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in this, that she has not scattered her precepts in the wind, at least not those which she bestowed upon you.

"The two Wartons just looked into the town, and were taken to see Cleone, where, David [Garrick] says, they were starved for want of com

pany to keep them warm. David and Doddy

have had a new quarrel, and, I think, cannot conveniently quarrel any more. 'Cleone' was well acted by all the characters, but Bellamy' left nothing to be desired. I went the first night, and supported it as well as I might; for Doddy, you know, is my patron, and I would not desert him. The play was very well received. Doddy, after the danger was over, went every night to the stageside, and cried at the distress of poor Cleone.

"I have left off housekeeping, and therefore made presents of the game which you were pleased to send me. The pheasant I gave to Mr. Richardson 3, the bustard to Dr. Lawrence, and the pot I placed with Miss Williams, to be eaten by myself. She desires that her compliments and good wishes may be accepted by the family; and I make the same request for myself.

"Mr. Reynolds has within these few days raised his price to twenty guineas a head, and Miss 3 is much employed in miniatures. I know not any body [else] whose prosperity has increased since you left them.

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Murphy is to have his Orphan of China' acted next month; and is therefore, I suppose, happy. I wish I could tell you of any great good to which I was approaching, but at present my prospects do not much delight me; however, I am always pleased when I find that you, dear Sir, remember your affectionate, humble servant,

6

"SAM. JOHNSON."

In 1759, in the month of January, his mother died, at the great age of ninety, an event which deeply affected him; not that "his mind had acquired no firmness by the contemplation of mortality;" but that his reverential affection for her was not abated by years, as indeed he retained all his tender feelings even to the latest period of his life. I have been told, that he regretted much his not having gone to visit

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2 The well-known Miss George Ann Bellamy, who played the heroine. - CROKER.

The author of Clarissa. - Boswell.

↑ Sir Joshua afterwards greatly advanced his price. I have been informed by Sir Thomas Lawrence, his admirer and rival, that in 1787 his prices were two hundred guineas for the whole length, one hundred for the half-length, seventy for the kit-cat, and fifty for (what is called) the three-quarters. But fren on these prices some increase must have been made, as Horace Walpole said, "Sir Joshua, in his old age, becomes avaricious. He had one thousand guineas for my picture of the three ladies Waldegrave."- Walpoliana. This picture are half-lengths of the three ladies on one canvas.- CROKER. 3 Miss Reynolds, the sister of Sir Joshua.- CROKER. Hawkins, p. 395. Mr. Boswell contradicts Hawkins, for the mere pleasure, as it would seem, of doing so. The reader must observe that Mr. Boswell's work is full of anecdotes of Johnson's want of firmness in contemplating mortality: (see a striking instance sub Oct. 26. 1769:) and though Johnson may have been in theory an affectionate son, there is reason to fear that he had never visited Lichfield, and, consequently, not seen his mother, since 1737. Mr. Bosweil alleges as an excuse, that he was engaged in literary labours, which confned him to London. Such an excuse for an absence of twenty years is idle; besides, it is stated that Johnson visited Ashbourne about 1740 (antè, p. 20.), Tun

his mother, for several years previous to her death. But he was constantly engaged in literary labours which confined him to London; and though he had not the comfort of seeing his aged parent, he contributed liberally to her support.

[JOHNSON TO MRS. JOHNSON,
In Lichfield.'

"13th Jan. 1758.8 "HONOURED MADAM,- The account which Miss [Porter] gives me of your health pierces my heart. God comfort and preserve you and save you, for the sake of Jesus Christ.

"I would have Miss read to you from time to time the Passion of our Saviour, and sometimes the sentences in the Communion Service, beginning Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

"I have just now read a physical book, which inclines me to think that a strong infusion of the bark would do you good. Do, dear mother, try it.

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Pray, send me your blessing, and forgive all that I have done amiss to you. And whatever you would have done, and what debts you would have paid first, or any thing else that you would direct, let Miss [Porter] put it down; I shall endeavour to obey you.

9

"I have got twelve guineas to send you, but unhappily am at a loss how to send it to-night. If I cannot send it to-night, it will come by the next post.

"Pray, do not omit any thing mentioned in this letter. God bless you for ever and ever. I am your dutiful son, SAM. JOHNSON."

-

Malone.

JOHNSON TO MISS PORTER,

At Mrs. Johnson's, in Lichfield.

"16th Jan. 1759.

"MY DEAR MISS, -I think myself obliged to you beyond all expression of gratitude for your care of my dear mother. God grant it may not be without success. Tell Kitty 10 that I shall never forget

bridge Wells in 1748 (antè, p. 58.), Oxford in 1754 (antè, p. 88.). We shall see presently, that Johnson felt remorse for this neglect. - CROKER.

7 Since the publication of the third edition of this work, the following letters of Dr. Johnson, occasioned by the last illness of his mother, were obligingly communicated to Mr. Malone, by the Rev. Dr. Vyse. They are placed here agreeably to the chronological order almost uniformly observed by the author; and so strongly evince Dr. Johnson's piety and tenderness of heart, that every reader must be gratified by their insertion.- MALONE. I have added some others. CROKER.

8 Written by mistake for 1759, as the subsequent letters show. On the outside of the letter of the 13th was written by another hand-"Pray acknowledge the receipt of this by return of post, without fail."- MALONE.

9 Six of these twelve guineas Johnson appears to have borrowed from Mr. Allen, the printer. See Hawkins's Life of Johnson, p 366. n.- MALONE.

10 Catherine Chambers, Mrs. Johnson's maid-servant. She died in October, 1767. See Dr. Johnson's Prayers and Meditations, p. 71.: “Sunday, Oct. 18. 1767. Yesterday, Oct, 17., I took my leave for ever of my dear old friend, Catherine 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."- MALONE.

I

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You will conceive my sorrow for the loss of my mother of the best mother. If she were to live gn, surely I should behave better to her. But she is happy, and what is past is nothing to her; and for me, since I cannot repair my faults to her, I hope repentance will efface them. I return you come and all those that have been good to her my sinsorcerest thanks, and pray God to repay you all with thefintinite advantage. Write to me, and comfort me, for dear child. I shall be glad likewise, if Kitty will write to me. I shall send a bill of twenty pounds in a few days, which I thought to have brought to my mother; but God suffered it not. I have not power or composure to say much more. God bless you, and bless us all. I am, dear Miss, your affectionate humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON."

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- Jan. 1739. 1ear you are too

parative I will only tell you, of the man that can possibly God to bless you for

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every post, however

ve dutiful son,

SAM. JOHNSON."

CANON TO MISS PORTER.

**20th Jan. 1759.

-I will, if it be possible, come God grant 1 may yet [find] my why drawing and sensible. Do not tell If I miss to write next Ax Amc & disappoint her. I am, my dearest Miss, ww I am on the road. SAM. JOHNSON." veus most humble servant,

On the other side.

"20th Jan. 1759.

Neither your DEAR HONOURED MOTHER', condition nor your character make it fit for me to say much. You have been the best mother, and I believe the best woman in the world. I thank you for your indulgence to me, and beg forgiveness of all that I have done ill, and all that I have omitted to do well. God grant you his Holy Spirit, and receive you to everlasting happiness, for Jesus

This letter was written on the second leaf of the preceding, addressed to Miss Porter.- MALONE.

So, in the prayer which he composed on this occasion: Almighty God, merciful Father, in whose hands are life and death, sanctify unto me the sorrow which I now feel. Forgive me whatever I have done unkindly to my mother, and whatever I have omitted to do kindly. Make me to remember her good precepts and good example, and to reform my life according to thy holy word," &c. - Prayers and Meditations, p. 31. MALONE.

3 Mrs. Johnson probably died on the 20th or 21st January, and was buried on the day this letter was written. MALONE.

4 Mr. Murphy states: "With this supply (the price of Rasselas) Johnson set out for Lichfield; but did not arrive in time to close the eyes of a parent whom he loved. attended the funeral, which, as appears among his memo

He

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"You will forgive me if I am not yet so composed as to give any directions about any thing. But you are wiser and better than I, and I shall be pleased with all that you shall do. It is not of any use for me now to come down'; nor can I bear the place. If you want any directions, Mr. Howard will advise you. The twenty pounds I could not get a bill for to-night, but will send it on Saturday. am, my dear, your affectionate servant, Pearson MSS.

"SAM. JOHNSON."6

JOHNSON TO MISS PORTER.

I

"6th Feb. 1759. "DEAR MISS,I have no reason to forbear writing, but that it makes my heart heavy, and I had nothing particular to say which might not be delayed to the next post; but had no thoughts of ceasing to correspond with my dear Lucy, the only person now left in the world with whom I think There needed not my dear myself connected. mother's desire, for every heart must lean to somebody, and I have nobody but you; in whom I put all my little affairs with too much confidence to desire you to keep receipts, as you prudently proposed.

randums, was on the 23d of January, 1759." It is clear, from all these letters, that he did not personally attend on that occasion, and the memorandum mentioned must have referred to the date or expenses of the funeral, and not to his own presence. Rasselas was not written, nor of course, it may be presumed, sold, till two months later.- CROKER.

Mr. Howard was a proctor in the Ecclesiastical Court, and resided in the Close. - CROKER.

6" No. 41. of the Idler," says Hawkins, "though it takes the character of a letter to the author, was written by Johnson himself on his mother's death, and may be supposed to describe as truly as pathetically his sentiments on the separation of friends and relations. But it is observable that the Idlers, which now bear the dates of the 13th and 20th January, are on trivial subjects, and are even written in a vein of pleasantry. CROKER.

it, that with the profits he might defray the expense of his mother's funeral, and pay some little debts which she had left. He told Sir Joshua Reynolds, that he composed it in the evenings of one week, sent it to the press in portions as it was written, and had never since Mr. Dodsley purchased it for a hundred read it over. Mr. Strahan, Mr. Johnston, and pounds, but afterwards paid him twenty-five pounds more, when it came to a second edition. Considering the large sums which have been received for compilations, and works requiring not much more genius than compilations, we cannot but wonder at the very low price which he was content to receive for this admirable

"If you and Kitty will keep the house, I think I shall like it best. Kitty may carry on the trade for herself, keeping her own stock apart, and laying aside any money that she receives for any of the goods which her good mistress has left behind her. I do not see, if this scheme be followed, any need of appraising the books. My mother's debts, dear mother, I suppose I may pay with little difficulty; and the little trade may go silently forward. I fancy Kitty can do nothing better; and I shall not want to put her out of a house, where she has lived so long, and with so much virtue. I am very sorry that she is ill, and earnestly hope that she will soon recover; let her know that I have the highest value for her, and would do any thing for her advantage. Let her think of this proposal. I do not see any likelier method by which she may pass the remain-performance; which, though he had written ing part of her life in quietness and competence.

"You must have what part of the house you please, while you are inclined to stay in it; but I flatter myself with the hope that you and I shall some time pass our days together. I am very solitary and comfortless, but will not invite

you to

come hither till I can have hope of making you live here so as not to dislike your situation. Pray;

I

my dearest, write to me as often as you can.
am, dear Madam, your affectionate humble servant,
66 SAM. JOHNSON."

Pearson MSS.

JOHNSON TO MISS PORTER.

"DEAR MADAM,

"1st March, 1758[9].

I thought your last letter long in coming; and did not require or expect such an inventory of little things as you have sent me. I could have taken your word for a matter of much greater value. I am glad that Kitty is better; let her be paid first, as my dear, dear mother ordered, and then let me know at once the sum necessary to discharge her other debts, and I will find it you very soon.

"I beg, my dear, that you would act for me without the least scruple, for I can repose myself very confidently upon your prudence, and hope we shall never have reason to love each other less. I shall take it very kindly if you make it a rule to write to me once at least every week, for I am now very desolate, and am loth to be universally forgotten. I am, dear sweet, your affectionate ser

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SAM. JOHNSON."]

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nothing else, would have rendered his name immortal in the world of literature. None of his writings has been so extensively diffused over Europe; for it has been translated into most, if not all, of the modern languages. This and all the force and beauty of which the Entale, with all the charms of oriental imagery, glish language is capable, leads us through the most important scenes of human life, and shows us that this stage of our being is full of vanity and vexation of spirit." To those who look no further than the present life, or who maintain that human nature has not fallen from the state in which it was created, the instruction of this sublime story will be of no avail. But they who think justly, and feel with strong sensibility, will listen with eagerness and admiration to its truth and wisdom. Voltaire's CANDIDE, written to refute the system of Optimism, which it has accomplished with brilliant success, is wonderfully similar in its plan and conduct to Johnson's RASSELAS; insomuch, that I have heard Johnson say, that if they had not been published so closely one after the other that there was not time for imitation 4, it scheme of that which came latest was taken would have been in vain to deny that the from the other. Though the proposition illustrated by both these works was the same, namely, that in our present state there is more evil than good, the intention of the writers was very different. Voltaire, I am afraid, meant only by wanton profaneness to obtain a sportive victory over religion, and to discredit the belief of a superintending Providence: Johnson meant, by showing the unsatisfactory nature of things temporal, to direct the hopes of man to things eternal. Rasselas, as was observed to me by a very accomplished lady, may be considered as a more enlarged and more deeply philosophical discourse in prose, upon the interesting truth, which in his "Vanity of

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