"A Companion to the Guide, and a Guide to the Companion; being a complete Supplement to all the Accounts of Oxford hitherto published." The lapse of time, and the new reign, had now entirely restored to Oxford its ancient virtue of loyalty; and Warton, who had lamented the death of George II. in a copy of verses addressed to Mr. Pitt, continued the courtly strain, though with due dignity, in lines on the marriage of George III. and on the birth of the Prince of Wales, printed in the university collection. Still ranking equally with the wits and with the poets of Isis, he edited in 1764 the "Oxford Sausage," of several pieces in which lively miscellany he was the writer. In 1766 he again appeared as a classical editor by superintending the Anthology of Cephalus, printed at the Clarendon-press, to which he perfixed a learned and ingenious preface. He took the degree of B. D. in 1761, and in 1771 was instituted to the small living of Kiddington in Oxfordshire, on the presentation of the Earl of Litchfield, then chancellor of the university. An edition of Theocritus in 2 vols. 4to. which was published in 1770, gave him celebrity not only at home, but among the scholars of the continent.

younger brother of Dr. Joseph Warton, and was born at Basingstoke in 1728. He very early manifested a taste for verse; and there is extant a well-turned translation of an epigram of Martial composed by him in his ninth year. He was educated under his father, who kept a school at Basingstoke, till he was admitted in 1743 a commoner of Trinity College, Oxford. Here he exercised his poletical talent to so much advantage, that on the appearance of Mason's Elegy of "Isis," which severely reflected on the disloyalty of Oxford at that period, he was encouraged by Dr. Huddesford, president of his college, to vindicate the cause of the university. This task he performed with great applause, by writing, in his 21st year, "The Triumph of Isis;" a piece of much spirit and fancy, in which he retaliated upon the bard of Cam by satirising the courtly venality then supposed to distinguished the loyal university, and sung in no common strains the past and present glories of Oxford. This on his part was fair warfare, though as a peace-offering he afterwards excluded the poem from his volume of collected pieces. His "Progress of Discontent," published in 1750, in a miscellany entitled "The Student," exhibited to great advantage his power in the familiar style, and A History of English Poetry is said to have his talent for humour, with a knowledge of life been meditated by Pope, who was but indifferextraordinary at his early age, especially if com-ently qualified by learning, whatever he might posed as is said, for a college-exercise in 1746. In have been by taste, for such an undertaking. 1750 he took the degree of M. A., and in the fol- Gray, who possessed every requisite for the work, lowing year became a Fellow of his college. He except industry, entertained a distant idea of enappears now to have unalterably devoted him-gaging in it, with the assistance of Mason; but self to the pursuit of poetry and elegant literature he shrunk from the magnitude of the task, and in a university-residence. His spirited satire, readily relinquished his project, when he heard entitled "Newmarket," and pointed against the that a similar design was adopted by Warton. ruinous passion for the turf; his "Ode for Mu- At what period he first occupied himself in this sic;" and "Verses on the Death of the Prince of extensive plan of writing and research, we are Wales;" were written about this time; and in not informed; but in 1774 he had proceeded so 1753 he was the editor of a small collection of far as to publish the first volume in quarto; and poems, which, under the title of "The Union," he pursued an object now apparently become the was printed at Edinburgh, and contained several great mark of his studies, with so much assiduity, of his own pieces. In 1754 he made himself that he brought out a second volume in 1778, and known as a critic and a diligent student of poeti- a third in 1781. He now relaxed in his labours, cal antiquities, by his observations on Spenser's and never executed more than a few sheets of a Fairy Queen, in one volume, afterwards enlarg- fourth volume. The work had grown upon his ed to two volumes; a work well received by the hands, and had greatly exceeded his first estipublic, and which made a considerable addition mate; so that the completion of the design, to his literary reputation. These various proofs which was to have terminated only with the of his abilities caused him very properly to be commencement of the eighteenth century, was elected in 1757 professor of poetry to the univer- still very remote, supposing a due proportion to sity, an office which he held for the usual period have been preserved throughout. Warton's of ten years, and rendered respectable by the "History of English Poetry” is regarded as his erudition and taste displayed in his lectures. Dr. opus magnum; and is indeed an ample monument Johnson was at this time publishing his "Idler," of his reading, as well as of his taste and critical and Warton who had long been intimately ac- judgment. The majority of its readers, however, quainted with him, contributed the three papers will probably be of opinion that he has dwelt too we have mentioned to that work. He gave a minutely upon those early periods in which poespecimen of his classical proficiency in 1758 by try can scarcely be said to have existed in this the publication "Inscriptionum Romanarum country, and has been too profuse of transcripts Metricarum Delectus," a collection of select Latin from pieces destitute of all merit but their age. epigrams and inscriptions, to which were annex- Considered, however, as literary antiquarianism, ed a few modern ones, on the antique model, five the work is very interesting; and though inaccu of them by himself. He drew up in 1760, for theracies have been detected, it cannot be denied to Biographica Britannica, the life of Sir Thomas abound with curious information. His brother Pope, which he published separately, much gave some expectation of carrying on the history enlarged, in 1772 and 1780. Another contribution to literary biography was his "Life and Literary Remains of Dr. Bathurst," published in 1761. A piece of local humour, which was read at the time with great avidity, dropped from his pen in 1760 with the title,

B

to the completion of the fourth volume, but seems to have done little or nothing towards fulfilling it. As a proof that Warton began to be weary of his task, it appears that about 1781 he had turned his thoughts to another laborious undertaking, which was a county-history of Ox

fordshire; and in 1782 he published as a speci- mind by curious and elegant literature, his various men a topographical account of his parish of Kid-productions abundantly testify; yet he appears dington. In the same year he entered into the to have wanted the resolution and steady induscelebrated Chattertonian controversy, and pub-try necessary for the completion of a great lished An Inquiry into the Authenticity of the design; and some remarkable instances of inacPoems ascribed to Rowley, which he decidedly curacy or forgetfulness prove that his exertions pronounced to be the fabrication of their pre-were rather desultory than regular. This dispotended editor. His income was augmented in sition was less injurious to him in his poetica! this year by presentation to a donative in Somer-capacity than in any other, whence he will proba setshire; and as he was free both from ambition bly live longest in fame as a poet. Scarcely any and avarice, he seems to have looked no farther one of that tribe has noted with finer observation for ecclesiastical promotion. In 1785 the place the minute circumstances in rural nature that of Camden-professor of history at Oxford, vacant afford pleasure in description, or has derived from by the resignation of the present Sir W. Scott, the regions of fiction more animated and pictu was conferred upon him. He attended to his resque scenery. His pieces are very various in duties so far as to deliver a learned and ingenious subject, and none of them long. He can only inaugural lecture, but that was the limit of his rank among the minor poets; but perhaps few professional exertions. Another office at this volumes in that class will more frequently be time demanded new efforts. At his Majesty's taken up for real amusement. Several editions express desire the post of Poet-laureat, vacated by of his poems were called for in his life-time, and the death of Whitehead, was offered to him; since his death an edition of his works has been and, in accepting it, he laudably resolved to use given by Mr. Mant, in 2 vols. octavo, 1802, with his best endeavours for rendering it respectable. a biographical account of the author prefixed. He varied the monotony of anniversary court When Mr. Warton wrote his three papers compliment by retrospective views of the splen- in the Idler, he lived in habits of intimacy and did period of English history and the glories of correspondence with Dr. Johnson; he was likechivalry, and by other topics adapted to poetical wise a member of the Literary Club, and made description, though little connected with the pro-occasional journeys to London, to attend that, and per theme of the day; and though his lyric strains to enjoy the pleasures of Sir Joshua Reynolds' underwent some ridicule on that account, they company, of whom some notice is now to be in general enhanced the literary valuation of taken as writer of the Essays Nos. 76, 79, and 82, laureat odes. His concluding publication was in this work. an edition of the juvenile poems of Milton, in Sir Joshua Reynolds was the son of a clergywhich it was his purpose to explain his allusions, man at Plympton, in Devonshire, and born there point out his imitations, illustrate his beauties, in 1723. Being intended for the church, he and elucidate his obsolete diction and peculiar received a suitable education under his father, phraseology. This was a task of no great effort and then removed to Oxford, where he took his to one qualified like Warton; and engaging in it, degrees in arts; but having a great taste for drawrather than in the completion of his elaborate ing, he resolved to make painting his profession, plans, seems to prove that the indolence of ad- and accordingly was placed under Hudson the vancing years and a collegiate life was gaining portrait painter. About 1749 he went to Italy, upon him. Of this work the first edition appear-in company with the honourable Mr. Keppel, his ed in 1785, and the second in 1791, a short time early friend and patron. After studying the before his death. He had intended to include works of the most illustrious masters two years, in his plan a similar edition of the Paradise Re- Mr. Reynolds returned to London, where he gained, and the Samson Agonistes, of the great found no encouragement given to any other author, of whom, notwithstanding religious and branch of the art than to portrait painting. He political differences, he was a warm admirer; was of course under the necessity of complying and he left notes on both these pieces. But his with the prevailing taste, and in that walk soon constitution now began to give way, though the became unrivalled. The first picture by which period of old age was yet distant. In his 62d he distinguished himself, after his return, was the year an attack of the gout shattered his frame, portrait of Mr. Keppel. He did not, however, and was succeeded, in May 1790, by a paralytic confine himself to portraits, but painted several seizure, which carried him off at his lodgings in historical pictures of high and acknowledged Oxford. His remains were interred, with every merit. When the royal academy was instituted academical honour, in the chapel of Trinity Col- he was appointed president, which station he lege. held with honour to himself and advantage to the The character of Thomas Warton was mark-arts till 1791, and then resigned it. He was ed by some of those peculiarities which common- also appointed principal painter to the king, and ly fix upon a man the appellation of an humorist; knighted. His literary merits, and other acand a variety of stories current among the col-complishments, procured him the friendship of legians show that he was more intent upon grati- the most distinguished men of genius in his time, fying his own habitual tastes, than regardful of particularly Johnson, Burke, Goldsmith, and the usual modes and decorums of society. But Garrick: and Sir Joshua had the honour of instihe was substantially good-humoured, friendly, tuting the literary club, of which they were memand placid; and if his dislike of form and re-bers. He was likewise a member of the royal straint sometimes made him prefer the company of inferiors to that of equals, the choice was probably in some measure connected with that love of nature, and spirit of independence, which may be discerned in his writings. That he employed a large portion of his time in the cultivation of his

society, and of that of antiquaries; and was created doctor of laws by the universities of Oxford and Dublin. Sir Joshua's academical discourses display the soundest judgment, the most refined taste, and a perfect acquaintance with the works of different masters; and are written in a

HISTORICAL PREFACE TO THE RAMBLER.

clear and elegant style. He died in 1792, and lies buried in St. Paul's cathedral. Having no children, he bequeathed the principal part of his property to his niece, since married to the Earl of Inchiquin, now Marquis of Thomond.

We shall conclude our sketch of the life of this illustrious artist, by quoting his opinion of Dr. Johnson, which is equally honourable to himself and his friend. Speaking of his own discourses, our great artist says, "Whatever merit they have must be imputed, in a great measure, to the education which I may be said to have had under Dr. Johnson. I do not mean to say, though it certainly would be to the credit of these discourses if I could say it with truth, that he contributed even a single sentiment to them; but he qualified my mind to think justly. No man had, like him, the faculty of teaching inferior minds the art of thinking. Perhaps other men might have equal knowledge, but few were so communicative. His great pleasure was to talk to those who looked up to him. It was here he exhibited his wonderful powers. In mixed company, and frequently in company that ought to

xi

have looked up to him, many, thinking they had
a character for learning to support, considered it
as beneath them to enlist in the train of his au-
ditors; and to such persons he certainly did not
appear to advantage, being often impetuous and
over-bearing. The desire of shining in conversa-
tion was in him indeed a predominant passion;
and if it must be attributed to vanity, let it at the
same time be recollected, that it produced that
loquaciousness from which his more intimate
friends derived considerable advantage. The
observations which he made on poetry, on life,
and on every thing about us, I applied to our art,
with what success others must judge."
No. 67 was written by another intimate and
affectionate friend of Dr. Johnson's, Bennet
Langton, Esq. of Langton in Lincolnshire. His
acquaintance with Dr. Johnson commenced soon
after the conclusion of the Rambler, which Mr.
Langton, then a youth, had read with so much
admiration that Mr. Boswell says he came to
London chiefly with a view of being introduced
to its author. Mr. Langton died December the
18th, 1801.

HISTORICAL PREFACE TO THE RAMBLER.

THE long space which intervened between the GUARDIAN and the RAMBLER, from 1713 to 1750, was filled up by many attempts of the periodical kind, but scarcely any of these had a reformation of manners and morals for their object. A few valuable papers on general and useful topics appeared, but so incumbered with angry political contests, as to be soon forgotten. Dr. Johnson was the first to restore the periodical essay to its original purpose, and it will appear soon that there is none of his works on which he set a higher value than on his RAMBLER. He seems to have thought, that it would constitute his principal fame, and the learned world appear to have been of the same opinion.

Its commencement was à matter of great importance with him; and he was so desirous to benefit the age by this production, that he began to write with the solemnity of preparatory prayer. In the volume of his Devotions, published soon after his death, we find the following, entitled "Prayer on the RAMBLER."

"Almighty God, the giver of all good things, without whose help all labour is ineffectual, and without whose grace all wisdom is folly; grant, I beseech thee, that in this my undertaking, thy HOLY SPIRIT may not be withheld from me, but that I may promote thy glory, and the salvation both of myself and others: grant this, O Lord, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, Amen."

The first paper was published on Tuesday, March 20, 1750, and the work continued without the least interruption, every Tuesday and Sa

turday, until Saturday, March 14, 1752, on which day it closed.

The sale was very inconsiderable, and seldom exceeded five hundred copies: and it is very remarkable that the only paper which had a prosperous sale (No. 97) was one of the very few which Dr. Johnson did not write. It was written by Richardson, author of Clarissa, Pamela, and Sir Charles Grandison. Modern taste will not allow it a very high place, but its style was at that time better adapted to the readers of the RAMBLER than that of Dr. Johnson.—It may here be noticed, that the assistance our author received from correspondents amounted to a very small proportion. The four billets in No. 10, were written by Miss Mulso, afterwards Mrs. Chapone; No. 30, was written by Miss Talbot, and Nos. 44, and 100, by the learned and celebrated Mrs. Carter.

Of the characters described in the RAMBLER, some were not altogether fictitious, yet they were not exact portraits. The author employed some adventitious circumstances to produce effect. Prospero, in No. 200, was intended for the celebrated actor Garrick. By Gelidus in No. 24, the author is said to have meant Mr. Coulson, a mathematician, who formerly lived at Rochester. The man “immortalized for purring like a cat," was one Busby, a proctor in the Commons. He who barked so ingeniously, and then called the drawer to drive away the dog, was father to Dr. Saltar of the Charterhouse." He who sung a song, and by correspondent motions

HISTORICAL, PREFACE TO THE RAMBLER.

of his arm chalked out a giant on the wall, was
one Richardson, an attorney. Polyphilus, in No.
19, is said to have been drawn from the various
studies of Floyer Sydenhem, but no produce of
his studies is known except his translations.
It has been remarked by the editor of the
"British Essayists" that the RAMBLER made its
way very slowly into the world. This may be
true, if spoken of its appearance in numbers.
The style was new; it appeared harsh, involved,
and perplexed; it required more than a transitory
inspection to be understood; but this repulsive
appearance was soon overcome: and few works
have been more successful, when reprinted
in volumes. It was admired by scholars, and
recommended by the friends of religion and lite-
rature, as a book by which a man might be taught
to think: and the author lived to see ten large
editions printed in England, besides those which
were clandestinely printed in other parts of Great
Britain, in Ireland, and in America. For some
years past the demand for it has been greater
than for any of the "British Essayists;" its in-
fluence on the literature of the age has been great.
Dr. Johnson is certainly not to be imitated with
perfect success, yet the attempt to imitate him,
where it has neither been servile or artificial, has
elevated the style of every species of literary com-
position. "In every thing we perceive more
vigour, more spirit, more elegance. He not only
began a revolution in our language, but lived till
it was almost completed."

words we shall borrow on the present occasion.

After noticing the mistakes Mr. Boswell had fallen into, on the subject of the perfection of the RAMBLERS at their first appearance, the editor of the "Essayists" says, Is it not surprising that this friend and companion of our illustrious author, who has obliged the public with the most perfect delineation ever exhibited of any human being, and who declared so often that he was determined

To lose no drop of that immortal man'.

that one so inquisitive after the most trifling circumstance connected with Dr. Johnson's character or history, should have never heard or discovered that Dr. Johnson almost re-wrote the RAMBLER after the first folio edition. Yet the alterations made by him in the second and third editions of the RAMBLER far exceed six thousand; a number which may justify the use of the word re-wrote, although it must not be taken in its literal acceptation. A comparison of the first edition with the fourth or any subsequent edition will show the curious examiner in what these alterations consist. In the mean time we may apply to the author what he says of Pope-'He laboured his works, first to gain reputation, and afterwards to keep it.' He was not content to satisfy; he desired to excel, and therefore always endeavoured to do his best: he did not court It has already been said that Dr. Johnson set a the candour, but dared the judgment of his readhigh value on the RAMBLER, and it may now beers; and expecting no indulgence from others, added that he bestowed a labour upon it, with he showed none himself. He examined lines which he never favoured any other of his works. and words with minute and punctilious obserThis circumstance, which escaped the researches vation, and retouched every part with indefatiof all his biographers, was lately discovered by gable diligence till he had left nothing to be the editor of the "British Essayists," whose forgiven."

THE RAMBLER.

In love, the state which fills the heart with a degree of solicitude next that of an author, it has been held a maxim, that success is most easily obtained by indirect and unperceived approaches, he who too soon professes himself a lover, raises But this solemn repetition is hitherto the pe- obstacles to his own wishes, and those whom culiar distinction of heroic poetry; it has never disappointments have taught experience, endeabeen legally extended to the lower orders of lite-vour to conceal their passion till they believe rature, but seems to be considered as an hereditary privilege, to be enjoyed only by those who claim it from their alliance to the genius of Ho