express all that I felt upon the loss of such a guide, philosopher, and friend."* I shall, therefore, not say one word of my own, but adopt those of an eminent friend, t which he uttered with an abrupt felicity superior to all studied compositions:-"He has made a chasm, which not only nothing can fill up, but which nothing has a tendency to fill up. Johnson is dead. Let us go to the next best-there is nobody; no man can be said to put you in mind of Johnson." As Johnson had abundant homage paid to him during his life, so no writer in this nation On the subject of Johnson I may adopt the words of Sir John Harrington, concerning his venerable tutor and diocesan, Dr. John Still, Bishop of Bath and Wells:"Who hath given me some helps, more hopes, all encouragements in my best studies; to whom I never came but I grew more religious; from whom I never went, but I parted better instructed. Of him, therefore, my acquaintance, my friend, my instructor, if I speak much it were not to be marvelled; if I speak frankly, it is not to be blamed; and though I speak partially, it were to be pardoned." Nuga Antiquæ, vol. i. p. 136. There is one circumstance in Sir John's character of Bishop Still, which is peculiarly applicable to Johnson :-" He became so famous a disputer that the learnedest were even afraid to dispute with him; and he finding his own strength, could not stick to warn them in their arguments to take heed to their answers, like a perfect fencer that will tell aforehand in which button he will give the venue, or like a cunning chess-player that will appoint beforehand with which pawn and in what place he will give the mate."BOSWELL. The late Right Hon. William Gerard Hamilton, who had been intimately acquainted with Dr. Johnson near thirty years. He died in London, July 16, 1796, in his 69th or 70th year.-MALONE. Beside the dedications to him by Dr. Goldsmith, the Rev. Dr. Franklin, and the Rev. Mr. Wilson, which I have mentioned according to their dates, there was one by a lady, of a versification of "Aningait and Ajut," and one by the ingenious Mr. Walker, of his "Rhetorical Grammar." I have introduced into this work several compliments paid to him in the writings of his contemporaries; but the number of them is so great, that we may fairly say that there was almost a general tribute. Let me not be forgetful of the honour done to him by Colonel Myddleton, of Gwaynynog, near Denbigh; who, on the banks of a rivulet in his park, where Johnson delighted to stand and repeat verses, erected an urn with the following inscription : "This spot was often dignified by the presence of Whose moral writings, exactly conformable to Gave ardour to Virtue and confidence to Truth." As no inconsiderable circumstance of his fame, we must reckon the extraordinary zeal of the artists to extend and perpetuate his image. I can enumerate a bust by Mr. Nollekens, and the many casts which are made from it; several pictures by Sir Joshua Reynolds, from one of which, in the possession of the Duke of Dorset, Mr. Humphrey executed a beautiful miniature in enamel : one by Mrs. Frances Reynolds, Sir Joshua's sister; one by Mr. Zoffanij; and one by Mr. Opie; and the following engravings of his portrait: 1. One by Cooke, from Sir Joshua, for the Proprietor's edition of his folio Dictionary. -2. One from ditto, by ditto, for their quarto edition. 3 One from Opie, by Heath, for Harrison's edition of his Dictionary.-4. One from Nolleken's bust of him, by Bartolozzi, for Fielding's quarto edition of his Dictionary.-5. One small, from Harding, by Trotter, for his "Beauties." -6. One small, from Sir Joshua, by Trotter, for his "Lives of the Poets."-7. One small, from Sir Joshua, by Hall, for "The Rambler."-8. One small, from an original drawing, in the possession of Mr. John Simco; etched by Trotter, for another edition of his "Lives of the Poets." 9. One small, no painter's name, etched by Taylor, for his Johnsoniana.-10. One folio whole-length, with his oak-stick, as described in Boswell's "Tour," drawn and etched by Trotter.-11. One large mezzotinto, from Sir ever had such an accumulation of literary honours after his death. A sermon upon that event was preached in St. Mary's Church, Oxford, before the University, by the Rev. Mr. Agutter, of Magdalen College. The Lives, the Memoirs, the Essays, both in prose and verse, which have been published concerning him, would make many volumes. The numerous attacks too upon him, I consider as part of his consequence, upon the principle which he himself so well knew and asserted. Many who trembled at his presence, were forward in assault, when they no longer apprehended danger. When one of his little pragmatical foes was invidiously snarling at his fame, at Sir Joshua Reynold's table, the Rev. Dr. Parr exclaimed, with his usual bold animation, "Ay, now that the old lion is dead, every ass thinks he may kick at him." A monument for him, in Westminster Abbey, was resolved upon soon after his death, and was supported by a most respectable_contribution; but the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's having come to a resolution of admitting monuments there, upon a liberal and magnificent plan, that cathedral was afterwards fixed on, as the place in which a cenotaph should be erected to his memory; and in the cathedral of his native city of Lichfield, a smaller one is to be erected.† To Joshua, by Doughty.-12. One large Roman head, from Sir Joshua, by Marchi.-13. One octavo, holding a book to his eye, from Sir Joshua, by Hall, for his works.-14. One small, from a drawing from the life, and engraved by Trotter, for his life, published by Kearsley.-15. One large, from Opie, by Mr. Townley (brother of Mr. Townley, of the Commons), an ingenious artist, who resided some time at Berlin, and has the honour of being engraver to his Majesty the King of Prussia. This is one of the finest mezzotintos that ever was executed; and what renders it of extraordinary value, the plate was destroyed after four or five impressions only were taken off. Öne of them is in the possession of Sir William Scott. Mr. Townley has lately been prevailed with to execute and publish another of the same, that it may be more generally circulated among the admirers of Dr. Johnson.-16. One large, from Sir Joshua's first picture of him, by Heath, for this work, in quarto.-17. One octavo, by Baker, for the octavo edition.-18. And one for "Lavater's Essays on Physiognomy," in which Johnson's countenance is analyzed upon the principles of that fanciful writer. There are also several seals with his head cut on them, particularly a very fine one by that eminent artist, Edward Burch, Esq., R.A., in the possession of the younger Dr. Charles Burney. Let me add, as a proof of the popularity of his character, that there are copper pieces struck at Birmingham, with his head impressed on them, which pass current as halfpence there, and in the neighbouring parts of the country.-BOSWELL. *It is not yet published.-In a letter to me, Mr. Agutter says, "My sermon before the University was more engaged with Dr. Johnson's moral than his intellectual character. It particularly examined his fear of death, the good, and the indifference of the infidel in their last and suggested several reasons for the apprehensions of hours; this was illustrated by contrasting the death of Dr. Johnson and Mr. Hume; the text was Job xxi. 22—26," -BOSWELL. This monument has been since erected. It consists of a medallion, with a tablet beneath, on which is this inscription: "The friends of SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. As a tribute of respect To the memory of a man of extensive learning, A distinguished moral writer, and a sincere Christian. He died Dec. 13, 1784, aged 75."-MALONE. compose his epitaph could not but excite the warmest competition of genius.* If laudari a laudato viro be praise, which is highly estimable, I should not forgive myself were I to omit the following sepulchral verses on the author of "The English Dictionary," written by the Right Hon. Henry Flood: t "No need of Latin or of Greek to grace Our Johnson's memory, or inscribe his grave; His native language claims this mournful space, To pay the inmortality he gave." The character of Samuel Johnson has, I trust, Deen so developed in the course of this work, that they who have honoured it with a perusal, may be considered as well acquainted with him. As, however, it may be expected that I should collect into one view the capital and distinguishing features of this extraordinary man, I shall endeavour to acquit myself of that part of my biographical *The Rev. Dr. Parr, on being requested to undertake it, thus expressed himself in a letter to William Seward, Esq. "I leave this mighty task to some hardier and some abler writer. The variety and splendour of Johnson's attainments, the peculiarities of his character, his private virtues, and his literary publications, fill me with confusion and dismay, when I reflect upon the confined and difficult species of composition, in which alone they can be expressed, with propriety, upon his monument." But I understand that this great scholar, and warm admirer of Johnson, has yielded to repeated solicitations, and executed the very difficult undertaking.-BOSWELL. Dr. Johnson's monument, consisting of a Colossal Figure leaning against a column (but not very strongly resembling him), has since the death of our author been placed in St. Paul's Cathedral, having been first opened to public view, Feb. 23, 1796. The Epitaph was written by the Rev. Dr. Parr, and is as follows: A undertaking, however difficult it may be to do that which many of my readers will do better for themselves. His figure was large and well formed, and his countenance of the cast of an ancient statue; yet his appearance was rendered strange and somewhat uncouth by convulsive cramps, by the scars of that distemper which it was once imagined the royal touch could cure, and by a slovenly mode of dress. He had the use only of one eye; yet so much does mind govern and even supply the deficiency of organs, that his visual perceptions, as far as they extended, were uncommonly quick and accurate. So morbid was his temperament that he never knew the natural joy of a free and vigorous use of his limbs; when he walked, it was like the struggling gait of one in direction of his horse, but was carried as if in a fetters when he rode, he had no command or balloon. That with his constitution and habits of life he should have lived seventy-five years, is preservative of the human frame. a proof that an inherent vivida vis is a powerful Man is, in general, made up of contradictory qualities; and these will ever show themselves in strange succession where a consistency, in appearance at least, if not reality, has not been attained by long habits of philosophical discipline. In proportion to the native vigour of the mind, the contradictory qualities will be the more prominent, and more difficult to be adjusted; and, therefore, we are not to wonder that Johnson exhibited an eminent example of this remark different times he seemed a different man, in some which I have made upon human nature. respects; not, however, in any great or essential SAMVELI⚫IOHNSON GRAMMATICO ET CRITICO SCRIPTORVM ANGLICORVM LITTERATE PERITO HOMINI OPTIMO ET SINGVLARIS EXEMPLI On a scroll in his hand are the following words: ΕΝΜΑΚΑΡΕΣΣΙ ΠΟΝΩΝΑΝΥΞΑΙΟΣΙΕΗΑΜΟΙΒΗ On one side of the monument-FACIEBAT JOHANNES BACON SCVLPTOR, ANN. CHRIST. M.DCC.LXXXXV. The Subscription for this monument, which cost eleven hundred guineas, was begun by the LITERARY CLUB, and completed by the aid of Dr. Johnson's other friends and admirers.-MALONE. To prevent any misconception on this subject, Mr. Malone, by whom these lines were obligingly communicated, requests me to add the following remark: "In justice to the late Mr. Flood, now himself wanting, and highly meriting, an epitaph from his country, to which his transcendent talents did the highest honour, as well as the most important service; it should be observed, that these lines were by no means intended as a regular monumental inscription for Dr. Johnson. Had. he undertaken to write an appropriate and discriminative epitaph for that excellent and extraordinary man, those who knew Mr. Flood's vigour of mind, will have no At doubt that he would have produced one worthy of his illustrious subject. But the fact was merely this: In Dec. 1789, after a large subscription had been made for Dr. Johnson's monument, to which Mr. Flood liberally contributed, Mr. Malone happened to call on him at his house, in Berners-street, and the conversation turning on the proposed monument, Mr. Malone maintained that the epitaph, by whomsoever it should be written, ought to be in Latin. Mr. Flood thought differently. The next morning, in the postscript to a note on another subject, he mentioned that he continued of the same opinion as on the preceding day, and subjoined the lines given above.-BOSWELL. As I do not see any reason to give a different character of my illustrious friend now, from what I formerly gave, the greatest part of the sketch of him in my "Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides" here adopted. -BOSWELL. article, upon which he had fully employed his he had hope, he was of all men most miserable." mind, and settled certain principles of duty, but He loved praise, when it was brought to him; only in his manners, and in the display of argu- but was too proud to seek for it. He was somement and fancy in his talk. He was prone to what susceptible of flattery. As he was general superstition, but not to credulity. Though his and unconfined in his studies, he cannot be conimagination might incline him to a belief of the sidered as master of any one particular science; marvellous and the mysterious, his vigorous but he had accumulated a vast and various colreason examined the evidence with jealousy. He lection of learning and knowledge, which was so was a sincere and zealous Christian, of high arranged in his mind as to be ever in readiness Church of England and monarchical principles, to be brought forth. But his superiority over which he would not tamely suffer to be ques- other learned men consisted chiefly in what tioned; and had, perhaps, at an early period, may be called the art of thinking, the art of narrowed his mind somewhat too much, both as to using his mind-a certain continual power of religion and politics. His being impressed with seizing the useful substance of all that he knew, the danger of extreme latitude in either, though and exhibiting it in a clear and forcible manner; he was of a very independent spirit, occasioned so that knowledge, which we often see to be no his appearing somewhat unfavourable to the pre- better than lumber in men of dull understanding, valence of that noble freedom of sentiment which was in him true, evident, and actual wisdom. is the best possession of man. Nor can it be His moral precepts are practical; for they denied that he had many prejudices, which, how- are drawn from an intimate acquaintance with ever, frequently suggested many of his pointed human nature. His maxims carry conviction; sayings, that rather show a playfulness of fancy for they are founded on the basis of common than any settled malignity. He was steady and sense, and a very attentive and minute survey inflexible in maintaining the obligations of re- of real life. His mind was so full of imagery, ligion and morality; both from a regard for that he might have been perpetually a poet; yet the order of society, and from a veneration for it is remarkable, that however rich his prose is the Great Source of all order; correct, nay, stern in this respect, his poetical pieces, in general, in his taste; hard to please, and easily offended; have not much of that splendour, but are rather impetuous and irritable in his temper, but of a distinguished by strong sentiment, and acute most humane and benevolent heart,* which observation, conveyed in harmonious and enshowed itself not only in a most liberal charity, ergetic verse, particularly in heroic couplets. as far as his circumstances would allow, but in Though usually grave, and even awful in his a thousand instances of active benevolence. He deportment, he possessed uncommon and pecuwas afflicted with a bodily disease, which made liar powers of wit and humour; he frequently him often restless and fretful; and with a con- indulged himself in colloquial pleasantry; and stitutional melancholy, the clouds of which the heartiest merriment was often enjoyed in his darkened the brightness of his fancy, and gave company; with this great advantage, that it was a gloomy cast to his whole course of thinking; entirely free from any poisonous tincture of vice we, therefore, ought not to wonder at his sallies or impiety-it was salutary to those who shared of impatience and passion at any time, especially in it. He had accustomed himself to such acwhen provoked by obtrusive ignorance, or pre-curacy in his common conversation,* that he at suming petulance; and allowance must be made for his uttering hasty and satirical sallies even against his best friends. And, surely, when it is considered that "amidst sickness and sorrow he exerted his faculties in so many works for the benefit of mankind, and particularly that he achieved the great and admirable Dictionary of our language, we must be astonished at his resolution. The solemn text, "Of him to whom much is given, much will be required," seems to have been ever present to his mind, in a rigorous sense, and to have made him dissatisfied with his labours and acts of goodness, however comparatively great; so that the unavoidable consciousness of his superiority was, in that respect, a cause of disquiet. He suffered so much from this, and from the gloom which perpetually haunted him, and made solitude frightful, that it may be said of him, "If in this life only In the Olla Podrida, a collection of Essays published at Oxford, there is an admirable paper upon the character of Johnson, written by the Rev. Dr. Horne, the last excellent Bishop of Norwich. The following passage is eminently happy:-"To reject wisdom, because the person of him who communicates it is uncouth, and his manners are inelegant-what is it, but to throw away a pineapple, and assign for a reason the roughness of its coat ?" -BOSWELL. *Though a perfect resemblance of Johnson is not.to be found in any age, parts of his character are admirably expressed by Clarendon, in drawing that of Lord Falkland, whom the noble and masterly historian describes at his seat near Oxford:-"Such an immenseness of wit, by a most logical ratiocination. such a solidity of judgment, so infinite a fancy bound in His acquaintance was cultivated by the most polite and accurate men, so that his house was an university in less volume, whither they came, not so much for repose as study, and to examine and refine those grosser propositions, which laziness and consent made current in conversation." Bayle's account of Menage may also be quoted as exceedingly applicable to the great subject of this work: -"His illustrious friends erected a very glorious monuThose who judge of things aright will confess that this ment to him in the collection entitled Menagiana. collection is very proper to show the extent of genius and learning which was the character of Menage. And I will not distinguish him from other learned men so may be bold to say that the excellent works he published advantageously as this. To publish books of great learning, to make Greek and Latin verses exceedingly well turned, is not a common talent, I own; neither is it extremely rare. It is incomparably more difficult to find men who can furnish discourse about an infinite number of things, and who can diversify them a hundred ways. How many authors are there who are admired for their works, on account of the vast learning that is displayed in them, who are not able to sustain a conversation. Those who know Menage only by his books might think he resembled those learned men; but if you show the Menagiana, you distinguish him from them, and make all times expressed his thoughts with great force, and an elegant choice of language, the effect of which was aided by his having a loud voice, and a slow deliberate utterance. In him were united a most logical head with a most fertile imagination, which gave him an extraordinary advantage in arguing; for he could reason close him known by a talent which is given to very few learned men. There it appears that he was a man who spoke off-hand a thousand good things. His memory extended to what was ancient and modern; to the court and to the city; to the dead and to the living languages; to things serious and things jocose; in a word, to a thousand sorts of subjects. That which appeared a trifle to some readers of the Menagiana, who did not consider circumstances, caused admiration in other readers, who minded the difference between what a man speaks, without preparation, and that which he prepares for the press; and, therefore, we cannot sufficiently commend the care which his illustrious friends took to erect a monument so capable of giving him immortal glory; They were not obliged to rectify what they had heard him say; for, in so doing, they had not been faithful historians of his conversation."-BOSWELL. or wide, as he saw best for the moment. Exulting in his intellectual strength and dexterity, he could, when he pleased, be the greatest sophist that ever contended in the lists of declamation; and, from a spirit of contradiction and a delight in showing his powers, he would often maintain the wrong side with equal warmth and ingenuity; so that when there was an audience, his real opinions could seldom be gathered from his talk: though when he was in company with a single friend, he would discuss a subject with genuine fairness; but he was too conscientious to make error permanent and pernicious, by deliberately writing it; and in all his numerous works, he earnestly inculcated what appeared to him to be the truth; his piety being constant, and the ruling principle of all his conduct. Such was Samuel Johnson, a man whose talents, acquirements, and virtues, were so extraordinary, that the more his character is considered, the more he will be regarded by the present age, and by posterity, with admiration and reverence. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF DR. JOHNSON'S WORKS. The works to which an asterisk (*) is affixed are those of which Dr. Johnson acknowledged the authorship to his friends, while those marked by a dagger (†) are ascertained to be his by internal evidence. In this list, drawn up by the biographer, the poetical works are not included. These consist of a Latin translation of Pope's "Messiah," "London," and "The Vanity of Human Wishes," imitated from Juvenal; a Prologue on the Opening of Drury-lane Theatre by Mr. Garrick; and "Irene," a Tragedy, besides some minor pieces. Life of Admiral Drake.* FOR THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. A free translation of the Jests of Hierocles, with an introduction.+ Debate on the Humble Petition and Advice of the Rump Parliament to Cromwell in 1657, to assume the Title of King: abridged, methodised, and digested.f Translation of Abbé Guyon's Dissertation on the Amazons.t Translation of Fontenelle's Panegyric on Dr. Morin.t FOR THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. Preface.t Essay on the Account of the Conduct of the Duchess of Marlborough.* Essay on the Description of China, from 1753. the French of Du Halde.t 1743. Dedication to Dr. Mead of Dr. James's FOR THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, clusive.* A Letter, announcing that the Life of Mr. Advertisement for Osborne concerning the 1744. Life of Richard Savage.* Preface to the Harleian Miscellany.* FOR THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. 1745. Miscellaneous observations on the Tragedy 1747. Plan for a Dictionary of the English Language, addressed to Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield.* FOR THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. 1748. Life of Roscommon.* Foreign History, November.t FOR MR. DODSLEY'S PRECEPTOR. Preface.* Vision of Theodore the Hermit.* 1750. "The Rambler," the first Paper of which was published 20th of March this year, and the last 17th of March, 1752, the day on which Mrs. Johnson died.* (a) Letter in "The General Advertiser to excite the attention of the Public to the performance of "Comus," which was next day to be acted at Drury-lane Playhouse for the benefit of Milton's Granddaughter.* Preface and Postscript to Lauder's Pamphlet, entitled, "An Essay on Milton's Use and Imitation of the Moderns in his Paradise Lost,"* 1751. Life of Cheynel, in the Miscellany called "The Student."* Letter for Lauder, addressed to the Rev. Dr. John Douglas, acknowledging his Fraud concerning Milton, in terms of suitable Contrition.* Dedication to the Earl of Middlesex, of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox's "Female Quixote." + (a) This is a mistake. The last number of "The Rambler" appeared on the fourteenth of March, three days before Mrs. Johnson died.-MALONE. 1754. 1755. 1756. Dedication to John, Earl of Orrery, of Shakspeare Illustrated, by Mrs. Charlotte Lennox.* During this and the following year he wrote and gave to his much-loved friend Dr. Bathurst, the Papers in "The Adventurer," signed T.* Life of Edward Cave in "The Gentleman's Magazine."* A Dictionary, with a Grammar and History of the English Language.' An Account of an Attempt to ascertain the Longitude at Sea, by an exact Theory of the Variations of the Magnetical Needle, with a Table of the Variations at the most remarkable Cities in Europe, from the year 1660 to 1860.* This he wrote for Mr. Zachariah Williams, an ingenious ancient Welsh Gentleman, father of Mrs. Ann Williams, whom he for many years kindly lodged in his house. It was published with a Translation into Italian by Signor Baretti. In a Copy of it, which he presented to the Bodleian Li brary at Oxford, is pasted a character of the late Mr. Zachariah Williams, plainly written by Johnson.† An Abridgment of his Dictionary.* Several Essays in "The Universal Visitor," which there is some difficulty in ascertaining. All that are marked with two asterisks have been ascribed to him, although I am confident, from internal evidence, that we should except from these "The Life of Chaucer," "Reflections on the State of Portugal," and "An Essay on Architecture: and from the same evidence I am confident that he wrote "Further Thoughts on Agriculture," and "A Dissertation on the State of Literature and Authors." The Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope he afterwards acknowledged, and added to his "Idler." Life of Sir T. Browne, prefixed to a new edition of his Christian Morals.* IN THE LITERARY MAGAZINE, OR Which began in January, 1756, his Original The Preliminary Address. † An Introduction to the Political State of Remarks on the Militia Bill.† Memoirs of Frederick III. King of In the same Magazine his Reviews are of the following books:-"Birch's History of the Royal Society."-"Browne's Christian Morals."-"Warton's Essay on the Writings and Genius of Pope, vol. i." "Hampton's Translation of |