Mr. Banks, of Dorsetshire. The conversation | turning upon pictures, which Johnson could not well see, he retired to a corner of the room, stretching out his right leg as far as he could reach before him, then bringing up his left leg, and stretching his right still further on. The old gentleman observing him, went up to him, and in a very courteous manner assured him, though it was not a new house, the flooring was perfectly safe. The Doctor started from his reverie, like a person waked out of his sleep, but spoke not a word.' While we are on this subject, my readers may not be displeased with another anecdote communicated to me by the same friend, from the relation of Mr. Hogarth. Johnson used to be a pretty frequent visitor at the house of Mr. Richardson, author of Clarissa, and other novels of extensive reputation. Mr. Hogarth came one day to see Richardson, soon after the execution of Dr. Cameron for having taken arms for the house of Stuart in 1745-6; and being a warm partisan of George the Second, he observed to Richardson, that certainly there must have been some very unfavourable circumstances lately discovered in this particular case, which had induced the King to approve of an execution for rebellion so long after the time when it was committed, as this had the appearance of putting a man to death in cold blood,' and was very unlike his Majesty's usual clemency. While he was talking, he perceived a person standing at a window in the room, shaking his head, and rolling himself about in a strange, ridiculous manner. He concluded that he was an idiot whom his relations had put under the care of Mr. Richardson, as a very good man. To his great surprise, however, this figure stalked forwards to where he and Mr. Richardson were sitting, and all at once took up the argument, and burst out into an invective against George the Second, as one who upon all occasions was unrelenting and barbarous, mentioning many instances; particularly, that when an officer of Impartial posterity may, perhaps, be as little inelined as Dr. Johnson was to justify the uncommon rigour exercised in the case of Dr. Archibald Cameron. He was an amiable and truly honest man, and his offence was owing to a generous, though mistaken, principle of duty. Being obliged, after 1746, to give up his profession as a physician, and to go into foreign parts, he was honoured with the rank of colonel both in the French and Spanish service. He was a son of the ancient and respectable family of Cameron of Lochiel; and his brother, who was the chief of that brave elan, distinguished himself by moderation and humanity, while the Highland army marched victorious through Scotland. It is remarkable of this chief, that though he had earnestly remonstrated against the attempt as hopeless, he was of too heroic a spirit not to venture his life and fortune in the cause, when personally asked by him whom he thought his prince.— BOSWELL. high rank had been acquitted by a court-martial, George the Second had with his own hand struck his name off the list. In short, he displayed such a power of eloquence, that Hogarth looked at him with astonishment, and actually imagined that this idiot had been at the moment inspired. Neither Hogarth nor Johnson were made known to each other at this interview. In 1740 he wrote for the Gentleman's Magazine the 'Preface '[t], the 'Life of Admiral Blake '[*], and the first parts of those of 'Sir Francis Drake '[*] and 'Philip Barretier'[*],' both which he finished the following year. He also wrote an Essay on Epitaphs [*], and an Epitaph on Phillips, a musician [*], which was afterwards published, with some other pieces of his, in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies. This Epitaph is so exquisitely beautiful, that I remember even Lord Kaimes, strangely prejudiced as he was against Dr. Johnson, was compelled to allow it very high praise. It has been ascribed to Mr. Garrick, from its appearing at first with the signature G.; but I have heard Mr. Garrick declare that it was written by Dr. Johnson, and give the following account of the manner in which it was composed. Johnson and he were sitting together; when, amongst other things, Garrick repeated an Epitaph upon this Phillips, by a Dr. Wilkes, in these words: 'Exalted soul! whose harmony could please The love-sick virgin, and the gouty ease; Could jarring discord, like Amphion, move To beauteous order and harmonious love: Rest here in peace, till angels bid thee rise, And meet thy blessed Saviour in the skies.' Johnson shook his head at these commonplace funereal lines, and said to Garrick, 'I think, Davy, I can make a better.' Then, stirring about his tea for a little while, in a state of meditation, he almost extempore produced the following verses : 'Phillips, whose touch harmonious could remove 1 To which in 1742 he made very large additions, which have never yet been incorporated in any edition of Barretier's life.-A. CHALMERS. 2 The epitaph of Phillips is in the porch of Wolverhampton Church. The prose part of it is curious: Near this place lies CHARLES CLAUDIUS PHILLIPS, Whose absolute contempt of riches, and inimitable performances upon the violin, made him the admiration of all that knew him. He was born in Wales, made the tour of Europe; and, after the experience of both kinds of fortune, died in 1732.' Mr. Garrick appears not to have recited the verses correctly, the original being as follows. One of the me with this anecdote, he repeated a very 'Augustus still survives in Maro's strain, anything that is omitted. 'A gentleman has Lord Bathurst's speech to add something to.' And July 3, 1744: 'You will see what stupid, low, abominable stuff is put upon your noble and learned friend's character, such as I should quite re towards doing justice to the character. But as I cannot expect to attain my desire in that respect, it would be a great satisfaction, as well as an honour to our work, to have the favour of the genuine speech. It is a method that several have been pleased to take, as I could show, but I think myself under a restraint. I shall say so far, that I have had some by a third hand, which I understood well enough to come from the first; others by penny-post, and others by the speakers themselves, who have been pleased to visit St. John's Gate, and show particular marks of their being pleased.”* In 1741 he wrote for the Gentleman's Maga-ject, and endeavour to do something better zine the 'Preface' [+], 'Conclusion of his Lives of Drake and Barretier '[*], ‘A free Translation of the Jests of Hierocles, with an Introduction;' and, I think, the following pieces :-"Debate on the Proposal of Parliament to Cromwell, to assume the Title of King, abridged, modified, and digested' [+]; 'Translation of Abbé Guyon's Dissertation on the Amazons' [+]; 'Translation of Fontenelle's Panegyric on Dr. Morin '[+]. Two notes upon this appear to me undoubtedly his. He this year, and the two following, wrote the 'Parliamentary Debates.' He told me himself that he was the sole composer of them for those three years only. He was not, however, 'precisely exact in his statement, which he mentioned from hasty recollection; for it is sufficiently evident that his composition of them began November 19, 1740, and ended February 23, 1742-43. It appears from some of Cave's letters to Dr. Birch, that Cave had better assistance for that branch of his Magazine than has been generally supposed, and that he was indefatigable in getting it made as perfect as he could. Thus, 21st July 1735 : 'I trouble you with the enclosed, because you said you could easily correct what is here given for Lord Chesterfield's speech. I beg you will do so as soon as you can for me, because the month is far advanced.' And 15th July 1737 : 'As you remember the debates so far as to perceive the speeches already printed are not exact, I beg the favour that you will peruse the enclosed, and, in the best manner your memory will serve, correct the mistaken passages, or add various readings is remarkable, as it is the germ of Johnson's concluding line: Exalted soul, thy various sounds could please The love-sick virgin, and the gouty ease; Could jarring crowds, like old Amphion, move To beauteous order and harmonious love; Rest here in peace, till angels bid thee rise, And meet thy SAVIOUR'S consort in the skies.' Dr. Wilkes, the author of these lines, was a Fellow of Trinity College in Oxford, and Rector of Pitchford in Shropshire. He collected materials for a history of that county, and is spoken of by Brown Willis, in his History of Mitred Abbies, vol. ii. p. 189. But he was a native of Staffordshire, and to the antiquities of that county was his attention chiefly confined. Mr. Shaw has had the use of his papers.-J. BLAKEWAY, There is no reason, I believe, to doubt the veracity of Cave. It is, however, remarkable that none of these letters are in the years during which Johnson alone furnished the debates, and one of them is in the very year after he ceased from that labour. Johnson told me, that as soon as he found that the speeches were thought genuine, he determined that he would write no more of them: 'for he would not be accessory to the propagation of falsehood.' And such was the tenderness of his conscience, that a short time before his death he expressed his regret for his having been the author of fictions which had passed for realities. He nevertheless agreed with me in thinking, that the debates which he had framed were to be valued as orations upon questions of public importance. They have accordingly been collected in volumes, properly arranged, and recommended to the notice of parliamentary speakers by a preface written by no inferior hand. I must, however, observe, that although there is in those debates a wonderful store of political information and very powerful eloquence, I cannot agree that they exhibit the manner of each particular speaker, as Sir John Hawkins seems to think. But, indeed, what opinion can we have of his judgment, and taste in public speaking, who presumes to give as the characteristics of two celebrated orators, the 1 I suppose in another compilation of the same kind. -BOSWELL. 2 Doubtless Lord Hardwicke.-BOSWELL. 3 Birch's Mss. in the British Museum, 4302.-Bos WELL. I am assured that the editor is Mr. George Chalmers, whose commercial works are well known and esteemed.-BOSWELL. deep-mouthed rancour of Pulteney, and the about Burman; 'Additions to his Life of Baryelping pertinacity of Pitt'? 1 CHAPTER VI. 1741-1744. THIS year I find that his tragedy of Irene had been for some time ready for the stage, and that his necessities made him desirous of getting as much as he could for it without delay; for there is the following letter from Mr. Cave to Dr. Birch in the same volume of manuscripts in the British Museum from which I copied those above quoted. They were most obligingly pointed out to me by Sir William Musgrave, one of the Curators of that noble repository : 3 'Sept. 9, 1741. 'I have put Mr. Johnson's play into Mr. Gray's hands, in order to sell it to him, if he is inclined to buy it; but I doubt whether he will or not. He would dispose of the copy, and whatever advantage may be made by acting it. Would your society or any gentleman, or body of men that you know, take such a bargain? He and I are very unfit to deal with theatrical persons. Fleetwood was to have acted in it last season, but Johnson's diffidence or prevented it.' I have already mentioned that Irene was not brought into public notice till Garrick was manager of Drury Lane Theatre. retier' [*]; "The Life of Sydenham '[*], after- A very diligent observer may trace him where In 1742 he wrote for the Gentleman's Magazine the 'Preface '[t], the 'Parliamentary De-zine for December. bates'[*], "Essay on the Account of the Conduct of the Duchess of Marlborough'[*], then the popular topic of conversation. This essay is a short but masterly performance. We find him, in No. 13 of his Rambler, censuring a profligate sentiment in that 'Account,' and again insisting upon it strenuously in conversation. *An Account of the Life of Peter Burman' [*], I believe chiefly taken from a foreign publication; as, indeed, he could not himself know much Sir J. Hawkins's Life of Johnson.-BOSWELL. *A London bookseller.-BOSWELL. *Not the Royal Society, but the Society for the Encouragement of Learning, of which Dr. Birch was a leading member. Their object was to assist authors printing expensive works. It existed from about 3 to 1746, when, having incurred a considerable dit, it was dissolved.-BosWELL. "There is no erasure here, but a mere blank, to fill up which may be an exercise for ingenious conjecture. -BOSWELL From one of his letters to a friend, written in Jane E42, it should seem that he then purposed to write a play on the subject of Charles the Twelfth of Sweden, nd to have it ready for the ensuing winter. The pasage alluded to, however, is somewhat ambiguous, and the work which he then had in contemplation may Lave been a history of that monarch.—MALONE. Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3d ed. p. 167.— To prove it, I shall quote the introduction :- As also this passage : 'Let those who despise the capacity of the Swiss, tell us by what wonderful policy, or by what happy conciliation of interests, it is brought to pass, that in a body made up of different communities and different religions, there should be no civil commotions, though the people are so warlike, that to nominate and raise an army is the same.' I am obliged to Mr. Astle' for his ready permission to copy the two following letters, of which the originals are in his possession. Their contents show that they were written about this time, and that Johnson was now engaged in preparing an historical account of the British Parliament. 1 Mr. Thomas Astle, keeper of the Records in the Tower. He died 1803. 'TO MR. CAVE. [No date.] 'SIR,-I believe I am going to write a long letter, and have therefore taken a whole sheet of paper. The first thing to be written about is our historical design. 'You mentioned the proposal of printing in numbers, as an alteration in the scheme; but I believe you mistook, some way or other, my meaning. I had no other view than that you might rather print too many of five sheets, than of five-and-thirty. 'With regard to what I shall say on the manner of proceeding, I would have it understood as wholly indifferent to me, and my opinion only, not my resolution. Emptoris sit eligere. -all the magazines that have anything of his or relating to him. 'I thought my letter would be long, but now it is ended; and I am, sir, yours, etc., 'SAM. JOHNSON. 'The boy found me writing this almost in the dark, when I could not quite easily read yours. 'I have read the Italian :-nothing in it is well. 'I had no notion of having anything for the inscription. I hope you don't think I kept it to extort a price. I could think of nothing till to-day. If you could spare me another guinea for the history, I should take it very kindly tonight; but if you do not, I shall not think it an injury. 'I am almost well again.' 'TO MR. CAVE. do by itself, or in any other place so well as the Mag. Extraordinary. If you will have it all, I believe you do not think I set it high; and I will be glad if what you give, you will give quickly. 'I think the insertion of the exact dates of the most important events in the margin, or of so many events as may enable the reader to regulate the order of facts with sufficient exactness, the proper medium between a journal, 'SIR,-You did not tell me your determinawhich has regard only to time, and a history tion about the Soldier's Letter, which I am conwhich ranges facts according to their depend-fident was never printed. I think it will not ence on each other, and postpones or anticipates according to the convenience of narration. I think the work ought to partake of the spirit of history, which is contrary to minute exactness, and of the regularity of a journal, which is inconsistent with spirit. For this reason I neither admit numbers or dates, nor reject them. 'I am of your opinion with regard to placing most of the resolutions, etc., in the margin, and think we shall give the most complete account of parliamentary proceedings that can be contrived. The naked papers, without an historical treatise interwoven, require some other book to make them understood. I will date the succeeding facts with some exactness, but I think in the margin. You told me on Saturday that I had received money on this work, and found set down £13, 2s. 6d., reckoning the half guinea of last Saturday. As you hinted to me that you had many calls for money, I would not press you too hard, and therefore shall desire only, as I send it in, two guineas for a sheet of copy; the rest you may pay me when it may be more convenient; and even by this sheetpayment I shall, for some time, be very expensive. 'The Life of Savage I am ready to go upon; and in great primer and pica notes, I reckon on sending in half a sheet a day; but the money for that shall likewise lie by in your hands till it is done. With the debates, shall not I have business enough? if I had but good pens. 'Towards Mr. Savage's Life, what more have you got? I would willingly have his trial, etc., and know whether his defence be at Bristol, and would have his collection of poems, on account of the Preface ;-The Plain Dealer, 1 The Plain Dealer was published in 1724, and contained some account of Savage.-BOSWELL. 'You need not be in care about something to print, for I have got the State Trials, and shall extract Layer, Atterbury, and Macclesfield from them, and shall bring them to you in a fortnight; after which I will try to get the South Sea Report.' [No date, nor signature.] I would also ascribe to him an 'Essay on the Description of China, from the French of Du Halde' [+]. His writings in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1743 are: the 'Preface '[+]; the 'Parliamentary Debates '[t]; 'Considerations on the Dispute between Crousaz and Warburton on Pope's Essay on Man' [t]; in which, while he defends Crousaz, he shows an admirable metaphysical acuteness and temperance in controversy; 'Ad Lauram parituram Epigramma3[*]; and, ‘A Latin Translation of Pope's verses on his Grotto;" and as he could employ his pen with equal success upon a small matter as a great, I 1 Perhaps the Runic inscription; Gentleman's Magazine, vol. xii. p. 132.---MALONE. 2 I have not discovered what this was.-BOSWELL Mr. Hector was present when this epigram was made impromptu. The first line was proposed by Dr. James, and Johnson was called upon by the company to finish it, which he instantly did.-BOSWELL. The following elegant Latin ode, which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1743 (vol. xiii. p. 548), suppose him to be the author of an advertise- | profession.' But I should think myself much wanting, both to my illustrious friend and my readers, did I not introduce here, with more than ordinary respect, an exquisitely beautiful Ode, which has not been inserted in any of the collections of Johnson's poetry, written by him at a very early period, as Mr. Hector informs me, and inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine of this year : FRIENDSHIP, AN ODE.[*] To all the lower world denied. While love unknown among the blest, Torments alike with raging fires; With bright, but oft destructive, gleam, Around the fav'rites of the sky. Thy gentle flows of guiltless joys On fools and villains ne'er descend: And hugs a flatterer for a friend. Directress of the brave and just, O guide us through life's darksome way! On selfish bosoms only prey. Nor shall thine ardour cease to glow, When souls to blissful climes remove; Johnson had now an opportunity of obliging his schoolfellow Dr. James, of whom he once observed, 'No man brings more mind to his was many years ago pointed out to James Bindley, Esq., as written by Johnson, and may safely be attributed to him : AD ORNATISSIMAM PUELLAM. Vanæ sit arti, sit studio modus, Mitte, supervacuosque cultus. Lenique fons cum murmure pulcrior Artifices nimis apparatus. James published this year his Medicinal Dictionary, in three volumes folio. Johnson, as I understood from him, had written, or assisted in writing, the proposals for this work; and being very fond of the study of physic, in which James was his master, he furnished some of the articles. He, however, certainly wrote for it the Dedication to Dr. Mead [+], which is conceived with great address, to conciliate the patronage of that very eminent man.1 It has been circulated, I know not with what authenticity, that Johnson considered Dr. Birch as a dull writer, and said of him, 'Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation; but no sooner does he take a pen in his hand, than it becomes a torpedo to him, and benumbs all his faculties.' That the literature of this country is much indebted to Birch's activity and diligence must certainly be acknowledged. We have seen that Johnson honoured him with a Greek Epigram; and his correspondence with him during many years proves that he had no mean opinion of him. TO DR. BIRCH. 'Thursday, Sept. 29, 1743. 'SIR,-I hope you will excuse me for troubling you on an occasion on which I know not whom else I can apply to. I am at a loss for the Lives and Characters of Earl Stanhope, the two Ergo fluentum tu, male sedula, Ne sæva inuras semper acu comam Quales nec olim Ptolemæia Verticis exuviæ decori; Nec diva mater, cum similem tuze Fusa comas agitare ventis. 'SIR,-That the Medicinal Dictionary is dedicated to you, is to be imputed only to your reputation for superior skill in those sciences which I have endeavoured to explain and facilitate; and you are therefore to consider this address, if it be agreeable to you, as one of the rewards of merit; and if otherwise, as one of the inconveniences of eminence. 'However you shall receive it, my design cannot be disappointed, because this public appeal to your judg ment will show that I do not found my hopes of approbation upon the ignorance of my readers, and that I fear his censure least whose knowledge is most ex- |