The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., Comprehending an Account of His Studies, and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order: A Series of His Epistolary Correspondence and Conversations with Many Eminent Persons; and Various Original Pieces of His Composition, Never Before Published; the Whole Exhibiting a View of Literature and Literary Men in Great Britain, for Near Half a Century During which He Flourished, Volume 1G. Cowie, 1824 |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 100
Page 1
... thought worthy of particular attention by a person of the first eminence in the age in which he lived , whose com- pany has been universally courted , I am justified in availing myself of the usual privilege of a Dedication , VOL . I. B ...
... thought worthy of particular attention by a person of the first eminence in the age in which he lived , whose com- pany has been universally courted , I am justified in availing myself of the usual privilege of a Dedication , VOL . I. B ...
Page 4
... thought ridicu- lously ostentatious . Let me only observe , as a specimen of my trouble , that I have sometimes been obliged to run half over . London , in order to fix a date correctly ; which , when I had accomplished , I well knew ...
... thought ridicu- lously ostentatious . Let me only observe , as a specimen of my trouble , that I have sometimes been obliged to run half over . London , in order to fix a date correctly ; which , when I had accomplished , I well knew ...
Page 5
... thought myself in the company , and of the party almost throughout . It has given very general satisfaction ; and those who have found most fault with a passage here and there , have agreed that they could not help going through , and ...
... thought myself in the company , and of the party almost throughout . It has given very general satisfaction ; and those who have found most fault with a passage here and there , have agreed that they could not help going through , and ...
Page 23
... thought ; by which mankind are enabled as it were to see him live , and to " live o'er each scene " with him , as he actually advanced through the several stages of his life . Had his other friends been as dili- gent and ardent as I was ...
... thought ; by which mankind are enabled as it were to see him live , and to " live o'er each scene " with him , as he actually advanced through the several stages of his life . Had his other friends been as dili- gent and ardent as I was ...
Page 27
... thought it worth his while to express , with any degree of point , should perish . For this almost superstitious reve- rence , I have found very old and venerable authority , quoted by our great modern prelate , Secker , in whose tenth ...
... thought it worth his while to express , with any degree of point , should perish . For this almost superstitious reve- rence , I have found very old and venerable authority , quoted by our great modern prelate , Secker , in whose tenth ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acknowl acquainted admiration afterwards appears authour believe BENNET LANGTON Bishop bookseller Burney Cave character College conversation DEAR SIR death Dictionary Dodsley edition elegant eminent endeavour English Essay evid excellent favour Garrick gave genius Gentleman's Magazine give happy heard Hector honour hope house of Stuart humble servant Johnson Joseph Warton kind King labour lady Langton language Latin learned letter Lichfield literary lived London Lord Chesterfield Lucy Porter mankind manner master mentioned merit mind mother never obliged observed occasion opinion Oxford paper Pembroke College person pleased pleasure poem poet praise Preface publick published Rambler remarkable Reverend Richard Savage Robert Dodsley SAMUEL JOHNSON Savage Shakspeare shew Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds spirit suppose sure talk thing THOMAS WARTON thought Thrale tion told translation truth verses Warton William wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 223 - The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.
Page 370 - I believe, Sir, you have a great many. Norway, too, has noble wild prospects ; and Lapland is remarkable for prodigious noble wild prospects. But, Sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England !' .This unexpected and pointed sally produced a~roar of applause.
Page 171 - Dictionary, he answered the stated calls of the press twice a week from the stores of his mind, during all that time ; having received no assistance, except four billets in No. 10, by Miss Mulso, now Mrs. Chapone ; No. 30, by Mrs.
Page 376 - Why, Sir, if the fellow does not think as he speaks, he is lying ; and I see not what honour he can propose to himself from having the character of a liar. But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.
Page 171 - Somebody talked of happy moments for composition, and how a man can write at one time and not at another. "Nay," said Dr Johnson, "a man may write at any time if he will set himself doggedly to it.
Page 369 - King, though he should command, cannot force a Judge to condemn a man unjustly ; therefore it is the Judge whom we prosecute and punish. Political institutions are formed upon the consideration of what will most frequently tend to the good of the whole, although now and then exceptions may occur. Thus it is better in general that a nation should have a supreme legislative power, although it may at times be abused. And then, Sir, there is this consideration, that if the abuse be enormous, Nature will...
Page 410 - Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such, We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
Page 256 - I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds. I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquillity, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise.
Page 401 - Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well ; but you are surprised to find it done at all.
Page 256 - Ashbourne in 1777, he mentioned a still stronger instance of the predominance of his private feelings in the composition of this work than any now to be found in it. "You know, sir, Lord Gower forsook the old Jacobite interest. When I came to the word renegado, after telling that it meant 'one who deserts to the enemy, a revolter,' I added, 'Sometimes we say a Gower.' Thus it went to the press; but the printer had more wit than I, and struck it out.