1754. learned and elegant writer beftowed on thofe compofitions which he intended for the publick eye, is Etat. 45• so happily expreffed in an easy style, that I should injure it by any alteration: "When Johnson came to Oxford in 1754, the long vacation was beginning, and most people were leaving the place. This was the first time of his being there, after quitting the University. The next morning after his arrival, he wished to fee his old College, Pembroke. I went with him. He was highly pleased to find all the College-fervants which he had left there ftill remaining, particularly a very old butler; and expreffed great fatisfaction at being recognised by them, and converfed with them familiarly. He waited on the master, Dr. Radcliffe, who received him very coldly. Johnfon at least expected, that the master would order a copy of his Dictionary, now near publication: but the mafter did not choose to talk on the subject, never asked Johnson to dine, nor even to visit him, while he stayed at Oxford. After we had left the lodgings, Johnfon faid to me, There lives a man, who lives by the revenues of literature, and will not move a finger to fupport it. If I come to live at Oxford, I fhall take up my abode at Trinity.' We then called on the Reverend Mr. Meeke, one of the fellows, and of Johnfon's ftanding. Here was a moft cordial greeting on both fides. On leaving him, Johnson faid, I used to think Meeke had excellent parts, when we were boys together at the College: but, alas! Loft in a convent's folitary gloom!" 244 1754. Atat. 45 I remember, at the claffical lecture in the Hall, I could not bear Meeke's fuperiority, and I tried to fit as far from him as I could, that I might not hear him conftrue." "As we were leaving the College, he faid, Here I tranflated Pope's Meffiah. Which do you think is the best line in it? My own favourite is, • Vallis aromaticas fundit Saronica nubes.' I told him, I thought it a very fonorous hexameter. I did not tell him, it was not in the Virgilian style. He much regretted that his first tutor was dead; for whom he seemed to retain the greatest regard. He said, I once had been a whole morning sliding in Chrift-Church Meadow, and miffed his lecture in logick. After dinner, he sent for me to his room. I expected a fharp rebuke for my idleness, and went with a beating heart. When we were feated, he told me he had fent for me to drink a glass of wine with him, and to tell me, he was not angry with me for miffing his lecture. This was, in fact, a most severe reprimand. Some more of the boys were then fent for, and we spent a very pleasant afternoon.' Befides Mr. Meeke, there was only one other Fellow of Pembroke now refident: from both of whom Johnson received the greatest civilities during this vifit, and they preffed him very much to have a room in the College. "In the course of this vifit (1754) Johnson and I walked, three or four times, to Ellsfield, a village beautifully fituated about three miles from Oxford, to see Mr. Wise, Radclivian librarian, 1754. with whom Johnfon was much pleafed. At this place, Mr. Wife had fitted up a house and gardens, tat. 45in a fingular manner, but with great tafte. Here was an excellent library; particularly, a valuable collection of books in Northern literature, with which Johnfon was often very busy. One day Mr. Wife read to us a differtation which he was preparing for the prefs, intitled, A History and Chronology of the fabulous Ages.' Some old divinities of Thrace, related to the Titans, and called the CABIRI, made a very important part of the theory of this piece; and in conversation afterwards, Mr. Wise talked much of his CABIRI. As we returned to Oxford in the evening, I out-walked Johnson, and he cried out Sufflamina, a Latin word which came from his mouth with peculiar grace, and was as much as to say, Put on your drag chain. Before we got home, I again walked too faft for him; and he now cried out, Why, you walk as if you were pursued by all the CABIRI in a body.' In an evening, we frequently took long walks from Oxford into the country, returning to fupper. Once, in our way home, we viewed the ruins of the abbies of Ofeney and Rewley, near Oxford. After at least half an hour's filence, Johnson faid, 'I viewed them with indignation!' We had then a long converfation on Gothick buildings; and in talking of the form of old halls, he faid, In these halls, the fire place was anciently always in the middle of the room, till the Whigs removed it on one fide.'-About this time there had been an execution of two or three criminals at Oxford on a Monday. Soon afterwards, one day at dinner, I 1754. Etat. 45. was faying that Mr. Swinton the chaplain of the gaol, and alfo a frequent preacher before the Univerfity, a learned man, but often thoughtless and abfent, preached the condemnation-fermon on repentance, before the convicts, on the preceding day, Sunday: and that in the clofe he told his audience, that he fhould give them the remainder of what he had to fay on the fubject, the next Lord's Day. Upon which, one of our company, a Doctor of Divinity, and a plain matter-of-factman, by way of offering an apology for Mr. Swinton, gravely remarked, that he had probably preached the fame fermon before the University: Yes, Sir, (fays Johnfon) but the University were not to be hanged the next morning.' "I forgot to observe before, that when he left Mr. Meeke, (as I have told above) he added, About the fame time of life, Meeke was left behind at Oxford to feed on a Fellowship, and I went to London to get my living: now, Sir, fee the difference of our literary characters!" The following letter was written by Dr. Johnson to Mr. Chambers, of Lincoln College, now Sir Robert Chambers, one of the Judges in India": To Mr. CHAMBERS of Lincoln College. "DEAR SIR, "THE commiffion which I delayed to trouble you with at your departure, I am now obliged to fend you; and beg that you will be fo 7 Communicated by the Reverend Mr. Thomas Warton, who had the original. kind as to carry it to Mr. Warton, of Trinity, to 1745. whom I should have written immediately, but that Etat. 45. I know not if he be yet come back to Oxford. "In the Catalogue of MSS. of Gr. Brit. fee vol. I. pag. 18. MSS. Bodl. MARTYRIUM XV. martyrum fub Juliano, auctore Theophylacto. "It is defired that Mr. Warton will inquire, and fend word, what will be the coft of tranfcribing this manufcript. "VOL. II. pag. 32. Num. 1022, 58. COLL. Nov.-Commentaria in Alta Apoftol.-Comment. in Septem Epiftolas Catholicas. He is defired to tell what is the age of each of these manuscripts: and what it will cost to have a tranfcript of the two firft pages of each. try if "If Mr. Warton be not in Oxford, you may you can get it done by any body elfe; or ftay till he comes, according to your own convenience. It is for an Italian literato. "The answer is to be directed to his Excellency Mr. Zon, Venetian Resident, Soho-square. "I hope, dear Sir, that you do not regret the change of London for Oxford. Mr. Baretti is well, and Miss Williams; and we shall all be glad to hear from you, whenever you shall be so kind as to write to, Sir, “ Nov. 21, 1754, "Your moft humble fervant, The "I prefume she was a relation of Mr. Zachariah Williams, who died in his eighty-third year, July 12, 1755. When Dr. Johnson was with me at Oxford, in 1755, he gave to the Bodleian Library a thin quarto of twenty-one pages, a work in Ita R4 lian |