so necessary will not be harshly censured. I can only send my respectful wishes, that all your deliberations may tend to the happiness of the kingdom, and the peace of the borough. I am. Gentlemen, your most faithful and obedient servant,

Henry Thrale Southwark,

Sept. 5,

1780

On his birth-day, Johnson has this note: "I am now beginning the seventy-second year of my life, with more strength of body, and greater vigour of mind, than I think is common at that age." But still he complains of sleepless nights and idle days, and forgetfulness, or neglect of resolutions. He thus pathetically expresses himself, "Surely I shall not spend my whole life with my own total disapprobation."^

—

Mr. Macbean, whom I have mentioned more than once, as one of Johnson's humble friends, a deserving but unfortunate man, being now oppressed by age and poverty, Johnson solicited the Lord Chancellor Thurlow, to have him admitted into the Charterhouse. I take the liberty to insert his Lordship's answer, as I am eager to embrace every occasion of augmenting the respectable notion which should ever be entertained of

my

illustrious friend:

To Dr. Samuel Johnson London, October 24, 1780 Sir, I have this moment received your letter, dated the 19th, and returned from Bath. In the beginning of the summer I placed one in the Chartreux, without the sanction of a recommendation so distinct and so authoritative as afraid, that acyours of Macbean; and I cording to the establishment of the House, the

am

^Prayers and Meditations, p.

1

85.

BOSWELL

442 opportunity of making the charity so good amends will not soon recur. But whenever a vacancy

shall

tice of

I

it,

happen,

if

you'll favour

will try to

me with no-

recommend him

to the

though it should not be my turn to nominate. I am. Sir, with great regard, your most faithful and obedient servant, place, even

Thurlovv

[1780

conversations with him, that a good store of Johnsoniana

compared

man

was treasured in his mind; and I to Herculaneum, or some old Rowhich when dug, fully rewards the

it

field,

labour employed. The authenticity of every article is unquestionable. For the expression, I, who wrote them down in his presence, am partly answerable.

To James Boswell, Esq. Dear Sir, I am sorry to write you

"Theocritus a letter

that will not please you, and yet it is at last what I resolve to do. This year must pass without an interview; the summer has been foolishly lost, like many other of my summers and winters. I hardly saw a green field, but staid in town to

work, without working much. Mr. Thrale's loss of health has lost him the election; he is now going to Brighthelmston, and expects me to go with him; and how long I shall stay, I cannot tell. I do not much like the place, but yet I shall go, and stay while my stay is desired. We must, therefore, content ourselves with knowing what we know as well as man can know the mind of man, that we love one another, and that ^ve wish each other's happiness, and that the lapse of a year cannot lessen our mutual kindness. I was pleased to be told that I accused Mrs. Boswell unjustly, in supposing that she bears me ill-will. I love you so much, that I would be glad to love all that love you, and that you love; and I have love very ready for Mrs. Boswell, if she thinks it worthy of acceptance. I hope all the young ladies and gentlemen are well. I take a great liking to your brother. He tells me that his father received him kindly, but not

fondly; however, you seem to have lived well enough at Auchinleck, while you staid. Make your father as happy as you can. You lately told me of your health: I can tell you in return, that my health has been for more than a year past, better than it has been for niany years before. Perhaps it may please God to give us some time together before we are parted. I am, dear Sir, yours most affectionately, October

1

7,

1

Sam. Johnson

780

Being disappointed in

Johnson

my

this year, so that I

admirable sayings,

hopes of meeting could hear none of

compensate for this want by inserting a collection of them, for which I am indebted to my worthy friend Mr. Langton, whose kind communications have been his

I shall

separately interwoven in many parts of this work.

Very few

articles of this collection

were com-

mitted to writing by himself, he not having that

which he regrets, and which those who numerous opportunities he had of gathering the rich fruits of Johnsonian wit and wisdom, must ever regret. I however found, in habit;

know

the

is

not deserving of very high re-

spect as a writer; as to the pastoral part, Virgil is

very evidently superiour.

had been a

He wrote when there

knowledge into the world than when Theocritus lived. Theocritus does not abound in description, though living larger influx of

in a beavitiful country: the inanners painted are

coarse and gross. Virgil has scription,

more

much more

more sentiment, more

of art.

Some

of the

of Nature,

de-

and

most excellent parts of

Theocritus are, where Castor and Pollux, going with the other Argonauts, land on the Bebrycian coast, and there fall into a dispute with Amycus, the King of that country; which is as well conducted as Euripides could have done it; and the battle is well related. Afterwards they carry off" a woman, whose two brothers come to recover her, and expostulate with Castor and Pollux on their injustice; but they pay no regard to the brothers, and a battle ensues, where Castor and his brother are triumphant. Theocritus seems not to have seen that the brothers have the advantage in their argument over his Argonaut " heroes. The Sicilian Gossips is a piece of merit.' "Callimachus is a writer of little excellence. The chief thing to be learned from him is his account of Rites and Mythology; which, though desirable to be known for the sake of understanding other parts of ancient authours, is the least pleasing or valuable part of their writings." "Mattaire's account of the Stephani is a heavy book. He seems to have been a puzzle-headed man, with a large share of scholarship, but with little geometry or logick in his head, without method, and possessed of little genius. He wrote Latin verses from time to time, and published a set in his old age,

which he shews ing, as to

make

which he called

Senilia; in

learning or taste in writCarteret a dactyl. In matters of

so

little

genealogy it is necessary to give the bare names as they are; but in poetry, and in prose of any elegance in the writing, they require to have inflection given to them. His book of the Dialects is a sad heap of confusion; the only way to write on them is to tabulate them with Notes, added

bottom of the page, and references." be questioned, whether there is not some mistake as to the methods of employing the at the

"It

may

"

LIFE OF

1780]

on a supposition that there is a certain portion of work left undone for want of persons to do it; but if that is otherwise, and all the materials we have are actually v/orked up, or all the manufactures we can use or dispose of are already executed, then what is given to the poor, who are to be set at work, must be taken from some who now have it; as time must be taken for learning, according to Sir William poor, seemingly

Petty's observation, a certain part of those very it is, are properly worked up, must be spoiled by the unskilfulness of novices. We may apply to well-meaning, but misjudg-

materials that, as

what monk, who wanted what he called to convert him Tu set santo, ma tu non It is an unhappy circumstance that seifilosofo.^ one might give away five hundred pounds in a year to those that importune in the streets, and not do any good." "There is nothing more likely to betray a ing persons in particulars of this nature,

Giannone

'

—

when he understanding too power-

into absurdity than condescension;

seems to suppose

his

company." "Having asked Mr. Langton if his father and mother had sat for their pictures, v/hich he

ful for his

tliought to do,

it

right for each generation of a family

and being

told they

had opposed

it,

he

among the anfractuosities of the human mind, I know not if it may not be one, that

said, 'Sir,

there ture.'

is

JOHNSON

a superstitious reluctance to

sit

for a pic-

"

"John Gilbert Cooper

related, that soon af-

Garrick being asked by Johnson what people said of it, told him, that among other animadversions, it was objected that he cited authorities which were beneath the dignity of such a work, and mentioned Richardson. 'Nay, (said Johnson,) I have done worse than that: I have cited thee, David.' "Talking of expence, he observed, with what munificence a great merchant will spend his money, both from his having it at command, and from his enlarged views by calculation of a good effect upon the whole. 'Whereas (said he,) you will hardly ever find a country gendeman who is not a good deal disconcerted at an unexpected occasion for his being obliged to lay out ten pounds.' " ter the publication of his Dictionary,

ter.'

"

"Talking of a point of delicate scrupulosity of moral conduct, he said to Mr. Langton, 'Men of harder minds than ours will do many things from v/hich you and I would shrink; yet. Sir, they v/ill perhaps do more good in life than we. But let us try to help one another. If there be a wrong twist it may be set right. It is not probable that two people can be wrong the same way.'

"Of the Preface 'If

the

I

recollect of a foreign publication, in "^

mention

is

made

said,

would

which

of Fillustre Lockman.'

"Of Sir Joshua Reynolds, he said, 'Sir, I know no man who has passed through life with more observation than Reynolds.'" "He repeated to Mr. Langton, with great energy, in the Greek, our Saviour's gracious ex-

pression concerning the forgiveness of

Magdalen, H 'Thy eiprivrjv' peace. '^ is

He

wIcttls

faith

said, 'the

aov crkaconk

ere'

Mary

Tropeuov els

hath saved thee; go in

manner

of this discussion

" exceedingly affecting.' "He thus defined the difference between phys-

and moral tell

candour, and would even

when

them with

he I

have endeavoured to endow his purposes with " it is, he doth gabble monstrously.' "He related, that he had once in a dream a contest of wit with some other person, and that he was very much mortified by imagining that his opponent had the better erf him. 'Now, (said he,) one may mark here the effect of sleep in weakening the power a)f reflection; for had not my judgement failed me, I should have seen, that the wit of this supposed antagonist, by whose superiority I felt myself depressed, was as much furnished by me, as that which I thought " I had been uttering in my own character.' "One evening in company, an ingenious and learned gentleman read to him a letter of compliment which he had received from one of the Professors of a foreign University. Johnson, in an irritable fit, thinking there was too much ostentation, said, 'I never receive any of these tributes of applause from abroad. One instance

you

criticise

have come to me,

words; for as

ical

One

to Capel's Shakspeare,

man would

"When in good humour he would talk of his own writings with a wonderful frankness and the closest severity.

443

one was reading his tragedy of Irene to a company at a house in the country, he left the room; and somebody having asked him the reason of this, he replied, 'Sir, I thought it had been bet-

said to a

:

man

"

truth; 'Physical truth,

is,

when

a thing as it actually is. Moral truth, is, you tell a thing sincerely and precisely as

day, having read over

one of his Ramblers, Mr. Langton asked him, how he liked that paper; he shook his head, and answered, 'too wordy.' At another time, when

^Secretary to the British Herring Fishery, refor an extraordinary number of occasional verses, not of eminent merit.

markable 2Luke,

7.

50.

;

BOSWELL

444

appears to you. I say such a one walked across the street; if he really did so, I told a physical truth. If I thought so, though I should have been " mistaken, I told a moral truth.' "Huggins, the translator of Ariosto, and Mr.

it

Thomas Warton, life,

in the early part of his literary

had a dispute concerning that poet, of whom

Mr. Warton

in his Observations on Spenser'' s Fairy

some account, which Huggins attempted to answer with violence, and said, 'I will militate no longer against his nescience.'' Huggins was master of the subject, but wanted expression. Mr. Warton's knowledge of it was then im.perfect, but his manner lively and elegant. Johnson said, 'It appears to me, that Huggins has ball without powder, and Warton powQueen, gave

der without

ball.'

"

"Talking of the Farce of High Life below Stairs, he said, 'Here is a Farce, which is really very diverting when you see it acted; and yet one may read it, and not know that one has " been reading any thing at all.' "He used at one time to go occasionally to the green room of Drury-lane Theatre, where he was m.uch regarded by the players, and was very easy and facetious with them. He had a very high opinion of Mrs. Clive's comick powers, and conversed more with her than with any of them. He said, 'Clive, Sir, is a good thing to sit by; she always understands what you say.' And she said of him, 'I love to sit by Dr. Johnson; he always entertains me.' One night, when The Recruiting Officer was acted, he said to Mr. Holland, who had been expressing an apprehension that Dr. Johnson would disdain the works of Farquhar; 'No, Sir, I think Farquhar a man whose writings have considerable merit.'" "His friend Garrick was so busy in conducting the drama, that they could not have so much intercourse as Mr. Garrick used to profess an anxious wish that there should be.^ There might, indeed, be something in the contemptuous sewhich his old

verity as to the merit of acting,

preceptor nourished in himself, that would mortify Garrick after the great applause which he received from the audience. For though Johnson said of him, 'Sir, a man who has a nation to admire him every night, may well be expected to be somewhat elated' yet he would treat theatrical matters with a ludicrous slight. He mentioned one evening, 'I met David coming off the :

a woman's riding-hood, when he acted in The Wonder; I came full upon him, and " I believe he was not pleased.'

stage, drest in

^In a letter written by Johnson to a friend in 1742-3, he says: "I never see Garrick." [M.]

—

[1780

"Once he asked Tom

whom

he saw drest in a fine suit of clothes, 'And what art thou to-night?' Tom answered, 'The Thane of Ross'; (which it will be recollected is a very inconsiderable character.) 'O brave!' said Johnson." "Of Mr. Longley, at Rochester, a gentleman of very considerable learning, whom Dr. Johnson met there, he said, 'My heart warms towards him. I was surprised to find in him such a nice acquaintance with the metre in the learned languages; though I was somewhat mortified that I had it not so much to myself, as I should have thought.'

Davies,

"

"Talking of the minuteness with which people will record the sayings of eminent persons, a story was told, that when Pope was on a visit to Spence at Oxford, as they looked from the window they saw a Gentleman Commoner, who was just come in from riding, amusing himself with whipping at a post. Pope took occasion to say, 'That young gentleman seems to have little to do.' Mr. Beauclerk observed, 'Then, to be sure, Spence turned round and wrote that down' and went on to say to Dr. Johnson, 'Pope, Sir, would have said the same of you if he had seen you distilling.' Johnson. 'Sir, if Pope had told me of my distilling, I would have told him of " his grotto.'

"He would allow no settled indulgence of idleupon principle, and always repelled every attempt to urge excuses for it. A friend one day suggested, that it was not wholesome to study soon after dinner. Johnson. 'Ah, Sir, don't give way to such a fancy. At one time of my life I had taken it into my head that it was not wholesome " to study between breakfast and dinner.' Mr. Beauclerk one day repeated to Dr. Johnson Pope's lines, ness

'

'

Let modest Foster,

Ten

Then asked

if he will, excel

metropolitans in preaching well:

the Doctor,

'Why did Pope say this?'

Johnson. 'Sir, hehopeditwould vex somebody.'" "Dr. Goldsmith, upon occasion of Mrs. Lennox's bringing out a play, said to Dr. Johnson

THE CLUB, that a person had advised him to go and hiss it, because she had attacked Shakspeare in her book called Shakspeare Illustrated. Johnson. 'And did not you tell him he was a rascal?' Goldsmith. 'No, Sir, I did not. Perhaps he might not mean what he said.' Johnson. 'Nay, Sir, if he lied, it is a diff"erent thing.' Colman slily said, (but it is believed Dr. Johnson did not hear him,) 'Then the proper expression should have been, Sir, if you don't lie, you're " a rascal.' at

—

"

LIFE OF

lySo]

"His affection for Topham Beau clerk was so great, that when Beauclerk was labouring under that severe illness which at last occasioned his death Johnson said, (with a voice faultering with emotion,) 'Sir, I v/ould walk to the extent " of the diameter of the earth to save Beauclerk.' "One night at the club he produced a translation of an Epitaph which Lord Elibank had written in English, for his Lady, and requested of Johnson to turn into Latin for him. Having read Domina de North et Gray, he said to Dyer, 'You see. Sir, what barbarisms we are compelled to make use of, when modern titles are to be specifically mentioned in Latin inscriptions.' When he had read it once aloud, and there had been a general approbation expressed by the company, he addressed himself to Mr. Dyer in particular, and said, 'Sir, I beg to have your judgement, for I know your nicety.' Dyer then very properly desired to read it over again; which having done, he pointed out an incongruity in one of the sentences. Johnson immediately assented to the observation, and said, 'Sir, this is owing to an alteration of a part of the sentence, from the form in which I had first written it;

and the

I

believe, Sir,

making a

you may have remarked, that due re-

partial change, without a

gard to the general structure of the sentence, is a very frequent cause of errour in composition.' "Johnson was well acquainted with Mr. Dossie,

authour of a

treatise

on Agriculture; and which the Soci-

said of him, 'Sir, of the objects

ety of Arts have chiefly in view, the chymical

operating upon other bodies, he knows more than almost any man.' Johnson, in order to give Mr. Dossie his vote to be a member of this Society, paid up an arrear which had run on for two years. On this occasion he mentioned a circumstance as characteristick of effects of bodies

the Scotch. 'One of that nation, (said he,) who had been a candidate, against whom I had voted, came up to me with a civil salutation. Now, Sir, this is their way. An Englishman would have stomached it, and been sulky, and never have

taken further notice of you; but a Scotchman, Sir, though you vote nineteen times against him, will accost you with equal complaisance after each time, and the twentieth time, Sir, he will " get your vote.'

"Talking on the subject of toleration, one day

when some friends were with him in his study, he made his usual remark, that the State has a right to regulate the religion of the people, who are the children of the State.

A clergyman hav-

ing readily acquiesced in this, Johnson, who loved discussion, observed, 'But, Sir, you must

a"

JOHNSON

445

go round to other States than your own. You do not know what a Bramin has to say for himself.^ In short. Sir, I have got no further than this: Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth, and every other man has a right to knock

him down

for

it.

Martyrdom

is

the

test.'

"

"A man,

he observed, should begin to write soon; for, if he waits till his judgement is matured, his inability, through want of practice to express his conceptions, will

great between

make

what he

the disproportion so

and what he can be discouraged from

sees,

attain, that he will probably

As a proof of the justness of this instance what is related of the great Lord Granville; that after he had written his letter, giving an account of the battle of Dettingen, he said, 'Here is a letter, expressed in terms not good enough for a tallow-chandler to have used.' " "Talking of a Court-martial that was sitting upon a very momentous publick occasion, he expressed much doubt of an enlightened decision; and said, that perhaps there was not a member of it, who in the whole course of his life, had ever spent an hour by himself in bal-

writing at

remark,

all.

we may

ancing probabilities." "Goldsmith one day brought to the club a printed Ode, which he, with others, had been hearing read by its authour in a publick room at the rate of five shillings each for admission. One of the company having read it aloud. Dr. Johnson said, 'Bolder words and more timorous meaning, I think never were brought together.' "Talking of Gray's Odes, he said, 'They are forced plants raised in a hot-bed; and they are poor plants; they are but cucumbers after all.' A gentleman present, who had been running down Ode-writing in general, as a bad species of poetry, unluckily said, 'Had they been literally cucumbers, they had been better things than Odes.' 'Yes, Sir, (said Johnson,) for a

—

"His distinction of the different degrees of attainment of learning was thus marked upon two occasions. Of Queen Elizabeth he said, 'She had learning enough to have given dignity to a bishop'; and of Mr. Thomas Davies he said, 'Sir, Davies has learning enough to give credit to a clergyman."' "He used to quote, with great warmth, the saying of Aristotle recorded by Diogenes Laer^Here Lord Macartney remarks, "A Bramin or any cast of the Hindoos will neither admit you to

—

be of their religion, nor be converted to yours; thing which struck the Portuguese with the greatest astonishment, when they discovered the East Indies."

—

—

BOSWELL

446 tius;

was the same

that there

difference between

one learned and unlearned, as between the living and the dead." "It is very remarkable, that he retained in his memory very slight and trivial, as well as important things. As an instance of this, it seems that an inferiour domestick of the Duke of Leeds had attempted to celebrate his Grace's marriage in such homely rhimes as he could make; and this curious composition having been sung to Dr. Johnson he got it by heart, and used to repeat it in a very pleasant manner. Two of the stanzas were these:

[1780 when a number of them were

coffee-house,

talk-

ing loud about little matters, he said, 'Does not For any this confirm old Mcynell's observation " thing I sec, foreigners are fools.'

"He ''Ah,

when he had a violent Frenchman accosted him thus: —

said, that once,

tooth-ache, a

Monsieur vous etudiez

trap.'

"

To hear a man, of the weight and dignity of Johnson, repeating such humble attempts at poetry, had a very amusing effect. He, however, seriously observed of the last stanza repeated by him, that it nearly comprized all the advan-

"Having spent an evening at Mr. Langton's with the Reverend Dr. Parr, he was much pleased with the conversation of that learned gentleman; and after he was gone, said to Mr. Langton, 'Sir, I am obliged to you for having asked me this evening. Parr is a fair man. I do not know when I have had an occasion of such free controversy. It is remarkable how much of a man's life may pass without meeting with any instance of this " kind of open discussion.' "We may fairly institute a criticism between Shakspeare and Corneille, as they both had, though in a different degree, the lights of a latter age. It is not so just between the Greek dramatick writers and Shakspeare. It may be replied to what is said by one of the remarkers on Shakspeare, that though Darius's shade had prescience, it does not necessarily follow that he had all past particulars revealed to him." "Spanish plays, being wildly and improbably

tages that wealth can give."

farcical,

"An eminent foreigner, when he was shewn the British Museum, was very troublesome with many absurd inquiries. 'Now there, Sir, (said

are entertained with stories full of prodigies; their experience not being sufficient to cause them to

Englishman and a Frenchman. A Frenchman must be always talking, whether he knows any thing of the matter or not; an Englishman is content to

ural course of life.

When

the Duke of Leeds shall married To a fine young lady of high quality.

How happy

be

will that gentlewoman be

In his Grace of Leeds's good company.

She shall have

all that's fine

andfair,

And the best of silk and satin shall wear; And ride in a coach to take the air. And have a house in St. James' s-square.^

he,)

is

the difference between an

say nothing,

when he has nothing

to say.'

"

"His unjust contempt for foreigners was, deed, extreme.

One

in-

evening, at old Slaughter's

^The correspondent of The Gentleman's Magazine [1792, p. 214] who subscribes himself Sciolus furnishes the following supplement: "A lady of my acquaintance remembers to have heard her uncle sing those homely stanzas more than forty-five years ago. He repeated the second She shall breed young lords and ladies fair. And ride abroad in a coach and three pair.

And the best, &c. And have a house, &c. And remembered a third which seems to have been the introductory one, and is believed to have been the only remaining one:

When the Duke of Leeds shall have made his choice Of a charming young lady that's beautiful and wise. She'll be the happiest young

long as the sun and

And how happy

shall,

gentlewoman under

moon &c."

the skies.

shall rise.

with pleasure I add that this stanza could never be more truly applied than at this present It is

time.

here, as children

be so readily startled at deviations from the natThe machinery of the Pagans is uninteresting to us: when a Goddess appears in Homer or Virgil, we grow weary; still more so in the Grecian tragedies, as in that kind of composition a nearer approach to Nature is intended. Yet there are good reasons for reading romances; as the fertility of invention, the beau-

—

and expression, the curiosity of seeing with what kind of performances the age and country in which they were written was delightty of style

ed: for

it is

to

be apprehended, that at the time

when very wild improbable

tales

were well

re-

barbarous state, and so on the footing of children, as has been

ceived, the people

thus:

As

would please children

were

in a

explained." "It is evident enough that no one who writes now can use the Pagan deities and mythology; the only machinery, therefore, seems that of ministering spirits, the ghosts of the departed, witches, and fairies, though these latter, as the

vulgar superstition concerning them (which, while in its force, infected at least the imagination of those that had more advantage in education,

though their reason set them free from it,) is every day wearing out, seem likely to be of little

"

LIFE OF

lySo]

further assistance in the machinery of poetry. As I recollect, Hammond introduces a hag or witch

one of

into

his love elegies,

where the

unmeaning and disgusting." "The man who uses his talent

effect

is

of ridicule in

creating or grossly exaggerating the instances he gives, who imputes absurdities that did not hap-

when a man was a little ridiculous dehim as having been very much so, abuses his talents greatly. The great use of delineating absurdities is, that we may know how far human

pen, or

"

"

JOHNSON ity to strangers, in

some degree;

in

447 Hungary

and Poland probably more." "Colman, in a note on his translation of Terence, talking of Shakspeare's learning, asks, 'What says Farmer to this? What says Johnson?' Upon this he observed, 'Sir, let Farmer answer for himself: / never engaged in this controversy. I always said, Shakspeare had Latin enough to

a thing in general, For instance, if he

grammaticise his English.' "A clergyman, whom he characterised as one who loved to say little oddities, was affecting one day, at a Bishop's table, a sort of slyness and freedom not in character, and repeated, as if part of The Old Man's Wish, a song by Dr. Walter Pope, a verse bordering on licentiousness. Johnson rebuked him in the finest manner, by first shewing him that he did not know the passage he was aiming at, and thus humbling him: 'Sir, that is not the song: it is thus.' And he gave it right. Then looking stedfastly on him, 'Sir, there is a part of that song which I should wish to exemplify in my own life: May I govern my passions with absolute swayP "

had said Reynolds was the first of painters, he was capable enough of giving up, as objections might happen to be severally made, first his out-

"Being asked if Barnes knew a good deal of Greek, he answered, 'I doubt. Sir, he was unoc" ulus inter caecos?

scribes

folly

can go; the account, therefore, ought of ab-

solute necessity to be faithful.

A certain charac-

(naming the person) as to the general cast of it, is well described by Garrick, but a great deal of the phraseology he uses in it, is quite his own, ter

particularly in the proverbial comparisons, "obstinate as a pig," &c., but I don't it

might not be true of Lord

know whether ,

that from a

too great eagerness of praise and popularity, and a politeness carried to a ridiculous excess,

he was

likely, after asserting

to give

it

up again

in parts.

— then the grace in form, — then the colourto have owned that he was — and

line,

ing,

lastly,

such a mannerist, that the disposition of his pic-

was all alike." "For hospitality, as formerly practised, there is no longer the same reason; heretofore the poorer people were more numerous, and from want of commerce, their means of getting a livelihood more difficult; therefore the supporting them was an act of great benevolence; now that the poor can find maintenance for themselves, and tures

wanted, a general undiscerning ill, by withdrawing them from their work to idleness and drunkenness. Then, formerly rents were received in kind, so that there was a great abundance of provisions in possession of the owners of the lands, which, their labour

is

hospitality tends to

since the plenty of money afforded is

by commerce,

no longer the case." "Hospitality to strangers and foreigners in our is now almost at an end, since, from the

country

them that come to us, there have been a sufficient number of people that have found an interest in providing inns and proper accommodations, which is in general a more expedient method for the entertainment of travincrease of

ellers.

few,

Where

more

the travellers and strangers are

of that hospitality subsists, as

it

has

not been worth while to provide places of accommodation. In Ireland there is still hospital-

"He

used frequently to observe, that

men

might be very eminent in a profession, without our perceiving any particular power of mind in

them

seems strange (said should see so far to the right, who sees so short a way to the left. Burke is the only man whose common conversation corresponds with the general fame which he has in the world. Take up whatever topick you please, he " is ready to meet you.' "A gentleman, by no means deficient in literature, having discovered less acquaintance with one of the Classicks than Johnson expected, when the gentleman left the room, he obin conversation. 'It

he,) that a

man

'You see, now, how little any body reads.' Mr. Langton happening to mention his having read a good deal in Clenardus's Greek Grammar, 'Why, Sir, (said he,) who is there is this town who knows any thing of Clenardus but you and I?' And upon Mr. Langton 's mentioning that he had taken the pains to learn by heart the Epistle of St. Basil, which is given in that Gramserved,

as a praxis, 'Sir, (said he,) I never made such an effort to attain Greek.' "Of Dodsley's Publick Virtue, a Poem, he said,

mar

'It was fine blank (meaning to express his usual contempt for blank verse) however, this miserable poem did not sell, and my poor friend Doddy said, Publick Virtue was not a subject to ;

interest the age.'

—

"

BOSWELL

448

[1780

"Mr. Langton, when a very young man, read Dodsley's Cleone, a Tragedy, to him, not aware of his extreme impatience to be read to. As it went on he turned liis face to the back of his chair, and put himself into various attitudes, which marked his uneasiness. At the end of an act, however, he said, 'Come let's have some

power of acquisition, he then desisted, as thinking the experiment had been duly tried. Mr. Burke justly observed, that this was not the most vigorous trial. Low Dutch being a language so near to our own; had it been one of the languages entirely different, he might have been

more, let's go into the slaughter-house again, Lanky. But I am afraid there is more blood than brains.' Yet he afterwards said, 'When I heard you read it, I thought higher of its power of language: when I read it myself, I was more sensible of its pathetick effect' and then he paid it a compliment which many will think very extrav-

"Mr. Langton and he having gone to see a Freemason's funeral procession, when they were at Rochester, and some solemn musick being played on French horns, he said, 'This is the first time that I have ever been affected by musi-

;

'Sir, (said he,) if Otway had written this no other of his pieces would have been remembered.' Dodsley himself, upon this being repeated to him, said, 'It was too much': it must be remembered, that Johnson always appeared not to be sufficiently sensible of the merit of Otway." "Snatches of reading (said he,) will not make a Bendey or a Clarke. They are, however, in a certain degree advantageous. I would put a child into a library (where no unfit books are) and let him read at his choice. A child should not be discouraged from reading any thing that he takes a liking to, from a notion that it is above

agant.

play,

be the case, the child will soon out and desist; if not, he of course gains

his reach. If that

find

it

the instruction; which is so much the more likely to come, from the inclination with which he

up the study." "Though he used to censure

takes

carelessness with

great vehemence, he owned, that he once, to avoid the trouble of locking up five guineas, hid

them, he forgot where, so that he could not find them." "A gentleman who introduced his brother to Dr. Johnson was earnest to recommend him to the Doctor's notice, which he did by saying, 'When we have sat together some time, you'll 'Sir, find my brother grow very entertaining.' (said Johnson,) I can wait.' "When the rumour was strong that we should have a war, because the French would assist the Americans, he rebuked a friend with some asperity for supposing it, saying, 'No, Sir, national faith is not yet sunk so low.'" "In the latter part of his life, in order to satisfy himself whether his mental faculties were impaired, he resolved that he would try to learn a new language, and fixed upon the Low Dutch, for that purpose, and this he continued till he had read about one half of Thomas a Kempis; and finding that there appeared no abatement of his

—

very soon satisfied."

cal sounds'; adding, 'that the impression

made

upon him was of a melancholy kind.' Mr. Langton saying, that this effect was a fine one, Johnson. 'Yes, if it softens the mind, so as to prepare it for the reception of salutary feelings, it may be good: but inasmuch as it is melancholy

/)er se, it is

bad."'

"Goldsmith had long a visionary project, that some time or other when his circumstances should be easier, he would go to Aleppo, in order to acquire a knowledge as far as might be of any arts peculiar to the East, and introduce them into Britain. When this was talked of in Dr. Johnson's company, he said, 'Of all men Goldsmith is the most unfit to go out upon such an inquiry; for he is

utterly ignorant of such arts as we already pos-

and consequently could not know what would be accessions to our present stock of mechanical knowledge. Sir, he would bring home a grinding barrow, which you see in every street in London, and think that he had furnished a sess,

wonderful improvement.'" "Greek, Sir, (said he,) is like lace; every man gets as much of it as he can.'*^ "When Lord Charles Hay, after his return from America, was preparing his defence to be offered to the Court-Martial which he had demanded, having heard Mr. Langton as high in expressions of admiration of Johnson, as he usually was, he requested that Dr. Johnson might be introduced to him; and Mr. Langton having mentioned it to Johnson, he very kindly and readily agreed and being presented by Mr Langton to his Lordship, while under arrest, he saw him several times; upon one of which occasions Lord Charles read to him what he had prepared, which Johnson signified his approbation of, saying, 'It is a very good soldierly defence.' Johnson said, that he had advised his Lordship, that as it was in vain to contend with those who were in possession of power, if they would offer him ;

.

iJt should be remembered, that this was said twenty-five or thirty years ago, [written in 1 799,] when lace was very generally worn. [M.]

LIFE OF

lySo]

the rank of Lieu tenant-General, and a government, it would be better judged to desist from

urging his complaints. It is well known that his Lordship died before the sentence was made

known." "Johnson one day gave high praise

to Dr.

Bentley's verses^ in Dodsley's Collection,

which

he recited with his usual energy. Dr. Adam Smith, who was present, observed in his decisive professorial manner,' Very well Very well. 'Johnson however added, 'Yes, they are very well, Sir; but you may observe in what manner they are well. They are the forcible verses of a man of a strong mind, but not accustomed to write verse; for there is some uncouthness in the expression.'"^ ^Dr. Johnson, in his Life of Cowley, says, that these are "the only English verses which Bentley is known to have written." I shall here insert them, and hope my readers will apply them.

JOHNSON —

ed, that in the line

And panting Time

—

Who

strives to

mount Parnassus^

Nature's treasures would explore. mysteries and arcana know; Must high as lofty Newton soar.

Her

stoop as delving

Woodward

low.

laws and rites. Tongues, arts, and arms, and history; Must drudge, like Selden, days and nights. studies ancient

And

Who

in the endless labour die.

travels in religious jars,

{Truth mixt with err our, shades with rays;) Like Whiston, wanting pyx or stars. In ocean wide or sinks or strays.

But grant our

And

hero's hope, long toil comprehensive genius crown.

All sciences, all arts his spoil, Tet what reward, or what renown?

Envy, innate in vulgar souls. Envy steps in and stops his rise, Envy with poison' d tarnish fouls His lustre, and his worth decries. He lives inglorious or in want.

To

college

and old books

in vain,

She will outstrip

And make

it

all praise.

halt behind her.

Johnson said nothing. Garrick then ventured to observe, 'I do not think that the happiest line in the praise of Shakspeare.' Johnson exclaimed (smiling,) 'Prosaical rogues! next time I write, make both time and space pant.' "' is

well

known

that there

was formerly a

rude custom for those who were sailing upon the Thames, to accost each other as they passed, in the most abusive language they could invent, generally, however, with as much satirical humour as they were capable of producing. Addison gives a specimen of this ribaldry, in Number 383 of The Spectator, when Sir Roger de Coverly and he are going to Spring-garden. Johnson was once eminently successful in this species of contest; a fellow having attacked him with some coarse raillery, Johnson answered him thus, 'Sir, your wife, under pretence of keeping a bawdy-house, is a receiver of stolen goods.' One evening when he and Mr. Burke and Mr. Langton were in company together, and the admirable scolding of Timon of Athens was mentioned, this instance of Johnson's was quoted, and thought to have at least equal excellence."

am

sorry to see in the Transactions of the Royal ii, An Essay on the Character of Hamlet, written, I should suppose, by a very young man, though called "Reverend" ; who speaks with presumptuous petulance of the first literary character of his age. Amidst a cloudy confusion of words, (which hath of late too often passed in Scotland for Metaphysicks,) he thus ventures to criticise one of the noblest lines in our language: "Dr. Johnson has remarked, that 'time toil'd after him in vain.' But I should apprehend, that this is en^I

Society of Edinburgh, vol.

confin'd;

Instead of learn' d, he's call'd pedant. Dunces advanc'd, he's left behind: Tet left content a genuine Stoick he. Great without patron, rich without South Sea.

2The difference between Johnson and Smith is apparent even in this slight instance. Smith was a

man

of extraordinary application, and had his mind crowded with all manner of subjects; but the force, acuteness, and vivacity of Johnson were not to be found there. He had book-making so much in his thoughts, and was so chary of what might be

turned to account in that way, that he once said to Sir Joshua Reynolds, that he made it a rule, when in company, never to talk of what he understood. Beauclerk had for a short time a pretty high opinion of Smith's conversation. Garrick, after listening to him for a while, as to one of whom his expectations had been raised, turned slyly to a friend, and whispered him, "What say you to this? eh?

—

flabby, I think."

him

Johnson might have had in his eye the passage in The Tempest, where Prospero says of Miranda,

"It

Who

Must

toil'd after

I'll hill.

And thence poetick laurels bring. Must first acquire due force and skill. Must fly with swanks or eagle's wing.

Who

449

"Drinking tea one day at Garrick's with Mr. Langton, he was questioned if he was not somewhat of a here tick as to Shakspeare; said Garrick, 'I doubt he is a little of an infidel.' 'Sir, (said Johnson,) I will stand by the lines I have written on Shakspeare in my Prologue at the opening of your Theatre.' Mr. Langton suggest-

—

tirely to mistake the character. Time toils after every great man, as well as after Shakspeare. The workings of an ordinary mind keep pace, indeed, with time; they move no faster; they have their beginning, their middle, and their end; but superiour natures can reduce these into a point. They do not, indeed, suppress them; but they suspend, or they lock them up in

the breast."

The

learned Society, under whose sancis ushered into the world, would

tion such gabble do well to offer a

cover

its

premium to any one who

meaning.

will dis-

"

BOSWELL

450

[1780

"As Johnson always allowed the extraordinary talents of Mr. Burke, so Mr. Burke was ful-

by expressing a circumstance so minute as to detract from the general dignity which should pre-

wonderful powers of Johnson. ha\ing passed an evening with both of them, when Mr. Burke repeat-

vail:

ly sensible of the

Mr. Langton edly entered

recollects

upon

topicks

which

it

was evident

he would have illustrated with extensive knowledge and richness of expression; but Johnson always seized upon the conversation, in which, however, he acquitted himself in a most masterly manner. As Mr. Burke and Mr. Langton were walking home, Mr. Burke observed that Johnson had been very great that night; Mr. Langton joined in this, but added, he could have wished to hear more from another person; (plainly intimating that he meant Mr. Burke.) 'O, no (said Mr. Burke.) it is enough for me to have rung the bell to him.'" "Beauclerk having observed to him of one of their friends, that he was aukward at counting money, 'Why, Sir, (said Johnson,) I am likewise aukward at counting money. But then, Sir, the reason is plain; I have had very little money to count.'"

"He had an

abhorrence of affectation. Talkwhom he said, 'Sir, you \vill seldom see such a gentleman, such are his stores of literature, such his knowledge in divinity, and such his exemplary life'; he added, 'and Sir, he has no grimace, no gesticulation, no bursts of admiration on trivial occasions he never embraces you with an overacted cordiality.'" "Being in company with a gentleman who thought fit to maintain Dr. Berkeley's ingenious philosophy, that nothing exists but as perceived by some mind; when the gentleman was going away, Johnson said to him, 'Pray, Sir, don't leave us; for we may perhaps forget to think of you, and then you Vv^ill cease to exist.'" "Goldsmith, upon being visited by Johnson one day in the Temple, said to him with a little jealousy of the appearance of his accommodation, 'I shall soon be in better chambers than these.' Johnson at the same time checked him and paid him a handsome compliment, implying that a man of his talents should be above attention to such distinctions, 'Nay, Sir, never ing of old Mr. Langton, of

;

—

mind that. Nil te quaesiveris extra.^" "At the time when his pension was granted

to

him, he said, with a noble literary ambition, 'Had this happened twenty years ago, I should have gone to Constantinople to learn Arabick, as Pococke did.'"

"As an instance of the niceness of his taste, though he praised West's translation of Pindar, he pointed out the following passage as faulty,

Down

tlienjrom thy ghUering nail,

Take,

O

Muse,

thy

Dorian

lyre.''

"When Mr. Vesey was proposed as a member of The Literary Club, Mr. Burke began by saying that he was a man of gentle manners. 'Sir, (said Johnson,) you need say no more. When you have said a man of gentle manners; you have said enough.'"

"The

late Mr. Fitzherbert told Mr. Langton Johnson said to him, 'Sir, a man has no more right to say an uncivil thing, than to act one; no more right to say a rude thing to another than to knock him down.'"

that

"My

dear friend Dr. Bathurst, (said he with of approbation,) declared he was glad that his father, Vv'ho was a West-Indian planter, had left his affairs in total ruin, because having no estate, he was not under the temptation of having slaves." "Richardson had little conversation, except about his own works, of Vv'hich Sir Joshua Reynolds said he was always willing to talk, and glad to have them introduced. Johnson when he carried Mr. Langton to see him, professed that he could bring him out into conversation, and used this allusive expression,'Sir, I can make him rear.'' But he failed; for in that interview Richardson said little else than that there lay in the room a translation of his Clarissa into German."^ "Once when somebody produced a newspaper in which there was a letter of stupid abuse of Sir Joshua Reynolds, of which Johnson hima

warmth

self

came

in for a share,

— 'Pray,' said he,

'let

us

have it read aloud from beginning to end' which being done, he with a ludicrous earnestness, and ;

^A literary lady has favoured me with a characteristick anecdote of Richardson. One day at his country-house at Northend, where a large company was assembled at dinner, a gentleman who was just returned from Paris, willing to please Mr. Richardson, mentioned to him a very flattering circumstance, that he had seen his Clarissa lying on the King's brother's table. Richardson observing that part of the company were engaged in talking to each other, affected then not to attend to it. But by and by, when there was a general silence, and he thought that the flattery might be fully heard, he addressed himself to the gentleman, "I

—

—

you were saying something about, pausing in a high flutter of expectation. The gentleman, provoked at his inordinate vanity, resolved not to indulge it, and with an exquisitely sly air of indifference answered, "A mere trifle, Sir, not worth repeating."' The mortification of Richardson was visible, and he did not speak ten words more the whole day. Dr. Johnson was present, and appeared to enjoy it much. think, Sir,

""

LIFE OF

jSo]

not directing his look to any particular person, !' called out, 'Are we alive after all this satire "He had a strong prejudice against the political character of Seeker, one instance of which appeared at Oxford, where he expressed great dissatisfaction at his varying the old established toast, 'Church and King.' 'The Archbishop of Canterbury,' said he (with an affected smooth smiling grimace,) 'drinks, "Constitution in Church and State." ' Being asked what difference there was between the two toasts, he said,

'Why, Sir, you may be sure he meant something.' Yet when the life of that prelate, prefixed to his sermons by Dr. Porteus and Dr. Stinton his chaplains, first came out, he read it with the utmost avidity, and said, 'It is a life well written, and

JOHNSON

451

"Then it cannot be conceived that a creature can make laws for its Creator."^ "Depend upon it, said he, that if a man talks of his misfortunes, there is something in them is not disagreeable to him; for where there nothing but pure misery, there never is any

that is

recourse to the mention of

it."

"A man must be a poor beast that should

read

no more in quantity than he could utter aloud." "Imlac in Rasselas, I spelt with a c at the end, because it is less like English, which should always have the Saxon k added to the c."-

"Many

a

man

and goes through

mad

is

in certain instances,

without having it perceived: for example, a madness has seized a person of supposing himself obliged literally to pray continually had the madness turned the opposite way and the person thought it a crime ever to pray, it might not improbably have continued unobserved." life

—

that well deserves to be recorded.'

"Of a

—

""

certain noble Lord, he said, 'Respect

him, you could not; for he had no mind of his own. Love him you could not; for that v/hich you could do with him, every one else could.' "Of Dr. Goldsmith he said, 'No man was more foolish when he had not a pen in his hand, or more wise when he had."'

"He apprehended that the delineation of characters in the

the end of the

first

Ten Thousand was the

Book of the

first

Retreat of

instance of the kind

new.'" "Talking of Dr. Blagden's copiousness and precision of communication, Dr. Johnson said,

was known." "Supposing (said he,) a wife to be of a studious or argumentative turn, it would be very troublesome: for instance, if a woman should continually dwell upon the subject of the Arian heresy." "No man speaks concerning another, even suppose it be in his praise, if he thinks he does not hear him, exactly as he would, if he thought he was within hearing." " 'The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.' This he said to me with great earnestness of manner, very near the time of his decease, on occasion of having desired me to read a letter addressed to him from some person in the North of England; which when I had done, and he asked me what the contents were, as I thought being particular upon it might fa-

'Blagden, Sir,

tigue him,

"He

manner the following literary anecdote: 'Green and Guthrie, an Irishman and a Scotchman, undertook a translation told in his lively

Green said of Guthrie, that he knew no English, and Guthrie of Green, that he knew no French; and these two of T)uh.alde^s History of China.

undertook to translate Duhalde's History of ChiIn this translation there was found 'the twenty-sixth day of the new moon.' Now as the whole age of the moon is but twenty-eight days, the moon instead of being new, was nearly as old as it could be. Their blunder arose from their misna.

taking the

word

neuvieme ninth, for nouvelle or

neuve,

is a delightful fellow.' occasion of Dr. Johnson's publishing his pamphlet of The False Alarm, there came out a very angry answer (by many supposed to be by Mr. Wilkes). Dr. Johnson determined on not

"On

answeringit; but, in conversation with Mr. Langton, mentioned a particular or two, which if he replied to it, he might perhaps have inserted. In the answerer's pamphlet, it had been said with solemnity, 'Do you consider. Sir, that a

A(3(f

House of Commons

is

to the people as a Crea-

To this question, said Dr. could have replied, that in the first place the idea of a Creator must be such as that He has a power to unmake or annihilate His creature." ture

is

to its Creator?'

Johnson,

—

I

—

that

—

it

being of great length,

i

only told

him in general that it was highly in his praise; and then he expressed himself as above." "He mentioned with an air of satisfaction what Baretti had told him; that, meeting, in the course ^His profound admiration of the

Cause was such as to phy and vain deceit"

set

him above

Great

First

that "Philoso-

[Colossians, 2. 8] with which infected. I

men of narrower conceptions have been

have heard him strongly maintain that "what is is not so from any natural fitness, but because God wills it to be right"; and it is certainly so, be-

right

cause

He

has predisposed the relations of things so

which He wills must be right. ^I hope the authority af the great Master of our language will stop that curtailing innovation, by which we see critic, public, &c., frequently written as that

instead of

critick,

publick,

&c.

—

BOSWELL

452

[1781

of his studying English, with an excellent paper in the Spectator, one of four that were written by the respectable Dissenting Minister, Mr. Grove of Taunton, and observing the genius and ener-

In i 781 Johnson at last com1781 ^TAT. 72] pleted his Lives of the Poets, of which he gives this

greatly quickened

way, dilatorily and hastily, unwilling to work, and working with vigour and haste. "^ In a memorandum previous to this, he says of them: "Written, I hope, in such a manner as may tend to the promotion of piety."' This is the work which of all Dr. Johnson's writings will perhaps be read most generally, and with most pleasure. Philology and biography were his favourite pursuits, and those who lived most in intimacy with him, heard him upon all occasions, when there was a proper opportuni-

gy of mind that

it

exhibits,

it

our country; as he thought such were the lighter periodical essays of our authours, their productions on more weighty oc!" casions must be wonderful indeed his curiosity to visit

if

"He observed once, at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, that a beggar in the street will more readily ask alms from a man, though there should be no marks of wealth in his appearance, than from ;'^ even a well-dressed woman which he accounted of carefulness as to degree for from the greater money that is to be found in women; saying far-

:

this

account:

"Some time

the Lives of the Poets,

which

in

March

I

wrote in

I

finished

my

usual

that they possess of improving their condition

take delight in expatiating upon the various merits of the English Poets: upon the niceties of their characters, and the events of their progress

much fewer than men have; and adding, as he looked round the company, which consisted there is not one of us who does of men only, not think he might be richer if he would use his

through the world which they contributed to illuminate. His mind was so full of that kind of information, and it was so well arranged in his memory, that in performing what he had under-

endeavour."

taken in this way, he had little more to do than to put his thoughts upon paper, exhibiting first each Poet's life, and then subjoining a critical examination of his genius and works. But when he began to write, the subject swelled in such a manner, that instead of prefaces to each poet, of no more than a few pages, as he had originally intended,* he produced an ample, rich, and most entertaining view of them in every respect. In

ther

upon

it,

that the opportunities in general

are

—

"He

thus characterised an ingenious writer of his acquaintance: 'Sir, he is an enthusiast by rule.'"

" ^He may hold up that shield against all his enewas an observation on Homer, in reference to his description of the shield of Achilles, made by Mrs. Fitzherbert, wife to his friend Mr. Fitzherbert of Derbyshire, and respected by Dr. mies^;

—

as a very fine one. He had in general a very high opinion of that lady's understanding." "An observation of Bathurst's may be mentioned, which Johnson repeated, appearing to acknowledge it to be well founded, namely, it was somewhat remarkable how seldom, on oc-

Johnson

ty,

this

he resembled Quintilian,

who

tells us,

that

in the composition of his Institutions of Oratory, Latitls se tamen aperiente materia, plus quam imponebatur oneris sponte suscepi. The booksellers, justly sensible of the great additional value of the copy-

published a translation of Lucian, inscribed to

presented him with another hundred pounds, over and above two hundred, for which his agreement was to furnish such prefaces as he thought fit. This was, however, but a small recompence for suchacoUectionof biography, and suchprinci-

him

ples

coming into the company of any new person, one felt any wish or inclination to see him again." This year the Reverend Dr. Franklin having casion of

—

Demonax thus: Johnson, the Demonax of the present age, this piece is inscribed by a sincere admirer of his respectable talents, the

To Dr. Samuel

The Translator Though upon a particular comparison of Demonax and Johnson, there does not seem to be a great deal of similarity between them, this Dediis a just compliment from the general character given by Lucian of the ancient Sage,

cation ^

apiarov

(hv

ol5a eyu

philosopher ^Sterne

is

whom

(j>i\oa6(j)iov

I

yevofxeuov,

the best

have ever seen or known.'

of a direct contrary opinion. See his

Sentimental Journey, Article,

"The Mystery."

right,

and illustrations of criticism, as, if digested and arranged in one system, by some modern ^Prayers and Meditations, p. 190. Hbid., p. 174.

*His design is thus announced in his Advertisement: "The Booksellers having determined to publish a body of English Poetry, I was persuaded to promise them a Preface to the works of each authour; an undertaking, as it was then presented to my mind, not very tedious or difficult. purpose was only to have allotted to every poet an Advertisement, like that [in original those] which we find in the French Miscellanies, containing a few dates, and a general character; but I have been led beyond my intention, I hope by the honest desire of giving useful pleasure."

"My

LIFE OF

1781]

might form a code upon no other nation can shew.

Aristotle or Longinus,

that subject, such as

As he was so good

as to

make me

a present of the

and indeed only admirable work, I have an

greatest part of the original

manuscript of this opportunity of observing with wonder, the correctness with which he rapidly struck off such glowing composition. He may be assimilated to the Lady in Waller, who could impress with

"Love

at first sight":

Some

other

nymphs with

colours faint.

J

OHNSON

453

whose variety of

and obliging disposition, rendered him useful to Johnson. Mr. Steevens appears, from the papers in my possession, to have supplied him with some anecdotes and quotations; and I observe the fair hand of literary inquiry

Mrs. Thrale as one of his copyists of select pasBut he was principally indebted to my steady friend Mr. Isaac Reed, of Staple-inn, whose extensive and accurate knowledge of English literary history I do not express with exaggeration, when I say it is wonderful; indeed his labours have proved it to the world and all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance can bear sages.

;

And pencil slow may Cupid paint, And a weak heart in time destroy;

communica-

testiinony to the frankness of his

She has a stamp, and prints the boy.

tions in private society.

That he however, had a good deal of trouble, and some anxiety in carrying on the work, we see from a series of letters to Mr. Nichols the printer,^ iThus:— "In the Life of Waller, Mr. Nichols will find a reference to the Parliamentary History from which a long quotation is to be inserted. If Mr. Nichols cannot easily find the book, Mr. Johnson

send it from Streatham." "Clarendon is here returned." "By some accident, I laid your note upon Duke

will

so safely, that I cannot find tions have been of great use to

up

it.

Your informa-

me.

I

must beg

it

again; with another list of our authours, for I have laid that with the other. I have sent Stepney's Epitaph. Let me have the revises as soon as can be. Dec. 1778." "I have sent Philips, with his Epitaphs, to be inserted. The fragment of a preface is hardly worth the impression, but that we may seem to do something. It may be added to the Life of Philips. The Latin page is to be added to the Life of Smith. I shall be at home to revise the two sheets of Milton. March i, 1779." "Please to get me the last edition of Hughes's Letters; and try to get Dennis upon Blackmore, and upon Cato, and any thing of the same writer against Pope. Our materials are defective." "As Waller professed to have imitated Fairfax, do you think a few pages of Fairfax would enrich our edition? Few readers have seen it, and it may please them. But it is not necessary." " 'An account of the Lives and works of some of 'The the most eminent English Poets. By,' &c. English Poets, biographically and critically considered, by Sam. Johnson.' Let Mr. Nichols take his choice, or make another to his mind. May, 1." 1 78 "You somehow forgot the advertisement for the new edition. It was not inclosed. Of Gay's Letters I see not that any use can be made, for they give no information of any thing. That he was a member of the Philosophical Society is something; but sure-

—

—

ly

he could be but a corresponding member. Howhaving his life here, I know not how to

It is not my intention to dwell upon each of Johnson's Lives of the Poets, or attempt an analysis of their merits, which, were I able to do it, would take up too much room in this work; yet I shall make a few observations upon some of them, and insert a few various readings. The Life of Cowley he himself considered as the best of the whole, on account of the disserta-

which it contains on the Metaphysical Poets. Dryden, whose critical abilities were equal to his poetical, had mentioned them in his excellent Dedication of his Juvenal, but had barely mentioned them. Johnson has exhibited them at large, with such happy illustration from their writings, and in so luminous a manner, that indeed he may be allowed the full merit of novelty, and to have discovered to us, as it were, a new planet tion

in the poetical hemisphere. It is remarked by Johnson, in considering the works of a poet,^ that "amendments are seldom made without some token of a rent"; but I do

not find that this is applicable to prose. ^ see that

though

his

amendments

We shall

in this

work

are for the better, there is nothing of the pannus assutus; the texture is uniform: and indeed, what

had been there

at

first, is

very seldom unfit to

have remained. Various Readings* in the Life of

"All [future votaries of]

that

Cowley

may

hereafter

pant

for solitude.

"To conceive and execute the [agitation or perception] pains and the pleasures of other minds. "The wide effulgence of [the blazing] a summer noon."

ever, not

put it in, and it is of little importance." See several more in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1785. The Editor of that Miscellany, in which Johnson wrote for several years, seems justly to think that every fragment of so great a man is worthy of being preserved.

^Life of Sheffield.

^See,

however,

same remark

is

p.

445 of this volume, where the

made and Johnson

is

there speak-

ing o{ prose. [M.]

^The original reading

and the present one

is

is enclosed in crotchets, printed in Italicks.

BOSWELL

454

Waller, Johnson gives a disand animated narrative of publick affairs

In the Life of tinct

with strong yet nice touches of character; and having a fair opportunity to display his poUtical principles, does it with an unqualified manly confidence, and satisfies his readers how nobly he might have exein that variegated period,

cuted a Tory History of his country. So easy is his style in these Lives, that I do not recollect more than three uncommon or learned words; one, when giving an account of the approach of Waller's mortal disease, he says "he found his legs grow tumid'''; by using the expression his legs swelled, he would have avoided this; and there would have been no impropriety in its being followed by the interesting question to his

"What

meant?" Another, when he mentions that Pope had emitted proposals; when published or issued would have been more readily understood; and a third, when he calls Orrery and Dr. Delany, writers both un-

physician,

that swelling

doubtedly veracious; when true, honest, or faithful, might have been used. Yet, it must be owned, that none of these are hard or too big words; that

custom would make them seem as easy as any others; and that a language is richer and capable of more beauty of expression, by having a greater variety of synonimes.

His dissertation upon the unfitness of poetry for the aweful subjects of our holy religion,

though

entirely agree with him, has all

do not

I

the merit of originality, with

uncommon

force

and reasoning. Various Readings in the Life of

"Consented to [the insertion of their names] own nomination. "[After] paying a fine of ten thousand pounds. "Congratulating Charles the Second on his

their

[coronation] recovered

"He

right.

that has flattery ready for all

Against his Life of Milton, the hounds of Whiggism have opened in full cry. But of Milton's great excellence as a poet, where shall we find such a blazon as by the hand of Johnson? I shall select only the following passage

whom

the

world happen to exalt, must degrade his powers] scorned as a

concern-

ing Paradise Lost: "Fancy can hardly forbear to conjecture with

what temper Milton surveyed tlie silent progress of his work, and marked his reputation stealing its

way in akind of subterraneouscurrent, through and silence. I cannot but conceive him calm

fear

and confident,

little

disappointed, not at

all

de-

on his own merit with steady consciousness, and waiting without impatience the vicissitudes of opinion, and the impartiality of a

jected, relying

future generation."

Indeed even Dr. Towers, who sidered as one of the

warmest

may

be con-

zealots of The Rev-

"Johnson has spoken in the highest terms of the abilities of that great poet, and has bestowed on his principal poetical compositions the most honourable encomiums."^ That a man, who venerated the Church and Monarchy as Johnson did, should speak with a just abhorrence of Milton as a politician, or rather as a daring foe to good polity, was surely to be expected; and to those who censure him, I would olution Society itself, allows, that

his commentary on Milton's celebrated complaint of his situation, when by the lenity of Charles the Second, "a lenity of which (as Johnson well observes) the world has had perhaps no other example, he, who had written in justification of the murder of his Sovereign,

recommend

was

Waller

[1 781

safe

under an Act

of Oblivion."

^See An Essay on the Life, Character, and writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson, London, 1787; which is very well written, making a proper allowance for the democratical bigotry of its authour; whom I cannot however but admire for his liberality in speaking thus of my illustrious friend: "He possessed extraordinary powers of understanding, which were much cultivated by study,

vicissitudes of the

and

be [confessed to

memory was remarkably retentive, his imagination uncommonly vigorous, and his judgement keen and penetrating. He had a strong sense of the

prostituted mind.

"The

characters by which Waller intended to

distinguish his writings are [elegance] sprightliness

and

[fetch]

foretell fruits.

as the superficies of nature [eas-

"[His] Some applications [are sometimes] may

remote and unconsequential. "His images are [sometim.es confused] not

he thought too

distinct."

reflection.

His

importance of religion; his piety was sincere, and sometimes ardent; and his zeal for the interests of

was often manifested in his conversation and in his writings. The same energy which was displayed in his literary productions was exhibited also in his conversation, which was various, strikinstructive; and perhaps no man ever for nervous and pointed repartees." "His Dictionary, his moral Essays, and his productions in polite literature, will convey useful instruction, and elegant entertainment, as long as the language in which they are written shall be ing,

and

equalled

ily] readily supplies.

ways

more by meditation and

virtue

dignity.

"Blossoms to be valued only as they

"Images such

still

al-

him

understood."

LIFE OF

lySi]

"No

sooner is he safe than he finds himself in danger, fallen on evil days and evil tongues, [and] with darkness and with danger compassed round. This

JOHNSON

most bigotted advocates] even kindness and can give. "[Perhaps no] scarcely any man ever wrote so much, and praised so few. "A certain [rescue] preservative from oblivion. "Let me not be censured for this digression, [his

been better employed, had undoubtedly deserved compassion; but to add the mention of danger, was ungrateful and unjust. He was fallen, indeed, on evil days; the time was come in which regicides could no longer boast their wickedness. But of evil tongues for Milton to complain, required impudence at least equal to his other powers; Milton, whose warmest advocates must allow, that he never spared any asperity of reproach, or brutality of inso-

reverence

lence."

able.''

darkness,

I

had

his eyes

have, indeed, often wondered

"an acrimonious and

how

Milton,

surly Republican,"

— "a

man who in his domestick relations was so severe and arbitrary," and ^vhose head was filled with the hardest and most dismal tenets of Calvinism, should have been such a poet; should not only have ^\ritten with sublimity, but with beauty, and even gaiety; should have exquisitely painted the sweetest sensations of which our nature is capable; imaged the delicate raptures of connubial love; nay, seemed to be animated with all the spirit of revelry. It is a proof that in the

human mind the departments of judgement and imagination, perception and temper, may sometimes be divided by strong partitions; and that the light and shade in the same character may

be kept so distinct as never to be blended.^ In the Life of Milton, Johnson took occasion to maintain his own and the general opinion of the excellence of rhyme over blank verse, in English poetry; and quotes this apposite illustration of it by "an ingenious critick," that it

455

Various Readings in the Life of Milton "I cannot find any meaning but this which

as [contracted] pedantick or paradoxical.

"Socrates rather was of opinion, that what we to learn was how to [obtain and communicate happiness] do good and avoid evil. "Its elegance [who can exhibit?] is less attain-

had

I could, with pleasure, expatiate upon the masterly execution of the Life of Dryden, which we have seen^ \vas one of Johnson's literary pro-

an early period, and which it is remarkfrom it, from a supposed scantiness of materials, he should, at an advanced age, have exhibited so amply. His defence of that great poet against the illiberal attacks upon him, as if his embracing the Roman Catholick communion had been a timeserving measure, is a piece of reasoning at once

jects at

able, that after desisting

able and candid. Indeed, Dryden himself, in his Hind and Panther, has given such a picUire of his mind, that they who know the anxiety for repose as to the aweful subject of our state beyond the grave, though they may think his opinion ill-founded, must think charitably of his sentiment: But, gracious

God, how

well dost thou provide

For erring judgements an unerring guide!

Thy

A

throne

is

darkness in the abyss of light,

blaze of glory that forbids the sight.

be verse only to the eye."^ The gentleman he thus characterises, is (as he told Mr. Seward) Mr. Lock, of Norbury Park, in Surrey,

O! teach me to believe thee thus conceal'd, And search no farther than thyself reveal' d; But Her alone for my director take.

whose knowledge and

My thoughtless youth was wing'd with vain desires; My manhood long misled by wand' ring fires.

seems

to

whom

taste in the fine arts

is

universally celebrated; with whose elegance of

manners the writer of the present work has felt much impressed, and to whose virtues a common friend, who has known him long, and is himself

not

much

addicted to

flattery, gives

the highest

testimony.

Whom

thou has pr amis' d never

Follow' dfalse lights; and when their glimpse

was gone.

My pride struck out new sparkles of her own.

I, such by Nature still I am; Be thine the glory, and be mine the shame. Good life be now my task: my doubts are done;

Such was

What more ^Mr. Malone thinks it is rather a proof that he felt nothing cf those cheerful sensations which he has described: that on these topicks it is the poet, and not the man, that wTites. ^One of the most natural instances of the effect of blank verse occuiTcd to the late Earl of Hopeton. His Lordship observed one of his shepherds poring in the fields upon Milton's Paradise Lost; and having asked him what book it was, the man answered, "An't please your Lordship, this is a very odd sort of an authour: he would fain rhyme, but cannot sret at it."

to forsake.

could shock

my faith

than Three in One?

In drawing Dryden's character, Johnson has though I suppose unintentionally, some "The power that touches of his own. Thus: given,

predominated

—

in his intellectual operations

was

rather strong reason than quick sensibility. Upon all occasions that were presented, he studied felt; and produced sentiments not such as Nature enforces, but meditation supplies.

rather than

3See p. 319.

BOSWELL

456

With the simple and spring separate in the mind, he seems not much acquainted. He is, therefore, with all his variety

elemental passions as they

of excellence, not often pathetick; little sensibility

of the

power of

and had

them

natural, that he did not esteem

so

effusions purely in others."

It may indeed be observed, that in all the numerous writings of Johnson, whether in prose or verse, and even in his Tragedy, of which the subject is the distress of an unfortunate Princess, there is not a single passage that ever drew a tear.

[1781

Johnson, who had done liberal justice to War-

burton in his edition of Shakspeare, which was published during the life of that powerful writer, with still greater liberality took an opportunity in the Life of Pope, of

paying the tribute due to place," but

him when he was no longer in "high numbered with the dead.^

amore,

'Of Johnson's conduct towards Warburton, a very honourable notice is taken by the editor of Tracts by Warburton and a Warburtonian, not admitted into the Collection of their respective Works. After an able and "fond, though not undistinguishing," consideration of Warburton's character, he says, "In two immortal works, Johnson has stood forth in the foremost rank of his admirers. By the testimony of such a man, impertinence must be abashed, and malignity itself must be softened. Of literary merit, Johnson, as we all know, was a sagacious but a most severe judge. Such was his discernment, that he pierced into the most secret springs of human actions; and such was his integrity, that he always weighed the moral characters of his feUowcreatures in the 'balance of the sanctuary.' He was too courageous to propitiate a rival, and too proud to truckle to a superiour. Warburton he knew, as I know him, and as every man of sense and virtue would wish to be known, I mean, both from his own writings, and from the writings of those who dissented from his principles, or who envied his reputation. But, as to favours, he had never received or asked any from the Bishop of Gloucester; and, Lf my memory fails me not, he had seen him only once, when they met almost without design, conversed without much effort, and parted without any lasting impressions of hatred or affection. Yet, with all the ardour of sympathetic genius, Johnson has done that spontaneously and ably, which, by some writers, had been before attempt-

ing the value of his captivating composition.

ed injudiciously, and which, by others, from whom more successful attempts might have been expected, has not hitherto been done at all. He spoke well of Warburton, without insulting those whom Warburton despised. He suppressed not the imperfections of this extraordinary man, whUe he endeavoured to do justice to his numerous and transcendental excellencies. He defended him when living, amidst the clamours of his enemies; and praised him when dead, amidst the silence of his friends." Having availed myself of this editor's eulogy on my departed friend, for which I warmly thank him, let me not suffer the lustre of his reputation, honestly acquired by profound learning and vigorous eloquence to be tarnished by a charge of illiberality. He has been accused of invidiously dragging again into light certain writings of a person respectable by his talents, his learning, his station and his age, which were published a great many years ago, and have since, it is said, been silently given up by their authour. But when it is considered that these writings were not sins of youth, but deliberate works of one well-advanced in life, overflowing at once with flattery to a great man of great interest in the Church, and with unjust and acrimonious abuse of two men of eminent merit; and that, though it would have been unreasonable to expect an humiliating recantation, no apology whatever has been made in the cool of the evening, for the oppressive fervour of the heat of the day;

Various Readings in the Life of

Dryden

"The reason of this general perusal, Addison has attempted to [find in] derive from the delight which the mind

feels in

the investigation of se-

crets.

"His best actions are but [convenient]

inability

of wickedness.

"When

once he had engaged himself in dispuflowed in on either side.

tation, [matter] thoughts

"The

abyss of an un-ideal [emptiness] vacancy.

"These, other men,

like

had

[many other harlots,] his love

though not

the harlots

his

of

approba-

tion.

"He

[sometimes displays] descends

to

display his

knowledge with pedantick ostentation. "French words which [were then used

in]

had

then crept into conversation."

The

Life of Pope was written by Johnson con both from the early possession which that writer had taken of his mind, and from the pleasure which he must have felt, in for ever silencing all attempts to lessen his poetical fame by demonstrating his excellence, and pronouncing the following triumphant eulogium "After all this, it is surely superfluous to answer the question that has once been asked. Whether Pope was a poet? otherwise than by asking in return. If Pope be not a poet, where is poetry to be found? To circumscribe poetry by a definition, will only shew the narrowness of the definer though a definition which shall exclude Pope will not easily be made. Let us look round upon the present time, and back upon the past; let us enquire to whom the voice of mankind has decreed the wreath of poetry; let their productions be examined, and their claims stated, and the pretensions of Pope will be no more disputed." I remember once to have heard Johnson say, "Sir, a thousand years may elapse before there shall appear another man with a power of versification equal to that of Pope." That power must undoubtedly be allowed its due share in enhanc:

—

;

—

LIFE OF

1781]

seems strange, that two such men as Johnson and Warburton, who hved in the same age and country, should not only not have been in any degree of intimacy, but been almost personally unacquainted. But such instances, though we must wonder at them, are not rare. If I am rightly informed, after a careful enquiry, they never met but once, which was at the house of Mrs. French, in London, well known for her elegant assemblies, and bringing eminent characters together. The interview proved to be mutuIt

ally agreeable. I am well informed, that Warburton said of Johnson, "I admire him, but I cannot bear his style": and that Johnson being told of this, said, "That is exactly my case as to him." The manner in which he expressed his admiration of the

fertility

of Warburton' s genius

of his materials was,

"The

and

table

of the variety

is

always

full,

He

brings things from the north, and the and from every quarter. In his Divine Legation, you are always entertained. He carries you round and round, without carrying you forward to the point; but then you have no wish to be carried forward." He said to the Reverend Mr. Strahan, "Warburton is perhaps the last Sir.

south,

man who has written with a mind full of reading and

reflection."

remarkable, that in the Life of Broome, Johnson takes notice of Dr. Warburton using a mode of expression which he him^self used, and It is

that not seldom, to the great off"ence of those who did not know him. Having occasion to mention a note, stating the different parts

which were

executed by the associated translators of The Odyssey, he says, "Dr. Warburton told me, in his warm language, that he thought the relation given in the note a lie. The language is warm indeed; and, I must own, cannot be justified in consistency with a decent regard to the established forms of speech." Johnson had accustomed himself to use the word lie, to express a mistake or an errour in relation; in short, when the thing was not so as told, though the relator did not mean to deceive. When he thought there was inten-

JOHNSON

457

lery, or sentences of observation;

nothing either

solid, wise or merry; and that one apophthegm only is recorded." In this respect, Pope differed widely from Johnson, whose conversation was, perhaps, more admirable than even his writings, however excellent. Mr. Wilkes

pointed or

me with one repartee of Pope, of which Johnson was not informed. Johnson, after justly censuring him for having "nursed in his mind a foolish dis-esteem of Kings," tells us, "yet a little regard shewn him by the Prince of Wales melted his obduracy; and he had not much to say when he was asked by his Royal Highness, how he could love a Prince, while he disliked Kings?" The answer which Pope made, was, has, however, favoured

"The young lion is harmless, and even playful; but when his claws are full grown he becomes cruel, dreadful,

and mischievous."

But although we have no collection of Pope's sayings,

it is

not therefore to be concluded, that

he was not agreeable in social intercourse; for Johnson has been heard to say, that "the happiest conversation is that of which nothing is dis-

remembered but a general effect of pleasThe late Lord Somerville,^ who saw much both of great and brilliant life, told me, that he had dined in company with Pope, and that after dinner the little man, as he called him, drank his bottle of Burgundy, and was exceedingly gay and entertaining. tinctly

ing impression."

I

cannot withhold from

my great friend a cen-

sure of at least culpable inattention, to a noble-

man, who,

it

has been shewn, behaved to him

uncommon

politeness. He says, "Except Lord Bathurst, none of Pope's noble friends were such as that a good man would wish to have his intimacy with them known to posterity." This will not apply to Lord Mansfield, who was not ennobled in Pope's lifetime; but Johnson should have recollected, that Lord Marchmont was one

with

He includes his Lordship along with Lord Bolingbroke, in a charge of neglect of the papers which Pope left by his will; of those noble friends.

slight relenting indication has appeared in any note, or any corner of later publications; is it not fair to understand him as superciliously persevering? When he allows the shafts to remain in the wounds, and will not stretch forth a lenient hand, is it wrong, is it not generous to become an indig-

^Let me here express my grateful remembrance of Lord Somerville's kindness to me, at a very early period. He was the first person of high rank that took particular notice of me in the way most flattering to a young man, fondly ambitious of being distinguished for his literary talents; and by the honour of his encouragement made me think well of myself, and aspire to deserve it better. He had a happy art of communicating his varied knowledge of the world, in short remarks and anecdotes, with a quiet pleasant gravity, that was exceedingly engaging. Never shall I forget the hours which I enjoyed with him at his apartments in the Royal Palace of Holy- Rood House, and at his seat near Edinburgh, which he himself had formed with an ele-

nant avenger?

gant

tional falsehood in the relator, his expression

"He lies, and he knows he lies." Speaking of Pope's not having been known to excel in conversation, Johnson observes, that "traditional memory retains no sallies of rail-

was,

no

taste.

BOSWELL

458

myself pointed out to him, before he wrote that poet's Ufe, the papers were "committed to the sole care and judgement of Lord Bohngbroke, unless he (Lord Bolingbroke) shall

when,

in truth, as I

not survive me"; so that Lord Marchmont had no concern whatever with them. After the first edition of the Lzcfi-, Mr. Malone, whose love ofjustice is equal to his accuracy, made, in my hear-

Johnson; yet he omitted to correct the erroneous statement.^ These particulars I mention, in the belief that there was only forgetfulness in my friend; but I owe

ing, the

same remark

to

to the Earl of Marchmont's reputawho, were there no other memorials, will be immortalised by that line of Pope, in the verses on his Grotto:

much

this

tion,

And

the bright flame

was

shot through

Marchmont's

soul.

[1781

"The

[reasonableness] juj/zce of my determin-

ation.

"A

[favourite] delicious

employment

of the

poets.

"More

terrifick

and more powerful

[beings]

phantoms perform on the stormy ocean. "The inventor of [those] this petty [beings] nation.

"The [mind]

heart naturally loves truth."

In the Life of Addison we find an unpleasing account of his having lent Steele a hundred pounds, and "reclaimed his loan by an execution." In the new edition of the Biographia Britannica, the authenticity of this anecdote is denied. But Mr. Malone has obliged me with the following note concerning it:

Many

Various Readings in the Life of

"[Somewhat

Pope

free] sufficiently bold in his criti-

cism.

"All the gay [niceties] varieties of diction. "Strikes the imagination with far [more] greater force.

"It

is

[probably] certainly the noblest version

of poetry which the world has ever seen. "Every sheet enabled him to write the next

with

[less

trouble] more facility.

"No man sympathizes with

[vanity depressed]

the sorrows of vanity.

"It had been [criminal]

less easily excused.

"When

he [threatened to lay down] talked of laying down his pen. "Society [is so named emphatically in opposition to] politically regulated, is a state contra-distinguished from a state of nature.

"A

fictitious

Ufe of an

[absurd]

infatuated

scholar.

"A

foolish [contempt, disregard,] disesteem of

Kings.

"His hopes and fears, his joys and sorrows [were like those of other mortals] acted strongly upon his mind.

"Eager to pursue knowledge and attentive to [accumulate] retain it. "A mind [excursive] active, ambitious, and adventurous. "In its [noblest] widest researches still longing to go forward.

"He him

wrote in such a manner as might expose

to few [neglects] hazards.

^This neglect did not arise from any ill-will towards Lord Marchmont, but from inattention; just as he neglected to correct his statement concerning the family of Thomson the poet, after it had been shewn to be erroneous {ante, 415). [M.]

persons having doubts concerning this applied to Dr. Johnson to learn on what authority he asserted it. He told me, he had it from Savage, who lived in intimacy with Steele, and who mentioned, that Steele told him the Ben Victor, Dr. story with tears in his eyes. fact, I

—

Johnson said, likewise informed him of this remarkable transaction, from the relation of Mr. Wilkes the comedian, who was also an intimate Some in defence of Addison have of Steele's. said, that "the act was done with the good natured view of rousing Steele, and correcting that profusion which always made him necessi"If that were the case, (said Johnson,) tous." and that he only wanted to alarm Steele, he would afterwards have returned the money to his "This friend, which it is not pretended he did." too, (he added,) might be retorted by an advocate for Steele, who might alledge, that he did not repay the loan intentionally, merely to see whether Addison would be mean and ungenerous enough to make use of legal process to recover it. But of such speculations there is no end: we cannot dive into the hearts of men; but their actions are open to observation. I then mentioned to him that some people thought that Mr. Addison's character was so pure, that the fact, though true, ought to have been suppressed. He saw no reason for this. "If

—

—

—

nothing but the bright side of characters should be shewn, we should sit down in despondency, utterly impossible to imitate them sacred writers, (he observed,) related the vicious as well as the virtuous actions of men; which had this moral effect, that it kept mankind from despair, into which other-

and think

it

in any thing.

The

wise they would naturally fall, were they not supported by the recollection that others had offended like themselves, and by penitence and amendment of life had been restored to the favour of Heaven." E. M.

March

15,

1782

LIFE OF

i78i]

The

JOHNSON

459 "The incessant attacks of his enemies,

paragraph of this note is of great importance; and I request that my readers may consider it with particular attention. It will be

whether serious or merry, are never discovered to have disturbed his quiet, or to have lessened

afterwards referred to in this work.

his confidence in himself."

last

Various Readings in the Life of

"[But he was our

first

Addison

great example]

He

was,

however, one of our earliest examples of correctness. "And [overlook] despise their masters.

"His instructions were such as the [state] charof his [own time] readers made [necessary]

acter

authour."

Johnson, I recollect, once told me, laughing heartily, that he understood it had been said of him, "He appears not to feel; but v/hen he is alone, depend upon it, he suffers sadly.'''' I am as certain as I can be of any man's real sentiments, that he enjoyed the perpetual shower of little hostile arrows as evidences of his fame.

proper.

"His purpose was to [diffuse] injuse literary by gentle and unsuspected conveyance [among] into the gay, the idle, and the wealthy.

curiosity

"Framed

rather for those that [wish] are learn-

"Domestick [manners]

requiescit

Thomas Parnell,

Qui sacerdos pariter Utrasque partes

iS".

ita implevit,

Parnell

^I

own

[of]

scarcely any distemper of dreadful which he has not [shewn] taught his

is

how [it is to be opposed] to oppose. "Of this [contemptuous] indecent arrogance.

reader

"[He wrote]

hut produced likewise a

character in his ob-

on Blackmore's "magnanimity

should have thought that Johnson,

work of a

with integrity. tongues [were desirous]

least [written] compiled

many

felicities

of fancy.

[mind] views to that ideal perfection which every [mind] genius born to excel is condemned always to pursue and never overtake.

"The

[first

dom and

his

great] fundamental principle of wis-

of virtue."

Various Readings in the Life of Philips

"His dreaded

[rival] antagonist

"They [have not

often

much]

Pope. are not loaded

with thought.

airy, is less pleasing."

trace Johnson's

"There

name

"He [used] waited for no "Or had ever elevated

three years [after] afterwards.

the architecture of Vanburgh.

We

sive] invidiously great.

would have made haste to publish. "But though he [had not] could not boast of much critical knowledge.

sacerdotis samtitas, deesset.

In the Life of Blackmore, we find that writer's reputation generously cleared by Johnson from the cloud of prejudice which the malignity of contemporary wits had raised around it. In this spirited exertion of justice, he has been imitated by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in his praise of

servations

[established] enforced the truth of

"Faults which

"[Did not much want] was in no great need of improvement. "But his prosperity did not last long [was clouded by that which took away all his powers of enjoying either profit or pleasure, the death of his wife, whom he is said to have lamented with such sorrow, as hastened his end.^] His end, whatever was the cause, was now approaching. "In the Hermit, the [composition] narrative, it is less

"He likewise

"At

etpoeta,

Various Readings in the Life of

as

cause of virtue.

different kind.

T. P.

sacerdoti suavitaspoetae,

NecpoeUB

"About

Blackmore

engage poetry [on the side] in the

"[Kindness] benevolencewas ashamed to favour. "His practice, which was once [very exten-

scenes."

In his Life of Parnell, I wonder that Johnson omitted to insert an Epitaph which he had long before coinposed for that amiable man, without ever writing it down, but which he was so good as, at my request, to dictate to me, by which means it has been preserved.

Ut neqite

[set]

Revelation.

ing to write.

Hie

Various Readings in the Life of

"To

as

an

who had

felt the severe affiiction from which Parnell never recovered, would have preserved this passage.

"In his translations from Pindar, he [will not be denied to have reached] found the art of reaching all the obscurity of the

Theban bard."

Various Readings in the Life of

Congreve

"Congreve's conversation must surely have been at least equally pleasing with his writings. "It apparently [requires] presupposes a familiar knowledge of many characters. "Reciprocation of [similes] conceits. "The dialogue is quick and [various] sparkling. "Love for Love; a comedy [more drawn from life]

of nearer alliance

to life.

:

BOSWELL

460

"The

general character of his miscellanies is, little wit and [no] little virtue. "[Perhaps] certainly he had not the fire requisite for the higher species of lyrick poetry." that they shew

"[Longed]

"At the

long wished to peruse

[accession] arrival of

bow to his jury. And when those who much the arbiters of literary merit, as in

Tickell

Various Readings in the Life of

King George. compound-

Various Readings in the Life of

"For

"[A

an unnecessary

when

I

an authour's work,

placido lumine,

am afraid mankind in general

are better

Akenside

Lyttelton

Various Readings in the Life of

and outrageous

"He solaced [himself] his poem to her memory.

grief

by writing a

long

"[Something which] thought liberty.

what

he

called

and

[favourer of innovation] lover of contradic-

"Warburton's [censure] objections. "His rage [for liberty] of patriotism. "Mr. Dyson with [a zeal] an ardour of friend-

it

seems of leisure

than of study, rather effusions than compositions. "His last literary [work] production.

"[Found the way]

undertook to persuade."

As the introduction to his critical examinaand writings of Young, he did Mr. Herbert Croft, then a Barrister of Lincoln's-inn, now a clergyman, the honour to adopt a Life of Toung written by that gentleman, who was the friend of Dr. Young's son, and wished to vindicate him from some very erroneous remarks to his prejudice. Mr. Croft's performance was subjected to the revision of Dr. Johnson, as appears from the following note to Mr. John Nichols:"This Life of Dr. Toung was written by a friend of his son. What is crossed with black is expunged by the authour, what is crossed with red is expunged by me. If you find any thing more that tion of the genius

ship."

In the Life of Lyttelton, Johnson seems to have been not favourably disposed towards that nobleman. Mrs. Thrale suggests that he was offended by Molly Aston' s preference of his Lordship to him.^ I can by no means join in the censure bestowed by Johnson on his Lordship, whom he calls "poor Lyttelton," for returning thanks to the Critical Reviewers for having"kind-

commended"

his Dialogues of the Dead.

"acknowledgements

(says

my friend,)

Such

never can

^Let not my readers smile to think of Johnson's being a candidate for female favour; Mr. Peter Garrick assured me, that he was told by a lady, that in her opinion Johnson was "a very seducing man." Disadvantages of person and manner may be forgotten, where intellectual pleasure is communicated to a susceptible mind: and that Johnson was capable of feeling the most delicate and disinterested attachment, appears from the following letter, which is published by Mrs. Thrale [Piozzi Letters, ii. 391], with some others to the same person, of which the excellence is not so apparent

"January, 1755

"Dearest Madam, Though

I

am afi-aid your ill-

ness leaves you little leisure for the reception of airy civilities, yet I cannot forbear to pay you congratulations on the new year; and to declare my wishes that your years to come may be many and happy. In this wish, indeed, I include myself,

my

who have none but you on whom my

can be well omitted,

heart re-

poses; yet surely I wish your good, even though your situation were such as should permit you to communicate no gratifications to, dearest, dearest

your, &c.

"Sam Johnson"

I shall

not be sorry to see

it

yet shorter." It

has always appeared to

siderable share of merit,

and

me

to

have a con-

to display a pretty

successful imitation of Johnson's style.

When

I

mentioned this to a very eminent literary character,^ he opposed me vehemently, exclaiming, "No, no, it is not a good imitation of Johnson; it has

"To Miss BOOTHBY

Madam,

"The production rather [of a mind that means well than thinks vigorously] as

tion.

ly

a con-

pleased with severity, he may surely express a grateful sense of their civility.

fairies."

zeal.

"A

ion, review

[another] a different purpose. furious]

are so

siderable degree to influence the publick opin-

it.

"Fiction [unnaturally] unskilfully

ed of Grecian deities and Gothick

[1781

be proper, since they must be paid either for flattery or for justice." In my opinion, the most upright man, who has been tried on a false accusation, may, when he is acquitted, make a

all his

pomp

without his force;

nodosities of the oak without

its

it

has

all

the

strength." This

was an image so happy, that one might have thought he would have been satisfied with it; but he was not. And setting his mind again to work, he added, with exquisite all

felicity,

"It has

the contortions of the Sybil, without the in-

spiration."

Mr. Croft very properly guards us against supposing that Young was a gloomy man; and ^The Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 3The late Mr. Burke. [M.]

Iv, p. 10.

LIFE OF

1781]

mentions, that "his parish was indebted to the good-humour of the authour of the Night Thoughts for an Assembly and a Bowling-Green." A letter from a noble foreigner is quoted, in which he is said to have been "very pleasant in conversation."

Mr. Langton, who frequently visited him, informs me, that there was an air of benevolence in his manner, but that he could obtain from him less information than he had hoped to receive from one

who had

lived so

much

in inter-

men of what has been Augustan age of England; and that

course with the brightest called the

he shewed a degree of eager curiosity concerning the common occurrences that were then passing, which appeared somewhat remarkable in a man of such intellectual stores, of such an advanced age, and who had retired from life with declared disappointment in his expectations.

An instance at once of his pensive turn of mind, and his cheerfulness of temper, appeared in a little story which he himself told to Mr. Langton, when they were walking in his garden: "Here (said he,) I had put a handsome sun-dial, with this inscription, Eheu fugaces! which (speaking with a smile) was sadly verified, for by the next morning my dial had been carried off."^

"It gives

me much

pleasure to observe, that

however Johnson may have casually talked, yet when he sits, as 'an ardent judge zealous to his trust, giving sentence' upon the excellent works of Young, he allows them the high praise to which they are justly entitled. 'The Universal indeed a very great performance, his distichs have the weight of solid sentiment, and his points the sharpness of resist" less truth.' Passion (says he,)

is

—

But

was most anxious concerning Johnson's upon Night Thoughts, which I esteem as a mass of the grandest and richest poetry that human genius has ever produced; and was delighted to find this character of that work: "In I

decision

his Night Thoughts,

he has exhibited a very wide

display of original poetry, variegated with deep reflections

and striking allusions; a wilderness which the fertility of fancy scat-

of thought, in

^The late Mr. James Ralph told Lord Macartney, that he passed an evening with Dr. Young at Lord Melcombe's (then Mr. Dodington) at Hammersmith. The Doctor happening to go out into the garden, Mr. Dodington observed to him, on his return, that it was a dreadful night, as in truth it was, there being a violent storm of rain and wind. "No, Sir, (replied the Doctor,) it is a very fine night.

The Lord

is

abroad."

JOHNSON

461

every hue and of every odour. This is one of the few poems in which blank verse could not be changed for rhyme but with disadvantage." And afterwards, "Particular lines are not to be regarded; the power is in the whole; and in the whole there is a magnificence like that ascribed to Chinese plantation, the magnificence of vast extent and endless diverters flowers of

sity."

But there is in this Poem not only all that Johnson so well brings in view, but a power of the Pathetick beyond almost any example that I have seen. He who does not feel his nerves shaken, and his heart pierced by many passages in this extraordinary work, particularly by that most affecting one, which describes the gradual torment suffered by the contemplation of an object of affectionate attachment, visibly and certainly decaying into dissolution, must be of a hard and obstinate frame.

To let

all

the other excellencies of Night Thoughts the great and peculiar one, that they

me add

contain not only the noblest sentiments of virtue, and contemplations on immortality, but the Christian Sacrifice, the Divine Propitiation, with all its interesting circumstances, and consolations to "a wounded spirit," solemnly and poetically displayed in such imagery and language, as cannot fail to exalt, animate, and soothe the truly pious. No book whatever can be recommended to young persons, with better hopes of seasoning their minds with vital religion, than Young's Night Thoughts.

In the Life of Sw^ft,

it

appears to

me

that

Johnson had a certain degree of prejudice against that extraordinary man, of which I have elsewhere had occasion to speak. Mr. Thomas Sheridan imputed it to a supposed apprehension in Johnson, that Swift had not been sufficiently active in obtaining for him an Irish degree when it was solicited,^ but of this there was not sufficient evidence; and let me not presume to charge Johnson with injustice, because he did not think so highly of the writings of

this

au-

have done from my youth upwards. Yet that he had an unfavourable bias is evident, were it only from that passage in which he thour, as

I

speaks of Swift's practice of saving, as, "first ridiculous and at last detestable"; and yet after some examination of circumstances, finds himself obliged to own, that "it will perhaps appear that he only liked one mode of expence better than another, and saved merely that he might

have something to give." 2See p. 34.

BOSWELL

462

observation which Johnson makes in

One

1781

that such small particulars are intended for

who

are nicely critical in composition, to they will be an acceptable selection. Spencers Anecdotes, which are frequently quoted

Swift's hfe should be often inculcated:

those

be justly supposed, that there was in his conversation what appears so frequently in his letters, an affectation of familiarity with the

whom

an ambition of momentary equality, sought and enjoyed by the neglect of those ceremonies which custom has established as the barriers between one order of society and another. This transgression of regularity was by himself and his admirers termed greatness of soul; but a great mind disdains to hold any thing by cour-

in a

"It

may

great,

and therefore never usurps what a lawful may take away. He that encroaches on another's dignity puts himself in his power; he tesy,

claimant is

either repelled with helpless indignity, or en-

dured by clemency and condescension." Various Readings in the Life of Sv/ift

"Charity may be persuaded to think that it might be written by a man of a peculiar [opinions] character, without ill intention.

"He did

not [disown] deny it. "[To] bj> whose kindness it is not unlikely that he was [indebted for] advanced to his benefices. "[With] /or this purpose he had recourse to

Mr. Harley.

whom

"Sharpe,

he [represents]

describes as

"Harley was slow because he was

[irresolute]

doubtful.

[readers

were not many] we were

not

yet a nation of readers.

"[Every

man who]

he that could say he

knew

him.

"Every man of known influence has so many [more] petitions [than] which he [can] cannot grant, that he must necessarily offend more than he [can gratify] gratifies. "Ecclesiastical [preferments]

benefices.

"Swift [procured] contrived an interview. "[As a writer] In his works he has given very different specimens. "On all common occasions he habitually [as-

sumes]

a style of [superiority] arrogance. "By the [omission] neglect of those ceremonies. "That their merits filled the world [and] or affects

that there

I

was no [room

for] hope of

more."

have not confined myself to the order of the making my few remarks. Indeed a dif-

Lives, in

ferent order tion,

and

And

should

is

observed in the original publica-

in the collection of Johnson's Works. it

be objected, that

many

of

various readings are inconsiderable, those

make

to in Johnson's Lives of the Poets, are manuscript collection, made by the Reverend Mr. Joseph Spence, containing a number of particulars concerning eminent men. To each anecdote is marked the name of the person on whose authority it is mentioned. This valuable collection is the property of the Duke of Newcastle, who upon the application of Sir Lucas Pepys, was pleased to permit it to be put into the hands of Dr. Johnson, who I am sorry to think made but an aukward return. "Great assistance (says he,) has been given me by Mr.

Spence's Collection, of which I consider the communication as a favour worthy of publick acknowledgement"; but he has not owned to whom he was obliged; so that the acknowledge-

ment is unappropriated While the world

to his Grace.

in general

was

admiration of Johnson's Lives of

filled

the Poets,

with there

were narrow circles in which prejudice and resentment were fostered, and from which attacks of different sorts issued against him.^ By some violent Whigs he was arraigned of injustice to

Milton; by some Cambridge

men

of depreciat-

and his expressing with a dignified freedom what he really thought of George, Lord Lyttelton, gave offence to some of the friends of that nobleman, and particularly produced a declaration of war against him from Mrs. Montagu, the ingenious Essayist on Shakspeare, between whom and his Lordship a commerce of reciprocal compliments had long been carried on. In this war the smaller powers in alliance with him were of course led to engage, at least on the defensive, and thus I for one was excluded from the enjoyment of "A Feast of Reason," such as Mr. Cumberland has described, with a keen, yet just and delicate pen, in his Observer. These minute inconveniencies gave not the least ing Gray;

'the harmless tool of others' hate.'

"When

and referred

my

who

the objection will be pleased to consider,

disturbance to Johnson.

He

nobly

said,

when

I

him of the feeble, though shrill outcry which had been raised, "Sir, I considered mytalked to

entrusted with a certain portion of truth. I have given my opinion sincerely; let them shew where they think me wrong."

self as

this disreputable class, I except an ingenthough not satisfactory defence of Hammond, which I did not see till lately, by the favour of its authour, my amiable friend, the Reverend Mr. Bevill, who published it without his name. It is a

^From

ious

juvenile performance, but elegantly written, with classical enthusiasm of sentiment, and yet with a becoming modesty, and great respect for Dr. Johnson.

LIFE OF

i78i] While

my friend

is

thus contemplated in the

splendour derived from his last and perhaps most admirable work, I introduce him with peculiar propriety as the correspondent of Warren Hastings a man whose regard reflects dignity even upon Johnson; a man, the extent of whose abilities was equal to that of his power; and !

who, by those who are fortunate enough to know him in private life, is admired for his literature and taste, and beloved for the candour, moderation, and mildness of his character. Were I capable of paying a suitable tribute of admiration to him, I should certainly not withhold

it

at

a moment^ when it is not possible that I should be suspected of being an interested flatterer. But how weak would be my voice after that of the millions whom he governed. His condescending and obliging compliance with my solicitation, I with humble gratitude acknowledge; and while by publishing his letter to me, accompanying the valuable communication, I do

my

eminent honour

to

tirely disregard

any invidious suggestions, that

as I in

great friend,

some degree participate

I shall

in the honour,!

have, at the same time, the gratification of own vanity in view.

To James

Bosvvell,

my

Esq,.

Park Lane, Dec. Sir, I

en-

2,

1

790

have been fortunately spared the trou-

blesome suspense of a long search, to which, in performance of my promise, I had devoted this morning, by lighting upon the objects of it among the first papers that I laid my hands on: my veneration for your great and good friend, Dr. Johnson, and the pride, or I hope something of a better sentiment, which I indulged in possessing such memorials of his good will towards me, having induced me to bind them in a parcel containing other select papers, and labelled with the titles appertaining to them. They consist but of three letters, which I believe were all that I ever received from Dr. Johnson. Of these, one, which was written in quadruplicate, under the different dates of its respective dispatches, has already been made publick, but not from any communication of mine. This, however, I have joined to the rest; and have now the pleasure of sending them to you for the use to which you informed me it was your desire to destine them. promise was pledged with the condition, that if the letters were found to contain any thing which should render them improper for the publick eye, you would dispense with the performance of it. You will have the goodness, I am sure, to pardon my recalling this stipulation to your recollection, as I should be loth to ap-

My

ijanuary, 1791.

JOHNSON

463

pear negligent of that obligation which is always implied in an epistolary confidence. In the reservation of that right I have read them over with the most scrupulous attention, but have not seen in them the slightest cause on that ground to withhold them from you. But, though not on that, yet on another gxound I own I feel a little, yet but a little, reluctance to part with them: I mean on that of my own credit, which I fear will suffer by the information conveyed by them, that I was early in the possession of such valuable instructions for the beneficial employof the influence of my late station, and (as seem,) have so little availed myself of them. Whether I could, if it were necessary, defend myself against such an imputation, it little concerns the world to know. I look only to the effect which these relicks may produce, considered as evidences of the virtues of their authour: and believing that they will be found to display an uncommon warmth of private friendship, and a mind ever attentive to the improvement and extension of useful knowledge, and solicitous for the interests of mankind, I can cheerfully submit to the little sacrifice of my own fame, to contribute to the illustration of so great and venerable a character. They cannot be better applied, for that end, than by being entrusted to your hands. Allow me, with this offering, to infer from it a proof of the very great esteem with which I have the honour to profess myself. Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

ment it

may

Warren P.S.

Hastings

At some future time, and when you have

no further occasion for these papers, I shall be obliged to you if you would return them.

The

last of

the three letters thus graciously

put into my hands, and which has already appeared in publick, belongs to this year; but I shall previously insert the first two in the order of their dates. They altogether form a grand group in my biographical picture.

To the Honourable Warren Though

Hastings, Esq.

have had but little personal knowledge of you, I have had enough to make me wish for more; and though it be now a long time since I was honoured by your visit, I had too much pleasure from it to forget it. By those whom we delight to remember, we are unwilling to be forgotten; and therefore I cannot omit this opportunity of reviving myself in your memory by a letter which you will receive from the hands of my friend Mr. Chambers ;2 a man, whose purity of manners and vigour of mind are sufficient to make every thing welcome that he brings. Sir,

I

^Afterwards Sir Robert Chambers, one of his Majesty's Judges in India.

464 That

BOSWELL this

is

my

be too apparent to

only reason for writing, will letter by the uselessness of

any other purpose.

my

I

have no questions to ask;

not that I want curiosity after either the ancient or present state of regions in which have been seen all the power and splendour of wide-extended empire; and which, as by some grant of natural superiority, supply the rest of the world with almost all that pride desires and luxury enjoys. But my knowledge of them is too scanty to furnish me with proper topicks of inquiry; I can only wish for information; and hope, that a mind comprehensive like yours will find leisure, amidst the cares of your important station, to inquire into many subjects of which the European world either thinks not at all, or thinks with deficient intelligence and uncertain conjecture. I shall hope, that he who once intended to increase the learning of his country by the introduction of the Persian language, will examine nicely the traditions and histories of the East; that he will survey the wonders of its ancient edifices, and trace the vestiges of its ruined cities; and that, at his return, we shall know the arts and opinions of a race of men, from whom very little has been hitherto derived. You, Sir, have no need of being told by me, how much may be added by your attention and

patronage to experimental knowledge and natural history.There are arts of manufacture practised in the countries in which you preside, which are yet very imperfectly known here, either

Of the natural productions, animate and inanimate, we yet have so little intelligence, that our books are filled, I fear, with conjectures about things which an to artificers or philosophers.

Indian peasant knows by his senses. Many of those things my first wish is to see; my second to know, by such accounts as a man like you will be able to give. As I have not skill to ask proper questions, I have likewise no such access to great men as can enable me to send you any political information. Of the agitations of an unsettled government, and the struggles of a feeble ministry, care is doubtless taken to give you more exact accounts than I can obtain. If you are inclined to interest yourself much in publick transactions, it is no misfortune to you to be so distant from them. That literature is not totally forsaking us, and that your favourite language is not neglected, will appear from the book,^ which I should have pleased myself more with sending, if I could have presented it bound: but time was wanting. I beg, however, Sir, that you will accept it from a man very desirous of your regard; and that if you think me able to gratify you by any thing more important you will employ me. I am now going to take leave, perhaps a very long leave, of my dear Mr. Chambers. That he is going to live where you govern, may justly al^Jones's Persian Grammar.

[1781

and the hope of seeing both him and you again, which I am not willing to mingle with doubt, must at present comfort as it can. Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson March 30, 1774

leviate the regret of parting;

To THE Same Being informed that by the departure of a ship, there is now an opportunity of writing to Bengal, I am unwilling to slip out of your memory by my own negligence, and therefore take the liberty of reminding you of iny existence, by sending you a book which is not yet made publick. I have lately visited a region less remote, and less illustrious than India, which afi'orded some occasions for speculation; what has occurred to me, I have put into the volume,^ of which I beg your acceptance. Men in your station seldom have presents toSir,

my

tally disinterested;

book

is

received, let

me

now make my request. There is, Sir, somewhere within your government, a young adventurer, one Chauncey Lawrence, whose father is one of my oldest friends. Be pleased to shew the young man what countenance is fit, whether he wants to be restrained by your authority, or encouraged by your favour. His father is now President of the College of Physicians, a man venerable for his knowledge, and more venerable for his virtue. I wish you a prosperous government, a safe return, and a long enjoyment of plenty and tranquillity. I am. Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, Sam. Johnson London,

Dec. 20, 1774

To THE Same Jan.

9,

1

781

Amidst the importance and multiplicity of affairs in which your great office engages you, Sir,

take the liberty of recalling your attention for literature, and will not prolong the interruption by an apology which your character makes needless. Mr. Hoole, a gentleman long known, and long esteemed in the India-House, after having translated Tasso, has undertaken Ariosto. How well he is qualified for his undertaking he has I

a moment to

already shewn.

He

vour in promoting by supposing that

is

my

your

fa-

flatters

me

desirous, Sir, of

his proposals,

and

testimony

may advance

his interest. It is

a

new

thing for a clerk of the India-

—

it is new for a Goverto translate poets; nour of Bengal to patronize learning. That he may find his ingenuity rewarded, and that learning may flourish under your protection, is the wish of, Sir, your most humble servant,

House

Sam. Johnson ^Journey

to the

Western Islands of Scotland.

— lySi

LIFE OF

]

wrote to him in February, complaining of having been troubled by a recurrence of the I

perplexing question of Liberty and Necessity; and mentioning that I hoped soon to meet him again in London.

To James Boswell, Dear

Esq.

hoped you had got rid of all this hypocrisy of misery. What have you to do with Liberty and Necessity? Or what more than to hold your tongue about it? Do not doubt but I shall be most heartily glad to see you here again, for I love every part about you but your Sir, I

affectation of distress. I have at last finished my Lives, and have laid up for you a load of copy, all out of order, so that it will amuse you a long time to set it right. Come to me, my dear Bozzy, and let us be as wUl go again to the Mitre, happy as we can. and talk old times over. I am, dear Sir, yours affectionately,

We

Sam. Johnson

March

14,

1781

On Monday, March 1 9, 1 arrived in London, and on Tuesday, the 20th, met him in Fleetstreet, walking, or rather indeed moving along; for his peculiar march is thus described in a very just and picturesque manner, in a short Life^ of him published very soon

after his death:

"When

he walked the streets, what with the constant roll of his head, and the concomitant motion of his body, he appeared to make his way by that motion, independent of his feet." That he was often much stared at while he advanced in this manner, may easily be believed; but it was not safe to make sport of one so robust as he was. Mr. Langton saw him one day, in a fit of absence, by a sudden start, drive the load off a porter's back, and walk forward briskly, without being conscious of what he had done. The porter was very angry, but stood still, and eyed the huge figure with much earnestness, tUl he was satisfied that his wisest course was to be quiet, and take up his burthen again. Our accidental meeting in the street after a long separation was a pleasing surprize to us both. He stepped aside with me into Falconcourt, and made kind inquiries about my family, and as we were in a hurry going different ways, I promised to call on him next day; he said he was engaged to go out in the morning. "Early, ^Published by Kearsley, with motto:

From

this

well-chosen

his cradle

He was a Scholar, and a ripe and good one: And to add greater honours to his age Than man could give him, he died fearing Heaven. Shakspeare.

JOHNSON Sir?" said

465

L Johnson. "Why,

Sir,

a London

morning does not go with the sun." I waited on him next evening, and he gave

me

a great portion of his original manuscript of his Lives oj the Poets, which he had preserved for me. I found on visiting his friend, Mr. Thrale, that he was now very Ul, and had removed, I suppose by the solicitation of Mrs. Thrale, to a house in Grosvenor-square. I was sorry to see him sadly changed in his appearance.

He

me I might now have the pleasure to Johnson drink wine again, for he had lately returned to it. When I mentioned this to Johnson, he said, "I drink it now sometimes, but not socially." The first evening that I was with him at Thrale's, I observed he poured a large quantity of it into a glass, and swallowed it greedily. Every thing about his character and manners was forcible and violent; there never was any moderation; many a day did he fast, many a year did he refrain from wine; but when he did eat, it was voraciously; when he did drink wine, it was copiously. He could practise told

see Dr.

abstinence, but not temperance.

Mrs. Thrale and I had a dispute, whether Shakspeare or Milton had drawn the most admirable picture of a man. ^ I was for Shakspeare; Mrs. Thrale for Milton; and after a fair hearing, Johnson decided for my opinion. I told him of one of Mr. Burke's playful sallies upon Dean Marlay: "I don't like the Deanery of Ferns, it sounds so like a barren title." "Dr. Heath should have it," said I. Johnson laughed, and condescending to trifle in the same mode of conceit, suggested Dr. Moss. He said, "Mrs. Montagu has dropt me. Now, Sir, there are people whom one should Uke very well to drop, but would not wish to be dropped by." He certainly was vain of the society of ladies, and could make himself very agreeable to them, when he chose it; Sir Joshua Reynolds agreed with me that he could. Mr. Gibbon, ^vith his usual sneer, controverted it, perhaps in re-

—

^Shakspeare makes Hamlet thus describe his father: See what a grace was seated on this brow: HyperiorC s curls, the front of Jove himself.

An eye like Mars,

A

to threaten

station like the herald.

and command;

Mercury,

New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill; A combination, and a form, indeed. Where every god did seem to set his seal. To give the world assurance of a man.

Milton thus pourtrays our first parent, Adam: His fair large front and eye sublime declared Absolute rule; and hyacinthin locks Round from his parted forelock many hung Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad.

BOSWELL

466

sentment of Johnson's having talked with some disgust of his ugliness, which one would think a philosopher would not mind. Dean Marlay wittily observed, "A lady may be vain, can turn a wolf-dog into a lap-dog."

The

election for Ayrshire,

when

my own

she

county,

was this spring tried upon a petition, before a Committee of the House of Commons. I was one of the Counsel for the sitting member, and took the liberty of previously stating different who never failed to see them clearly, and to supply me with some good hints. He dictated to me the following note upon the points to Johnson,

registration of deeds:

"All laws are

made for

community: what

is

the convenience of the

legally done, should be

legally recorded, that the state of things

may

be

known, and that wherever evidence is requisite, evidence may be had. For this reason, the obligation to frame and establish a legal register is enforced by a legal penalty, which penalty is the want of that perfection and plentitude of right which a register would give. Thence it follows, that this is not an objection merely legal: for the reason on which the law stands being equitable, makes it an equitable objection." "This (said he,) you must enlarge on, when speaking to the Committee. You must not argue there as if you were arguing in the schools; close reasoning will not fix their attention; you must say the same thing over and over again, in different words. If you say it but once, they miss it in a

moment

of inattention. It

is

unjust. Sir, to

censure lawyers for multiplying words when they argue; it is often necessary for them to multiply words." His notion of the duty of a member of Parliament, sitting upon an election-committee, was very high; and when he was told of a gentleman of those committees, who read the news-papers part of the time, and slept the rest, while the merits of a vote were examined by the counsel; and as an excuse, when challenged by the chairman for such behaviour, bluntly an-

upon one

[1781

nothing to do at a tippling-house. It is not indeed immoral in him to go to a tavern; neither would it be immoral in him to whip a top in Grosvenor-square. But, if he did, I hope the boys would fall upon him, and apply the whip to him. There are gradations in conduct; there is morality, decency, propriety. None of these should be violated by a bishop. A bishop should not go to a house where he may meet a young fellow leading out a wench." Boswtell. "But Sir, every tavern does not admit women." Johnson. "Depend upon it. Sir, any tavern will admit a well-drest man and a well-drest woman; they will not perhaps admit a woman whom they see every night walking by their door, in the street. But a well-drest man may lead in a well-drest woman to any tavern in London.

—

—

Taverns sell meat and drink, and will sell them to any body who can eat and can drink. You may as well say that a mercer will not sell silks to a woman of the town." He also disapproved of bishops going to routs, at least of their staying at them longer than their presence

commanded

himself in a situation where he has no distinct and is of no consequence, he de-

grades the dignity of his order." Johnson. "Mr. Boswell, Madam, has said it as correctly as it

could be."

Nor was it only in the dignitaries of the Church decorum and

that Johnson required a particular

delicacy of behaviour; he justly considered that the clergy, as persons set apart for the sacred

and impressing the minds of men with the aweful concerns of a future state, should be somewhat more serious than the generality of mankind, and have a suitable composure of manners. A due sense of office of serving at the altar,

the dignity of their profession, independent of higher motives, will ever prevent them from losing their distinction in an indiscriminate sociality;

much

it

mind upon a

selves

much mortified.

case without hearing it, he should not have been such a fool as to tell it." "I think (said

Mr. Dudley Long, now North,) the Doc-

tor has pretty plainly made him out to be both rogue and fool." Johnson's profound reverence for the Hierarchy made him expect from bishops the highest degree of decorum; he was offended even at their going to taverns; "A bishop (said he,) has

He men-

character,

swered, "I had made up my mind upon that case"; ^Johnson, with an indignant contempt, said, "If he was such a rogue as to make up his

—

respect.

tioned a particular bishop. "Poh! (said Mrs. is never minded Thrale,) the Bishop of at a rout." Bosvvell. "When a bishop places

and did such as affect this, know how lessens them in the eyes of those whom they think to please by it, they would feel themJohnson and

together in

his friend, Beauclerk,

company with

who thought

were once

several clergymen,

that they should appear to advan-

jollity of men of the be observed in similar cases, they carried to noisy excess. Johnson, who they expected, would be entertained, sat grave and silent for some time; at last, turning to Beau-

tage,

by assuming the lax

world; which, as

it

may

781]

LIFE OF

he said, by no means in a whisper, "This merriment of parsons is mighty offensive." Even the dress of a clergyman should be in character, and nothing can be more despicable than conceited attempts at avoiding the appearance of the clerical order; attempts, which are as clerk,

ineffectual as they are pitiful. Dr. Porteus, now Bishop of London, in his excellent charge when presiding over the diocese of Chester, justiy animadverts upon this subject; and observes of a reverend fop, that he "can be but half a beau." Addison, in The Spectator, has given us a fine portrait of a clergyman, who is supposed to be a

member

of his Club; and Johnson has exhibited a model, in the character of Mr. Mudge,^ which has escaped the collectors of his works, but which he owned to me, and which indeed he shewed to Sir Joshua Reynolds at the time when it was written. It bears the genuine marks of Johnson's best manner, and is as follows: "The Reverend Mr. ^acariah Mudge, Prebendary of Exeter, and Vicar of St. Andrew's in Plymouth; a man equally eminent for his virtues and abilities, and at once beloved as a companion and reverenced as a pastor. He had that general curiosity to which no kind of knowledge is indifferent or superfluous; and that general benevolence by which no order of men is hated or despised. "His principles both of thought and action were great and comprehensive. By a solicitous examination of objections, and judicious comparison of opposite arguments, he attained what enquiry never gives but to industry and perspicuity, a firm and unshaken settlement of conviction. But his firmness was without asperity; for, kno\ving with how much difficulty truth was sometimes found, he did not wonder that many missed it. "The general course of his life was determined by his profession; he studied the sacred volumes in the original languages; with what dUigence and success, his Notes upon the Psalms give suflftcient evidence. He once endeavoured to add the knowledge of Arabick to that of Hebrew; but finding his thoughts too much diverted from other studies, after some time desisted from his purpose. "His discharge of parochial duties was exemplary. How his Sermons were composed, may be learned from the excellent volume which he has given to the publick; but how they were delivered, can be known only to those that heard them; for as he appeared in the pulpit, words will not easily describe him. His delivery, though ^See pp. 105-6.

JOHNSON

467

unconstrained was not negligent, and though forcible was not turbulent; disdaining anxious nicety of emphasis, and laboured artifice of action, it captivated the hearer by its natural dignity, it roused the sluggish, and fixed the volatile, and detained the mind upon the subject, without directing it to the speaker. "The grandeur and solemnity of the preacher did not intrude upon his general behaviour; at the table of his friends he was a companion communicative and attentive, of unaffected manners, of manly cheerfulness, willing to please,

and easy

acquaintance was universally solicited, and his presence obstructed no enjoyment which religion did not forbid. Though studious he was popular; though argumentative he was modest; though inflexible he was candid; and though metaphysical yet orthodox."On Friday, March 30, I dined with him at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, with the Earl of Charlemont. Sir Annesley Stewart, Mr. Eliot of PortEliot, Mr. Burke, Dean Marlay, Mr. Langton; a most agreeable day, of which I regret that every circumstance is not preserved; but it is unreasonable to require such a multiplication of felicity. Mr. Eliot, with whom Dr. Walter Harte had to be pleased. His

travelled, talked to us of his History of Gustavus which he said was a very good book in

Adolphus,

German

Johnson. "Harte was copies of his book in manuscript into the hands of Lord Chesterfield and Lord Granville, that they might revise it. Now how absurd was it to suppose that two such the

translation.

excessively vain.

He put

noblemen would

man

revise so big a manuscript.

London

the day of the pubhe might be out of the way of the great praise he was to receive; and he was ashamed to return, when he found how ill his book had succeeded. It was unlucky in coming out on the same day with Robertson's History of Scotland. His husbandry, however, is good." BosM^ELL. "So he was fitter for that than for heroick history: he did well, when he turned his sword into a plough-share." Mr. Eliot mentioned a curious liquor peculiar to his country, which the Cornish fishermen drink. They call it Mahogany; and it is made of two parts gin, and one part treacle, well beaten together. I begged to have some of it made, which was done with proper skill by Mr. Eliot. I thought it very good liquor; and said it was a

Poor

!

he

left

lication of his book, that

counterpart of what

is

called Athol Porridge in

May 2, 1 769. This respectable there mentioned to have died on the 3rd of April, that year, at Cofflect, the seat of Thomas Veale, Esq., in his way to London. "^London Chronicle,

man

is

BOSWELL

468 the Highlands of Scotland, which

a mixture of whisky and honey. Johnson said, "that must be a better liquor than the Cornish, for both its component parts are better." He also observed, "Mahogany must be a modern name; for it is not is

long since the wood called mahogany was known in this country." I mentioned his scale of liquors;

— claret for boys, — port for men, — brandy

Mr. Burke,) let me have a boy; to have the careless gaietyof boyish days. "Johnson. "I should drink claret too, if it would give me that; but it does not: it neither makes boys men, nor men boys. You'll be drowned by it, before it has any effect upon you." I ventured to mention a ludicrous paragraph in the news-papers, that Dr. Johnson was learning to dance of Vestris. Lord Charlemont, wishing to excite him to talk, proposed in a whisper, that he should be asked, whether it was true. "Shall I ask him?" said his Lordship. We were, by a great majority, clear for the experiment. Upon which his Lordship very gravely, and with a courteous air said, "Pray, Sir, is it true that you are taking lessons of Vestris?" This was risking a good deal, and required the boldness of a General of Irish Volunteers to make the for heroes.

"Then

(said

claret: I love to be

attempt. Johnson was at first startled, and in some heat answered, "How can your Lordship ask so simple a question?" But immediately recovering himself, whether from unwillingness to

be deceived, or to appear deceived, or whether from real good humour, he kept up the joke: "Nay, but if any body were to answer the paragraph, and contradict it, I'd have a reply, and would say, that he who contradicted it was no friend either to Vestris or me. For why should not Dr. Johnson add to his other powers a little corporeal agiUty? Socrates learnt to dance at an advanced age, and Cato learnt Greek at an advanced age. Then it might proceed to say, that this Johnson, not content with dancing on the ground, might dance on the rope; and they might introduce the elephant dancing on the rope. A nobleman^ wrote a play, called Love in a hollow Tree. He found out that it was a bad one, and therefore wished to buy up all the copies, and burn them. The Duchess of Marlborough had kept one; and when he was against her at an election, she had a new edition of it printed, and prefixed to it, as a frontispiece, an elephant dancing on a rope; to shew, that his Lordship's writing comedy was as aukward as an elephant dancing on a ropye." On Sunday, April i, I dined with him at Mr. ^William, the

first

Viscount Grimston.

[1 781

and Mr. Perkins,^ who had the superintendence of Mr. Thrale's brewery, with a salary of five hundred pounds a year. Sir Philip had the appear-

Thrale's, with Sir Philip Jennings Clerk

ance of a gendeman of ancient family, well advanced in life. He wore his own white hair in a bag of goodly size, a black velvet coat, with an embroidered waistcoat, and very rich laced ruffles; which Mrs. Thrale said were old fashioned, but which, for that reason, I thought the more respectable, more like a Tory; yet Sir Philip was then in Opposition in Parliament. "Ah, Sir, (said Johnson,) ancient ruflfies and modern principles do not agree." Sir Philip defended the Opposition to the American war ably and with temper, and I joined him. He said, the majority of the nation was against the ministry. Johnson. "I, Sir,

am

having too

against the ministry; but little

of that, of

it

is

for

which Opposition

much. Were I minister, if any man wagged his finger against me, he should be turned out; for that which it is in the power of Government to give at pleasure to one or to thinks they have too

another, should be given to the supporters of

Government. If you will not oppose at the expence of losing your place, your opposition will not be honest, you will feel no serious grievance;

and the present opposition is only a contest to what others have. Sir Robert Walpole acted as I would do. As to the American war, the sense of the nation is with the ministry. The maget

who can understand is with it; the who can only hear, is against it; and as those who can only hear are more numerous than those who can understand, and

jority of those

majority of those

Opposition is always loudest, a majority of the rabble will be for Opposition." This boisterous vivacity entertained us; but the truth in my opinion was, that those who could understand the best were against the American war, as almost every man now is, when the question has been coolly considered. Mrs. Thrale gave high praise to Mr. Dudley Long, (now North). Johnson. "Nay, my dear lady, don't talk so. Mr. Long's character is very short. It is nothing. He fills a chair. He is a man of genteel appearance, and that is all.^ I know ^See p. 234.

3Here Johnson condescended to play upon the words Long and short. But little did he know that, owing to Mr. Long's reserve in his presence, he was talking thus of a gentleman distinguished amongst his acquaintance for acuteness of wit; one to whom I think the French expression, "// petille d'esprit" is particularly suited. He has gratified me by mentioning that he heard Dr. Johnson say, "Sir, if I were to lose Boswell, it would be a limb amputated."

'

1781

LIFE OF

]

nobody who blasts by praise as you do:

whenevery body is for

exaggerated praise, a character. They are provoked to attack it. Now there is Pepys;^ you praised that man with such disproportion, that I was incited ever there

is

set against

him, perhaps more than he deserves. His blood is upon your head. By the same principle, your malice defeats itself; for your censure is too violent. And yet, (looking to her with to lessen

a leering smile,) she is the first woman in the world, could she but restrain that wicked tongue she would be the only woman, could of hers; she but command that little whirligig." Upon the subject of exaggerated praise I took the liberty to say, that I thought there might be very high praise given to a known character which deserved it, and therefore it would not be exaggerated. Thus, one might say of Mr. Edmund Burke, He is a very wonderful man. Johnson. "No, Sir, you would not be safe if another man had a mind perversely to contradict. He might answer, 'Where is all the wonder? Burke is, to be sure, a man of uncommon abilities, with a great quantity of matter in his mind, and a great fluency of language in his mouth. But we are not to be stunned and astonished by him.'

—

So you see, Sir, even Burke would suffer, not from any fault of his own, but from your folly." Mrs. Thrale mentioned a gentleman who had acquired a fortune of four thousand a year in trade, but was absolutely miserable, because he could not talk in company; so miserable, that he was impelled to lament his situation in the street to ******^ whom he hates, and who he knows despises him. "I am a most unhappy man, (said he) I am invited to conversations. I go to conversations; but, alas! I have no conversation." Johnson. "Man commonly cannot be successful in different ways. This gentleman has spent, in getting four thousand pounds a year, the time in which he might have learnt to talk; and now he cannot talk." Mr. Perkins made a shrewd and droll remark: "If he had got his four thousand a year as a mountebank, he might have learnt to talk at the same time that he was .

getting his fortune."

Some

other gentlemen

came

sation concerning the person

in.

The

conver-

whose character

^William Weller Pepys, Esq., one of the Masters High Court of Chancery, and well known in polite circles. My acquaintance with him is not sufficient to enable me to speak of him from my own judgement. But I know that both at Eton and Oxford he was the intimate friend of the late Sir in the

James Macdonald, the Afarc^Z/ux of Scotland, whose extraordinary talents, learning, and virtues, will ever be remembered with admiration and regret.

JOHNSON

469

Dr. Johnson had treated so slightingly, as he did not know his merit, was resumed. Mrs. Thrale said, "You think so of him, Sir, because he is quiet, and does not exert himself with force. You'll be saying the same thing of Mr. ***** ." This was not wellthere, who sits as quiet bred; and Johnson did not let it pass without

—

"Nay, Madam, what right have you Both Mr. ***** and I have reason ill. You may talk so of Mr. *****; but

correction.

to talk thus? to take

it

why do you make me do

it? Have I said anything against Mr. *****? You have set him, that I might shoot him but I have not shot him. One of the gentlemen said, he had seen three folio volumes of Dr. Johnson's sayings collected by me. "I must put you right. Sir, (said I,) for I am very exact in authenticity. You could not see folio volumes, for I have none: you might '

:

have seen some in quarto and octavo. This is inattention which one should guard against." Johnson. "Sir, it is a want of concern about veracity. He does not know that he saw any volumes. If he had seen them, he could have remembered their size." Mr. Thrale appeared very lethargick to-day. I saw him again on Monday evening, at which time he was not thought to be in immediate danger; but early in the morning of Wednesday, the 4th, he expired. Johnson was in the house, and thus mentions the event: "I felt almost the last flutter of his pulse, and looked for the last time upon the face that for fifteen years had never been turned upon me but with respect and be-

Upon that day there was a Call of The Literary Club; but Johnson apologised for his absence by the following note: "Mr. Johnson knows that Sir Joshua Reynolds and the other gentlemen will excuse his nignity."^

incompliance with the call, when they are told that Mr. Thrale died this morning. Wednesday." Mr. Thrale's death was a very essential loss to Johnson, who, although he did not foresee all that afterwards happened, was sufficiently convinced that the comforts which Mr. Thrale's family afforded him, would now in a great measure cease. He, however, continued to shew a kind attention to his widow and children as long as it was acceptable; and he took upon him, with a very earnest concern, the office of one of his executors, the importance of which seemed greater than usual to him, from his circumstances having been always such, that he had scarcely any share in the real business of life. His friends of THE CLUB were in hopes that Mr. Thrale

—

^Prayers and Meditations, p. 191.

BOSWELL

470

might have made a liberal provision for him for life, which, as Mr. Thrale left no son, and a very large fortune, it would have been highly to his honour to have done; and, considering Dr. Johnson's age, could not have been of long duration; but he bequeatlied him only two hundred pounds, which was the legacy given to each of his executors. I could not but be somewhat diverted by hearing Johnson talk in a pompous his

manner of his new

and particularly of the concerns of the brewery, which it was at last resolved should be sold. Lord Lucan tells a very good story, which, if not precisely exact, is ceroffice,

tainly characteristical: that when the sale of Thrale's brewery was going forward, Johnson appeared bustling about, with an ink-horn and pen in his button-hole, like an excise-man; and

on being asked what he really considered to be the value of the property which was to be disposed

answered,

of,

"We

are not here to

sell

a

and vats, but the potentiality of beyond the dreams of avarice."

parcel of boilers

growing

On

rich,

Friday, April

6,

he carried

me

to dine at

a club, which, at his desire, had been lately formed at the Queen's Arms, in St. Paul's Church-yard. He told Mr. Hoole, that he wished to have a City Club, and asked him to collect

one; but, said he, "Don't let them be patriots." The company were to-day very sensible, wellbehaved men. I have preserved only two particuulars of his conversation. He said he was glad Lord George Gordon had escaped, rather than that a precedent should be established for hang-

ing a

man

for constructive treason; which, in con-

sistency with his true, manly, constitutional Tory-

would be a dangerous enAnd upon its being mentioned that an opulent and very indolent ism, he considered

gine of arbitrary power.

Scotch nobleman,

who totally resigned the man-

agement of his aflfairs to a man of knowledge and abilities, had claimed some merit by saying, "The next best thing to managing a man's own affairs well is being sensible of incapacity, and not attempting

it,

but having

full

confidence in

one who can do it": Johnson. "Nay, Sir, this is paltry. There is a middle course. Let a man give application; and depend upon it he will soon get above a despicable state of helplessness, and attain the

power of acting

for himself."

On

Saturday, April 7, I dined with him at Mr. Hoole's with Governour Bouchier and Captain

Orme, both of whom had been long in the and being men of good sense and

East-Indies;

observation, were very entertaining. Johnson defended the oriental regulation of different casts of men,

which was objected

to as totally destruc-

[1781

tive of the

merit.

hopes of rising in society by personal

He shewed

was a principle in it by analogy. "We see (said

that there

sufficiently plausible

he,) in metals that there are different species;

and

so likewise in animals,

though one species

may

not differ very widely from another, as in the cur, the spaniel, the the species of dogs, mastiff. The Brainins are the mastiffs of man-

—

kind."

On Thursday, April 12, I dined with him at a Bishop's, where were Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Berrenger, and some more company. He had dined the day before at another Bishop's. I have unfortunately recorded none of his conversation at the Bishop's where we dined together: but I have preserved his ingenious defence of his dining twice abroad in Passion-week; a which I am convinced he would not have indulged himself at the time when he wrote his solemn paper in The Rambler, upon that aweful season. It appeared to me, that by being laxity, in

much more in company, and enjoying more luxurious living, he had contracted a keener relish of pleasure,

and was consequently less rigorous he would not acknowl-

in his religious rites. This

edge; but he reasoned with admirable sophistry, as follows: "Why,«Sir, a Bishop's calling

company

together in this week is, to use the vulgar phrase, not the thing. But you must consider laxity is a bad thing; but preciseness is also a bad thing; and your general character may be more hurt by preciseness than by dining with a

Bishop in Passion-week. There might be a handle for reflection. It might be said,

'He refused

with a Bishop in Passion-week, but was three Sundays absent from Church.' " Boswell. "Very true. Sir. But suppose a man to be uniformly of good conduct, would it not be better that he should refuse to dine with a Bishop in this week, and so not encourage a bad practice by his example?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, you are to consider whether you might not do more to dine

harm by

lessening the influence of a Bishop's character by your disapprobation in refusing him, than by going to him."

To Mrs. Lucy

Porter,

in

Lichfield

Dear Madam, just lost

my

Life is full of troubles. I have dear friend Thrale. I hope he is

I have had a great loss. I am otherwise pretty well. I require some care of myself, but that care is not ineffectual; and when I am out of order, I think it often my own fault. The spring is now making quick advances. As it is the season in which the whole world is enlivened and invigorated, I hope that both desire you and I shall partake of its benefits.

happy; but

My

LIFE OF

lySi]

my

to see Lichfield; but being left executor to friend, I know not whether I can be spared; but I will try, for it is now long since we saw one is

and how little we can promise ourmany more interviews, we are taught by

another, selves

hourly examples of mortality. Let us try to

live

so as that mortality may not be an evil. Write to me soon, dearest; your letters will give me great pleasure. I sorry that Mr. Porter has not had his

my

am

box; but by sending it to Mr. Mathias, who very readily undertook its conveyance, I did the best I could, and perhaps before now he has it.

my

my

compliments to so kind as to make friends; I have a great value for their kindness,

Be

and hope to enjoy it before summer is past. Do write to me. I am, dearest love, your most humble servant,

Sam. Johnson

London,

April 12, 1781

JOHNSON (said

Johnson

Friday, April 13, being Good-Friday, I

went to St. Clement's church with him as usual. There I saw again his old fellow-collegian, Edwards, to whom I said, "I think, Sir, Dr. Johnson and you meet only at Church." "Sir, (said he,) it is the best place we can meet in, except Heaven, and I hope we shall meet there too." Dr. Johnson told me, that there was very little communication between Edwards and him, af-

—

unexpected renewal of acquaintance. "But, (said he, smiling), he met me once, and said, 'I am told you have written a very pretty book called The Rambler.^ I was unwilling that he should leave the world in total darkness, and sent him a set." ter their

Mr. Berrenger^ visited him to-day, and was very pleasing. We talked of an evening society for conversation at a house in town, of which we were all members, but of which Johnson said, "It will never do. Sir. There is nothing served about there, neither tea, nor coffee, nor lemonade, nor any thing whatever; and depend upon it. Sir, a man does not love to go to a place from whence he comes out exactly as he went in." I endeavoured, for argument's sake, to maintain that men of learning and talents might have very good intellectual society, without the aid of any little gratifications of the senses. Berrenger joined with Johnson, and said, that without these any meeting would be dull and insipid. He would therefore have all the slight refreshments; nay, it would not be amiss to have some cold meat, and a bottle of wine upon a side-board. "Sir, ^Richard Berrenger, Esq., many years Gentleof the Horse, and first equerry to his present Majesty. [M.]

man

me, with an

air of

triumph,)

Mr. Berrenger knows the world. Every body good things furnished to them without any trouble. I told Mrs. Thrale once, that as she did not choose to have card tables, she should have a profusion of the best sweetmeats, and she would be sure to have company enough come to her." I agreed with my illustrious friend upon this subject; for it has pleased God to make man a composite animal, and where there is nothing to refresh the body, the loves to have

mind

will languish.

On Sunday,

April 15, being Easter-day, after in St. Paul's church, I found him alone; Dr. Scott of the Commons came in. He talked of its having been said that Addison wrote some of his best papers in The Spectator when warm with wine. Dr. Johnson did not seem wUling to admit this. Dr. Scott, as a confirma-

solemn worship

tion of

On

471 to

it,

related, that Blackstone, a sober

composed

his Commentaries

man,

with a bottle of port

before him; and found his mind invigorated and supported in the fatigue of his great work, by a temperate use of it. I told him, that in a company where I had lately been, a desire was expressed to know his authority for the shocking story of Addison's sending an execution into Steele's house.^ "Sir, (said he,) it is generally known, it is known to aU who are acquainted with the literary history of that period. It is as well known, as that he wrote Cato." Mr. Thomas Sheridan once defended Addison to me, by alledging that he did it in order to cover Steele's goods from other creditors, who were going to seize them. We talked of the difference between the mode of education at Oxford, and that in those Colleges where instruction is chiefly conveyed by lectures. Johnson. "Lectures were once useful; but now, when all can read, and books are so numerous, lectures are unnecessary. If your attention fails, and you miss a part of a lecture, it is lost; you cannot go back as you do upon a book." Dr. Scott agreed with him. "But yet (said I), Dr. Scott, you yoiurself gave lectures

He smiled. "You laughed (then said who came to you." Dr. Scott left us, and soon afterwards we went to dinner. Our company consisted of Mrs. Wilat Oxford." I,)

at those

Mr. Levett, Mr. Allen, and Mrs. Hall, sister of the Reverend Mr. John Wesley, and resembling him, as I thought, both in figure and manner. Johnson produced now, for the first time, some handsome silver salvers, which he told me he had liams, Mrs. Desmoulins,

the printer,

^See this explained, ante, p. 458.

BOSWELL

472

was a great day.

bought fourteen years ago; so it I was not a little amused by observing Allen perpetually struggling to talk in the manner of like the little frog in the fable blowing himself up to resemble the stately ox.

Johnson,

mentioned a kind of religious Robinhood which met every Sunday evening, at Coachmakers'-hall, for free debate; and that the subject for this night was, the text which relates, with other miracles, which happened at our Saviour's death, "And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." Mrs. Hall said it was a very curious subject, and she should like to hear itdiscussed. Johnson, (somewhat warmly,) "One would not go to such a place to hear it, one would not be seen in such a place to give countenance to such a meeting." I, however, resolved that I would go. "But, Sir, (said she to I

Society,

—

Johnson,)

I

He seemed

—

should like to hear you discuss reluctant to engage in

of the resurrection of the

it.

it."

She talked

human race in general,

and maintained that we shall be raised with the same bodies. Johnson. "Nay, Madam, we see that it is not to be the same body; for the Scripture uses the illustration of grain sown, and we know that the grain which grows is not the same with what is sown. You cannot suppose that

we

enough

with a diseased body; it is there be such a sameness as to distin-

if

scurity.

Of apparitions,^ he

observed,

"A

total disbe-

of them is adverse to the opinion of the existence of the soul between death and the last day; the question simply is, whether departed spirits ever have the power of making themselves perceptible to us; a man who thinks he has seen an apparition, can only be convinced himself; his authority will not convince another, and his conviction, if rational, must be founded on being told something which cannot be known but by supernatural means." lief

He mentioned I

is,

sound uttered by human organs. "An acquaintance, on whose veracity I can depend, told me, that walking home one evening to Kilmarnock, he heard himself called from a wood, by the voice of a brother who had gone to America; and the next packet brought accounts of that brother's death."

Macbean

asserted that this in-

was a thing very well known. Dr. Johnson said, that one day at Oxford, as he was turning the key of his chamber, he heard his mother distinctly call Sam. She was then at Lichfield; but nothing ensued. This phaenomenon is, I think, as wonderful as any other mysterious fact, which many people are very slow to believe, or rather, indeed, reject with an obstiexplicable calling

nate contempt. Some time after this, upon his making a remark which escaped my attention, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Hall were both together striving to answer him. He grew angry, and called out loudly, "Nay, when you both speak at once, it is intolerable." But checking himself, and softening, he said, "This one may say, though you are ladies." Then he brightened into gay humour, and addressed them in the words of one of the songs in 1 he Beggar's Opera: But two

at a time there's no mortal can bear-

shall rise

guish identity of person." She seemed desirous of knowing more, but he left the question in ob-

which

[1781

hearing one's name pronounced by the voice of a known person at a great distance, far beyond the possibility of being reached by any that

a thing as not unfrequent, of before, being called,

had never heard

—

^As this subject frequently recurs in these volmay be led erroneously to suppose that Dr. Johnson was so fond of such discussions, as frequently to introduce them. But the truth is, that the authour himself delighted in talking concerning ghosts, and what he has frequently denominated the mysterious; and therefore took every opportunity of leading Johnson to converse on

umes, the reader

such subjects.

[M.]

"What, Sir, (said I,) are you going to turn Captain Macheath?" There was something as pleasantly ludicrous in this scene as can be imagined.

The

contrast between Macheath, Polly,

Lucy

— and Dr. Samuel Johnson, blind, peevish

and

Mrs. Williams, and lean, lank, preaching Mrs. Hall,

was

exquisite.

away to Coachmakers'-hall, and heard the difficult text of which we had talked, discussed with great decency, and some intelliI stole

gence, by several speakers. There was a difference of opinion as to the appearance of ghosts in

modern

times, though the arguments for it, supported by Mr. Addison's authority, preponderated. The iinmediate subject of debate was embarrassed by the bodies of the saints having been said to rise, and by the question what became of them afterwards; did they return again to their graves? or were they translated to heaven? Only one evangelist mentions the fact,^ and the commentators whom I have looked at, do not make the passage clear. There is, however, no occasion for our understanding it further, than to know that it was one of the extraordinary ^Matthew, 27. 52, 53.

?

LIFE OF

i78i]

manifestations of divine power, which accompanied the most important event that ever hap-

pened. On Friday, April 20, I spent with him one of the happiest days that I remember to have enjoyed in the whole course of my life. Mrs. Garrick, whose grief for the loss of her husband was, I

believe, as sincere as

wounded

affection

and

admiration could produce, had this day, for the first time since his death, a select party of his friends to dine with her. The company was Miss Hannah More, who lived with her, and whom she called her Chaplain; Mrs. Boscawen,^ Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr. Burney, Dr. Johnson, and myself. We found ourselves very elegantly entertained at her house in the Adelphi, where I have passed many a pleasing hour with him "who gladdened life." She looked well, talked of her husband with complacency, and while she cast her eyes on his portrait, which hung over the chimney-piece, said, that "death was now the most agreeable object to her." The very semblance of David Garrick was cheering. Mr. Beauclerk, with happy propriety, inscribed under that fine portrait of him, which by Lady Diana's kindness is now the property of my friend Mr. Langton, the following passage from his beloved Shakspeare:

A

!

an Atheist." Reynolds praised Mudge' s Sermons Johnson. "Mudge's Sermons are good, but not practical. He grasps more sense than he can hold; he takes more corn than he can make into meal; he opens a wide prospect, but it is so distant, have

exuberated into

Sir Joshua

it is

indistinct. I love Blair'' s Sermons.

Though

a Scotchman, and a Presbyterian, and every thing he should not be, I was the first to praise them. Such was my candour," the

dog

is

Mrs. Boscawen. "Such his great all your prejudices."

merit to get the better of

Within the limit of becoming mirth,

hearings are quite ravished:

So sweet and voluble

473

over Europe presents of democratical books, with their boards stamped with daggers and caps of liberty. Mrs. Carter said, "He was a bad man. He used to talk uncharitably." Johnson. "Poh! poh Madam; who is the worse for being talked of uncharitably? Besides, he was a dull poor creature as ever lived: and I believe he would not have done harm to a man whom he knew to be of very opposite principles to his own. I remember once at the Society of Arts, when an advertisement was to be drawn up, he pointed me out as the man who could do it best. This, you will observe, was kindness to me. I however slipt away, and escaped it." Mrs. Carter having said of the same person, "I doubt he was an Atheist." Johnson. "I don't know that. He might perhaps have become one, if he had had time to ripen, (smiling.) He might

(smiling.)

merrier man.

I never spent an hour's talk withal. His eye begets occasion for his wit; For every object that the one doth catch. The other turns to a mirth-moving jest; Which his fair tongue {Conceit's expositor) Delivers in such apt and gracious words. That aged ears play truant at his tales.

And younger

JOHNSON

is his discourse.

Madam, let us compound the matter; let us ascribe it to my candour, and his merit." In the evening we had a large company in the drawing-room, several ladies, the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr. Percy, Mr. Chamberlayne, of the Treasury, &c. &c. Somebody said the life of a mere literary man could not be very entertain-

Johnson. "Why,

Johnson. "But it certainly may. This is a remark which has been made, and repeated, ing.

We were all in fine spirits; and I whispered to Mrs. Boscawen, "I believe this is as much as can be made of life." In addition to a splendid entertainment, we were regaled with Lichfield ale, which had a peculiar appropriated value. Sir Joshua, and Dr. Burney, and \, drank cordially of it to Dr. Johnson's health; and though he would not join us, he as cordially answered, "Gentlemen, I wish you all as well as you do

me."

The general effect of this day dv/ells upon my mind in fond remembrance; but I do not find

much conversation recorded. What served shall be faithfully given.

One

of the

I

have pre-

company mentioned Mr. Thomas

Hollis, the strenuous

^See ante, p. 406.

Whig, who used

to send

without justice; why should the life of a literary man be less entertaining than the life of any other man? Are there not as interesting varieties in such a life? As a literary life it may be very entertaining." BoswELL. "But it must be better surely, when it is diversified with a little active variety such as his having gone to Jamaica; or his having gone to the Hebrides." Johnson was not displeased at this. Talking of a very respectable authour, he told us a curious circumstance in his life, which was, that he had married a printer's devil. Reynolds. "A printer's devil. Sir! Why, I thought a printer's devil was a creature with a black face and in rags." Johnson. "Yes, Sir. But I suppose, he

—

—

^See ante, p. 467.

1

474 had her

BOSWELL

her.

nest.)

And

she did not disgrace him; the

had a bottom

of good sense."

woman

The word

bottom

thus introduced, was so ludicrous when contrasted with his gravity, that most of us could not

forbear tittering and laughing; though I recollect that the Bishop of Killaloe kept his countenance with perfect steadiness, while Miss Han-

nah More slyly hid her face behind a lady's back sat on the same settee with her. His pride could not bear that any expression of his should

who

when he

excite ridicule,

did not intend

therefore resolved to assume

and

it;

he

exercise des-

potick power, glanced sternly around, and called out in a strong tone, "Where's the merriment?" Then collecting himself, and looking aweful, to make us feel how he could impose restraint, and as it were searching his mind for a still more ludicrous word, he slowly pronounced, "I say the woman •was fundamentally sensible"; as if he had said, hear this now, and laugh if you dare. We all sat composed as at a funeral. He and I walked away together; we stopped a little while by the rails of the Adelphi, looking on the Thames, and I said to him with some emotion that I was now thinking of two friends we had lost, who once lived in the buildings behind us, Beauclerk and Garrick. "Ay, Sir, (said he, tenderly,) and two such friends as cannot be

supplied."

For some time after this day I did not see him very often, and oi the conversation which I did enjoy, I am sorry to find I have preserved but little. I was at this time engaged in a variety of other matters, which required exertion and assiduity, and necessarily occupied almost all my

One day having spoken very freely of those who were then in power, he said to me, "Between ourselves,

do not like to give opknowing how much I disapprove of the ministry." And when I mentioned that Mr. Burke had boasted how quiet the nation was in George the Second's reign, when Whigs were in power, compared with the Sir, I

position the satisfaction of

present reign, (said he,)

Dear Madam, The loss of

when

Tories governed;

you are

— "Why,

to consider that Tories

having more reverence for government, will not oppose with the same violence as Whigs, who being unrestrained by that principle, will oppose by any means." This month he lost not only Mr. Thrale, but another friend, Mr. William Strahan, Junior, printer, the eldest son of his old friend. Printer to his Majesty.

and constant

grief

a very kind friend

is

which

I feel for

sufficient to

the

make me

know how much you

suffer by the death of an amiable son; a man, of whom I think it may truly be said, that no one knew him who does not lament him. I look upon myself as having a friend, another friend, taken from me. Comfort, dear Madam, I would give you if I could, but I know how little the forms of consolation can avail. Let me, however, counsel you not to waste your health in unprofitable sorrow, but go to Bath, and endeavour to prolong your own life; but when we have all done all that we can, one friend must in time lose the other. I am, dear Madam, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

April 23,

1

78

On Tuesday, May 8, I had the pleasure of again dining with him and Mr. Wilkes, at Mr. No negotiation was now

Dilly's.

them

together; for Johnson

required to bring

was

so well satisfied

with the former interview, that he was very glad to meet Wilkes again, who was this day seated between Dr. Beattie and Dr. Johnson; (between Truth and Reason, as General Paoli said, when I told him of it.) Wilkes. "I have been thinking. Dr. Johnson, that there should be a bill brought into parliament that the controverted elections for Scotland should be tried in that country, at their own Abbey of Holy-Rood House, and not here; for the consequence of trying them here is, that we have an inundation of Scotchmen, who come up and never go back again. Now here is

who is come up upon the election for county, which will not last a fortnight." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, I see no reason why they should be tried at all; for, you know, one ScotchBoswell, his

own

man

time.

Sir,

[1781

To Mrs. Strahan

and put clean clothes on (Then looking very serious, and very earface washed,

good as another." Wilkes. "Pray, got in a year by an Advocate at the Scotch bar?" Boswell. "I believe two thousand pounds." Wilkes. "How can it be possible to spend that money in Scotland?" Johnson. "Why, Sir, the money may be spent in England: but there is a harder question. If one man in Scotland gets possession of two thousand pounds, what remains for all the rest of the nation?" Wilkes. "You know, in the last war, the immense booty which Thurot carried off by the complete plunder of seven Scotch isles; he re-embarked with three and six-pence.'" Here again Johnson and Wilkes joined in extravagant as

is

Boswell,

how much may be

upon the supposed poverty of Scotland, which Dr. Beattie and I did not think

sportive raillery

it

worth our while

The

to dispute.

subject of quotation being introduced,

Mr. Wilkes censured

it

as pedantry.

Johnson.

JOHNSON

LIFE OF

i78i]

a good thing; there is a community of mind in it. Classical quotation is the parole of literary men all over the world." Wilkes. "Upon the continent they all quote the vxilgate

"No,

Sir, it is

Shakspeare is chiefly quoted here; and we quote also Pope, Prior, Butler, Waller, and sometimes Cowley." We talked of Letter-writing. Johnson. "It is Bible.

now become

so

much

the fashion to publish

that in order to avoid

ters,

it,

I

put as

little

let-

in-

mine as I can." Boswell. "Do what you will. Sir, you cannot avoid it. Should you even write as ill as you can, your letters would be published

to

as curiosities: Behold a miracle! instead of wit. See two dull lines with Stanhope' s pencil

He Flint,

writ"

gave us an entertaining account of Bet a woman of the town, v/ho, with some ec-

centrick talents self upon his

and much effrontery, forced her-

acquaintance. "Bet (said he,) wrote

her own Life in verse,^ which she brought to me, wishing that I would furnish her with a Preface to it, (laughing.) I used to say of her that she was generally slut and drunkard; occasionally, whore and thief. She had, however, genteel lodgings, a spinnet on which she played, and a boy that walked before her chair. Poor Bet was taken up on a charge of stealing a counterpane, and tried at the Old Bailey. Chief Justice who loved a wench, summed up favourably, and she was acquitted. After which Bet said, with a gay and satisfied air, "Now that the counterpane is my own, I shall make a petticoat of it." Talking of oratory, Mr. Wilkes described it as accompanied with all the charms of poetical expression. Johnson. "No, Sir; oratory is the power of beating down your adversary's arguments, and putting better in their place." Wilkes. "But this does not move the passions." Johnson. "He must be a weaJc man, who is to be so moved." Wilkes, (naming a celebrated orator,) "Amidst all the brilliancy of 's im,

and the exuberance of his wit, there is a strange want of taste. It was observed of Apelles's Venus, that her flesh seemed as if she had been nourished by roses: his oratory would agination,

sometimes make one suspect that he eats potatoes

and drinks whisky."

"Johnson, whose

memory was

wonderfully re-

tentive [see ante, p. 6], remembered the first four lines of this curious production, which have been communicated to me by a young lady of his ac-

quaintance:

When first I drew my

A

vital breath;

minikin I came upon earth; then I came from a dark abode.

little

And

Into this

gay and gaudy world.

475 Mr. Wilkes observed, how tenacious we are of forms in this country, and gave as an instance, the vote of the House of Commons for remitting money to pay the army in America in Portugal pieces, when, in reality, the remittance is made not in Portugal money, but in our own specie. Johnson. "Is there not a law, Sir, against exporting the current coin of the realm?" Wilkes. "Yes, Sir: but might not the House of Commons, in case of real evident necessity, order our own current coin to be sent into our own colonies?" Here Johnson, with that quickness of recollection which distinguished him so eminently, gave the Middlesex Patriot din admirable retort upon his own ground. "Sure, Sir, you don't think a resolution oj the House of Commons equal to the law of the landV Wilkes, (at once perceiving the application,) "God forbid. Sir." To hear what had been treated with such violence in The False Alarm, now turned into pleasant repartee, was extremely agreeable. Johnson went on " Locke observes well, that a prohibition to export the current coin is impolitick; for when the balance of trade happens to be against a state, the current coin must be exported." Mr. Beauclerk's great library was this season sold in London by auction. Mr. Wilkes said, he wondered to find in it such a numerous collection of sermons; seeming to think it strange that a gentleman of Mr. Beauclerk's character in the gay world should have chosen to have many compositions of that kind. Johnson. "Why, Sir, you are to consider, that sermons make a considerable branch of English literature; so that a library must be very imperfect if it has not a numerous collection of sermons:^ and in all col;

—

2Mr. Wilkes probably did not know that there in an English sermon the most comprehensive and lively account of that entertaining faculty for which he himself is so much admired. It is in Dr. Barrow's first volume, and fourteenth sermon, is

Against foolish Talking and Jesting." My old acquaintance, the late Corbyn Morris, in his ingenious Essay on Wit, Humour, and Ridicule, calls it "a profuse description of Wit": but I do not see how it could be curtailed, without leaving out some good circumstance of discrimination. Ar it is not generally known, and may perhaps dispose some to read sermons, from which they may receive real advantage, whUe looking only for entertainment, I shall here subjoin it: "But first (says the learned preacher) it may be demanded, what the thing we speak of is? Or what this facetiousness (or wit as he calls it before) doth import? To which questions I might reply, as Democritus did to him that asked the definition of a man, 'Tis that which we all see and know.' Any one better apprehends what it is by acquaintance, than I can inform him by description. It is, indeed, a thing so versatile and multiform, appearing in so ^^

BOSWELL

476 lections, Sir, the desire of

augmenting

it

grows

stronger in proportion to the advance in acquisition; as motion is accelerated by the continu-

ance of the impetus. Besides, Sir, (looking at Mr. Wilkes with a placid but significant smile,) a man may collect sermons with intention of making himself better by them. I hope Mr. Beaushapes, so many postures, so many garbs, so variously apprehended by several eyes and judgements, that it seemeth no less hard to settle a clear and certain notion thereof, than to make a portrait of Proteus, or to define the figure of the fleeting air. Sometimes it lieth in pat allusion to a known story, or in seasonable application of a trivial saying, or in forging an apposite tale; sometimes it playeth in words and phrases, taking advantage from the ambiguity of their sense, or the affinity of their sound: sometimes it is wrapped in a dress of humorous expression: sometimes it lurketh under an odd similitude: sometimes it is lodged in a sly question, in a smart answer, in a quirkish reason, in a shrewd intimation, in cunningly diverting or cleverly retorting an objection: sometimes it is couched in a bold scheme of speech, in a tart irony, in a lusty hyperbole, in a startling metaphor, in a plausible reconciling of contradictions, or in acute nonsense: sometimes a scenical representation of persons or things, a counterfeit speech, a mimical look or gesture, passeth for it: sometimes an affected simplicity, sometimes a presumptuous bluntness giveth it being: sometimes it riseth only from a lucky hitting upon what is strange: sometimes from a crafty wresting obvious matter to the purpose. Often it consisteth in one knows not what, and springeth up one can hardly tell how. Its ways are unaccountable, and inexplicable; being answerable to the numberless rovings of fancy, and windings of language. It is, in short, a manner of speaking out of the simple and plain way, (such as reason teacheth and proveth things by,) which by a pretty surprising uncouthness in conceit or expression, doth afTect and amuse the fancy, stirring in it some wonder, and breeding some delight thereto. It raiseth admiration, as signifying a nimble sagacity of apprehension, a special felicity of invention, a vivacity of spirit, and reach of wit more than vulgar; it seeming to argue a rare quickness of parts, that one can fetch in remote conceits applicable; a notable skill, that he can dextrously accommodate them to the purpose before him; together with a lively briskness of humour, not apt to damp those sportful flashes of imagination. (Whence in Aristotle such persons are termed kiriSe^LOL, dextrous men, and evarpixpoL, men of facile or versatile

many

manners, who c^n easily turn themselves to all things, or turn all things to themselves.) It also procureth delight, by gratifying curiosity with its rareness, as semblance of difficulty: (as monsters, not for their beauty, but their rarity; as juggling tricks, not for their use, but their abstruseness, are beheld with pleasure:) by diverting the mind from its road of serious thoughts; by instilling gaiety and airiness of spirit; by provoking to such dispositions of spirit in way of emulation or complaisance;

and by seasoning matters, otherwise distasteful or insipid, with an unusual and thence grateful tang."

[1781

clerk intended, that some time or other that should be the case with him." Mr. Wilkes said to me, loud enough for Dr. Johnson to hear, "Dr. Johnson should make me a present of his Lives of the Poets, as I am a poor patriot, who cannot afford to buy them." Johnson seemed to take no notice of this hint; but in a little while, he called to Mr. Dilly, "Pray, Sir, be so good as to send a set of my Lives to Mr. Wilkes, with my compliments." This was accordingly done; and Mr. Wilkes paid Dr. Johnson a visit, was courteously received, and sat with him a long time. The company gradually dropped away. Mr. Dilly himself was called down stairs upon busi-

the room for some time; when I rewas struck with observing Dr. Samuel Johnson and John Wilkes, Esq., literally tete-d tete; for they were reclined upon their chairs, ness;

I left

turned,

I

with their heads leaning almost close to each other, and talking earnestly, in a kind of confidential whisper, of the personal quarrel between

George the Second and the King of Prussia. Such a scene of perfectly easy sociality between two such opponents in the war of political controversy, as that which I now beheld, would have been an excellent subject for a picture. It presented to my mind the happy days which are foretold in Scripture,

down with

the

when

the lion shall

lie

kid.-^

After this day there was another pretty long during which Dr. Johnson and I did

interval,

not meet. When I mentioned it to him with regret, he was pleased to say, "Then, Sir, let us live double." About this time it was much the fashion for several ladies to have evening assemblies, where the fair sex might participate in conversation with literary and ingenious men, animated by a desire to please.

These

societies

were denom-

inated Blue-stocking Clubs, the origin of which title being little known, it may be worth while to relate

it.

One

of the

most eminent members

when they

first commenced, whose dress was remarkably grave, and in particular it was observed, that he wore blue stockings. Such was the excellence of his conversation, that his absence was

of those societies,

was Mr.

Stillingfleet,

^

^When I mentioned this to the Bishop of Killa"With the goat," said his Lordship. Such, how-

loe,

the engaging politeness and pleasantry of social good humour of the Bishop, that when they dined together at Mr. Dilly's, where I also was, they were mutually agreeable. ^Mr. Benjamin Stillingfleet, authour of tracts relating to natural history, &c. ever,

is

Mr. Wilkes, and such the

lySi felt

LIFE OF

]

as so great a loss, that

it

used to be said,

"We

can do nothing without the blue stockings''''; and thus by degrees the title was established. Miss Hannah More has admirably described a Bluestocking Club, in her Bas Bleu, a poem in which many of the persons who were most conspicuous there are mentioned. Johnson was prevailed with to come sometimes into these circles, and did not think himself too grave even for the lively Miss Monckton (now Countess of Corke), who used to have the finest bit of blue at the house of her mother, Lady Galway. Her vivacity enchanted the Sage, and they used to talk together with all imaginable ease. A singular instance happened one evening,

when

some of Sterne's writings were very pathetick. Johnson bluntly denied it. "I am sure (said she,) they have affected me." "Why, (said Johnson, smiling, and rolling himshe insisted that

is, because, dearest, you're a she some time afterwards mentioned this to him, he said with equal truth and

self

about,) that

When

dunce."

"Madam,

if I had thought so, I cerhave said it." Another evening Johnson's kind indulgence towards me had a pretty difficult trial. I had dined at the Duke of Montrose's with a very agreeable party, and his Grace, according to

politeness;

tainly should not

custom, had circulated the bottle very Lord Graham and I went together to Miss Monckton's, where I certainly was in extraordinary spirits, and above all fear or awe. In

his usual freely.

the midst of a great

rank, amongst

number

whom

of persons of the

with confusion, a noble lady of the most stately decorum, I placed myself next to Johnson, and thinking myself now fully his match, talked to him in a loud and boisterous manner, desirous to let the company know how I could contend with Ajax. first

I

recollect

I particularly remember pressing him upon the value of the pleasures of the imagination, and as an illustration of my argument, asking him, "What, Sir, supposing I were to fancy that the

(naming the most charming Duchess in his Majesty's dominions) were in love with me, friend with should I not be very happy?"

My

much address evaded my interrogatories, and kept me as quiet as possible; but it may easily be conceived how he must have felt.^ However,

JOHNSON

477

when a few days afterwards I waited upon him and made an apology, he behaved with the most friendly gentleness. While I remained in London this year, Johnson and I dined together at several places. I recollect a placid day at Dr. Butter's, who had now removed from Derby to Lower Grosvenor-street, London; but of his conversation on that and other occasions during this period, I neglected to keep any regular record, and shall therefore insert here some miscellaneous articles which I find in my Johnsonian notes. His disorderly habits, when making provision for the day that was passing over him," appear from the following anecdote, communicated to me by Mr. John Nichols: "In the year 1 763, a young bookseller, who was an apprentice to Mr. Whiston, waited on him with a subscription to his Shakspeare: and observing that the Doctor made no entry in any book of the subscriber's name, ventured diffidently to ask, whether he would please to have the gentleman's address, that it might be properly inserted in the printed '

'

—

list ers''

of subscribers. '/ shall print no ;

list

of subscrib-

said Johnson, with great abruptness:

but

almost immediately recollecting himself, added, very complacently, 'Sir, I have two very cogent reasons for not printing any list of subscribers; one, that I have lost all the names, the oth" er, that I have spent all the money.' Johnson could not brook appearing to be worsted in argument, even when he had taken

—

—

the

wrong

side, to

shew the force and dexterity

When,

therefore, he perceived that opponent gained ground, he had recourse to some sudden mode of robust sophistry. Once when I was pressing upon him with visible advan"My dear Boswell, tage, he stopped me thus: let's have no more of this; you'll make nothing of it. I'd rather have you whistle a Scotch tune."

of his talents. his

—

was

It

not these alone

which led

On sacred manners to encroach; And made me feel what most I dread, Jon^soi^'s justfrown, and self-reproach.

But when I

enter d, not abashed.

From your At

bright eyes were shot such rays.

once intoxication flash' d.

And But

all

my frame was

not a brilliant blaze

Of

the dull

smoke

in a blaze. I own.

Pm yet

ashamed;

I was a ^Next day I endeavoured to give what had happened the most ingenious turn I could, by the fol-

lowing verses:

To THE Honourable

Miss

Monckton

JVot that with th' excellent Montrose

I had

the happiness to dine;

Not that I late from table rose. From Graham's wit, from generous wine.

dreary ruin grown. And not enlighten' d though inflam'd. Victim at once to wine and love, I hope, IsAakia, you'll forgive; While I invoke the powers above. That henceforth I may wiser live.

The lady was generously forgiving, returned me an obliging answer, and I thus obtained an Act of Oblivion, and took care never to offend again.

BOSWELL

478

Care, however, must be taken to distinguish beUveen Johnson when he "talked for victory," and Johnson when he had no desire but to in-

form and

illustrate.

"One of Johnson's

principal

an eminentfriend of his)^ was shewn maintaining the wrong side of an argument,

talents (says in

[1781

Chambers, introduces them in one line, in a of those "who tasted the sweets of his present

Ham list

Majesty's reign." Such was Johnson's candid allowed Dr. Goldsmith, as he told me, to read it to him from beginning to end, and did not refuse his relish of the merit of that satire, that he

and in a splendid perversion of the truth. If you could contrive to have his fair opinion on a subject, and without any bias from personal prejudice, or from a wish to be victorious in argument, it was wisdom itself, not only convincing,

praise to

but overpowering." He had, however,

solely for the exhibition of

habituated himself to consider coHversation as a trial of intellectual vigour and skill; and to this, I think, we may venture to ascribe that unexampled richall his life

ness and brilliancy which appeared in his own. As a proof at once of his eagerness for colloquial distinction, and his high notion of this eminent

" he once addressed him thus: we now have been several hours together; and you have said but one thing for which I envied friend,

,

you."

He

much

all speculative desponding which tended to discourage men from diligence and exertion. He was in this like Dr. Shaw, the great traveller, who Mr. Daines Barrington told me, used to say, "I hate a cui bono man." Upon being asked by a friend what he should think of a man who was apt to say non "That he's a stupid fellow. Sir; (anest tanli; swered Johnson) What would these tanti men

disliked

considerations,

—

:

be doing the while?"

When

I

in

a low-spirited

was talking to him with indifference of the pursuits which generally engage us in a course of action, and inquiring a reason for taking so much trouble; "Sir (said he, in an animated tone) it is driving on the system of life." He told me, that he was glad that I had, by Generzd Oglethorpe's means, become acquainted with Dr. Shebbeare. Indeed that gentleman, whatever objections were made to him, had knowledge and abilities much above the class of ordinary writers, and deserves to be remembered as a respectable name in literature, were it only fit,

admirable Letters on the English Nation, under the name of "Battista Angeloni, a Jesuit." Johnson and Shebbeare^ were frequently named together, as having in former reigns had no predilection for the family of Hanover. The authour of the celebrated Heroick Epistle to Sir Wilfor his

^The

late

Right Hon. William Gerard Hamil-

ton. [M.] 21 recollect a ludicrous

papers, that the King hear and a She-hear.

paragraph

in the

news-

had pensioned both a He-

its

execution.

Goldsmith could sometimes take adventurous liberties with him, and escape unpunished. Beauclerk told me that when Goldsmith talked of a project for having a third Theatre in London,

new

plays, in order to

deliver authours from the supposed tyranny of

managers, Johnson treated it slightingly; upon which Goldsmith said, "Ay, ay, this may be nothing to you, who can now shelter yourself behind the corner of a pension"; and that Johnson bore this with good-humour. Johnson praised the Earl of Carlisle's Poems, which his Lordship had published with his name, as not disdaining to be a candidate for literary friend was of opinion, that when a fame. man of rank appeared in that character, he de-

My

served to have his merit handsomely allowed.* In this I think he was more liberal than Mr. William Whitehead, in his Elegy to Lord Villiers, in which under the pretext of "superiour toils,

3Men of rank and fortune, however, should be pretty well assured of having a real claim to the approbation of the publick, as v/riters, before they venture to stand forth. Dryden, in his preface to All for Love, thus expresses himself: "Men of pleasant conversation (at least esteemed so) and endued with a trifling kind of fancy, perhaps helped out by [with] a smattering of Latin, are ambitious to distinguish themselves from the herd of gentlemen, by their poetry: Rarus enimferme sensus communis Fortuna. [Juvenal, viii. 73.]

in ilia

And is not this a wretched affectation, not to be contented with what fortune has done for them, and sit down quietly with their estates, but they must

call their wits in question,

and

needlessly ex-

pose their nakedness to publick view? Not considering that they are not to expect the same approbation from sober men, which they have found from their flatterers after the third bottle: If a little glittering in discourse has passed them on us for witty men, where was the necessity of undeceiving the world? Would a man who has an ill title to an estate, but yet is in possession of it, would he bring it of his own accord to be tried at Westminster? We who write, if we want the talents [talent], yet have the excuse that we do it for a poor subsistence; but what can be urged in their defence, who, not having the vocation of poverty to scribble, out of mere wantonness take pains to make themselves ridiculous? Horace was certainly in the right where he said, 'That no man is satisfied with his own condition.' A poet is not pleased, because he is not rich; and the rich are discontented because the poets will not admit them of their number."

— LIFE OF

i78i]

demanding all their care," he discovers a jeal ousy of the great paying their court to the Muses to the

Who Their

Exalt;

magick powers, with honours due

— but be thyselj what they record.

Johnson had called twice on the Bishop of Killaloe before his Lordship set out for Ireland,

having missed him the first time. He said, "It would have hung heavy on my heart if I had not seen him. No man ever paid more attention to another than he has done to me;^ and I have neglected him, not wilfully, but from being otherwise occupied. Always, Sir, set a high value on spontaneous kindness. He whose inclination prompts him to cultivate your friendship of his own accord, will love you more than one whom you have been at pains to attach to you." Johnson told me, that he was once much pleased to find that a carpenter, who lived near him, was very ready to shew him some things in his business which he wished to see: "It v/as paying (said he,) respect to literature." I asked him if he was not dissatisfied with having so small a share of wealth, and none of those

which are the objects of ambition. He had only a pension of three hundred a year. Why was he not in such circumstances as to keep his coach? Why had he not some considerable office? Johnson. "Sir, I have never complained of the world; nor do I think that I have reason to complain. It is rather to be wondered at that I have so much. My pension is more out of the usual course of things than any instance that I have known. Here, Sir, was a man avowedly no friend to Government distinctions in the state

who got a pension without asking never courted the great; they sent for

at the time, for

it.

I

me very great

pleasure, for there had been once a pretty smart altercation between Dr. Barnard and him, upon a question, whether a man could improve himself after the age of forty-five; when Johnson in a hasty humour, expressed himself in a manner not quite civil. Dr. Barnard made it the subject of a copy of pleasant verses, in which he supposed himself to learn different perfections from different men. They concluded with delicate irony:

^This gave

Johnson shall teach me how

to place

In fairest light each borrowed grace;

From him Copy

I'll learn to write;

his clear familiar style.

And by

the roughness of his file like himself, polite.

Grow, I

know not whether Johnson

had occasion to he knew each other but

I

increased.

479

think they now give me up. They are satisfied; they have seen enough of me." Upon

me; but

I

my

chosen few

dare excel, thy fosf ring aid afford.

arts, their

JOHNSON

ever saw the poem,

find that as Dr. Barnard and better, their mutual regard

observing that I could not believe this, for they must certainly be highly pleased by his conversation; conscious of his own superiority, he answered, "No, Sir; great lords and great ladies don't love to have their mouths stopped." This was very expressive of the effect which the force

and brilliancy of his fancy could not but produce; and, to be sure, they must have found themselves strangely diminished in his company. When I warmly declared how happy I was at all times to hear him; "Yes, Sir, (said he); but if you were Lord Chancellor, it would not be so: you would then consider your own dignity." of his understanding

There was much truth and knowledge of hunature in this remark. But certainly one should think, that in whatever elevated state of

man life

a

man who

knew the value of the conversa-

Johnson might be placed, though he might prudently avoid a situation in which he might appear lessened by comparison; yet he tion of

would frequently

gratify himself in private

with

the participation of the rich intellectual enter-

tainment which Johnson could furnish. Strange, however, it is, to consider how few of the great sought his society; so that if one were disposed to take occasion for satire on that account, very conspicuous objects present themselves. His no-

Lord Elibank, well observed, that if procured an interview with Johnson, and did not wish to see him more, it shewed a mere idle curiosity, and a wretched want of ble friend,

a great

man

powers of mind. Mrs. Thrale justly and wittily accounted for such conduct by saying, that Johnson's conversation was by much too strong for a person accustomed to relish for extraordinary

obsequiousness and flattery; it was mustard in a young child's mouth! One day, when I told him that I was a zealous Tory, but not enough "according to knowledge," and should be obliged to him for "a reason," he was so candid, and expressed himself so well, that I begged of him to repeat what he had said, and I wrote down as follows:

Of Tory and Whig "A wise Tory and a wise Whig, I

believe, will

agree. Their principles are the same,

though

modes of thinking are different. A high Tory makes government unintelligible it is lost in the clouds. A violent Whig makes it impractheir

:

ticable: he is for allowing so much liberty to every man, that there is not power enough to govern any man. The prejudice of the Tory is for

1

BOSWELL

480 establishment; the prejudice of the

Whig

is

for

A

Tory does not wish to give more real power to Government; but that Government should have more reverence. Then they differ as to the Church. The Tory is not for giving more legal power to the Clergy, but wishes they innovation.

should have a considerable influence, founded on the opinion of mankind; the Whig is for limiting and watching them with a naiTow jealousy."

On Saturday, June 2, I set out for Scotland, and had promised to pay a visit on my way, as I sometimes did, at Southill, in Bedfordshire, at the hospitable mansion of 'Squire Dilly, the elder brother of my worthy friends, the booksellers, in the Poultry. Dr. Johnson agreed to be of the party this year, with Mr. Charles Dilly and me, and to go and see Lord Bute's seat at Luton Hoe. He talked litde to us in the carriage, being chiefly occupied in reading Dr. Watson's^ second volume of Chemical Essays, which he liked very well, and his own Prince of Abyssinia, on which he seemed to be intensely fixed; having told us, that he had not looked at it since it was first published. I happened to take it out of my pocket this day, and he seized upon it with avidity. He pointed out to me the following remarkable passage:

"By what means

(said the prince) are the

Eu-

ropeans thus powerful; or why, since they can so easily visit Asia and Africa for trade or conquest, cannot the Asiaticks and Africans invade

and natural princes? The same them back would bring us

their coasts, plant colonies in their ports,

give laws to their

wind

that carries

'Mr. Barclay, a descendant of Robert Barclay, of Ury, the celebrated apologist of the people called Quakers, and remarkable for maintaining the principles of his venerable progenitor, with as much of the elegance of modern manners, as is consistent with primitive simplicity. ^Now Bishop of Llandaff, one of the poorest Bishopricks in this kingdom. His Lordship has written with much zeal to show the propriety of equalizing the revenues of Bishops. He has informed us that he has burnt all his chemical papers. The friends of our excellent constitution, now assailed on every side by innovators and levellers, would have less regretted the suppression of some of his Lordship's other writings.

are

more powerful.

erwise."

We stopped at Welwyn, where I wished much

To Mr.

Perkins Sir, However often I have seen you, I have hitherto forgotten the note, but I have now sent it; with my good wishes for the prosperity of you and your partner,^ of whom, from our short conversation, I could not judge otherwise than favourably. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson June 2, 1 78

[1781

"They

Sir, than we, (answered Imlac,) because they are wiser. Knowledge will always predominate over ignorance, as man governs the other animals. But why their knowledge is more than ours, I know not what reason can be given, but the unsearchable will of the Supreme Being." He said, "This, Sir, no man can explain oth-

thither."

company with Dr. Johnson, the residence of the authour of Night Thoughts; which was then possessed by his son, Mr. Young. Here to see, in

some address was requisite, for I was not acquainted with Mr. Young, and had I proposed to Dr. Johnson that we should send to him, he would have checked my wish, and perhaps been offended. I therefore concerted with Mr. Dilly, that I should steal away from Dr. Johnson and him, and try what reception I could procure from Mr. Young; if unfavourable, nothing was to be said; but if agreeable, I should return and notify it to them. I hastened to Mr. Young's, found he was at home, sent in word that a gentleman desired to wait upon him, and was shewn into a parlour, where he and a young lady, his daughter, were sitting. He appeared to be a plain, civil, country gentleman; and when I begged pardon for presuming to trouble him, but that

I

wished

much

to see his place, if

he

would give me leave; he behaved very courteously, and answered, 'By all means. Sir; we are just going to drink tea; will you sit down?' I thanked him, but said, that Dr. Johnson had come with me from London, and I must return to the inn and drink tea with him; that my name was Boswell, I had travelled with him in the Hebrides. "Sir, (said he,)

I

should think

it

a

great honour to see Dr. Johnson here. Will you

allow me to send for him?" Availing myself of this opening, I said that "I would go myself and bring him, when he had drunk tea; he knew nothing of my calling here." Having been thus successful, I hastened back to the inn, and informed Dr. Johnson that "Mr. Young, son of

Dr. Young, the authour oi Night Thoughts,

whom

had just left, desired to have the honour of seeing him at the house where his father lived." Dr. Johnson luckily made no inquiry how this invitation had arisen, but agreed to go, and when we entered Mr. Young's parlour, he addressed him with a very polite bow, "Sir, I had a curiosity to come and see this place. I had the honour to know that great man, your father." We went into the garden, where we found a gravel walk, on each side of which was a row of I

LIFE OF

i78i]

planted by Dr. Young, which formed a handsome -Gothick arch; Dr. Johnson xalled it a fine grove. I beheld it with reverence. We sat some time in the summer-house, on the outside wall of which was inscribed, "Ambulantes in horto audiebant vocem Dei"; and in reference to a brook by which it is situated, "Vivendi recte qui prorogat horam^'' &c. I said to Mr. Young, that I had been told his father was cheerful. "Sir, (said he,) he was too well-bred a man not to be cheerful in company; but he was gloomy when alone. He never was cheerful after my mother's death, and he had met with many disappointments." Dr. Johnson observed to me afterwards, "That this was no favourable account of Dr. Young; for it is not becoming in a man to have so little acquiescence in the ways of Providence, as to be gloomy because he has not obtained as much preferment as he expected; nor to continue gloomy for the loss of his wife. Grief has its time." The last part of this censure trees,

was

theoretically

made.

Practically,

we know

may be

continued very long, in proportion as affection has been sincere. No man knew this better than Dr. Johnson. We went into the church, and looked at the that grief for the loss of a wife

monument erected by Mr. Young to his father. Mr. Young mentioned an anecdote, that his had received several thousand pounds of subscription-money for his Universal Passion, but had lost it in the South-Sea.-^ Dr. Johnson thought this must be a mistake; for he had never seen a

father

subscription-book.

Upon

the road

of profit with

we

talked of the uncertainty

which authours and booksellers

engage in the publication of literary works. Johnson. "My judgement I have found is no certain rule as to the sale of a book." Boswell. "Pray, Sir, have you been much plagued with authours sending you their works to revise?" Johnson. "No, Sir; I have been thought a sour, surly fellow." Boswell. "Very lucky for you. Sir, in that respect." I must however observe, that notwithstanding what he now said, which he no doubt imagined at the time to be the fact, there was, perhaps, no man who more frequently yielded to the solicitations even of very obscure authours, to read their manuscripts, or more liberally assisted them with advice and

—

correction.

He

found himself very happy at 'Squire Dil-

^This assertion is disproved by a comparison of dates. The first four satires of Young were published in 1725; the South Sea scheme (which appears to be meant,) was in 1720. [M.]

JOHNSON

481

where there is always abundance of excellent fare, and hearty welcome. On Sunday, June 3, we all went to Southill church, which is very near to Mr. Dilly's house. It being the first Sunday of the month, the holy sacrament was administered, and I staid to parly's,

take of

When

came afterwards into Dr. "You did right to stay communion; I had not thought

it.

I

Johnson's room, he said,

and receive the of it." This seemed to imply that he did not choose to approach the altar without a previous preparation, as to which good men entertain different opinions, some holding that it is irreverent to partake of that ordinance without considerable premeditation; others, that whoever is

a sincere Christian, and in a proper frame of mind to discharge any other ritual duty of our religion, may, without scruple, discharge this most solemn one. A middle notion I believe to be the just one, which is, that communicants need not think a long train of preparatory forms indispensably necessary; but neither should they rashly and lightly venture upon so aweful and mysterious an institution. Christians must judge each for himself, what degree of retirement and self-examination is necessary upon each occasion. Being in a frame of mind which, I hope for the felicity of

human

nature,

many

experience,

— in fine weather, — at the country house of a friend, — consoled and elevated by pious exer— expressed myself with an unrestrained cises,

I

fervour to my "Guide, Philosopher, andFriend";

"My dear Sir, I would fain be a good man; and I am very good now. I fear God, and honour the King,

wish to do no ill, and mankind." He looked

be benevwith a benignant indulgence; but took occasion to give me wise and salutary caution. "Do not. Sir, acolent to

I

all

to

at

me

custom yourself to trust to impressions. There is a middle state of mind between conviction and hypocrisy, of which many are conscious. By trusting to impressions, a

come

to yield to them,

and

man may

gradually

at length be subject

to them, so as not to be a free agent, or

the

same thing

in effect, to suppose that

what

he

is

not should is

a free agent. A man who is in that state, not be suffered to live; if he declares he cannot help acting in a particular way, and is irresistibly impelled, there can be no confidence in him, no more than in a tyger. But, Sir, no man believes himself to be impelled irresistibly; we know that he who says he believes it, lies. Favourable impressions at particular moments, as to the state of our souls, may be deceitful and dangerous. In general no man can be sure of his acceptance with God; some, indeed, may have

— BOSWELL

482 had

it

revealed to them.

St.

Paul,

who wrought

may have had a miracle wrought on and may have obtained supernatural assurance of pardon, and mercy, and beatitude; yet St. Paul, though he expresses strong hope,

[1781

Divine clemency to find another manner of pro-

man, and

miracles,

ceeding,

himself,

equally powerful to promote goodness. The end of punishment is to reclaim and warn. That punishment will both reclaim and warn, which shews evidently such abhorrence of sin in God, as may deter us from it, or strike us with dread

having preached to othhe himself should be a cast-away." The opinion of a learned Bishop of our acquaintance, as to there being merit in religious also expresses fear, lest

ers,

faith,

being mentioned;—Johnson.

"Why,

yes,

the most licentious man, were hell open before him, would not take the most beautiful must, as the Apostle strumpet to his arms. Sir,

We

says, live

by

faith,

not by sight."

him of original sin,^ in consequence of the fall of man, and of the atonement made by our Saviour. After some conversation, which I

talked to

he desired dictated to

me to remember, me as follows:

he, at

my

request,

"With respect to original sin, the inquiry is not necessary; for whatever is the cause of human corruption, men are evidently and confessedly so corrupt, that all the laws of

heaven and earth

are insufficient to restrain them from crimes. "Whatever difficulty there may be in the conception of vicarious punishments, it is an opin-

had possession of mankind in all no nation that has not used the practice of sacrifices. Whoever, therefore, denies the propriety of vicarious punishments, holds an opinion which the sentiments and practice of mankind have contradicted, from the beginning ion which has ages.

There

is

of the world.

The

mankind was

offered at the death of the

siah,

who

is

great sacrifice for the sins of

called in Scripture

'The

Mes-

Lamb

of

God, that taketh away the sins of the world.' To judge of the reasonableness of the scheme of redemption, it must be considered as necessary to the government of the universe, that God should

make known

and irreconcileable He might indeed pun-

his perpetual

detestation of moral evil.

and punish only the offenders; but as the end of punishment is not revenge of crimes, but propagation of virtue, it was more becoming the ish,

^Dr. Ogden, in his second sermon On the Articles of the Christian Faith, with admirable acuteness thus addresses the opposers of that Doctrine, which accounts for the confusion, sin and misery, which we find in this life: "It would be severe in God, you think, to degrade us to such a sad state as this, for

the offence of our first parents: but you can allow him to place us in it without any inducement. Are our calamaties lessened for not being ascribed to Adam? If your condition be unhappy, is it not still unhappy, whatever was the occasion? with the aggravation of this reflection, that if it was as good as it was at first designed, there seems to be somewhat the less reason to look for its amendment."

less

destructive to

at least

when we have committed it. This by vicarious punishment. Nothing could more testify the opposition between the nature of God and moral evil, or more amply of vengeance is

effected

display his justice, to

men and

angels, to all or-

ders and successions of beings, than that it was necessary for the highest and purest nature, even

Divinity itself, to pacify the demands of vengeance, by a painful death; of which the natural effect will be, that when justice is appeased, there is a proper place for the exercise of mercy; and that such propitiation shall supply, in some degree, the imperfections of our obedience, and the inefficacy of our repentance: for, obedience and repentance, such as we can perform, are still necessary. Our Saviour has told us, that he did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill; to

for

the typical law, by the performance of what those types had foreshewn; and the moral law, by precepts of greater purity and higher fulfill

exaltation."

[Here he said, "God bless you with it." I acknowledged myself much obliged to him; but I begged that he would go on as to the propitiation being the chief object of our most holy faith. He then dictated this one other paragraph.]

"The peculiar doctrine of Christianity is, that of an universal sacrifice, and perpetual propitiation. Other prophets only proclaimed the will and the threatenings of God. Christ

satisfied

his justice."

The Reverend Mr. Palmer,^ Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, dined with us.

He expressed

2This unfortunate person, whose full name was afterwards went to Dundee, in Scotland, where he officiated as minister to a congregation of the sect who called themselves Unitarians, from a notion that they distinctively worship ONE God, because they deny the mysterious doctrine of the Trinity. They do not advert that the great body of the Christian Church, in maintaining that mystery, maintain also the Unity of three the God-head; the "Trinity in Unity! persons and one God." The Church humbly adores Scriptures. the Divinity as exhibited in the holy The Unitarian sect vainly presumes to comprehend and define the Almighty. Mr. Palmer having heated his mind with political speculations, became so much dissatisfied with our excellent Constitution, as to compose, publish, and circu-

Thomas Fysche Palmer,

—

late writings,

which were found to be so seditious that upon being found guUty by a

and dangerous,

lySi

LIFE OF

]

a wish that a better provision were made for parish-clerks. Johnson. "Yes, Sir, a parish-clerk should be a man who is able to make a will, or write a letter for any body in the parish." I

mentioned Lord Monboddo's notion^ that

the ancient Egyptians, with

and

all their

learning,

were not only black, but wooUy-haLred. Mr. Palmer asked how did it appear upon examining the mummies? Dr. Johnson approved of this test. Although upon most occasions I never heard a more strenuous advocate for the advantages of wealth, than Dr. Johnson: he this day, I know not from what caprice, took the other side. "I have not observed (said he,) that men of very large fortunes enjoy any thing extraordinary that makes happiness. What has the Duke of all

their arts,

Bedford? What has the Duke of Devonshire? The only great instance that I have ever known of the enjoyment of wealth was, that of Jamaica Dawkins, who, going to visit Palmyra, and hearing that the way was infested by robbers, hired a troop of Turkish horse to guard him." Dr. Gibbons, the Dissenting minister, being mentioned, he said, "I took to Dr. Gibbons." And addressing himself to Mr. Charles Dilly, added, "I shall be glad to see him. Tell him, if he'll call on me, and dawdle over a dish of tea in an afternoon, I shall take it kind." The Reverend Mr. Smith, Vicar of Southill, a very respectable man, with a very agreeable family, sent an invitation to us to drink tea. I remarked Dr. Johnson's very respectful politeness. Though always fond of changing the scene, he said, "We must have Mr. Dilly's leave. We cannot go from your house, Sir, without your permission." We all went, and were well satisfied with our visit. I however remember nothing particular, except a nice distinction which Dr. Johnson made with respect to the power of memory, maintaining that forgetfulness was a

man's own

fault.

"To remember and

to recol-

A man

has not the power to recollect what is not in his mind; but when a thing is in his mind he may remember it." The remark was occasioned by my leaning back on a chair, which a little before I had perceived to be broken, and pleading forlect (said he,) are different things.

Jury, the Court of Justiciary in Scotland sentenced him to transportation for fourteen years. A loud clamour against this sentence was made by some Members of both Houses of Parliament; but both Houses approved of it by a great majority; and he was conveyed to the settlement for convicts in New South Wales.

^Taken from Herodotus,

ii.

104.

JOHNSON getfulness as

483

an excuse.

"Sir, (said he,)

its

being

broken was certainly in your mind." When I observed that a housebreaker was in general very timorous; Johnson. "No wonder, Sir; he is afraid of being shot getting into a house, or hanged when he has got out of it." He told us, that he had in one day written six sheets of a translation from the French, adding, "I should be glad to see it now. I wish that I had copies of all the pamphlets written against me, as

it is

said

Pope had.

make so much

Had I known that I should

noise in the world,

been at pains to

collect

them.

I

I

should have

believe there

is

hardly a day in which there is not something about me in the news-papers."

On Monday, June 4, we all went to LutonHoe, to see Lord Bute's magnificent seat, for which I had obtained a ticket. As we entered the park,

I

talked in a high style of my old friend-

ship with Lord Mountstuart,

and said, "I shall probably be much at this place." The Sage, aware of human vicissitudes, gently checked me: "Don't you be too sure of that." He made two or three peculiar observations; as when shewn the botanical garden, "Is not every garden a botanical garden?" When told that there was a shrubbery to the extent of several miles: "That is making a very foolish use of the ground; a little of it is very well." When it was proposed that we should walk on the pleasure-ground; "Don't let us fatigue ourselves. Why should we walk there? Here's a fine tree, let's get to the top of it." But upon the whole, he was very much pleased. He said, "This is one of the places I do not regret having come to see. It is a very stately place, indeed; in the house magnificence is not sacrificed to convenience, nor convenience to magnificence. The library is very splendid: the dignity of the rooms is very great; and the

quantity of pictures is beyond expectation, beyond hope." It happened without any previous concert,

we visited the seat of Lord Bute upon the King's birthday; we dined and drank his Majesty's health at an inn, in the village of Luton. In the evening I put him in mind of his promise to favour me with a copy of his celebrated Letter to the Earl of Chesterfield, and he was at last pleased to comply with this earnest request, that

by dictating

it

to

me from

his

memory;

for

he

believed that he himself had no copy. There was

an animated glow in his countenance while he thus recalled his high-minded indignation. He laughed heartily at a ludicrous action in the Court of Session, in which I was Counsel.

—

BOSWELL

484

The

—

Society of Procurators, or Attornies, entitled

to practise in the inferiour courts at

Edinburgh,

had obtained a royal charter, in which they had taken care to have their ancient designation of Procurators changed into that oi Solicitors, from a notion, as they supposed, that it was more genteel; and this new title they displayed by a publick advertisement for a General Meeting at their Hall. It has been said, that the Scottish nation is not distinguished for humour; and, indeed, what happened on this occasion may in some degree

had contrived to make themselves a very prominent object for the ridicule of such as might stoop to it, the only joke to which it gave rise, was the fol-

justify the

remark; for although

this society

lowing paragraph, sent to the news-paper called The Caledonian Mercury: "A correspondent informs us, that the Worshipful Society of Chaldeans, Cadies, or Running

—

Stationers of this city are resolved, in imitation,

and encouraged by the singular success of their brethren, of an equally respectable Society, to apply for a Charter of their Privileges, particularly of the sole privilege of procuring, in the most extensive sense of the word, exclusive of chair-

men,

porters, penny-post

iour ranks; their

L

men, and other inferR Y l S l-

brethren the

— RS, alias P — c — RS, before

the

—

—

inferiour Courts

of this City, always excepted.

"Should the Worshipful Society be successful,

they are farther resolved not to he puffed up demean themselves with more

thereby, but to

equanimity and decency than their R-y-l, learned, and very modest brethren above mentioned have done, upon their late dignification and exaltation."

A majority of the members of the Society prosecuted Mr. Robertson, the publisher of the paper, for damages; and the first judgement of the whole Court very wisely dismissed the action: Solventur risu tabula, tu missus abibis.

new

trial

or review

was granted upon a

But a

petition,

according to the forms in Scotland. This petition I was engaged to answer, and Dr. Johnson with great alacrity furnished me this evening with what follows: "All injury is either of the person, the fortune, or the fame. Now it is a certain thing, it is proverbially

known, that

a jest breaks no bones.

They

never have gained half-a-crown less in the whole profession since this mischievous paragraph has appeared; and, as to their reputation. What is their reputation but an instrument of getting money? If, therefore, they have lost no money, the question upon reputation may be answered

[1781 De minimis

by a very old position,

non curat

Prcctor.

"Whether

there was, or was not, an animus not worth inquiring, if no injuria can be proved. But the truth is, there was no animus injuriandi. It was only an animus irritandi,^ which, happening to be exercised upon a genus irritabile, produced unexpected violence of resentment. Their irritability arose only from an opinion of their own importance, and their delight in their injuriandi,

is

What might have been borne

new

exaltation.

by a

Procurator could not

be born by a

Solicitor.

Your Lordships well know, that honores mutant mores. Titles and dignities play strongly on the fancy. As a madman is apt to think himself grown suddenly great, so he that grows suddenly great is apt to borrow a little from the madman. Toco-operate with their resentment would be to promote their phrenzy; nor is it possible to guess to what they might proceed, if to the new title of Solicitor, should be added the elation of victory and triumph. "We consider your Lordships as the protectors of our rights, and the guardians of our virtues; but believe it not included in your high office, that you should flatter our vices, or solace our vanity: and, as vanity only dictates this prosecution, it is humbly hoped your Lordships will dismiss

it.

"If every attempt, however light or ludicrous, to lessen another's reputation, is to be punished by a judicial sentence, what punishment can be sufficiently severe for him who attempts to diminish the reputation of the Supreme Court of

by reclaiming upon a cause already determined, without any change in the state of the question? Does it not imply hopes that the Judges will change their opinion? Is not uncertainty and inconstancy in the highest degree disreputable to a Court? Does it not suppose, that the former judgement was temerarious or negligent? Does it not lessen the confidence of the publick? Will it not be said, thatjMJ- est aut incognitum aut vagum? and will not the consequence be drawn, misera est servitus? Will not the rules of action be obscure? Will not he who knows himself wrong to-day, hope that the Courts of Justice will think him right to-morrow? Surely, my Lords, these are attempts of dangerous tenden-

Justice,

cy,

which the

Solicitors, as

law, should have foreseen

men

versed in the

and avoided.

It

was

natural for an ignorant printer to appeal from the Lord Ordinary; but from lawyers, the de'Mr. Robertson altered this word to jocandi, he having found in Blackstone that to irritate is actionable.

lySi

LIFE OF

]

who have practised for and have now raised them-

scendants of lawyers, three

hundred

years,

a higher denomination, it might be expected, that they should know the reverence due to a judicial determination; and, having been once dismissed, should sit down in silence." I am ashamed to mention, that the Court, by a plurality of voices, without having a single additional circumstance before them, reversed their own judgement, made a serious matter of this selves to

and

dull

and adjudged Mr. Robthe Society five pounds (ster-

foolish joke,

pay to money) and costs of suit. The decision will seem strange to English lawyers. On Tuesday, June 5, Johnson was to return to London. He was very pleasant.at breakfast; I mentioned a friend of mine having resolved never to marry a pretty woman. Johnson. "Sir, it is a very foolish resolution to resolve not to marry a ertson to

ling

pretty

woman. Beauty

is

of itself very estima-

would prefer a pretty woman, un-

ble.

No,

less

there are objections to her.

Sir, I

A pretty woman

may be foolish; a pretty woman may be wicked; a pretty woman may not like me. But there is no such danger in marrying a pretty woman as is apprehended: she

will not be persecuted if she does not invite persecution. A pretty woman, if she has a mind to be wicked, can find a readier way than another; and that is all."

accompanied him in Mr. Dilly's chaise to ShefTord, where talking of Lord Bute's never going to Scotland, he said, "As an Englishman, I should wish all the Scotch gentlemen should be educated in England; Scotland would become a province; they would spend all their rents in I

England. " This is a subject of much consequence, and much delicacy. The advantage of an English education is unquestionably very great to Scotch gentlemen of talents and ambition; and regular visits to Scotland, and perhaps other means, might be effectually used to prevent them from being totally estranged from their native country, any more than a Cumberland or Northumberland gentleman who has been educated in the South of England. I own, indeed, that it is no small misfortune for Scotch gentlemen, who have neither talents nor ambition, to be educated in England, where they may be perhaps distinguished only by a nick-

name, lavish their fortune in giving expensive entertainments to those who laugh at them, and saunter about as mere idle insignificant hangers on even upon the foolish great; when if they had been judiciously brought up at home, they might have been comfortable and creditable members of society.

JOHNSON

485

At Shefford I had another affectionate parting from my revered friend, who was taken up by the Bedford coach and carried to the metropolis. I went with Messieurs Dilly, to see some friends at Bedford; dined with the officers of the militia of the county,

and next day proceeded

my journey.

on

To Bennet Langton, Esq. How welcome your account

Dear

Sir,

of yourself and your invitation to your new house was to me, I need not tell you, who consider our friendship not only as formed by choice, but as matured by time. have been now long enough acquainted to have many images in common, and therefore to have a source of conversation which neither the learning nor the wit of a new companion can supply. Lives are now published; and if you will tell me whither I shall send them, that they may come to you, I will take care that you shall not

We

My

be without them.

You

perhaps, be glad to hear, that Mrs. disencumbered of her brewhouse; and that it seemed to the purchaser so far from an evil, that he was content to give for it an hundred and thirty-five thousand pounds. Is the

Thrale

will, is

nation ruined?

make my respectful compliments Lady Rothes, and keep me in the memory of

Please to to all

the

little

Mrs. Jane.

I

dear family, particularly pretty Sir, your affectionate humble

am,

servant,

Sam. Johnson Bolt-Court, June

6,

1781

Johnson's charity to the poor was uniform and extensive, both

from inclination and

principle.

He

not only bestowed liberally out of his own purse, but what is more difficult as well as rare, others, when he had proper obThis he did judiciously as well as humanely. Mr. Philip Metcalfe tells me, that when he has asked him for some money for persons in distress, and Mr. Metcalfe has offered what Johnson thought too much, he insisted on taking less, saying, "No, no, Sir; we must not pamper them." I am indebted to Mr. Malone, one of Sir Joshua Reynolds's executors, for the following note, which was found among his papers after his death, and which, we may presume, his unaffected modest)' prevented him from communicating to me with the other letters from Dr. Johnson with which he was pleased to furnish me. However slight in itself, as it does honour to that illustrious painter, and most amiable man, I am happy to introduce it.

would beg from

jects in view.

BOSWELL

486

To

Sir Joshua Reynolds was not before yesterday that I received your splendid benefaction. To a hand

Dear

Sir, It

so liberal in distributing, I hope nobody will envy the power of acquiring. I am, dear Sir, your obliged and most humble servant,

Sam. Johnson June 23,

Sir,

I

1

781

To Thomas Astle, Esq. am ashamed that you have been forced

to call so often for your books, but it has been by no fault on either side. They have never been out of my hands, nor have I ever been at home without seeing you; for to see a man so skilful in the antiquities of my country, is an opportunity of improvement not willingly to be missed.

Your notes on Altred^ appear to me very judicious and accurate, but they are too few. Many things familiar to you, are unknown to me, and to most others; and you must not think too favourably of your readers: by supposing them knowing, you will leave them ignorant. Measure of land, and value of money, it is of great importance to state with care.

any gold coin? I have much curiosity

Had

after the

the Saxons

Sam. Johnson July 17,

1

Doctor was so sensible of the honour done him by a man of genius and science, to whom he was an utter stranger, that he said to Dr. Burney, 'Sir, there is no man possessed of the smallest portion of modesty, but must be flattered with the admiration of such a man. I'll give him a set of my Lives, if he will do me the honour to accept of them.' In this he kept his word; and Dr. Burney had not only the pleasure of gratifying his friend with a present more worthy of his acceptance than the segment from the hearthbroom, but soon after of introducing him to Dr. Johnson himself in Bolt-court, with whom he had the satisfaction of conversing a considerable time, not a fortnight before his death; which happened in St. Martin's-street, during his visit to Dr. Burney, in the house where the great Sir Isaac

manners and

transactions of the middle ages, but have wanted either diligence or opportunity, or both. You, Sir, have great opportunities, and I wish you both diligence and success. I am. Sir, &c.

781

The following curious anecdote I insert in Dr. Burney's own words: "Dr. Burney related to Dr. Johnson the partiality which his writings had excited in a friend of Dr. Burney's, the late Mr. Bewley, well known in Norfolk by the name of the Philosopher oj Massingham: who, from the Ramblers and Plan of his Dictionary, and long before the authour's fame was established by the Dictionary itself, or any other work, had conceived such a reverence for him, that he urgently begged Dr. Burney to give him the cover of the first letter he had received from him, as a relick of so estimable a writer. This was in 1 755. In 1 760, when Dr. Burney visited Dr. Johnson at the Temple in

London, where he had then chambers, he happened to arrive there before he was up; and being shewn into the room where he was to breakfast, finding himself alone, he examined the contents of the apartment, to try whether he could undiscovered steal anything to send to his friend Bewley,

[1781

as another relick of the admirable Dr. Johnson. But finding nothing better to his purpose, he cut some bristles off his hearth-broom, and enclosed them in a letter to his country enthusiast, who received them with due reverence. The

Newton had

In one of his

lived

little

and died before."

memorandum-books

versity of Oxford.

the

"August

g,

3 P.M., aetat. 72, in the

summer-

house at Streatham. "After innumerable resolutions formed and neglected, I have retired hither, to plan a life of greater diligence, in hope that I may yet be useful, and be daily better prepared to appear before my Creator and my Judge, from whose infinite

mercy

I

humbly

call for assistance

and

support.

"My

purpose

is,

"To pass eight hours every day in some serious employment.

"Having prayed, I purpose to employ the next six weeks upon the Italian language, for my settled study." How venerably pious does he appear in these and how spirited are his improvement of his mind, even in elegant literature, at a very advanced period of life, and when afflicted with many com-

moments

of solitude,

resolutions for the

plaints.

to Oxford, Birmingham, and Ashbourne, for which very good reasons might be given in the conjectural yet positive manner of writers, v/ho are proud to account for every event which they relate. He him-

In

autumn he went

Lichfield,

however, says, "The motives of my journey hardly know; I omitted it last year, and am "^ not willing to miss it again.

self,

^The will of King Alfred, alluded to in this letter, from the original Saxon, in the library of Mr. Astle, has been printed at the expense of the Uni-

is

following minute:

I

^Prayers and Meditations, p. 20i.

—

d

LIFE OF

1782]

But some good considerations arise, amongst which is the kindly recollection of Mr. Hector, surgeon at Birmingham: "Hector is likewise an old friend, the only companion of my childhood that passed through the school with me. We have always loved one another; perhaps we may be

made better by some serious conversation, of which however I have no distinct hope." He says too, "At Lichfield, my native place, I hope to shew a good example by frequent attendance on publick worship."

My correspondence with him during the rest know not why, very scanty, on my side. I wrote him one letter to introduce Mr. Sinclair (nov/ Sir John), the member for Caithness, to his acquaintance; and informed him in another that my wife had again been affected with alarming symptoms of illness. ^TAT. 73.] In 1 782, his complaints in1 782 creased, and the history of his life this year, is little more than a mournful recital of the variations of his illness, in the midst of which, however, it will appear from his letters, that the powers of his mind were in no degree impaired. of this year was, I

and

JOHNSON

487

deprived of Mr. Levett, which event he thus communicated to Dr. Lawrence: Sir, Our old friend, Mr. Levett, who was last night eminently cheerful, died this morning. The inan who lay in the same rooin, hearing an uncommon noise, got up and tried to make him speak, but without effect. He then called Mr. Holder, the apothecary, who, though when he came he thought him dead, opened a vein, but could draw no blood. So has ended the long life of a very useful and very blameless man. I am, Sir,

your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson

Jan. 17, 1782

all

:

To James Boswell, Dear

Sir, I sit

down

Esq.

the following entry:

is

Sunday. Robert Levett was buried in the churchyard of Bridewell, between one and two in the afternoon. He died on Thursday 1 7, about seven in the morning, by an instantaneous death. He was an old and faithful friend; I have known him from about 46. Commendavi. May God have mercy on him. May he have mercy on me." Such was Johnson's affectionate regard for Levett,^ that he honoured his memory with the following pathetick verses:

to answer your letter

on the same day in which I received it, and am pleased that my first letter of the year is to you. No man ought to be at ease while he knows himself in the wrong; and I have not satisfied myself with my long silence. The letter relating to Mr. Sinclair, however, was, I believe, never brought. health has been tottering this last year; and I can give no very laudable account of my time. I am always hoping to do better than I have ever hitherto done. journey to Ashbourne and Staffordshire was not pleasant; for what enjoyment has a sick man visiting the sick? Shall we ever have another frolick like our journey to the Hebrides? I hope that dear Mrs. Boswell will surmount her complaints; in losing her you would lose your anchor, and be tost, without stability, by the waves of life.^ I wish both her and you very

My My

—

many

my pos— "January 20,

In one of his memorandum-books in session,

and very happy. For some months past I have been so withdrawn from the world, that I can send you years,

nothing particular. All your friends, however, are well, and will be glad of your return to London. I am, dear Sir, yours most affectionately, Sam. Johnson January 5, 1 782

Condemn'd

^The truth of this has been proved by sad experience. [Mrs. Boswell died June 4, 1789. M.]

—

Hope's delusive mine.

Well try'd through many a varyingyear. See

Levett

to the

grave descend;

Officious, innocent, sincere.

Of everyfriendless name

the friend.

Tet still he fills affectiorCs eye. Obscurely wise, and coarsely kind;

Nor,

lettered arrogance,^

Thy praise

to

deny

merit unrefined.

Whenfainting Nature call' dfor aid. And hov'ring Death prepar'd the blow. His vigorous remedy display'

The power of art without

the show.

In Misery's darkest caverns known.

His ready help was ever nigh. Where hopeless Anguish pour' d his groan^ And lonely want retir'd to die.*

No summons mock'd by chill delay. No petty gains disdain' d by pride; The modest wants of every day The toil of every day supply' d. 2See an account of him in The Gentleman's Maga1 785. ^In both editions of Sir John Hawkins's Life of Dr. Johnson, "letter'd ignorance" is printed, y^ohnson repeated this line to me thus: And Labour steals an hour to die. But he afterwards altered it to the present reading.

zine, Feb.,

At a time when he was less able than he had once been to sustain a shock, he was suddenly

to

As on we toilfrom day to day. By sudden blast or slow decline Our social comforts drop away.

BOSWELL

488 His

virtues

walk'd

Nor made

their

left

a void;

wish for me.

And sure the Eternal Master found His single

hope God will form the same am, dear Madam, your most

serted; but complaint bless you, and I desire

narrow round.

a pause, nor

1782 is useless. I

humble

talent well employ'' d.

I

you

to

servant,

Sam. Johnson The busy day,

the peaceful night,

Feb. 4, 1782

Unfelt, uncounted, glided by;

Hisframe wasfirm, his powers were bright. Though now his eightieth year was nigh.

No cold gradations of decay. the vital chain,

Andfreed his soul

the nearest

have

for

way.

In one of Johnson's registers of this year, there "Jan. occurs the following curious passage: 20. The Ministry is dissolved. I prayed with Francis and gave thanks."^

amiss, that I am not with you and Dr. Farmer. I hope hereafter to see you often. I am. Sir, your most humble servant,

—

It

has been the subject of discussion, wheth-

er there are

two

distinct particulars

mentioned

we are to understand the giving of thanks to be in consequence of the dissolution of the Ministry? In support of the last of these conjectures may be urged his mean opinion of that Ministry, which has frequently appeared in the course of this work; and it is strongly confirmed here? or that

by what he said on the subject to Mr. Seward: "I am glad the Ministry is removed. Such a bunch of imbecility never disgraced a country. If they sent a messenger into the City to take up a printer, the messenger was taken up instead of the printer, and committed by the sitting Alderman. If they sent one army to the relief of another, the first army was defeated and taken be-

—

what was always

fore the second arrived. I will not say that

they did was always wrong; but done at a wrong time."

it

To Mrs. Strahan

Sam. Johnson Feb. 27, 1782

To the Same Dear

melancholy place, clouded with the gloom of disease and death. Of the four inmates, one has been suddenly snatched away; two are oppressed by very afflictive and dangerous illness; and I tried yesterday to gain some relief by a third bleeding, from a disorder which has for some time distressed me, and I think myself to-day

I

grow

better,

and

shall

These short letters shew the regard which Dr. Johnson entertained for Mr. Malone, who the more he is known is the more highly valued. It is much to be regretted that Johnson was prevented from sharing the elegant hospitality of that gentleman's table, at which he would in every respect have been fully gratified. Mr. Malone, who has so ably succeeded him as an Editor of Shakspeare, has, in his Preface, done great and just honour to Johnson's memory.

To Mrs. Lucy Dear Madam,

I

Porter, in Lichfield

went away from Lichfield

and have had a troublesome time with my breath; for some weeks I have been disordered by a cold, of which I could not get the violence abated, till I had been let blood three times. I have not, however, been so bad but that I could have written, and am sorry that I neg-

ill,

lected

better.

hope

it.

am glad,

dear Madam, to hear that you are so far recovered as to go to Bath. Let me once more entreat you to stay till your health is not only obtained, but confirmed. Your fortune is such as that no moderate expence deserves your care; and you have a husband, who, I believe, does not regard it. Stay, therefore, till you are quite well. I am, for my part, very much deI

Sir, I

soon be able to enjoy the kindness of my friends. I think this wild adherence to Chatterton^ more unaccountable than the obstinate defence of Ossian. In Ossian there is a national pride, which may be forgiven, though it cannot be applauded. In Chatterton there is nothing but the resolution to say again what has once been said. I am. Sir, your humble servant, Sam. Johnson March 7, 1782

Dear Madam, Mrs. Williams shewed me your kind letter. This little habitation is now but a

much

Esq.

many weeks been so much out

of order, that I have gone out only in a coach to Mrs. Thrale's, where I can use all the freedom that sickness requires. Do not, therefore, take it

Then, with no throbs offiery pain.

Death broke at once

To Edmond Malone, Sir, I

^Prayers and Meditations, p.

209 [207].

2This note was in answer to one which accomearliest pamphlets on the subject of Chatterton's forgery, entitled Cursory Observations on the Poems attributed to Thomas Rowley, &c. Mr. Thomas Warton's very able Inquiry appeared about three months afterwards; and Mr. Tyrwhitt's admirable Vindication of his Appendix in the summer of the same year, left the believers in this daring imposture nothing but "the resolution to say again what had been said before." [M.]

panied one of the

— LIFE OF

1782]

My

dwelling is but melancholy; both Williams, and Desmoulins, and myself, are very sickly: Frank is not well; and poor Levett died in his bed the other day, by a sudden stroke; I suppose not one minute passed between health and death; so uncertain are human things. Such is the appearance of the world about

me; I hope your scenes are more cheerful. But whatever befalls us, though it is wise to be serious, it is useless and foolish, and perhaps sinful, to be gloomy. Let us, therefore, keep ourselves as easy as we can; though the loss of friends will be felt, and poor Levett had been a faithful ad-

herent for thirty years. Forgive me, my dear love, the omission of writing; I hope to mend that and my other

Let me have your prayers. Make my compliments to Mrs. Cobb, and

faults.

Miss Adey, and Mr. Pearson, and the whole I am, my dear, your

company of my friends. most humble servant, 2,

1782

To THE Same Dear Madam, My last was but a dull letter, and I know not that this will be much more am, however, willing to write, because you are desirous to hear from me. My disorder has now begun its ninth week, for it is not yet over. I was last Thursday blooded for the fourth time, and have since cheerful;

I

I am very tender and easily hurt; so that since we parted I have had but little comfort, but I hope that the spring will recover me; and that in the

found myself much relieved, but

summer

Lichfield again, for

I shall see

not delay

my

visit

I

will

another year to the end of

autumn. have, by advertising, found poor Mr. Levett's brothers in Yorkshire, who will take the little he has left; it is but little, yet it will be welcome, for I believe they are of very low condiI

tion.

To

and to see nothing but sickness but a gloomy state; but I hope better times, even in this world, will come, and whatever this world may withhold or give, we shall be happy in a better state. Pray for me, my dear Lucy. Make my compliments to Mrs. Cobb, and Miss Adey, and my old friend Hetty Baily, and to all the Lichfield ladies. I am, dear Madam, be

sick,

and death,

is

yours, affectionately,

Sam. Johnson Bolt-court, Fleet-street

March

On

the

ig,

1782

day on which

489

rence has almost lost the sense of hearing; and I have lost the conversation of a learned, intelligent,

and communicative companion, and a

friend whom long familiarity has much endeared.

Lawrence is one of the best men whom I have known. Nostrum omnium miserere Deus."^ It was Dr. Johnson's custom when he wrote to Dr. Lawrence concerning his own health, to use the Latin language. I have been favoured by Miss Lawrence with one of these letters as a specimen: T. Lawrencio, Medico, S. Novum, frigus, nova tussis, nova spirandi difficultas, novam sanguinis missionem suadent, quam tamen te inconsulto

dicendum per

te

nolim

ad me

est cur

fieri.

est; cat era

licet,

Ad

te venire vix

possum, nee

venias. Licere vel non licere uno verba

mihi

et

Holder o"^

reliqueris.

imperatur nuncio Holderum ad

me

Si de-

ducere.

Sam. Johnson

London, March

JOHNSON

this letter

was

written,

he thus feelingly mentions his respected friend and physician, Dr. Lawrence: "Poor Law-

—

Mails Calendis, 1 782 Postquam tu discesseris, quo me vertam?^ ^Prayers and Meditations, p. 207. 2Mr. Holder, in the Strand, Dr. Johnson's apoth-

ecary.

^Soon after the above letter. Dr. Lawrence left London, but not before the palsy had made so great a progress as to render him unable to write for himself. The following are extracts from letters addressed by Dr. Johnson to one of his daughters: "You will easily believe with what gladness I read that you had heard once again that voice to which we have all so often delighted to attend. May you often hear it. If we had his mind, and his tongue, we could spare the rest. "I am not vigorous, but much better than when dear Dr. Lawrence held my pulse the last time. so kind as to let me know, from one little interval to another, the state of his body. I am pleased that he remembers me, and hope that it never can be possible for me to forget him. July 22, 1 782." "I am much delighted even with the small

Be

advances which dear Dr. Lawrence makes towards recovery. If we could have again but his mind, and his tongue in his mind, and his right hand, we should not much lament the rest. I should not despair of helping the swelled hand by electricity, if it were frequently and diligently supplied.

"Let

me know from time

to time

whatever hap-

pens; and I hope I need not tell you, how much I am interested in every change. Aug. 26, 1782." "Though the account with which you favoured me in your last letter could not give me the pleasure that I wished, yet I was glad to receive it; for my affection to my dear friend makes me desirous of knowing his state, whatever it be. I beg, therefore, that you continue to let me know, from time to time, all that you observe. "Many fits of severe illness have, for about three months past, forced my kind physician often upon my mind. I am now better; and hope gratitude, as well as distress, can be a motive to remembrance. Bolt-court, Fleet-street, Feb. 4, 1783."

BOSWELL

490

To Captain Langton,^ in Rochester Dear Sir, It is now long since we saw anotiicr;

one

and whatever has been the reason

neither you have written to me, nor I to you. To let friendship die away by neghgence and silence, is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of this weary pilgrimage, of which when it is, as it must be, taken finally away, he that travels on alone, will wonder how his esteem could be so little. Do not forget me; you see that I do not forget you. It is pleasing in the silence of solitude to think, that there is one at least, however distant, of whose benevolence there is little doubt, and whom there is yet hope of seeing again. Of my life, from the time we parted, the history is mournful. The spring of last year deprived me of Thrale, a man whose eye for fifteen years had scarcely been turned upon me but with respect or tenderness; for such another friend, the general course of human things will not suffer man to hope. I passed the summer at Streatham, but there was no Thrale; and having idled away the summer with a weakly body and neglected mind, I made a journey to Staffordshire on the edge of winter. The season was dreary, I was sickly, and found the friends sickly whom I went to see. After a sorrowful sojourn, I returned to a habitation possessed for the present by two sick women, where my dear old friend, Mr. Levett, to whom as he used to tell me, I owe your acquaintance, died a few weeks ago, suddenly in his bed; there passed not, I believe, a minute between health and death. At night, as at Mrs. Thrale's I was musing in my chamber, I thought with uncommon earnestness, that however I might alter my mode of life, or

whithersoever I might remove, I would endeavour to retain Levett about me; in the morning my servant brought me word that Levett was called to another state, a state for which, I think, he was not unprepared, for he was very useful to the poor. How much soever I valued him, I now wish that I had valued him more. I have myself been ill more than eight weeks of a disorder,

about

fifty

from which

ounces of blood,

at the I

hope

expence of I

am now

recovering.

You, dear Sir, have, I hope, a more cheerful scene; you see George fond of his book, and the pretty misses airy and lively, with my own little Jenny equal to the best: and in whatever can contribute to your quiet or pleasure, you have Lady Rothes ready to concur. May whatever you enjoy of good be encreased, and whatever you suffer of evil be diminished. I am, dear Sir, your humble servant, Sam. Johnson Bolt-court, Fleet-street

March 20, 1782 iMr. Langton being Rochester, he

is

at this time on duty at addressed by his military title.

[1782

To Mr. Hector, in Birmingham^ Dear Sir, I hope I do not very grossly flatter myself to imagine that you and dear Mrs. Careless^ will be glad to hear some account of me. I performed the journey to London with very little inconvenience, and came safe to my habitation, where I found nothing but ill health, and, of consequence, very little cheerfulness. I then went to visit a little way into the country, where I got a complaint by a cold which has hung eight weeks upon me, and from which I am, at the expence of fifty ounces of blood, not yet free. I am afraid I must once more owe my recovery to warm weather, which seems to make no ad-

vances towards

us.

Such is my health, which will, I hope, soon grow better. In other respects I have no reason to complain. I know not that I have written anything more generally commended than the Lives of the Poets; and have found the world willing enough to caress me, if my health had invited me to be in much company; but this season I have been almost wholly employed in

nursing myself.

When summer comes I hope to see you again, will not put off my visit to the end of the

and

year.

I

have lived so long in London, that

I

did

remember the difference of seasons. Your health, when I saw you, was much improved. You will be prudent enough not to put it in danger. I hope, when we meet again, we shall all congratulate each other upon fair prospects of longer life; though what are the pleasures of the longest life, when placed in comparison with a happy death? I am, dear Sir, yours not

most affectionately, Sam. Johnson

London, March

21, 1782

To THE Same [Without a date, but supposed to

Dear

Sir,

be about this time]

That you and dear Mrs. Careless

should have care or curiosity about my health, gives me that pleasure which every man feels from finding himself not forgotten. In age we feel again that love of our native place and our early friends, which in the bustle or amusements of middle life were overborne and suspended. You and I should now naturally cling to one another: we have outlived most of those who could pretend to rival us in each other's kind-

In our walk through life we have dropped our companions, and are now to pick such as chance may offer us, or to travel on alone. You, indeed, have a sister, with whom you can divide the day: I have no natural friend left; but Proviness.

2A part of this letter having been torn off, I have, from the evident meaning, supplied a few words and half-words at the ends and beginnings of lines. 3See p. 290.

LIFE OF

1782]

dence has been pleased to preserve me from neglect; I have not wanted such alleviations of life as friendship could supply. My health has been, from my twentieth year, such as has seldom afforded me a single day of ease; but it is at least not worse and I sometimes make myself believe that it is better. My disorders are, however, still :

sufficiently oppressive. I

think of seeing Staffordshire again this au-

tumn, and intend to find my way through Birmingham, where I hope to see you and dear Mrs. Careless well. I am, Sir, your aff"ectionate

JOHNSON

491

The Beauties of Johnson are said to have got money to the collector; if the Deformities have the same success, I shall be still a more extensive benefactor.

Make my compliments

to Mrs. Boswell, who hope, reconciled to me; and to the young people whom I never have offended. You never told me the success of your plea against the Solicitors. I am, dear Sir, your most I

is,

affectionate,

Sam. Johnson

London, March

28, 1782

friend.

Sam. Johnson

wrote to him at different dates; regretted that I could not come to London this spring, but hoped we should meet somewhere in the summer; mentioned the state of my affairs, and suggested hopes of some preferment; informed him, that as The Beauties of Johnson had been published in London, some obscure scribbler had published at Edinburgh what he called The Dc' I

Notwithstanding his afflicted state of body and this year, the following correspondence affords a proof not only of his benevolence and conscientious readiness to relieve a good man from errour, but by his cloathing one of the sentiments in his Rambler in different language, not inferiour to that of the original, shews his ex-

mind

traordinary

A

Jormities of Johnson.

To James Boswell,

Esq. pleasure which we used to receive from each other on Good-Friday and Easter-day, we must be this year content to miss. Sir,

The

however, pray for each other, and hope one another yet from time to time with mutual delight. My disorder has been a cold, which impeded the organs of respiration, and kept me many weeks in a state of great uneasiness; but by repeated phlebotomy it is now relieved; and next to the recovery of Mrs. Boswell, I flatter myself, that you will rejoice at mine. Let

us,

to see

What we

summer it is yet too You want to know what you

do

shall

early to consider.

in the

do now; I do not think this time of bustle and confusion likely to produce any advantage to you. Every man has those to reward and

shall

who have contributed to his advancement. To come hither with such expectations at the expence of borrowed money, which, I find, you know not where to borrow, can hardly be considered as prudent. I am sorry to find, what your solicitation seems to imply, that you have already gone the whole length of your credit. This is to set the quiet of your whole life at hazard. If you anticipate your inheritance, you can gratify

you receive must get a place, or pine in penury, with the empty name of a great estate. Poverty, my dear friend, is so great an evil, and pregnant with so much temptation, and so much misery, that I cannot but earnestly enjoin you to avoid it. Live on what you have; live if you can on less; do not borrow either for vanity or pleasure; the vanity will end in shame, and the pleasure in regret: stay therefore at home, till at last inherit nothing; all that

pay

for the past.

You must

you have saved money for your journey

hither.

of clear

and

forcible ex-

clergyman at Bath wrote

to him, that in a passage in The Beauties of Johnson, article Death, had been pointed out as supposed by some readers to recom.mend suicide, the words being, "To die is the fate of man; but to die with lingering anguish is generally his folly"; and respectfully suggesting to him, that such an erroneous notion of any sentence in the writings of an acknowledged friend of religion and virtue, should not pass uncontradicted. Johnson thus answered the clergyman's letter:

The Morning

Dear

command

pression.

Chronicle,

To the Reverend Mr. Sir, Being

-,

AT Bath

now in

the country in a state of recovery, as I hope, from a very oppressive disorder, I cannot neglect the acknowledgement of your Christian letter. The book called The Beauties of Johnson is the production of 1 know not whom: I never saw it but by casual inspection, and considered myself as utterly disengaged from its consequences. Of the passage you mention I remember some notice in some paper; but knowing that it must be misrepresented, I

thought of it no more, nor do I know where to find it in my own books. I am accustomed to think little of news-papers; but an opinion so weighty and serious as yours has determined me to do, what I should, without your seasonable admonition,have omitted and I will direct my thought to be shewn in its true state. ^ If I could find the passage, I would direct you to it. I suppose the tenour is this: Acute diseases are the immediate ;

^What

follows appeared in The Morning Chron"A correspondent having 29, 1782: mentioned, in The Morning Chronicle of December 12, the last clause of the following paragraph, as seeming to favour suicide; we are requested to print the whole passage, that its true meaning may icle

of

May

—

.

BOSW ELL

492 and

inevitable strokes of Heaven; but of them the pain is short, and the conclusion speedy; chronical disorders, by which we are suspended in tedious torture between life and death, are

commonly

the effect of our

intemperance.

To

die,

own misconduct and

&c.

— This,

Sir,

you

see

true and all blameless. I hope, some time in the next week, to have all rectified. health has been lately much shaken: if you favour me with any answer, it will be a comfort to me to know that I have your prayers. I am, &c.,

is all

My

Sam. Johnson Alay

15,

1782

letter, as might be expected, had its full and the clergyman acknowledged it in ^ grateful and pious terms. The following letters require no extracts from mine to introduce them:

This

effect,

To James

Bosvvell, Esq.

The

earnestness and tenderness of your letter is such, that I cannot think myself shewing it more respect than it claims by sitting down to answer it the day on which I received

Dear

Sir,

it.

This year has afflicted

some and severe

disorder.

me

with a very

My

irk-

respiration has

been much impeded, and much blood has been taken away. I am now harrassed by a catarrhous cough, from which my purpose is to seek relief by change of air; and I am, therefore, preparing to go to Oxford. Whether I did right in dissuading you from

London

not determine. You have not lost much by missing my company; I have scarcely been well for a single week. I might have received comfort from your kindness; but you would have seen me afflicted, and, perhaps, found me peevish. Whatever might have been your pleasure or mine, I know not how I could have honestly advised you to come hither with borrowed money. Do not accustom yourself to consider debt only as an inconvenience; you will find it a calamity. Poverty takes away so many means of doing good, and produces so much inability to resist evil, both natural and moral, that it is by all virtuous means to

coming

to

[1782

be avoided. Consider a man whose fortune is very narrow; whatever be his rank by birth, or whatever his reputation by intellectual excellence, what good can he do? or what evil can he prevent? That he cannot help the needy is evident; he has nothing to spare. But, perhaps, his advice or admonition may be useful. His poverty will destroy his influence: many more can find that he is poor, than that he is wise; and few will reverence the understanding that is 01 so little advantage to its owner. I say nothing of the personal wretchedness of a debtor, which, however, has passed into a proverb. Of riches, it is not necessary to write the praise. Let it, however, be remembered, that he who has money to spare, has it always in his power to benefit others; and of such pov/er a good man must always be desirous. I am pleased with your account of Easter.^ We shall meet, I hope in autumn, both well and both cheerful; and part each the better for the other's company. Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell, and to the young charmers. I am, &c. Sam. Johnson London, June 3, 1782

this spring, I will

Dear

Sir, I

is

not to

recommend

life.

Observe these

rules:

Turn all care out you mount the chaise. 1

2. is

Do

of your head as soon as

not think about frugality; your health it can cost. not continue any day's journey to fa-

worth more than 3.

Do

tigue. 4.

5. 6.

Take now and then a day's rest. Get a smart sea-sickness, if you can. Cast away all anxiety, and keep your mind

easy.

This last direction is the principal; with an unquiet mind, neither exercise, nor diet, nor physick, can be of much use. I wish you, dear Sir, a prosperous journey, and a happy recovery. I am, dear Sir, your most

humble

servant,

Sam. Johnson

suicide but

exercise.

"Exercise cannot secure us from that dissoluwhich we are decreed: but while the soul and body continue united, it can make the association pleasing, and give probable hope that they shall be disjoined by an easy separation. It was a principle among the ancients, that acute diseases are from Heaven, and chronical from ourselves; the dart of death, indeed, falls from Heaven, but we poison it by our own misconduct: to die is the fate of man; but to die with lingering anguish is generally his folly."

July 28, 1782

To James Bosw^ll,

tion to

^The Correspondence may be seen at length in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1 786.

that you are

going a very long journey, which may by proper conduct restore your health and prolong your

affectionate,

appear, which

To Mr. Perkins am much pleased

Dear

Sir,

Esq.

Being uncertain whether

I

should

have any call this autumn into the country, I did not immediately answer your kind letter. I have no call; but if you desire to meet me at Ashbourne, I believe I can come thither; if you had rather come to London, I can stay at Streatham; take your choice. 2Which I celebrated in the Church of England chapel at Edinburgh, founded by Lord Chief Baron Smith, of respectable and pious memory.

;

LIFE OF

782]

This year has been very heavy. From the middle of January to the middle of June I was battered by one disorder after another! I am now very much recovered, and hope still to be better. What happiness it is that Mrs. Boswell has escaped.

My

Lives are reprinting, and I have forgotten the authour of Gray's character:^ write immediately, and it may be perhaps yet inserted. Of London or Ashbourne you have your free choice; at any place I shall be glad to see you. I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.

Sam. Johnson Aug. 24, 1782

On the 30th of August, I informed him that my honoured father had died that morning; a complaint under which he had long laboured having suddenly come to a crisis, while I was upon a visit at the seat of Sir Charles Preston, from whence I had hastened the day before, up-

on receiving a

letter

by

express.

To James Dear

Sir, I

Boswell, Esq. have struggled through

this

year

much

infirmity of body, and such strong impressions of the fragility of life, that death, whenever it appears, fills me with melancholy; and I cannot hear without emotion, of the removal of any one, whom I have known, into another state. Your father's death had every circumstance that could enable you to bear it; it was at a mature age, and it was expected; and as his general life had been pious, his thoughts had doubtless for many years past been turned upon eternity. That you did not find him sensible must doubtless grieve you; his disposition towards you was undoubtedly that of a kind, though not of a fond father. Kindness, at least actual, is in our power, but fondness is not; and if by negligence or imprudence you had extinguished his fondness, he could not at will rekindle it. Nothing then remained between you but mutual forgiveness of each other's faults, and mutual desire of each other's happiness. I shall long to know his final disposition of his fortune.

with so

You, dear Sir, have now a new station, and have therefore new cares, and new employments. Life, as Cowley seems to say, ought to resemble a well-ordered poem; of which one rule generally received is, that the exordium should be simple, and should promise little. Begin your new course of life with the least show, and the least expence possible; you may at pleasure encrease both, but you cannot easily diminish them. Do not think your estate your own, while any man can call upon you for money which you cannot pay; therefore, begin with timorous ^The Reverend Mr. Temple, Vicar of St. Gluvias,

Cornwall.

JOHNSON

493

parsimony. Let it be your first care not to be in any man's debt. When the thoughts are extended to a future state, the present life seems hardly worthy of all those principles of conduct, and maxims of prudence, which one generation of men has transmitted to another; but upon a closer view, when it is perceived how much evil is produced, and

how much good and

distress,

is impeded by embarrassment and how little room the expedients

of poverty leave for the exercise of virtue, it grows manifest that the boundless importance of the next life enforces some attention to the interests of this. Be kind to the old servants, and secure the kindness of the agents and factors; do not disgust them by asperity, or unwelcome gaiety, or apparent suspicion. From them you must learn the real state of your aff~airs, the characters of your tenants, and the value of your lands. Make my compliments to Mrs. Boswell; I think her expectations from air and exercise are the best that she can form. I hope she will live long and happily. I forget whether I told you that Rasay has been here; we dined cheerfully together. I entertained lately a young gentleman from Corrichatachin. I received your letters only this morning. I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.

Sam. Johnson

London,

Sept. 7,

1782

In answer to my next letter, I received one from him, dissuading me from hastening to him as I had proposed; what is proper for publication is the following paragraph, equally just and "One expence, however, I would not tender: have you to spare: let nothing be omitted that can preserve Mrs. Boswell, though it should be

—

necessary to transplant her for a time into a softShe is the prop and stay of your life. How much must your children suff'er by losing

er climate.

her."

My wife

was now

so

much

convinced of his

and regard for her, that, without any suggestion on my part, she wrote him a very polite and grateful letter: sincere friendship for me,

Dr. Johnson to Mrs. Boswell

Dear Lady, I have not often received so much pleasure as from your invitation to Auchinleck. The journey thither and back is, indeed, too great for the latter part of the year; but if my health were fully recovered, I would suffer no little heat and cold, nor a wet or a rough road to keep me from you. I am, indeed, not without hope of seeing Auchinleck again but to make it a pleasant place I must see its lady well, and brisk, and airy. For my sake,

BOSWELL

494

pence, and want no attendance that can procure ease, or preserve it. Be very careful to keep your mind quiet; and do not think it too much to give an account of your recovery to,

Madam,

[1782

among many greater reasons, take Madam, of your health, spare no ex-

therefore, care, dear

yours, &c. Sept. 7,

Dear

Sir,

Dr. Samuel Johnson Edinburgh, Dec. 20, 1782 I was made happy by your kind

which gave us the agreeable hopes of seeing you in Scotland again. I am much flattered by the concern you are

letter,

pleased to take in

Sam. Johnson

London,

To

1782

my

and hope to have it you by my attention

in

recovery.

my

I

power

am

better, to convince

of how much consequence esteem your health to the world and to myself. I remain, Sir, with grateful respect, your obliged and obedient servant, I

To James Bosw^ll, Dear

Esq.

Having passed almost this whole year in a succession of disorders, I went in October to Brighthelmston, whither I came in a Sir,

much weakness, that I rested four times in walking between the inn and the lodging. By physick and abstinence I grew better, and am now reasonably easy, though at a great distance from health. I am afraid, however, that health begins, after seventy, and long before, to have a meaning different from that which it had at thirty. But it is culpable to murmur at the established order of the creation, as it is vain to oppose it. He that lives must grow old; and he that would rather grow old than die, has God state of so

to thank for the infirmities of old age. rather angry. At your long silence I

am

You

now you

are the head of your house, think it worth your while to try whether you or your friend can live longer without writing, nor suspect tliat after so many years of friendship, that when I do not write to you, I forget you. Put all such useless jealousies out of your head, and disdain to regulate your own practice by the practice of another, or by any other principle than the desire of doing

do

not, since

right. I suppose, begins now to be yom- expences are adjusted to your revenue, and all your people in their proper places. Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human

Your oeconomy,

settled;

happiness;

it

makes some

certainly destroys liberty, and it virtues impracticable, and others

extremely difficult. Let me know the history of your life, since your accession to your estate. How many houses, how many cows, how much land in your own hand, and what bargains you make with your tenants.

.

.

.

Of my Lives of the Poets, they have printed a new edition in octavo, I hear, of three thousand. Did

I

will

do

give a set to Lord Hailes? If I did not, I it out of these. What did you make of all

your copy? Mrs. Thrale and the three Misses are now for the winter in Argyll-street. Sir Joshua Reynolds has been out of order, but is well again; and I am, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant,

Sam. Johnson

London,

Dec. 7, 1782

Margaret Boswell The death of Mr. Thrale had made a very material alteration with respect to Johnson's reception in that family. The manly authority of husband no longer curbed the lively exuberance of the lady; and as her vanity had been fully gratified, by having the Colossus of Literature attached to her for many years, she gradually became less assiduous to please him. Whether her attachment to him was already divided by another object, I am unable to ascertain; but it is plain that Johnson's penetration was alive to her neglect or forced attention; for on the 6th of October this year, we find him maJking a "parting use of the library" at Streatham, and pronouncing a prayer, which he composed on leavthe

ing Mr. Thrale's family:^

"Almighty God, Father of all mercy, help me by thy grace, that I may, with humble and sincere thankfulness, remember the comforts and conveniences which I have enjoyed at this place; and that I may resign them with holy submission, equally trusting in

thy protection vvfhen

and when thou takest away. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, have mercy upon me. "To thy fatherly protection, O Lord, I commend this family. Bless, guide, and defend them, thou

givest,

that they

may

so pass through this world, as

fi-

nally to enjoy in thy presence everlasting happiness, for Jesus Christ's sake.

Amen."

One cannot

read this prayer, without some emotions not very favourable to the lady whose conduct occasioned it. In one of his memorandum-books I find, "Sunday, went to church at Streatham. Templo valedi.xi cum osculo." He met Mr. Philip Metcalfe often at Sir Josh-

ua Reynolds's, and other places, and was a good deal with him at Brighthelmston this autumn, being pleased at once with his excellent table and animated conversation. Mr. Metcalfe shewed him great respect, and sent him a note that he might have the use of his carriage whenever he ^Prayers and Meditations, p. 214.

— LIFE OF

1783]

Johnson (3rd October, 1782) returned "Mr. Johnson is very much this polite answer: obliged by the kind offer of the carriage, but he has no desire of using Mr. Metcalfe's carriage, except when he can have the pleasure of Mr. Metcalfe's company." Mr. Metcalfe could not but be higlily pleased that his company was thus valued by Johnson, and he frequently attended him in airings. They also went together to Chichester, and they visited Petworth, and Cowdry, the venerable seat of the Lords Montacute. "Sir, pleased.

—

(said Johnson,) I should like to stay here fourand-twenty hours. We see here how our ancestors lived."

That his curiosity was still unabated, appears from two letters to Mr. John Nichols, of the oth and 20th of October this year. In one he says, "I have looked into your Anecdotes, and you will i

hardly thank a lover of literary history for telling you, that he has been much informed and gratified. I wish you would add your own discoveries and intelligence to those of Dr. Rawlinson, and undertake the Supplement to Wood. Think of it." In the other, "I wish. Sir, you could obtain some fuller information of Jortin, Markland, and Thirlby. They were three contemporaries of great eminence."

To

Sir Joshua Reynolds Dear Sir, I heard yesterday of your late disorder, and should think ill of myself if I had heard of it without alarm. I heard likewise of your recovery, which I sincerely wish to be complete and permanent. Your country has been in danger of losing one of its brightest or-

naments, and I of losing one of my oldest and kindest friends: but I hope you will still live long, for the honour of the nation: and that more enjoyment of your elegance, your intelligence, and your benevolence, is still reserved for,

dear

Sir,

your most affectionate, &c. Sam. Johnson

Brighthelmston, Nov.

to

14,

1782

The Reverend Mr. Wilson having dedicated him his Archceological Dictionary, that mark of

respect

was thus acknowledged:

JOHNSON

495

can be content to lose; and gratitude to those from whom this pleasure is received, is a duty of which I hope never to be reproached with the final neglect. I therefore now return you thanks for the notice which I have received from you, and which I consider as giving to my name not only more bulk, but more weight; not only as extending its superficies, but as increasing its value. Your book was evidently wanted, and I

I hope, find its way into the school, to which, however, I do not mean to confine it; for no man has so much skill in ancient rites and practices as not to want it. As I suppose myself to owe part of your kindness to my excellent friend. Dr. Patten, he has likewise a just claim to my

will,

acknowledgements, which I hope you. Sir, will transmit. There will soon appear a new edition of my Poetical Biography; if you will accept of a copy to keep me in your mind, be pleased to let me know how it may be conveniently conveyed to you. The present is small, but it is given with good will by. Reverend Sir, your most, &c. Sam. Johnson December 31,1 782 In 1783, he was more se1783: ^TAT. 74.] verely afflicted than ever, as will appear in the course of his correspondence; but still the same ardour for literature, the same constant piety, the same kindness for his friends, and the same vivacity both in conversation

Wilson, Clitheroe, Lancashire Reverend Sir, That I have long omitted to return you thanks for the honour conferred upon me by your Dedication, I entreat you with great earnestness not to consider as more faulty than it is. A very importunate and oppressive disorder has for some time debarred me from the pleasures, and obstructed me in the duties of life. The esteem and kindness of wise and good men is one of the last pleasures which

and

writing, dis-

tinguished him. Having given Dr. Johnson a full account of what I was doing at Auchinleck, and particular-

mentioned what I knew would please him, having brought an old man of eighty-eight from a lonely cottage to a comfortable habitation within my enclosures, where he had good neighbours near to him, I received an answer in February, of which I extract what follows: "I am delighted with your account of your activity at Auchinleck, and wish the old gentleman, whom you have so kindly removed, may live long to promote your prosperity by his prayers. You have now a new character and new duties: think on them and practise them. "Make an impartial estimate of your revenue, and whatever it is, live upon less. Resolve never ly

my

—

to be poor. Frugality

To THE Reverend Mr.

—

is

not only the basis of

quiet, but of beneficence.

No man can help oth-

ers that wants help himself;

before

"I

we have

am

we must have enough

to spare.

glad to find that Mrs. Boswell grows

and hope that to keep her well, no care nor caution wUl be omitted. May you long live

well;

happily together.

"When you come hither,

pray bring with you

Baxter's Anacreon. I cannot get that edition in

London."

BOSWELL

496

On Friday, March 2 don

the night before,

1

I

,

having arrived in Lon-

was glad

to find

him

at

Mrs. Thrale's house, in Argyll-street, appearances of friendship between them being still kept up. I was shewn into his room, and after the first salutation he said, "I am glad you are come. I am very ill." He looked pale, and was distressed with a difficulty of breathing; but after the common inquiries he assumed his usual strong animated style of conversation. Seeing me now for the first time as a Laird, or proprietor of land, he began thus: "Sir, the superiority of a countrygentleman over the people upon his estate is very agreeable; and he who says he does not feel it to be agreeable, lies; for it must be agreeable to have a casual superiority over those who are by nature equal with us." Boswell. "Yet, Sir, we see great proprietors of land who prefer living in

London." Johnson. "Why, Sir, the pleasure London, the intellectual superiority

of living in that

enjoyed there,

is

other. Besides, Sir, a

may counterbalance the man may prefer the state

of the country-gentleman upon the whole, and yet there may never be a moment when he is willing to it."

He

make

the change to quit

said, "It is better to

have

London

for

five per cent.

out of land than out of money, because it is more secure; but the readiness of transfer, and promptness of interest, make many people rather choose the funds. Nay, there is another disadvantage

belonging to land, compared with money. A is not so much afraid of being a hard creditor, as of being a hard landlord." Boswell. "Because there is a sort of kindly connection between a landlord and his tenants." Johnson. "No, Sir; many landlords with us never see their tenants. It is because if a landlord drives away his tenants, he may not get others; whereas the demand for money is so great, it may always be

man

lent."

He

and indignation of the Government at this time,

talked with regret

factious opposition to

and imputed

it

in a great

measure to the Revlow voice, having

olution. "Sir, (said he, in a

come nearer seemed

to

me, while

his old prejudices

to be fermenting in his mind,) this

Han-

overian family is isolee here. They have no friends. Now the Stuarts had friends who stuck by them so late as 1 745. When the right of the King is not reverenced, there will not be reverence for those appointed

by the King."

His observation that the present royal family has no friends, has been too much justified by the very ungrateful behaviour of many who were under great obligations to his Majesty; at the same time there are honourable exceptions;

[1783

and the very next year after this conversation, and ever since, the King has had as extensive and generous support as ever was given to any monarch, and has had the satisfaction of knowing that he was more and more endeared to his people. He repeated to me his verses on Mr. Levett, with an emotion which gave them full effect; and then he was pleased to say, "You must be as much with me as you can. You have done me good.

You cannot

think

how much

better

I

am

you came in." He sent a message to acquaint Mrs. Thrale that I was arrived. I had not seen her since her husband's death. She soon appeared, and favoured me with an invitation to stay to dinner, which I accepted. There was no other company but herself and three of her daughters, Dr. Johnson, and I. She too said, she was very glad I was come, for she was going to Bath, and should have been sorry to leave Dr. Johnson before I came. This seemed to be attentive and kind; and I who had not been informed of any change, imagined all to be as well as formerly. He was little inclined to talk at dinner, and went to sleep after it; but when he joined us in the drawing-room, he seemed revived, and was again

since

himself.

Talking of conversation, he said, "There must, first place, be knowledge, there must be materials; in the second place, there must be a command of words; in the third place, there must be imagination, to place things in such

in the

views as they are not commonly seen in; and in the fourth place, there must be presence of mind, and a resolution that is not to be overcome by failures:

this last

is

an

essential requisite; for

many

people do not excel in conversation. Now /want it: I throw up the game upon losing a trick." I wondered to hear him talk thus of himself, and said, "I don't know. Sir, how this may be; but I am sure you beat other people's cards out of their hands." I doubt whether he heard this remark. While he went on talking triumphantly, I was fixed in admiration, and said to Mrs. Thrale, "O, for short-hand to take this down 1" "You'll carry it all in your head, (said she;) a long head is as good as short-hand."

want of

it

It has been observed and wondered at, that Mr. Charles Fox never talked with any freedom in the presence of Dr. Johnson, though it is well known, and I myself can witness, that his conversation is various, fluent, and exceedingly

agreeable. Johnson's own experience, however, of that gentleman's reserve was a sufficient rea-

son for his going on thus: "Fox never talks in private company; not from any determination

LIFE OF

1783]

but because he has not the first motion. A man who is used to the applause of the House of Commons, has no wish for that of a private company. A man accustomed to throw for a thousand pounds, if set down to throw for sixpence, would not be at the pains to count his not to

talk,

is the ebullition of his mind; he does not talk from a desire of distinction, but because his mind is full." He thus curiously characterised one of our old acquaintance: "******** jg a good man. Sir; but he is a vain man and a liar. He, however, only tells lies of vanity; of victories, for instance, in conversation, which never happened." This alluded to a story which I had repeated from that gentleman, to entertain Johnson with its wild bravado: "This Johnson, Sir, (said he,)

dice. Burke's talk

whom come

you are

close to

He

as he.

all

him

afraid of will shrink,

in

argument and roar

if

you

as loud

once maintained the paradox, that

no beauty but in utility. 'Sir, (said I,) what say you to the peacock's tail, which is one of the most beautiful objects in nature, but would have as much utility if its feathers were all of one colour.' He felt what I thus produced, and had recourse to his usual expedient, ridicule; exclaiming, 'A peacock has a tail, and a fox has a tail' and then he burst out into a laugh. 'Well, there

is

;

with a strong voice, looking him full you have unkennelled your fox; pursue him if you dare.' He had not a word to say. Sir." Johnson told me, that this was a fiction from beginning to end.^ After musing for some time, he said, "I wonder how I should have any enemies; for I do harm to nobody." Bosw^ll. "In the first place,

JOHNSON Sir,

you

will

497

be pleased to recollect, that you

I own, that by my definition of oats I meant to vex them." Boswell. "Pray, Sir, can you trace the cause of your antipathy to the Scotch?" Johnson. "I cannot. Sir." Boswell. "Old Mr. Sheridan says, it was because they sold Charles the First." Johnson. "Then, Sir, old Mr. Sheridan has found out a very good reason." Surely the most obstinate and sulky nationality, the most determined aversion to this great and good man, must be cured, when he is seen thus playing with one of his prejudices, of which he candidly admitted that he could not tell the reason. It was, however, probably owing to his having had in his view the worst part of the Scottish nation, the needy adventurers, many of whom he thought were advanced above their merits by means which he did not approve. Had he in his early life been in Scotland, and seen the worthy, sensible, independent gentlemen, who live rationally and hospitably at home, he never could have entertained such unfavourable

and unjust notions of his fellow-subjects. And accordingly we find, that when he did visit Scotland, in the latter period of his sensible of all that

pointed out,

Western Islands.

vacity, which he perhaps did not recollect, were, I afraid, too often remembered with resentment.

am

he was fully have already

life,

deserved, as

I

of his Journey

to the

Next day, Saturday, March 22, I found him at Mrs. Thrale's, but he told me that he was to go to his own house in the afternoon. He was better, but I perceived he was but an unruly patient, for Sir Lucas Pepys, who visited him, while I was with him said, "If you were tractstill

able. Sir, I

^Were I to insert all the stories which have been told of contests boldly maintained with him, imaginary victories obtained over him, of reducing him to silence, and of making him own that his antagonist had the better of him in argument, my volumes would swell to an immoderate size. One instance, I find, has circulated both in conversation and in print; that when he would not allow the Scotch writers to have merit, the late Dr. Rose, of Chiswick, asserted, that he could name one Scotch writer, whom Dr. Johnson himself would allow to have written better than any man of the age; and upon Johnson's asking who it was, answered, "Lord Bute, when he signed the warrant for your pension." Upon which Johnson, struck with the repartee, acknowledged that this was true. When I mentioned it to Johnson, "Sir, (said he,) if Rose said this, I never heard it." ^This reflection was very natural in a man of a good heart, who was not conscious of any ill-will to mankind, though the sharp sayings which were sometimes produced by his discrimination and vi-

it

when speaking

Sir, (said I,

in the face,)

•^

set

out with attacking the Scotch; so you got a whole nation for your enemies. "Johnson. "Why,

should prescribe for you."

him a remark which a respectable had made to me, upon the then state of Government, when those who had been long in opposition had attained to power, as it was supI

related to

friend

posed, against the inclination of the Sovereign.

"You need

not be uneasy (said this gentleman,) about the King. He laughs at them all; he plays them one against another." Johnson. "Don't think so.

Sir.

The King

is

as

much

oppressed as

man

can be. If he plays them one against another, he wins nothing." I had paid a visit to General Oglethorpe in the morning, and was told by him that Dr. Johnson saw company on Saturday evenings, and he would meet me at Johnson's that night. When I mentioned this to Johnson, not doubting that it would please him, as he had a great a

value for Oglethorpe, the fretfulness of his disitself; his anger sud-

ease unexpectedly shewed

BOSWELL

498

denly kindled, and he said, with vehemence, I to be "Did not you tell him not to come?

Am

hunted in this

manner?"

could not divine that the

and that

venient,

I

I

satisfied

visit

him

that

I

would not be con-

certainly could not take

it

upon me of my own accord to forbid the General. I found Dr. Johnson in the evening in Mrs. Williams's room, at tea and coffee with her and Mrs. Desmoulins, who were also both ill; it was a sad scene, and he was not in very good humour. He said of a performance that had lately come out, "Sir, if you should search all the madhouses in England, you would not find ten men who would write so, and think it sense." I was glad when General Oglethorpe's arrival was announced, and we left the ladies. Dr. Johnson attended him in the parlour, and was as courteous as ever. The General said he was busy reading the writers of the middle age. Johnson said they were very curious. Oglethorpe. "The House of Commons has usurped the power of the nation's money, and used it tyrannically. Government is now carried on by cori-upt influence, instead of the inherent right in the

King." Johnson. "Sir, the want of inherent right

King occasions all this disturbance. What did at the Revolution was necessary: but it broke our constitution."^ Oglethorpe. "My father did not think it necessary." On Sunday, March 23, I breakfasted with in the

we

Dr. Johnson,

who seemed much relieved, having

taken opium the night before. He however protested against it, as a remedy that should be given with the utmost reluctance, and only in ex-

treme necessity. I mentioned how commonly it in Turkey, and that therefore it could not be so pernicious as he apprehended. He grew warm and said, "Turks take opium, and Christians take opium; but Russel, in his Ac-

was used

count of Aleppo, tells us, that

Turkey

it is

as disgraceful in

much opium, as it is with us it is amazing how things are

to take too

to get drunk. Sir,

exaggerated.

A gentleman was lately telling in a

company where

I

was present, that

in

France as

soon as a man of fashion marries, he takes an opera girl into keeping; and this he mentioned as a general custom. 'Pray, Sir, (said I,) how have, in my Journal oj a Tour to the Hebrides, expressed my sentiments upon this subject. The Revolution was necessary, but not a subject for glory; because it for a long time blasted the generous feelings of Loyalty. And now, when by the benignant effect of time the present Royal Family are established in our affections, how unwise it is to revive by celebrations the memory of a shock, which it would surely have been better that our constitution had not required. ^I

fully

[1783

many opera

girls

may

there be?'

He

answered,

'About fourscore.' 'Well then, Sir, (said I,) you see there can be no more than fourscore men of " fashion who can do this.' Mrs. Desmoulins made tea; and she and I talked before him upon a topick which he had once borne patiently from me when we were by ourselves, his not complaining of the world, because he was not called to some great office, nor had attained to great wealth. He flew into a violent passion, I confess with some justice, and commanded us to have done. "Nobody, (said he,) has a right to talk in this manner, to bring

—

before a of his

man

life,

his own character, and the events when he does not choose it should be

never have sought the world; the v/orld to seek me. It is rather wonderful that so much has been done for me. All the comdone.

I

was not plaints I

which are made of the world are

never knew a

generally by his cess.

A man

man

of merit neglected:

own

fault that

unjust. it

was

he failed of sucmay hide his head in a hole: he may

go into the country, and publish a book now and then, which nobody reads, and then complain he is neglected. There is no reason why any person should exert himself for a man who has written a good book: he has not written it

any individual. I may as well make a present postman who brings me a letter. When patronage was limited, an authour expected to find a Maecenas, and complained if he did not find one. Why should he complain? This Mascenas has others as good as he, or others who have got the start of him." Boswell. "But surely. Sir, you wUl allow that there are men of merit at the bar, who never get practice." Johnson. "Sir, you are sure that practice is got from an for

to the

opinion that the person einployed deserves it best; so that if a man of merit at the bar does not get practice, it is from errour, not from injustice. He is not neglected. A horse that is brought to market may not be bought, though he is a very good horse: but that is from ignorance, not from intention."

There was in this discourse much novelty, inand discrimination, such as is seldom to be found. Yet I cannot help thinking that men of merit, who have no success in life, may genuity,

be forgiven for lamenting, to complain.

They may

their merit should not tion.

Though

there

is

if

they are not allowed

consider

it

as hard that

have its suitable distincno intentional injustice

towards them on the part of the world, their merit not having been perceived, they may yet repine against fortune, or Jate, or by whatever riame they choose to call the supposed mytho-

LIFE OF

1783]

JOHNSON

499

logical

power of Destiny. It has, however, occurred to me, as a consolatory thought, that

no such Club." Boswell. "But, once a factious man?" Johnson.

men of merit should consider thus: — How much

one who was for sinking us all into the mob." Boswell. "How then, Sir, did he get into favour with the King?" Johnson. "Because, Sir, I suppose he promised the King to do whatever the King pleased." He said, "Goldsmith's blundering speech to Lord Shelburne, v/hich has been so often mentioned, and which he really did make to him, was only a blunder in emphasis: 'I wonder they should call your Lordship Malagrida, for Malagrida was a very good man'; meant, I wonder they should use Malagrida as a term of reproach." Soon after this time I had an opportunity of seeing, by means of one of his friends, a proof

harder would it be if the same persons had both the merit and all the prosperity. Would not this be a miserable distribution for the poor dunces? Would men of merit exchange their intellectual superiority, and the enjoyments arisall

ing from

it,

and the would not, let them who are poor where they are

for external distinction

pleasures of wealth? If they

not envy others,

compensation v/hich is made to them. Let them look inwards and be satisfied; recollecting with conscious pride what Virgil finely

rich, a

says of the Corycius Senex,

and which

I

have, in

another place,-'^ with truth and sincerity applied to Mr. Burke:

Regum

On

cequabat opes animis.

the subject of the right

employment of

"A man cannot make a bad use of his money, so far as regards Society, if he does not hoard it; for if he either spends it or lends it out. Society has the benefit. It is in general better to spend money than to give it away; for industry is more promoted by spending money than by giving it away. A man who spends his money is sure he is doing good with it: he is not so sure when he gives it away. A man who spends ten thousand a year will do more good than a man who spends two thousand and gives away eight." In the evening I came to him again. He was wealth, Johnson observed,

somewhat

from

fretful

his illness.

A

gentleman

asked him, whether he had been abroad to-day.

"Don't talk

so childishly, (said he.)

You may

as

hanged myself to-day." I mentioned politicks. Johnson. "Sir, I'd as soon have a man well ask

if I

to break fairs,

my

bones as talk to

me

of publick af-

internal or external. I have lived to see

all as bad as they can be." Having mentioned his friend the second Lord Southwell, he said, "Lord Southwell was the

things

highest-bred

was

in

man

company

without insolence that with; the most qualitied

I

ever

I

ever

saw. Lord Orrery was not dignified: Lord Ches-

Lord *******

but he was insolent. is a man of coarse manners, but a man of abilities and information. I don't say he is a man I would set at the head of a nation, though perhaps he may be as good as the next Prime Minister that comes; but he is a man to be at the head of a Club; I don't say our Club; for there's

terfield was,

^Letter to the People of Scotland against the at-

tempt to diminish the number of the Lords of Session, 1785.

Sir,

was he not

"O yes.

Sir; as

factious a fellow as could be found:

that his talents, as well as his obliging service to authours, were ready as ever. He had revised

The Village, an admirable poem, by the Reverend Mr. Crabbe. Its sentiments as to the false notions of rustick happiness and rustick virtue were quite congenial with his own; and he had taken the trouble not only to suggest slight corand variations, but to furnish some lines, when he thought he could give the writer's meaning better than in the words of the manuscript.^ On Sunday, March 30, 1 found him at home in the evening, and had the pleasure to meet with Dr. Brocklesby, whose reading, and knowledge of life, and good spirits, supply him with a neverfailing source of conversation. He mentioned a respectable gentleman, who became extremely penurious near the close of his life. Johnson said there must have been a degree of madness about him. "Not at all. Sir, (said Dr. Brocklesby,) hisjudgement was entire." Unluckily, however, he mentioned that although he had a fortune of twenty-seven thousand pounds, he denied himself many comforts, from an apprehension that 21 shall give an instance, marking the original by Roman, and Johnson's substitution in Italick rections

characters:

In fairer scenes, where peaceful pleasures spring, Tityrus, the pride of Mantuan swains, might sing: But charmed by him, or smitten with his views, Shall modern poets court the Mantuan muse?

From Truth and Nature shall we Where Fancy leads, or Virgil led

widely stray.

the way? Mincio's banks, in Casar's bounteous reign. If Tityrus found the golden age again. Must sleepy bards the jlattering dream prolong, Mechanick echoes of the Mantuan song?

On

From Truth and Nature Where

shall

we widely

stray,

where Fancy, leads the way? Here we find Johnson's poetical and critical powers undiminished. I must however, observe, that the aids he gave to this poem, as to The Traveller and Deserted Village of Goldsmith, were so small as by no means to impair the distinguished merit of the authour. ^. Virgil, not

'

BOSWELL

500 he could not afford them. "Nay, son,)

when

the

judgement

is

Sir, (cried John-

so disturbed that a

man

cannot count, that is pretty well." I shall here insert a few of Johnson's sayings, without the formality of dates, as they have no reference to any particular time or place. "The more a man extends and varies his acquaintance the better." This, however, was meant with a just restriction; for, he on another occasion said to me, "Sir, a man may be so much of every thing, that he is nothing of any thing."

"Raising the wages of day-labourers is wrong; it does not make them live better, but only makes them idler, and idleness is a very bad for

human nature." a very good custom to keep a journal for a man's own use; he may write upon a card a day all that is necessary to be written, after he has had experience of life. At first there is a great deal to be written, because there is a great deal thing for "It

is

of novelty; but

when once a man

has settled his

seldom much to be set down." "There is nothing wonderful in the journal which we see Swift kept in London, for it contains slight topicks, and it might soon be written." I praised the accuracy of an account-book of a lady whom I mentioned. Johnson. "Keeping accounts, Sir, is of no use when a man is spending his own money, and has nobody to whom he is to account. You won't eat less beef to-day, because you have written down what it cost yesterday." I mentioned another lady who thought as he did, so that her husband could not get her to keep an account of the expence of the family, as she thought it enough that she never exceeded the sum allowed her. Johnson. "Sir, it is fit she should keep an account, because her husband wishes it; but I do not see its use." I maintained that keeping an account has this advantage, that it satisfies a man that his money has not been lost or stolen, which he might sometimes be apt to imagine, were there no written state of his expence; and beside, a calculation of oeconomy so as not to exceed one's income, cannot be made without a view of the different articles in figures, that one may see how to retrench in some particulars less necessary than others. This he did not attempt to answer. Talking of an acquaintance of ours, whose narratives, which abounded in curious and interesting topicks, were unhappily found to be very fabulous; I mentioned Lord Mansfield's having said to me, "Suppose we believe one half of what he tells." Johnson. "Ay; but we don't opinions, there

know

is

whicfi half to believe.

By

his lying

we

lose

[1783

not only our reverence for him, but all comfort in his conversation." Boswell. "May we not take

amusing

as

it

fiction?"

you

misfortune

is,

that

much

as

you incline

of

it

Johnson. "Sir, the

will insensibly believe as

to believe."

remarkable, that notwithstanding their congeniality in politicks, he never was acquainted with a late eminent noble judge, whom I have heard speak of him as a writer, with great respect. Johnson, I know not upon what degree of investigation, entertained no exalted opinion of his Lordship's intellectual character. Talking of him to me one day, he said, "It is wonderful, Sir, with how little real superiority of mind men can make an eminent figure in publick life. "He expressed himself to the same purpose concerning another law-Lord, who, it seems, once took a fancy to associate with the wits of London; but with so little success, that Foote said, "What can he mean by coming among us? He is not only dull himself, but the cause of dullness in others." Trying him by the test of his colloquial powers, Johnson had found him very defective. He once said to Sir Joshua Reynolds, "This man now has been ten years about town, and has made nothing of it"; meaning as a companion.^ He said to me, "I never heard any thing from him in comIt

is

pany that was it.

Sir, it is

at all striking;

when you come

and depend upon close to a

man

in

conversation, that you discover what his real abilities are; to make a speech in a publick assembly is a knack. Now I honour Thurlow, Sir; Thurlow is a fine fellow; he fairly puts his mind to yours."

After repeating to

him some

lively sayings, I said, "It

is

of his pointed,

a pity.

Sir,

you don't

always remember your own good things, that you may have a laugh when you will." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, it is better that I forget them, that I may be reminded of them, and have a laugh on their being brought to my recollection. When I recalled to him his having said as we sailed up Loch-lomond, "That if he wore any thing fine, it should be very fine"; I observed that all his thoughts were upon a great scale. Johnson. "Depend upon it, Sir, every man will have as fine a thing as he can get; as a large diamond for his ring." Boswell. "Pardon me. Sir: a man '

^Knowing

as well as I

do what precision and

elegance of oratory his Lordship can display, I cannot but suspect that his unfavourable appearance in a social circle, which drew such animadversions upon him, must be owing to a cold affectation of consequence, from being reserved and stiff. If it be so, and he might be an agreeable man if he would, we cannot be sorry that he misses his aim.

—

—

"

LIFE OF

1783] mind

of a narrow

will not think of

it,

a slight

—

JOHNSON

501

When I once talked to him of some of the sayings which every body repeats, but nobody knows

trinket will satisfy him:

Nee sufferre

—

such as Quos Deus vult perdere, prihe told me that he was once offered ten guineas to point out from whence Semel insanivimus omnes was taken. He could not do it; but many years afterwards met with it by chance in Johannes Baptista Mantuanus. I am very sorry that I did not take a note of an eloquent argument in which he maintained that the situation of Prince of Wales was the happiest of any person's in the kingdom, even beyond that of the Sovereign. I recollect only the enjoyment of hope, the high superiority of rank, without the anxious cares of government, and a great degree of power, both from natural influence wisely used, and from the sanguine expectations of those who look forward to the chance of future favour. Sir Joshua Reynolds communicated to me the

where

queat majoris pondera gemma.

to find,

us dementat-^

him I should send him some Essays had written, which I hoped he would be so good as to read, and pick out the good ones. Johnson. "Nay, Sir, send me only the good ones; don't make me pick them." I heard him once say, "Though the proverb I

told

which

I

Nullum numen abest, si sit prudentia, does not always prove true, we may be certain of the converse of it. Nullum numen adest, si sit imprudentia." Once, when Mr. Seward was going to Bath, and asked his commands, he said, "Tell Dr. Harrington that I wish he would publish another volume of the Nugce antiqua-^ it is a very pretty book." Mr. Seward seconded this wish, and recommended to Dr. Harrington to dedicate it to Johnson, and take for his motto, what Catullus says to Cornelius Nepos: namque

tu solebas.

As a small proof of his kindliness and delicacy mentioned:

One

street together,

may

I

sup at Mr. Beauclerk's, he said, "I'll go with you." After having walked part of the way, seeming to recollect something, he suddenly stopped and said, "I cannot go, but I do not love Beau-

—

clerk the less."

On had

the frame of his portrait,

Mr. Beauclerk

inscribed,

Ingenium ingens Inculto latet hoc sub corpore.

After Mr. Beauclerk's death, when it became Mr. Langton's property, he made the inscription be defaced. Johnson said complacently, "It was kind in you to take it off"; and then aftter a short pause, added, "and not unkind in him to put it on." He said, "How few of his friends' houses would a man choose to be at when he is sick." He mentioned one or two. I recollect only Thrale's.

He in

observed, "There

most people

in his intellects.

a wicked inclination an old man delayed If a young or middle-aged man, is

to suppose

when

leaving a company, does not recollect where he laid his hat, it is nothing; but if the same inattention is discovered in an old man, people will shrug up their shoulders, and say, 'His iJt

memory

is

going.'

has since appeared.

following particulars:

Johnson thought the poems published as transfrom Ossian had so little merit, that he said, "Sir, a man might write such stuff for ever, if he would abandon his mind to it."

be

when we were in the told him I was going to

evening

and

—

lations

Meas esse aliquid putare nugas.

of feeling, the following circumstance

—

^With the following elucidation of the saying Quos Deus (it should rather be Quern Jupiter) vult Mr. Boswell was furnished perdere, prius dementat by Mr. Pitts: "Perhaps no scrap of Latin whatever has been more quoted than this. It occasionally falls even from those who are scrupulous even to pedantry in their Latinity, and will not admit a word into their compositions, which has not the

—

—

sanction of the first age. The word demento is of no authority, either as a verb active or neuter. After a long search for the purpose of deciding a bet, some gentlemen of Cambridge found it among the fragments of Euripides, in what edition I do not recoUect, where it is given as a translation of a Greek lambick: "Ov 0e6s ^eXet awoXeaai., Trpcir'

—

airo4>pkvai.

The above scrap was found in the hand-writing of a suicide of fashion, Sir D. O., some years ago, lying on the table of the room where he had destroyed himself. The suicide was a man of classical acquirements: he left no other paper behind him." Another of these proverbial sayings. Incidit in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim, I, Ln a note on a passage in The Merchant of Venice, traced to its source. It occurs (with a slight variation) in the Alexandreis of Philip Gualtier (a poet of the thirteenth century), which was printed at Lyons in 1558. Darius is the person addressed: Quo tendis inertem. Rex periture, fugam? nescis, heu! perdite, nescis Quern fugias: hostes irwurris dumjugis hostem; Incidis in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim. A line not less frequently quoted was suggested for inquiry in a note on The Rape oj Lucrece: Solamen miseris

soctos habuisse doloris

But the author of this verse has not, discovered. [M.]

:

I believe,

been

BOSWELL

502

He said, "A man should pass a part of his time by which means any thing rihim might be presented to his view, and corrected." I observed, he must have been a bold laugher who would have ventured to tell Dr. Johnson of any of his with

the laughers,

diculous or particular about

particularities.^

Having observed the vain ostentatious importance of

many people

in quoting the author-

Dukes and Lords, as having been in their company, he said, he \vent to the other extreme, and did not mention his authority when he should have done it, had it not been that of a Duke or ity of

[1783

blackguard boy, by Mr. Saunders Welch, the late Westminster Justice. Welch, who imagined that he was exalting himself in Dr. Johnson's eyes by using big words, spoke in ination of a

a manner that was utterly unintelligble to the boy; Dr. Johnson perceiving it, addressed himself to the boy, and changed the pompous phraseology into colloquial language. Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was much amused by this procedure, which seemed a kind of reversing of what might have been expected from the two men, took notice of it to Dr. Johnson, as they walked away by themselves. Johnson said, that it was continually

a Lord.

the case;

Dr. Goldsmith said once to Dr. Johnson, that he wished for some additional members to The Literary Club, to give it an agreeable variety; for (said he,) there can now be nothing new among us: we have travelled over one another's

late

minds. Johnson seemed a little angry, and said, you have not travelled over my mind, I

"Sir,

promise you." Sir Joshua, however, thought Goldsmith right; observing, that "when people hav^e lived a great deal together, they

know what

little

and that he was always obliged to trans-

tht^usxic&'s swelling diction, (smiling,) so as

that his meaning might be understood by the vul-

from whom information was to be obtained. once observed to him, that he had talked above the capacity of some people with whom they had been in company together. "No matter. Sir, (said Johnson;) they consider it as a compliment to be talked to, as if they were wiser than they are. So true is this. Sir, that Baxter made it a rule in every sermon that he preached, to say something that was above the capacity of gar,

Sir Joshua

each of them will say on every subject. A new understanding, therefore, is desirable; because though it may only furnish the same sense upon a question which would have been furnished by those with whom we are accustomed to live, yet this sense will have a different colouring; and colouring is of much effect in every thing else as

Johnson's dexterity in retort, when he seemed an extremity by his adversary, was very remarkable. Of his power in this respect, our common friend, Mr. Windham, of Norfolk, has been pleased to furnish me with an

well as in painting."

eminent instance. However unfavourable

he made it a constant rule to talk as well as he could both as to sentiment and expression, by which means, what had

Scotland, he uniformly gave liberal praise to George Buchanan, as a writer. In a conversation concerning the literary merits of the two countries, in which Buchanan was introduced, a Scotchman, imagining that on this ground he should have an undoubted triumph over him, exclaimed, "Ah, Dr. Johnson, what would you have said of Buchanan, had he been an Englishman?" "Why, Sir, (said Johnson, after a little pause,) I should not have said of Buchanan, had he been an Englishman, what I will now say of him as a Scotchman, that he was the only man of genius his country ever produced." And this brings to my recollection another

Johnson used

to say that

'.een originally effort

became familiar and

The consequence

this. Sir

was, that his

of

common

panies was such as to secure tention, as style

easy.

Joshua observed, conversation in all com-

him

universal at-

something above the usual colloquial

was expected.

Yet, though Johnson

had this habit in company, when another mode was necessary, in order to investigate truth, he could descend to a language intelligible to the meanest capacity. An instance of this was witnessed by Sir Joshua Reynolds, when they were present at an exam-

his audience."^

to be driven to

—

instance of the

him ^I am happy, however, to mention a pleasing instance of his enduring with great gentleness to hear one of his most striking particularities pointed out: Miss Hunter, a niece of his friend Christopher Smart, when a very young girl, struck by his extraordinary motions, said to him, "Pray, Dr. Johnson, why do you make such strange gestures?" "From bad habit," he replied. "Do you, my dear, take care to guard against bad habits." This I was told by the young lady's brother at Margate.

—

to

same nature.

I

once reminded

when Dr. Adam Smith was expatiating beauty of Glasgow, he had cut him short

that

on the by saying, "Pray,

Sir,

have you ever seen Brent-

remark is confirmed by the following story, for which I am indebted to Lord Eliot: A country parson, who was remarkable for ^The justness of

this

—

his sermons, having died, was asked how he liked his preacher," was his very good a

quoting scraps of Latin in

one of

his parishioners

successor.

"He

is

answer, "but no

latiner.'"

LIFE OF

1783] ford?" and

took the liberty to add,

I

"My

dear

that was shocking.'''' "Why, then, Sir, (he replied,) you have never seen Brentford." Though his usual phrase for conversation was talk, yet he made a distinction; for when he once told me that he dined the day before at a friend's house, with "a very pretty company"; and I asked him if there was good conversation, he anSir, surely

we had talk enough, but no was nothing discussed." Talking of the success of the Scotch in London, he imputed it in a considerable degree to their spirit of nationality. "You know. Sir, (said he,) that no Scotchman publishes a book, or has a play brought upon the stage, but there are five hundred people ready to applaud him." swered, "No, Sir;

conversation; there

He gave much praise to his friend Dr. Burney's and entertaining Seward that he had them elegant

ing his Journey

to the

travels,

and

in his eye,

told

when

Mr. writ-

Western Islands of Scotland.

Such was his sensibility, and so much was he by pathetick poetry, that, when he was

affected

reading Dr. Beattie's Hermit in my presence, it brought tears into his eyes. He disapproved much of mingling real facts with fiction. On this account he censured a book entitled Love and Madness. Mr. Hoole told him, he was born in Moorfields, and had received part of his early instruction in Grub-street. "Sir, (said Johnson, smiling,) you have been regularly educated." Having asked who was his instructor, and Mr. Hoole having answered, "My uncle. Sir, who was a taylor"; Johnson, recollecting himself, said, "Sir, I knew him; v/e called him the metaphysical taylor. He was of a club in Old-street, with me and George Psalmanazar, and some others: but pray, Sir, was he a good taylor?" Mr. Hoole having answered that he believed he was too mathematical, and used to draw squares and triangles on his shop-board, so that he did not excel in the cut of a coat; "I am sorry for it (said Johnson,) for I would have every man to be master of his

—

own

business."

In pleasant reference to himself and Mr. Hoole, as brother authours, he often said, "Let you and I, Sir, go together, and eat a beef-steak in Grub-street." Sir William Chambers, that great Architect,^ whose works shew a sublimity of genius, and who

^The Honourable Horace Walpole, late Earl of Orford, thus bears testimony to this gentleman's merit as a writer: "Mr. Chambers's Treatise on Civil Architecture is the most sensible book, and the most exempt from prejudices, that ever was writPreface to Anecdotes oj Paintten on that science."

—

—

ing in England.

JOHNSON is

esteemed by

503 all

who know him

for his social,

and generous qualities, submitted the manuscript of his Chinese Architecture to Dr. Johnson's perusal. Johnson was much pleased with it, and said, "It wants no addition nor correction, but a few lines of introduction" which he furnished, and Sir William adopted.^ He said to Sir William Scott, "The age is running mad after innovation; all the business of the world is to be done in a new way; men are to be hanged in a new way; Tyburn itself is not safe from the fury of innovation." It having been argued that this was an improvement, "No, Sir, (said he, eagerly,) it is not an improvement: hospitable,

;

—

they object that the old method drew together a number of spectators. Sir, executions are intended to draw spectators. If they do not draw spectators they don't answer their purpose. The

method was most satisfactory to all parties; was gi'atified by a procession; the criminal was supported by it. Why is all this to be swept away?" I perfectly agree with Dr. Johnson upon this head, and am persuaded that exeold

the publick

cutions now, the solemn procession being discontinued, have not nearly the effect which they formerly had. Magistrates both in London, and elsewhere, have, I am afraid, in this had too much regard to their own ease. Of Dr. Hurd, Bishop of Worcester, Johnson

"Hurd, Sii', is one of a set of account for every thing systematicalfor instance, it has been a fashion to wear

said to a friend,

men who ly;

men would tell you, that according to causes and effects, no other wear could at that time have been chosen." He, however, said of him at another time to the same gentleman, "Hurd, Sir, is a man whose acquaintance is a valuable acquisition." That learned and ingenious Prelate, it is well known, published at one period of his life Moral and Political Dialogues, with a woefully whiggish scarlet breeches; these

—

^The introductory lines are these: "It is difficult to avoid praising too little or too much. The boundless panegyricks which have been lavished upon the Chinese learning, policy, and arts, shew Vkdth what power novelty attracts regard, and how naturally esteem swells into admiration. I am far from desiring to be numbered among the exaggerators of Chinese excellence. I consider them as great, or wise, only in comparison with the nations that surround them; and have no intention to place them in competition either with the ancients or with the moderns of this part of the world; yet they must be allowed to claim our notice as a distinct and very singular race of men: as the inhabitants of a region divided by its situation from all civilized countries, who have formed their own manners, and invented their own arts, without the assistance of example."

—

—

BOSWELL

504 cast.

Afterwards, his Lordship having thought

came

and repubhshed more constitutional spirit. Johnson, however, was unwilling to allow him full credit for his political conversion. I remember when his Lordship declined the honour of being better,

to see his errour,

the work with a

Archbishop of Canterbury, Johnson said, "I am glad he did not go to Lambeth; for, after all, I fear he is a Whig in his heart." Johnson's attention to precision and clearness in expression was very remarkable. He disapproved of parentheses; and I believe in all his voluminous writings, not half a dozen of them will be found. He never used the phrases the former and the latter, having observed, that they often occasioned obscurity; he therefore contrived to construct his sentences so as not to have occasion for them, and would even rather repeat the same words, in order to avoid them. Nothing is more common than to mistake surnames when we hear them carelessly uttered for the first time. To prevent this, he used not only to pronounce them slowly and distinctly, but to take the trouble of spelling them; a practice which I have often followed; and which I wish were general.

Such was the heat and

irritability of his blood,

that not only did he pare his nails to the quick;

but scraped the joints of his fingers with a pentill they seemed quite red and raw. The heterogeneous composition of human nature was remarkably exemplified in Johnson. His liberality in giving his money to persons in distress was extraordinary. Yet there lurked about him a propensity to paultry saving. One day I owned to him that "I was occasionally troubled with a fit oi narrowness y "Why, Sir, (said he,) so am L But I do not tell it." He has now and then borrowed a shilling of me; and when I asked for it aga-in, seemed to be rather out of humour. A droll little circumstance once occurred: as if he meant to reprimand my minute exactness as a creditor, he thus addressed me; "Boswell, lend me sixpence not to be repaid." This great man's attention to small things was very remarkable. As an instance of it, he one knife,

—

day said to me, "Sir, when you get silver in change it; you may find some curious piece of coin." Though a stern true-born Englishman, and fully prejudiced against all other nations, he had discernment enough to see, and candour enough

for a guinea, look carefully at

to censure, the cold reserve too

common among

Englishmen towards strangers: "Sir, (said he,) two men of any other nation who are shewn into a room together, at a house where they are both visitors, will immediately find some con-

[1783

But two Englishmen will probably go each to a difl'erent window, and remain in obstinate silence. Sir, we as yet do not enough understand the common rights of humanity." Johnson was at a certain period of his life a good deal with the Earl of Shelburne, now Marquis of Lansdown, as he doubtless could not but have a due value for that nobleman's activity of mind, and uncommon acquisitions of important knowledge, however much he might disapprove of other parts of his Lordship's character, which were widely different from his own. Maurice Morgann, Esq., authour of the very versation.

the character of Falstaff,^ being a particular friend of his Lordship, had once an opportunity of entertaining Johnson for a day

ingenious Essay on

or two at

Wickham, when

and by him

I

its Lord was absent, have been favoured with two anec-

dotes.

One is not a little to the credit of Johnson's candour. Mr. Morgann and he had a dispute pretty late at night, in which Johnson would not give up, though he had the wrong side, and in short, both kept the field. Next morning, when they met in the breakfasting-room. Dr. Johnson accosted Mr. Morgann thus: "Sir, I have been thinking on our dispute last night Tou were in

—

the right."

—

The other was as follows: ^Johnson, for sport perhaps, or from the spirit of contradiction, eagerly maintained that Derrick had merit as a Mr. Morgann argued with him directly, At length he had recourse to this device. "Pray, Sir, (said he,) whether do you reckon Derrick or Smart the best poet?" Johnson at once felt himself roused; and answered, "Sir, there is no settling the point of precedency between a louse and a flea." Once, when checking my boasting too frequently of myself in company, he said to me, "Boswell, you often vaunt so much, as to prowriter.

in vain.

voke

ridicule.

was standing

You put me in mind in the kitchen of

of a

man who

an inn with

his

and thus accosted the person next him, 'Do you know, Sir, who I am?' 'No, Sir, (said the other,) I have not that advantage.' back

to the fire,

am the great Twalmley, who New Flood-gate Iron.' "^ The Bishop of Killaloe, on my repeating the story to him, 'Sir, (said he,) I

invented the

ijohnson being asked his opinion of this Essay, answered, "Why, Sir, we shall have the man come forth again; and as he has proved Falstaff to be no coward, he may prove lago to be a very good character." ^What the great Twalmley was so proud of having invented, was neither more nor less than a kind of box-iron for smoothing linen.

.

—

'

LIFE OF

1783]

defended Twalmley, by observing, that he was entitled to the epithet oi great; for Virgil in his

groupe of worthies in the Elysian

fields

Hie manus ob patriam pugnando vulnera passi, &c.

mentions Inventas aut qui vitam excoliiere per artes.

He was pleased to say to me one morning when we were left alone in his study, I

"Boswell,

I

think

am easier with you than with almost any body. He would not allow Mr. David Hume any '

credit for his political principles, to his

own; saying of him,

"Sir,

though similar he was a Tory

by chance." His acute observation of human life made him remark, "Sir, there is nothing by which a man exasperates most people more, than by displaying a superiour ability or brilliancy in conversation. They seem pleased at the time; but their

envy makes them curse him in their hearts." My readers will probably be surprised to hear that the great Dr. Johnson could amuse himself with so slight and playful a species of composition as a Charade. I have recovered one which he made on Dr. Barnard, now Lord Bishop of Killaloe; who has been pleased for many years

me

much

intimacy and social ease, that I may presume to call him not only my Right Reverend, but my very dear Friend. I therefore with peculiar pleasure give to the world a just and elegant compliment thus paid to his Lordship by Johnson. to treat

with so

Charade

My first^ shuts out thievesfrom your house or your room. My second^ expresses a Syrian perfume My whole is a man in whose converse is shared, ^

The strength of a Bar and the sweetness of Nard.

!

JOHNSON

genius, a literary fame, various, elegant

with the assistance of his tutor, who is professedly the authour of a treatise annexed, on the Phcenician language. Mr. Cambridge commended the work, particularly as he thought the Translator understood his authour better than is commonly the case with Translators: but said, he was disappointed in the purpose for which he borrowed the book; to see whether a Spaniard could be better furnished with inscriptions from monuments, coins, or other antiquities which he might more probably find on a coast, so immediately opposite to Carthage, than the Antiquaries of any other ifiar.

2Nard. ^Barnard.

and

still

increasing, colloquial talents rarely to be found,

and with

all

means of happiness, enjoying, years, health and vigour and animation of mind, do not

these

when well advanced in of body, serenity entitle to

whom,

be addressed /or/wna^f senex!

I

know not

any age, that expression could with propriety have been used. Long may he live to hear and to feel it Johnson's love of little children, which he discovered upon all occasions, calling them "pretty dears," and giving them sweetmeats, was an undoubted proof of the real humanity and gentleto

in

ness of his disposition.

His

Johnson asked Richard Owen Cambridge, Esq., if he had read the Spanish translation of Sallust, said to be written by a Prince of Spain,

505

Johnson. "I am very sorry you was not gratified in your expectations." Cambridge. "The language would have been of little use, as there is no history existing in that tongue to balance the partial accounts which the Roman writers have left us." Johnson. "No, Sir. They have not been partial, they have told their own story, without shame or regard to equitable treatment of their injured enemy; they had no compunction, no feeling for a Carthaginian. Why, Sir, they would never have borne Virgil's description of /Eneas's treatment of Dido, if she had not been a Carthaginian." I gratefully acknowledge this and other communications from Mr. Cambridge, whom, if a beautiful villa on the banks of the Thames, a few miles distant from London, a numerous and excellent library, which he accurately knows and reads, a choice collection of pictures, which he understands and relishes, an easy fortune, an amiable family, an extensive circle of friends and acquaintance, distinguished by rank, fashion and countries.

uncommon

kindness to his servants, and

serious concern, not only for their comfort in this

world, but their happiness in the next, was another unquestionable evidence of what all, who were intimately acquainted with him, knew to

be

true.

Nor would

it

be just, under

this

head, to omit

the fondness which he shewed for animals which

he had taken under

his protection. I

forget the indulgence with

never shall

which he treated

Hodge, his cat: for whom he himself used to go out and buy oysters, lest the servants having that trouble should take a dislike to the poor creature. I am, unluckily, one of those who have an antipathy to a cat, so that I am uneasy when in the room with one; and I own, I frequently suffered a good deal from the presence of this same Hodge. I recollect him one day scrambling up Dr. Johnson's breast, apparently with much satismy friend smiling and half-whis-

faction, while

BOSWELL

5o6

rubbed down his back, and pulled him by the tail; and when I observed he was a fine cat, saying, "Why yes, Sir, but I have had cats whom I liked better than this"; and then as if perceiving Hodge to be out of countenance, adding, "but he is a very fine cat, a very fine cat indeed." This reminds me of the ludicrous account which he gave Mr. Langton, of the despicable state of ayoung Gentleman of good family. "Sir, when I heard of him last, he was running about town shooting cats." And then in a sort of kindly reverie, he bethought himself of his own favourite cat, and said, "But Hodge shan't be shot; tling,

no, no,

Hodge

shall not be shot."

He thought Mr. Beauclerk made a shrewd and judiciousremarktoMr. Langton, who, after having been for the first time in company with a well-known wit about town, was warmly admiring and praising him, "See him again," said Beauclerk.

His respect for the Hierarchy, and particularChurch, has been more than once exhibited in the course of this work. Mr. Seward saw him presented to the Arch-bishop of York, and described his Bow to an ArchBishop, as such a studied elaboration of homage, such an extension of limb, such a flexion of body, as have seldom or ever been equalled. I cannot help mentioning with much regret, that by my own negligence I lost an opportunity of having the history of my family from its founder Thomas Boswell, in 1 504, recorded and illustrated by Johnson's pen. Such was his goodly the Dignitaries of the

me, that when I presumed to solicit him he ^vas pleased to say, "Let me have all the materials you can collect, and I will do it both in Latin and English; then let it ness to

for so great a favour,

be printed and copies of it be deposited in various places for security and preservation." I can now only do the best I can to make up for this loss, keeping my great Master steadily in view.

Family

histories, like the imagines majorum of the Ancients, excite to virtue; and I wish that they

who

have blood, would be more careful and ascertain its course. Some have affected to laugh at the history of the house of Yvery: it would be well if many others would really

to trace

transmit their pedigrees to posterity, with the

same accuracy and generous zeal with which the Noble Lord who compiled that work has honoured and perpetuated his ancestry.

On Thursday,

April

i

o, I

introduced to him,

Honourable and Reverend William Stuart, son of the Earl of Bute; a gentleman truly worthy of being known at his house in Bolt-court, the

to

Johnson; being, with

all

the advantages of

[1783

high birth, learning, travel, and elegant manners, an exemplary parish priest in every respect. After some compliments on both sides, the I had made to the Hebwas mentioned. Johnson. "I got an acquisition of more ideas by it than by any thing that I remember. I saw quite a different system of life." Boswell. "You would not like to make the same journey again?" Johnson. "Why no, Sir; not the same: it is a tale told. Gravina, an

tour which Johnson and

rides

Italian critick, observes, that every

man

desires

he has read; but no man desires to read an account of what he has seen: so much does description fall short of reality. Desto see that of which

cription only excites curiosity: seeing satisfies

it.

Other people may go and see the Hebrides." Boswell. "I should wish to go and see some country totally different from what I have been used to; such as Turkey, where religion and every thing else are different." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; there are two objects of curiosity, the Christian world, and the Mahometan world. All the rest may be considered as barbarous." Boswell. "Pray, Sir, is the Turkish Spy a geniune book?" Johnson. "No, Sir. Mrs. Manley, in her Lije, says that her father wrote the first two volumes: and in an-

—

other book, Dunton's Life and Errours, we find that the rest was written by one Sault, at two

guineas a sheet, under the direction of Dr. Midgeley."^

Boswell. "This has been a very factious reign, owing to the too great indulgence of Government." Johnson. "/ think so, Sir. What at first was lenity, grew timidity. Yet this is reasoning a posteriori, and may not be just. Supposing a few had at first been punished, I believe faction would have been crushed; but it might have been said, that it was a sanguinary reign. A man cannot tell ^hat he has is rather the contrary; I will, indeed, allow him courage, and on this account we so far

was

him

We

have more respect for a than for a fellow who jumps out of a ditch, and knocks you down behind your back. Courage is a quality so necessary for maintaining virtue, that it is always respected, even when it is associated with give

credit.

man who robs boldly on the highway,

vice." I

censured the coarse invectives which were

become fashionable in the House of Commons, and said that if members of parliament must attack each other personally in the heat of debate,

should be done more genteely. Johnson. "No, would be much worse. Abuse is not so dangerous when there is no vehicle of wit or delicacy, no subtle conveyance. The difference between coarse and refined abuse is as the difference between being bruised by a club, and it

Sir; that

I

When

am willing

I

to be-

Dr. Adams. "You have evidence enough; good evidence, which needs not such support." Johnson. "I like to have more." Mr. Henderson, with whom I had sauntered in the venerable walks of Merton College, and found him a very learned and pious man, supped with us. Dr. Johnson surprised him not a little, by acknowledging with a look of horrour, that he was much oppressed by the fear of death. The amiable Dr. Adams suggested that God was infinitely good. Johnson. "That he is infinitely lieve

it."

good, as far as the perfection of his nature will allow, I certainly believe; but it is necessary for good upon the whole, that individuals should be punished. As to an individual, therefore, he is not infinitely

have

good; and as

fulfilled the

I

cannot be

sure that I

conditions on which salvation

shall

I am afraid I may be one of those who be damned," (looking dismally). Dr. Ad-

ams.

"What do you mean by damned?" John-

is

granted,

son, (passionately Sir,

and punished

and

loudly,) "Sent to Hell,

everlastingly!"

Dr. Adams.

"I don't believe that doctrine." Johnson. "Hold, Sir, do you believe that some will be punished at all?" Dr. Adams. "Being excluded from Heaven will be a punishment; yet there may be no great positive suffering." Johnson. "Well, Sir; but, if you admit anydegree of punishment, there is an end of your argument for infinite good^See an account of him, in a sermon by the Reverend Mr. Agutter.

BOSWELL

540

ness simply considered; for, infinite goodness

would

inflict

no punishment whatever. There

[1784

to lead over again the life

ienced.

Johnson acceded to that opinion in the is an inquiry often made;

not infinite goodness physically considered; morally there is." Boswell. "But may not a man attain to such a degree of hope as not to be un-

strongest terms. This

"A man may have such a degree of hope as to keep him quiet. You see I am not quiet, from the vehe-

for

is

easy from the fear of death?" Johnson.

mence with which I talk; but I do not despair." Mrs. Adams. "You seem. Sir, to forget the merits of our Redeemer." Johnson. "Madam, I do not forget the merits of my Redeemer; but my Redeemer has said that he will set some on his right hand and some on his left." He was in gloomy agitation, and said, "I'll have no more on't." If what has now been stated should be urged by the enemies of Christianity, as if its influence on the mind were not benignant, let it be remembered, that Johnson's temperament was melancholy, of which such direful apprehensions of futurity are often a

common

effect.

We

shall

when he approached nearer mind became tranquil, as much fortitude as becomes

presently see that

to his aweful change, his

and he exhibited

a thinking man in that situation. From the subject of death we passed to discourse of life, whether it was upon the whole more happy or miserable. Johnson was decidedly for the balance of misery:^ in confirmation of which I maintained, that no man would choose

^The Reverend Mr. Ralph Churton, Fellow of Brazen-Nose College, Oxford, has favoured me with the following remarks on my Work, which he is pleased to say. "I have hitherto extolled, and cordially approve." "The chief part of what I have to observe is contained in the following transcript from a letter to a friend, which, with his concurrence, I copied for this purpose; and, whatever may be the merit or justness of the remarks, you may be sure that being written to a most intimate friend, without any intention that they ever should go further, they are the genuine and undisguised sentiments of the

and

its

being a subject of disquisition

'Jan. 6, 1792.

'Last week, I was reading the second volume of Boswell's Johnson, with increasing esteem for the worthy authour, and increasing veneration of the wonderful and excellent man who is the subject of it. The writer throws in, now and then, very properly some serious religious reflections; but there is one remark, in my mind an obvious and just one, which I think he has not made, that Johnson's "morbid melancholy," and constitutional infirmities, were intended by Providence, like St. Paul's thorn in the flesh, to check intellectual conceit and arrogance; which the consciousness of his extraordinary talents, awake as he was to the voice of praise, might otherwise have generated in a very culpable degree. Another observation strikes me, that in consequence of the same natural indisposition, and habitual sickliness, (for he says he scarce-

is

a proof

much misery presses upon human feelings; those who are conscious of a felicity of exist-

that

would never hesitate to accept of a repehave met with very few who would. I have heard Mr. Burke make use of a very ingenious and plausible argument on this subject; "Every man (said he,) would lead his life over again; for, every man is willing to go on and

ence,

tition of it. I

—

take an addition to his

life, which, as he grows he has no reason to think will be better, or even so good as what has preceded." I imagine, however, the truth is, that there is a deceitful hope that the next part of life will be free

older,

from the pains, and anxieties, and sorrows, which one day without pain after his twentieth year,) he considered and represented human life, as a scene of much greater misery than is generally ly passed

experienced. There may be persons bowed down with affliction all their days; and there are those, no doubt, whose iniquities rob them of rest; but neither calamities nor crimes, I hope and believe, do so much and so generally abound, as to justify the dark picture of life which Johnson's imagination designed, and his strong pencil delineated. This I am sure, the colouring is far too gloomy for what I have experienced, though as far as I can remember, I have had more sickness (I do not say more severe, but only more in quantity,) than falls to the lot of most people. But then daily debility and occasional sickness were far overbalanced by intervenient days, and, perhaps, weeks void of pain, and overflowing with comfort. So that in short, to return to the subject, human life, as far as I can perceive from experience or observation, is not that state of constant wretchedness which Johnson always insisted it was; which misrepresentation, (for such it surely is,) his Biographer has not corrected, I suppose, because, unhappily, he has himself a large portion of melancholy in his constitution, and fancied the portrait a faithful copy of " life.'

The learned

writer:

which he had exper-

writer then proceeds thus in his let-

me: "I have conversed with some sensible men on this subject, who all seem to entertain the same sentiments respecting life with those which are exter to

pressed or implied in the foregoing paragraph. It might be added that as the representation here spoken of, appears not consistent with fact and experience, so neither does it seem to be countenanced by Scripture. There is, perhaps, no part of the sacred volume which at first sight promises so much to lend its sanction to these dark and desponding notions as the book of Ecclesiastes, which so often, and so emphatically, proclaims the vanity of things sublunary. But the design of this whole book, (as it has been justly observed,) is not to put us out of conceit with life, but to cure our vain expectations of a compleat and perfect happiness in this world; to convince us, that there is no such thing to be

LIFE OF

1784]

we have

already

felt.

We

are for wise purposes

"Condemn'd to Hope's delusive mine"

;

as John-

son finely says; and I may also quote the celebrated lines of Dryden, equally philosophical

and

poetical:

When I consider life,

'tis all

a cheat,

YetjooVd with hope, menfavour the deceit: Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay; To-m.orrow' s falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says we shall be blest With some new joys, cuts off what we possesst. Strange cozenage/ none would live pastyears again; Yet all hope pleasure in what yet remain;

Andfrom the dregs of life think to receive. What the first sprightly running could not give.^ It

was observed

strange that he,

to Dr. Johnson, that

who

it

seemed

has so often delighted his

^Aurengzebe, act iv, so.

—

—

Providence, p. 299.

indeed, and most truly, that 'sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof; and, therefore, wisely forbids us to increase our burden by forebodings of sorrows; but I think it no where says that even our ordinary afflictions are not consistent with a very considerable degree of positive comfort and satisfaction. And, accordingly, one whose sufferings as well as merits were conspicuous, assures us, that in proportion 'as the sufferings of Christ abounded in them, so their consolation also abounded by Christ.' 2 Cor. i. 5. It is needless to cite, as indeed it would be endless even to refer to, the multitude of passages in both Testaments holding out, in the strongest language, promises of blessings, even in this world, to the faithful servants of God. I will only refer to Luke, 18. 29,

and

I

Tim.

tells us,

4. 8.

"Upon the whole, setting aside instances of great and

his lively and brilliant conversashould say he v/as miserable. Johnson. "Alas! it is all outside; I may be cracking my joke, and cursing the sun. Sun, how I hate thy beams!'''' I knew not well what to think of this declaration; whether to hold it as a genuine picture of his mind,2 or as the effect of his persuading himself contrary to fact, that the position which he had assumed as to human unhappiness, was true. We may apply to him a sentence in Mr. Greville's Maxims, Characters, and Reflections-^ a book which is entitled to much more praise than it has received: "Aristarchus is charming: how ^Yet there is no doubt that a man may appear very gay in company who is sad at heart. His merriment is like the sound of drums and trumpets in a battle, to drown the groans of the wounded and tion,

dying.

sPage 139.

and to teach in mere external enjoyments; us to seek for happiness in the practice of virtue, in the knowledge and love of God and in the hopes of a better life. For this is the application of ail; Let us hear, &c. 12. 13. Not only his duty, but his happiSee Sherlock on ness too; For God, &c. 12. 14

30,

company by

i.

found

"The New Testament

JOHNSON

lasting bodily pain, of minds peculiarly oppressed by melancholy, and of severe temporal calan^ities, from which extraordinary cases we surely should not form our estimate of the general tenour and complexion of life; excluding these from the account, I am convinced that as well the gracious constitution of things which Providence has ordained, as the declarations of Scripture and the actual experience of individuals, authorize the sincere christian to hope that his humble and constant endeavours to perform his duty, checquered as the best life is with many failings, will be crowned with a greater degree of present peace, serenity, and comfort, than he could reasonably permit himself to expect, if he measured his views and judged of life from the opinion of Dr. Johnson, often and energetically expressed in the Memoirs of him, without any animadversion or censure by his ingenious Biographer. If he himself, upon reviewing the subject, shall see the raatter in this light, he will, in an octavo edition, which is eagerly expect-

make such

additional remarks or correction as the impressions which these discouraging passages may leave on the reader's mind, should in any degree hinder what otherwise the whole spirit and energy of the work tends, and, I hope, successfully, to promote, pure morality and true religion." Though I have, in some degree, obviated any reflections against my illustrious friend's dark views of life, when considering, in the course of this Work, his Rambler [ante, p. 58] and his Rasselas [ante, p. 95], I am obliged to Mr. Churton for complying with my request of his permission to insert his Remarks, being conscious of the weight of what he judiciously suggests as to the melancholy in my own constitution. His more pleasing views of life, I hope, are just. Valeant quantum valere possunt. Mr. Churton concludes his letter to me in these words: "Once, and only once, I had the satisfaction of seeing your illustrious friend; and as I feel a particular regard for ail whom he distinguished with his esteem and friendship, so I derive much pleasure from reflecting that I once beheld, though but transiently near our College gate, one whose works will for ever delight and improve the world, who was a sincere and zealous son of the Church of England, an honour to his country, and an ornament to human nature." His letter was accompanied with a present from himself of his Sermons at the Bamptom Lecture, and from his friend, Dr. Townson, the venerable Rector of Malpas, in Cheshire, of his Discourses on the Gospels, together with the following extract of a letter from that excellent person, who is now gone to receive the rev/ard of his labours: "Mr. Boswell is not only very entertaining in his works, but they are so replete with moral and religious sentiments, without an instance, as far as I know, of a contrary tendency, that I cannot help having a great esteem for him; and if you think such a trifle as a copy of the Discourses, ex dono authoris, would be acceptable to him, I should be happy to give him this small testimony of my regard." Such spontaneous testimonies of approbation from such men, without any personal acquaintance with me, are truly valuable and encouraging. ed,

he

shall

judge

fit; lest

—

—

—

—

BOSWELL

542 full

of knowledge, of sense, of sentiment.

You

get him with difficulty to your supper; and after having delighted every body and himself for a few hours, he is obliged to return home; he is finishing his treatise, to prove that unhappiness

—

is

the portion of

man."

On

Sunday, June 13, our philosopher was calm at breakfast. There was something exceedingly pleasing in our leading a College life, without restraint, and with superiour elegance, in consequence of our living in the Master's house, and having the company of ladies. Mrs. Kennicot related, in his presence, a lively saying of

Dr. Johnson to Miss Hannah More, who had expressed a wonder that the poet who had written Paradise Lost should write such poor Son"Milton, Madam, was a genius that could nets: cut a Colossus from a rock; but could not carve heads upon cherry-stones." We talked of the casuistical question. Whether it was allowable at any time to depart from TVm^/z.'' Johnson. "The general rule is, that Truth should never be violated, because it is of the utmost importance to the comfort of life, that we should have a full security by mutual faith; and occasional inconveniences should be willingly

—

suffered that

we may

preserve

it.

There must,

however, be some exceptions. If, for instance, a murderer should ask you which way a man is gone, you may tell him what is not true, because you are under a previous obligation not to betray a man to a murderer." Boswell. "Supposing the person who wrote Junius were asked whether he was the authour, might he deny it?" Johnson. "I don't know what to say to this. If you were sure that he wrote Junius, would you, if he denied it, think as well of him afterwards? Yet it may be urged, that what a man has no

you may refuse to communicate; no other effectual mode of preserving a secret and an important secret, the discovery of which may be very hurtful to you, but a flat denial; for if you are silent, or hesitate, or right to ask,

and there

is

be held equivalent to a confession. here is another case. Supposing the authour had told me confidentially that he had written Junius, and I were asked if he had, I should hold myself at liberty to deny it, as being under a previous promise, express or implied, to conceal it. Now what I ought to do for the authour, may I not do for myself? But I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man for fear of alarming him. You have no business with consequences; you are to tell the truth. Besides, you are not sure what effect your telling him that he is in danger may have. It may bring his evade,

But

—

it

will

stay. Sir;

[1784

distemper to a crisis, and that may cure him. Of all lying, I have the greatest abhorrence of this, because I believe it has been frequently practised

on myself."

cannot help thinking that there is much v/eight in the opinion of those who have held, that Truth, as an eternal and immutable principle, ought, upon no account whatever, to be violated, from supposed previous or superiour obligations, of which every man being to judge for himself, there is great danger that we too often, from partial motives, persuade ourselves that they exist; and probably whatever extraordinary instances may sometimes occur, where some evil may be prevented by violating this noble principle, it would be found that human happiness would, upon the whole, be more perfect were Truth universally preserved. In the notes to the Dunciad, we find the following verses, addressed to Pope:^ I

While malice. Pope, denies thy page Its

own

celestialfire;

While criticks, and while bards Admiring, won't admire:

in rage.

While wayward pens thy worth

assail.

And envious tongues decry; These times, though many a friend bewail. These times bewail not I.

But when

the world's loud praise is thine.

And spleen no more shall blame; When with thy Homer thou shall shine In one establish' dfame/

When none shall rail, and every lay Devote a wreath

That day (for come Shall I lament

to thee: it

will)

tliat

day

to see.

It is surely not a little remarkable, that they should appear without a name. Miss Seward, knowing Dr. Johnson's almost universal and minute literary information, signified a desire that I should ask him who was the authour. He was prompt with his answer: "Why, Sir, they were written by one Lewis, who was either undermaster or an usher of Westminster-school, and published a Miscellany, in which Grongar Hill first came out. "^Johnson praised them highly,

^The annotator calls them "amiable verses." ^Lewis's Verses addressed to Pope were first published in a Collection of Pieces on occasion of The Dunciad, 8vo., 1 732. They do not appear in Lewis's own Miscellany, printed in 1726. Grongar Hill was first printed in Savage's Miscellanies as an Ode, and was reprinted in the same year in Lewis's Miscellany, in the form it now bears. In his Miscellanies, 1726, the beautiful poem, "Away, let nought to love displeasing," reprinted in Percy's Reliques, vol. i, book iii, No. 13, first

—

appeared. [M.]

—

'

LIFE OF

1784]

and repeated them with a noble animation. In the twelfth line, instead of 'one establish'd fame,

'

'

he repeated "one unclouded flame," which he thought was the reading in former editions: but I believe was a flash of his own genius. It is much more poetical than the other. On Monday, June 14, and Tuesday, 15, Dr. Johnson and I dined, on one of them, I forget which, with Mr. Mickle, translator of the Lusiad, at Wheatley, a very pretty country place a few miles from Oxford; and on the other with Dr. Wetherell, Master of University College. From Dr. Wetherell's he went to visit Mr. Sackville Parker, the bookseller; and when he returned to us, gave the following account of his visit, saying, "I have been to see my old friend. Sack. Parker; I find he has married his maid; he has done right. She had lived with him many years in great confidence, and they had mingled minds; I do not think he could have found any wife that would have made him so happy. The woman was very attentive and civil to me; she pressed me to fix a day for dining with them, and to say what I liked, and she would be sure to get it for me. Poor Sack! He is very ill, indeed. We parted as never to meet again. It has quite broke me down." This pathetic narrative was strangely diversified with the grave and earnest defence of a man's having married his maid. I could not but feel it as in some degree ludicrous.

In the morning of Tuesday, June 15, while sat at Dr. Adams's, we talked of a printed letter from the Reverend Herbert Croft, to a young gentleman who had been his pupil, in which he advised him to read to the end of whatever books he should begin to read. Johnson. "This is surely a strange advice; you may as

we

well resolve that whatever

men you happen

get acquainted with, you are to keep to

A

to

them for

book may be good for nothing; or there be only one thing in it worth knowing; are we to read it all through? These Voyages, (pointing to the three large volumes of Voyages to the South Sea, which were just come out) who will read them through? A man had better work his way before the mast, than read them through; they will be eaten by rats and mice, before they are read through. There can be little entertainment in such books; one set of Savages is like another." Bos well. I do not think the people of Otaheite can be reckoned Savages." Johnson. "Don't cant in defence of Savages." BosWELL. "They have the art of navigation." Johnson. "A dog or a cat can swim." Boswell. "They carve very ingeniously." Johnson. "A life.

may

JOHNSON

543

and a child with a nail can perceived this was none of the mollia

cat can scratch, scratch."

I

tempora fandi; so desisted.

Upon

his

mentioning that when he came to

College he wrote his first exercise twice over; but never did so afterwards; Miss Adams. "I suppose, Sir, you could not make them better?" Johnson. "Yes, Madam, to be sure, I could

make them

better. Thought is better than no thought." Miss Adams. "Do you think, Sir, you could make your Ramblers better?" Johnson. "Certainly I could." Boswell. "I'll lay a bet, Sir, you cannot." Johnson. "But I will. Sir, if I

choose. I shall make the best of them you shall pick out, better." Boswell. "But you may add to them. I will not allow of that." Johnson. "Nay, Sir, there are three ways of making them better; putting out, adding, or correcting."

—

—

During our

visit at

—

Oxford, the following con-

versation passed between subject of

my

trying

him and me on

my fortune

the

at the English

bar: Having asked whether a very extensive acquaintance in London, which was very valuable, and of great advantage to a man at large, might not be prejudicial to a lawyer, by preventing him from giving sufficient attention to his business;

^Johnson. "Sir, you will attend to

business, as business lays hold of you.

When not

you may see your friends as much as you do now. You may dine at a Club every day, and sup with one of the members every night; and you may be as much at publick places as one who has seen them all would wish to be. But you must take care to attend constantactually employed,

Westminster-Hall; both to mind your busalmost all learnt there, (for nobody reads now;) and to shew that you want to have business. And you must not be too often seen at publick places, that competitors may not have it to say, 'He is always at the Playhouse or at Ranelagh, and never to be found at his chambers.' And, Sir, there must be a kind of solemnity in the manner of a professional man. I have nothing particular to say to you on the subject. All this I should say to any one; I should have said it to Lord Thurlow twenty years ago." The Profession may probably think this representation of what is required in a Barrister who would hope for success, to be by much too indulgent; but certain it is, that as ly in

iness, as it is

The wits of Charlesfound easier ways

to fame,

some of the lawyers of this age who have risen high, have by no means thought it absolutely necessary to submit to that long and painful course of study which a Plowden, a Coke, and a Hale considered as requisite.

My

respected friend,

— 544 Mr. Langton, has shewn me

—

BOSWELL in the hand-writ-

ing of his grandfather, a curious account of a conversation which he had with Lord Chief Justice Hale, in which that great man tells him, "That for two years after he came to the inn of court, he studied sixteen hours a day; however

Lordship added) that by this intense application he almost brought himself to his grave, though he were of a very strong constitution, and after reduced himself to eight hours; but that he would not advise any body to so much; that he thought six hours a day, with attention (his

and constancy, was

sufficient; that a

use his body as he would his horse,

ach; not tire

him

man must

and

his

at once, but rise with

stom-

an ap-

petite."

On Wednesday, June 19, Dr. Johnson and I returned to London; he was not well to-day, and said very little, employing himself chiefly in reading Euripides. He expressed some displeasure at me, for not observing sufficiently the various objects upon the road. "If I had your eyes, Sir, (said he,) I should count the passengers." It was wonderful how accurate his observation of visual objects was, notwithstanding his imperfect eyesight, owing to a habit of attention. That he was much satisfied with the respect paid to him at Dr. Adams's is thus attested by himself: "I returned last night from Oxford, after a fortnight's abode with Dr. Adams, who treated me as well as I could expect or wish; and he that contents a sick man, a man whom it is impossible to please, has surely done his part well."^ After his return to London from this excursion, I saw him frequently, but have few memorandums: I shall therefore here insert some particulars which I collected at various times. The Reverend Mr.

Astle, of

Ashbourne, in

Derbyshire, brother to the learned and ingenThomas Astle, Esq., was from his early

the

s

vised

him

s

the Bible.

It having been mentioned to Dr. Johnson that a gentleman who had a son whom he imagined to have an extreme degree of timidity, resolved to send him to a publick school, that he might acquire confidence; "Sir, (said Johnson,) this is a preposterous expedient for removing his infirmity; such a disposition should be cultivated in the shade. Placing him at a publick school is forcing an owl upon day." Speaking of a gentleman whose house was much frequented by low company; "Rags, Sir, (said he,) will always make their appearance where they have a right to do it." Of the same gentleman's mode of living, he said, "Sir, the servants, instead of doing what they are bid, stand round the table in idle clusters, gaping upon the guests; and seem as unfit to attend a company, as to steer a man of war." A dull country magistrate gave Johnson a long tedious account of his exercising his criminal jurisdiction, the result of which was his having sentenced four convicts to transportation. Johnson, in an agony of impatience to get rid of such a companion, exclaimed, "I heartily wish. Sir, that I were a fifth." Johnson was present when a tragedy was read, in which there occurred this line:

—

Who

which a communicate,

he has been pleased to me in Johnson's own hand-writing:

Who

tor,

lies

before

important

s Introduction to History.

s

the

^Letters to

Mrs. Thrale,

s

vol.

ii,

p. 372.

He was pleased with the kindness of Mr. Gawho was joined with him in Mr. Thrale's

which

— Rollings Ancient His— Vertot's History of Knights of Malta. — Vertot's Revolution of Portugal. — Vertot's Revolutions of Sweden. — Carte's History of England. — Present State of England. — Geographical Grammar. — Prideaux's Connection. — Nelson's Feasts and Fasts. — Duty of Man. — Gentleman's Religion. — Clarendon's History. — Watts' Improvement of Mind. — Watts' Logick. — Nature Displayed. — Lowth's English Grammar. — Blackwall — Puffendorf

drivesfat oxen should himself be fat."

list

Universal History {ancient.)

tory.

rules o'er freemen should himself be free.

The company having admired it much, "I cannot agree with you (said Johnson). It might as well be said.

known to Dr. Johnson, who obligingly adhim as to his studies, and recommended to

the following books, of

Society.

the

ious

years

[1784

— Sherlock' s Sermons. — Burnet's Life Church. — Shuckof Hale. — Dupin's History of ford's Connection. — Law's Serious Call. — Walton's Compleat Angler. — Sandys' Travels. — Sprat's His— England's Gazetteer. — tory of Royal Goldsmith' Roman History. — Some Commentaries on on the Classicks.

"There

is

trust,

and thus describes him:^

much good in his character, and much

usefulness in his knowledge."

He found a cordial

solace at that gentleman's seat at in Kent,

which

is

indeed one of the

Beckenham, finest places

which I ever was a guest; and where I find more and more a hospitable welcome. Johnson seldom encouraged general censure of any profession; but he was willing to allow a due share of merit to the various departments at

necessary in civilised life. In a splenetick, sarcastical, or jocular frame, however, he would '^Letters to

Mrs. Thrale,

vol.

ii,

p. 284.

"

LIFE OF

1784]

sometimes utter a pointed saying of that nature. One instance has been mentioned/ where he gave a sudden satirical stroke to the character of an attorney. The too indiscriminate admission to that employment, which requires both abilities

and

flections,

integrity, has given rise to injurious re-

which are

totally inapplicable to

very respectable men utation and honour.

who

exercise

it

many

with rep-

some time with a who had talked in a very puzzling manner, happened to say, "I don't understand you. Sir": upon which Johnson observed, "Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an Johnson having argued

for

pertinacious gentleman; his opponent,

understanding." Talking to me of Horry Walpole, (as Horace late Earl of Orford was often called,) Johnson allowed that he got together a great many culittle things, and told them in an elegant manner. Mr. Walpole thought Johnson a more amiable character after reading his Letters to Mrs. Thrale: but never was one of the true admirers of that great man. We may suppose a prejudice conceived, if he ever heard Johnson's account to Sir George Staunton, that when he

rious

made

the speeches in parliament for the Gentle-

man's Magazine, "he always took care to put Sir Robert Walpole in the wrong, and to say every thing he could against the electorate of over."

The

Han-

celebrated Heroick Epistle, in which

been ascribed both to Mr. Walpole and Mr. Mason. One day at Mr. Courtenay's, when a gentleman

Johnson

is

satyrically introduced, has

expressed his opinion that there was more energy in that poem than could be expected from Mr. Walpole; Mr. Warton, the late Laureat, observed, "It may have been written by W^al-

by Mason." He disapproved of Lord Hailes, for having modernised the language of the ever-memorable John Hales of Eton, in an edition which his Lordpole,

and

buckrarrCd

"An aua characteristical part of his composition, and is also characteristical of the age in which he writes. Besides, Sir, when the language is changed we are not sure that the sense is the same. No, Sir; I am sorry Lord Hailes has done this." Here it may be observed, that his frequent use of the expression. No, Sir, was not always to intimate contradiction; for he would say so, when he was about to enforce an affii'mative proposition which had not been denied, as in the instance last mentioned. I used to consider

JOHNSON it

as a

545

kind of flag of defiance; as

"Any argument you may

if

he had

against

off"er

said,

this, is

not just. No, Sir, it is not." It was like FalstafF's "I deny your Major." Sir Joshua

Reynolds having said that he took

the altitude of a man's taste by his stories

and and of his understanding by the remarks which he repeated; being always sure that he must be a weak man who quotes common things with an emphasis as if they were oracles; Johnson agreed with him; and Sir Joshua having his wit,

also observed that the real character of a

man

—

was found out by his amusements, ^Johnson added, "Yes, Sir; no man is a hypocrite in his pleasures."

have mentioned Johnson's general aversion He once, however, endured one of mine. When we were talking of a numerous company in which he had distinguished himself highly, I said, "Sir, you were a Cod surrounded by smelts. Is not this enough for you? at a time too when you were notfishing for a compliment?" He laughed at this with a complacent approbation. Old Mr. Sheridan observed, upon my mentioning it to him, "He liked your compliment so well, he was willing to take it with pun sauce." For my own part, I think no innocent species of wit or pleasantry should be suppressed; and that a good pun may be admitted among the I

to a pun.

smaller excellencies of lively conversation.

Had Johnson

treated at large

De

Claris Ora-

he might have given us an admirable work. When the Duke of Bedford attacked the ministry as vehemently as he could, for having taken upon them to extend the time for the imtoribus,

portation of corn. Lord Chatham, in his first speech in the House of Lords, boldly avowed

himself to be an adviser of that measure. "My colleagues, (said he,) as I was confined by indisposition, did me the signal honour of coming to the bedside of a sick man, to ask his opinion. But, had they not thus condescended, I should

my

have

ship published of that writer's works.

have

thour's language. Sir, (said he,)

delivered that opinion at the Council-Board.

^See p. 181,

is

taken up

bed and walked, in order to

Mr. Langton, who was to Johnson,

who

present,

mentioned

this

we

see

observed, "Nov/,

Sir,

that he took these words as he found them; with-

out considering, that though the expression in Scripture, take up thy bed and walk, strictly suited the instance of the sick man restored to health and strength, who would of course be supposed to carry his bed with him, it could not be proper in the case of a man who was lying in a state of feebleness, and who certainly would not add to the difficulty of moving at all, that of carrying his bed."

;

BOSWELL

546

When

pointed out to him in the news-paper one of Mr. Grattan's animated and glowing speeches, in favour of the freedom of Ireland, in which this expression occurred (I know not if I

accurately taken): "We will persevere, till there is not one link of the English chain left to clank upon the rags of the meanest beggar in Ireland" "Nay, Sir, (said Johnson,) don't you perceive that one link cannot clank?" Mrs. Thrale has published,^ as Johnson's, a

kind of parody or counterpart of a fine poetical passage in one of Mr. Burke's speeches on American Taxation. It is vigorously but somewhat coarsely executed; and I am inclined to suppose, is not quite correctly exhibited. I hope he did not use the words "vile agents'" for the Americans House of Parliament; and if he did so, in an extempore effusion, I wish the lady had not

in the

committed it to writing. Mr. Burke uniformly shewed Johnson the greatest respect; and when Mr. Townshend, now Lord Sydney, at a period when he was conspicuous in opposition, threw out some reflection in parliament to a

upon the grant

of a pension

man of such political principles as Johnson;

Mr. Burke, though then of the same party with Mr. Townshend, stood warmly forth in defence

whom, he justly observed, the pension \vas granted solely on account of his of his friend, to

eminent literary merit. I am well assured, that Mr. Townshend's attack upon Johnson was the occasion of his "hitching in a rhyme"; for, that in the original copy of Goldsmith's character of Mr. Burke, in his Retaliation, another person's name stood in the couplet where Mr. Townshend is now introduced: Thoughfraught with

To persuade It

all learning kept straining his throat.

Tommy Townshend to lend him a vote.

may be worth remarking, among the minu-

my

Johnson was once drawn to serve in the militia, the Trained Bands of the City of London, and that Mr. Rackstrow, of the Museum in Fleet-street, was his Colonel. ticB

'

of

collection, that

It may be believed he did not serve in person; but the idea, with all its circumstances, is cer-

He upon that occasion provided himself with a musket, and with a s\vord and

tainly laughable.

which

I have seen hanging in his closet. very constant to those whom he once employed, if they gave him no reason to be displeased. When somebody talked of being imposed on in the purchase of tea and sugar, and such articles: "That will not be the case, (said he,) if you go to a stately shop, as I always do. In

belt,

He was

^Anecdotes, p. 43.

[1784

such a shop it is not worth their while to take a petty advantage." An authour of most anxious and resdess vanity being mentioned, "Sir, (said he,) there is not a young sapling upon Parnassus more severely blown about by every wind of criticism than that poor fellow." The difference, he observed, between a wellbred and an ill-bred man is this: "One immediately attracts your liking, the other your aversion. You love the one till you find reason to hate him; you hate the other till you find reason to love him." The wife of one of his acquaintance had fraudulently made a purse for herself out of her husband's fortune. Feeling a proper compunction in her last moments, she confessed how much she had secreted; but before she could tell where it was placed, she was seized with a convulsive fit and expired. Her husband said, he was more hurt by her want of confidence in him, than by the loss of his money. "I told him, (said Johnson,) that he should console himself: for perhaps the money might he found, and he was sure that his wife

was

gone."

A foppish

physician once reminded Johnson company with him on a former occasion; "I do not remember it. Sir." The physician still insisted; adding that he that of his having been in

so fine a coat that it must have attracted his notice. "Sir, (said Johnson,) had you been dipt in Pactolus I should not have noticed you."

day wore

He seemed to take a pleasure in speaking_ in own style; for when he had carelessly missed

his

he would repeat the thought translated into Talking of the Comedy of The Rehearsal, he said, "It has not wit enough to keep it sweet." This was easy; he therefore caught himself, and pronounced a more round sentence; "It has not vitality enough to preserve it from putrefaction He censured a writer of entertaining Travels for assuming a feigned character, saying, (in his sense of the word,) "He carries out one lye; we know not how many he brings back." At another time, talking of the same person, he observed, "Sir, your assent to a man whom you have never known to falsify, is a debt: but after you have known a man to falsify, your assent to him then is a favour." Though he had no taste for painting, he admired much the manner in which Sir Joshua Reynolds treated of his art, in his Discourses to the Royal Academy. He observed one day of a passage in them, "I think I might as well have said this myself": and once when Mr. Langton was sitting by him, he read one of them very eagerit, it.

.

'

— LIFE OF

1784] and expressed himself

ly,

Master Reynolds; very

— "Very thus:

well, indeed.

But

well, it

will

not be understood." When I observed to him that Painting was so far inferiour to Poetry, that the story or even emblem which it communicates must be previously

known, and mentioned

as a natural

and

laughable instance of this, that a little Miss on seeing a picture of Justice with the scales, had exclaimed to me, "See, there's a woman selling sweetmeats"; he said, "Painting, Sir, can illustrate, but cannot inform.." No man was more ready to make an apology when he had censured unjustly, than Johnson. When a proof-sheet of one of his works was brought to him, he found fault with the mode in which a part of it was arranged, refused to read it, and in a passion desired that the compositor^ might be sent to him. The compositor was Mr. Manning, a decent sensible man, who had composed about one half of his Dictionary, when in Mr. Strahan's printing-house; and a great part of his Lives of the Poets, when in that of Mr. Nichols; and who (in his seventy-seventh year), when in Mr. Baldwin's printing-house, composed a part of the first edition of this work concerning him. By producing the manuscript, he at once satisfied Dr. Johnson that he was not to blam.e. Upon which Johnson candidly and earnestly said to him, "Mr. Compositor, I ask your pardon. Mr. Compositor, I ask your pardon, again and again." His generous humanity to the miserable v/as almost beyond example. The following instance

—

well attested: Coming home late one night, he found a poor woman lying in the street, so much exhausted that she could not walk; he took her upon his back, and carried her to his house, where he discovered that she was one of those wretched females who had fallen into the

is

lowest state of vice, poverty,

and

stead of harshly upbraiding her, he

way

547 it

being a real

name

of

an ancient Roman, and clearly expressive of the thing done in this lively conceit. He once in his life \vas known to have uttered what is called a bull: Sir Joshua Reynolds, when they were riding together in Devonshire, complained that he had a very bad horse, for that even when going down hill he moved slowly step by step. "Ay (said Johnson,) and when he goes up hill, he stands still.''' He had a great aversion to gesticulating in company. He called once to a gentleman who offended him in that point, "Don't attitudenise." And when another gentleman thought he was giving additional force to what he uttered, by expressive movements of his hands, Johnson fairly seized them, and held them down. An authour of considerable eminence having engrossed a good share of the conversation in the company of Johnson, and having said nothing but what was trifling and insignificant; Johnson when he was gone, observed to us, "It is wonderful what a difference there sometimes is between a man's powers of wTiting and of talking. ******* writes with great spirit, but is a poor talker; had he held his tongue we might have supposed him to have been restrained by modesty; but he has spoken a great deal to-day; and you have heard what stuff it was." A gentleman having said that a conge d'elire has not, perhaps, the force of a command, but

may

be considered only as a strong recommenwho overheard him,) it is such a recommendation, as if I should throw you out of a two-pair of stairs window,

dation; "Sir, (replied Johnson,

and recommend to you to fall soft."^ Mr. Steevens, who passed many a social hour with him during their long acquaintance, which

commenced when they both lived in the Temhas preserved a good number of particulars

ple,

disease. In-

concerning him, most of which are to be found in the

tak-

of living.^

He thought Mr.

Caleb Whitefoord singularly happy in hitting on the signature of Papyrius Cursor, to his

ings of the news-papers;

had her

en care of with all tenderness for a long time, at considerable expence, till she was restored to health, and endeavoured to put her into a virtuous

JOHNSON

ingenious and diverting cross-read-

^Compositor in the Printing-house means, the person who adjusts the types in the order in which they are to stand for printing; and arranges what is called the form, from which an impression is taken. ^This circumstance therefore alluded to in Mr. Courtenay's Poetical Character of him is strictly true. My informer was Mrs. Desmoulins, who lived many years in Dr. Johnson's house.

department of Apothegms, &c.,

in the

Collection of Johnson'' s Works. But he has been pleased to favour me with the following, which

are original:

"One

evening, previous to the trial of Barreta consultation of his friends was held at the house of Mr. Cox, the Solicitor, in Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane. Among others present were, Mr. Burke and Dr. Johnson, who differed in sentiments concerning the tendency ti,

^This has been printed in other publications, But Johnson himself gave me the true expression v/hich he had used as above; meaning that the recommendation left as little choice in the one case as the other. "fall to the ground."

BOSWELL

548

some part of the defence the prisoner was to make. When the meeting was over, Mr. Steevens observed, that the question between him and his friend had been agitated with rather too much warmth. 'It may be so, Sir, (rephed the Doctor,) for Burke and I should have been of one opinion, if we had had no audience.' "Dr. Johnson once assumed a character in which perhaps even Mr. Boswell never saw him. His curiosity having been excited by the praises bestowed on the celebrated Torre's fireworks at Marybone-Gardens, he desired Mr. Steevens to accompany him thither. The evening had proved showery; and soon after the few people present were assembled, publick notice was givof

en, that the conductors to the wheels, suns, stars,

&c., were so thoroughly water-soaked, that it was impossible any part of the exhibition should be made. 'This is a mere excuse, (says the Doctor,) to save their crackers for a more profitable company. Let us but hold up our sticks, and threaten to break those coloured lamps that surround the Orchestra, and we shall soon have

our wishes gratified. The core of the fireworks cannot be injured; let the different pieces be touched in their respective centers, and they will do their offices as well as ever.' Some young men who overheard him, immediately began the violence he had recommended, and an attempt was speedily made to fire some of the wheels which appeared to have received the smallest damage; but to little purpose were they lighted, for most of them completely failed. The authour of The Rambler, however, may be considered, on this occasion, as the

ringleader of a successful

though not as a skilful pyrotechnist." "It has been supposed that Dr. Johnson, so far as fashion was concerned, was careless of his appearance in publick. But this is not altogether true, as the following slight instance may show: riot,

—

Goldsmith's last Comedy was to be represented during some court-mourning: and Mr. Steevens appointed to call on Dr. Johnson, and carry him to the tavern where he was to dine with others of the Poet's friends. The Doctor was ready dressed, but in coloured cloaths; yet being told that he would find every one else in black, received the intelligence with a profusion of thanks, hastened to change his attire, all the while repeating his gratitude for the information that had saved him from an appearance so improper in the front row of a front box. 'I would not (added he,) for ten pounds, have seemed so retrograde to any general observance.'

"He would sometimes found

his dislikes

on

very slender circumstances. Happening one day

[1784

mention Mr. Flexman, a Dissenting Minister, with some compliment to his exact memory in chronological matters; the Doctor replied, 'Let me hear no more of him. Sir. That is the fellow who made the Index to my Ramblers, and set down the name of Milton thus: Milton, Mr. to

John.'

"

Mr. Steevens adds "It

is

this testimony:

unfortunate, however, for Johnson, that

and frailties can be more disthan his good and amiable exertions. Could the many bounties he studiously concealed, the many acts of humanity he performed in private, be displayed with equal circumstantiality, his defects would be so far lost in the blaze of his virtues, that the latter only would be regarded." Though from my very high admiration of Johnson, I have wondered that he was not courted by all the great and all the eminent persons of his time, it ought fairly to be considered, that his particularities

tinctly traced

man

no

of

humble

literature, in short

birth,

who

lived entirely

no authour by

by

profession, ev-

er rose in this country into that personal notice did. In the course of this work a numerous variety of names has been mentioned, to

which he

which many might be added. I cannot omit Lord and Lady Lucan, at whose house he often enjoyed all that an elegant table and the best

company can

contribute to happiness; he found

accomand embellished with charms of

hospitality united with extraordinary

plishments,

man could be insensible. Tuesday, June 22, I dined with him at Literary Club, the last time of his being

which no

On The

in that respectable society. present were the Bishop of

The St.

other

members

Asaph, Lord El-

Lord Palmerston, Dr. Fordyce, and Mr. Malone. He looked ill; but had such a manly fortitude, that he did not trouble the company with melancholy complaints. They all shewed evident marks of kind concern about him, with which he was much pleased, and he exerted iot,

himself to be as entertaining as his indisposition

allowed him. The anxiety of his friends to preserve so estimable a life, as long as human means might be supposed to have influence, made them plan for him a retreat from the severity of a British winter, to the mild climate of Italy. This scheme was at last brought to a serious resolution at General Paoli's, where I had often talked of it. One essential matter, however, I understood was necessary to be previously settled, which was obtaining such an addition to his income, as would be sufficient to enable him to defray the

LIFE OF

1784]

JOHNSON

549

On Wednesday, June 23,

expence in a manner becoming the first literary character of a great nation, and, independent of all his other merits, the Authour of The Dictionary OF THE English Language. The person to whom I above all others thought I should apply to negotiate this business, was the Lord Chancellor,^ because I knew that he highly valued Johnson, and that Johnson highly valued his Lordship; so that it was no degradation of

having been present at the shockmen executed before Newgate. I said to him, I was sure that human life was not machinery, that is to say, a chain of fatality planned and directed by the Supreme Being, as it had in it so much wickedness and misery, so many instances of both, as that by

my illustrious friend to solicit for him the favour

chinery

have mentioned what Johnson he was at the bar; and after his Lordship was advanced to the seals, he said of him, "I would prepare myself for no man in England but Lord Thurlow. When I am to meet with him I should wish to know a day before." How he would have prepared himself I cannot conjecture. Would he have selected certain topicks, and considered them in every view so as to be in readiness to argue them at all points? and what may we suppose those topicks to have been? I once started the curious inquiry

respects,

of such a

said of

man.

him

to the great

to

I

me when

man who was the subject of this com-

pliment: he smiled, but did not pursue it. I first consulted with Sir Joshua Reynolds, who perfectly coincided in opinion with me; and I therefore, though personally very little

known

to his Lordship,

wrote to him,^ stating

and requesting his good offices for Dr. Johnson. I mentioned that I was obliged to set out for Scodand early in the following week, so that if his Lordship should have any commands for me as to this pious negotiation, he would be pleased to send them before that time; otherwise Sir Joshua Reynolds would give all attenthe case,

tion to

it.

This application was made not only without any suggestion on the part of Johnson himself, but was utterly unknown to him, nor had he the smallest suspicion of

it.

Any insinuations,

there-

which since his death have been thrown out, as if he had stooped to ask what was superfluous, are without any foundation. But, had he asked it, it would not have been superfluous; for though the money he had saved proved to be more than his friends imagined, or than I before,

lieve he himself, in his carelessness concerning worldly matters, knew it to be, had he travelled upon the Continent, an augmentation of his income would by no means have been unnecessary.

^Edward Lord Thurlow. strange that Sir John Hawkins should have related that the application was made by Sir Joshua Reynolds, when he could so easily have been informed of the truth by inquiring of Sir Joshua. 2It is

Sir John's carelessness to ascertain facts

markable.

is

very re-

morning,

I visited

him

in the

after

ing sight of fifteen

which

my mind

was now clouded. Were it mawould be better than it is in these though less noble, as not being a sys-

it

He agreed with me he always did, upon the great question of the liberty of the human will, which has been in all ages perplexed with so much sophistry. "But, Sir, as to the doctrine of Necessity, no man believes it. If a man should give me arguments that I do not see, though I could not answer them, should I believe that I do not see?" It will be observed, that Johnson at all times made the just distinction between doctem

now,

of moral government. as

trines contrary to reason,

and doctrines

above

reason.

Talking of the religious discipline proper for convicts, he said, "Sir, one of our regular clergy will probably not impress their minds sufficiently: they should be attended by a Methodist preacher;^ or a Popish priest." Let me

unhappy

in justice to the Reverend Mr. has been Ordinary of Newgate for no less than eighteen years, in the course of which he has attended many hundreds of wretched criminals, that his earnest and humane exhortations have been very effectual.

however observe, Vilette,

who

His extraordinary diligence is highly praiseworthy, and merits a distinguished rewara.* On Thursday, June 24, I dined with him at Mr. Dilly's, where were the Rev. Mr. (now Dr.) Knox, master of Tunbridge-school, Mr. Smith, Vicar of Southill, Dr. Beattie, Mr. Pinkerton, authour of various literary performances, and the Rev. Dr. Mayo. At my desire old Mr. Sheridan was invited, as I was earnest to have Johnson and him brought together again by chance, that a reconciliation might be effected. Mr. Sheridan happened to come early, and having learned that Dr. Johnson was to be there, went away; so I found, with sincere regret, that my 3A friend of mine happened to be passing by a the environs of London, when a Methodist preacher quoted this passage with tri-

field congregation in

umph. *I trust that The City of London, now happUy in unison with The Court, will have the justice and generosity to obtain preferment for this Rev-

erend Gentleman, now a worthy old servant of that magnificent Corporation.

— BOS WELL friendly intentions were hopeless.

nothing that passed quickness, who,

this

I

recollect

day, except Johnson's Beattie observed, as

when Dr.

something remarkable which had happened to him, that he had chanced to see both No. i and No. 000, of the hackney coaches, the first and the last; "Why, Sir, (said Johnson,) there is an equal chance for one's seeing those two numbers as any other two." He was clearly right; yet the seeing of the two extremes, each of which is in some degree more conspicuous than the rest, could not but strike one in a stronger manner than the sight of any other two numbers. Though I have neglected to preserve his conversation, it was perhaps at this interview that Dr. Knox formed the notion of it which he has ,

1

exhibited in his Winter Evenings.

On Friday, June 25, I dined with him at General Paoli's, where, he says in one of his letters to Mrs. Thrale, "I love to dine." There was a variety of dishes much to his taste, of all which he seemed to me to eat so much, that I was afraid he might be hurt by it; and I whispered to the General my fear, and begged he might not press him. "Alas! (said the General,) see how very ill he looks; he can live but a very short time.

Would you

cations to a

man under sentence of death? There

is

a

humane custom

refuse

in Italy,

any

slight gratifi-

by which persons

melancholy situation are indulged with having whatever they like best to eat and drink, even with expensive delicacies." I shewed him some verses on Lichfield by Miss Seward, which I had that day received from her, and had the pleasure to hear him approve of them. He confirmed to me the truth of a high compliment which I had been told he had paid to that lady, when she mentioned to him The Colombiade, an epick poem, by Madame du Boccage: "Madam, there is not any thing equal to your description of the sea round the North Pole, in ^our Ode on the death of Captain Cook." On Sunday, June 27, I found him rather better. I mentioned to him a young man who was going to Jamaica with his wife and children, in expectation of being provided for by two of her brothers settled in that island, one a clergyman, and the other a physician. Johnson. "It is a wild scheme, Sir, unless he has a positive and deliberate invitation. There was a poor girl, who used to come about me, who had a cousin in Barbadoes, that, in a letter to her, expressed a wish she should come out to that Island, and expatiated on the comforts and happiness of her situation. The poor girl went out: her cousin in that

—

[1784

was much

and asked her how she could think of coming. 'Because, (said she,) you surprised,

I,' answered the cousin. The was then produced. 'I see it is true, (said

invited me.' 'Not letter

she,) that

I

did invite you: but

I

did not think

you would come.' They lodged her in an outhouse, where she passed her time miserably; and as soon as she had an opportunity she returned to England. Always tell this, when you hear of people going abroad to relations, upon a notion of being well received. In the case

which you mention,

man not

spends

all

he

it is

know how much he

We

probable the clergy-

and the physician does

gets,

is

to get."

day dined at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, with General Paoli, Lord Eliot, (formerly Mr. Eliot, of Port Eliot,) Dr. Beattie, and some other company. Talking of Lord Chesterfield; ^Johnson. "His manner was exquisitely elegant, and he had more knowledge than I expected." Boswell. "Did you find. Sir. his conversation to be this

of a superiour style?" Johnson. "Sir, in the con-

had with him I had the best it was upon philology and literature." Lord Eliot, who had travelled at the same time with Mr. Stanhope, Lord

versation which

I

right to superiority, for

Chesterfield's natural son, justly observed, that

was strange that a man who shewed he had so aff"ection for his son as Lord Chesterfield did, by writing so many long and anxious letters to him, almost all of them when he was Secretary of State, which certainly was a proof of great it

much

goodness of disposition, should endeavour to make his son a rascal. His Lordship told us, that Foote had intended to bring on the stage a

who had thus tutored his son, and to shew the son an honest man to every one else,

father

but practising his father's maxims upon him,

and cheating him. Johnson. "I

am much pleased

but I think there was no occasion to make the son honest at all. No; he should be a consummate rogue: the contrast between honesty and knavery would be the stronger. It should be contrived so that the father should be the only suff"erer by the son's villainy, and thus there would be poetical justice." He put Lord Eliot in mind of Dr. Walter Harte. "I know (said he,) Harte was your Lordship's tutor, and he was also tutor to the Peterborough family. Pray, my Lord, do you recollect any particulars that he told you of Lord Peterborough? He is a favourite of mine, and is not enough known; his chaiacter has been only ventilated in party pamphlets." Lord Eliot said, if Dr. Johnson would be so good as to ask him any questions, he would tell what he could recollect.

with

this design;

— LIFE OF

1784]

Accordingly some things were mentioned. "But, (said his Lordship,) the best account of Lord Peterborough that I have happened to meet with, is in Captain Carleton's Memoirs. Carleton was descended of an ancestor who had distinguished himself at the siege of Derry. He was an officer; and, what was rare at that time, had

some knowledge of engineering." Johnson said, he had never heard of the book. Lord Eliot had it at Port Eliot; but, after a good deal of inquiry, procured a copy in London, and sent it to Johnson, who told Sir Joshua Reynolds that he was going to bed when it came, but was so much pleased with it, that he sat up till he had read it through, and found in it such an air of truth, that he could not doubt of its authenticity; adding, with a smile, (in allusion to Lord having recently been raised to the peera. young Lord could have mentioned to me a book in the English history Eliot's

JOHNSON to me. Besides, ridicule

honoured by your attention in any way." John"Come, Sir, let's have no more of it. We offended one another by our contention; let us not offend the company by our compliments." He now said, "He wished much to go to Italy, and that he dreaded passing the winter in England." I said nothing; but enjoyed a secret satisfaction in thinking that I had taken the most effectual measures to make such a scheme son.

practicable.

On Monday,

age,) "I did not think

that

was not known

to

me."

addition to our company came after we went up to the drawing-room; Dr. Johnson

seemed to rise in spirits as his audience increased. He said, "He wished Lord Orford's pictures, and Sir Ashton Lever's Museum, might be purchased by the publick, because both the money, and the pictures, and the curiosities, would remain in the country; whereas, if they were sold into another kingdom, the nation would indeed get some money, but would lose the pictures and curiosities, which it would be desirable we should have, for improvement in taste and nat-

The only

receive

June 28, I had the honour to from the Lord Chancellor the following

letter:

An

ural history.

551

not your talent; you have there neither intuition nor sagacity." The gentleman protested that he had intended no improper freedom, but had the greatest respect for Dr. Johnson. After a short pause, during which we were somewhat uneasy, ^Johnson. "Give me your hand, Sir. You were too tedious, and I was too short." Mr. *****. "Sir, I am is

question was, as the na-

was much in want of money, whether it would not be better to take a large price from a tion

To James

Boswell, Es(J. have answered your letter immediately, if (being much engaged when I received it) I had not put it in my pocket, and forgot to open it till this morning. I am much obliged to you for the suggestion; and I will adopt and press it as far as I can. The best argument, I am sure, and I hope it is not likely to fail, is Dr. Johnson's merit. But it will Sir, I should

be necessary, if I should be so unfortunate as to miss seeing you, to converse with Sir Joshua on the sum it will be proper to ask, in short, upon the means of setting him out. It would be a reflection on us all, if such a man should perish for want of the means to take care of his health. Yours, &c.

Thurlow

foreign State?"

He

entered

upon a curious

difference between intuition

discussion of the

and

sagacity; one

being immediate in its effect, the other requiring a circuitous process; one he observed was the eye of the mind, the other the nose of the mind.

A young gentleman present took up the argument against him, and maintained that no man ever thinks of the nose of the mind, not adverting that though that figurative sense seems strange to us, as very unusual, it is truly not more forced

than Hamlet's "In persisted

my mind's eye,

Horatio."

much too long, and appeared

He

to John-

son as putting himself forward as his antagonist with too much presumption; upon which he called to him in a loud tone, "What is it you are contending for, if you be contending?" And afterwards imagining that the gentleman retorted upon him with a kind of smart drollery, he said, "Mr. *****^ it does not become you to talk so

This letter gave me a very high satisfaction; next day went and shewed it to Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was exceedingly pleased with it. He thought that I should now communicate the negotiation to Dr. Johnson, who might afterwards complain if the attention with which he had been honoured, should be too long concealed from him. I intended to set out for Scotland next morning; but Sir Joshua cordially insisted that I should stay another day, that Johnson and I might dine with him, that we three might talk of his Italian Tour, and, as Sir Joshua expressed himself, "have it all out." I hastened to Johnson, and was told by him that he was rather better to-day. Boswell. "I am very anxious about you. Sir, and particularly that you should go to Italy for the winter, which I believe is your own wish." Johnson. "It is, Sir." I

Bosv^LL. "You have no objection,

I

presume,

BOSWELL

552 but the money

would require." Johnson. Upon which I gave him a parit

"Why,

no, Sir."

ticular

account of what had been done, and read

to

him

the

Lord Chancellor's

letter.

He

listened

with much attention; then warmly said, "This taking prodigious pains about a man." "O! Sir, (said I, with most sincere affection,) your friends would do every thing for you." He is

paused, grew more and more agitated, till tears started into his eyes, and he exclaimed with fervent emotion, "God bless you all." I was so affected that I also shed tears. After a short silence, he renewed and extended his grateful benediction, "God bless you all, for Jesus Christ's sake." We both remained for soiue time unable to speak. He rose suddenly and quitted the room, quite melted in tenderness. He staid but a short time, till he had recovered his firmness; soon after he returned I left him, having first engaged him to dine at Sir Joshua Reynolds's, next day. I never was again under that roof which I had so long reverenced. On Wednesday, June 30, the friendly confidential dinner with Sir Joshua Reynolds took place, no other company being present. Had I known that this was the last time that I should enjoy in this world, the conversation of a friend

whom

I

so

much

respected,

and from

whom

I

derived so much instruction and entertainment, I should have been deeply affected. When I now look back to it, I am vexed that a single word should have been forgotten. Both Sir Joshua and I were so sanguine in our expectations, that we expatiated with confidence on the liberal provision which we were sure would be made for him, conjecturing whether

munificence would be displayed in one large donation, or in an ample increase of his pension. He himself catched so much of our enthusiasm, as to allow himself to suppose possible that our hopes

might

in

it not imone way or

He said that he would rather have his pension doubled than a grant of a thousand pounds; "For, (said he,) though probother be realised.

I may not live to receive as much as a thousand pounds, a man would have the consciousness that he should pass the remainder of his life in splendour, how long soever it might be." Considering what a moderate proportion an income of six hundred pounds a year bears to innumerable fortunes in this country, it is worthy of remark, that a man so truly great should think it splendour. As an instance of extraordinary liberality of friendship, he told us, that Dr. Brocklesby had upon this occasion offered him a hundred a

ably

[1784

year for his life. A grateful tear started into his eye, as he spoke this in a faultering tone. Sir

Joshua and

I

endeavoured

to flatter his

imagination with agreeable prospects of happiness in Italy. "Nay, (said he,) I must not expect much of that; when a man goes to Italy merely to feel how he breathes the air, he can enjoy very little." Our conversation turned upon living in the country, which Johnson, whose melancholy mind required the dissipation of quick successive variety, had habituated himself to consider as a kind of inental imprisonment. "Yet, Sir, (said I,) there are many people who are content to live in the country." Johnson. "Sir, it is in the intellectual world as in the physical world; we are told by natural philosophers that a body is at rest in the place that is fit for it; they who are content to live in the country, axe fit for the country." Talking of various enjoyments, I argued that a refinement of taste was a disadvantage, as they who have attained to it must be seldomer pleased than those who have no nice discrimination, and are therefore satisfied with every thing that comes in their way. Johnson. "Nay, Sir; that is a paltry notion. Endeavour to be as perfect as you can in every respect." I accompanied him in Sir Joshua Reynolds's coach, to the entry of Bolt-court. He asked me whether I would not go with him to his house; I declined it, from an apprehension that my spirits would sink. We bade adieu to each other affectionately in the carriage. When he had got down upon the foot-pavement, he called out, "Fare you well"; and without looking back, sprung away with a kind of pathetick briskness, if I may use that expression, which seemed to indicate a struggle to conceal uneasiness, and impressed me with a foreboding of our long, long separation. I remained one day more in town, to have the chance of talking over my negotiation with the Lord Chancellor; but the multiplicity of his Lordship's important engagements did not allow of it; so I left the management of the business in the hands of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Soon after this time Dr. Johnson had the mortification of being informed by Mrs. Thrale, that, "what she supposed he never believed,"^ was true; namely, that she was actually going to marry Signor Piozzi, an Italian musick-master. He endeavoured to prevent it; but in vain. If she would publish the whole of the correspondence that passed between Dr. Johnson and ^Letters to

Mrs. Thrale,

vol.

ii,

p. 375.

— LIFE OF

1784] her on the subject,

we should have

a

full

view of

As it is, our judgement must be biassed by that characteristick specimen which Sir John Hawkins has given us: "Poor Thrale I thought that either her virtue or her vice would have restrained her from such a marriage. She is now become a subject for her enemies to exult over; and for her friends, if she has any left, to forget, or pity."^ It must be admitted that Johnson derived a considerable portion of happiness from the comforts and elegancies which he enjoyed in Mr. Thrale's family; but Mrs. Thrale assures us he was indebted for these to her husband alone, his real sentiments.

!

who

certainly respected

words

^'^

are,

him

sincerely.

Her

Veneration for his virtue, reverence for

his talents, delight in his conversation,

and habitual

endurance of a yoke my husband first put upon me, and of which he contentedly bore his share for sixteen or seventeenyears, made me go on so long with Mr. Johnson; but the perpetual confinement I will own to have been terrifying in the first years of our friendship

and irksome in the last; nor could I pretend to support it without help, when my coadjutor was no more.

'

how

is this from the declarahave heard Mrs. Thrale make in his life-time, without a single murmur against any peculiarities, or against any one circumstance which attended their intimacy. As a sincere friend of the great man whose Life I am writing, I think it necessary to guard my readers against the mistaken notion of Dr. Johnson's character, which this lady's Anecdotes of him suggest; for from the very nature and form of her book, "it lends deception lighter wings to fly." "Let it be remembered, (says an eminent critick,)^ that she has comprised in a small volume all that she could recollect of Dr. Johnson in twentyyears, during which period, doubtless, some severe things were said by him; and they who read the book in two hours, naturally enough suppose that his whole conversation was of this complexion. But the fact is, I have been often in his company, and never once heard him say a severe thing to any one; and many others can attest the same. When he did say a severe thing, it was generally extorted by ignorance pretending to knowledge, or by extreme vanity or affec-

Alas

tions

!

which

different

I

tation.

^Dr. Johnson's letter to Sir

John Hawkins,

Life^

P- 570''Anecdotes, p.

3Who remarks.

JOHNSON

553

"Two

instances of inaccuracy, (adds he,) are peculiarly worthy of notice:

"It

said,

is

'

That

roughness of his manwould, notwithstanding the

natural'^

ner so often mentioned,

regularity of his notions, burst through them all from

time

to

time;

and he once bade a very celebrated lady, too much zeal perhaps, or per-

who praised him with haps

too strong

an emphasis, {which always offended

him,) consider what her flattery

him

choaked

"Now let with

with

the genuine anecdote be contrasted

The person

dear Madam,' was his reply. She 'Pray,

Madam,

let

us have no

with his

still

more

laid

it

on.

of this'; he

Not paying any attention to these warncontinued still her eulogy. At length, provoked by this indelicate and vain obtrusion

rejoined. ings, she

of compliment, he exclaimed, 'Dearest lady, consider with yourself what your flattery is worth,

before you bestow

"How

so freely.'

it

does this story appear, when accompanied with all these circumstances which really belong to it, but which Mrs. Thrale either did not know, or has suppressed. "She says, in another place, ^ 'One gentleman, however, who dined at a nobleman'' s house in his company, and that of Mr. Thrale, to whom I was obliged for

diff"erent

the anecdote,

fence of

was

willing to enter the lists in de-

King William's

posed and contradicted

character;

Johnson two

and having opor three times,

petulantly enough, the master of the house began to feel uneasy,

and

expect disagreeable consequences; to avoid

which, he said, loud enough for the Doctor

" Our friend

cept just to relate

Johnson

to hear,

—

meaning now in all this, exat club to-morrow how he teized

here has no

at dinner to-day; this is all to do himself

''''No, upon my word, {replied the other,) I honour in it, whatever you may do.'' "Well, Sir, {returned Mr. Johnson, sternly,) if you do not see the honour, I am sure I feel the disgrace." "This is all sophisticated. Mr. Thrale was not in the company, though he might have related the story to Mrs. Thrale. A friend, from whom I had the story, was present; and it was not at the house of a nobleman. On the observation being made by the master of the house on a gentleman's contradicting Johnson, that he had talked

honour."

see no

'

for the honour, &c., the

me

worth, before she

thus represented as being harshly treated, though a very celebrated lady, was then just come to London from an obscure situation in the country. At Sir Joshua Reynolds's one evening, she met Dr. Johnson. She very soon began to pay her court to him in the most fulsome strain. 'Spare me, I beseech you, this.

293.

has been pleased to furnish

was

it.''

^Anecdotes, p. 183. Hbid., p. 202.

gendeman muttered

in

BOSWELL

554 a low voice,

no honour

see

'I

in

it';

and Dr.

Johnson said nothing: so all the rest, (though bien trouvee) is mere garnish." I have had occasion several times, in the course of this work, to point out the incorrectness of Mrs. Thrale, as to particulars which consisted

with

my own knowledge.

But indeed she has, in

flippant terms enough, expressed her disapprobation of that anxious desire of authenticity

which prompts a person who

^

the sayings oj

—

at the

Dr. Johnson,

is

almost all that can be life,

acquaintance with him, consisted in

when he was

talking,

serious piece of

moment}

if

done by the writers of his Life; as his

my

to record con-

they are to be recorded at is done the better. This lady "To recollect, however, and to repeat

Unquestionably, all, the sooner it herself says,

is

them down

versations, to write

at least since

little else

than

not [absolutely^ employed in some

work."

She boasts of her having kept a common-place book; and we find she noted, at one time or other, in a very lively manner, specimens of the conversation of Dr. Johnson, and of those who talked with him; but had she done it recently, they probably would have been less erroneous; and we should have been relieved from those disagreeable doubts of their authenticity, with which we must now peruse them. She says of him,' "//i? was the most charitable of mortals, without being what we call an active friend. Admirable at giving counsel; no man saw his way so clearly; but he would not stir a finger /or the assistance of those to whom he was willing enough to give advice." And again on the same page, "If

—

you wanted a slight favour, _yow must apply to people of other dispositions; for not a step would Johnson

move

to

obtain a

man

a vote in a

society, to

compliment which might be useful or pleasing, a

letter

of request, &c., or

to

repay a to

write

obtain a hundred pounds

a year more for a friend who, perhaps, had already two or three.

No force

could urge him

to diligence,

no im-

portunity could conquer his resolution to stand still."

amazing that one who had such opporknowing Dr. Johnson, should appear

It is

tunities of

so

little

acquainted with his real character.

I

am

sorry this lady does not advert, that she herself

contradicts the assertion of his being obstinately defective in the petites morales, in the little en-

dearing charities of social life, in conferring small"Dr. Johnson was liber favours; for she says,^ eral enough in granting literary assistance to others, I

—

think;

and innumerable are

the

Prefaces,

[1784

Lectures,

people I

^Ibid., p. 51

[192].

mid., p. 193

[51].

to

make for

who begged of him."

am certain

that a more active friend has rarely

been found in any age. This work, which I fondly hope will rescue his memory from obloquy, contains a thousand instances of his benevolent exertions in almost every way that can be conceived; and particularly in employing his pen with a generous readiness for those to whom its aid could be useful. Indeed his obliging activity in doing little offices of kindness, both by letters and personal application, was one of the most remarkable features in his character; and for the truth of this I can appeal to a number of his respectable friends: Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Langton, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Burke, Mr. Windham, Mr. Malone, the Bishop of Dromore, Sir William Scott, Sir Robert Chambers. And can Mrs. Thrale forget the advertisements which he wrote for her husband at the time of his election contest; the epitaphs on him and her mother; the playful and even trifling verses, for the amuseof her and her daughters; his corresponding with her children, and entering into their minute concerns, which shews him in the most

ment

amiable light? She relates,^— "That Mr. Ch— Im— ley unexpectedly rode up to Mr. Thrale's carriage, in which Mr. Thrale and she, and Dr. Johnson were travelling; that he paid them all his proper compliments, but observing that Dr. Johnson, who was reading, did not see him, tapt him gently on the shoulder.

my husband. Well, Ch Im ley'; says the '

says

— —

eyes a

moment from

— Im — ley'; — and what if Mr.

"Tis Mr. Ch Sir

it is

other, sternly, just lifting his

his book,

and returning

to it

again,

with renewed avidity."

This surely conveys a notion of Johnson, as if he had been grossly rude to Mr. Cholmondeley,^ a gentleman whom he always loved and esteemed. If, therefore, there was an absolute necessity for mentioning the story at all, it might have been thought that her tenderness for Dr. Johnson's character would have disposed her to state any thing that could soften it. Why then is there a total silence as to what Mr. Cholmondeley told her? that Johnson, who had known

—

him from

his earliest years,

having been

made

sensible of what

had doubtless a strange appearance, took occasion, when he afterwards met him, to make a very courteous and kind apol-

Sermons, ''Ibid.,

'^Anecdotes, p. 44. ^Ibid., p. 23.

and Dedications which he used

p. 258.

^George James Cholmondeley, Esq., grandson of George, third Earl of Cholmondeley, and one of the Commissioners of Excise; a gentleman respected for his abilities, and elegance of manners.

——

—

—

!

LIFE OF

1784]

another little circumstance which I cannot but remark. Her book was published in 1 785, she had then in her possession a letter from Dr. Johnson, dated in 1777/ which begins thus: "Cholmondeley's story shocks me, if it be true, which I can hardly think, for I am utterly unconscious of it: I am very sorry, and very much ashamed." Why then publish the anecdote? Or if she did, why not add the circumstances, with which she was well acquainted In his social intercourse she thus describes him:^ ''''Ever musing till he was called out to converse, and conversing till the fatigue of his friends, or ogy. There

is

—

the promptitude of his

own temper

signed him back again

Yet, in the

to silent

to

take offence, con-

meditation."

same book, ' she

^^He was,

tells us,

when any moral or literary question was started; and it was on such occasions that, like the Sage in 'Rasselas,' he spoke, and attention watched his lips; he reasoned, and conviction however, seldom inclined

to

be silent,

closed his periods."

His conversation, indeed, was so far from ever

when

fatiguing his friends, that they regretted

in Milton's language,

With

behalf of

my

Iforget

all time.

do not claim too much in

illustrious friend in saying, that

however smart and entertaining Mrs. Thrale's Anecdotes are, they must not be held as good evidence against him; for wherever an instance of harshness and severity is told, I beg leave to doubt its perfect authenticity; for though there may have been some foundation for it, yet, like that of his reproof to the "very celebrated lady," it may be so exhibited in the narration as to be very unlike the real fact. The evident tendency of the following anecdote^ is to represent Dr. Johnson as extremely

deficient in affection, tenderness, or

America,

'Prithee,

{said he,) have done with canting;

world be the worse for tions

it,

I may

my

dear,

how would

the

ask, if all your rela-

were at once spitted like larks, and roasted for

Presto's supper?^ the table while

— Presto was

we

the

dog that lay under

talked." I suspect this too of ex-

aggeration and distortion. I allow that he made her an angry speech; but let the circumstances fairly

appear, as told by Mr. Baretti,

present: ^Letters to

Mrs. Thrale,

^Anecdotes, p. 23. ^Ibid., p. ,*Ibid.,

302.

p. 63.

vol.

ii,

p. 12.

who was

and

drest for Presto's

with concern that I find myself obliged animadvert on the inaccuracies of Mrs. Piozzi's Anecdotes, and perhaps I may be thought to have dwelt too long upon her little collection. But as from Johnson's long residence under Mr. Thrale's roof, and his intimacy with her, the account which she has given of him may have made an unfavourable and unjust impression, my duty, as a faithful biographer, has obliged me reluctantly to perform this unpleasing task. It is

to

Having

left

the pious negotiation, as I called

it,

what relates Sir Joshua Reynolds on

in the best hands, I shall here insert it.

Johnson wrote

to

July 6, as follows: "I am going, I hope, in a few days, to try the air of Derbyshire, but hope to see you before I go. Let me, however, mention to you what I have much at heart. If the Chancellor should continue his attention to Mr. Boswell's request, and confer with you on the means of relieving my languid state, I am very desirous to avoid the appearance of asking money upon false pretences. I desire you to represent to his Lordship, what, as soon as it is suggested, he will perceive That, if I grow much worse, to be reasonable, I shall be afraid to leave my physicians, to suffer the inconveniences of travel, and pine in the solitude of a foreign country; That, if I grow much

—

even com-

mon civility: — " When I one day lamented the loss of a first cousin killed in

spitted like those larks, supper.' "^

to

thee conversing,

555

"Mrs. Thrale, while supping very heartily upon larks, laid down her knife and fork, and abruptly exclaimed, 'O, my dear Mr. Johnson, do you know what has happened? The last letters from abroad have brought us an account that our poor cousin's head was taken off by a cannon-ball.' Johnson, who was shocked both at the fact, and her light unfeeling manner of mentioning it, replied, 'Madam, it would give you very little concern if all your relations were

it

was interrupted, or ceased, and could exclaim

I certainly, then,

JOHNSON

my

friend Mr. WUkes, ^Upon mentioning this to he, with his usual readiness, pleasantly matched it

with the following sentimental anecdote. He was invited by a young man of fashion at Paris, to sup with him and a lady, who had been for some time his mistress, but with whom he was going to part. He said to Mr. WUkes that he really felt very much for her, she was in such distress; and that he meant to make her a present of two hundred louis-d'ors. Mr. Wilkes observed the behaviour of Mademoiselle, who sighed indeed very piteously, and assumed every pathetick air of grief; but eat no less than three French pigeons, which are as large as English partridges, besides other things. Mr. WUkes whispered the gentleman, "We often say in England, Excessive sorrow is exceeding dry, but I never heard Excessive sorrow is exceeding hungry. Perhaps one hundred will do." The gentleman took the hint.

—

BOSWELL

556 better, of

which indeed there

is

now

little

ap-

pearance, I shall not wish to leave my friends and my domestick comforts; for I do not travel for pleasure or curiosity; yet if I should recover, curiosity would revive. In my present state, I am desirous to make a struggle for a little longer life,

and hope

some help from a me what you can."

to obtain

softer

Do for He wrote to me July 26: — "I wish your affairs

climate.

could have permitted a longer and continued exertion of your zeal

have your kindness the

mean

time

I

and kindness. They that

may want your

am

ardour. In very feeble and very de-

jected."

By a

much

of a fortune destined to do good, I could not escape from myself the charge of advancing journey to the continent, a false claim. though I once thought it necessary, was never much encouraged by my physicians; and I was very desirous that your Lordship should be told of it by Sir Joshua Reynolds, as an event very uncertain; for if I grew much better, I should not be willing, if much worse, not able, to mi-

My

Your Lordship was first solicited without knowledge; but, when I was told that you were pleased to honour me with your patronage, I did not expect to hear of a refusal; yet, as I have had no long time to brood hope, and have not rioted in imaginary opulence, this cold reception has been scarce a disappointment; and, from your Lordship's kindness, I have received a benefit, which only men like you are able to bestow. I shall now live mihi carior, with a higher opinion of my own merit. I am, my Lord, your Lordship's most obliged, most grateful, and most humble servant, Sam. Johnson September, 1784 grate.

Joshua Reynolds I was informed, that the Lord Chancellor had called on him, and acquainted him that the application had not been successful; but that his Lordletter

from

Sir

ship, after speaking highly in praise of Johnson, as a

[1784

than gratitude. Bounty, so liberally bestowed, I should gladly receive, if my condition made it necessary; for, to such a mind, who would not be proud to own his obligations? But it has pleased God to restore me to so great a measure of health, that if I should now appropriate so

man who was an honour

to his country, de-

Joshua to let him know, that on granting a mortgage of his pension, he should draw on his Lordship to the amount of five or six hundred pounds; and that his Lordship explained the meaning of the mortgage to be, that he wished the business to be conducted in such a manner, that Dr. Johnson should appear to be under the least possible obligation. Sir Joshua mentioned, that he had by the same post communicated all this to Dr. Johnson. How Johnson was affected upon the occasion will appear from what he wrote to Sir Joshua sired Sir

my

Upon

this

presuming

to

unexpected failure I abstain from make any remarks, or to offer any

conjectures.

"Ashbourne, Sept. g. Many words I hope are not necessary between you and me, to convince you what gratitude is excited in my heart by the Chancellor's liberality, and your kind of-

Having after repeated reaisonings, brought Dr. Johnson to agree to my removing to London, and even to furnish me with arguments in favour of what he had opposed; I wrote to him requesting he would write them for me; he was so good as to comply, and I shall extract that

fices.

part of his letter to

Reynolds:

.

.

.

"I have enclosed a letter to the Chancellor, which, when you have read it, you will be pleased

with a head, or any other general seal, and convey it to him: had I sent it directly to him, I should have seemed to overlook the favour of your intervention." to seal

To THE Lord High Chancellor^

My

Lord. After a long and not inattentive observation of mankind, the generosity of your Lordship's offer raises in me not less wonder ^Sir Joshua Reynolds, on account of the excellence both of the sentiment and expression of this letter, took a copy of it which he shewed to some of his friends; one of whom, who admired it, being allowed to peruse it leisurely at home, a copy was made, and found its way into the news-papers and magazines. It was transcribed with some inaccuracies. I print it from the original draft in Johnson's own hand-writing.

how

me

of

June

11, as

a proof

well he could exhibit a cautious yet en-

couraging view of it: "I remember, and intreat you to remember, Jugere; the first approach to from poverty. The condition on which you have my consent to settle in London is, that your expence never exceeds your annual income. Fixing this basis of security, you cannot be hurt, and you may be very much advanced. The loss of your Scottish business, which is all that you can lose, is not to be reckoned as any equivalent to the hopes and possibilities that open here upon you. If you succeed, the question of prudence is at an end; every body will think that done right which ends happily; and though your expectations, of which I would not advise you to talk too much, should not be totally answered, you can hardly fail to get

that virtus

riches

is

est vitium

security

LIFE OF

1784] friends

who will do for you

situation allows

you

all

to hope;

you should return

years,

return with a

that your present

and

if,

after a

to Scotland,

you

few will

mind supplied by various conver-

and many opportunities of inquiry, with much knowledge, and materials for reflection

sation,

and

after the all

now contemplate Johnson death of his wife,

still

thirty years

retaining for her

the tenderness of affection.

To THE Reverend Mr.

Bagshav^,

AT Bromley^ Sir, Perhaps you may remember, that in the year 1753, you committed to the ground my

now entreat your

permission to lay a stone upon her; and have sent the inscription, that, if you find it proper, you may signify your allowance. You will do me a great favour by shewing the place where she lies, that the stone may protect her remains. Mr. Ryland will wait on you for the inscription,2 and procure it to be engraved. You will easily believe that I shrink from this mournful office. When it is done, if I have strength remaining, I will visit Bromley once again, and pay you part of the respect to which you have a right from, Reverend Sir, your most humble

dear wife.

I

servant,

Sam. Johnson

On

the same day he wrote to Mr. Langton: "I cannot but think that in my languid and anxious state, I have some reason to complain that I receive from you neither inquiry nor consolation. You know how much I value your friendship, and with what confidence I expect your kindness, if I wanted any act of tenderness that you could perform; at least, if you do not know it, I think your ignorance is your own fault. Yet how long is it that I have lived almost in your neighbourhood without the least notice. I do not, however, consider this neglect as particularly shewn to me; I hear two of your most valuable friends make the same complaint. But why are all thus overlooked? You are not oppressed by sickness, you are not distracted by

you are sick, you are sick of leisure: allow yourself to be told, that no dis-

business; if

is more to be dreaded or avoided. Rather do nothing than to do good, is the lowest state of a degraded mind. Boileau says to his

ease to

pupil.

Que

557 debility,

which modern

Ian-

content to term indolence, will, if it is not counteracted by resolution, render in time the strongest faculties lifeless, and turn the flame to the smoke of virtue. I do not expect nor desire to see you, because I am much pleased to

gauge

is

mother stays so long with you, should think you neither elegant nor grateful, if you did not study her gratification. You will pay my respects to both the ladies, and to all the young people. I am going Northward for a while, to try what help the country can give me; but, if you will write the letter will

and

I

come

after me." Next day he set out on a jaunt to Staffordshire and Derbyshire, flattering himself that he might be in some degree relieved. During his absence from London he kept up

a correspondence with several of his friends, I shall select what appears to me proper for publication, without attending nice-

from which

ly to chronological order.

To Dr. Brocklesby, he writes, Ashbourne, July 20: "The kind attention which you have so long to my health and happiness, makes it as a debt of gratitude as a call of interest, to give you an account of what befals me, when accident recovers^ me from your immediate care. The journey of the first day was performed with very little sense of fatigue the second day brought

shewn

much

July 12, 1784

— And

That voluntary

find that your

instruction."

Let us

JOHNSON

les vers ne

soientpas votre eternel emploi,

Cultivez vos amis.

^See p. 225. "Printed in his Works

;

me to Lichfield, without much lassitude; but I am afraid that I could not have borne such violent agitation for

many

days together. Tell Dr.

Heberden, that in the coach I read Ciceronianus which I concluded as I entered Lichfield. My affection and understanding went along with Erasmus, except that once or twice he somewhat unskilfully entangles Cicero's civil or moral,

with his rhetorical, character. I staid five days at Lichfield, but, being unable to walk, had no great pleasure, and yesterday (19th) I came

where I am to try what air and attention can perform. Of any improvement in my health I cannot yet please myself with the perception. The asthma has no abatement. Opiates stop the fit, so as that I can sit and sometimes lie easy, but they do not now procure me the power of motion; and I am afraid that my general strength of body does not encrease. The weather indeed is not benign; but how low is he sunk Vv^hose strength depends upon the weather I am hither,

.

.

.

!

probably an errour either of the transeems to be the word intended. [M.] ^This

is

script or the press. Removes [i.

150].

—

"

BOSWELL

558

now looking into Floyer who lived with Iiis asth-

ma

to almost his ninetieth year. His

want

of order

is

think, not of the

thing however

I

book by

obscure, and his asthma,

I

same kind with mine. Some-

may

perhaps learn.

My

appe-

continues keen enough; and what I consider as a symptom of radical health, I have a voracious delight in raw summer fruit, of which I was less eager a few years ago. You will be pleased to communicate this account to Dr. Heberden, and if any thing is to be done, let me have your joint opinion. Now abite cura; let me inquire after the Club."^ tite still

went

July 31. "Not recollecting that Dr. Heberden

to

my

health,

even to

is

extremely kind.

I

am

loth to

grow worse; and cannot fairly prove my own partiality, that I grow much

think that

I

better."

August 5. "I return you thanlcs, dear Sir, for your unwearied attention, both medicinal and friendly, and hope to prove the effect of your care by living to acknowledge it." August 12. "Pi'ay be so kind as to have me in your thoughts, and mention my case to others as you have opportunity. I seem to myself neither to gain nor lose strength. I have lately tried milk, but have yet found no advantage, and am afraid ofLit merely as a liquid. My appetite is still good, which I know is dear Dr. Heberden's criterion of the vis vitce. As we cannot now see each other, do not omit to write, for you cannot think with what warmth of expectation I reckon the hours of a post-day." August 14. "I have hitherto sent you only melancholy letters, you will be glad to hear some better account. Yesterday the asthma remitted, perceptibly remitted, and I moved with more ease than I have enjoyed for many weeks. May God continue his mercy. This account I would not delay, because I am not a lover of complaints, or complainers, and yet I have since we parted uttered nothing till now but terrour and sorrow. Write to me, dear Sir." August 16. "Better I hope, and better.

My

respiration gets

more and more ease and liberty.

^At the Essex Head, Essex-street. ^Mr. Allen, the printer.

to

tiw of the

pectoral

and pulmonary muscles.

I

am

favoured with a degree of ease that very much delights me, and do not despair of another race upon the stairs of the Academy. If I were, however, of a humour to sec, or to shew the state of my body, on the dark side, I might say.

—

might be at Windsor, I thought your letter long in coming. But, you know, nocitura petuntur, the letter which I so much desired, tells me that I have lost one of my best and tenderest friends. My comfort is, that he appeared to live like a man that had ahvays before his eyes the fragility of our present existence, and was therefore, I hope, not unprepared to meet his judge. Your attention, dear Sir, and that of Dr. Heberden,

[1784

church yesterday, after a very liberal dinner, without any inconvenience; it is indeed no long walk, but I never walked it without difficulty, since I came, before. ****** the intention was only to overpower the seeming vis inerI

Quid

The

te

exemptajuvat spinis de pluribus una?

and the water rises, very fast. Let us, however, rejoice in all the good that we have. The remission of one disease will enable nature to combat the rest. The squills I have not neglected; for I have taken more than a hundred drops a day, and one day took two hundred and fifty, which, according to the popular equivalence of a drop to a grain, is more than half an ounce. I thank you, dear Sir, for your attention in ordering the medicines; your attention to me has never failed. If the virtue of medicines could be enforced by the benevolence of the prescriber, how soon should I be well." nights are

though

it

still

does not

August

sleepless,

rise

"The relaxation

of the asthma still do not trust it wholly to itself, but soothe it now and then with an opiate. I not only perform the perpetual act of respiration with less labour, but I can walk with fewer intervals of rest, and with greater freedom of motion. I never thought well of Dr. James's compounded medicines; his ingredients appeared to me sometimes inefficacious and trifling, and sometimes heterogeneous and destructive of each 19.

continues, yet

I

other. This prescription exhibits a composition

of about three hundred and thirty grains, in which there are four grains of emetick tartar, and six drops [of] thebaick tincture. He that writes thus, surely writes for show.

The

basis of

medicine is the gum ammoniacum, which dear Dr. Lawrence used to give, but of which I never saw any effect. We will, if you please, let this medicine alone. The squills have every sufhis

frage,

and

in the squills

we

will rest for the pres-

ent."

August 21. "The kindness which you shew by having me in your thoughts upon all occasions, will, I hope, always fill my heart with gratitude. Be pleased to return my thanks to Sir George Baker, for the consideration which he has bestowed upon me. Is this the balloon that has been so long expected, this balloon to which I subscribed, but without payment? It is a pity that

LIFE OF

1784]

philosophers have been disappointed, and shame that they have been cheated; but I know not

how to prevent either. Of this experiment have read nothing; where was it exhibited? and who was the man that ran away with so much money? Continue, dear Sir, to write often and more at a time; for none of your prescriptions operate to their proper uses more certainly than your letters operate as cordials." August 26. "I suffered you to escape last post without a letter, but you are not to expect such

JOHNSON hear the heat sometimes mentioned, but not feel it:

well

Praterea minimus gelidojam in corpore sanguis

I

indulgence very often; for I write not so much because I have any thing to say, as because I for an ansv/er; and the vacancy of my life here makes a letter of great value. I have here little company and little amusement, and thus abandoned to the contemplation of my own miseries, I am sometimes gloomy and depressed;

hope

and find opium., I think, seldom take more than one grain. Is not this strange weather? Winter absorbed the spring, and now autumn is come before we have had summer. But let not our kindness for each other imitate the inconstancy of the seathis too I resist as I can,

but

useful,

I

Sept.

2.

"Mr. Windham has been here

to see

me; he came, I think, forty miles out of his way, and staid about a day and a half; perhaps I make the time shorter than it was. Such conversation I shall not have again till I come back to the regions of literature; and there Windham is, inter Stellas^

Luna minor es."

He then mentions the effects

of certain medicines, as taken; that "Nature

is

recovering its original powers, and the functions returning to their proper state. God continue his mercies, and grant me to use them rightly." Sept. 9.

"Do you know the Duke and Duchess And have you ever seen Chats-

of Devonshire?

worth? I was at Chatsworth on Monday; I had indeed seen it before, but never when its owners were at home; I was very kindly received, and honestly pressed to stay: but I told them that a sick man is not a fit inmate of a great house. But I hope to go again some time." Sept. II. "I think nothing grows worse, but all rather better, except sleep, and that of late has been at its old pranks. Last evening, I felt what I had not known for a long time, an inclination to

walk, and

walk

for

amusement;

came back again

I

took a short

neither breathless

nor fatigued. This has been a gloomy, frigid, ungenial summer, but of late it seems to mend; I remarkable that so good a Latin scholar as Johnson, should have been so inattentive to the metre, as by mistake to have written Stellas instead ^It is

of

Febre calet sold.

hope, however, with good help, to find means and to hear and tell at the Club what is doing, and what ought to be doing in the world. I have no company here, and shall naturally come home hungry for I

of supporting a winter at home,

To wish you, dear Sir, more leiwould not be kind; but what leisure you have, you must bestow upon me." Sept. 16. "I have now let you alone for a long

conversation. sure,

time, having indeed

ignes.

little

to say.

You charge me

somewhat unjustly with luxury. At Chatsworth, you should remember, that I have eaten but once; and the Doctor, with whom I live, follows a milk diet. I grow no fatter, though my stomach, if it be not disturbed by physick, never fails me. I now grow weary of solitude, and think of removing next week to Lichfield, a place of more but otherwise of less convenience. When am settled, I shall write again. Of the hot weath-

societv, I

er that

sons."

559 do

I

you mention, we have

[not]

byshire very much, and for myself

I

had

in Derseldom feel

and suppose tliat my frigidity is the effect my distemper; a supposition which naturally leads me to hope that a hotter climate may be heat,

of

useful.

But

I

hope

to stand another English

win-

ter."

"On one day I had three about the air-balloon: yours was far the best, and has enabled me to impart to my friends in the country an idea of this species of amusement. In amusement, mere amusement, I am afraid it must end. for I do not find that its course can be directed so as that it should serve any purposes of communication; and it can give no Lichfield, Sept. 29.

letters

new

intelligence of the state of the air at different heights, till they have ascended above the height of mountains, which they seem never likely to do. I came hither on the 27th. How long I dropsy is shall stay I have not determined. gone, and my asthma much remitted, but I have felt myself a little declining these two days, or at least to-day; but such vicissitudes must be expected. One day may be worse than another; but this last month is far better than the former;

My

if

much better than this, run about the town on my own legs." October 6. "The fate of the balloon I do not

the next should be as

I shall

much lament: to make new balloons, is to repeat the jest again. We now know a method of mounting into the air, and, I think, are not likely to know more. The vehicles can serve no use

BOSWELL

560

we can guide them; and they can gratify no till we mount with them to greater heights than we can reach without; till we rise

more help from her migration. Make her compliments, and write again to, dear Sir, your affectionate servant." Aug. 13. "I thank you for your affectionate letter. I hope we shall both be the better for each other's friendship, and I hope we shall not very quickly be parted. Tell Mr. NichoUs that I shall be glad of his correspondence, when his business allows him a little remission; though to wish him less business, that I may have more pleasure, would be too selfish. To pay for seats at the balloon is not very necessary, because in less than a minute, they who gaze at a mile's distance will see all that can be seen. About the wings I am of your mind; they cannot at all assist it, nor I think regulate its motion. I am now grown somewhat easier in my body, but my mind is sometimes depressed. About the Club I am in no great pain. The forfeitures go on, and the house,

till

ceives

cviriosity

my

above the tops of the highest mountains, which

we have

yet not done.

air in all

its

We know

the state of the

and from those who navi-

regions, to the top of TenerifTe,

therefore, learn nothing

gate a balloon below the clouds. The first experiment, however, was bold, and deserved applause

and reward. But since and its event is known,

it

has been performed,

had rather now find a medicine that can ease an asthma." October 25. "You write to me with a zeal that animates, and a tenderness that melts me. I am not afraid either of a journey to London, or a I

I came down with little fatigue, not weaker. In the smoky atmosphere I was delivered from the dropsy, which I consider as the original and radical disease. The town is my element;^ there are my friends, there are my books, to which I have not yet bid fare-

residence in

and

my amusements. Sir Joshua my vocation was to pubhope still to keep my station, till

and there are

well,

told

it.

am now

me

long ago that

and

lick life,

God

I

shall bid

me Go

in peace.'"

To Mr. Hoole: Ashbourne, Aug. 7. "Since I was here I have little letters from you, and have not had the gratitude to write. But every man is most free with his best friends, because he does not suppose that they can suspect him of intentional in-

two

civility.

One

reason for

my omission

is,

that be-

ing in a place to which you are wholly a stranger, I have no topicks of correspondence. If you had

any knowledge of Ashbourne, I could tell you of two Ashbourne men, who, being last week condemned at Derby to be hanged for a robbery, went and hanged themselves in their cell. But this, however it may supply us with talk, is nothing to you. Your kindness, I know, would make you glad to hear some good of me, but I have not much good to tell; if I grow not worse, it is all that I can say. I hope Mrs. Hoole re^His love of

London

continually appears. In a

from him to Mrs. Smart, wife of his friend the Poet, which is published in a well-written life him, of prefixed to an edition of his Poems, in 791, there is the following sentence: "To one that has passed so many years in the pleasures and opulence of London, there are few places that can give much letter

—

1

delight."

Once, upon reading that line in the curious epitaph quoted in The Spectator, Born in New-England, did in London die; he laughed and said, "I do not wonder at this. It would have been strange, if born in London, he

had died

in

New-England,"

[1784

improved for future meetings. I hope meet often and sit long." Sept. 4. "Your letter was, indeed, long in coming, but it was very welcome. Our acquaintance has now subsisted long, and our recollection of each other involves a great space, and many little occurrences, which melt the thoughts to tenderness. Write to me, therefore, as frequently as you can. I hear from Dr. Brocklesby and Mr. Ryland, that the club is not crouded. I hope we I

hear,

we

is

shall

shall enliven

it

when winter brings us together."

To Dr. Burney: August 2. "The weather, you know, has not been balmy; I am now reduced to think, and

am

at last content to talk of the weather. Pride

must have a fall. I have lost dear Mr. Allen, and wherever I turn, the dead or the dying meet my notice, and force my attention upon misery and mortality. Mrs. Burney's escape from so much danger, and* her ease after so much pain, throws, however, some radiance of hope upon the gloomy prospect. May her recovery be perfect, and her continuance long. I struggle hard for life. I take physick, and take air; my friend's chariot is always ready. We have run this morning twentyfour miles, and could run forty-eight more. But

who can run the race with death?" Sept. 4. [Concerning a private transaction, in which his opinion was asked, and after giving it he makes the following reflections, which are applicable on other occasions.] "Nothing deserves more compassion than wrong conduct with good meaning; than loss or obloquy suffered by one who, as he is conscious only of good intentions, wonders why he loses that kindness which he wishes to preserve; and not knowing his own

LIFE OF

1784]

may sometimes

happen, nobody will tell him, goes on to offend by his endeavours to please. I am delighted by finding that our opinions are the same. You will do me a real kindness by continuing to write. A post-day has now been long a day of recreation." Nov. I. "Our correspondence paused for want

fault,

if,

as

of topicks.

I

had

said

what

I

had

to say

on the

matter proposed to my consideration; and nothing remained but to tell you, that I waked or

was more or less sick. I drew my thoughts in upon myself, and supposed yours employed upon your book. That your book has been delayed I am glad, since you have gained an opportunity of being more exact. Of the caution necessary in adjusting narratives there is no end. Some tell what they do not know, that they may not seem ignorant, and others from mere indifference about truth. All truth is not, indeed, of equal importance; but, if little violations are allowed, every violation will in time be thought little; and a writer should keep himself vigilantly on his guard against the first temptations to negligence or supineness. I had ceased to write, slept; that I

because respecting you I had no more to say, and respecting myself could say little good. I cannot boast of advancement, and in cases of convalescence it may be said, with few exceptions, non progredi, est regredi. I hope I may be excepted. My great difficulty was with my sweet Fanny,^ who, by her artifice of inserting her letter in yours, had given me a precept of frugality which I was not at liberty to neglect; and I know not who were in town under whose cover I could send my letter. I rejoice to hear that you are all so well, and have a delight particularly sympathetick in the recovery of Mrs. Burney."

To Mr. Langton: 25. "The kindness of your last letter, and omission to answer it, begins to give you, even in my opinion, a right to recriminate, and to charge me with forgetfulness for the absent. I will, therefore, delay no longer to give an account of myself, and wish I could relate what would please either myself or my friend. On July 1 3, I left London, partly in hope of help from

Aug.

my

new

air

by the

of place, and partly excited man's impatience of the present. I

and change sick

got to Lichfield in a stage vehicle, with very little two days, and had the consolation to

fatigue, in

my

find, that since

quaintance are bourne, where in which

all

I

we live

last visit

have been is

my

till

repairing.

three old ac-

went to Ashnow; the house

dead. July 20,

I

I live

in too

^The celebrated Miss Fanny Burney.

much

JOHNSON

561

am

solitude,

and

we were

nearer,

London.

A friend,

often deeply dejected: I wish

and

your removal to once cheerful and serious, is a great acquisition. Let us not neglect one another for the little time which Providence allows us to hope. Of my health I cannot tell you, what my wishes persuaded me to expect, that it is much rejoice in

at

improved by the season or by remedies. I am sleepless; my legs grow weary with a very few steps, and the water breaks its boundaries in some degree. The asthma, however, has remitted;

my

breath

is still

much

obstructed, but

is

more free than it was. Nights of watchfulness produce torpid days; I read very little, though I am alone; for I am tempted to supply in the day I lost in bed. This is my history; like all other histories, a narrative of misery. Yet am I so much better than in the beginning of the year, that I ought to be ashamed of complaining. I now sit and write with very little sensibility of pain or weakness; but when I rise, I shall find

what

my legs betraying me. Of the money which you mentioned, I have no immediate need; keep it, however, for me, unless some exigence requires it. Your papers I will shew you certainly when you would see them, but I am a little angry at you for not keeping minutes of your own acceptum etexpensurn, and think a little time might be spared from Aristophanes, for the resfamiliares. Forgive me for I mean well. I hope, dear Sir, that you and Lady Rothes, and all the young people, too many to enumerate, are well and happy. God bless

you

all."

To Mr. Windham: August. 'The tenderness with which you have been pleased to treat me, through my long illness, neither health nor sickness can, I hope, make me forget; and you are not to suppose, that after we parted you were no longer in my mind. But what can a sick man say, but that he is sick? His thoughts are necessarily concentered in himself; he neither receives nor can give de'

light; his inquiries are after alleviations of pain,

and his eff~orts are to catch some momentary comThough I am now in the neighbourhood of the Peak, you must expect no account of its won-

fort.

its waters, its caverns, or its mines; but I will tell you, dear Sir, what I hope you will not hear with less satisfaction, that, for about a week past, my asthma has been less afflictive." Lichfield. October 2. "I believe you have been long enough acquainted with the phwnomena of sickness, not to be surprised that a sick man wishes to be where he is not, and where it appears to every body but himself that he might easily be,

ders, of its hills,

BOSWELL

562

without having the resolution to remove. I thought Ashbourne a soUtary place, but did not come hither till last Monday. I have here more company, but my health has for this last week not advanced; and in the languor of disease how little can be done? Whither or when I shall make my next remove I cannot tell; but I entreat you, dear Sir, to let me know, from time to time, where you may be found, for your residence is a very powerful attractive to. Sir, your most humble servant."

To Mr. Dfar

Sir, I

Perkins cannot but flatter myself that

me will make you glad to am, and in what state. have been struggling very hard with my

youi kmdness for

know where I

diseases.

My

I

breath has been very

much

ob-

and the water has attempted to encroach upon me again. I past the first part of the summer at Oxford, afterwards I went to

structed,

Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, returned to Lichfield. My breath is nov/ much easier, and the water is in a great measure run away, so that I hope to see you again before winter. Please to make my compliments to Mrs. Perkins, and to Mr. and Mrs. Barclay. I am, dear Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson Lichfield, Oct. 4, 1784 Lichfield, thence to

and a week ago

I

To THE Right Hon. William Gerard Hamilton Dear Sir, Considering what reason you gave me

in the spring to conclude that you took part whatever good or evil might befal me, I ought not to have omitted so long the account which I am now about to give you. My diseases are an asthma and a dropsy, and, what is less in

curable, seventy-five. Of the dropsy, in the beginning of the summer, or in the spring, I recovered to a degree which struck with wonder both me and my physicians: the asthma now is likewise, for a time, very much relieved. I went to Oxford, where the asthma was very tyrannical, and the dropsy began again to threaten me; but

seasonable physick stopped the inundation: I then returned to London, and in July took a resolution to visit Staffordshire and Derbyshire, where I am yet struggling with my diseases. The dropsy made another attack, and was not easily ejected, but at last gave way. The asthma suddenly remitted in bed, on the 13th of August, and, though now very oppressive, is, I think, still something gentler than it was before the remission. limbs are miserably debilitated, and my nights are sleepless and tedious. When you read this, dear Sir, you are not sorry that I wrote no sooner. I will not prolong my com-

My

plaints. I

hope

talk over

what we have

still

to see

you

in a happier hour, to

often talked,

and per-

[1784

haps to find new topicks of merriment, or new incitements to curiosity. I am, dear Sir, &c. Sam. Johnson Lichfield, Oct. 20, 1784

To John

Paradise, Esq.^

in all my summer's excurhave given you no account of myself, I hope you think better of me than to imagine it possible for me to forget you, whose kindness to me has been too great and too constant not to have made its impression on a harder breast than mine. Silence is not very culpable when nothing pleasing is suppressed. It would have alleviated none of your complaints to have read my vicissitudes of evil. I have struggled hard with very formidable and obstinate maladies; and though I cannot talk of health, think all praise due to my Creator and Preserver for the continuance of my life. The dropsy has made

Dear

sion

Sir,

Though

I

two attacks, and has given way to medicine; the asthma is very oppressive, but that has likewise once remitted. I am very weak, and very sleepbut it is time to conclude the tale of misery. hope, dear Sir, that you grow better, for you have likewise your share of human evil, and that your lady and the young charmers are well. I am, dear Sir, &c. Sam. Johnson Lichfield, Oct. 20, 1784 less; I

To Mr. George

NicolI have been much oppressed by my asthma, but it has lately been less laborious. When I sit I am almost at ease, and I can walk, though yet very little, with less difficulty for this week past, than before. I hope I shall again enjoy my friends, and that you and I shall have a little more literary conversation. Where I now am, every thing is very liberally provided for me but conversation. My friend is sick himself, and the reciprocation of complaints and groans affords not much of either pleasure or instruction. What we have not at home this town does not supply, and I shall be glad of a little imported intelligence, and hope that you will bestow, now and then, a little time on the relief and entertainment of, Sir, yours, &c. Sam. Johnson Ashbourne, Aug. 9, 1 784

Dear

Sir, Since

we

parted,

1

To Mr. Cruikshank Do not suppose that I forget you; I shall never be accused of forgetting my

Dear hope

I

Sir.

'Son of the late Peter Paradise, Esq., his Britannick Majesty's Counsul at Salonica, in Macedonia, by his lady, a native of thai country. He studied at Oxford, and has been honoured by that University with the degree of LL.D. He is distinguished not only by his learning and talents, but by an amiable disposition, gentleness of manners, and a very general acquaintance with well-informed and accomplished persons of almost all nations. ^Bookseller to his Majesty.

LIFE OF

1784]

had, till lately, nothing to write but complaints upon complaints, of miseries upon miseries; but within this fortnight I have received great relief. Have your Lectures any vacation? If you are released from the necessity of daily study, you may find time for a letter to benefactors.

I

me. [In

this letter he states the particulars of his In return for this account of my health, let me have a good account of yours, and of your prosperity in all your undertakings. I am, dear Sir, yours, &c. Sam. Johnson Ashbourne, Sept. 4, 1784

case.]

To Mr. Thomas Da vies: August 14. "The tenderness with which you always treat me, makes me culpable in my own eyes for having omitted to write in so long a separation; I had, indeed, nothing to say that you could wish to hear. All has been hitherto misery accumulated upon misery, disease corroborating disease, till yesterday my asthma was perceptibly and unexpectedly mitigated. I am much comforted with this short relief, and am willing to flatter myself that it may continue and improve. I have at present, such a degree of ease, as not only may admit the comforts, but the duties of life. Make my compliments to Mrs. Davies. Poor dear Allen, he was a good man."

To

Ashbourne, July 21. "The tenderness with which I am treated by my friends, makes it reasonable to suppose that they are desirous to know the state of my health, and a desire so benevolent ought to be gratified. I came to Lichfield in two days without any painful fatigue, and on Mon-

day came hither, where I purpose to stay and try what air and regularity will eff"ect. I cannot yet persuade myself that I have made much

My

sleep is little, my breath very much encumbered, and my legs are very weak. The water has encreased a little, but has again run off". The most distressing symptom is is

want

of sleep."

August little

1

9.

"Having had since our separation, you or myself by

to say that could please

have not been lavish of useless letters; myself that you will partake of the pleasure with which I can now tell you that about a week ago, I felt suddenly a sensible remission saying,

but

I

I flatter

of my asthma,

and consequently a greater lightand motion. Of this grateful alleknow not the cause, nor dare depend

ness of action

viation

upon

I

its

deavour

continuance, but while to enjoy

municating, while

it,

it

it

lasts I

en-

am desirous of comlasts, my pleasure to my

and

5^2

had written before the post, which stays in this town but a little while, brought me your letter. Mr. Davies seems to have represented my little tendency to re-

friends. Hitherto,

dear

Sir, I

covery in terms too splendid. I ain still restless, still weak, still watery, but the asthma is less oppressive. Poor Ramsay P On which side soever I turn, mortality presents its formidable frown. I left

when

three old friends at Lichfield

and now found them

1

was

dead. I no sooner lose sight of dear Allen, than I am told that I shall see him no more. That we must all die, we always knew; I wish I had sooner remembered it. Do not think me intrusive or importunate, if I now call, dear Sir, on you to relast there,

member Sept.

all

it." 2.

am

"I

glad that a

little

favour from

the court has intercepted your furious purposes. I

could not in any case have approved such puband should have con-

lick violence of resentment,

sidered any who encouraged sport for themselves, than

sentment

gratifies

it,

as rather seeking

honour

for you.

him who intended an

Re-

injury,

and pains him unjustly who did not intend

it.

But all this is now superfluous. I still continue by God's mercy to mend. My breath is easier,

my

nights are quieter,

bulk,

and stronger

and

my

legs are less in

in use. I have, however, yet

a great deal to overcome, before I can yet attain even an old man's health. Write, do write to me

Sir Joshua Reynolds:

progress in recovery.

JOHNSON

now and then we are now old acquaintance, and perhaps few people have lived so much and so long together, with less cause of complaint on either side. The retrospection of this is very pleasant, and I hope we shall never think on each other with less kindness." Sept. g. "I could not answer your letter before this day, because I went on the sixth to Chatsworth, and did not come back till the post was gone. Many words, I hope, are not necessary between you and me, to convince you what gratitude is excited in my heart, by the Chancellor's liberality and your kind offices. I did not indeed expect that what was asked by the Chancellor would have been refused, but since it has, we will not tell that any thing has been asked. I have enclosed a letter to the Chancellor which, when you have read it, you will be pleased to seal with a head, or other general seal, and convey it to him; had I sent it directly to him, I should have seemed to overlook the favour of your intervention. My last letter told you of my advance in health, which, I think, in the whole still contin;

1

Allan Ramsay, Esq., painter to his Majesty, 1 784, in the 71st year of his age,

who died Aug. 10, much regretted by

his friends.

BOSWELL

5^4

there is now very appearance; the asthma is much less troublesome, and seems to remit something day after day. I do not despair of supporting an English winter. At Chatsworth, I met young Mr. Burke, who led me very commodiously into conversation with the Duke and Duchess. We had a very good morning. The dinner was publick." Sept. 18. "I flattered myself that this week would have given me a letter from you, but none has come. Write to me now and then, but direct your next to Lichfield. I think, and I hope, am sure, that I still grow better; I have sometimes good nights; but am still in my legs weak, but so much mended, that I go to Lichfield in hope of being able to pay my visits on foot, for there are no coaches. I have three letters this day, all about the balloon, I could have been content with one. Do not write about the balloon, whatever else you may think proper to say." October 2. "I am always proud of your ap-

ues.

Of the hydropick tumour

httle

probation, and therefore was

much pleased

that

you liked my letter. When you copied it, you invaded the Chancellor's right rather than mine. The refusal I did not expect, but I had never thought much about it, for I doubted whether the Chancellor had so much tenderness for me as to ask. He, being keeper of the King's conscience, ought not to be supposed capable of an improper petition. All is not gold that glitters, as we have often been told; and the adage is verified in your place and my favour; but if what happens does not make us richer, we must bid it welcome, if it makes us wiser. I do not at present grow better, nor much worse my hopes, however, are somewhat abated, and a very great loss is the loss of hope, but I struggle on as I can." ;

To Mr. John

[1784

Mr. Allan was,

besides.

edly away, but

I

I have made little progress in recovery. I am very weak, and very sleepless; but I live on and hope." This various mass of correspondence, which I have thus brought together, is valuable, both as an addition to the store which the publick already has of Johnson's writings, and as exhibiting a genuine and noble specimen of vigour and vivacity of mind, which neither age nor sickness could impair or diminish. It may be observed, that his writing in every

way, whether for the publick, or privately to

Nichols:

"When you were here, you were pleased, as I am told, to think my absence an inconvenience. I should certainly have been very glad to give so skilful a lover of antiquities any information about my native place, of which, however, I know not much, and have reason to believe that not much is known. Though I have not given you any amusement, I have received amusement from you. At Ashbourne, where I had very little company, I had the luck to borrow Mr. Bowyer^s Life; a book so full of contemporary history, that a literary man must find some of his old friends. I thought that I could, now and then, have told you some hints worth your notice; and perhaps we may talk a life over. I hope we shall be much together; you must now be to me what you were before, and what dear

his

was by fits and starts; for we see frequently, that many letters are written on the same day. When he had once overcome his aversion friends,

to begin, he was, I suppose, desirous to go on, in order to relieve his mind from the uneasy reflection of delaying what he ought to do. While in the country, notwithstanding the accumulation of illness which he endured, his mind

did not lose its powers. He translated an Ode of Horace, which is printed in his Works, and composed several prayers. I shall insert one of them, which is so wise and energetick, so philosophical and so pious, that I doubt not of its affording consolation to many a sincere Christian, when in a state of mind to which I believe the best are

sometimes

liable.^

I am enabled fully to refute a very unjust reflection, by Sir John Hawkins, both against Dr. Johnson, and his faithful servant, Mr. Francis Barber; as if both of them had been guilty of culpable neglect towards a person of the name of Heely, whom Sir John chooses to

And

call

a

here

relation of

Dr. Johnson's.

The

fact

is,

that

he had indeed been married to one of his cousins, but she had ^Against inquisitive and perplexing thoughts. "O Lord, my Maker and Protector, who hast graciously sent me into this world to work out my salvation, enable me to drive from me all such unquiet and per-

Mr. Heely was not

Lichfield, Oct. 20.

He was taken unexpect-

think he was a very good man.

his relation;

plexing thoughts as may mislead or hinder me in the practice of those duties which Thou hast required. When I behold the works of thy hands, and consider the course of thy providence, give me grace always to remember that thy thoughts are not my thoughts, nor thy ways my ways. And while it shall please Thee to continue me in this world,

where much is to be done, and little to be known, me by thy Holy Spirit, to withdraw my mind from unprofitable and dangerous inquiries, from teach

difficulties vainly curious, and doubts impossible to be solved. Let me rejoice in the light which Thou hast imparted, let me serve Thee with active zeal and humble confidence, and wait with patient expectation for the time in which the soul which Thou receivest shall be satisfied with knowledge. Grant this, Lord, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."

O

LIFE OF

1784]

died without having children, and he had married another woman; so that even the slight connection which there once had been by alliance was dissolved. Dr. Johnson, who had shewn very great liberality to this man while his first wife was alive, as has appeared in a former part of this work,^ was humane and charitable enough to continue his bounty to him occasionally; but

was no strong call of duty upon him do more. The following letter, obligingly communicated to me by Mr. Andrew Strahan, will confirm what I have surely there

upon

or

his legatee, to

565

We now

behold Johnson for the last time, in his native city, for which he ever retained a warm affection, and which, by a sudden apostrophe, under the word Lich, he introduces with reverence, into his immortal Work, The English Dictionary: Salve, magna parens)^ While here, he

—

a revival of all the tenderness of filial affection, an instance ofwhich appeared in his ordering the grave-stone and inscription over Elizabeth Blaney* to be substantially and carefully

felt

renewed.

To Mr. Henry White, a young clergyman, whom he now formed an intimacy, so as to

with

stated:

To Mr. Heely, No.

talk to

Pye-street,

5, in

Westminster

have much to spare. Two guineas is as much as you ought to be behind with your creditor. If you wait on want; you cannot suppose that

I

in New-street, Fetter-lane, or in

on Mr. Andrew Strahan, shew this, by which they are entreated to advance you two guineas, and to keep this as a voucher. I am, Sir, your humble servant, his absence,

Sam. Johnson

Ashbourne, Aug.

12,

1784

Indeed it is very necessary to keep in mind that John Hawkins has unaccountably viewed Johnson's character and conduct in almost every particular, with an unhappy prejudice. ^ Sir

^See p. 152. ^I shall add one instance only to those which I have thought it incumbent on me to point out. Talking of Mr. Garrick's having signified his willingness to let Johnson have the loan of any of his

assist him in his edition of Shakspeare; John says, (p. 444,) "Mr. Garrick knew not what risque he ran by this offer. Johnson had so

books to

Sir

strange a forgetfulness of obligations of this sort, that few who lent him books ever saw them again." This surely conveys a most unfavourable insinuation, and has been so understood. Sir John mentions the single case of a curious edition of Politian

which he tells us, "appeared to belong to Pembroke College, and which, probably, had been considered by Johnson as his own, for upwards of fifty years." Would it not be fairer to consider this as an inadvertence, and draw no general inference? The truth is, that Johnson was so attentive, that in one of his manuscripts in ray possession, he has marked in two columns, books borrowed, and books lent. [ante, p. 20],

In Sir John Hawkins's compilation, there are, however, some passages concerning Johnson which have unquestionable merit. One of them I shall transcribe, in justice to a writer whom I have had

much occasion to censure, and to shew my fairillustrious friend: ness as the biographer of "There was wanting in his conduct and behaviour.

too

my

him with

great freedom, he mentioned

that he could not in general accuse himself of

having been an undutiful son. "Once, indeed,

As necessity obliges you to call so soon again upon me, you should at least have told the smallest sum that will supply your present Sir,

Mr. Strahan,

JOHNSON

(said he,) I

my

was disobedient;

I

refused to attend

was the source of that refusal, and the remembrance of it was painful. few years ago, I desired to atone for this fault; I went to Uttoxeter in very bad father to Uttoxeter-market. Pride

A

weather, and stood for a considerable time bareheaded in the rain, on the spot where my father's stall used to stand. In contrition I stood, and I hope the penance was expiatory." that dignity which results from a regular and orderly course of action, and by an irresistible power commands esteem. He could not be said to be a stayed man, nor so to have adjusted in his mind the balance of reason and passion, as to give occasion to say what may be observed of some men, that all they do is just, fit, and right." [Hawkins's Johnson, p. 409.] Yet a judicious friend well suggests, "It might, however, have been added, that such men are often merely just, and rigidly correct, while their hearts are cold and unfeeling; and that Johnson's virtues were of a much higher tone than those of the stayed, orderly man, here described."

^The following circumstance, mutually to the honour of Johnson, and the corporation of his native city, has been communicated to me by the Reverend Dr. Vyse, from the Town-Clerk: "Mr. Simpson has now before him, a record of the respect and veneration which the Corporation of Lichfield, in the year 1 767, had for the merits and

—

learning of Dr. Johnson. His father built the corner-house in the Market-place, the two fronts of which, towards Market and Broad-market-street, stood upon waste land of the Corporation, under a forty years' lease, which was then expired. On the 15th of August, 1767, at a common-haU of the bailiffs and citizens, it was ordered (and that without any solicitation,) that a lease should be granted to Samuel Johnson, Doctor of Laws, of the encroachments at his house, for the term of ninety-nine years, at the old rent, which was five shillings. Of which, as Town-Clerk, Mr. Simpson had the honour and pleasure of informing him, and that he was desired to accept it, without paying any fine on the occasion, which lease was afterwards granted, and the Doctor died possessed of this property." *See p. 5.

—

BOSWELL

566

"I told him (says Miss Seward) in one of my latest visits to him, of a wonderful learned pig, which I had seen at Nottingham; and which did all that we have observed exhibited by dogs and horses. The subject amused him. 'Then, (said he,) the pigs are a race unjustly calumniated. Pig has, it seems, not been wanting to man, but man to pig. We do not allow time for his education,

we kill him at a year old.' Mr. Henry White,

who was

present, observed that

if

this instance

had happened in or before Pope's time, he would not have been justified in instancing the swine as the lowest

degree of groveling

instinct.

Dr.

Johnson seemed pleased with the observation, while the person who made it proceeded to remark, that great torture must have been employed, ere the indocility of the animal could have been subdued. 'Certainly, (said the Doctor;) but, (turning to m.e,) how old is your pig?' I

—

"

told him, three years old. 'Then, (said he,) the

pig has no cause to complain; he would have been killed the first year if he had not been educated, and protracted existence is a good recom-

pence

for very considerable degrees of torture.'

As Johnson had now very faint hopes of recovery, and as Mrs. Thrale was no longer devoted to him, it might have been supposed that he would naturally have chosen to remain in the comfortable house of his beloved wife's daughter,

and end his life where he began it. But there was him an animated and lofty spirit,^ and however complicated diseases might depress ordinanary mortals, all who saw him, beheld and acknow^ledged the invictum animum Catonis. Such was in

ardour even at this time, that he one friend, "Sir, I look upon every day to be lost, in which I do not make a new acquaintance"; and to another, when talking of his illness, "I will be conquered; I will not capitulate." And such was his love of London, so high a relish had he of its magnificent extent, and variety of intellectual entertainment, that he languished when absent from it, his mind having become quite luxurious from the long habit his intellectual

said to

cepting

though at Lichfield, surrounded with friends, loved and revered him, and for whom he had a very sincere affection, he still found that such conversation as London affords, could be ^Mr. Burke suggested to me as applicable to Johnson, what Cicero, in his Gato Major, says of Appius: "Intentum enim animum tanquam arcum ha-

—

bebat, nee languescens sticcumbebat senectuti" ; repeating,

same time, the following noble words in the same passage: "Ita enim senectus hones ta est, si se at the

ipsa defendit, sijus si

suum

usque ad extremum

retinet, si

vitce

nemini emancipata

spiritum vindicetjus suum."

est,

fees,

inade hiin resolve to return to the

capital.

From Lichfield he came to Birmingham, where he passed a few days with his worthy old schoolfellow, Mr. Hector, who thus writes to me: "He was very solicitous with me to recollect some of our most early transactions, and transm.it them to him, for I perceive nothing gave him greater pleasure than calling to mind those days of our innocence. I complied with his request, and he only received them a few days before his death. I have transcribed for your inspection, exactly the minutes I wrote to him." This paper having been found in his repositories after his death, Sir John Hawkins has inserted it entire, and I have inade occasional use of it and other communications from Mr. Hector, - in the course of this Work. I have both visited and corresponded with him since Dr. Johnson's death, and by my inquiries concerning a great variety of particulars have obtained additional information. I followed the same mode with the Reverend Dr. Taylor, in whose presence I wrote down a good deal of what he could tell; and he, at my request, signed his name, to give it authenticity. It is very rare to find any person who is able to give a distinct account of the life even of one whom he has known intimately, without questions being put to them. My friend Dr. Kippis has told me, that on this account it is a practice with him to draw out a biographical catechism-. Johnson then proceeded to Oxford, where he was again kindly received by Dr. Adams, who was pleased to give m.e the following account in

—

one of

his letters (Feb. 17th, 1785):

"His last visit was, I believe, to my house, which he left, after a stay of four or five days. We had much serious talk together, for Which I ought to be the better as long as I live. You will remember some discourse which we had in the

of enjoying the metropolis; and, therefore, al-

who

1784

found no where else. These feelings, joined, probably, to some flattering hopes of aid from the eminent physicians and surgeons in London, who kindly and generously attended him without ac-

^It is

a most agreeable circumstance attending

the publication of this Work, that Mr. Hector has survived his illustrious schoolfellow so many years; that he still retains his health and spirits; and has gratified me with the following acknowledgement: "I thank you, most sincerely thank you, for the great and long continued entertainment your Life of Dr. Johnson has afforded me, and others, of my particular friends." Mr. Hector, besides setting me right as to the verses on a sprig of Myrtle, (see p. 21 note,) has favoured me with two English odes, written by Dr. Johnson, at an early period of his life, which will appear in my edition of his

poems.

— LIFE OF

1784]

the subject of prayer, and the difficulty of this sort of composition. He reminded

summer upon

and of my having wished him to try his hand, and to give us a specimen of the style and manner that he approved. He added, that he was now in a right frame of mind, and as he could not possibly employ his time better, he would in earnest set about it. But I find upon inquiry, that no papers of this sort were left be-

me

of this,

hind him, except a few short ejaculatory forms suitable to his present situation."

Dr. Adams had not then received accurate information on this subject; for it has since appeared that various prayers had been composed by him at different periods, which, intermingled with pious resolutions, and some short notes of his life, were entitled by him Prayers and Meditations, and have, in pursuance of his earnest requisition, in the hopes of doing good, been published, with a judicious well-written Preface, by the Reverend Mr. Strahan, to whom he delivered them. This admirable collection, to which I have frequently referred in the course of this Work, evinces, beyond all his compositions for

and all the eulogies of his friends and admirers, the sincere virtue and piety of the publick,

Johnson. ticity,

It

proves with unquestionable authen-

that amidst

ties, his

all his

constitutional infirmi-

earnestness to conform his practice to the

precepts of Christianity was unceasing, and that he habitually endeavoured to refer every transaction of his life to the will of the Supreme Being.

He

arrived in London on the 1 6th of Novemand next day sent to Dr. Burney the following note, which I insert as the last token of his remembrance of that ingenious and amiable man, and as another of the many proofs of the tenderness and benignity of his heart: ber,

"Mr. Johnson, who came home

last night,

sends his respects to dear Dr. Burney, and the dear Burneys, little and great."

To Mr. Hector, in Birmingham Dear Sir, I did not reach Oxford until day morning, and then

all

Fri-

sent Francis to see the balloon fly, but could not go myself. I staid at Oxford till Tuesday, and then came in the common vehicle easily to London. I am as I was, and having seen Dr. Brocklesby, am to ply the squills; but, whatever be their efficacy, this world must soon pass away. Let us think seriously on our duty. I send my kindest respects to dear Mrs. Careless: let me have the prayers of both. have all lived long, and must soon part. God have mercy on us, for the sake of our Lord I

We

Jesus Christ.

Amen.

I

am, &c. Sam. Johnson

London, Nov.

17,

1784

—

JOHNSON

567

His correspondence with me, after his

letter

on the subject of my settling in London, shall now, so far as is proper, be produced in one series:

me from

Ashbourne: and found every body glad enough to see me. On the 20th, I came hither, and found a house half-built, of very uncomfortable appearance; but my own room has not been altered. That a man worn with diseases, in his seventy-second or third year, should condemn part of his remaining life to pass among ruins and rubbish, and that no inconsiderable part, appears to me very strange. I know that your kindness makes you impatient to know the state of my health, in which I cannot boast of much improvement. I came through the journey without much inconvenience, but when I attempt self-motion I find my legs weak, and my breath very short; this day I have been much disordered. I have no company; the Doctor^ is busy in his fields, and goes to bed at nine, and his whole system is so diff'erent from mine, that we seem formed for different elements; I July 26, he wrote to

"On

the 14th

have, therefore,

I

came

all

to Lichfield,

my amusement to seek with-

in myself."

Having written

to him, in bad spirits, a letter with dejection and fretfulness, and at the sam.e time expressing anxious apprehensions concerning him, on account of a dream which had disturbed me; his answer was chiefly in terms of reproach, for a supposed charge of "affecting discontent, and indulging the vanity of complaint." It, however, proceeded, "Write to ine often, and write like a man. I consider your fidelity and tenderness as a great part of the comforts which are yet left me, and sincerely wish we could be nearer to each other. .. My dear friend, life is very short and very uncertain; let us spend it as well as we can. My worthy neighbour, Allen, is dead. Love me as well as you can. Pay my respects to dear Mrs. Boswell. Nothing ailed me at that time; let your superstition at last have an end." Feeling very soon, that the manner in which he had written might hurt me, he two days afterwards, July 28, wrote to me again, giving me an account of his sufferings; after which, he thus filled

.

proceeds: Before this letter, you will have had one which I hope you will not take amiss; for it contains only truth, and that truth kindly intended. '

'

.

Spartam quam nactus best of your lot,

es orna;

make

the most

.

.

and

and compare yourself not with

the few that are above you, but with the multi-

^The Rev. Dr. Taylor^

BOSWELL

568

Go steadily fortudes which are below you. ward with lawful business or honest diversions. .

Be

(as

Temple

says of the

.

.

Dutchmen)

well

when

you are not ill, and pleased when you are not angry. This may seem but an ill return for your tenderness; but I mean it well, for I love you with great ardour and sincerity. Pay my respects to dear Mrs. Boswell, and teach the young ones to love .

.

.

me." I unfortunately was so much indisposed during a considerable part of the year, that it was not, or at least I thought it \vas not in my power to write to my illustrious friend as formerly, or without expressing such complaints as offended him. Having conjured him not to do me the in-

me with affectation, I was with much regret long silent. His last letter to me then came, and affected me very tenderly:

justice of charging

—

To James Boswell,

Esq.

have this summer sometimes amended, and sometimes relapsed, but, upon the whole, have lost ground, very much. My legs are extremely weak, and my breath very short, and the water is now encreasing upon me. In this uncomfortable state your letters used to relieve; what is the reason that I have them no longer? Are you sick, or are you sullen? Whatever be the reason, if it be less than necessity, drive it away; and of the short life that we have, make the best use for yourself and for your friends. ... I am sometimes afraid that your omission to write has some real cause, and shall be glad to know that you are not sick, and that nothing ill has befallen dear Mrs. Boswell, or any of your famUy. I am. Sir, your, &c. Sam. Johnson

Dear

Sir,

I

Lichfield, Nov. 5, 1784

Yet

it

was not a

little

painful to

that in a paragraph of this letter,

me

to find,

which

I

have

persevered in arraigning me as before, which was strange in him who had so much experience of what I suffered. I, however, wrote to him two as kind letters as I could; the last of which came too late to be read by him, for his illness encreased more rapidly upon him than I had apprehended; but I had the consolation of being informed that he spoke of me on his death-bed, with affection, and I look forward with humble hope of renewing our friendship in a better world. omitted, he

still

I now relieve the readers of this Work from any farther personal notice of its authour, who if he should be thought to have obtruded himself too much upon their attention, requests them

to consider the peculiar plan of his biographical undertaking.

Soon

1784 after Johnson's return to the metropolis,

both the asthma and dropsy became more vioand distressful. He had for some time kept a journal in Latin of the state of his illness, and the remedies which he used, under the title of Mgri Ephemeris, which he began on the 6 th of July, but continued it no longer than the 8th of November; finding, I suppose, that it was a mournful and unavailing register. It is in my possession; and is written with great care and lent

accuracy. Still his

love of literature^ did not

fail.

A very

^It is truly wonderful to consider the extent and constancy of Johnson's literary ardour, notwithstanding the melancholy which clouded and em-

bittered his existence. Besides the numerous and various works which he executed, he had, at different times, formed schemes of a great many more, of which the following catalogue was given by him to Mr. Langton, and by that gentleman presented to his Majesty:

"Divinity

"A

small book of precepts and directions for piety; the hint taken from the directions in Morton's exercise.

"Philosophy, History, and Literature in general

"History of Criticism, as it relates to judging of authours, from Aristotle to the present age. An account of the rise and improvements of that art; of the different opinions of authours, ancient and

modern. "Translation of the History of Herodian. "New edition of Fairfax's Translation of Tasso, with notes, glossary, &c. "Chaucer, a new edition of him, from manuscripts and old editions, with various readings, conjectures, remarks on his language, and the changes it had undergone from the earliest times to his age, and from his to the present: with notes explanatory of customs, &c., and references to Boccace, and other authours from whom he has borrowed, with an account of the liberties he has taken in telling the storiss; his life, and an exact etymological glossary. "Aristotle's Rhetorick,

a translation of it into Eng-

lish.

"A

Collection of Letters, translated from the writers, with some account of the several authours.

modern

"Oldham's Poems, with

notes, historical

and

critical.

"Roscommon's Poems, with

notes.

"Lives of the Philosophers, written with a polite air, in such a manner as may divert as well as instruct.

"History of the Heathen Mythology, with an explication of the fables, both allegorical and historical; with references to the poets. "History of the State of Venice, in a compendious manner. "Aristotle's Ethicks, an English translation of

them, with notes. "Geographical Dictionary, from the French. "Hierocles upon Pythagoras, translated into English, perhaps with notes. This is done by Norris.

LIFE OF

1784]

few days before his death he transmitted to his friend Mr. John Nichols, a list of the authours of the Universal History, mentioning their several shares in that work. It has, according to his direction, been deposited in the British Museum,

"A book of Letters, upon all kinds of subjects. "Claudian, a variorum, Ln the

new edition of his works, cum manner of Burman.

notis

"Tuily's Tusculan Questions, a translation of

them. "Tuily's De those books.

"Benzo's

Natura Deorum, a translation of

New

History of the

New

World, to be

translated.

"Machiavel's History of Florence, to be translated.

"History of the Revival of Learning in Europe containing an account of whatever contributed to the restoration of literature; such as controversies, printing, the destruction of the Greek empire, the encouragement of great men, with the lives of the most eminent patrons and most eminent early professors of all kinds of learning in different countries. "A Body of Chronology, in verse, with historical notes.

"A Table of the Spectators, Tatlers, and Guardians, distinguished by figures into six degrees of value, with notes, giving the reasons of preference or degradation. "A Collection of Letters from English authours, with a preface giving some account of the writers; with reasons for selection, and criticism upon styles; remarks on each letter, if needful. "A Collection of Proverbs from various languages. Jan. 6,-53. "A Dictionary to the Common Prayer, in imitation of Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible. March, 52. "A Collection of Stories and Examples, like those of Valerius Maximus. Jan. 10, 53. "From ^lian, a volume of select Stories, per-

—

—

haps from others. Jan. 28,

— 53.

"Collection of Travels, Voyages, Adventures, of Countries. "Dictionary of Ancient History and Mythology. "Treatise on the Study of Polite Literature, containing the history of learning, directions for editions, commentaries, &c. "Maxims, Characters, and Sentiments, after the manner of Bruyere, collected out of ancient authours, particularly the Greek, with Apophthegms. "Classical Miscellanies, Select Translations from ancient Greek and Latin authours. "Lives of Illustrious Persons, as well of the active as the learned, in imitation of Plutarch. "Judgement of the learned upon English au-

and Descriptions

thours.

"Poetical Dictionary of the English tongue. "Considerations upon the present state of London. "Collection of Epigrams, with notes and observations.

"Observations on the English language, relating to words, phrases, and modes of Speech. "Minutiae Literariae, Miscellaneous reflections, criticisms, emendations, notes. "History of the Constitution. ^'Comparison of Philosophical and Christian

JOHNSON

569 and is printed in The Gentleman^s Magazine for December, 1784. During his sleepless nights he amused himself by translating into Latin verse, from the Greek,

many

of the epigrams in the Anthologia. These

Morality, by sentences collected from the moralists

and

fathers.

"Plutarch's Lives, in English, with notes. "Poetry and works of Imagination "Hymn to Ignorance. "The Palace of Sloth, a vision.

—

"Coluthus, to be translated. "Prejudice, a poetical essay. "The Palace of Nonsense, a vision." Johnson's extraordinary facility of composition, when he shook off his constitutional indolence, and resolutely sat down to write, is admirably described by Mr. Courtenay, in his Poetical Review, which I have several times quoted: While through life's maze he sent a piercing view. His mind expansive to the object grew. With various stores of erudition fraught. The lively image, the deep-searching thought. Slept in repose; but when the moment press' d. The bright ideas stood at once confessed;

—

—

—

Instant his genius sped

its

vigorous rays.

And o'er the letter' d world diffus'd a blaze: As womb'd with fire the cloud electrick flies. And calmly o'er th' horizon seems to rise; Touch' d by the pointed steel, the lightning flows. all th' expanse with rich effulgence glows. shall in vain endeavour to know with exact precision every production of Johnson's pen. He owned to me, that he had written about forty sermons; but as I understood that he had given or sold them to different persons, who were to preach them as their own, he did not consider himself at liberty to acknowledge them. Would those who

And

We

were thus aided by him, who are stiU

alive, and the are dead, fairly inform the world, it would be obligingly gratifying a reasonable curiosity, to which there should, I think, now be no objection. Two volumes of them, published since his death, are sufficiently ascertained; see p. 356-7. I have before me, in his hand-writing, a fragment of twenty quarto leaves, of a translation into English of Sallust, De Bello Catilinario. When it was done I have no notion; but it seems to have no very superior merit to mark it as his. Beside the publications heretofore mentioned, I am satisfied, from internal evidence, to admit also as genuine the following, which, notwithstanding all my chronological care, escaped me in the course of this

friends of those

who

work: "Considerations on the Case of Dr.Trapp's Sermons," t published in 1 739, in The Gentleman's Magazine. It is a very ingenious defence of the right of abridging an autiiour's work, without being held as infringing his property. This is one of the nicest questions in the Law of Literature, and I cannot help thinking, that the indulgence of abridging is often exceedingly injurious to authours and booksellers, and should in very few cases be permitted. At any rate, to prevent difficult and uncertain discussion, and give an absolute security to authours in the property of their labours, no abridgement whatever should be permitted, till after the expiration

;

BOSWELL

570

some other poems by him in Latin, he gave to his friend Mr. Langton, who, having added a few notes, sold them to the booksellers for a small sum, to be given to some of Johnson's relations, which was accordingly done and they are printed in the collection of his translations, with

works. A very erroneous notion has circulated as to Johnson's deficiency in the knowledge of the Greek language, partly owing to the modesty

with which, from knowing how much there was to be learnt, he used to mention his own comparative acquisitions. When Mr. Cumberland^ talked to him of the Greek fragments which are so well illustrated in The Observer, and of the

Greek dramatists in general, he candidly acknowledged his insufficiency in that particular ^Mr. Cumberland assures me, that he was always treated with great courtesy by Dr. Johnson, who, in his Letters to Mrs. Thrale, vol. ii, p. 68, thus speaks of that learned, ingenious, and accomplished gentleman: "The want of company is an inconvenience: but Mr. Cumberland is a million."

[1784

branch of Greek literature. Yet it may be said, that though not a great, he was a good Greek scholar. Dr. Charles Burney, the younger,

who

universally acknowledged by the best judges

is

to be one of the few men of this age who are very eminent for their skill in that noble language, has assured me, that Johnson could give a Greek word for almost every English one; and that although not sufficiently conversant in the niceties of the language, he upon some occasions discovered, even in these, a considerable degree

Mr. Dalzel, Professor of Greek Edinburgh, whose skill in it is unquestionable, mentioned to me, in very liberal terms, the impression which was made upon him by Johnson, in a conversation which they had in London concerning that language. As Johnson, therefore, was undoubtedly one of the first Latin of critical acumen. at

modern times, let us not deny to his fame some additional splendour from Greek. scholars in

I

shall

now

fulfil

specimens of various

my

promise of exhibiting

sorts of imitation of John-

son's style.

of such a number of years as the Legislature may be pleased to fix. But, though it has been confidently ascribed to him, I cannot allow that he wrote a Dedication to both Houses of Parliament of a book entitled The Evangelical History Harmonized He was no croaker; no declaimer against the times. He would not have written, "That we are fallen upon an age in which corruption is not barely universal, is universally confessed." Nor "Rapine preys on the publick without opposition, and perjury betrays it without inquiry." Nor would he, to exite a speedy reformation, have conjured up such phantoms of terrour as these: "A few years longer, and perhaps all enmay be swallowed by deavours will be in vain. an earthquake: we may be delivered to our enemies." This is not Johnsonian. There are, indeed, in this Dedication, several sentences constructed upon the model of those of Johnson. But the imitation of the form, without the spirit of his style, has been so general, that this of itself is not sufficient evidence. Even our newspaper writers aspire to it. In an account of the funeral of Edwin, the comedian, in The Diary of Nov. 9, 1790, that son of drollery is thus described: "A man who had so often cheered the sullenness of vacancy, and suspended the approaches of sorrow." And in The Dublin Evening Post, August 16, there is the following paragraph: "It is a sin1 791 gular circumstance, that, in a city like this, containing 200,000 people, there are three months in the year during which no place of publick amusement is open. Long vacation is here a vacation from pleasure, as well as business; nor is there any mode of passing the listless evenings of declining summer, but in the riots of a tavern, or the stupidity of a coffee-house." I have not thought it necessary to specify every copy of verses written by Johnson, it being my intention to publish an authentick edition of all his Poetry, with notes. .

We

,

In the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, is an "Essay on the Style of Dr. Samuel Johnson, "by the Reverend RobertBurrowes, 1

787, there

whose respect

for the great object of his criti-

cism- is thus evinced in the concluding paragraph: "I have singled him out from the whole body of English writers, because his universally-acknowledged beauties would be most apt to induce imitation; and I have treated rather on his faul ts than his perfections, because an essay might comprize ail the observations I could make upon his faults, while volumes would not be sufficient for a treatise on his perfections." Mr. BuRROWTES has analysed the composition ofJohnson, and pointed out its peculiarities with

much acuteness; and I would recommend a careEssay to those, who being cap-

ful perusal of his

tivated by the union of perspicuity and splendour which the writings of Johnson contain,

without having a sufficient portion of his vigour of mind, may be in danger of becoming bad copyists of his manner. I, however, cannot but observe, and I observe it to his credit, that this learned gentleman has himself caught no mean degree of the expansion and harmony, which,

^We must phor

smile at a little inaccuracy of metain the Preface to the Transactions, which is

written by Mr. Burrowes. The critick of the style of Johnson having, with a just zeal for literature, observed, that the whole nation are called on to exert themselves, afterwards says: "They are called on by every tye which can have a laudable influence on the heart of man."

— LIFE OF

1784]

other circumstances, characterise the sentences of Johnson. Thus, in the Preface to the volume in which his Essay ap-

independent of

we

pears,

all

it

attention

not to afford many principles whose use may extend considerably beyond the science to which they primarily belong; and that no proposition is so purely theoretical as to be totally incapable of being applied to practical purposes. There is no apparent connection between the

rest, as

duration and the cycloidal arch, the properties of which duly attended to, have furnished us with our best regulated methods of measuring time: and he who has made himself master of the nature and affections of the logarithmick curve, is not aware that he has advanced considerably towards ascertaining the proportionable density of the air at its various distances

from the surface of the earth."

The

ludicrous imitators of Johnson's style are

innumerable. Their general method is to accumulate hard words, without considering, that, although he was fond of introducing them occasionally, there

is

not a single sentence in

all

where they are crowded together,

his writings

imaginary Mrs. Thrale, which appeared in the news-papers:

as in the first verse of the following

Ode by him

to

Cervisial coctor's viduate dame, Opin'st thou this gigantick frame,

Procumbing Shall,

of the learned.

retirement, secluded from the assemblies of the

and remote from the circles of the polite, once comprehend the definitions, and be grateful for such a seasonable and necessary gay,

catenated by

elucidation of his mother-tongue." Annexed to this letter is a short specimen of

the work, thrown together in a vague and desultory

manner, not even adhering

The serious imitators

of Johnson's style, whethby the imperceptible effect of its strength and animation, are, as I have had already occasion to observe, so many, that I might introduce quotations from a numerous body of writers in our language, since he ap-

intentionally or

er

peared in the literary world. only the following:

thy charms, arrru.

William RoBERXseN, D.D. in his rudappears as lord of the creation, giving lav.^ to various tribes of animals which he has tamed and reduced to subjection. The Tartar follows his prey on the horse which he has reared^ est state,

or tends his numerous herds, which furnish

for caricature.

power

arm."^

from Lexiphanes; containing Proposals

a Glossary or Vocabulary of the Vulgar Tongue: intended as a Supplement to a larger DiCTlONARr. It is

on

Johnson, whose style is thus imitated, without being grossly overcharged: is

easy to foresee, that the idle and illiterI have increased their la-

ate will complain that

bours by endeavouring to diminish them; and that I have explained what is more easy by what

more difficult ignotum per ignotius. I expect, on the other hand, the liberal acknowledgements is

Edv^ard Gibbon, Esq.

"Of all our passions and is

appetites, the love of

of the most imperious

in his Prose on several occasions,

for

"It

him

both with food and clothing; the Arab has rendered the camel docile, and avails himself of its persevering strength; the Laplander has formed the rein-deer to be subservient to his will; and even the people of Kamschatka have trained their dogs to labour. This command over the inferiour creatures is one of the noblest preroga-

own

sportive sally of ridicule

point out

"In other parts of the globe, man,

and a thousand other such attempts, are which the writers imagined they were turning into ridicule. There is not similarity enough for burlesque, or even

meant as a

I shall

man, and among the greatest efforts of wisdom and power. Without this, his dominion is incomplete. He is a monarch who has no subjects; a master without servants; and must perform every operation by the strength of his

This,

Mr. CoLMAN,

to alphabet-

ical concatenation.^

totally unlike the original,

evidently

buried in scholastick

his

Perennially be thine?

A Letter

is

tives of

at thy shrine:

A captive in thy ambient

has

571

He who

will at

find:

be said that in societies of this sort, too is frequently bestowed on subjects barren and speculative, it may be answered, that no one science is so litde connected with "If

much

JOHNSON

^"Higledy piggledy, fusion.

and unsociable

— Conglomeration

and con-

—

A culinary mixture of heteroge"Hodge-podge, neous ingredients: applied metaphorically to all discordant combinations. "Tit for Tat, Adequate retaliation.

— — Hesitation and irresolution. "Fee! fau! fum! — Gigantic intonations. ''Rigmarole, — Discourse, incoherent and rhapsodical. "Crincum-crancum, — Lines of irregularity and involution. "Dingdong, — Tintinabulary chimes, «sed meta"Shiily Shally,

phorically to signify dispatch and vehemence." ^History of America, vol. i, quarto, p. 332.

—

BOSWELL

572

nature, since the pride of one man requires the submission of the multitude. In the tumult of

discord the laws of society lose their force, is seldom supplied by those of

civil

and

their place

humanity. The ardour of contention, the pride

[1784

and violation: how much it has that demands amendment; and how much that, for fear of greater inconveniencies, must, perhaps, be

left

unaltered, though irregular."

A distinguished

contribute to inflame the mind, and to silence

authour in The Mirror,* a peEdinburgh, has imitated Johnson very closely. Thus, in No. 16: "The effects of the return of spring have been

the voice of pity."'

frequently remarked as well in relation to the

of victory, the despair of success, the memory of past injuries, and the fear of future dangers, all

human mind

Miss Burney

world.

"My family,

mistaking ambition for honour, and rank for dignity, have long planned a splendid connection for me, to which, though my invariable repugnance has stopped any advances, their wishes and their views immovably adhere. I

am

now listen to no make a trial where know not how to risk a

but too certain they will

other. I dread, therefore, to I

despair of success;

prayer with those

I

who may

silence

me by

a

command."^

so truly elegant in

language as the simRules will, there-

plicity of unviolated analogy.

be observed, so far as they are known and acknowledged: but, at the same time, the desire of improvement having been once excited will not remain inactive; and its efforts, unless assisted by knowledge, as much as they are prompted by zeal, will not unfrequently be found pernicious; so that the very persons whose intention it is to perfect the instrument of reason, will deprave and disorder it unknowingly. At such a time, then, it becomes peculiarly necessary that the analogy of language should be fully examined and understood; that its rules should be carefore,

down; and that

known how much

it

it

should be clearly which being al-

contains,

ready right should be defended from change ^Decline

and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol.

i.

chap.

4^Cecilia, Book vii, chap, i [5]. ^The passage which I quote is taken from that gentleman's Elements of Orthoepy; containing a dis-

View of Language, so

tinct

animal and vegetable

power

of this season has

the pipe of the shepherd."

The Reverend Dr. Knox, master of Tunbridge school, appears to

have the

imitari aveo of John-

son's style perpetually in his

mind; and

the whole Analogy of the English far as relates to Pronunciation, Accent 1 784. I beg leave to offer

and Quantity, London,

to his it,

we

partly ascribe the extensive popularity of

his writings.^

generally be perceived, that needless irregularity is the worst of all deformities, and that noth-

fully laid

as to the

reviving

been traced from the fields to the herds that inhabit them, and from the lower classes of beings up to man. Gladness and joy are described as prevailing through universal Nature, animating the low of the cattle, the carol of the birds, and

may

Reverend Mr. Nares'

is

The

assiduous, though not servile, study of

"In an enlightened and improving age, much perhaps is not to be apprehended from the inroads of mere caprice; at such a period it will

ing

riodical paper, published at

my

particular acknowledgements to the authour of a work of uncommon merit and great utility. I know no book which contains, in the same compass, more learning, polite literature, sound sense, accuracy of arrangement, and perspicuity of expression.

No. we —Literary, "The polish of ex-

In his Essays, Moral and find the following passage:

3,

ternal grace may indeed be deferred till the approach of manhood. When solidity is obtained by pursuing the modes prescribed by our forefathers, then may the file be used. The firm substance will bear attrition, and the lustre then acquired will be durable." ^That collection was presented to Dr. Johnson, I believe by its authours; and I heard him speak

very well of ^It

it.

were to be wished, that he had imitated that

great man in every respect, and had not followed the example of Dr. Adam Smith in ungraciously attacking his venerable Alma Mater, Oxford. It must, however, be observed, that he is much less to blame than Smith: he only objects to certain particulars; Smith to the whole institution; though indebted for much of his learning to an exhibition which he enjoyed for many years at Baliol College. Neither of them, however, wUl do any hurt to the noblest university in the world. While I animadvert on what appears to me exceptionable in some of the works of Dr. Knox, I cannot refuse due praise to others of his productions; particularly his sermons, and to the spirit with which he maintains, against presumptuous hereticks, the consolatory doctrines peculiar to the Christian Revelation. This he has done in a manner equally strenuous

and

conciliating. Neither ought I to omit mentioning a remarkable instance of his candour: Notwithstanding the wide difference of our opinions, upon the important subject of University education, in a letter to me concerning this Work, he thus expresses himself: "I thank you for the very great entertainment your Life of Johnson gives me. It is a most valuable work. Yours is a new species of biography. Happy for Johnson, that he had so able

a recorder of

his wit

and wisdom."

LIFE OF

1784]

There is, however, one in No. 1 1 which is blown up into such tximidity, as to be truly ludicrous. The writer means to tell us, that Members of Parliament, who have run in debt by extravagance, will sell their votes to avoid an arrest,^ which he thus expresses: "They who build houses and collect costly pictures and furniture with the money of an honest artisan or mechanick, will be very glad of emancipation from the hands of a bailiff, by a sale of their senatorial ,

—

suffrage."

think the most perfect imitation of Johna professed one, entitled A Criticism on Gray's Elegy in a Country Church-Tard, said to be written by Mr. Young, Professor of Greek, at Glasgow, and of which let him have the credit, unless a better title can be shewn. It has not only the peculiarities of Johnson's style, but that very

But

son

I

and illustration for which he was eminent. Having already quoted so much from others, I shall refer the curious to this performance, with an assurance of much entertainment.

may

be in any imigood judge must that they are obviously different from the

Yet whatever merit there

tations of Johnson's style, every

original; for all of them are either deficient in

its

overloaded with its peculiarities; and the powerful sentiment to which it is suited is not to be found.

force, or

Johnson's affection for his departed relations to grow warmer as he approached nearer to the time when he might hope to see them again. It probably appeared to him that he should upbraid himself with unkind inattention, were he to leave the world without having paid a tribute of respect to their memory.

seemed

To Mr. Green, Apothecary, at

Lichfield have enclosed the Epitaph for my Father, Mother, and Brother, to be all engraved on the large size, and laid in the middle aisle in St. Michael's church, which I request the clergyman and church wardens to permit. The first care must be to find the exact place

Dear

Sir, I

of interment, that the stone may protect the bodies. Then let the stone be deep, massy, and hard; and do not let the difference often pounds, or more, defeat our purpose. I

will

have enclosed ten pounds, and Mrs. Porter pay you ten more, which I gave her for the

same purpose. What more is wanted shall be sent; and I beg that all possible haste may be Knox, in his Aloral and Literary abstraction, be excused for not knowing the political regulations of his country. No senator can be in the hands of a baUiff. ^Dr.

may

573

wish to have it done while I am yet alive. Let me know, dear Sir, that you receive this. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, Sam. Johnson Dec. 2, 1784

made,

for I

To Mrs. Lucy Porter, in Lichfield Dear Madam, I am very ill, and desire your prayers.

I

have sent Mr. Green the Epitaph, to call on you for ten pounds.

and a power

I laid this summer a stone over Tetty, in the chapel of Bromley, in Kent. The inscription is in Latin, of which this is the English. [Here a

translation.]

That

is

species of literary discussion

see

JOHNSON

this

is

should know.

who can

tell?

done,

I

thought

it fit

that

you

What care will be taken of May God pardon and bless us,

Jesus Christ's sake.

I

us,

for

am, &c. Sam. Johnson

Dec. 2, 1784

My readers are now, at last, to behold Samuel Johnson preparing himself for that doom, from which the most exalted powers afford no exemption to man. Death had always been to him an object of terrour; so that, though by no means happy, he still clung to life with an eagerness at which many have wondered. At any time when he was ill, he was very much pleased to be told An ingenious member of informs me, that upon one he said to him that he saw health

that he looked better.

the Eumelian

Club,"^

occasion when returning to his cheek, Johnson seized him by the hand and exclaimed, "Sir, you are one of the kindest friends I ever had." His own state of his views of futurity will appear truly rational; and may, perhaps, impress the unthinking with seriousness. "You know, (says he,)^ I never thought confi-

dence with respect to futurity, any part of the character of a brave, a wise, or a good man. Bravery has no place where it can avail nothing; wis-

dom impresses strongly the consciousness of those which it is, perhaps, itself an aggravaand goodness, always wishing to be better,

faults, of

tion;

and imputing every deficience to criminal negligence, and every fault to voluntary corruption, never dares to suppose the condition of forgiveness fulfilled, nor what is wanting in the crime supplied by penitence. "This is the state of the best; but what must be the condition of him whose heart will not suf^A Club in London, founded by the learned and ingenious physician, Dr. Ash, in honour of whose name it was called Eumelian, from the Greek 'EiVjj.eki.a^; though it was warmly contended, and even put to a vote, that it should have the more obvious appellation of Fraxinean, from the Latin. 3Mrs. Thrale's Collection, March 10, 1784. Vol. ii,

P- 350-

BOSWELL

574 fer him to rank himself among the best, or among

the good? Such must be his dread of the approaching trial, as will leave him little attention to the opinion of those \vhom he is leaving for ever; and the serenity that is not felt, it can be

no

virtue to feign."

deatli, and the strange dark which Sir John Hawkins imparts the uneasiness which he expressed on account of offences with which he charged himself, may give occasion to injurious suspicions, as if there had been something of more than ordinary criminality weighing upon his conscience. On that account, therefore, as well as from the regard to truth which he inculcated,^ I am to mention, (with all possible respect and delicacy, however,) that his conduct, after he came to London, and had associated with Savage and others, was

His great fear of

manner

not so

in

strictly virtuous, in

one respect, as when

was well known, that his amorous inclinations were uncommonly strong and impetuous. He owned to many of his friends, that he used to take women of the town to taverns, and hear them relate their history. In short, it must not be concealed, that, like many other good and pious men, among whom we may place the Apostle Paul upon his own authority, Johnson was not free from propensities which were ever "warring against the law of his mind," and that in his combats with them, he was sometimes overcome. Here let the profane and licentious pause; let them not thoughtlessly say that Johnson was an he was a younger man.

It

—

were not firm, bewas not uniformly conformable

hypoaite, or that his principles

cause his practice to

what he

—

for

momentary

gratifications, deliberately sub-

himself to suffer such uneasiness as we find was experienced by Johnson in reviewing his conduct as compared with his notion of the

ject

ethicks of the gospel? Let the following passages

be kept in remembrance:

"O, God, giver and preserver of all life, by whose power I was created, and by whose providence

I

am

sustained, look

down upon me with

tenderness and mercy; grant that I may not have been created to be finally destroyed; that I may

not be preserved to add wickedness to wickedness."^ "O, Lord, let me not sink into total de-

down upon mc, and rescue me at from the captivity of sin."^ "Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast continued m.y life from year to year, grant that by longer life I may become less desirous of sinful pleasures, and more careful of eternal happiness."® "Let not pravity; look

last

professed.

Let the question be considered independent

and religious association; and no man deny that thousands, in many instances, act

of moral will

[1784

had no notion of people being in earnest in their good professions, whose practice was not suitable to them," was thus reprimanded by him: "Sir, are you so grossly ignorant of huinan nature as not to know that a man may be very sincere in good principles, without having good practice?"' But let no man encourage or soothe himself in "presumptuous sin," from knowing that Johnson was sometimes hurried into indulgences which he thought criminal. I have exhibited this circumstance as a shade in so great a character, both from my sacred love of truth, and to shew that he was not so weakly scrupulous as he has been represented by those who imagine that the sins, of which a deep sense was upon his mind, were merely such little venial trifles as pouring milk into his tea on Good-Friday. His understanding will be defended by my statement, if his consistency of conduct be in some degree impaired. But what wise man would,

said in his presence, "he

against conviction. Is a prodigal, for example, an hypocrite, when he owns he is satisfied that his

extravagance will bring him to ruin and misery? We are sure he believes it; but immediate inclination, strengthened by indulgence, prevails over that belief in influencing his conduct. Why then shall credit be refused to the sincerity of those who acknowledge their persuasion of moral and religious duty, yet sometimes fail of living as it requires? I heard Dr. Johnson once observe, "There is something noble in publishing truth, though it condemns one's self."^ And one who ^See what he said to Mr. Malone, p. 458. Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit., p. 209. [Sept. 14.] On the same subject, in his Letter to Mrs. Thrale, dated Nov. 29, 1783, he makes the foUowing just observation: "Life, to be worthy of a rational being, must be always in progression; "^Journal of a

—

my years be multiplied to increase my guilt; but as my age advances, let me become more pure in my thoughts, more regular in my desires, and to thy laws."' "Forgive, O merLord, whatever I have done contrary to thy laws. Give me such a sense of my wickedness

more obedient ciful

do more or better than enlarged and elevated by mere purposes, though they end as they began [in the original, begin], by airy contemplation. We compare and judge, though we do rot practise."

we must always purpose in time past. The mind

^Journal oj a Tour

to

is

to the

Hebrides, p. 374.

25-] '^Prayers

and Meditations, p. 47.

Hbi'd., p. 68.

Hbid., p. 84. p. 120.

''Ibid.,

[Oct.

LIFE OF

1784]

may produce true contrition and effectual re-

as

pentance; so that when I shall be called into another state, I may be received among the sinners to whom sorrow and reformation have obtained pardon, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."Such v/as the distress of mind, such the penitence of Johnson, in his hours of privacy, and in his devout approaches to his Maker. His sincerity, therefore, must appear to every candid mind unquestionable. It is of essential consequence to keep in view,

was

man's conduct principle of commutation, no deliberate in-

that there

no

false

in this excellent

dulgence in sin, in consideration of a counterbalance of duty. His offending, and his repent-

were

ing,

distinct

and

separate:^

and when we

consider his almost unexampled attention to truth, his inflexible integrity, his constant piety,

who

him?" Benever be forgotten, that he cannot be charged with any offence indicating badness of heart, any thing dishonest, base, or malignant; but that, on the contrary, he was charitable in an extraordinary degree: so that even in one of will dare to "cast a stone at

sides, let it

own

judgements of himself, (Easterhe says, "I have corrected no external habits"; he is obliged to own, "I hope that since my last communion I have advanced, by pious reflections, in my submission to God, and my benevolence to man."^ I am conscious that this is the most difficult and dangerous part of my biographical work, and I cannot but be very anxious concerning it. I trust that I have got through it, preserving at once my regard to truth, to my friend, and to the interests of virtue and religion. Nor can I apprehend that more harm can ensue from the knowledge of the irregularity of Johnson, guarded as I have stated it, than from knowing that Addison and Parnell were intemperate in the use of wine; which he himself, in his Lives of those celebrated writers and pious men, has not forborne to rechis

eve,

1

rigid

781,) while

—

—

JOHNSON

have been at the utmost pains to obtain an accurate account of his last illness, from the

ly, as I

best authority.

Dr. Heberden, Dr. Brocklesby, Dr. Warren, and Dr. Butter, physicians, generously attended him, without accepting any fees, as did Mr. Cruikshank, surgeon; and all that could be done from professional skill and ability, was tried, to life so truly valuable. He himself, indeed, having, on account of his very bad consti-

prolong a

been perpetually applying himself to medical inquiries, united his own efforts with those of the gentlemen who attended him; and imagining that the dropsical collection of water which oppressed him might be drawn off by making incisions in his body, he, with his usual resolute defiance of pain, cut deep, when he thought that his surgeon had done it too tentution,

derly.'*

About eight or ten days before his death, when Dr. Brocklesby paid him his morning visit, he seemed very low and desponding, and said, "I have been as a dying man all night." He then emphatically broke out in the words of Shakspeare: Can'st thou not minister to a mind discos' d; Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow;

Raze out tlie written troubles of the brain; And, with some sweet oblivious antidote. Cleanse the stuff' d bosom of that perilous stuff. Which weighs upon the heart?

To which Dr. Brocklesby readily ansv/ered, from the

same great

It is

not

my

therein the patient

days, of whom

was

fast

it

was now evident, that the crisis when he must ''^die like one of the Princes" Yet it will be

approaching,

men, and fall like

to himself.

Johnson expressed himself much

satisfied

with

the application.

On

another day after

this,

when

talking

on

the subject of prayer. Dr. Brocklesby repeated

from Juvenal, Orandum

intention to give a very minute

remaining

poet:

Must minister

ord. detail of the particulars of Johnson's

575

of my readers, to record a few circumstances, on the authenticity of which they may perfectly re-

and

est, ut sit

mens sana

in corpore sano,

on to the end of the tenth satire; but in running it quickly over, he happened, in the so

line,

Qui spatium

vita

extremum

inter

munera ponat,

instructive, as well as gratifying to the curiosity Ubid., p. 130.

^Dr. Johnson related, with very earnest approbation, a story of a gentleman, who, in an impulse of passion, overcame the virtue of a young woman. When she said to him, "I am afraid we have done

wrong!" he answered, "Yes, we have done wrong; for I would not debauch her mind."

—

^Prayers

and Meditations, p. 192.

*This bold experiment. Sir John Hawkins has related in such a manner as to suggest a charge against Johnson of intentionally hastening his end; a charge so very inconsistent with his character in every respect, that it is injurious even to refute it, as Sir John has thought it necessary to do. It is evident, that what Johnson did in hopes of relief, indicated an extraordinary eagerness to retard his dissolution.

BOSWELL

576 pronounce supremum

to

Johnson's

critical

which took offence, and

for extremum; at

ear instantly

discoursing vehemently on the unmetrical ef-

such a lapse, he shewed himself as ever of the spirit of the grammarian. fect of

Having no near relations, time Johnson's intention to

it

full as

a liberal pro-

Mr. Francis Barber, whom he looked upon as particularly under his protection, and whom he had all along treated truly as an humble friend. Having asked Dr. Brocklesby what would be a proper annuity to a favourite servant, and being answered that it must depend on the circumstances of the master; and, that in the case of a nobleman, fifty pounds a year was considered as an adequate reward for many years' faithful service; "Then, nobilissimus, for I

Frank seventy pounds a year, and

to leave sire

be

you

to tell

to think, that

him

so." It

is

mean I

de-

strange, however,

Johnson was not

free

from that

general weakness of being averse to execute a will, so that he delayed it from time to time; and

had

it not been for Sir John Hawkins's repeatedurging it, I think it is probable that his kind resolution would not have been fulfilled. After making one, which, as Sir John Hawkins informs us, extended no further than the promised annuity, Johnson's final disposition of his property was established by a Will and Codicil,

ly

of

which copies are subjoined.^

^"In the name of God. Amen. I, Samuel Johnson, being in full possession of my faculties, but fearing this night may put an end to my life, do ordain this my last Will and Testament. I bequeath to God, a soul polluted with many sins, but I hope purified by Jesus Christ. I leave seven hundred and fifty pounds in the hands of Bennet Langton, Esq.: three

hundred pounds

in the

hands of Mr.

Barclay and Mr. Perkins, brewers; one hundred and fifty pounds in the hands of Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore; one thousand pounds, three per cent. annuities, in the publick funds; and one hundred pounds now lying by me in ready money: all these before-mentioned sums and property I leave, I say, to Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, of Doctors Commons, in trust, for

—

the following uses: That is to say, to pay to the representatives of the late William Innys, bookseller, in St. Paul's Church-yard, the sum of two

hundred pounds; to Mrs. White, my female servant, one hundred pounds stock in the three per cent,

annuities aforesaid.

The

rest of the aforesaid

sums of money and property, together with my books, plate, and household furniture, I leave to the before-mentioned Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. WUliam Scott, also in be applied, after paying my debts, to the use of Francis Barber, my man-servant, a negro, in such a manner as they shall judge most fit and available to his benefit. And I appoint the aforetrust, to

said Sir

Joshua Reynolds,

Sir

he was possessed, seems to have struck Johnson's mind, with a sudden anxiety, and as they were in great confusion, it is much to be lamented that he had not entrusted some faithful and dis-

had been for some

make

vision for his faithful servant,

(said Johnson,) shall I

[1784 The consideration of numerouspapersof which

John Hawkins, and

Dr. William Scott, sole executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills and testaments whatever. In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, and afiix my seal, this eighth day of December, 1 784.

"Sam. Johnson

(L. S.)

"Signed, sealed, published, declared, and delivered,

by the said

and testament, two being

first

testator, as his last will in the presence of us, the word

inserted in the opposite page.

"George Strahan "John Desmoulins" "By way of Codicil to my last Will and Testament, I, Samuel Johnson, give, devise, and be-

my messuage or

tenement situate at Lichthe county of Stafford, with the appurtenances, in the tenure or occupation of Mrs. Bond, of Lichfield aforesaid, or of Mr. Hinchman, her under-tenant, to my executors, in trust, to sell and dispose of the same; and the money arising from such sale I give and bequeath as follows, viz. to Thomas and Benjamin, the sons of Fisher Johnson, late of Leicester, and Whiting, daughter of Thomas Johnson, late of Coventry, and the granddaughter of the said Thomas Johnson, one full and equal fourth part each; but in case there shall be more grand-daughters than one of the said Thomas Johnson, living at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath the part or share of that one to and equally between such grand-daughters. I give and bequeath to the Rev. Mr. Rogers, of Berkley, near Froom, in the county of Somerset, the sum of one hundred pounds, requesting him to apply the same towards the maintenance of Elizabeth Heme, a lunatick. I also give and bequeath to my god-children, the son and daughter of Mauritius Lowe, painter, each of them, one hundred pounds of my stock in the three per cent, consolidated annuities, to be applied and disposed of by and at the discretion of my Executors, in the education or settlement in the world of them my said legatees. Also I give and bequeath to Sir John Hawkins, one of my Executors, the Annales Ecclesiastici of Baronius, and Holinshed's and Stowe's Chronicles, and also an octavo Common Prayer-Book. To Bennet Langton, Esq. I give and bequeath my Polyglot Bible. To Sir Joshua Reynolds, my great French Dictionary, by Martiniere, and my own copy of my folio English Dictionary, of the last revision. To Dr. WUliam Scott, one of my Executors, the Dictionnaire de Commerce, and Lectius's edition of the Greek poets. To Mr. Windham, Poetas Graeci Heroici per Henricum Stephanum. To the Rev. Mr. Strahan, vicar of Islington, in Middlesex, Mill's Greek Testament, Beza's Greek Testament, by Stephens, all my Latin Bibles, and my Greek Bible, by Wechelius. To Dr. Heberden, Dr. Brocklesby, Dr. Butter, and Mr. Cruikshank, the surgeon who attended me, Mr. Holder, my apothecary, Gerard Hamilton, Esq., Mrs. Gardiner, of Snow-hill, Mrs. Frances Reynolds, Mr. Hoole, and the Reverend queath,

field, in

LIFE OF

1784] creet person with the care

and

selection of them;

instead of which, he in a precipitate manner, burnt large masses of them, with little regard, as I apprehend, to discrimination. Not that I sup-

pose

we have

thus been deprived of any

compo-

his son, each a book at their election, keep as a token of remembrance. I also give and bequeath to Mr. John Desmoulins, two hundred

Mr. Hoole,

to

pounds consolidated three per cent, annuities: and Mr. Sastres, the Italian master, the sum of five pounds, to be laid out in books of piety for his own use. And whereas the said Bennet Langton hath agreed, in consideration of the sum of seven hundred and fifty pounds, mentioned in my Will to be in his hands, to grant and secure an annuity of seventy pounds payable during the life of me and my servant, Francis Barber, and the life of the survivor of us, to Mr. George Stubbs, in trust for us; to

will is, that in case of my decease before the said agreement shall be perfected, the said sum of seven hundred and fifty pounds, and the bond for securing the said sum, shall go to the said Francis Barber; and I hereby give and bequeath to him the same, in lieu of the bequest in his favour, contained in my said Will. And I hereby empower my Executors to deduct and retain all expences that shall or may be incurred in the execution of my said Will, or of this Codicil thereto, out of such estate and effects as I shall die possessed of. All the rest, residue, and remainder, of my estate and effects, I give and bequeath to my said Executors, in trust for the said Francis Barber, his Executors and Administrators. Witness my hand and seal, this ninth day of December, 1 784.

my mind and

"Sam. Johnson

(L. S.)

"Signed, sealed, published, declared, and delivered, by the said Samuel Johnson, as, and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who, in his presence, and at his request, and also in the presence of each other, have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses.

"John Copley "William Gibson "Henry Cole"

Upon

these testamentary deeds it is proper to observations. His express declaration with his dying breath as a Christian, as it had been often practised in such solemn writings, was of real consequence from this great man; for the conviction of a mind equally acute and strong, might well overbalance the doubts of others, who were his contemporaries. The expression polluted, may, to some, convey an impression of more than ordinary contamination; but that is not warranted by its genuine meaning, as appears from The Rambler, No. 42. The same word is used in the will of Dr. Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln, who was piety itself. His legacy of two hundred pounds to the representatives of Mr. Innys, bookseller, in St. Paul's

make a few

Church-yard, proceeded from a very worthy motive. He told Sir John Hawkins, that his father having become a bankrupt, Mr. Innys had assisted him with money or credit to continue his business. "This, (said he,) I consider as an obligation on me to be grateful to his descendants."

JOHNSON

577 which he had ever intended for the pubeye; but, from what escaped the flames, I

sitions

lick

judge that many curious circumstances relating both to himself and other literary characters have perished.

The amount of his property proved to be conmore than he had supposed it to be. Sir John Hawkins estimates the bequest to Francis Barber at a sum little short of fifteen hundred siderably

pounds, including an annuity of seventy pounds to be paid to him by Mr. Langton, in consideration of seven hundred and fifty pounds, which Johnson had lent to that gentleman. Sir John seems not a little angry at this bequest, and mutters "a caveat against ostentatious bounty and favour to negroes." But surely when a man has

money entirely of his own acquisition, especially when he has no near relations, he may, without blame, dispose of it as he pleases, and with great propriety to a faithful servant. Mr. Barber, by the recommendation of his master, retired to Lichfield, where he might pass the rest of his days in comfort. It has been objected that Johnson has omitted many of his best friends, when leaving books to several as tokens of his last remembrance. The names of Dr. Adams, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Burney, Mr. Hector, Mr. Murphy, the Authour of this Work, and others who were intimate with him, are not to be found in his Will. This may be accounted for by considering, that as he was very near his dissolution at the time, he probably mentioned such as happened to occur to him; and that he may have recollected, that he had formerly shewn others such proofs of his regard, that it was not necessary to crowd his Will with their names. Mrs. Lucy Porter was much displeased that nothing was left to her; but besides what I have now stated, she should have considered, that she had left nothing to Johnson by her Will, which was made during his life-time, as appeared at her decease. His enumerating several persons in one group, and leaving them "each a book at their election," might possibly have given occasion to a curious question as to the order of choice, had they not luckily fixed on different books. His library, though by no means handsome in its appearance, was sold

by Mr.

Christie, for

two hundred and forty-seven

pounds, nine shillings; many people being desirous to have a book which had belonged to Johnson. In many of them he had written little notes: sometimes tender memorials of his departed wife; as, "This was dear Tetty's book": sometimes occasional remarks of different sorts. Mrs. Lysons, of Clifford's Inn, has favoured me with the two following: In Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion, by Bryan Duppa, Lord Bishop of Winton, ^^Preces quidam (? quidern) videtur diligenter tractasse; spero

tus (? inauditas)

"

In The Rosicrucian

non inaudi-

Axiomata, by John which are some verses

infallible

Heydon, Gent., prefixed

to

addressed to the authour, signed Ambr. Waters, A.M., Coll. Ex. Oxon. " These Latin verses were written to Hobbes by Bathurst, upon his Treatise on Human An odd Nature, and have no relation to the book. fraud."

BOSWELL

578

Two

very valuable

articles,

I

am

sure,

we

which were two quarto volumes, containing a full, fair, and most particular account of his own life, from his earliest recollection. I have

lost,

owned

to

him, that having accidentally seen

had read a great deal in them; and apologizing for the liberty I had taken, asked him if them,

I

could help it. He placidly answered, "Why, do not think you could have helped it." I said that I had, for once in my life, felt half an I

Sir, I

commit theft. It had come into my mind to carry off those two volumes, and never see him more. Upon my inquiring how this would inclination to

have affected him, "Sir, (said he,) I believe I should have gone mad."^ During his last illness, Johnson experienced the steady and kind attachment of his numerous friends. Mr. Hoole has drawn up a narrative of what passed in the visits which he paid him during that time, from the loth of November to the 13th of December, the day of his death, inclusive, and has favoured me with a perusal of it, with permission to make extracts, which I have done. Nobody was more attentive to him than Mr. Langton, to whom he tenderly said, Te teneam moriens

deficiente

manu.

And

I

think

it

highly

honour of Mr. Windham, that his important occupations as an active statesman did not prevent him from paying assiduous respect to the dying Sage whom he revered. Mr. Langton informs me, that, "one day he found Mr. Burke and four or five more friends sitting with Johnto the

iQne of these volumes, Sir John Hawkins informs us, he put into his pocket; for which the excuse he states is, that he meant to preserve it from falling into the hands of a person whom he describes so as to

make

it

sufficiently clear

who

is

meant; "having strong reasons (said he,) to suspect that this man might find and make an ill use of the book." Why Sir John should suppose that the gentleman alluded to would act in this manner, he has not thought fit to explain. But what he did was not approved of by Johnson; who, upon being acquainted of it without delay by a friend, expressed great indignation, and warmly insisted on the book being delivered up; and, afterwards, in the supposition of his missing it, without knowing by whom it had been taken, he said, "Sir, I should have gone out of the world distrusting half mankind." Sir John next day wrote a letter to Johnson, assigning reasons for his conduct; upon which Johnson observed to Mr. Langton, "Bishop Sanderson could not have dictated a better letter. I could almost say. Melius est sic penituisse quam non

The agitation into which Johnson was thrown by this incident, probably made him hastily burn those precious records which must ever

errdsse.''

be regretted.

[1784

Mr. Burke said to him, T am afraid. Sir, such a number of us may Ije oppressive to you.' 'No, Sir, (said Johnson,) it is not so; and I must be in a wretched state, indeed, when your company Vx'ould not be a delight to me.' Mr. Burke, in a tremulous voice, expressive of being very tenderly affected, replied, 'My dear Sir, you have always been too good to me.' Lnmediately afterwards he went away. This was the last circumstance in the acquaintance of these two eminent men."

son.

The following particulars of his conversation within a few days of his death, I give on the authority of Mr. John Nichols:^ "On

same undoubted authority, I give a few which should have been inserted in chron-

the

articles,

ological order; but which, now that they are before me, I should be sorry to omit: "In 1736, Dr. Johnson had a particular inclination to have been engaged as an assistant to the Reverend Mr. Budworth, then head master of the Grammar-school, at Brewood, in Staff"ordshire, 'an excellent person, who possessed every talent of a perfect instructor of youth, in a degree which, (to use the words of one of the brightest ornaments

of literature, the Reverend Dr. Hurd, Bishop of Worcester,) has been rarely found in any of that profession since the days of Quintilian.' Mr. Budworth, 'who was less known in his life-time, from that obscure situation to which the caprice of fortune oft condemns the most accomplished characters, than his highest merit deserved,' had been bred under Mr. Blackwell [Blackwall], at Market Bosworth, where Johnson was some time an usher [ante, p. 18]; which might naturally lead to the application. Mr. Budworth was certainly no stranger to the learning or abilities of Johnson; as he more than once lamented his having been under the necessity of declining the engagement, from an apprehension that the paralytick aff"ection, under which our great Philologist laboured through life, might become the object of imitation or of ridicule, among his pupils." Captain Budworth, his grandson, has confirmed to me this anecdote. "Among the early associates of Johnson, at St. John's Gate, was Samuel Boyse, well knovv^n by his ingenious productions; and not less noted for his imprudence. It was not unusual for Boyse to be a customer to the pawnbroker. On one of these occasions, Dr. Johnson collected a sum of money to

redeem his friend's clothes, which in two days after were pawned again. 'The sum, (said Johnson,) was collected by sixpences, at a time when to me sixpence was a serious consideration.' "Speaking one day of a person for whom he had a real friendship, but in whom vanity was somewhat too predominant, he observed, that 'Kelly was so fond of displaying on his sideboard the plate which he possessed, that he added to it his spurs. For my part, (said he,) I never was master of a pair of spurs, but once; and they are now at the bottom of the ocean. By the carelessness of

LIFE OF

1784]

"He

said,

that the Parliamentary Debates

were the only part of his writings which then gave him any compunction: but that at the time he wrote them, he had no conception he was imposing upon the world, though they were frequently written from very slender materials, and the mere coinage of his often from none at all, own imagination. He never wrote any part of his works with equal velocity. Three columns of the Magazine, in an hour, was no uncommon effort, which was faster than most persons could have transcribed that quantity. "Of his friend Cave, he always spoke with

—

great affection. 'Yet (said he,) Cave,

(who never

looked out of his window, but with a view to The Gentleman' s Magazine,) was a penurious pay-master; he would contract for lines by the hundred, and expect the long hundred; but he was a good man, and always delighted to have his friends at his table.'

"When talking of a regular edition of his own works, he said, 'that he had power, [from the booksellers,] to print such an edition, if his health admitted it; but had no power to assign over any

edition, unless

he could add notes, and so

make them new works; which his state of health forbade him to think of. I may

alter

them

as to

possibly live, (said he,) or rather breath, three days, or perhaps three weeks; but find myself

daily

and gradually weaker.'

"He

said at another time, three or four days only before his death, speaking of the little fear he had of undergoing a chirurgical operation, I would give one of these legs for a year more of life, I mean of comfortable life, not such as that '

JOHNSON which

I

The

late

Reverend Mr. Samuel Badcock, hav-

ing been introduced to Dr. Johnson, by Mr. Nichols, some years before his death, thus expressed himself in a letter to that gentleman: "How much I am obliged to you for the favour you did me in introducing me to Dr. Johnson! Tantum vidi Virgilium. But to have seen him and to have received a testimony of respect from him, was enough. I recollect all the conversation, and shall never forget one of his expressions. Speaking of Dr. p *****vs* [Priestley], (whose writings, I saw, he

estimated at a low rate,) he said, 'You have proved

him

as deficient, in probity as he is in learning.' I called him an ^Index-scholar''; but he was not willing to allow him a claim even to that merit. He said, that 'he borrowed from those who had been borrowers themselves, and did not know that the mistakes he adopted had been answered by others.' I often think of our short, but precious, visit to this great man. 1 shall consider it as a kind of an 581-582 Barber, Mrs. Francis, 64

Art of Poetry (Ai'istotle), 308 Art of Poetry (Horace), 15, 320

Barbeyrac, Jean, 78 Barclay, .Mexander, 76 Barclay, James, 1 42 Barclay, Robert, the Quaker, 290, 480* Barclay, Robert, the brewer, 480, 562, 576'" Barclay, Mrs. Robert, 562

Ascham, Roger,

Baretier, Philip: jee Barretier, Philip

338,376,413 Ashmole, Elias, 353

Barettijjoseph, 71, 75, 76, 84, 93, 98, 101-102, 103104, 106-107, 150, 160, 162, 170-171, 207, 235, 265, 269, 270, 287, 298, 302, 324*, 327, 350, 353, 41 9, 45 1 -452, 547, 548, 555 Barnard, Edward, Provost of Eton, 436 Barnard, Francis, 153-154, 155

Life of (Johnson), 1 32 Ash, John, 573 * Ashburton, John Dunning, ist Baron, 137, 192,

Asiatic Society, 181 * Astle, Daniel, 544

3

INDEX Barnard, ThomaSj Bishop of Killaloe, 24*, 137, 241 , 323> 375. 473. 474 ,476 *, 479, 504-505 Barnes, Joshua, 390, 447 Barnewall, Nicholas: see Trimlestown, 14th Baron Barnston, Letitia, 432 Baronius (Baronio), Cesare, 576* Barret, William, 311 Barretier [Baretier], Philip, Lije of (Johnson), 38, 39, 40, 43

Barrington, Daines, 221, 400, 478, 524

Barrow, Isaac, 475 * Barrowby, William, 537 Barry, Sir Edward, 306-307 Barry, James, 507, 514, 524 Barry, Spranger, 53 Barter, a miller, 193 Bartolozzi, Francesco, 332, 583 * Bas Bleu (More), 477 BasU, Saint, 447 Baskerville,John, 163, 290 Bastard, The (Savage), 44 Bateman, Edmund, 16 Bath, WUliam Pulteney, Earl of, 40, 376 Bathiani, , 266 Bathurst, Allen, ist Earl, 39, 411, 428, 429, 452,

—

457

591

John, friend of Johnson, 206* Bell, Mrs. John, 206* Bell, Rev. Mr., of Strathaven, 415 Bell, WUliam, 206* Bellamy, George Anne, 90, 521 * Belsham, William, 1 09 * Benedictines, 266, 270, 391, 579 Bennet, James, 132 Bennet, Thomas, 511* Bensley, Robert, 157 Benson, George, 354* Bentham, Edward, 286, 354* Bentley, Richard, 15, 285, 320*, 448, 449, 513 Bentley, Richard, Jr., 536* Benzoni [Benzo], Geronimo, 569^^ Berenger [Berrenger], Richard, 470, 471 Beresford, Richard, 534 Beresford, Mrs. Richard, 534, 535 Beresford, Miss (daughter), 534, 535 Beresford, Rev. Mr., 390 Berkeley, George, Bishop of Cloyne, 134, 182, 351, 354*, 450 Beroaldo, Filippo, 269 Berrenger: see Berenger, Richard Berriman, William, 354* Berwick, James Fitz James, Duke of, 391 Bell,

Bathurst, Henry, 2nd Earl, 343 Bathurst, Colonel, 65 *, 450

Beschrijvinge ende chronyk van de heerlickheydt van

Bathurst, Ralph, 577* Bathurst, Richard, 49, 51, 63, 65*, 66, 68, 69, 107,

Betterton,

Frieslandt (Schotanus),

450 Baxter, Richard, 55, 223, 502, 514, 5 1 5. 5 18, 525 Baxter, WUliam, 320*, 495, 520, 528 * Bayle, Pierre, 78, 1 20, 586 Bay ley [Baily], Hester, 489 Beattie,

James, 134, 186, 187,

188, 206, 207, 225,

227, 322, 336, 439, 474, 503, 549, 550 Beattie,

Mary

Beauclerk,

(Mrs. James), 187, 188, 439

Lady Diana,

218, 236, 248, 329, 434,

473 Beauclerk, Mrs. (Topham's mother), 434 Beauclerk, Topham, 22, 66*, 67-68, 99, 103, 104, 106, 122, 136, 139, 153, 171, 178, 214, 216, 218, 224, 236, 238, 242, 244, 246, 248, 252, 253, 256, 263, 272, 298, 302, 303, 329, 360, 366, 389, 413, 414, 422-423, 424, 433-435, 436, 444, 445, 449*, 450, 466-467, 473, 474, 475-476, 478, 501, 506 Beaufort, Elizabeth Somerset (Boscawen), Duchess of, 436 Beaumont, Francis, 249, 293

Beauties of Johnson, The, 58, 49 1 , 583 * Beaux, Stratagem, The (Farquhar), 291, 312

Becket, Thomas, 237 Beckford, WiUiam, 320, 363 Bedford, Francis Russell, 5th Duke of, 390, 483 Bedford, John Russell, 4th Duke of, 545 Bedlam, 261-262 Beggar's Opera, The (Gay), 259, 285, 362, 402, 472 Behmen, Jacob, 180 Belchier, John, 3 1 Bell, Bell.

John, author of travel book, 159 John, the bookseller, 332

136

Thomas, 358

Rev. Dr., 462 * Bewley, William, 486 Beza, Theodore, 576* Bevill,

Bible, 94, 146, 151-152, 189, 193, 197, 201, 235, 269, 283, 290, 297*, 313, 355*, 363, 394, 443, 451 *, 472, 475, 482, 510, 5i8*-5i9*, 530, 533*,

540*, 541*, 544, 576*, 580

130* 40 Bibliotheque, Johnson's scheme of a, 78

Bibliotheca Biographica (Floyd),

Bibliotheca Harleiana,

(Maty), 78 267 Bibliotheque des Savans, 90 Bibliotheque Britannique

Bibliotheque des Fees,

Bickerstaff, Isaac, 167 Bicknell, Alexander, 87

Bingham, Charles, Binning, Lord:

see

see Lucan, ist Earl of Haddington, 8th Earl of

Biographia Britannica,

286, 334,

354, 404*,

458,

531* Biographia Dramatica,

1

00

*

Biographical Dictionary, 100*,

334

Biographical History of England,

A

Thomas, 2, 36, 39, 40, 354* Blacklock, Thomas, 92, 133 Birch,

(Granger), 326 42, 50, 62, 79, 85,

Blackmore, Sir Richard, 174-175, 418-419, 453*, Life of (Johnson), 459 Biackstone, Sir William, 16, 255*, 275*, 281, 422,

471,484* Blackwall, Anthony, 18, 544, 578* Blackwell, Thomas, 85 Blagden, Sir Charles, 271 *, 451 BlainviUe, , 252

—

7

INDEX

592 Blair,

Hugh,

loo,

1 1

1,

i6i, 230, 231, 237, 311, 327,

329. 33i> 351. 353, 366, 408, 428-429, 473

John, 428 Robert, 310* Blair, Robert, Solicitor-General of Scotland, 310* Blake, Robert, Life of (Johnson), 38 Blanchetti, Marchioness, 266 Blanchetti, Marquis, 266 Blair, Blair,

Blaney, Elizabeth,

5, 565 Bloxam, Matthew, 397 Blue-stocking Clubs, 476-477

Boccaccio (Boccace), Giovanni, 269, 568* Boccage, Marie Anne Le Page du, 266, 271, 550 Bochart, Samuel, 270 Bodleian Library, 75, 81, 84, 154, 417 Boece (Boetius), Hector, 229, 528 Boerhaave, Herman, 261 Life of (Johnson), 36 Boethius [Boetius], Anicius Manlius Severinus, 36, 181

Boileau-Despreaux, Nicolas, 19, 29, 41 1, 557 Bolingbroke, Henry Saint John, ist Viscount, 73, 87, 91, 374*> 410. 41 1 428, 429, 457-458 Bolingbroke, Marie Claire Saint John, Viscountess, >

403 see Boulton Bonaventura, Saint, 1 42 Bond [B— d], Mr., 207-208 Bond, Mrs., 576*

Bolton:

Book of Common Prayer,

51

1

*,

538,

576*

Book of Discipline, 1 96 Boothby, Sir Brook, 18 Boothby, Miss Hill, i8, 460* Borlase, William, 85, 354* Boscawen, Edward, 406 Boscawen, Frances, 406, 436, 473 Boscawen, George Evelyn: see Falmouth, Viscount Boscovich, Ruggiero Giuseppe, 181, 272 Bosville, Godfrey, 415, 441 Bosville, Mrs. Godfrey, 1 95 Boswell, Alexander (Boswell's father): see Auchinleck,

Lord

Boswell, Sir Alexander (Boswell's son), 227, 265, 273, 274, 278, 300, 324, 326, 329, 330, 331, 336, 368, 439 Boswell, David (Boswell's ancestor), 274 Boswell, David (Boswell's brother), 438-439, 440, 442, 51 7> 581 Boswell, David (Boswell's son), 326, 327, 330, 331 Boswell, Boswell,

Euphemia, 231, 232, 278, 326, 330, 368 James (Boswell's son), 183*, 300, 417,

418 Boswell, John, 124, 298, 334 Boswell, Margaret Montgomerie (Mrs. James), 1 75, 185, 187, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 242, 263, 264, 265, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 297, 324, 325, 326, 327, 329, 330, 33 1 > 334> 335' 338-339> 34o> 349*, 365. 367368, 369, 416, 418, 419, 426, 427, 433, 434, 435, 439-440, 442, 487, 491, 492, 493-494. 495> 515,

517, 523, 526, 527, 528, 567, 568 Boswell, Thomas, 274, 506

Boswell, Veronica ("Miss"), 230, 231, 235, 236, 238, 263, 273, 278, 326, 329, 330, 331, 336, 339,

368,419 Boswell, Sir William, 52 Bott,

*

Thomas, 354*

Bouchier:

see

Bourchier, Charles

Bouffier, Pere: see Buffier,

Claude

Boufflers-Rouverel, Marie Charlotte Hippolyte,

Comtesse de, 272 Bouhours, Dominique, 169 Boulter, Hugh, Archbishop of Armagh, 7 Boulter'' s Monument (Madden), 88 Boulton [Bolton], Matthew, 290 Bouquet, Joseph, 66 Bourchier [Bouchier], Charles, 470 Bourdaloue, Louis, 218* Bourdonne, Madame de, 218* Bowles, WUliam, 51

Bowyer, William, 564 Boyd, William: see Kilmarnock, 4th Earl of Boydell, John, 236* Boyle, John: see Cork and Orrery, 5th Earl of Boyle, Robert, 83, 86 Boyse, Joseph, 354* Boyse, Samuel, 578 * Bradley, James, 354* Bradshaw, WUliam, 506 * Brahmins, 470 Braithwaite, Daniel, 533 Bramhall, John, Archbishop of Armagh, 1 73 Bramston, James, 15* "Bravery of the English Common Soldiers" (Johnson), 93

Anne, formerly Lady Macclesfield, 45-47 Henry, 47 * Brett, Thomas, 536 * Bristol, John Hervey, ist Earl of, 1 53 British Museum, 72 *, 446, 569 British Princes, The (Howard), 175* British Synonymy (Piozzi), 580 Broadley, Captain, 415 Brett, Brett,

Brocklesby, Richard, 499, 516, 517, 521, 524, 527, 528, 531, 552, 557-560, 567, 575-576, 580, 581 Brodie, Captain, 18* Brodie, Molly Aston, 18, 293, 409, 460 Brooke, Henry, 36

Broome, William, 436 Life of (Johnson), 457 Brother' s Advice to his Sisters, A (Croft), 539 Broughton, Hugh, 354* Broughton, Thomas, 354* Brown, John, 182, 354* Brown, Lancelot, 287, 428 Brown, Robert, 144-145, 392 Brown, Sir Thomas: see Browne, Sir Thomas Brown, Tom, Johnson's English instructor, 7 Browne, Isaac Hawkins, the elder, 250 Browne, Isaac Hawkins, the younger, 531 Browne, Patrick, 85 Browne, Simon, 354* Browne, Sir Thomas, 60, 85, 393 Life of (Johnson) , 85, 91

1

1

1

INDEX Bruce, James, io8* Bruce, Robert, Life of (Hailes), 265 Brumoy, Pierre, 96 Brunet, , 268 Brutus, Marcus Junius, 109* Bruyere, Jean de la, 569* Bryant, Jacob, 531 i

C

Buckingham and Duke of. Life of (Johnson), 453

Buckingham, Katherine Sheffield {nee Annesley), Duchess of Buckingham and Normanby, 376 Buckingham House library (Queen's house), 153154 Budgell, Eustace, 214, 310

Budworth, Captain: j-ff Palmer, Joseph (Budworth) Budworth, William, 18 *, 578 * Georges

Louis

Comte

Leclerc,

an actress,

2

de,

1

Bunbury, Sir Charles, 137, 230, 244, 582 Bunbury, Henry WiUiam, 117* Bunyan,John, 217 Burch, Edward, 583 * Bure, Guillaume Frangois de, 270* Burgoyne, John, 414

Edmund, 20, 86, 95, 116, 117*, 134, 136, 137, 147, 169, 171, 182, 185, 199, 218, 224, 225,

Burke,

236, 287, 316, 322, 323-3245 34i» 358, 360, 373, 374> 375> 383> 397> 399, 402, 403, 420, 421, 438, 447, 448, 449> 4505 460, 465, 467, 468, 469, 474, 497, 499^ 5 1 05 5135 532, 533, 540, 546, 547-548,

554, 566*, 578, 582

Burke, Richard,

1 37, 513, 564 Burlamaqui, Jean Jacques, 281 Burlington, Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl

Burman,

Pieter: see

of,

41

Burmann

Burmann [Burman],

Pieter, 40,

569*

Burnet, Gilbert, Bishop of Salisbury, 209, 360,

544 Burnet, James: see Monboddo, Lord Burney, , Dr. Burney's youngest son, 418 Burney, Dr. Charles, 6*, 15*, 61, 79, 90, 91, 112, 137, 142, 158, 272-273, 381, 417-418, 473, 486, 503, 509, 519, 560-561, 567, 577* Burney, Charles, the younger, 570, 583 * Burney, Elizabeth (2nd Mrs. Charles), 509, 560,

—

561

Burney, Esther (ist Mrs. Charles), 90, 91 Burney, Frances (Fanny) see Arblay, Madame d' Burrowes, Robert, 570-571 Burrows, Dr., of St. Clement Danes, 421 Burton, John, 354* Burton, R.: see Crouch, Nathaniel Burton, Robert, 12, 179, 284, 433 Bute, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of, 104-105, 106, 108, 150, 255, 256, 294, 427, 480, 483, 485, 497*, 506 :

106,

148* i50> .

=

(chemist): see Fordyce,

George

Cabiri, 74-75 Cadell, Thomas, 100, 279, 280, 327, 332, 407 Cadet, a Aiilitary Treatise, The, 85

Caermarthen, Lord: see Leeds, 5th Duke of Caesar, Gaius Julius, 4, 24, 353 Caldwell, Sir James, 154* Caldwell, Sir John, 154* Caledonian Adercury, The, 484 Caligula (Gaius Caesar), Roman emperor, 390 Call

to the

Unconverted

to

Turn and Live,

A

(Baxter),

231,525

34

323* Bulkeley, Mrs.,

of,

ith Earl of, 196,

131, 170, 229, 502 Normanby, John Sheffield, ist

Buffon,

Marquess

Byng, John, admiral, 85, 87, 181 Byng, Hon. John, 582

Buchanan, George,

1

Stuart, ist

Butler, Samuel, 217, 475, 539 Butter, William, 296, 347, 350, 477, 575, 576 Butter, Mrs. William, 350

197

Buffier [Bouffier], Claude,

John

281, 296, 321, 326, 431, 483 Butler, Joseph, 354*

—

Brydone, Patrick, 252, 293, 414 Buchan, David Steuart Erskuie,

593

Bute,

Callimachus, 442 Calmet, Augustin, 569 *

Cambridge, Richard Owen, 257, 258, 259, 260, 379, 380, 505 Cambridge University, 1 54 Camden, Charles Pratt, ist Earl, 215*, 243, 399

Camden, William,

397, 51

Cameron, Archibald, 38 Cameron, Donald, 38 * Campbell, Archibald, Duke of Argyle: see Argyle, 3rd Duke of Campbell, Archibald, satirist, 156 Campbell, Sir Archibald, 314 Campbell, Archibald, Bishop of Aberdeen, 210, 535 Campbell, Archibald, theologian, 1 00 Campbell, John: see Argyle, 5th Duke of Campbell, Dr. John, 118, 158, 210, 286, 377 Campbell, Rev. John, of Kippen, 152 * Campbell, Mungo, 359 Campbell, Colonel Mure, 335 Campbell, Thomas, 88, 250, 251, 253, 254, 332 Campbell, of Auchnaba, 337, 338, 340 Campbells, Mrs. Boswell's nephews, 334 Candide (Voltaire), 94, 414 Canons of Criticism, The (Edwards), 72* Canus, Melchior, 267 Capell [Capel], Edward, 443 Caractacus (Mason), 250 Cardross, Lord: see Buchan, i ith Earl of Careless, Mrs., 290, 291, 490, 491, 567 Careless Husband, The (Gibber), 47*, 251

—

,

Carhampton, Henry Lawes

Luttrell,

176 Carleton, George, 551 Carlisle, Frederick Howard, 5th Earl

2nd Earl

of,

478, 521-

522 Carmen Secular e (Horace), 419 Carmichael, Miss, 370, 418 Caroline of Auspach, Queen of England, 320 Carte,

Thomas,

7,

252, 354*, 544

of,

1

1

INDEX

594

Dormer Stanhope,

4th Earl

Carter, Elizabeth, 31 36, 55, 66, 352, 473, 531 Carteret, John: see Granville, ist Earl

Chesterfield, Philip

* Cartwright, Thomas, 354

3 1 8, 331 , 41 3, 423, 434, 467, 475, 483, 499, 550 Chesterfield, Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl of, 342

,

Castell,

3, 39,

Edmund, 354*

Chcyne, George,

Catalogue 0/ the Artists' Exhibition, 102 Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops (Keith), 85

Catcot, George, 31 Cathcart, Charles Cathcart, gth Baron, 274, 41 Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 340*-34i *, 418,

532 Catholics: see

Roman

Catholicori (Balbus),

Catholics

270

Catiline (Lucius Sergius Catilina), 3 Cato, Marcus Porcius, 109*, 468

Cato (Addison), 100, 389-390, 453 Cato Major (Cicero), 566*

*,

of,

49-50. 70-73, 192. 209, 247-248, 251, 312,

13, 304,

324

Cheynell [Cheynel], Francis, Life of (Johnson), 62 Chinese Architecture (Chambers), 503 Chishull,

Edmund, 354*

Abbe de, 407 Cholmondeley, George, 3rd Earl of, 554* Cholmondeley, George James, 554-555 Cholmondeley, Mary Woffington, 181, 381, 383,

Choisi, Francois Timoleon,

401 Christian, Rev. Mr., 158 Christian

471

Christian

Hero (Steele), 286 Morals (Browne), 85

Ca tor, John, 544

Christian's Defence Against the Fears of Death (Drelin-

Catullus, Gaius Valerius, 501 Caulfield, James: see Charlemont, ist Earl of

Christie, James, the elder,

court), 193

Caulfield, Miss, 328 Cave, Edward, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30-31, 34> 35. 36, 39> 40> 41 . 42, 43» 57. 66, 1 98, 2 1 8 *, 402-

Chronicles (Holinshed),

*

576* Church of England, 189,

Chronicles (Stow),

196, 290, 342, 466-467,

532

403, 579

Church of Scotland,

Life of (Johnson), 70 Cave, Miss, 21 * Cawston, a servant, 582 Caxton, William, 380 Cebes, 24 Cecil, Colonel, 1 99 Cecilia (F. Burney), 514, 572 Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de, 260, 296 Chalmers, George, 40* Chamberlayne, Edward, 473 Chamberlayne, George, 536

Chambers, Catharine, 156 Chambers, Ephraim, 36, 60 Chambers, Sir Robert, 75, 93,99.

i03>

1

37, '50.157

&

* 1 *, 540*-54i Gibber, Colley, 39, 47*, 70, 113, 169, 171, 245, 251. 305, 306*, 319, 357, 383, 520, 531 Gibber, Susannah Maria, 53, 169 Gibber, Theophilus, 50, 305, 305*-3o6*, 308, 334 Cicero, Marcus Tullius, 24, 285, 321*, 413, 557, 566*, 569* Ciceronianus (Erasmus), 557 Citizen of the World, The (Goldsmith) ,116 City Club, 470 Civil and Natural History of Jamaica (Browne), 85 Clanranald, 241, 242 Clapp, Mrs., 161, 177 Clare, Robert Nugent, Viscount, 184, 399 Clarendon, Edward Hyde, ist Earl of, 82*, 166,

279. 382, 413. 453 *. 544, 586 Press, 279, 284

Clarendon

Chapone, Hester,

Clarissa

55, 521, 522 of, 137,

216,

467, 468

King of England, 52*,

Charles

I,

497 Charles

II,

King

133, 209, 260,

of England, 67, 125, 155, 251,

260, 454 Charles III (the

Young Pretender), 122, 223 Charles V, Holy Roman emperor, 167, 378 Charles XII, King of Sweden, 52, 296, 384 Charlotte, Queen of England, 107, 186, 216, 235, 289, 343

Chatham, William

Pitt, ist Earl of, 33, 40, 147, 181, 197, 203, 214, 243, 362, 414, 545

Chatterton, Thomas, 311, 488 Chaucer, Geoffrey, 85, 332, 380, 568*

85

Chemical Essajs (Watson) , 480

"i. "4. "8, 120*,

Churton, Ralph, 225*, 51

Chandler, Samuel, 354*

Chappe d'Auteroche, Jean, 409 Charlemont, James Caulfield, ist Earl

193, 196,218-219,419

Churchill, Charles, 32, 88-89, 138, 162*, 354*, 371,379

225, 226-227, 229, 230, 232, 303, 463, 464, 554 Chambers, Sir William, 478, 503 Chamier, Anthony, 136, 335, 368, 380 Champion, The, 45 Fletcher), 216 Chances, The (Beaumont

Life of,

577

576*

*

Harlowe (Richardson), 38, 90*, 251, 357,

450 Clark,John, 523, 524 Clark, Richard, 525-526 Clarke, John, 23 Clarke, Samuel, 15, 112, 173, 182, 226, 378, 448, 581 Clarke, William, 354* Claudian (Claudius Claudianus), 243, 569* Clavius, Christopher, 285 Claxton, John, 221 Clayton, Robert, 354* Clement XIV, Pope (Giovanni Ganganelli), 391

Clement, William, 140 Clenardus, Nicholas, 447 Cleone (Dodsley), 90, 448 Cleonice (Hoole), 235 Clerk, Sir Philip Jennings, 468 Clermont, Frances Fortescue, Countess

of,

436

9

INDEX

595

Conscious Lovers, The (Steele), 141 * Considerations on the Case of Dr. Trapp' s Sermons

Glive, Catherine (Kitty), 444, 520 Clive, Robert, Baron, 412, 428 Club, Literary: see Literary Club

Cobb, Mary, 266, 293, 431-432, 489, 51? Cobham, Richard Temple, ist Viscount, 140,

(Johnson), 569* "Considerations on the Dispute between Crousaz and War burton, on Pope's Essay on Man'''' (Johnson), 41

411

*

Cochrane, James, 122*

Const, Francis, 301

Codex Divinorum Officiorum, 270 Coke, Sir Edward, 191, 301 *, 543 Col, laird of: see Maclean, Donald, laird of Col Colbrooke, 270 Cole, Henry, 577* Collection oj Pieces in Verse and Prose, on Occasion of the Dunciad (Savage, ed.), 542 * Collection of Poems, A (Dodsley), 302*, 308, 346*,

Contentment (Parnell), 336 Convict's Address to his unhappy Brethren, The (John-

—

,

362, 385, 389, 449 Collier, Jeremy,

535*

Collins, William, 76, 107, 263 Life of (Johnson), 107

444,4-47,571,582

La (Boccage), 550 Colson, John, 24-25 Columbus, Christopher, 523 Coluthus, 569 * Commentaries (Caesar), 24, 353 Commentaries on the Laws of England (Blackstone), Colombiade,

255*, 281,471 Commentarius de rebus ad eum pertinentibus (Huet), ,

for

on the Four Evangelists and the

A (Pearce), 333 cloathing the French Prisoners,

98 Common-Place Book (Locke), 55 Commons, House of: see Parliament Companion for the Festivals and Fasts of England (Nelson), 290, 544 Compleat Angler , The (Walton), 544

Cooper, John Gilbert, 182, 346*, 443 Copley, John, 577* Corderius: see Cordier, Maturin Cordier, Maturin, 23 Corelli, Arcangelo, 251 Coriat: see Coryate, Thomas Coriat Junior: see Paterson, Samuel Cork and Orrery, John Boyle, 5th Earl 70, 83, 182, 357, 376, 379, 400, 454,

Church of

the malicious and scandalous Aspersions of Mr. Brooke, Authour of Gustavus Vasa, A (Johnson), 36 Camus (Milton), 62 de Bourbon, Prince de, 268 Conde, Louis Conde, Louis Joseph de Bourbon, Prince de, 267,

H

268, 270 Conduct of the Allies, The (Swift), 162 "Conduct of the Ministry Relating to the Present War Impartially Examined, The" 85 Confession of Faith, Agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, 2jr

Confucius, 395

Burdonum Fabulce (Scaliger), 226 Congreve, Charles, 7, 290-291, 295 Congreve, William, 7, 109*, 168, 170, 214, 358 Life of (Johnson), 459-460 Congreve family, 358 1

1

of, 50,

66,

499

Cork and Orrery, Mary Monckton BoyIe,Countess of,

477

Corn Laws, 182 see

Clarendon,

ist

Earl of

Gorneille, Pierre, 446

Coryate, Thomas, 1 97 Cornwallis, Frederick, Archbishop of Canterbury,

Cotterell, Admiral, 66 the

(Kennedy), 102

Connoisseur, The,

Shaftesbury, 4th Earl

337

Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage, from

Confutatio stultissima

see

Costard, George, 354

Complete System of Astronomical Chronology, unfolding the Scriptures

Cooke, William, 524 Cooksey, John, 244* Cooper, Anthony Ashley:

Cornbury, Lord: notes,

Acts of the Apostles,

Committee

Cook [Cooke], Thomas, the engraver, 583 * Cooke, Thomas (Hesiod), 108*

of

Collyer, Joel: jee Bicknell, Alexander Colman, George, the elder, 57, 137, 244, 327, 402,

353 Commentary with

son & Dodd), 343, 351 Conybeare, John, 354* Cook, James, 298, 550

Cotterell, the Misses, 66-67, 103, 107

Council of Trent, 174 Courayer, Pierre Frangois le, 26, 34* Courtenay, John, 12-13, 49*, 60,87,95, 137,228, 244*, 259*, 397, 399, 545, 547*, 569* Courtown, James Stopford, 2nd Earl of, 262 Covent Garden, 333 Covington, Alexander Lockhart, Lord, 367 Cowley, Abraham, 305, 475, 493 Life of (Johnson), 48, 37 1 449 *, 453-454 Cowper, George Nassau Clavering-Cowper, 3rd ,

Earl, 301

*

Cowper, Gilbert: see Cooper, John Gilbert Cowper, William, 406 * Cox, a

solicitor,

547

Coxeter, Thomas, 348

Crabbe, George, 499 Cra dock, Joseph, 308 Craggs, James, the elder, 42 Craggs, James, the younger, 42 Craig, James, the architect, 415 Craig, William, his father, 415 Crashaw, Richard, 397 * Craven, Elizabeth, countess of: see Anspach, Elizabeth, Margravine of

8

1

INDEX

596 Creation (Blackmore), 174-175

CrescLmbeni, Giovanni Maria, 76 115*, 116, 137, 155, 306,

Critical Review, The, 99,

353> 460 Critical Strictures (Boswell, Erskine,

and Dempster),

"5 Criticism on the Elegy ivritten in a Country Churchyard:

Being a Continuation of Dr.

J — n's

Criticism on the

Poems of Gray (Young), 573 Croft, Herbert, 460-461 539, 543 Cromwell, Oliver, 288, 518 Crosbie, Andi^ew, 262, 328 Crouch, Anna Maria (Phillips), 515 Crouch, Nathaniel (Burton's Books), 525 Crousaz, Jean Pierre de, 35, 41 Croxall, Samuel, 354* Cruikshank, William Cumberland, 513, 519, 562,

Cumberland, William Augustus, Duke Cumberland, Richard, 309, 462, 570 Cumming, Thomas, 510-51

of,

Cursory Observations on the Poems attributed

262

to

Thomas

Rowley, 488* Cust, Francis Cockayne, 43 *, 45, 46* Cutts, Elizabeth Cutts (nee Pickering), Baroness,

372 Sciences

or

an Universal Dictionary of Arts and

(Chambers), 60

86, 109,

Decline and Fall of the

Roman Empire, The (Gibbon),

259. 286, 377, 535*, 571-572 Defence of Pluralities, 2 1 Defence of the True Liberty of Human Actions from Antecedent and Extrinsicall Necessity (Bramhall), 173

Defoe, Daniel,

93

1

*,

384

Deformities of Dr Samxiel Johnson, The, 491 De Groot, Isaac, 337 .

Demonax (Lucian), 452 Demosthenes, 195, 209, 401, 413 Dempster, George, 115, 123, 124, 125, 203, 239, 240, 377. 396. 534 Dempster, Miss, 534 Dennis, John, 308, 453* Derby, John, 333 Derrick, Samuel, 31, 108, iii, 129-130, 419, 504, 516* Descartes, Rene, 270

(Du Halde),

Description of the Western Isles of Scotland,

no, in,

120, 138, 161,

162, 167, 168, 170, 207, 224-225, 228-229, 238,

251, 252, 254, 262, 308, 332, 370-371, 379, 439,

444> 445.516,563 Davies, Mrs. Thomas, 109,

36, 39-

35*.4i.i59

Damonology (James I), 422 Dalin [Daline],01ofvon, 191 Dalrymple, David: see Hailes, Lord Dalrymple, Sir John, 208-209, 217, 235 Dalzel, Andrev/, 570 Dante Alighieri, 2 1 7, 373 * Dartineuf [or Dartiquenave], Charles, 286 Dashvvood, Sir Henry, 430* Dashwood, Lady, 430

Thomas,

39 "Debates on The Senate of Lilliput" 29, 40,41,579

Description of the East (Pococke), 252 Description of the Empire of China, A

Dacier, Andre, 320* Dacier, Anne Lefevre, 406 *

Davies,

"Debate on the Proposal of Parliament to Cromwell, to assume the Title of King" (Johnson),

Delany, Patrick, 379, 454 Democritus, 475*

563.575.576* Cullen, Robert, Lord, 338, 367 Cullen, William, 261, 338, 352, 527

Cyclopeedia,

De Natura Deorum (Cicero), 569* De Situ Orbis (Pomponius Mela), 133 Dean [Deane], Richard, 159 "Death of a Friend" (Johnson), 92

A

(Martin)

128,377 Deserted Village, The (Goldsmith), 144, 216, Desmaizeaux [Desmaiseaux], Pierre, 2

499*

Desmoulins, Elizabeth,

13, 18, 65, 188, 326, 370, 395. 400. 416, 418, 419. 471. 489. 490. 498, 510, 517. 525. 547*. 582

Desmoulins, John, 576 *, 577 * Despairing Shepherd, The (Prior), 166 Devaynes, an apothecary, 531 Devonshire, Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess

of,

420, 559, 564

Devonshire, William Cavendish, 3rd

Duke

of,

358,

Duke

of,

358,

420

no,

138, 370, 516,

563 Dawkins, James, 483 Dawson, George, 289 * Dawson, John, 430 Day of Judgement, The (Ogilvie), 120* De Anima Medica (Nicholls), 350 De Animi Tranquillitate (Volusene), 367 De Arte Poetica (Horace), quoted, 60

De Bello Catilinario (Sallust), 569* De Civitate Dei (Augustine), 270 De Claris Oratoribus (Cicero), 545 De Consolatione Philosophia (Boethius), 36 De generatione insectarum (Redi), 373* De Locis Theologicis (Canus), 267* De Natura casli (Lydiat), 52 *

Devonshire, William Cavendish, 5th

483. 559. 564 De Witt, Jan, 3 Dialogues of the Dead (Lyttelton), 181, 286, 460

Diamond, an apothecary, 66 Diary, The,

570*

Diary (Laud), 209-210 Dibden, Charles, 1 75 Dick, Sir Alexander, 329, 338, 507-508, 526, 527 Dick Sir William, 329 Dictionarium Saxonico et Gothico-Latinum (Lye), 147 Dictionary (Bayle), 120 Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (Chambers) see Cy,

:

clopedia

Dictionary of Ancient Geography,

206-207, 304

A

(Macbean), 51,

INDEX Dictionary of the English Language, A Qohnson), 23, 49-51. 54, 60, 62, 63, 66, 68, 69-85, 90, 104, 105,

106, 108*, no, 126, 132, 186, 190, 192, 206, 207, 208, 225, 247*, 333-334> 350, 354*, 361, 39^, 404*, 410, 413, 429, 434, 443, 454*, 486, 512,

525*, 547, 549, 565, 576*, 581

*,

583*, 584, 585

Dictionary of Trade and Commerce (Rolt), 100, 252 Dictionnaire de Commerce, 576 * Dilly, Charles, 221, 332, 480, 483, 485, 525, 532 Dilly, Edward and Charles, publishers, 224, 250,

279,280,298,317,413,549 Edward, 221, 317, 318, 332, 337, 390, 391, 392, 414, 415, 425, 426, 474, 476, 480 Dilly, John, 71, 221, 426, 480, 481, 483, 485

Dilly,

Diogenes Laertius, 445-446 Dirleton, Sir John Nisbet, Lord, 364 Discourse on the Evangelical History, A (Townson), 225* Discourse on the Inequality of

Mankind (Rousseau),

124 Discourses on the Gospels

(Townson), 541

*

Discourses on Painting (Reynolds), 327, 546-547

upon the Epitaphs written by Pope, (Johnson), 85, 93 "Dissertation on the Greek Comedy, A" (Johnson) "Dissertation

A"

"Dissertation

Authours,

upon

A"

the State of Literature and (Johnson), 85

Dissertations on the Ancient History of Ireland

nor), 89,

(O'Con-

Distressed Mother,

(Newton), 535

The (Ambrose Philips),

324

Drummond,

Dr. (William

Drummond's

son), 152,

324, 422 27, 40, 49, 53, 54, 62, 115,

J-iJe of (Johnson), 455-456 Dublin, University of, 34, 89 * Dublin Evening Post, Tfe, 570* DuBos, Jean Baptiste, 169 Ducket, George, 82 * Duenna, The (Sheridan), 334 \ Du Halde, Jean Baptiste, 35*, 41, 159, 451 * Duke, Richard, 453

Docksey [Doxy], Merrial, 433, 434 Dr. Dodd' s last solemn Declaration (Johnson), 343 Doctrine of a Middle State (Campbell) ,210* Dodd, Mary (Mrs. William), 343 Dodd, William, 335-336, 337, 338, 340, 342-345,

Dunbar, James, 439

347,351,379,385,389,509 Dodsley, James, 49, 52 *, 53, 286 Dodsley, Robert, 31, 34*, 49, 50, 51, 52*, 53, 54*, 66, 72, 73, 75*, 76, 79, 80, 88, 90, 94, 286, 287*, 293, 302*, 308, 346*, 362, 385, 389, 429, 447, 448, 449 "Domestick Greatness unattainable" (Johnson), 92 Dominiceti [Dominicetti], Bartholomew de, 171 Donaldson, Alexander, 124 Don Quixote (Cervantes), 260 Donne, John, 286 Life of {Ylalton), 258 Dorset, Charles Sackville, 2nd Duke of, 1 02

John Frederick

270, 271

Drummond, James, see Perth, ist (titular) Duke of Drummond, William, of Hawthornden, 390 Drummond, William, a bookseller, 151 -153, 156,

457

Divine Poesie (Waller), 536*-537 * Dixie [Dixey], Sir Wolstan, 19

Dorset,

Drumgould [Drumgold], Jean,

Drury-lane Journal, 59 * Dryden, John, 61, 83, 129, 143-144, 167-168, 180, 195, 212, 218, 246, 269, 308, 319, 320, 380, 389, 397 *, 41 1 , 427, 453, 478 *, 522, 541

Humphrey, 163*

Diversions of Purley (Tooke), 41 3 * Divine Legation of Moses, The (Warburton),

Drelincourt, Charles, 193 "^ Drinking Song to Sleep (Granville), 68 Drogheda, Edward Moore, 5th Earl of, 306 * Dromore, Bishop of: see Percy, Thomas

11 *, 49,

310 Ditton,

:

Drury Lane Theatre, 163,333,444

332*

Dissertations on the Prophecies

597

Doughty, William, 234*, 583 * Douglas (Home), 129, 245, 322 Douglas, Archibald James Edward Douglas, ist Baron, 158,214-215,369 Douglas, Sir James, the Good, 355 Douglas, Dr. James, 533 Douglas, Lady Jane, 214 Douglas, John, Bishop of Salisbury, 32, 36, 62, 7 1 *, 115, 122, 137, 161, 162,272,401,532 Douglas, Sir John, 350 Douglas Cause, 158, 299, 369 Doxy, Miss see Docksey, Merrial Drake, Sir Francis, Life of (Johnson), 38, 39 Draper, a bookseller, 3 1 o Drapier' s Letters, The (Swift), 245 Dreghorn, John Maclaurin, Lord, 134, 258, 300, 324, 328, 338, 367

Sackville, 3rd

Duke

of,

583* Dossie, Robert, 445 Doubts on the Abolition of the Slave Trade (Ranby),

Dunciad (Pope), 167, 249, 542 Duncombe, William, 400

Dundas, Henry: see Melville, Viscount Dunning, John: see Ashburton, ist Baron Dunsinane [Dunsinnan], Sir William Nairne, Lord 309, 337

Dunton, John, 506 Dupin, Louis EUies, 544

Duppa, Bryan, 577 * Durand, Leopold, 269 Durandi Sanctuarium, 269 Dury, Alexander, 94 Dyer, John, 288 Dyer, Samuel, 137, 147, 445 Dying Christian to His Soul, The (Pope), 305 Dyson, Jeremiah, 460

364 Doubts and Questions upon land (Dirleton), 364

the

Law

especially of Scot-

E (Edmund) Easy Lessons

:

see

Burke, Edmund and English (Baretti), 235

in Italian

1

INDEX

598 Eccles,

an

Irish

clergyman, lOO, I20

Epistle

Edwards, Edward, 417 Edwards, Jonathan, 392 Edwards, Oliver, 396-398, 471 Edwards, Thomas, 72 * Edwin, John, the elder, 570* Eglinton, Alexander Montgomerie, loth Earl 162,359 Eglinton, Archibald Montgomerie, nth Earl

Eld, Francis or John Elegies (Scott),

(?),

of,

"Epitaph on of,

404

254

no*, 169

250 Elibank, Maria Margaretta Murray, Baroness, 455 Elibank, Patrick Murray, 5th Baron, 185, 188, 201, 202,303,313,445,479 Eliock [Elliock], James Veitch, Lord, 367 Eliot, Edward, Baron, 137, 312, 467, 502*, 548, 550-551 39, 98,

445

Elizabeth, Mme., sister of Louis XVI, 268 Elizabeth Petrovna, Empress of Russia, 85 Elliot, Sir Gilbert,

Third Baronet of Minto, 97,

192

Musician" (Johnson), 38-

"Epitaph on

Sir

Thomas Hanmer"

(Johnson), 48,

150

"Epitaph on Thomas Parnell" (Johnson), 459 Erasmus, Desiderius, 23, 323 *, 557 Erskine, Andrew, 1 5, 346 Erskine, Sir Harry, 108 1

Erskine, Thomas, Baron, 196-197 "Essay on the Account of the Conduct of the Duchess of Marlborough" (Johnson), 40 "Essay on Architecture" (Smart?), 85 Essay on the Character of Hamlet (Robertson), 449* "Essay on the Description of China by Pere du

Essay on

41

the dramatic Character of Sir

John

Falstaff,

Ellis,

Elvira (Mallet), 115 Elwall [Elwal], Edward, 193-194, 222 Embry, a clergyman, 379 Emmet, Mrs., 292

England's Gazetteer, 544 English Grammar (Lowth), 544 English Malady, The (Cheyne), 13, 304, 324 English Poets, The: see Lives of the Poets, The (Johnson) Enquiry into the Authenticity of the Poems ascribed to Qs-

An (Shaw), 523-524

into tlie Authenticity of the Poems attributed to Thomas Rowley, An (Warton), 488 * Enquiry into the original of Adoral Virtue (Campbell),

Enquiry

*

Essay on Dramatic Poetry (Belsham) 1 09 "Essay on Epitaphs, An" (Johnson), 38, 93 Essay on the Future Life of Brutes, An (Dean), 1 59 Essay of Health and Long Life, An (Cheyne), 304 Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare (Farmer), 308 Essay on the Life and Character of John Lord Somers ,

(Cooksey), 244* Essay on the Life, Character, and writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson, An (Towers), 454* Essay on the Life and Genius of Dr. Johnson (Murphy), Essay on Man (Pope), 35*, 41, 154*, 428-429 Essay on the Migration of Birds (Barrington), 22 Essay on Milton's Use and Imitations of the Moderns in His Paradise Lost (Lauder), 63 Essay on Miracles (Hume), 285 Essay on the Origin of Evil (King), 428 * Essay on Physiognomy (Lavater), 583 * "Essay on the Style of Dr. Samuel Johnson" (Burrowes), 570-571 Essay on Tea (Hanway), 85, 86 Essay towards a New English Version of the Book of Psalms, An (Mudge), 467 Essay on Truth (Beattie), 206 Essay on Waters (Lucas), 85, 86 Essay on Wit, Humour, and Ridicule (Morris), 475* Essay on the Writings and Genius of Pope (Warton),

85,127,194,334, 372,428*

100 Enquiry into the present State of polite Learning An (Goldsmith), 1 16

in

Europe,

Essay on

the

Writings and Genius of Shakspeare,

An

(Montagu), 168-169,462

Epigrammaton (Buchanan), 131 * "Epigram both in Greek and Latin to Eliza, An" (Johnson), 36 "Epilogue" to The Distressed Mother (Addison),

Essays on the History of Adankind (Dunbar), 439

310 "Epilogue" to The

Essays on several Religious Subjects (Milner ) 130'' Essence of the Douglas Cause, The (Boswell) ,215* Essex, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of, 1 22

49

An

(Morgann), 504

no*

John, 302, 302*-303* Mr., 177 Elpliinston, James, 57-58, 61, 152, 213, 382 Ellis,

sian.

Philips, a

39. 150

Halde" (Johnson),

Elfrida (Mason), 249,

Queen of England,

(Horace), 15, 60, 150, 346 302 * * Epistles (Pliny), 251 Epistola ad Pisones (Horace), 320*

Epistles (Ovid),

Elegy to Lord VilUers (Whitehead), 478-479 Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (Gray), 113,

Elizabeth,

Esq., occasioned by his having

rick), 161

*

247, 573 Elements of Criticism, The (Kames), Elements of Orthoepy (Nares), 572

James Boswell,

Epistles

330. 367, 401 Eglinton, Susanna Montgomerie, Countess of, 417 Eglintoune: see Eglinton Eglogiies (Barclay), 76 Eight Sermons on the Prophecies respecting the Destruction of Jerusalem (Churton), 541

to

transmitted the moral Writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson to Pascal Paoli, General of the Corsicans, An (Ken-

Eclogues (Virgil), 149, 234, 513

Essays,

Moral and Literary (Knox), 572-573

Essays Philosophical, Historical, and Literary (Belsham),

109 ,

Distressed Mother (Johnson),

1

1,

INDEX Essex

Head Club,

524, 5Q4*-525*, 525-526, 531-

532, 558, 559. 5S0 Este, house of,

*

07 Estienne, Henri, 576* 1

599

Filby, John, 167 Fingal (Macpherson), 181. 236, 237, 239, 311, Finnick Dictionary, 76, 77

524

Estiennes, the [Stephani], 380 Estimate, The (Brown), 182

Firebrace, Bridget, Lady, 35 Fitzherbert, Alleyne: see St. Helens, Baron Fitzherbert, Mary Meynell, 1 8, 452

568* Eton College, 300 Eugene, Prince of Savoy, 198 Eugenia, 31,218 Eumelian Club, 573

Fitzherbert, William, 18, loi, 212, 254, 318-319, 345-346, 376, 423, 450, 452 Fitzosborne, Sir Thomas: see Melmoth, William Fitzpatrick, John: see Upper Ossory, 2nd Earl of Fitzroy, Lord Charles, 293

Ethics (Aristotle),

Euripides, 15, 24, 198, 442, 501 *, 544 European Magazine, The, loi, 153*, i75* Eutropius, 23, 24, 217 Evangelical History of our Lord Jesus Christ Harmonized, The (John Lindsay), 570*

Evans, James, 435 Evans, John, 5 * Evans, Lewis, 85 Evans, Thomas, 208 Evelina (F. Burney), 514 Evidences of Natural and Revealed Religion (Clarke),

581* Examen de I'Essai

M.

Pope sur

I'

Homme

(Crousaz),

Flint, Bet,

475

Flood, Lady Frances, 89 * Flood, Henry, 89 *, 1 85, 584 Florizel and Perdita (Garrick), 166

Fitzpat-

2nd Earl of

Fable of the Bees, The:

or.

Private Vices, Public Bene-

(Mandeville), 393 Fabula ALsopicB (Phaedrus), 360 Faculty of Advocates, 210 fits

Edward, 453 *, 568*

Falconer, Rev. Mr., 419 Falkland, Lucius Cary, and Viscount, 269, 586* Fall of Mortimer, The (Mountfort), 321 Falmouth, G^eorge Evelyn Boscawen, Viscount, 406 False Alarm, The (Johnson), 176, 187-188,244,430,

451,475 False Delicacy (Kelly), 157 Family Discourses: see Brother's Advice

to his Sisters,

A

Farmer, Richard, 103, ijS-iJJ, 308, 436, 447, 488 Farquhar, George, 444 Father's Revenge, The (Carlisle), 521-522 Faulkner, George, 89, 190 Fawkener, Sir Everard, 49 * Fawkes, Francis, 107 Feast of Reason, A (Cumberland), 462 Felixmarte of Hircania, 8 Female Quixote (Lennox), 102

Fenton, Elijah, 245 Ferguson [Fergusson], James, the self-taught philosopher, 171 Ferguson, James, advocate, 367 Fergusson, Sir Adam, 1 95 Fermor, Mrs., 267, 283 Ferrara, Eleanora Gonzaga, Duchess of, 107 * Fielding, Henry, 157-158", 196-197, 309, 368, 526 Fielding, John, publisher, 583* Fielding, Sir John,

1

19,

1

30

Fludyer, John, 285 Fontanerius, Paulus Pelissonius, 20* Fontenelle, Bernard le Bovier, Sieur de, 39, 378

Upper Ossory, John

F(Fitzpatrick): see

Floyd, Thomas,

Floyer, Sir John, 7, 21, 529, 558

Experiments on Bleaching (Home), 85

Fairfax,

"Flight of Time" (Johnson), 92

Florus, Lucius Annaeus, 217 de

35-36 "Excursion, The," 150

rick,

Flatman, Thomas, 305 The (Dyer), 288 Fleetwood, Charles, 27, 40 Fleming, Sir George, 131* Fletcher, John, 249, 293 Flexman, Roger, 548

Fleece,

437

Fool,

The

, 1

53

Foote, Samuel, 99, 128, 170, 171, 174, 190, 201*, 210, 238, 262, 270, 271-272, 282, 318-319, 327, 357, 358, 383, 500, 514, 532, 550 Forbes, Sir William of Pitsligo, 309, 323, 365, 370 Ford, Cornelius (Johnson's uncle), 8 Ford, Rev. Cornelius (Johnson's cousin), 9, 412 Ford, Sarah: j^e Johnson, Sarah Ford

Fordyce, George, 137, 230, 244, 373, 374, 548 Fordyce, James, 1 1 1, 580 "Foreign History" (Johnson), 40-41 Forrester, James, 303 Forster, George, 356 Fortune, a Rhapsody (Derrick), 31 Foster, Elizabeth, Milton's grand-daughter, 62, 63 Foster, James, Fothergili,

444

Thomas, 248, 249

Foulis, Messrs., booksellers, 263 Foundling Hospitalfor Wit, The, 536 * "Fountains, The" (Johnson), 151 Fowler, Rev. R., 161

Fox, Charles James, 137, 230, 244, 380, 382, 383, 384, 496-497, 528, 533, 538 "France H" (Johnson), 266-271 Francis, Philip, 414 Francklin, Thomas, 99, 452, 583 * Frank, Johnson's servant: see Barber, Francis Franklin, Benjamin, 243, 377 Eraser, the engineer: see Frazer, Andrevv^ Eraser, Simon, Lord Lovat: see Lovat, 12th Fraser, Simon(son of Lord Lovat), 296

Baron

Frazer, Andrew, 404

Frederick II, the Great, King of Prussia, 85, 123, 125, 159*, 195,296,407,476,583*

3

3

INDEX

6oo

Frederick William I, King of Prussia, 85 Freeholder (Addison), 244* "Free Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil,

A," 85 "Free Translation of the Jests of Hierocles,

A"

(Johnson), 39

43. 44. 48, 49. 51. 52*, 56, 63, 65*, 70, 89, 97, 98, 115. 139. 291, 332*, 395*, 402-403, 409*,

446*, 453*, 460*, 487*, 492*, 521*, 545, 569,

579

French, Mrs. Jeffrey, 457 French Academy, 50, 83 French Revolution, 519*, 534* Freron, Elie, 267, 272 Friend, Sir John, 199 "Friendship, an Ode" (Johnson), 42, 150 Frusta Letteraria, 353

Frye [Fry], Thomas, 302

*

Fryske Rymlerye (Japix), 136 Fullarton, William, 414

"Further Thoughts on Agriculture" (Johnson), 85 Fust, Johann, 270

Gentleman's Religion, 544 Geographical Grammar, 544

George George

I,

King of England, 251 King of England, 38, 39, 57,85,101,1

II,

335, 342, 343. 344. 347. 348, 363, 370, 385, 390, 417, 437, 438, 471*. 478, 483, 496, 497^ 499. 526, 528, 533, 536, 538, 568* Georgics (Virgil ),i5, 149, 234, 513

—

(Shaw), 330, 367,

523 Galick and English Vocabulary

13,

122*, 193, 222, 251, 305*, 474, 476 George III, King of England, 26, 98, loi, 104, 105, 106, 108, 122, 150, 153-156, 163, 173, 176, 184, 193. 212, 223, 235, 251, 255, 289, 297, 306,333,

Gernsheym, 270 Gherardi, Marchese, 404

—

Gagnier, , 266-267 Galick and English Dictionary

(McDonald), 231

Galileo Galilei, 52 *

,

The (ChurchUl), 114 Giannone, Pietro, 443

Ghost,

Giardini, Felice de', 2

1

Gibbon, Edward, 137, 163*, 183*, 253, 259, 286,

269 Galway, Jane Monckton, Viscountess, 477 Gama, Vasco da, 523 Ganganelli: see Clement XIV, Pope Gardiner, Mrs., 66, 303, 521, 576* Gardner, Thomas, 252

Gallia Christiana,

Garrick, David, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24-25, 27, 38-39, 40, 44> 455 49> 52, 53> 54. 59. 62, 66, 67, 68, 73, 83, 90. "o= "2, 113, 116*, 136, 137, 154, 163, 166, 167, 168, 169, 171, 175, 182, 202, 213-214,

215, 216, 218, 224, 238, 242, 246, 247, 248, 262, 273, 283-284, 291, 292, 293, 303, 307, 312, 318, 319. 346, 357. 381, 382, 383-384. 393. 399. 402, 419. 423-424. 433. 439*. 443. 444» 447» 449. 473. * 474, 509. 5 1 4. 520-52 1 , 565 Garrick, Eva (Mrs. David), 68, 473, 531 Garrick, George, 23 Garrick, Peter (Garrick's brother), 24, 27,242, 291, 292. 293, 432, 460* Garrick, Captain Peter (Garrick's father), 17

Garth, Sir Samuel, Life of (Johnson), 527 Gastrell, Francis, 18*, 294 Gastrell, Jane Aston, 18*, 294, 432

Gaub

[Gaubius], Hieronymus David, Gaultier, Philip, 501 *

1

Gay, John, 259,453* Life oj (Johnson), 259 Gazette, The, 121 Gazetteer, The,

Gentleman's Magazine, The, 5*, 10*, 17,* 18*, 21, 22*, 23, 27-29, 32, 33*, 35*, 36, 38-39, 40-42,

98

General Advertiser, The, 62

General Dictionary of the English Language to Establish a Plain and Permanent Standard oj Pronunciation (Sheridan,) 192

General History oj China, The (Du Halde,) 451 General History oj the Turks, The (Knolles), 24

312, 373, 374, 375, 379, 384, 465-466, 535*,57i-

572 Gibbons, Thomas, 483, 532 Gibson, William, 577 * Giffard, theatre manager, 45 Gilbert, Rev. Mr., 46* Gillespie,

Thomas, 527

Gisborne, Thomas, 346 *

Glasgow, University, 239

Hannah, 391 Glover, Richard, 108* Gobelins, 266 Golden Grove, The; or, Glasse,

A Manual

Goldsmith, Goldsmith, Goldsmith, Goldsmith,

Henry, 199 Mrs. Henry, 328 Isaac, 117*

Oliver, 54*, 58, 60-61, 115, 116-118, 136, 137, 142, 144, 146, 147, 156, 157, 162, 163*, 167, 168, 169, 171, 178, 184, 194, 198, 199, 200, 203, 207, 208, 210-21 1, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216-217, 218, 221, 222, 223, 120,

119,

224, 225, 231, 232, 256, 300, 307, 308, 322, 324*, 328, 350, 351, 378, 380, 382, 385-386, 402, 420, 434, 444, 445, 448, 450, 451, * 499. 502, 53 1 544, 546, 548. 583 Gombauld, Jean Ogier de, 427 Good-Natured Man, The (Goldsmith), 58, 157, Gordon, Sir Alexander, 228, 330 Gordon, Hon. Alexander, 134 Gordon, Lord George, 437, 438*, 470

399, 478,

402

Gordon, John, 415

Gordon Gough,

Riots, 436-438, 439, 441

—

,

270

Government oj the Tongue, The, 42 1

Gower, John Leveson-Gower,

Gentleman, Francis,

Gower, John, 380

07- 1 08

323,

,

Genio errante, II (Italian ed. of The Rambler), 431 Gentle Shepherd, The (Ramsay), 21 1 1

oj Daily Prayers

(Taylor), 538

82

Earl, 5*, 33-34, 37,

3

1

INDEX Gmca Lingua Dialecti

(Mattaire), 442 Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd

Gwyn,

Duke

of,

Gwynn

6oi Col. F. E., 117*

[Gwyn], John, 97, loi, 150, 283, 284, 339

293

Graham, Graham, Graham, Graham, Graham,

Hackman, James,

Colonel, Boswell's cousin, 191

George, 1 16, 329 Lord: see Montrose, 3rd

Duke

422, 423 Haddington, Charles Hamilton, 8th Earl of, 201, 405 Haddington [Hadington], Thomas Hamilton, 7th Earl of, 340 Hague, usher at Lichfield school, 7 Hailes, David Dalrymple, Lord, 73, 123, 128, 206,

of

Dashwood, Lady William: see Montrose, 2nd Duke of Miss:

see

Grainger, James, 137, 288, 362 Granger, James, 326 Grant, 228, 242 Grant, Sir Archibald, 329

—

,

Grant clan, 241 Granville, John Carteret, Granville, George: see

ist

Earl, 177*, 445, 467

Lansdowne, Viscount

Grattan, Henry, 546 Grave, The (Blair) ,310

Graves, Morgan, 22 * Graves, Richard, 287 Gravina, Giovanni Vincenzo, 506 Gray, Edv^^ard Whitaker, 271 * Gray, Sir James, 197 Gray, John, a bookseller, 40

Gray, Thomas,

11 3- 11 4,

144*, 193, 244, 247, 249-250> 306, 308, 393, 436, 445, 493, 573 Life of (Johnson), 462 Gray' s Inn Journal (Murphy), 85, 91, 99 Greaves, Samuel, 524 Greek Anthology, Z'Ag, 569-570 "Greek Epigram to Dr. Birch, An" (Johnson), 36, 2,

Life of (Burnet), 544 Hales, John, 545 Hales, Stephen, 85 Hall, General, 416 Hall, John, 332,583* Hall, Mrs., John Wesley's Halsey, Edmund, 140

Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton,

sister,

471, 472

Douglas Douglas, 8th Duke Archibald, 213 Gavin, 228 William, of Bangour, 346

of,

369

Sir William, 137

William Gerard, 140, 185, 244, 478,

554, 562, 576*, 583

42 Greek

231-2335 234, 236, 237, 249, 263, 264, 265, 273, 274, 275, 276-278, 279, 286, 313, 325, 329, 330, 335> 338, 340, 347> 360, 368, 369, 388, 415, 419, 426-427, 429, 494, 512, 517, 520, 545 Hakewell: see Hakewill, George Hakewill, George, 60 Hale, Sir Matthew, 3, 191, 252, 543, 544

Grammar (Clenardus), 447 430

Hamlet (Shakespeare), 1

Greek Theater, The (Brumoy), 96

—

Green, 451 Green, John, Bishop of Lincoln, 7 Green, Richard, 292, 425, 431, 573 Gregory, James, 337 GrenvUle, George, 184 Gresham College, 300 Greville, Richard Fulke, 541-542 Grey, Richard, 401 Grey, Stephen, 150 Grey, Zachary, 401 Grierson, Constantia, 177* Grierson, George Abraham, 177-178 Grimston, William Luckyn, ist Viscount, 468 Grongar Hill (Dyer), 542 Grotius, Hugo, 63, 112, 129, 281, 337 Grove, Henry, 306, 452 Guardian, The, 54, 569 * Guarini, Giovanni Battista, 41 Guilford, Frederick North, 2nd Earl of, 184, 185, ,

188,248,343,370 Guimene, Princess of, 268 Gulliver's Travels (Swift),

465*

15,

Hammond, Henry, 3 Hammond, James, 22 *,

Greek-Latin Lexicon (Pasor),

447 306 *, 462 * Hampton, James, 85 Handel, George Frederick, 534 Hanmer, Sir Thomas, 47, 48 Hannibal, 308 Hanover, house of, 1 07 *, 2 1 1 , 478, 496, 498 *, 545 Hanway, Jonas, 85, 87, 180 "Happy Life, The" (Johnson), 150 Harding,J., artist, 583* Hardwicke, Philip Yorke, ist Earl of, 39*, 306, 364 Hardwicke, Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of, 71 * Life of (Johnson),

"Hardyknute," ballad of, 169 Hargrave, Francis, 367 * Harington [Harrington], Henry, 501 Harington [Harrington], Sir John, 582* Harleian Catalogue, 2, 40, 42 Harleian Miscellany, 47

Harley, Edward: see Oxford, 2nd Earl of Harrington: see also Harington Harrington, Caroline Stanhope, 2nd Countess

342 Harris, James, 108* 213, 258, 334, 377, 381-382 Harris, Thomas, 333

245

Gusta\ais III, King of Sweden, 340* Gustavus Adolphus, History of The Life of (Harte), 43

179,467 Gustavus Vasa (Brooke), 36

*,

Harrison, a publisher, 583 * Harrison, Elizabeth, 85, 86 Harte, Walter, 43 *, 1 79, 467, 550

Guthrie, William, 29, 36, 159, 451

Harwood, Edward, 308

Guyon, Claude Marie, Abbe

Haslerig, Sir Arthur,

de,

39

1

78

of,

7

INDEX

6o2 Hastie, a schoolmaster, 199-200, 201, 206 Hastings, Warren, 463-464

Hill, Sir John, 155, 391

Hinchliffc, John, Bishop of Peterborough, 137,

Hawkesworth, John, 48*, 51, 61, 63, 66, 68-69, o, 22 1 244 *, 298 1 78, 2 Hawkins, under-master of Lichfield school, 7 Hawkins, Sir John, 1-2, 6*, 18*, 37, 40, 43*, 50*, 1

,

51 » 55» 56*, 63, 64, 65, 79*, 86, 94, 97*-98*, ii7> 136, 137. 147, 152*, 156, 287, 303*, 372,

487*, 524, 549*, 553, 564, 565, 566, 574, 575*, 576, 577 *> 578*, 582 Hawkins, William, of Pembroke College, 16, 382 Hawkins, William, editor of Ken's Works, 352 * Hay, Lord Charles, 299, 448-449 Hay, Sir George, 97 Hayes, Rev. Mr. 357

Hayman,

Francis, 72 *

Heath, James, 583

*

530,566,567,577* Heely, Betty Ford, 152, 564-565 Heely, Mr., 152,564-565 Henault, Charles Jean Frangois, 264, 274, 278 Henderland, Alexander Murray, Lord, 299-300 Henderson, John, of Pembroke College, 535*, 539 Henderson, John, the actor, 247 *, 521 * Henn, Mr., 33* Henry H, King of England, 67, 155

Henry VHI, King of England, 430 Henry VIII (Shakespezu-e and Fletcher), 520 Henry the Navigator, Prince of Portugal, 523 Henry, Robert, 406-407 Herbert, George, 257 * Herbert, Henry: see Pembroke, loth Earl of Hermippus Redivivus (Campbell), 1 18 Hermit, The (Beattie), 503 Hermit, The (Parnell), 369, 425, 459 Hcrne, Elizabeth, 576 * Herodian, 568* Herodotus, 483 * Heroick Epistle to Sir William Chambers (Mason), of,

Hervey, Anne, 153 Hervey, Catherine Aston, 18*, 52 Hervey, Lady Emily, 439* Hervey, Henry, 18*, 25, 52, 153* Hervey, John j^e Bristol, John Hervey, Hervey, Thomas, 153, 251 :

Hesiod, 1 1 430 Hesse Cassel, William VHI, Landgrave Hetherington, William, 234 Heydon, John, 577 * Hickes, George, 536

47*

,

576*

Hisloire Genealogique de [of] France,

455 269

Histoire du Prince Titi (Saint-Hyacinthc),

267

Historia Frisica (Schotanus), 136 Historia Studiorum (Johnson), 402

Historia Indica- (Maffci), 270 Historical and Critical Dictionary of the Bible (Calmet),

569* Historical, Geographical,

tiniere),

Historical

and

(Mar-

Critical Dictionary

576*

Law

Tracts (Kames), 204

Modern (Guyon),

History of America (Robertson), 385, 571 History and Chronology of the Fabulous Ages,

A

(Wise),

74-75 ^

History of the Church (Dupin), 544 History of the Connection of the Old and

New Testaments (Prideaux), 544 History of the Council of Trent (Sarpi), 26, 34-35 History of Criticism, Johnson's projected, 568* History of Derby (Hutton), 350* History of the Earth and Animated Nature,

A

(Gold-

smith), 199,300,323,350 History of England (Carte), 252, 544 History of England (Hume), 164* History of England (Martinelli), 211,212 History of Florence (Machiavelli), 569* History of Great Britain, The (Henry), 406-407 History of her own Life and Times (Manley), History of His Own Times (Burnet), 209

506

History of Ireland (Leland), 224, 333 History of the Isles of Scilly (Borlase), 85 History of the Knights of Malta (Vertot), 544 History of the late insurrection in Scotland, 432-433 History of the Life of Henry the Second, and of the Age in which he lived, The (Lyttelton), 1 55, 2 1 2, 306 History of Manchester (Whitaker), History of Music (Burney), 41

406

History of Musick, A (Hawkins), 51 History of the New World (Benzoni), History of Philip II (Watson), 329

*

569

*

History of the Rebellion (Clarendon), 279, 544 History of the Rebellion in the Tear 1745 (Home),

350*

History of the Revival of Learning in Europe, Johnson's

projected, 569

*

ist

Earl of

History of the Revolutions of Portugal (Vertot), 544 History of the Revolutions of Sweden (Vertot), 544 History of the Royal Society (Birch) , 85

of,

85

History of the Royal Society (Sprat), 544 History of St. Kilda (Macaulay), 158, 189,

,

Hickey [Hicky], Thomas, 251 Hierocles, 39, 568 * Higgins, Bryan (?), 414, 423 High Life below Stairs (Townley), 444 * Hill, Aaron, 53

Panther, The (Dryden),

39

41*, 42, 44, 289, 290-291, 295, 487, 490-491,

Thynne, Countess

—

Hind and the

History of the Amazons, Ancient and

Heautontimoroumenos (Terence), 150 Heberden, William, the elder, 242, 515, 516, 517, 527> 557, 558, 575, 576* Hector, Edmund, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10*, 11*, 1 8- 1 9, 2 1 , 22,

478, 545 Hertford, Frances

435

Hinchman,

History of Scotland (Lesley), 229 History of Scotland (Robertson),

263*

1 59, 2 1 7, 407, History of Staffordshire (Plott), 359 History of the War, Johnson's projected 98-99 ,

History of Worcestershire (Nash),

1

6

*,

386 *

Hitch, Charles, 49 Hob: or. The Country Wake (Gibber), 292

467

INDEX Hobbes, Thomas, 577 * Hodge, Johnson's cat, 505-506 Hog, William, 63 Hogarth, William, 9*, 38, 68, 412 Holbrook, usher at Lichfield school, 7 Holder, an apothecary, 487, 489, 576* Holinshed, Raphael, 529*, 576* Holland, Charles, 444

Thomas, 9, 473 Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion (Duppa), 577 * Home, Francis, 85 Hollis,

Home, Henry: see Kames, Lord Home,John, 129-130, 245, 310*, 320, 322, 350* Homer, 10, 15, 24, iii, 182, 226, 238, 320, 360-

Hooke, Luke Joseph, 269, 270 Hooker, Richard, 60 Hoole, John, 107, 235, 249, 307, 409, 464, 470, 503» 523. 526, 528, 529, 533, 534, 560, 576*, 578, 580

Hoole, Samuel, 576*-577 *, 579 Hoole, Susannah (Mrs. John), 560 Hope, John, 527 Hopetoun [Hopeton], John Hope, 2nd Earl

of,

455* "Hop-Garden, The" (Smart), 288 Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus),

533. 564

Home,

George, Bishop of Norwich, 232, 233, 286, 330,585* Home, Rev. Mr.: see Tooke, John Home Horneck, Catherine (Mrs. Henry William Bunbury), 117* Horneck, Mary (Mrs. F. E. Gwyn), 117* Horrebow, Niels, 389 "Horrour of the last. The" (Johnson), 92 Horsley, Samuel, Bishop of Rochester, 524 Howard, Charles of Lichfield, 17, 370 Howard, Charles (son of preceding), 370 Howard, Edward, 1 75* Sir George, 262 * Howell, Thomas Bayly, 367 * Huddesford, William, 77-78, 89 Hudibras (Butler), 260, 308

Howard,

164, 174, 216, 285, 335, 347, 359, 375*, 392, *

335

Hume, Margaret

(Mrs. Alexander Trotter), Thomson's grandmother, 415 "Humours of Baliamagairy, The," 211* *

Ozias, 529-530, 583 Hunter, John, Johnson's schoolmaster, 293

i

Gibbon, Edward

*,

60, 65*, 82*, 85, 91-93, 96, 103^

10, 320, 406, 429, 430 Homer The (Macpherson), 238

Iliad oj

,

Illustrations oj Philosophical Necessity (Priestley),

7,

187,

519*

Imitation of Christ (Thomas a Kempis), 371 Imitations of Horace (Pope), 375*

Improvement oj the Mind (Watts), 544 Ince, Richard, 306 Innes, Alexander, 100 Innys, WUliam, 576 *, 577 *

Institutions of Oratory (Quintilian),

Introduction

to the

346

452

Game of Draughts, An (Payne), 88

Introduction to History (Puffendorf),

544 "Introduction to the Political State of Great Britain"' (Johnson), 85 Irene (Johnson), 24, 26-27, 31, 40, 51 *, 53-54, 62, 64, 99, 443

Irwin, Captain, 267 Ikilian and English Dictionary (Baretti), 98 Ivy Lane Club, 51,524 J: see I

Jackson, Henry, 291, 339, 340 Jackson, Rev. Mr., of Barton, 65* Jackson, Richard, 302, 341 Jackson, Thomas, 5 Jacula Prudentum (Herbert), 257* I,

King of England, 1 97, 422 King of England, 122, 251

II,

III (self-styled king of England:

James Stu-

Old Pretender), 122 James I, King of Scotland, 144 James IV, King of Scotland, 274 art, the

[Huetius], Pierre Daniel, 20*, 353 Huggins, William, 107, 444 Hughes, John, 74, 400*, 453 * Human Nature (Hobbes), 577 * Hume, David, 49*, 54, 124, 126, 132, 144, 159,

Humphry,

see

283,521 Iliad (Homer),

James James James

Huet

505, 536, 583

:

The,

18, 305, 320*,,

Inquiry into the Origin oJ Evil (Jenyns), 87 Inscription in a Summer-house (Hamilton),

9-10, 15, 23, 24> 32, 53> 56, 60, 116, 149, 150, 166, 208, 254, 257> 285, 300, 320, 320*-32i*, 346, 360, 379380, 402, 403, 414, 419, 424, 478*, 512, 532,

^^/^o/,

I (infidel)

Idler,

361, 381, 405, 406, 446, 452 Homfrey family, 529 *

605

Hunter, Miss, 502 * Hunter, William, 513 Hurd, Richard, Bishop of Worcester, 371,503-504,537,578* Husbands, John, 12 Hussey,John, 418 Hussey, Thomas, 580 Hutchinson, John, 312 Hutton, James, 579 Hutton, William, 350* Hypochondriack, The (Boswell), 501 Hypocrite, The (BickerstaflFe), 245

James, Robert, 18, 41 *, 42, 297, 303, 558 Jansen [Jansenius] Cornells, 409 * Japix, Gijsbert [Gisbert], 136 Jarvis, Elizabeth: i-ge Johnson, Elizabeth Jealous Wife, The (Colman), 102 Jenkinson, Charles: see Liverpool, ist Earl of Jennings, Henry Constantine, 373 Jenyns, Soame, 87, 310, 389, 392 Jephson, Robert, 72 * Jerusalem Delivered (Tasso), 107, 405 Jodrell [Joddrel], Richard Paul, 524, 531 John, King of England, 67

INDEX

6o4 John John

the Baptist, Saint, 290 the Divine, Saint, 392 , the horse-rider, Johnson,

—

Juvenal (Decimus Junius Juvenalis),

15, 29, 31,

32, 49*, 51-52, 72, 90, 99, 214, 381, 414, 453. 1

478*, 575

12

Johnson, Benjamin, 576* Johnson, Elizabeth ("Tetty," Mrs. Samuel), 19, 21 *, 22-23, 26,27,51,57,63,64-66,68, 72*, 76,

Kames, Henry Home, Lord,

38,

159, 169, 204,

205,337,378,409,413 Kearney, Michael, 40 1

83, 138, 139. 142, 165, 268, 412, 434, 557, 566,

573,577* Johnson, Fisher, 576* Johnson, Michael (Johnson's father), 4-5, 17, 128, 156, 565. 573,

Keene, 11, 12,

577*

Johnson, Nathanael, 4, 20-21, 156, 573 Johnson, Samuel, Life of (Hawkins), 6*, 40, 43*, 50 *, 55> 65, 94> 97 *-98 *, 1 1 7 *, 1 37 *> 287 *, 303 *, 487*, 565* * Life of (Cooke), 583 Johnson, Samuel, librarian of St. Martin's in the Fields,

34 Johnson, Sarah Ford (Johnson's mother),

4, 5, 6,

42-43, 54*, 57, 65, 80, 94, 156,

7, 14, 17, 22, 27,

180,412,472,573 Johnson, Thomas, 576* Johnsoniana, or Bon-Mots of Dr. Johnson, 282, 404,

583* Johnston, Arthur, 131, 528 Johnston, W., the bookseller, 94 Johnstone [Johnston], Sir James, 533-534 Johnstoni Poemata (Arthur Johnston), 329 Jones, Mary, 89 Jones, Philip, 285 Jones, River, 89* Jones, Sir William, 61, 108*, 137, 181

218, 341,

*,

585

*

Journey, The (Churchill), 120* Journey to the Hebrides (Johnson): see Journey Western Isles of Scotland (Johnson)

Journey Journey Journey

London, The: see Provoked Husband, The into North Wales, A (Johnson), 233 to the Western Isles of Scotland, A (Johnson),

132, 232, 234, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 244, 258,

503 * Julia, or the Italian Lover (Jephson), 72

Julian (Flavins Claudius Julianus),

Roman emper-

75

Juiien, the Treasurer of the Clergy, 267 "Junius" (Sir Philip Francis?), 50, 184, 193,420,

542 1

King, William, Archbishop of Dublin, 428* King V. Topham, 301 * Kippis, Andrew, 354, 534, 566 booksellers, 49 Godfrey, 375 Knight, Joseph, Negro slave, 324, 327, 328, 338, 363-364, 366-367, 368, 369 Knowles, Mary, 321, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394-395 Knox, John, bookseller, 239-240 Knox, Vicesimus, 60*, 549, 550, 572-573 Kristrom, a Swedish tutor, 1 90-1 91

50

Justin (Marcus Junianusjustinus), 23

La

Bruyere: see Bruyere, Jean de la Lactantius Firmianus, Lucius Caelius, 340 Laelius [Lelius], Gains, 150

to the

to

Juris Civilis Pontes,

Kennicott [Kennicot], Ann (Mrs. Benjamin), 535, 536, 542 Kennicott [Kennicot], Benjamin, 181, 535 Kenrick, William, 142, 156, 161, 381 Kettel, Ralph, 80* Kettlev^ell, John, 535* Keysler, Johann Georg, 252 Killaloe, Bishop of: see Barnard, Thomas

Lade, Sir John, 580

326, 329, 341, 354, 383, 387, 396, 404, 464, 497,

or,

*,

Kjieller, Sir

198*, 210*, 227-228, 231, 232, 236*, 239*, 264, 347, 359, 386*, 403*, 416, 498*, 510*, 511*,

535 *, 574 *, 583

Kempis, Thomas a: see Thomas a Kempis Ken, Thomas, Bishop of Bath and Wells, 352 535* Kennedy, Dr., author of a tragedy, 375-376 Kennedy, John, 102

Knapton, Messrs., the

Journal of Eight Days' Journey, A (Hanway),85, 180 Journal des Savans, 1 55 Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (Boswell), 4, 27, 37*, 40*, 44, 54, 61*, 88, 97, 122*, 128*, 138*,

*,

270

ford, 77, 78*, 97 *,

—

532

,

M., 365 Kilmarnock, William Boyd, 4th Earl of, 48 Kimchi, Rabbi David, 4 King, Dr., a dissenting minister, 392 King, William, principal of St. Mary Hall, Ox-

423,464*

*,

—

Keith, Robert, 85 Kelly, Hugh, 333, 334, 578* Kemble, John, 520-521

Killingley,

Jonson, Ben, 524 , 235 Jopp, Jorden, William, 12, 17, 74 Jortin, John, 378,495 Joseph Andrews {Fielding), 196

53 1

Kearsley, George, 58*, 465*, 583*

Lambin, Denis, 320* Langhorne, John, 3* Langley, William, 342 Langton, Bennet, 7, 26, 52*, 54, 66*, 67, 68, 71, 72*, 80, 83, 90, 91, 92, 93-94, 99-100, 106, 118*, 122,136,137,147,-148, 154*, 155, 157, 161, 163*, 178, 180, 184, 186, 187, 201, 202, 215, 221,224, 225, 231, 232, 236, 238, 244, 250, 251, 253, 254, 257, 262, 263, 288, 289*, 309, 323*, 324, 326, 335, 336, 337, 339, 349, 360*, 366, 370, 379, 380,

382-383, 389, 390, 404, 405, 408, 414, 415-416, 417, 418, 423, 427, 433, 435, 436, 442, 443, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 461, 465, 467, 473, 485. 490, 501, 502, 506, 508, 517, 519-520, 528-529, 530, 533, 534, 544, 545, 546, 554, 557, 561, 568*,

570,576*577*, 578,582

5

INDEX Langton, Diana (Bennet Langton's mother), 90> 94 *> 99> 136, 147, 148, 184, 187, 443 Langton, Elizabeth, (Bennet's daughter), 366 Langton, George (Bennet's father), 80, 89, 93, 99, 122, 136, 147, 148, 443, 450 Langton, George (Bennet's son), 232, 490, 529 Langton, Jane, 485, 490, 529, 530 Langton, Mary, 529 Langton, Mary Lloyd (Mrs. Bennet), 184, 186, 187, 324, 418, 485, 490, 520, 529, 557, 561 sister), 147, 148, 187,

Langton, Miss (Bennet's

529. 557 Langton, Peregrine, 1 47- 1 48 Langton, Stephen, 67

Lansdowne, George Granville, Viscount, 68 * Lansdowne, William Petty, ist Marquis of, 384, 499> 504. 534* Lapouchin, Mme: see Lopukhina, Natalia Fedorovna

La Rochefoucauld, Due Frangois de, 67 "Latin Translation of Pope's Verses on his Grotto" (Johnson), 41-42 La Trobe, Benjamin, 579 Laud, WUliam, Archbishop of Canterbury, 52*, 193,209,267* Lauder, William, 62-63 Lavater, Johann Kaspar, 583 * Law, Edmund, Bishop of Carlisle, 428*, 433 Law, John, Bishop of Elphin, 433 Law, Robert, 140 Law, William, 14, 180, 535*, 538, 544 Lawrence, Chauncey, 464 Lawrence, Frances (Mrs. Thomas), 434 Lawrence, Miss (Thomas' daughter), 18, 489 Lawrence, Thomas, 18, 90, 237, 303, 326, 336, 434, 440, 464, 487, 489, 516, 558 Lawyer' s Fortune, The: or. Love in a Hollow Tree (Grims-

499*

*,

Letter to the People of Scotland, on the Present State of the

Nation (Boswell), 526

122*

Letter to Rutland on Travel (Essex),

Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol, on the affairs of ica

Amer-

(Burke), 358

Thomas Hanmer (Hervey), 153* Windham (BolLngbroke), 374* Letter to W. Mason, A.M. from J. Murray, Book* seller in London, A, 393 Letters (Gay), 453* Letters (Hughes), 453* Letters to and from Dr. Johnson (Piozzi), 137, 437-

Letter to Sir

Letter to Sir William

438, 460*, 508*, 516*, 521, 544*, 545, 552*, 555*> 570*, 573*, 574* Letters on the English Nation (Shebbeare), 478 Letters to His Son (Chesterfield), 73, 247-248, 312 Letters from Italy (Sharp), Letters to

312 Lord Mansfield (Stuart)

2

1

4-2

1

(Melmoth), 436, 531 * Lettres Persones (Montesquieu), 393* Lettsom, John Coakley, 318 Lever, Sir Ashton, 551 Leveson-Gower, Frances, 436 Levett, [Levet], Robert, 66, 67, 103, 107, 118, Letters on Several Subjects

123, 143, 209, 232, 264-265, 269, 303, 304, 313, 325> 3695 402, 416, 418, 419, 471, 487-488, 489, * 490, 496, 517, 520, 525, 531 Levett, Theophilus, 17, 42-43

Lewis

XIV:

Lewis, Lewis, Lewis, Lewis,

see

Louis

XIV

Charlotte, 103, 107

David, 542-543 Dean, 107 F., 61

to the

see

Greek

Leveson-Gower, Frances New Testament (Dawson), 430

Leyden, University

of,

520

New

Testament (Harwood),

308

George Henry Lee, 3rd Earl of, 398 Liddel, Sir Henry, 195* Life of: see under respective names Life and Errours of John Dunton (Dunton), 506 Lilliburlero (Burnet), 253 Lichfield,

Leedes [Leeds)], Edward, 24 Leeds, Thomas Osborne, ist Duke of, 446 Leeds, Francis Osborne, 5th Duke of, 137, 154*, 202 Le Fleming, Sir Michael, 131*

—

People of Scotland, against diminishing the

Liberal Translation of the

353*

Baron Gottfried WUhelm von, 35, , 435 Leland, Thomas, 140, 224, 333, 399, 401

to the

number of the Lords of Session (Boswell), 301

Lexiphanes (Campbell), 156, 571

Lee, Alderman, 321 Lee, Arthur, 318, 321 Lee,John (Jack), 371

Leibnitz,

on the English Particle (Tooke),

413-414 Letter

Lexicon

Lect (Lectins), Jacques, 576*

Leicester,

Mr. Dunning

Lewson, Mrs.:

468 Layer, Richard, 41 Lea, Samuel, g Le Clerc, Jean, 78 ton),

Lectures (Blair),

605

Letter to

191

Lelius: see Laelius, Gaius

Lennox, Charlotte, 70, 85, 96, 102, 235, 444, 531 Le Roy, Pierre Qulien], 266, 267 Leslie, Charles, 535* Lesley, John, 229 Lethe (Garrick), 62 "Letter on the Case of Admiral Byng, " 85 Letter to Dr. Samuel Johnson, A (Towers), 243-244

WUliam, 353 Linda, Lucas de, 167 Lintot, Bernard, 123, 183* Lintot, Henry, 25, 123 Literary Club, 136-137, 147, 148, 184, 216, 218, Lilly,

224, 229, 234, 244, 248, 322, 330, 334, 338, 366, 373> 375, 384, 389, 396, 399*, 41 7, 418, 436, 444, 445, 450, 469, 499, 502, 517, 548, 582, 584* Literary Magazine; Or, Universal Review, The, 85-86,

87,89,91 Liverpool, Charles Jenkinson, ist Earl of, 344-345 Lives (Izaak Walton), 232, 233, 258, 286, 330 Lives of the Poets, The (Gibber), 50, 305, 305*-3o6*,

308

9

3

INDEX

6o6

Lives of the Poets (Johnson), 15*, 51, 107, 331-332,

334. 337, 340, 341, 353*, 360, 369, 410, 415, 418-419, 420, 424, 425, 427, 432, 434, 436, 439, 440, 452-463, 465, 476, 485, 486, 490, 493, 494, *

495. 5' 9. 529. 535 *, 547. 575. 5»3 Livy (Titus Livius), 251 Lloyd, Mrs., Savage's godmother, 46 Lloyd, Olivia, 21

Lloyd, Rachel, 289 Lloyd, Robert, 1 1 249 Lloyd, Sampson, 289, 290 Lobo, Jeronimo, 19, 298 Locke, John, 55, 83, 199-200, 415, 475 Locke [Lock], William, 455

ist Earl, 106, 118*, 137, 303*, 375*. 377*. 436, 445*. 461* Macaulay, Catharine, 66, 127, 139, 211, 250, 310,

321,358 Macaulay, George, 428 Macaulay, Kenneth, 158, 189, 263* Macaulay, Penelope (Mrs. Kenneth), 263

Lofft, Capel, 532-533 Logic (Watts), 544

Macbean, Alexander,

Lombe, John, 350 in Imitation

oj the Third Satire of Juve-

nal (Johnson), 23, 29-33, 37. 52. 129, 131, 167,

318*, 441 London Chronicle, The, 88, 91, 137, 173, 208, 274,

370,467* London Magazine, The, 37 *, 183 * London and Westminster Improved (Gwynn), 150 Long, Dudley: see North, Dudley Long Longinus, Dionysius Cassius, 453 Longlands, a solicitor, 201 Longley, John, 444

Longman,

Messrs., booksellers, 49 Lopukhina, Natalia Fedorovna, 409 Lords, House of: see Parliament Lort, Michael, 537 * Loudoun, John Campbell, 4th Earl of, 335 Loudoun, Margaret Campbell, Countess of, 417 Loughborough, Lord: see Rosslyn, ist Earl of Louis IX, Saint, King of France, 270

XIV, King of France,

31, 155, 194, 195,260,

266, 268, 407

Louis XVI, King of France, 264, 268, 348, 534* Lovat, Simon Fraser, 1 2th Baron, 48, 48 *-49 * Love, James, 192 Love in a Hollow Tree: see Lawyer's Fortune, The Love for Love (Congreve), 459 Love and Madness (Croft), 503 Loveday, John, 225 *

Loveday,John (son), 225* Lovibond, Edward, 24 Lowe, Canon of Windsor, 7, 8 Lowe, Johnson's godchild, 576* Lowe, Mauritius, 42 507, 5 o, 576 * Lowth, Robert, Bishop of London, 154-155, 544 Lowth, William, 3

—

1

Macartney, George,

Lockman, John, 443

Louis

Lydiat, Thomas, 52 *, 144 Lye, Edward, 47 Lysons, of Clifford's Inn, 577 * Lyttelton, George, ist Baron, 70, 73, 155, 212, 216, 286, 306, 377, 415 Li/e of (Johnson), 460, 462 Lyttelton, Thomas, 2nd Baron, 539

,

1

London, a Poem,

Lusiad, The (Camoens), 199, yij, 523, 543 Luttcrel, Colonel: see Carhampton, 2nd Earl of

,

1 ,

1

1

Loyola, Saint Ignatius, 17 Lucan, Charles Bingham,

ist

Earl

of,

137, 436,

470. 548

Lucan, Mary Bingham, Countess Lucas, Charles, 85, 86

of,

436, 548

Lucian, 24, 299, 375*, 452 Lucretius (Titus Lucretius Carus) 405 ,

Lumisden, Andrew, 271 * Lumm, Sir Francis, 154*

36, 50,51, 206-207, 304, 330,

441-442,472 Macbean, William, 50 Macbeth (Shakespeare), 47, 169, 253, 575 Macclesfield, Countess of: see Brett, Anne Macclesfield, Charles Gerard, and Earl of, 46 Macclesfield,

Thomas

Parker,

ist

Earl

of,

41

Macconochie, Scotch advocate, 367 Macdonald, Sir Alexander, 191 -192, 196, 197 Macdonald, Flora, 41 Macdonald, Sir James, 127-128, 469* Macdonald, Lady Margaret, 422 Macdonald, Ranald, 241, 242 Macdonald clan, 228 Machiavelli, Niccolo, 569* Mackenzie, Henry, 100 Macklin, Charles, 108, 297 Maclaurin, Colin, 300 Maclaurin, John: see Dreghorn, Lord Maclean, Alexander, laird of Col, 272, 273 Maclean, Sir Allan, 239, 241, 263, 327, 328-329, 336,337,338 Maclean, Donald, laird of Col, 234, 239, 241, 272

Maclean clan, 228 Maclean of Torloisk, Mr., 241 Macleod, Flora, 335, 336 Macleod, John, laird of Rasay, 239, 240, 263, 274, 335, 493 Macleod, Malcolm, 335 Macleod family of Rasay, 240, 338

Mac-Neny, Comte Patrice, 307 Macpherson, James ("Ossian"),

iii, 236, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 244, 253, 311, 391, 406*,

488,501,523-524 Macquarry, laird of Ormaig, 340 Macquarry, laird of Ulva, 241, 327, 328, 337-338, 340 Macqueen, Donald, 263 Macrobius, Ambrosius Theodosius, 12, 304 MacSwinny, Owen: see Swinny, Owen Mac Madan, Samuel: see Madden, Samuel Madden, Samuel, 88, 245, 508 Maecenas, Gains Cilnius, 498 Maffei, Giovanni Pietro, 270

,

INDEX Maffei Mahomatans, 189 Maitiand, Johnson's amanuensis, 50 Maittaire [Mattaire], Michael, 270*, 442 Malagrida, Gabriele, 499 Mallet,David, 53*, 73, 91, 115, 181, 192,216,361, Maffeus:

see

423,428,512 Malone, Edmond,

61, 72*, 88*, 100*, 113*, 116,

I37> 294*, 311*, 312*, 397, 403*, 425*, 427*, 455*, 458, 485, 488, 518*, 548, 554, 574*, 582,

584 Malton, an innkeeper, 365 Man of Feelings The (Mackenzie), 100 Man of Taste, The (Bramaton) ,15* MandevUle, Bernard, 393 Manley, Mary de la Riviere, 506 Manley, Sir Roger, 506 Manners (Whitehead), 32 Manners, Roger: see Rutland, 5th Earl of

Manning, a compositor, 547 Manningham, Thomas, 349 Mansfield, William Murray,

ist

Earl

of,

49*, 82

*,

437, 457, 500

Mantuano, Battista Spagnuoli, 501 Manucci, Count, 266, 268, 325-326 Manuscripts in the British Museum (Birch), 40

Marbone

:

see

36, 39*,

Colonies in America

Martene

Marchi, Giuseppe, 583

*

Marchmont, Hugh Hume, 3rd Earl

of, 192,

410,

411,425,434,457-453

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, 353 Marie Antoinette, Queen of France,

264, 268

Markham, William, 417 Markland, Jeremiah, 495 Marlay, Richard, 137, 465, 466, 467 Marlborough, John Churchill, ist Duke of, 199, 287,313,361,423 Marlborough, Sarah Churchill, Duchess of, 40, 468

Marmor

Norfolciense; or an Essay on an Ancient Pro-

Monkish Rhyme, Lately DisLynne in Norfolk by Probus Britannicus (Johnson), 36-37

phetical Inscription in

covered near

Maro

:

see X'irgil

MarsUi, Dr., of Padua, 89, 104 Martene, Edmond, 269 Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis), 56, 382 Martin, Martin, 128, 377 Martinelli, Vincenzio, 211,212,213 Martiniere, Antoine Augustin Eruzen de la, 576 * Martins, printers of Edinburgh, 332 Martyrdom of Theodora (Boyle), 86 Mary, Queen of Scots, 98, 228, 232, 236*, 240 Masenius, Jacobus, 63 Mason, William, 2, 3, 193, 244, 249-250, 306, 393394, 478, 545

"Matrimonial Thought, A" (Boswell), 175-176 Mattaire:

see

Maittaire

Maty, Matthew, 78 Maupertuis, Pierre Louis Moreau, 1 59 Maxims, Characters, and Reflections (Greville), 541542 Maxwell, William, collecteana of, 177-183 Mayo, Henry, 221, 222, 223, 390, 391, 392, 549 Mazar in, Jules, Cardinal, 270 Mead, Richard, 42, 352, 414 Medea (Richard Glover or Charles Johnson?), 325 * Medicinal Dictionary (James), 303 Meditations (Marcus Aurelius), 353 Meeke, John, 74, 75

Meerman, Geraart, 270*

191, 201, 203, 214, 244, 250, 324, 343, 384, 385,

Alap and Account of the Middle (Evans), 85 Maphaeus: see Vego, Maffeo Marana, Giovanni Paolo, 506 *

607

Massinger, Philip, 430 Masters, Mary, 66, 521 Mathias, James, 471

Mela, Pomponius, 133 Melanchthon (Philipp Schwarzert), 3, 174, 334, 336* Melcombe, George Bubb Dodington, Baron, 461 * Melmoth, William, the younger, 108*, 435, 436, 531* Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 73, 367 Memis, Dr., 235-236, 237-238, 260-261, 327, 328 Memoires (Berwick), 391 Memoires (Fontenelle), 378 Memoirs of Agriculture a7id oth^r (Economical Arts (Dossie), 445 Memoirs of the Court of Augustus (Blackwell,) 85, 86 Memoirs of David Garrick, Esq. (Da vies), 439 * Memoirs of Frederick III [ll], King of Prussia (Johnson), 85 Memoirs of Gray's Life (Mason), 2, 306 Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland (Dalrymple), 208-209 Memoirs of the House of Brandenburgh (Frederick the

Great), 123

Memoirs and Last Letters (Chesterfield) see Miscellaneous Works (Chesterfield) Memoirs of Miss Sydney Biddulph (Sheridan), 100*, 109 Memoirs of Mr. William Whitehead (Mason) ^ Memoirs of the Protectorate-House of Cromwell (Noble) 518* Menage, Gilles, 2 1 8, 586 * Menagiana, 2 1 8, 403, 409 *, 586 * Merchant of Venice, The (Shakespeare), 91, 501 * :

,

Messiah (Pope), 12, 74 Metamorphoses (Ovid), 15, 24, 150 Metcalfe, Philip, 183 *, 485, 494-495 Methodists, 130, 179, 180, 181, 201, 336, 549

Meurs, Jan de, 270 Meursius: see Meurs Meyneil, Littleton Poyntz, 1 8, 42 1 446 Meynell, Mary: see Fitzherbert, Mary Meyneil Michelangelo Buonarroti, 267, 270 Mickle, William Julius, 199, 307, 523, 543 Middlesex, Earl of: see Dorset, 2nd Duke of Midgeley, Robert, 506 Military Memoirs (Carleton), 551 ,

2

1

INDEX

6o8

More, Sir Thomas, 81 270 Morer, Thomas, author oi A Short Account, 377 Morgagni, Giovanni Battista, 159 Morgann, Maurice, 504

Militia Bill, 85 Mill, John, 576*

,

Millar,

Andrew,

Miller,

Lady Anna, 250

49, 66, 79-80, 407

Miller, Sir John, 250, 318

Morning

Milncr, Joseph, 130* Milton, John, 2, 27, 62-63, ^3, 1 18*, 217, 249, 319, 389, 415, 465, 524*, 542, 548, 555 Lije oj (Johnson), 429, 453 *, 454-455> 462 * Milton no Plagiary (Douglas), 62 Minutes of Agriculture (Marshall), 400

Morris, Corbyn, 475 Morris, Miss, 582

Mirror, The, 572 Miscellaneous and Fugitive Pieces, 228-229 Miscellaneous Observations on the Tragedy of Macbeth, with Remarks on Sir T. H.'s Edition of Shakespeare

Motteux,

(Johnson), 47, 48 * Miscellaneous Pieces (Johnson), 93 Miscellaneous Poems by Several Hands (Lewis, ed.),

Mourning Bride, The (Congreve), 109*, 168 Mudge,John, 105, 139,519 Mudge, Zachariah, 1 05- 1 06, 467, 473 Mulgrave, Constantine John Phipps, 2nd Baron, 298-299 Muller,John, 98* Mulso, Miss: see Chapone, Hester

542 Miscellaneous Poems and Translations (Savage, ed.),

542* Miscellaneous Works (Chesterfield), 331, 413 Miscellanies (Harrison), 85, 86 Miscellanies in Prose and Verse (Williams), 38, 150,

215 Miscellany of Poems, A (Husbands, ed.), 12 Modern Charactersfrom Shakespeare , 38

201*, 211, 225, 236*, 263, 329, 337, 338, 351352, 354, 367. 483= 531 Monckton, Mary: see Cork and Orrery, Countess of

Montacute, Lords, 495

Mother's Catechism for

Montesquieu, Charles de Secondat, Baron de La Brede et de, 393 * Montgomerie, Alexander: see Eglinton, loth Earl of Eglinton, iith Earl

see

Boswell, Margaret

Monthly Review, The, 155, 305*, 306 Montrose, William Graham, 2nd Duke

of,

376*,

477 Montrose, James Graham, 3rd Duke of, 422, 477 Monville, 266, 267 Moody, John, 251, 252 Moore, Edward, 54*, 436 Moral and Literary Character of Dr. Johnson (Courtenay) see Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral Character of the Late Samuel Johnson Moral Philosophy (Hutchinson), 3 Moral and Political Dialogues (Hurd), 503-504 Moravians, 579 More, Hannah, 381, 473, 474, 477, 531, 542 More, Henry, 1 92- 1 93

—

Toung Child, The (Willi-

—

270 Mounsey, Dr.: see Monsey, Messenger Mountstuart, Lord: jt-^ Bute, John Stuart, ,

ist

Mar-

quess of

Murdoch, Patrick, 334, 340, 415 Murphy, Arthur, 85, 86, 91, 99,

104, 105, no*, 141, 167, 168, 169, 178, 181, 224, 229, 262, 304,

524. 531, 577* 305, 306, 308, 37 Murray, Alexander: see Henderland, Lord Murray, John, 393 Murray, R., 140 Murray, William: see Mansfield, ist Earl of Musarum Delicia, 401 * Muse in Livery, A (Dodsley), 286 Musgrave, Samuel, 401-402 Musgrave, Sir William, 40

Nairne, Sir William: see Dunsinane, Lord Nares, Robert, 572 Nash, Richard (Beau Nash), 536* Nash, Treadway Russell, 16*, 386* Natural History of Aleppo, The (Russell), 85, 498 Natural History of Iceland, The (Horrebow), 389 Nature Displayed, 544

Naudaeus:

of

Montgomerie, Margaret:

the

son),23i

182, 310, 377, 384,

435. 436, 439. 462, 465, 532 Montaigne, Michel Eyquem de, 228

see

—

568* Morton, , Moser, George Michael, 515

Musical Travels Through England (Bicknell), 87 Myddleton, Colonel, 583 * Mylne, Robert, 97-98

Monro, Alexander, 527 Monsey [Mounsey], Messenger, 162

Montgomerie, Archibald:

*

1 >

Modern Midnight Conversation (Hogarth), 9*, 412 Molinos, Miguel de, 409* Monboddo, James Burnet, Lord, 164-165, 188,

Montagu, Elizabeth, 168-169,

Chronicle, The, 491

,

:

1

see

Naude

Naude, Gabriel, 270 Neander, Michael, 229 Nelson, Robert, 290, 544 Neni, Count: see Mac-Neny Nepos, Cornelius, 23, 24, 501 New Testament, 144, 152*, 160, 191, 192, 209, 231, 234, 308, 347, 395, 537, 541

*,

Newbery [Newberry], John, 91, 96 Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles,

576* ist

Duke

of,

39 Newcastle, Henry Fiennes Clinton, 2nd Duke of, 462 Newhall, Sir Walter Pringle, Lord, 346 Newhaven, William Mayne, Baron, 430 Newton, Sir Isaac, 83, 85, 129, 181, 392, 449*, 486,513

91

8

1

INDEX Newton, Thomas, Bishop of Bristol, 535 Nicholls [Nichols], Frank, 255, 350

609

Odes (Horace), 9-10, 15, 116, 360, 370, 512 Odes to Obscurity and Oblivion (Colman and Lloyd),

Nichols, John, 21

*, 23, 25*, 35, 453, 460, 477, 495, 521 *, 524, 547, 560, 564, 569, 578-579 Nicol, George, 523, 562 Nicolaida, 263 Night Thoughts (Young), 58, 170, 461, 480

Ogden, Samuel, 379, 482*

Noble, Mark, 518*

Ogilby,John, 10

Nollekens, Mary [Jane] (Mrs. Joseph), 368, 369* Nollekens, Joseph, 369 *, 583 * Nomenclature (Ray), 257 Non-Juror, The (Gibber), 245 Nores, Giasone di [Jason de], 285 Norris, a staymaker, 25

Ogilvie,John, 119, 120 Oglethorpe, James Edward, 32, 198-199, 210, 215, 229, 254, 297, 31 1,313, 388, 389-390, 478, 497-

—

,

Norris,John, 568* North, Lord: see Guilford, 2nd Earl of North, Dudley Long, 466, 468-469 Northern Antiquities (Percy), 387 Northington, Robert Henley, 2nd Earl

498 Oglethorpe, Sir Theophilus, 498 Old Bachelor, The (Congreve), 358 Old Man's Wish, The, 447 Old Testament, 193 Oldfield, Dr., 313 Oldham, John, 29-30,

of,

507,

515* Northumberland, Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of, 250,386* Northumberland, Hugh Percy (originally Smithson), 1st Duke of, 162, 183,386 Northumberland, Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of, 343,

568*

Oldmixon, John, 82 * Oldys, William,

2,

40, 47

Dame, school-teacher, 7 Olla Podrida (Thomas Monro et al.), 585 * Omai, South Sea islander, 298-299 On the Articles of the Christian Faith (Ogden), 482 * On the Asthma (Floyer), 529, 558 Oliver,

"On the Death of Stephen

387-388

Northumberland, House

249 Odyssey (Homer), 457, 513 "Ofellus," 25 Offely, Lawrence, 23

of,

Grey, the Electrician,"

150-151

386, 387

On Distilling Sea-Water (Hales), 85 On Education (Locke), 199-200

Norton, Sir Fletcher, 169, 295 Nourse, the bookseller, 300* Nowell, Thomas, 538, 539 Nugir Antiques (Harington), 501, 582 * Nugent, Christopher, 136, 147, 218

"On Johnson's Dictionary" (Garrick), 83 "On Lord Lovat's Execution" (Johnson?), 48 Opie, John, 583* Oratio Proverbialis (Beroaldi),

Observations on the Ancient and Present State of the Islands of Scilly (Borlase), 85

"Observations on his Britannick Majesty's Treaties v/ith the Empress of Russia and the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel" (Johnson), 85 Observations on Insanity (Arnold), 355 Observations upon Lord Orrery's Remarks (Delany),

379 "Observations on the Present State of Affairs" (Johnson), 85, 86 Observations on Spenser's Fairy Queen (Warton),

Observer, The, 462, 570 Occasional Papers of the late

400

William Dodd,

345

O'Conor [O'Connor], Charles, 89, 332-333 "Ode, An" (1747) (Johnson?), 48 Ode to Mrs. Thrale (Boswell?), 571 Ode on the Peace, An (Williams), 534 Ode on the Progress of Poesy (Gray), 1 44 * Ode on Saint Cecilia's Day (Dryden), 308 Ode on St. Cecilia's Day (Thornton), 1 1 Ode on Solitude (Grainger), 362 Ode to the Warlike Genius of Britain (Tasker), 420 "Ode on Winter" (Johnson), 49 Odes (Cibber), 1 13, 357 Odes (Cumberland), 309 O^ej (Gray), 113,247,445

178, 203, 253, 255, 313, 325, 376, 468, 545 Origin and Progress of Language (Monboddo,) 201 *

Orme, Robert,

238, 256, 390, 470

Orphan of China (Murphy), 91 Orrery, Earl of: see Cork and Orrery, 5th Earl of Osborn, a Birmingham printer, 1 Osborne, Francis: see Leeds, 5th Duke of

Osborne, Thomas, 2, 40, 42, 43, 348, 410 Ossian: see Macpherson, James Ossory, Lord: see Upper Ossory, 2nd Earl of

444 Observations on the Statutes (Barrington),

269

Orford, George Walpole, 3rd Earl of, 55 Orford, Horatio (Horace) Walpole, 4th Earl of, 116*, 326, 360*, 503*, 545 Orford, Robert Walpole, ist Earl of, 32, 33, 37,

343,

Othello (Shakespeare), 308, 309, 41

Otway, Thomas, 448 Overbury, Sir Thomas, 165 Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso), 15, 24, 87, 108, 150, 199, 217*, 302* Oxford, Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of, 40, 462 Oxford University, 11 et seq., 32, 33, 73-78, 80, 97, 154, i58-i59> 163, 201, 248-249, 279, 2S^etseq., 300, 471, 486*, 572*

P

(painter) see Reynolds, Sir Joshua Palmer, John, 393 * Palmer, Joseph (Budworth), 578* Palmer, Thomas Fysche, 482-483 Palmerino d'Inghilterra, II, 296 :

5

7

1

INDEX

6io

Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount, 97*, 137.317,548 Pancoucke [Panckoucke], Andr6 Joseph, 80 Pantheon, 194, 195 Palnierston,

Panting, Matthew,

1

Paoli, Pascal, 161, 164, 166-167, ^94, 202, 211,

212, 213, 225, 272, 307, 311, 329, 347, 387, 388, 389, 403, 404, 405, 418, 425, 474, 548, 550 Paradise, John, 13, 423, 524, 531, 562 * Paradise, Peter, 562

Paradise, Mrs. Peter, 562 * Paradise Lost (Milton), 63, 454, Parallel Lives (Plutarch), 569*

455 *, 465 *, 542

Parker, Sackville, 543 Parker, Mrs. Sackville, 543 Parliament, 41, 164, 176, 178, 184-185, 189, 192, 195, 233> 250, 251, 255, 260, 281, 296, 299, 364365, 370, 371. 374, 390, 41 1, 430, 441, 451, 466,

513,528,534,539 Parliamentary Debates: see

"Debates on The Senate

of Lilliput" Parnell,

Thomas, 336*,

347, 369, 425, 575 (Goldsmith), 194 Life of (Johnson), 459, 575 Parr, Samuel, 446, 456 *, 519*, 583, 584* Pascal, Blaise, 421 Pasor, Georg, 430 Pastor Fido, II (Guarini), 41 Paterson, Samuel, 197, 325, 515*, 529* Paterson, Samuel, Johnson's godson, 325, 515, 529, Z-?/>o/

530 Paterson and others

Patrick,

vs.

Alexander and others, 261

Simon, 313

Grammar (Jones), 464

Perth,

James Drummond,

ist

The (Johnson), 233-234, 244 Patriot, The (Simpson), 305 Patten, Thomas, 495 Paul, Saint, 180, 394, 482, 538, 540*, 574 Payne, John, 66 Payne, William, 88 Pearce, Zachary, Bishop of Rochester, 34, 82, 333 Pearson,John, Bishop of Chester, 112 Pearson, John Batteridge, 294, 489, 517, 525 Peiresc, Nicolas Claude Fabri de, 260 Pelham, Henry, 73, 1 78 Pellett [Pellet], Thomas, 412 Pembroke, Henry Herbert, loth Earl of, 247*,

260,336* Penn, Richard, 439* Pennant, Thomas, 253, 271 Penny, Anne, 583*

*,

338, 386-387, 388

Pensees, Les (Pascal), 421

89

Pepys, Sir Lucas, 462, 497, 516 Pepys, William Weller, 436, 469 Percy, Earl: see Northumberland, 2nd Duke of Percy, Thomas, Bishop of Dromore, 8, 9, 16, 37, 51, 137, 139, 161, 162, 184, 186, 244, 288, 322, 369*, 381, 385, 386-387, 388, 400, 401, 417, 433, * 435, 440, 441 473, 542 *, 554, 57^ Perkins, John, 234, 468, 469, 480, 492, 525, 562, ,

576* Perkins, Mrs. John, 525, 562

Duke

(titular)

of,

372 Peterborough, Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of, 550-551 Peters, Richard, 295 Pethcr, William, 302 * Petition of the Cily of London to his Majesty, in favour of Dr. Dodd, The, 343 * Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca), 1 1, 269 Petty, Sir William, 125, 443 Peyton, Johnson's amanuensis, 51, 190 Phaedrus, 24 Philidor, Frangois Andre, 419 Philips, Ambrose, 1 75, 436, 453 * Life of (Johnson), 453 *, 459

Claudy, 38, 39 Crouch, Anna Maria Philips, Mr.: see Phillips, Peregrine Pliillips, Peregrine, father of Mrs. Crouch, 515 Philological Inquiries (Harris), 334 Philips,

Philips, Miss: see

Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (Burke), 86, i6g

Philosophical Society, 453* Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland, bell),

A (Camp-

250

Philosophical Transactions, 85, 155 Philosophy (Bolingbroke), 73, 91

Phra Narai, King of Siam, 407 "Physical evil moral good" (Johnson), 92 Picture, The (Massinger), 430 Pieresc: see Peiresc Pilgrim's Progress, The (Bunyan), 2

Patriot,

Penseroso, II (Milton),

Persian

1

Pindar, 206, 207, 319, 420, 450, 459 Pink, Robert, 52 * Pinkerton, John, 549 Piozzi, Gabriel, 552 Piozzi, Hester Lynch, 6 *, 7, 1 4 *, 2 1 *, 22 *, 48, 116, 117, 141-142, 151, 156*, 163, 165-166, 186, 187, 188, 203*, 207, 209, 214, 226, 227*, 229, 232, 234, 239, 240, 247, 249, 253-254, 263, 264, 268, 272, 273, 280, 293, 294, 296, 298, 302, 305, 306, 307, 310, 31 1, 325, 327, 331, 335, 337, 338, 340, 358, 366, 367, 371, 372, 377, 379, 390*, 400, 403, 407*, 408, 410, 41 1, 412-413, 416, 418, 419, 426, 427, 429, 435, 437, 439, 441 *, 453, 460, 465, 466, 468-469, 471, 479, 485, 488, 490, 494, 496, 497, 507, 508*, 516, 520, 521, 532, 546, 550, 552-555, 566, 571, 573*, 574*, 580 Pitt, William, the elder: see Chatham, William, ist Earl of Pitt, William, the younger, 526*, 528, 538 Pitts, John,

501 *

Plain Dealer, The, 41

,

47

"Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language, (Johnson), 49-5^, 70, 79, 192, 486 Plan for

the

(Swift),

Improvement of

the English

245 Planta, Joseph, 270* Plato, 269 Plautus, Titus Maccius, 150 Plaxton, George, 5 *

A"

Language, The

INDEX Plays of William Sliakspeare, The (Johnson, ed.), 8889> 90, 9i> 93> 96, 98, 100, 103, 137, 142, 143, 169, 177, 202 ,207, 229, 312, 456, 477, 536, 565* Pleasures of the Imagination (Akenside), 100, 193 Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secun-

dus), 251 * Plott,

Preceptor, The, 51

Plowden, Edmund, 543 Plutarch, 3,569*

Pococke, Edward, 385 (improperly referred to as "the great traveller"), 450 Pococke, Richard, 252, 385 Poe?ns (Carlisle),

478 Poems (Collins), 263 Poems (Gray), 393 Poems (Smart), 560* Amusements

at a Villa near

Poetical Calendar, The, Poetical Epistle to

Prendergast, Sir Thomas, 199 Presbyterians, 173, 189, 580 Present State of England, 544 Preston, Sir Charles, 493 Pretender, the Young: see Charles III, the Pretender Price, Richard, 510,

Poeta Grceci Heroici (Estienne), 576 * 1

Bath (Miller), 250

Young

519*

Prideaux, Humphrey, 544 Priestley, Joseph, 180, 393*, 518-519, 579* Prince, a bookseller, 81 Pringle, Sir John, 193, 281, 298, 300*, 317, 355*,

378

07

Samuel Johnson,

A.M A .,

(Murphy),

Prior,

Matthew, 166, 191, 360, 427, 475 Hannah, 53, 169, 253, 520

Pritchard,

99 .

Poetical the

226, 229, 257, 268*, 327-328, 331, 396, 421, 441, 452, 469, 486, 488, 489, 494, 517*, 564*, 567,

574-575,581*

Robert, 359

Poetical

6ir

Prayers and Meditations (Johnson), 6, 16, 23, 54, 64, 65-66, 84, 92, 97, 98, 100, 130*, 137-138, 139, 140, 156, 157*, 162-163, 176, 186, 201-202, 224,

.

Review of

and Moral Character of

the Literary

Late Samuel Johnson (Courtenay), 12-13, 60-

61, 87, 95, 228, 244*, 547 *, The (Apollo Press), 334

569*

(Drummond), 390

Polemomiddinia

The (Forrester), 303

Politian (Angelo Ambrogini), 20-21, Political Conferences (Tyers), 398

565*

A (Campbell), 286 (Johnson), 243, 284 Polybius, 85, 154 Pomfret, John, 419 Pope, Alexander, 12, 32, 33, 35, 37, 41, 42, 49*, Political Survey of Great Britain, Political Tracts

61, 67, 74, 83, 85, 87, 91, 105, 127, 143-144, I54*> 167-168, 191, 199, 217, 249, 254, 256,

267, 305, 319, 351, 362*, 375*, 380, 381, 398, 399» 403> 406, 410, 41 1, 425, 428-429, 434, 444, 453 % 454, 459, 475, 483, 533, 542, 566 Life of (Rufthead),

1

94 456-458

Life of (Johnson), 410,

Pope, Walter, 447 Pope''s Miscellanies,

334 Prophecy of Famine (Churchill), 1 18 "Proposals for Printing Bibliotheca Harleiana"

(Johnson), 40 Proposals for Printing a Aiedicinal Dictionary (James),

303 "Proposals for publishing an Analysis of the Scotch Celtick Language" (Johnson), 330-331 "Proposals for Publishing the Works of Mrs. Charlotte

Lennox," 235

Prose on Several Occasions

(Colman), 571

Prosodia Rationalis (Joshua Steele), 247

183*

Port family, 358 Porter, Captain, 291 Porter, Henry, 19, 22 Porter, Mrs.

The (Tickell), 401 "Prologue" to Comus (Johnson), 62 "Prologue" on the opening of Drury Lane (Johnson), 49, 163,449 "Prologue" to Sir Thomas Overbury (Sheridan), 333-334 "Prologue" to A Word to the Wise (Johnson), 333, Project,

Poets,

Polite Philosopher,

Profession de Foi du Vicaire Savoyard (Rousseau), 145 Progress of Discontent, The (Warton), 78*

Henry:

Protestantism,

1

74,

359

Provoked Husband, The;

or,

A Journey to London ( Van-

brugh and Gibber), 157,

*,

i-^f

165

Johnson, Elizabeth

Porter, Sir James, 428 Porter, Joseph, Henry Porter's son, 266, 471, 525 Porter, Lucy, 6, 21 *, 22, 25, 27, 64, 65, 96, 103, 104, 107, 265-266, 291, 293, 294, 340, 425-426,

432, 433, 470-471, 488-489, 507, 517, 525, 526,

158, 534 Psalmanazar, George, 100*, 400, 503, 531 Psalmorum Codex, 270 Psalms in Metre, 297 * Publick Advertiser, The, 83 Publick Virtue, a Poem (Dodsley) 447 Pufendorf [Puffendorf], Baron Samuel von, 191, ,

281,544 Pultenay, William, see Bath, Earl of

566,573,577* Porter, Mary, 520 Porteus, BeUby, Bishop of Chester, 337, 389, 432, 433,451,467 Portland, Margaret Bentinck, Duchess of, 436 Portmore, Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of, 529 Pott, Joseph Holdeai, 290 Pott, Percivall, 519

Quakers, 289, 290, 392, 394*395, 480*, 510-511 Queen's house library: see Buckingham House Queensberry, Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke

Potter, Robert, 381 Pratt, Charles see Camden,

259 Queeney:

:

i

st

Earl

Purcell,

Henry, 251

Pym,John, 178 Pythagoras, 568 *

see

Thrale, Hester Maria

of,

8

1

INDEX

6l2

Villegas, Francesco G6mez de, 379 Quin, James, 259, 334, 383 Quintilian (Marcus Fabius Quintilianus), 452, 578*

Quevedo y

R (Richard)

:

see

Sheridan, Richard Brinsley

Rabelais, Francois, 215, 381

Rackstrow, Benjamin, 546 Radchffe, Charles, 48 RadcHffe, John, physician, 538

Master of Pembroke College: see RatclifT,John Ralegh, Sir Walter, 62 Ralph, James, 461 * Rambler, The, 2-3, 3-4, 20*, 23, 36, 40, 54-62, 63, 64,67,69,79,92,99, 1 16, 123, 130*, 133, 157, 186, Radcliffe, Dr.,

221, 226, 244, 283, 288, 309, 353, 431, 443, 470, * 471 , 486, 491 , 532, 541 *, 543> 548, 577 *> 583 Rambler's Magazine, The, 54 Ramsay, Allan, the poet, 211 Ramsay, Allan, the painter, 379, 380, 405, 406, 407, 408, 422, 425, 430, 526, 563

Ranby, John, 364 Rann, John ("Sixteen-stringjack"), 308

555

Ratcliff, John,

74 Rawlinson, Richard, 495 Ray, John, 169, 221, 257 Ray, Martha, 422 Reasons of the Christian Religion (Baxter), 5 1 Rebellion of 1 745-46, 47, 350 Recruiting Officer, The (Farquhar) , 444 Recueil desplus belles pieces des Poetes Franqais,

427

*

542 Remains concerning Britain (Camden), 397, 51 "Remarks on the Militia Bill" (Johnson), 85 Remarks on Swift (Cork and Orrery), 379 Rijn, 349

Remonstrance, The (Stockdale), 176 Respublica et Status Regni Hungarice, 1 44

312 The (Blair and Bannatine), 100 Retaliation (Goldsmith), 546 Retirement, The (Walsh), 183* Revolution of 1688, 178, 253, 260, 297, 387, 419, 496, 498 Revolution Society, The, 454 RespubliccE Elzeviriance,

Resurrection,

564,576*, 580,583

568* Grammar (Walker), 583 *

Rhetoric (Aristotle), Rhetorical

Rich, John, 382 II, King of England, 529* Richard III (Shakespeare), 100, 521 Richardson, Jonathan, the younger, 32, 37 Richardson, Samuel, 38, 55, 90, 103, 107, 157-158,

Richard

431 Ridley, the bookseller, 404 Ritter, Joseph, 173, 273, 368 Rivals, The (Sheridan), 334 Rivers, Richard Savage, 4th Earl, 45-46 Rivington, John, 519* "Robbery of Time" (Johnson), 92 Roberts, J., the bookseller, 44 Roberts, Miss, 93, 122 Robertson, a publisher, 484, 485

Robertson, William, 85, 152, 159, 161, 162, 215, 216, 228, 230, 353, 385, 388, 405, 406-407, 412,

Redi, Francesco, 373 * Reed, Isaac, 218*, 453 "Reflections on a Grave digging in Westminster Abbey," 150 "Reflections on the State of Portugal," 85 Reflections of the Study of the Law (Simpson), 96 Reformation, 315, 336*, 342 Rehearsal, The (Buckingham), 195, 546 Reid, Thomas, 1 34 Relation of a Journey (Sandys), 544

Rembrandt van

507, 513, 515, 521, 524, 533, 534, 545, 546-547, 549, 550, 551, 552-553, 554, 555-556, 560, 563-

169,181,357,400,443,450

Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia (Johnson), 13, 94-95, *,

383, 384*, 396, 397, 399, 401, 402, 404, 405-406, 408, 409, 412, 417, 418, 421, 423, 424, 425, 436, 439, 443, 447, 449*, 45°, 452, 459, 465, 467, 469, 470, 473, 485-486, 494, 495, 500, 501, 502,

Richmond, Richard, Bishop of Sodor and Man,

Rape of Lucrece, The (Shakespeare), 501 * Raphael (RafTaello Sanzio), 61, 267 Rasay, laird of: see Macleod, John, laird of Rasay

Reliques oj Ancient English Poetry (Percy),

61, 66-67, 72*, 81, 83, 91, 92, 94, 101-102, 103, 1 04, 1 05, 1 06, 1 07, no, 116*, 1 36, 137, 138, 139, i47» 154, i55> 156, 167, 168-169, 175, 185, 186, 215, 216, 217, 228, 232, 236, 240, 246, 253, 257,

258, 264*, 272, 287, 288, 297-298, 309-310, 317, 322, 323, 327, 356, 360, 373, 374, 375, 379, 382,

Race, The (Shaw), 153

123, 208, 340, 401, 414, 451, 480, 541

Reynolds, Frances, 91, 139, 186, 322, 367, 377, 381, 393, 402, 424, 439, 576*, 583* Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 32 *, 37, 38, 43, 44, 54, 55,

429,467,571

Robinhood [Robin Hood] Society, 472 Robinson, Sir Thomas, 123, 182 Robinson Crusoe (Defoe) , 384

Rochester, John Wilmot, 2nd Earl

of, 305, 360 Rochford, William Henry Zuylestein, 4th Earl of, 88 Rockingham, Charles Watson- Went worth, 2nd

Marquis of, 1 99 Random (Smollett), 97 * Rodney, Sir George, 270 Rogers, John Methuen, 576* Roderick

Rollin, Charles,

544

Rolt, Richard, 100, 252 Roman Catholics, 173-174, 179, 189, 224, 251,

301,359,430,437,536-537,580 Roman History, from the Foundation of the to the

City of Rome Destruction of the WesternEmpire (Goldsmith),

217,544

Romney, George, 309* Roper, William, 81 Rosciad (Churchill), 162*

Roscommon, Wentworth Life of (Johnson), 51

Rose, William, 497

*

Dillon, 4th Earl of,

568*

1

INDEX Rosicrucian infallible Axiomata

(Heydon), 577 *

Ross, John, Bishop of Exeter, 531 Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn,

ist

Earl

of, 104,

105, 106, 108, 262, 296, 297, 310

Rothes,

Mary

Lloyd, Countess

of:

see

Langton,

Mary Lloyd Rothwell, a perfumer, 157 Round Robin (Burke e^a/.), 323 Rousseau, Jean Jacques, 124, 125, 145-146, 164,

210,536

Rowe, Elizabeth, 86 Rowley, Thomas: see Chatterton, Thomas Royal Academy, 163, 272, 418, 507, 513, 515, 558 Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, 372 Royal Marriage Bill, 1 89 Royal Society, 218, 449* Rubens, Peter Paul, 267 Rudd, Margaret Caroline, 322, 405 Ruddiman, Thomas, 57, 149, 210, 419 Rudens (Plautus), 150

Ruffhead, Owen, 1 94 Russell [Russel], Alexander, 85, 498 Russell, Lord William, 208, 387 Rusticks (Langton), 99 Rutland, Roger Manners, 5th Earl of, 122 Rutty, John, 353 Ryland, John, 66, 557, 560 Sacheverell [Sacheverel], Henry, 5 Sacred Poems, (Hailes, ed.),

360

Sacred and Profane History of the World, The (Shuckford), 544 St. St. St.

Albans family, 67 Asaph, Bishop of: see Shipley, Jonathan Helens, Alleyne Fitzherbert, Baron, 18

Sallust (Gaius Sallustius Crispus), 3, 24, 166, 505,

569* Salusbury, Hester Lynch see Piozzi, Hester Lynch Salusbury, Hester Maria (Mrs. Piozzi's mother), :

226, 408, 554^

Sanadon, Noel Etienne, 320* Sanderson, Professor: see Saunderson, Nicholas Sanderson, Robert, Bishop of Lincoln, 60, 577 *, 578* Sands, Murray, and Cochran, printers, 57 * Sandys, Edwin, 269 Sandys, Sir Edwin, 60 Sandys, George, 544 Santerre, Antoine Joseph, 269 Sappho, 199 Sarpi, Paolo (Father Paul), 34-35, 36 Life of (Johnson), 36 Sastres, Francesco, 303,

577*

(Horace), 15, 150 Satires (Juvenal), 15, 51-52, 72, 575-576 Satires

—

Sault, 506 Saunderson [Sanderson], Nicholas, 202 Savage, Richard, Earl Rivers: see Rivers, 4th ,

Earl Savage, Richard, 333-334, 458, 536, 542 *, 574 !-¥« of (Johnson), 41, 43-47, 54, 66, 334*

613

Savile, Sir George,

437

Scaliger, Julius Caesar, 12, 52 Scaliger, Joseph Justus, 170

*,

170,

285

Scarsdale, Nathaniel Curzon, Baron, 349 Scheme for the Classes of a Grammar School (Johnson),

23-24 Schotanus, Christianus, 136 "Sciolus," 409*, 446* Scipio Africanus, Publius Cornelius, 108*, 150 Scotch Militia Bill, 281-282, 296 Scots Magazine, The, 28 Scott, Archibald, 29* Scott, George Lewis, 334 Scott, John, of Amwell, 250, 254 Scott, Sir William: see Stowell, Lord Scriptores de rebus Gallicis,

269 The (Thomson), 259, 334 Seeker, Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, 4, 451 Seed, Jeremiah, 378 Selden,John, 191,449* Select Works of Abraham Cowley (Hurd, ed.), 305 "Self-denial" (Johnson), 92 Senilia (Maittaire), 442 Sentimental Journey, A (Sterne), 1 97 *, 452 * Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, A (Law),

Seasons,

14, 180,

544

Sermons (Clarke) 58 Sermons (Sherlock), 541 *, 544 Sermons on Different Subjects (Mudge), 467, 473 Sermons on Different Subjects (Taylor), 357, 569* Sermons on Prayer (Ogden), 379 Sermons on Prayer (South), 173 ,

Settle,

Elkanah,

10,

320

Seven Discourses (Reynolds), 418 1738 (Pope), 32

Sevigne, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de,

312 Seward, Anna, 6 *, 2i*-22*, 293, 377*, 390, 391, 392, 393> 394, 432, 542, 550, 566 Seward, Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas), 293, 432 Seward, Thomas, 17*, 293, 294, 346, 432 Seward, William, 36, 102, 165, 241, 336, 337, 351, 355*, 361, 413, 455, 488, 501, 506, 512, 584* Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 4th Earl of, 132 Shakespeare, William, 61, 83, 88, 93,

1

8, 15, 24, 36, 47, 48, 49*, 01, 113*, 163, 168, 170, 177, 202,

288,292,294,312, 319, 381, 383, 391, 399-400, 422, 443, 444, 446, 447, 449, 465, 473, 475, 488,

520,575 See also Plays of William Shakespeare, son,ed.)

Shakespeare Illustrated (Lennox), 70,

444

Sharp, John, 139 Sharp [Sharpe], Samuel, 99, 312 Sharpe, Gregory, 182 Sharpe, a surgeon: see Sharp, Samuel Sharpe, John, Archbishop of York, 462 Shaw, Cuthbert, 153 Shaw, Thomas, 478 Shaw, William, 330, 367, 523-524

The (John-

1

,

INDEX

6i4

to Conquer (Goldsmith) 207, 208, 210 211,212,213,216, 402, 548 Shebbearc, John, 478, 51 Sheffield, John: see Buckingham and Normanby,

She Stoops

Duke

of Shelburne, Earl of: I

St

see

Lansdowne,

ist

Marquis of

Shenstone, William, 16, 287-288, 515 Sheridan, Charles, 390 Sheridan, Frances, 00, 1 09 Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1 37, 333-334, 373, 374 Sheridan, Thomas, 100, 104, 105, 108-109, '") 128-129, 168, 182, 192, 224, 225, 245, 296, 334, 1

403, 420, 461, 471, 497, 509, 512, 514, 545, 549 Sherlock, Thomas, 378, 544 Sherlock, William, 541 *

Shcrwin, John Keyse, 332 Robert, 50, 5 1 66, 305, 305 *-3o6 *, 307-308, 334 Ship of Fools, The (Barclay), 76 Shipley, Jonathan, Bishop of St. Asaph, 137, 379, Shiels,

,

380,381,521,548 Short Account of Scotland, A (Morer), 377 Short Co/nmentary on the Lord's Prayer, A (Lort), 537 *

Shuckford, Samuel, 544 Sibbald, Sir Robert, 372 Life [vighxly Autobiography'\ of. The, 372 Sicilian Gossips, The, Idyll xxii (Theocritus),

442

Society of .Xrts and Sciences, 185, 445, 473 Society for the Encouragement of Learning, 40* Society of I>ondon for the Encouragement of Arts,

Manufactures, and Commerce, 527 * Society of Procurators, 484-485, 491 Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, 151, 231 Socrates, 59, 109*, 384, 455, 468 Z//>o/ (Cooper), 346* Solander, Daniel Charles, 187, 188 "Soldier's Letter," 41

Some account of lone),

the Life of

William Shakespeare

"Some

further Particulars in Relation to the Case of Admiral Byng, by a Gentleman of Oxford,"

85 Some passages of

the Life

and Death of John Earl of

360 Somerset, James, 366-367 Somerville, James, 2th Baron, 457 Somnium (Johnson), 12 Sorbonne, 269 South, Robert, 173, 378 South Sea Report, 41 Rochester (Burnet),

1

Southwell, Edward, loi Southwell, Thomas, 2nd Baron, 66, 42 1 Spearing, attorney-at-Iaw, 33*

Siddons, Sarah, 520-521 Sidney, Algernon, 208 Sidney, Sir Philip, 339 Siege of Aleppo, The (Hawkins), 382

Spectator, The, 54, 55, 57, 165,

Simco,John, 583* Simpson, Town-Clerk of Lichfield, 565 * Simpson, Joseph, 96, 139, 305 Simpson, Rev. Mr., of Lincoln, 147, 415 Simpson, Stephen, 1 7, 96 Simpson, Thomas, 98* Sinclair, Sir John, 487 Sir Thomas Over bury (Savage), 333-334 Six Months' Tour through the North of England (Young)

Speech

—

569*

*

to the

(Kames), 409, 413

Small Whole-Length of Dr. Priestley from his Printed Works, /I, 519* Smalridge, George, Bishop of Bristol, 378 Smart, Anna Maria (Mrs. Christopher), 560* Smart, Christopher, 85, 1 11- 112, 252, 502*, 504,

560*

Act, 147 Stanhope, James, rst Earl, 42 Stanhope, Philip, Lord Chesterfield's natural son,

Stanton, manager of players, 292 Stanyan, Abraham, 414 State Trials (Howell), 367* Statius, Publius Papinius, 68 Staunton, Sir George, 102-103, 545 Steele, Joshua, Steele, Sir

15, 121, 137, 281,

300*, 335, 406,

Society of .Artists,

1

458,471

207, 229, 230, 244, 328, 360, 414, 423, 453, 547, *

453 Smith, John, Lord Chief Baron, 492 * Smith, Lawrence, 483, 549 Smith, Mr., of Bishop's Stortford, 177 Smollett, Tobias, 97, 306, 374-375 1

247 Richard, 47*, 141*, 175*, 286, 306,

Steele, of the Treasury, 37 Steevens, George, 61, 137, 160, 174, 176-177, 178,

449^502-503,572* Smith, Captain, 416 Smith, Edmund, 385 Life of (Johnson),

& Dodd),

550

Smalbroke, Dr., 34

Adam,

Recorder of London (Johnson

343 Spence, Joseph, 444, 462 Spencer, George John, 2nd Earl, 137, 436 Spenser, Edmiund, 39, 76, 80, 217, 579 Spiritual Diary and Soliloquies, A (Rutty), 353 Spleen, The (Green), 308, 429 Spottiswoode, John, 404, 405 Sprat, Thomas, Bishop of Rochester, 544 Spur, Mercurius: see Shaw, Cuthbert

Stamp

Man

Skinner, Stephen, 50 Slater, the druggist, 318

Smith,

499

Speculum humana Salvalionis, 269

349 Sketches of the History of

,

175*, 199, 202, 209, 260, 306, 310, 353, 373, 449, 452, 467, 471, 560*,

,

Skene, Sir John, 432

(Ma-

294

7,

01 -102

548

Mourning" (Johnson?), 48 Stephani, the: see Estiennes, the Stephanorum Historia (Maittaire), 442 Stephanus, Henricus: see Estienne, Henri Stepney, George, 453 * "Stella in

5

INDEX Sterne, Laurence, 1 97, 2 1 2, 452 Stewart, Sir Annesley, 467 Stewart, Francis, 50, 434, 435

*,

—

477

Stewart, George, 50 Stewart, Mrs., Francis' sister, 434, 435, 526, 528 * Still, John, Bishop of Bath and Wells, 582 Stiilingfleet,

Benjamin, 476

Tatler, The, 54,

Stinton, George, 389, 451 Stockdale, Percival, 93*, 176, 188 Stone, Mr., 343 *

Stow, Richard, 43 * Stowell, William Scott, Lord, 131, 137, 174, 185,

284, 383, 384, 385, 398-399, 437, 471, 503, 554,

576*, 583* Strahan, Andrew, 565 Strahan, George, 64, 154*, 457, 530, 567, 576*, 581 Strahan, Margaret (Mrs. William), 57, 474, 488 Strahan, William, 66, 79, 80, 94, 100, 154*, 184185, 213, 232, 234, 242, 245, 246, 281, 326, 327, 332, 37o> 382, 391, 406, 416-417, 428, 437, 439,

474,488,547,565,581 Strahan, William, junior, 474 Stratford Jubilee, The (Gentleman), 294

see

Edward, the Young Pretender:

Charles III

Stuart, James, the Old Pretender: see James III Stuart, Colonel James, 427, 431, 432, 433 * Stuart, Rev. James, 152 Stuart, William, 506

Stubbs, George, 577 * and Cambridge Miscellany , The,

Student, or Oxford

56-57,62 Suckling, Sir John, 401 * Sugar Cane, The (Grainger), 137, 288 Sully, Maxim.ilien de Bethune, Due de, 85 Sunderland, Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of, 42 Svea Rikes Historia (Dalin), 191

Swan, John, 40 Swift, Jonathan,

33, 34, 37, 56, 123, 128, 162, 183, 202, 218*, 244-245, 379, 399, 500, 535

Life of (Johnson),

Taylor, Jeremy, 538 Taylor, Chevalier John, 424 Taylor, Rev. Dr. John, 7, 1 1, 12, i6, 18, 45, 50, 53, 65, 66, 280, 292, 293, 294, 295-296, 311, 330, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 346-348, 349, 350, 352, 354, 356-357, 358, 359, 360, 363, 365, 366, 370, 515-516, 530, 559, 562, 566, 567, 577 *, 582 Taylor, John, classical scholar, 1 08 *, 401 Taylor,John, of Birmingham, 19 Taylor, John, landscape painter, 435 Taylor, Mary (Mrs. John), 65 Tears of Old-Mayday, The (Lovibond), 24 Telemachus (Fenelon), 263 Telemachus, a Mask (Graham), 1 16, 329 Tempest, The (Shakespeare) 449 Temple, Henry: see Palmerston, 2nd Viscount Temple, Richard: see Gobham, ist Viscount Temple, Sir William, 60, 89, 216, 278, 382, 405, ,

04

Strickland, Mrs., 335* Stuart, house of, 5, 29, 38, 47, 57% 9^, 151 j 211, 228, 347-348, 387, 419, 496, 536 Stuart, Andrew, 2 1 4-2 1 Stuart, Charles

*

54

Taxation no Tyranny (Johnson), 242-243, 250, 363, 370, 390 Taylor, Isaac, 583 *

Stow [Stowe],John, 576*

1

569

Tatler Revived, The,

Stopford, Edward, 262

Stratico, Professor, of Padua,

615

Taaf, , 270 Tacitus, Cornelius, 201 Talbot, Catharine, 55 Tale of a Tub, A (Swift), 128, 216, 244-245 Tasker, William, translator of Horace, 419-420 Tasso, Torquato, 107, 405, 464, 568*

568 Temple, William Johnson, 124, 145, 221, 244, 260, 493* Terence (Publius Terentius Afer), 24, 150, 447 Theobald, Lewis, 91 Theocritus, 15, 24, 442 Theodosius (Lee), 294 Theophylactus, 75 "Thesis in Civil Law" (Boswell), 148-149, 157 Thicknesse, Philip, 374-375 "Thinking" (Johnson), 92 Thirlby, Styan, 495 Thirty-nine Articles, 189

Thomas, Colonel, 511* Thomas, Nathaniel, 326 *

Thomas

a Kempis, 371, 448, 533

Thomson, Beatrix (Trotter), 415 Thomson, James, the poet, 23, 100, 161-162, 259, 307-308, 331, 334, 415, 512* Life of (Johnson), 161 -162, 340, 415*,

461-462

Lz/eo/ (Sheridan), 109, 168, 244*

458*

Zz/eo/ (Gibber), 334

Swinfen, Samuel, 13, 17,

18, 370 Swinny, Owen Mac, 319 Swinton, Rev. Mr., 75 Sydenham, Thomas, 37-38 Life of (Johnson), 5, 40 Sydney, Thomas Townshend, ist Viscount, 546 Sydney, Algernon; see Sidney, Algernon Sylvanus, 430 Synopsis oj Quadrupeds (Pennant), 271*

System of Ancient Geography, A (Macbean) see Dictionary of Ancient Geography, A :

Thomson, Rev. James, case of, 314-316 Thomson, John, the poet's brother, 415 Thomson, Mr., the poet's brother-in-law,

161,

334,415 Thom-son, Mrs., the poet's sister, 161- 162, 334, 415 Thornton, Bonnell, 57, 59"^', 1 1, 118 Thou [Thuanus], Jacques Auguste de, 3, 56*, 1

579 Thoughts on the Coronation of George III (Gv/yn), loi Thoughts on the late Transactions respecting Falkland's Islands (Johnson), 183-184, 187-188, 244 Thoughts in Prison (Dodd) 385 ,

7 21

1

INDEX

6i6

Thrale, Henrietta Sophia, 416, 494, 496 Thrale, Henry (Mrs. Piozzi's first husband), 140141, 150, 163, 165-166, 184, 188*, 209, 213, 215, 216, 220, 227, 232, 233, 234, 242, 247, 250, 253, 264, 265, 269, 271, 272, 273, 278, 280, 293-294, 297, 298, 302, 303, 304, 305, 309, 310, 312, 324, 325, 327, 331, 335, 337, 338, 340, 410, 416, 419, 426, 427, 434, 435, 436,439, 441, 442, 465, 468, 469-470, 471, 474, 490, 494, 496, 501 524, 526, 532, 544, 553, 554 Thrale, Henry (Mrs. Piozzi's son), 293, 294, 297, 302 Thrale, Hester Lynch: see Piozzi, Hester Lynch ,

Thrale, Hester Maria ("Queeney"), 48, 164, 273,

Townshend, Thomas: see Sydney, Townson, Thomas, 225 *, 541 * Tractate on Education (Milton),

Viscount

415

Tracts by Warburton and a Warburtonian, not admitted into the Collection of their respective Works, 456* Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, 570-57 Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 449 *

"Translation of Abbe Guyon's Dissertation on the Amazons" (Johnson), 39 "Translation of Fontenelle's Panegyrick on Dr, Morin" (Johnson), 39 Trapp, Joseph, 569* Traveller, The (Goldsmith), 1 17, 137, 144, 216, 380,

382,402,499* Germany (Keyssler), 252

Travels through

298, 426, 435, 494, 496

ist

Thrale, Ralph (Mrs. Piozzi's father-in-law by her first marriage), 140 Thrale, Ralph (Mrs. Piozzi's son), 232 Thrale, Susanna (Mrs. Piozzi's daughter), 494,

Travels through Holland (Blainville), 252 Travels through Portugal and Spain (Twiss), 252 Travelsfrom St. Petersburgh in Russia to divers parts of

496,521 "Three Warnings, The" (Piozzi), 151 Thuanus: see Thou, Jacques Auguste de Thucydides, 405 Thurlow, Edward, ist Baron, 51, 252, 303, 310,

Treatise on Civil Architecture

316, 441-442, 500, 543, 549, 551, 552, 555, 556,

563, 564 Thurot, Frangois, 474 Tibullus, Albius, 288 Tickell,

Thomas, 1 75

460 Archbishop of Canterbury, 378 "To the Honourable Miss Monckton" (Boswell), 477* "To Lyce, an elderly Lady" (Johnson?), 48 on her giving the Author a gold and "To Miss silk network Purse of her own weaving" (JohnLije of (Johnson),

Tillotson, John,

—

,

son?), 48, 150

"To a Young Lady on Her Birth-day" Toland, John,

Tom Jones

(Johnson), 10

Asia (Bell), 159

Treatise describing use of

Terrestrial

and

Globes,

A

economy (Xenophon), 327

Treatise on

Trecothick, Alderman, 320, 363 Trent, Council of, 1 74 Trimlestown, Nicholas Barnewall, 14th Baron, 372 Tristram Shandy (Sterne), 287 Trotter, Alexander, of Fogo, 415 Trotter, Beatrix: see Thomson, Beatrix Trotter,

Thomas, 583 *

Trotz, Chr. Hendr., 136 Tully: see Cicero, Marcus Tullius Turkish [History: see General History of the (Knolles) Turkish Spy, The, 506 Tursellinus, Horatius,

Turks

1

537,539 Torre, "Signor," 548

Udson,

the

Hebrides (Knox), 239 Tour to the Northern Parts of Europe, The (Wraxall),

436 Scotland and the Hebrides: see Journey

,

569*

504, 505

Tyrawley, James O'Hara, 2nd Baron, 209 Tyrconnel, Sir John Brownlow, Viscount, 46-47 * Tyrwhitt, Thomas, 311*, 488 Tytler, William, 98, 240

Torrington family, 87 Highlands oj Scotland and

—

Twiss, Richard, 252 Tyers, Jonathan, 398 Tyers, Thomas, 1 74, 398

,

to

and

Celestial

(Adams), 156

Twalmley,

Tories, 32, 176, 178, 212, 387, 404, 474, 479-480,

Tour

* 1

explaiyiing the construction

Tusculan Questions (Cicero),

(Fielding), 196-197

the

New

and

Turton, John, 350

2

Tonson, Jacob, 72*, 310 Tooke, Benjamin, 244* Tooke,John Home, 413-414 Topham, Edward, 301 * Toplady, Augustus Montague, 221 223, 224

Tour through

(Chambers), 503 *

Treatise on Cold Baths (Floyer), 2

to the

Western Isles of Scotland, A (Johnson) Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides, A (Pennant), 386-387 Tour through Sicily and Malta, A (Brydone), 252, 293 Towers, Joseph, 244, 454 Townley, Charles, collector of antiquities, 335* Townley, Charles, an engraver, 583 * Townshend, Charles, 212, 297

—

270 29* Unitarians, 482 * ,

Union, The,

Universal Chronicle; Or, Weekly Gazette, The, 91, Universal History, 544, 569

96*

Universal Passion, The (Young), 461, 481 Universal Prayer (Pope), 41 Universal Visitor, The,

48 *, 85, 252

Upper Ossory, John

Fitzpatrick,

2nd Earl

of,

137,373 Ussher, [Usher], James, Archbishop of 52*, 183 Utrecht, University of, 1 1

Armagh,

1

,

INDEX Vagabondo,

II,

54, 431

*

Valerius Maximus, 569 Vallancey [Valiancy], Charles, 531, 532 Vanbrugh, Sir John, 459 Vanity of

Human

Wishes, being the Tenth Satire of

Juvenal imitated. The (Johnson), 51-53, 72, 95, 144, 146, 174, 336*, 362, 370*, 414-415 Vansittart, Robert, 97, 202

Vauxhall Gardens, 398 " Veale, Thomas, 467 Vego, Maffeo, 302 * Velleius Paterculus, Marcus, 24 Venus (Apelles), 475 "Verses to a Lady, on Receiving from Her a Sprig of Myrtle" (Johnson), 21, 21 *-22* "Verses to Mr. Richardson, on his Sir Charles Grandison," 150

Rene Aubert, Abbe de, 217, 544 Vesey, Agmondesham, 137, 244, 436, 450 Vertot,

Vestris,

Gaetano, 468

Wakefield, The (Goldsmith), 402, 420 Victor, Benjamin, 458 View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion

Vicar

of

(Jenyns),392 View of the State of Religion in the Western parts of the World (Sandys), 60 VUette, Rev. Mr., 549 Village, The (Crabbe) 499 Vniiers, Sir George, 413 Vindication of the Appendix to the Poems, called Rowley's A (Tyrwhitt),488* Virgil (Publius VirgUius Maro), 9, 14, 15, 24, 39, 69, 72, III, I49> 150, 163, 182, 234, 360-361, 406, 442, 446, 499, 505, 513 * Virtue, an Ethick Epistle, 362 "Vision of Theodore the Hermit, found in his Cell" (Johnson), 5 Vitalis, Janus (Giano Vitale), 379 Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet), 87, 94-95, 123, ,

142, 143, 145, 159, 168, 180-181, 272, 383, 391,

406,414,433,536 Volusene, Florence, 367 Voyage to Abyssinia, A (Lobo), Voyage Voyage

1

9, 20,

298 King), 543

A (Cook and

to the

Pacific Ocean,

to the

South Seas (Forster), 356

Vyse, Rev. Dr. W., 337, 565 *

Wales, Augusta of Saxe Gotha, Princess Wales, Frederick Louis, Prince of, 457 Walker, John, 508-509, 583* Walker, Joseph Cooper, 89, 332 * Walker, Thomas, 259 Wall, Martin, 538

of,

100

WaUer, Edmund, 257, 404*, 453, 475, 536*, 537* Life of (Johnson), 1 60, 400, 453 *, 454 Walmsley, Gilbert, 17-18, 24-25, 53, 122, 292, 293=441 Walmsley, Magdalen [Margaret] Aston, 18*, 292 Walpole, Horatio (Horace): see Orford, 4th Earl of

Walpole, Robert: see Orford, Walsh, William, 183*

ist

Earl of

617

Walton, Izaak, 232, 233, 258, 286, 544 Walton's Lives: see Lives{lza.ak Walton) Wanderer, The (Savage), 536 Warburton, William, Bishop of Gloucester,

2, 41, 47, 72, 76, 91, 154-155, 320*, 361, 399*, 428*,

456-457, 460, 536

Ward, Joshua, 424 Warren, Birmingham

bookseller, 19, 20 Warren, John, of Pembrokeshire, 20 Warren, Richard, 137, 436, 575, 580 Warton, Joseph, 54*, 69, 76, 77, 78, 85,

90, 93,

118*, 127, 137, 154*, 155, 177, 194, 323*, 334,

372,418,428* Warton, Thomas,* 1 7 *, 44, 74, 75, 76-77, 78, 80-8 83,84*, 89, 90,91,93, 137,163,177,286,311*, 337,444, 488*, 545 1

Waters, Paris banker, 143 Waters, Ambrose, 577 * Watson, Richard, Bishop of Llandaff, 480 Watson, Robert, 329 Watts, Isaac, 86-87, 337, 41 5, 419, 544 Life of (Johnson), 418* Way of the World, The (Congreve), 214 Wealth of Nations, The (Smith), 281, 300* Webster, Alexander, 228, 229, 230

Wechel [Wechelius], Andrew or Christian, 576* Wedderburn [Wedderburne], Alexander: see Rosslyn, ist Earl of Weekly Miscellany, The, quoted, 34 *

Welch, Anne, 368-369 Welch, Father, 271 Welch, Saunders, 368-369, 428, 502 Wentworth, son of one of Johnson's masters, 9 Wentworth, John, master of Stourbridge school, 9 Wesley, Charles, 394 Wesley, John, 353, 373, 394, 426, 471 West, Gilbert, 450 Westcote, WiUiam Henry Lyttelton, ist Baron, 539 Westminster Abbey, 217, 582, 583-584 Wetherell, master of University College, 256, 279, 284, 543 Wheatly, Charles, 511*

Wheeler, Rev. Dr., 41 7, 440 Whigs, 32, 75, 178, 184, 195, 199, 212, 348, 387, 404, 474, 479-480, 514, 537 Whiston, John, 477 Whiston, William, 1 63 *, 449 * Whitaker, John, 175*, 406 White, Henry, 565, 566 White, Mrs., Johnson's servant, 576* White, William, Bishop, 208 Whitefield, George, 16, 166, 353, 430-431 Whitefoord, Caleb, 547 Whitehead, Paul, 31-32 Whitehead, William, 3, 50, 1 13, 478-479 Whiting, Mrs., 576* Whole Duty of Man, The, 1 4, 2 1 7-2 1 8, 544 Wife, A (Overbury), 165 WUcox, a bookseller, 25 * Wilkes, Dr., 39 WUkes, Friar, 270

INDEX

6i8

Wilkes, John, 34, 83, 97, iii, 145, 164, 176, 317322, 357, 363, 371, 403, 423, 437> 438, 45i> 457,

474,475-476,512,555* Wilkins, landlord of the Three Crowns, 291, 431 Wilks, Robert, 458 William I, the Conqueror, King of England, 243 William III, King of England, 224, 251, 553

Williams, Anna, 38, 62, 63, 66, 69, 75, 83, 90, 91, 103, 107, no, 119, 132, 143, 150-151, 157, 163*, 165, 171, 175, 187, 189, 193, 208, 209, 210, 213, 215, 218, 228, 234, 242, 249, 256, 257, 265, 274, 283, 298, 304, 310, 312, 317-318, 322, 326, 327, 330, 336, 338, 340, 366, 367, 369, 370, 385, 400, 409, 416, 418, 421, 439, 471, 472, 488, 489, 490, 498, 510, 517, 519, 520, 525, 530

Williams, Sir Charles Hanbury, 153 Williams, Helen Maria, 534 Williams, Zachariah, 75*, 83-84, 304 Wilson, Father, 266 Wilson, Florence: see Volusene Wilson, Thomas, fellow of Trinity

Works (Johnson), 206*, 342, 462, 547, 557*, 564,

583* Works in Architecture (Adam) , 349 Works oj Jonathan Swift, D. D., The (Hawkesworth, ed.), 218*, 244* Works of Shakespear with Comments and Notes, The (War bur ton and Pope), 47 World, The, 54*, 70-71, 1 19 * World, The (1787- 1790), 301 World Displayed, The, 96, 523

Woty, William, 107 Wraxall [Wraxal], Sir Nathaniel William, 436 Wiirttemberg, Charles Alexander, Duke of, 198

Xenophon, 24, 326, 417 Xerxes I, King of Persia, 362 Xylander, Wilhelm, 56 * Yalden, Thomas, 419 College,

Dublin, 140 * Wilson, Thomas, compiler of dictionary, 495, 583 * Wilson vs. Smith and Armour, 203 Wilton, Fanny (Lady Chambers), 230 Windham, William, 137, 240, 335, 414, 502, 506507, 515, 524, 532, 554, 559, 561-562, 576*, 578,

580,581,582

Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain,

A

(Thicknesse), 374-375

Yonge, Sir WUliam, 53, 192 York, Edward Augustus, Duke of, 143 Young, Arthur, 349 Young, Edward, 58-59, 170, 351 *, 379, 398, 480, 481, 539 Life of (Croft), 460-461

Winter (Thomson), 512* Winter Evenings (Knox), 550 "Winter's Walk, The" (Johnson?), 48

Life of (Johnson), 460-461

Wirgman,

Peter, 403 Wirtemberg, Prince of:

see Wiirttemberg, Duke of Wise, Francis, 74-75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81 Woffington, Margaret (Peg), 383-384 Wolsey, Thomas, Cardinal, 370* Wonder/ A Woman keeps a Secret, The (Centlivre),

444

Wood, Anthony a,

Woodhouse, James, 181 Woodward, John, 449* Word to the Wise, A (Kelly), 333

12,

495

Young, Elizabeth (Mrs. Edward), 481 Young, Frederick, the poet's son, 460, 480, 481 Young, John, 573

"Young Author, The" (Johnson), 10 Yvery, house of, 506 Zeck, George and Luke,

1

44

^obeide (Cradock), 308

ZofFany [Zoffani], John, 583* Zon, Mr., 75

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