But if the mosaic we speak of were broken up, and its pieces restored to the several bodies from which, for a time at least, they had so violently been severed, one huge block was left in the middle of the book-an act for which Mr. Croker claims our praise and respect. "The most important addition," says Mr. Croker in his Preface, "which I have made is one that needs no apology-the incorporation with the 'Life' of the whole of the 'Tour to the Hebrides,'-which," he adds further, "no doubt, if Boswell could have legally done so, he would have himself incorporated in the 'Life.'" What legal impediments there were in the way of this purpose, we profess not to understand. The law of copyright has not been a constant quantity; it has been altered again and again, nor is it regarded by many as in a satisfactory condition at this date. But we are at a loss to conceive how the publication of the "Tour" together with the "Life" could have been barred by any state, or at any period, of the law of copyright. The author published the "Life" with Charles Dilly; he published the "Tour" with Charles Dilly; each edition of both books issued from the same publisher, who was, moreover, an intimate friend of Boswell's. There was no impediment, therefore, we apprehend, which author and publisher, acting in harmony, could not easily have overcome; in fact, there was no impediment on the ground of law. There was, however, a grand impediment on the ground of taste; and the last thing we can conceive Boswell doing would be his cramming a volume of 443 pages into the place where he mentions the beginning of the "Tour," and records its end. We entirely agree with Mr. Croker when he expresses his wonder that, 'any edition of the 'Life of Johnson' should have been published without the addition of this the most original, curious, and amusing part of the whole biography." But this indispensable addition to the "Life" might have been made by printing the "Tour" together with the "Life," which is done b To Mr. Henry Reeve I am under great obligations. I enjoyed the great pleasure of inspecting and consulting the Records of The Club in his own library, which afforded me the opportunity of confirming and elucidating several passages in Boswell's text. I also owe to Mr. Reeve a suggestion which many, I feel sure, will rejoice that I followed. By his advice the "Diary of Dr. Thomas Campbell "-a few passages of no importance whatever being omitted-has been reproduced in the volume of "Johnsoniana." This diary is perhaps the most curious addition made to Johnsonian literature since the publication of Mrs. Piozzi's "Anecdotes." Of the numerous friends who have so readily communicated information to me, let me name, especially, my kinsman, Dr. Cotterill, the Bishop of Edinburgh; Mr. H. G. Reid of Her Majesty's Stationery Office; Mr. R. F. Sketchley of the South Kensington Museum, who, as Curator of the Forster Library, has been of signal service to me, always rendered with the utmost readiness and intelligence; Colonel F. R. C. Grant, who lent me the manuscript catalogue of his unique collection of the literature of the age of Johnson; the Rev. John G. Lonsdale, Canon of Lichfield Cathedral, for his courteous answers to my inquiries regarding Johnson's life in connection with the Cathedral; Mr. Charles Simpson, Town Clerk of the city of Lichfield, a gentleman who knew those who had seen and spoken with Johnson, and from whom I learnt the traditions concerning him which still linger there; Mr. J. T. Clark, the Keeper of the Books of the Advocates, for his learned communications to me regarding the books printed and published in Scotland before the Union, and other points of literary history; Mr. David Douglas, for his curious information regarding Hume and Boswell's house in James' Court; Mr. J. W. M. Gibbs, for his intelligent and persistent researches in the British Museum on many matters connected with Johnsonian literature; the Rev. Canon Jelf of Rochester, and his brother, Mr. Arthur Jelf, for the information I obtained from them in regard to Archdeacon Cambridge's portrait of Johnson; Mr. J. T. Gilbert for his assistance in the O'Connor question; Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Wood, for their prompt and obliging information regarding the portraits of Johnson; my neighbour and friend the Rev. J. R. Pilling, Rector of Wells, for many ingenious verifications out of the stores of his capacious and accurate memory. It would not be less than great ingratitude, if I omitted to thank Mr. Alfred Smith, Assistant in the University Library, Cambridge, for his untiring, most obliging attention to the many demands I have made, for several years, on his time and patience. Holkham Vicarage, ALEXANDER NAPIER. Nov. 16, 1883. TABLE OF CONTENTS. THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. Introductory remarks, on the arduous character of the xxxiv xxxix xlii Johnson afflicted with scrofula. Taken to London to be touched by Queen Anne Remains there rather more than a year |