The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., Volume 1Macmillan, 1922 |
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Page xii
... occasion no diminution of the pleasure which my book should afford ; though malignity may sometimes be disappointed of its gratifications . LONDON , April 20 , 1791 . I am , my dear Sir , Your much obliged friend , And faithful humble ...
... occasion no diminution of the pleasure which my book should afford ; though malignity may sometimes be disappointed of its gratifications . LONDON , April 20 , 1791 . I am , my dear Sir , Your much obliged friend , And faithful humble ...
Page xiv
... occasions I differed from him , and followed my own judgment . I regret exceedingly that I was deprived of the ... occasion from Oxford , November 17 , 1785 : - " Dear Sir , I hazard this letter , not knowing where it will find you ...
... occasions I differed from him , and followed my own judgment . I regret exceedingly that I was deprived of the ... occasion from Oxford , November 17 , 1785 : - " Dear Sir , I hazard this letter , not knowing where it will find you ...
Page 5
... occasion , have been received with so much approbation , that I have good grounds for supposing that the world will not be indifferent to more ample communications of a similar nature . That the conversation of a celebrated man , if his ...
... occasion , have been received with so much approbation , that I have good grounds for supposing that the world will not be indifferent to more ample communications of a similar nature . That the conversation of a celebrated man , if his ...
Page 7
... occasions of my detail of Johnson's conversation , and how happily it is adapted for the petty exercise of ridicule , by men of superficial ' Rambler , No. 60. B. understanding , and ludicrous fancy but I remain firm and THE DUTIES OF A ...
... occasions of my detail of Johnson's conversation , and how happily it is adapted for the petty exercise of ridicule , by men of superficial ' Rambler , No. 60. B. understanding , and ludicrous fancy but I remain firm and THE DUTIES OF A ...
Page 12
... occasion for any artificial aid for its preservation . In following so very eminent a man from his cradle to his grave , every minute particular , which can throw light on the progress of his mind , is interesting . That he was ...
... occasion for any artificial aid for its preservation . In following so very eminent a man from his cradle to his grave , every minute particular , which can throw light on the progress of his mind , is interesting . That he was ...
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acquaintance admiration afterwards appeared asked Baretti believe BENNET LANGTON Bishop bookseller BOSWELL character Colley Cibber consider conversation Croker DEAR SIR death Dictionary Dodsley edition eminent endeavour English Essay favour Francis Barber Garrick genius gentleman Gentleman's Magazine give Goldsmith happy Hebrides honour hope House of Stuart human humble servant JAMES BOSWELL Johnson kind King labour lady Langton language Latin learning letter Lichfield literary lived London Lord Chesterfield Lucy Porter mankind manner mentioned merit mind never obliged observed occasion opinion Oxford Pembroke College pleased pleasure poem poet praise published Rambler received recollect remarkable Reverend Samuel Johnson Savage Scotland Shakespeare shew Sir John Hawkins Sir Joshua Reynolds spirit suppose talk tell thing THOMAS WARTON thought Thrale tion told translation truth verses Warton wish write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 186 - Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? 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,3 till I am known, and do not want it.
Page 187 - Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favourer of learning, I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it, if less be possible, with less ; for I have been long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation. My Lord, your lordship's most humble, most obedient servant,
Page 186 - When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment...
Page 371 - Where Angels tremble while they gaze, He saw ; but blasted with excess of light. Closed his eyes in endless night. Behold, where Dryden's less presumptuous car, Wide o'er the fields of glory bear Two coursers of ethereal race, With necks in thunder clothed, and long-resounding pace.
Page 142 - 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 186 - ... Seven years, my Lord,' have now passed, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it at last to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before. " The Shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a...
Page 191 - Sir, he was a scoundrel, and a coward : a scoundrel for charging a blunderbuss against religion and morality ; a coward, because he had not resolution to fire it off himself, but left half a crown to a beggarly Scotchman to draw the trigger after his death...
Page 348 - 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 401 - Sir, they may talk of the King as they will; but he is the finest gentleman I have ever seen.
Page 505 - Richardson used to say, that had he not known who Fielding was, he should have believed he was an ostler. Sir, there is more knowledge of the heart in one letter of Richardson's, than in all