a less irrational fuperftition. Indeed, one of the great features of Johnson's character, was a degree of bigotry, both in politics and in religion, which is now seldom to be met with in perfons of a cultivated understanding. Few other men could have been found, in the present age, whose political bigotry would have led them to style the celebrated JOHN HAMPDEN" the "zealot of rebellion 198 ; and the religious bigotry of the man, who, when at Edinburgh, would not go to hear Dr. Robertson preach, because he would not be prefent at a Prefbyterian affembly, is not easily to be paralleled in this age, and in this country. His habitual incredulity with respect to facts, of which there was no reasonable ground for doubt, as stated by Mrs. Piozzi 109, and which was re 108 Life of Waller, p. I. 109 Anecdotes, p. 140. marked marked by Hogarth, was also a fingular trait in his character; and especially when contrafted with his fuperftitious credulity on other occafions. To the close of life, he was not only occupied in forming schemes of religious reformation, but even to a very late period of it, he seems to have been folicitous to apply himself to study with renewed diligence and vigour. It is remarkable, that, in his fixty-fourth year, he attempted to learn the Low Dutch language ""; and, in his fixty-feventh year, he made a refolution to apply himfelf" vigorously to study, particularly of. "the Greek and Italian tongues 112 99 The faults and the foibles of JOHNSON, whatever they were, are now defcended with him to the grave; but his virtues fhould be the object of our imitation. His Meditations, p. 123. 116 Ibid. p. 137. 112 Ibid. p. 145. works, works, with all their defects, are a most valuable and important acceffion to the literature of England. His political writings will probably be little read, on any other account than for the dignity and energy of his ftyle; but his Dictionary, his moral effays, and his productions in polite literature, will convey useful inftruction, and elegant entertainment, as long as the language in which they are written fhall be understood; and give him a just claim to a distinguished rank among the best and ablest writers that England has produced. די INDE X TO THE THREE VOLUMES. À. DDISON, JOSEPH, remarks on Johnfon's Life of him, vol. III. p. 390, 391, 392. obfervations relative to the quarrel between him and Pope, 395, 398. Allybone, Judge, the infamous doctrine, concerning libels, laid down by him in the reign of James the Second, II. 71, 72, 73. American colonies, Dr. Johnson's obfervations concerning the claims of the British government respecting them, I. 192—196. American war, remarks relative to it, and to its ter mination, I. 194, 195, 196. II. 109. III. 233, 234. Articles of the Church of England, obfervations concerning them, II. 276–314. Afaph, Dean of, account of the prosecution against him, II. 128-136. VOL. III. E e Affo |