lation to those whose studies lead them to trace the affinity of languages, and the migrations of the ancient races of mankind." "TO DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON. "MY DEAR SIR, Our worthy friend Thrale's death having appeared in the newspapers, and been afterwards contradicted, I have been placed in a state of very uneasy uncertainty, from which I hoped to be relieved by you: but my hopes have as yet been vain. How could you omit to write to me on such an occasion? I shall wait with anxiety, "I am going to Auchinleck to stay a fortnight with my father. It is better not to be there very long at one time. But frequent renewals of attention are agreeable to him. "Pray tell me about this edition of "The English Poets, with a preface, biographical and critical, to each author, by Samuel Johnson, LL.D.' which I see advertised. I am delighted with the prospect of it. Indeed I am happy to feel that I am capable of being so much delighted with literature. But is not the charm of this publication chiefly owing to the magnum nomen in the front of it? "What do you say of Lord Chesterfield's Memoirs and Last Letters? you. My wife has made marmalade of oranges for I left her and my daughters and Alexander all well yesterday. I have taught Veronica to speak of you thus:- Dr. Johnson, not John ston. "I remain, my dear Sir, 66 "Your most affectionate "And obliged humble servant, TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. "DEAR SIR, May 3, 1777"The story of Mr. Thrale's death, as he had neither been sick nor in any other danger, made so little impression upon me, that I never thought about obviating its effects on anybody else. It is supposed to have been produced by the English custom.of making April fools; that is, of sending one another on some foolish errand on the 1st of April. "Tell Mrs. Boswell that I shall taste her marmalade cautiously at first. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. Beware,' says the Italian proverb, of a reconciled enemy.' But when I find it does me no harm, I shall then receive it, and be thankful for it, as a pledge of firm, and, I hope, of unalterable kindness. She is, after all, a dear, dear lady. "Please to return Dr. Blair thanks for his The Scotch write English wonderfully sermons. well. for this summer nothing better in prospect than a journey into Staffordshire and Derbyshire, perhaps with Oxford and Birmingham in my way. 'Make my compliments to Miss Veronica; I must leave it to her philosophy to comfort you for the loss of little David. You must remember, that to keep three out of four is more than your share. Mrs. Thrale has but four out of eleven. "I am engaged to write little Lives, and little Prefaces, to a little edition of The English Poets.' I think I have persuaded the booksellers to insert something of Thomson; and if you could give me some information about him, for the life which we have is very scanty, I should be glad. "I am, dear Sir, "Your most affectionate humble servant, CHAPTER XXXII.-1777. To those who delight in tracing the progress of works of literature, it will be an entertainment to compare the limited design with the ample execution of that admirable performance, "The Lives of the English Poets," which is the richest, most beautiful, and indeed most perfect, production of Johnson's pen. His notion of it at this time appears in the preceding letter. He has a memorandum in this year-29 May, Easter-eve, I treated with booksellers on a bargain, but the time was not long."* The bargain was concerning that undertaking; but his tender conscience seems alarmed, lest. it should have intruded too much on his devout preparation for the solemnity of the ensuing day. But, indeed, very little time was necessary for Johnson's concluding a treaty with the booksellers; as he had, believe, less attention to profit from his labours than any man to whom literature has been a profession. I shall here insert (from a letter to me from my late worthy friend, Mr. Edward Dilly, though of a later date), an account of, this plan so happily conceived; since it was the occasion of procuring for us an elegant collection of the best biography and criticism of which our language can boast. "MR. E. DILLY TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. "DEAR SIR, Southill, Sept. 26th, 1777: I "You will find, by this letter, that I am still in the same calm retreat, from the noise and bustle of London, as when I wrote to you last. am happy to find you had such an agreeable meeting with your old friend, Dr. Johnson; I have no doubt your stock is much increased by the interview; few men, nay, I may say, scarcely any man, has got that fund of knowledge and entertainment as Dr. Johnson in conversation. what he says, and cannot fail of improvement as When he opens freely, every one is attentive to well as pleasure. do honour to the English press; and a concise "The Edition of the Poets, now printing, will • "Prayers and Meditations, p. 155.-BOSWELL DR. JOHNSON TO CHARLES O'CONNOR, account of the life of each author, by Dr. John-he trod with a peculiar delight, having long been son, will be a very valuable addition, and stamp intimately acquainted with all the circumstances the reputation of this edition superior to any thing of it that could interest and please. that is gone before. The first cause that gave rise to this undertaking, I believe, was owing to the little trifling edition of the Poets, printing by the Martins at Edinburgh, and to be sold by Bell in London. Upon examining the volumes which were printed, the type was found so extremely small, that many persons could not read them. Not only this inconvenience attended it, but the inaccuracy of the press was very conspicuous. These reasons, as well as the idea of an invasion of what we call our Literary Property, induced the London booksellers to print an elegant and accurate edition of all the English poets of reputation, from Chaucer to the present time. 'SIR, May 19th, 1777: 'Having had the pleasure of conversing with Dr. Campbell about your character and your literary undertaking, I am resolved to gratify myself by renewing a correspondence which began and ended a great while ago, and ended, I am afraid, by my fault; a fault which, if you have not forgotten it, you must now forgive. leave to tell you, that you have likewise dis"If I have ever disappointed you, give me appointed me. I expected great discoveries in Irish antiquity, and large publications in the Accordingly, a select number of the most Irish language; but the world still remains as it respectable booksellers met on the occasion; and, was, doubtful and ignorant. What the Irish on consulting together, agreed, that all the pro-language is in itself, and to what languages it has prietors of copyright in the various poets should be affinity, are very interesting questions, which every summoned together; and, when their opinions were man wishes to see resolved that has any philogiven, to proceed immediately on the business. Accordingly a meeting was held, consisting of logical or historical curiosity. Dr. Leland + begins about forty of the most respectable booksellers of exact inquiry are those times (for such they were) his history too late the ages which deserve an London, when it was agreed that an elegant and when Ireland was the school of the west, the uniform edition of 'The English Poets' should be quiet habitation of sanctity and literature. If you immediately printed, with a concise account of could give a history, though imperfect, of the the life of each author, by Dr. Samuel Johnson; Irish nation, from its conversion to Christianity and that three persons should be deputed to wait to the invasion from England, you would amplify upon Dr. Johnson, to solicit him to undertake the knowledge with new views and new objects. Set Lives, viz., T. Davies, Strahan, and Cadell. about it, therefore, if you can: do what you can The Doctor very politely undertook it, and Lay the seemed exceedingly pleased with the proposal. easily do without anxious exactness. As to the terms, it was left entirely to the Doctor foundation, and leave the superstructure to posterity. "I am, Sir, your humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." to name his own; he mentioned two hundred guineas; it was immediately agreed to; and a farther compliment, I believe, will be made him. A committee was likewise appointed to engage the best engravers, viz., Bartolozzi, Sherwin, Hall, &c. Likewise another committee for giving directions about the paper, printing, &c., so that the whole will be conducted with spirit, and in the best manner, with respect to authorship, editorship, engravings, &c. My brother will give you a list of the Poets we mean to give, many of which are within the time of the Act of Queen Anne, which Martin and Bell cannot give, as they have no property in them; the proprietors are almost all the booksellers in London, of consequence. am, "I dear Sir, ever yours, I shall afterwards have occasion to consider the extensive and varied range which Johnson took, when he was once led upon ground which * Johnson's moderation in demanding so small a sum is extraordinary Had he asked one thousand, or even fifteen hundred, guineas, the booksellers, who knew the value of his name, would, doubtless, have readily given it. They have, probably, got five thousand guineas by this work in the course of twenty-five years.-MALONE. Francis Bartolozzi was born at Florence, in 1728, and came to England in 1764, when he was admitted a Member of the Royal Academy, and received extensive patronage as an engraver and artist. He was the father of the distinguished actress, Madame Vestris. He went to isbon in 1802, and there died in 1815.-ED Early in this year came out, in two volumes quarto, the posthumous works of the learned Dr. Zachary Pearce, Bishop of Rochester; being, gelists and the Acts of the Apostles," with other "A Commentary, with Notes, on the Four Evantheological pieces. Johnson had now an oppor who obligingly communicated to me this and a former Mr. Joseph Cooper Walker, of the Treasury, Dublin, letter from Dr. Johnson to the same gentleman (for which see vol. 1. chap. ix.), writes to me as follows:"Perhaps it would gratify you to have some account of Mr. O'Connor. He is an amiable, learned, venerable old gentleman, of an independent fortune, who lives at Bela nagar, in the county of Roscommon; he is an admired writer, and Member of the Irish Academy."-The above letter is alluded to in the Preface of the 2d edit. of his "Dissert." p. 3. Mr. O'Connor afterwards died at the age of eighty-two, July 1, 1791. See a well-drawn charac ter of him in "The Gentleman's Magazine" for August, 1791.-BOSWELL Dr. Thomas Leland was a divine and miscellaneous writer, and the author of a "History of Ireland," in 3 vols. 8vo. He was born and educated in Dublin in 1722, and appointed to the vicarage of Bray in 1768. He died in 1785.-ED. Bishop Pearce was the son of a distiller in High Holborn, and educated at Westminster School. He became successively the Vicar of St. Martin's-in-theFields, Dean of Winchester, Bishop of Bangor, and, in 1756, the Bishop of Rochester. His principal works were critical and erudite editions of Longinus and Cicero. He left, among numerous charitable bequests, 5000l. to the College for Clergymen's Widows, at Bromptor. He was born in 1690, and died in 1774.-ED. tunity of making a grateful return to that excellent prelate, who, we have seen, was the only person who gave him any assistance in the compilation of his Dictionary. The Bishop had left some account of his life and character, written by himself. To this Johnson made some valuable additions, and furnished to the editor, the Reverend Mr. Derby, a Dedication, which I shall here insert, both because it will appear at this time with peculiar propriety, and because it will tend to propagate and increase that "fervour of loyalty," which in me, who boast of the name of TORY, is not only a principle but a passion. "I presume to lay before your Majesty the last labours of a learned Bishop who died in the toils and duties of his calling. He is now beyond the reach of all earthly honours and rewards; and only the hope of inciting others to imitate him, makes it now fit to be remembered that he enjoyed in his life the favour of your Majesty. "The tumultuary life of Princes seldom permits them to survey the wide extent of national interest without losing sight of private merit; to exhibit qualities which may be imitated by the highest and the humblest of mankind; and to be at once amiable and great. "Such characters, if now and then they appear in history, are contemplated with admiration. May it be the ambition of all your subjects to make haste with their tribute of reverence; and as posterity may learn from your Majesty how kings should live, may they learn likewise from your people how they should be honoured. I am, may it please your Majesty, "With the most profound respect, In the summer he wrote a Prologue, which was spoken before "A Word to the Wise," a comedy by Mr. Hugh Kelly,† which had been brought upon the stage in 1770; but he being a writer for the ministry in one of the newspapers, it fell a sacrifice to popular fury, and, in the playhouse phrase, was damned. By the generosity of Mr. Harris, the proprietor of Covent-garden Theatre, it was now exhibited for one night, for the benefit of the author's widow and children. To conciliate the favour of the audience, was the intention of Johnson's Prologue, which, as it is not long, I shall here insert, as a proof that his poetical talents were in no degree impaired. "This night presents a play, which public rage, Or right or wrong, once hooted from the stage: * Mr. Derby was Rector of Southfleet and Longfield, in Kent. He died in 1778.-GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Hugh Kelly was not only the author of various dramatic pieces, but he was also a poet, a novelist, and an essayist. His "Thespis," a poem in the manner of Churchill's "Rosciad," and his "Louisa Mildmay," a novel, are familiar to most readers. He was born in 1739, near the Lakes of Killarney, and originally apprenticed to a staymaker. He died in 1777.-E1), To wit, reviving from its author's dust, When pleasure fired her torch at virtue's flame, And mirth was bounty with an humbler name." A circumstance which could not fail to be very pleasing to Johnson, occurred this year. The tragedy of "Sir Thomas Overbury," written by his early companion in London, Richard Savage,* was brought up with alterations, at Drury-lane Theatre. The Prologue to it was written by Mr. Richard Brinsley Sheridan; in which, after describing very pathetically the wretchedness of "Ill-fated Savage, whose birth was given No parent but the Muse, no friend but Heav'n:" he introduced an elegant compliment to Johnson on his Dictionary, that wonderful performance which cannot be too often or too highly praised; of which Mr. Harris, in his "Philological Inquiries," † justly and liberally observes, Such is its merit, that our language does not possess a more copious, learned, and valuable work." concluding lines of this Prologue were these :— "So pleads the tale that gives to future times The The son's misfortunes and the parent's crimes; Mr. Sheridan here at once did honour to his taste and to his liberality of sentiment, by showing that he was not prejudiced from the unlucky dif ference which had taken place between his worthy father and Dr. Johnson. I have already mentioned, that Johnson was very desirous of reconciliation with old Mr. Sheridan. It will, therefore, not seem at all surprising that he was zealous in acknowledging the brilliant merit of his son. While it had as yet been displayed only in the drama, Johnson proposed him as a member of THE LITERARY CLUB, observing, that "he who has written the two best comedies of his age is surely a considerable man." And he had, accordingly, the honour to be elected; for an honour it undoubtedly must be allowed to be, when it is considered of whom that society consists, and that a single black-ball excludes a candidate. MR. BOSWELL TO DR. JOHNSON. "MY DEAR SIR, July 9, 1777. "For the health of my wife and children, I This tragedy first appeared in 1723, and the profits thence arising amounted to 200%. It was the means of bringing Savage into public notice.-ED. Part i. chap. iv.-Mr. James Harris was born at Salis. bury, in 1709; in 1774 he was made Secretary and Comp. troller to the Queen. His writings display considerable ingenuity and philological erudition. He died in 1780. ED. U have taken the little country-house at which you visited my uncle, Dr. Boswell, who, having lost his wife, is gone to live with his son. We took possession of our villa about a week ago; we have a garden of three quarters of an acre, wellstocked with fruit-trees and flowers, and gooseberries and currants, and peas and beans, and cabbages, &c. &c., and my children are quite happy. I now write to you in a little study, from the window of which I see around me a verdant grove, and beyond it the lofty mountain called Arthur's Seat. "Your last letter, in which you desire me to send you some additional information concerning Thomson, reached me very fortunately just as I was going to Lanark, to put my wife's two nephews, the young Campbells, to school there, under the care of Mr. Thomson, the master of it, whose wife is sister to the author of 'The Seasons." She is an old woman; but her memory is very good; and she will with pleasure give me for you every particular that you wish to know, and she can tell. Pray then take the trouble to send me such questions as may lead to biographical materials. You say that the Life which we have of Thomson is scanty. Since I received your Letter I have read his Life, published under the name of Cibber; but, as you told me, really written by a Mr. Shiels: that written by Dr. Murdoch; one prefixed to an edition of 'The Seasons,' published at Edinburgh, which is compounded of both, with the addition of an anecdote of Quin's relieving Thomson from prison; the abridgment of Murdoch's account of him, in 'The Biographia Britannica,' and another abridgment of it in 'The Biographical Dictionary,' enriched with Dr. Joseph Warton's critical panegyric on "The Seasons' in his 'Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope:' from all these it appears to me that we have a pretty full account of this poet. However, you will, I doubt not, show me many blanks, and I shall do what can be done to have them filled up. As Thomson never returned to Scotland (which you will think very wise), his sister can speak from her own knowledge only, as to the early part of his life. She has some letters from him, which may probably give light as to his more advanced progress, if she will let us see them, which I suppose she will. I believe George Lewis Scott* and Dr. mstrong are now his only surviving comnions, while he lived in and about London: and they, I dare say, can tell more of him than is yet known. My own notion is, that Thomson was a much coarser man than his friends are willing to acknowledge. His 'Seasons' are indeed full of elegant and pious sentiments: but a rank soil, nay a dunghill, will produce beautiful flowers. "Your edition of 'The English Poets,' will be George Lewis Scott, Esq., F.R.S., an amiable and learned man, formerly Sub-Preceptor to his present Majesty, and afterwards appointed a Commissioner of Excise. He died in 1780.-MALONE. Dr. John Armstrong, the celebrated poet and physician, who has produced one of the best didactic poems in our language, entitled, "The Art of Preserving Health." He was born at Castleton, co. Roxburg, in 1709, and died in 1779.-ED. Dr. Johnson was not the editor of this Collection of the English Poets; he merely furnished the biographical very valuable, on accoun. of the Prefaces and Lives. But I have seen a spaimen of an edition of the Poets at the Apollo press, at Edinburgh, which, for excellence in printing and engraving, highly deserves a liberal encouragement. "Most sincerely do I regret the bad health and bad rest with which you have been afflicted; and I hope you are better. I cannot believe that the prologue, which you generously gave to Mr. Kelly's widow and children the other day, is the effusion of one in sickness and in disquietude: but external circumstances are never sure indications of the state of man. I send you a letter which I wrote to you two years ago at Wilton; and did not send it at the time, for fear of being reproved as indulging too much tenderness; and. one written to you at the tomb of Melancthon, which I kept back, lest I should appear at once too superstitious and too enthusiastic. I now imagine that perhaps they may please you. "You do not take the least notice of my proposal for our meeting at Carlisle. Though I have meritoriously refrained from visiting London this year, I ask you if it would not be wrong that I should be two years without having the benefit of your conversation, when, if you come down as far as Derbyshire, we may meet at the expense of a few days' journeying, and not many pounds. I wish you to see Carlisle, which made me mention that place. But if you have not a desire to complete your tour of the English cathedrals, I will take a larger share of the road between this place and Ashbourne. So tell me where you will fix for our passing a few days by ourselves. Now don't cry' foolish fellow, or idle dog.' Chain your humour and let your kindness play. "You will rejoice to hear that Miss Macleod, of Rasay, is married to Colonel Mure Campbell, an excellent man, with a pretty good estate of his own, and the prospect of having the Earl of Loudon's fortune and honours. Is not this a noble lot for our fair Hebridean? How happy am I that she is to be in Ayrshire. We shall have the Laird of Rasay, and old Malcolm, and I know not how many gallant Macleods, and bagpipes, &c. &c., at Auchinleck. Perhaps you may meet them all there. Without doubt you have read what is called prefaces with which it is enriched; as is rightly stated in a subsequent page. He, indeed, from a virtuous motive, has named) to be added to the collection; but he is no recommended the works of four or five poets (whom he otherwise answerable for any which are found there, or any which are omitted. The poems of Goldsmith (whose life I know he intended to write, for I collected some materials for it by his desire) were omitted, in conse quence of petty exclusive interest in some of them vested in Mr. Carnan, a bookseller.-MALONE. Dr. Johnson had himself talked of our seeing Carlisle together. High was a favourite word of his to denote a person of rank. He said to me, "Sir, I believe we may meet at the house of a Roman Catholic lady in Cumberland; a high lady, Sir." I afterwards discovered that he meant Mrs. Strickland, sister of Charles Townley, Esq., whose very noble collection of statues and pictures is not more to be admired than his extraordinary and polite readiness in showing it, which I and several of my friends have agreeably experienced. They who are possessed of valuable stores of gratification to persons of taste, should exercise their benevolence in imparting the pleasure. Grateful acknowledgments are due to Welbore Ellis Agar, Esq., for the liberal access which he is pleased t allow to his exquisite collection of pictures.-BOSWELL. "The Life of David Hume,' written by himself, with the letter from Dr. Adam Smith subjoined to it. Is not this an age of daring effrontery? My friend Mr. Anderson,* Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow, at whose house you and I supped, and to whose care Mr. Windham, of Norfolk, was intrusted at that University, paid me a visit lately; and after we had talked with indignation and contempt of the poisonous productions with which this age is infested, he said there was now an excellent opportunity for Dr. Johnson to step forth. I agreed with him that you might knock Hume's and Smith's heads together, and make vain and ostentatious infidelity exceedingly ridiculous. Would it not be worth your while to crush such noxious weeds in the moral garden? "You have said nothing to me of Dr. Dodd. I know not how you think on that subject; though the newspapers give us a saying of yours in favour of mercy to him. But I own I am very desirous that the royal prerogative of remission of punishment should be employed to exhibit an illustrious instance of the regard which GOD's VICEGERENT will ever show to piety and virtue. If for ten righteous men the ALMIGHTY would have spared Sodom, shall not a thousand acts of goodness done by Dr. Dodd counterbalance one crime? Such an instance would do more to encourage goodness than his execution would do to deter from vice. I am not afraid of any bad consequence to society; for who will persevere for a ong course of years in a distinguished discharge of religious duties, with a view to commit a forgery with impunity? Pray make my best compliments acceptable to Mr. and Mrs. Thrale, by assuring them of my hearty joy that the Master, as you call him, is alive. I hope I shall often taste his champagne -soberly. "I have not heard from Langton for a long time; I suppose he is as usual, 'Studious the busy moments to deceive.' "TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. "DEAR SIR, June 28, 1777. "I have just received your packet from Mr. Thrale's, but have not daylight enough to look much into it. I am glad that I have credit enough with Lord Hailes to be trusted with more copy. I hope to take more care of it than of the last. I return Mrs. Boswell my affectionate thanks for her present, which I value as a token of reconciliation. * Mr. John Anderson was the founder of an educational Institution in Glasgow, denominated "The Andersonian University," established for the use of unacademical classes. He was born at Roseneath, ca Dumbarton, in 26, and died in 1796.-ED. "Poor Dodd was put to death yesterday, in opposition to the recommendation of the jurythe petition of the city of London-and a subsequent petition signed by three-and-twenty thousand hands. Surely the voice of the public, when it calls so loudly, and only for mercy, ought to be heard. "The saying that was given me in the papers I never spoke; but I wrote many of his petitions, and some of his letters. He applied to me very often. He was, I am afraid, long flattered with hopes of life; but I had no part in the dreadful delusion; for as soon as the king had signed his sentence, I obtained from Mr. Chamier an account of the disposition of the court towards him, with a declaration that there was no hope even of a respite. This letter immediately was laid before Dodd; but he believed those whom he wished to be right, as it is thought, till within three days of his end. He died with pious composure and resolution. I have just seen the ordinary that attended him. His address to his fellow-convicts offended the Methodists; but he had a Moravian with him much of his time. His moral character is very bad: I hope all is not true that is charged upon him. Of his behaviour in prison an account will be published. "I give you joy of your country-house and your pretty garden: and hope some time to see you in your felicity. I was much pleased with your two letters that had been kept so long in store;* and rejoice at Miss Rasay's advancement, and wish Sir Allan success. * Since they have been so much honoured by Johnson, I shall here insert them : "TO MR. SAMUEL JOHNSON. "Sunday, Sept. 30, 1764. "MY EVER DEAR AND MUCH RESPECTED SIR,me for it, and I respect myself for it, because in so far as "You know my solemn enthusiasm of mind. You love I resemble Mr. Johnson. You will be agreeably surprised when you learn the reason of my writing this letter. I am at Wittemberg, in Saxony. I am in the old church where the Reformation was first preached, and where some of the Reformers lie interred. I cannot resist the serious pleasure of writing to Mr. Johnson from the tomb of Melancthon. My paper rests upon the gravestone of that great and good man, who was undoubtedly the worthiest of all the Reformers. He wished to reform abuses which had been introduced into the Church; but that when his aged mother consulted him with anxiety on had no private resentment to gratify. So mild was he, the perplexing disputes of the times, he advised her to keep to the old religion. At this tomb, then, my ever dear and respected friend, I vow to thee an eternal attachment. It shall be my study to do what I can to render your life happy; and if you die before me, I shall endeavour to do honour to your memory; and, elevated by the remembrance of you, persist in noble piety. May God, the father of all beings, ever bless you, and inay you continue to love "Your most affectionate friend and devoted servant, "TO DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON. "MY DEAR SIR, Wilton-house, April 22, 1775"Every scene of my life confirms the truth of what you have told me, there is no certain happiness in this state of being." I am here, amidst all that you know is at Lord Pembroke's, and yet I am weary and gloomy. I am just setting out for the house of an old friend in Devonshire, and shall not get back to London for a week yet. You said to me last Good Friday, with a cordiality that warmed my heart, that if I came to settle in London, we should have a day fixed every week to mect by ourselves and talk freely. To be thought worthy of such a privi U |