"You mentioned the proposal of printing in numbers, as an alteration in the scheme, but I believe you mistook, some way or other, my meaning I had no other view than that you might rather print too many of five sheets, than of five-and-thirty. "With regard to what I shall say on the manner of proceeding, I would have it understood as wholly indifferent to me, and my opinion only, not my resolution. Emptoris sit eligere. "I think the insertion of the exact dates of the most important events in the margin, or of so many events as may enable the reader to regulate the order of facts with sufficient exactness, the proper medium between a journal, which has regard only to time, and a history which ranges facts according to their dependence on each other, and postpones or anticipates according to the convenience of narration. I think the work ought to partake of the spirit of history, which is contrary to minute exactness, and of the regularity of a journal, which is inconsistent with spirit. For this reason I neither admit numbers or dates, nor reject them. "I am of your opinion with regard to placing most of the resolutions, &c., in the margin, and think we shall give the most complete account of parliamentary proceedings that can be contrived. The naked papers, without an historical treatise interwoven, require some other book to make them understood. I will date the succeeding facts with some exactness, but I think in the margin. You told me on Saturday that I had received money on this work, and found set down 137. 2s. 6d., reckoning the half guinea of last Saturday. As you hinted to me that you had many calls for money, I would not press you too hard, and therefore shall desire only, as I send it in, two guineas for a sheet of copy; the rest you may pay me when it may be more convenient ; and even by this sheet-payment I shall, for some time, be very expensive. "The Life of Savage I am ready to go upon; and in great primer and pica notes, I reckon on sending in half a sheet a day; but the money for that shall likewise lie by in your hands till it is done. With the debates, shall not I have business enough? if I had but good pens. "Towards Mr. Savage's Life, what more have you got? I would willingly have his trial, &c., and know whether his defence be at Bristol, and would have his collection of poems, on account of the Preface;-"The Plain Dealer,"*-all the magazines that have any thing of his or relating to him. "I thought my letter would be long, but now it is ended; and, I am, Sir, yours, &c., SAM. JOHNSON." "The boy found me writing this almost in the dark, when I could not quite easily read yours. "I have read the Italian :-nothing in it is well. "I had no notion of having any thing for the inscription. I hope you don't think I kept it to "The Plain Dealer" was published in 1724, and contained some account of Savage.-BOSWELL. +Perhaps the Runic Inscription; "Gentleman's Magazine," vol. xii. p. 132.-MALONE. extort a price. I could think of nothing, till today. If you could spare me another guinea for the history, I should take it very kindly, tonight; but if you do not, I shall not think it an injury. "I am almost well again." "TO MR. CAVE. "SIR,. "You did not tell me your determination about the Soldier's Letter,* which I am confident was never printed. I think it will not do by itself, or in any other place so well as the Mag. Extraordinary. If you will have it all, I believe you do not think I set it high, and I will be glad if what you give, you will give quickly. "You need not be in care about something to print, for I have got the State Trials, and shall extract Layer, Atterbury, and Macclesfield from them, and shall bring them to you in a fortnight; after which I will try to get the South Sea Report." [No date, nor signature.] I would also ascribe to him an "Essay on the Description of China, from the French of Du Halde."[+] His writings in the "Gentleman's Magazine," in 1743, are, the "Preface,"[t]the "Parliamentary Debates,"[t] "Considerations on the Dispute between Crousaz and Warburton, on Pope's Essay on Man" [+] in which, while he defends Crousaz, he shows an admirable metaphysical acuteness and temperance in controversy; "Ad Lauram parituram Epigramma ";†[*], and, "A * I have not discovered what this was.-BOSWELL. +"Angliacas inter pulcherrima Laura puellas, Mox uteri pondus depositura grave, Adsit, Laura, tibi facilis Lucina dolenti, Neve tibi noceat prænituisse Deæ." Mr. Hector was present when this Epigram_was made and Johnson was called upon by the company to finish it, impromptu. The first line was proposed by Dr. James, which he instantly did.-BOSWELL. The following elegant Latin Ode, which appeared in the "Gentleman's Magazine" for 1743 (vol. xiii. p. 548), was many years ago pointed out to James Bindley, Esq.. as written by Johnson, and may safely be attributed to hin: AD ORNATISSIMAN PUELLAM. Vanæ sit arti, sit studio modus, Ut fortuitis verna coloribus Ducit aquas temere sequentes: D Latin Translation of Pope's verses on his Grotto;" and, as he could employ his pen with equal success upon a small matter as a great, I suppose him to be the author of an advertisement for Osborne, concerning the great Harleian Catalogue. But I should think myself much wanting, both to my illustrious friend and my readers, did I not introduce here, with more than ordinary respect, an exquisitely beautiful Ode, which has not been inserted in any of the collections of Johnson's poetry, written by him at a very early period, as Mr. Hector informs me, and inserted in the "Gentleman's Magazine" of this year. FRIENDSHIP, AN ODE. [*] Friendship, peculiar boon of heaven, To all the lower world denied. While love unknown among the blest, On fools and villains ne'er descend: Directress of the brave and just, O guide us through life's darksome way! On selfish bosoms only prey. Nor shall thine ardour cease to glow, Shall aid our happiness above. Johnson had now an opportunity of obliging his schoolfellow Dr. James, of whom he once observed, "No man brings more mind to his profession." James published this year his 'Medicinal Dictionary," in three volumes folio. Johnson, as I understood from him, had written, or assisted in writing, the proposals for this work; and being very fond of the study of physic, in which James was his master, he furnished some of the articles. He, however, certainly wrote for it the Dedication to Dr. Mead,[t] which is con Ergo fluentum tu, male sedula, Nec diva mater, cum similem tuæ Fusa comas agitare ventis. In vol. xiv. p. 46, of the same work, an elegant Epigram was inserted, in answer to the foregoing Ode, which was written by Dr. Inyon of Norfolk, a physician, and an excellent classical scholar : "Ad Authorem Carminis AD ORNATISSIMAM "O cui non potuit, quia culta, placere puella, ceived with great address, to conciliate the patronage of that very eminent man.* It has been circulated, I know not with what authenticity, that Johnson considered Dr. Birch as a dull writer, and said of him, "Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation, but no sooner does he take a pen in his hand, than it becomes a torpedo to him, and benumbs all his faculties." That the literature of this country is much indebted to Birch's activity and diligence must certainly be acknowledged. We have seen that Johnson honoured him with a Greek Epigram; and his correspondence with him, during many years, proves that he had no mean opinion of him. "TO DR. BIRCH. "SIR, Thursday, Sept. 29, 1743. "I hope you will excuse me for troubling you on an occasion on which I know not whom else I can apply to; I am at a loss for the Lives and Characters of Earl Stanhope, the two Craggs, and the minister Sunderland; and beg that you will inform [me] where I may find them, and send any pamphlets, &c., relating to them to Mr. Cave to be perused for a few days by, Sir, "Your most humble servant, "SAM. JOHNSON." "TO MR. LEVETT, IN LICHFIELD. December, 1, 1743. A SIR, I am extremely sorry that we have encroached so much upon your forbearance with respect to the interest, which a great perplexity of affairs hindered me from thinking of with that attention that I ought, and which I am not immediately able to remit to you, but will pay it (I think twelve pounds) in two months. I look upon this, and on the future interest of that mortgage, as my own debt; and beg that you will be pleased to give me directions how to pay it, and not mention it to my dear mother. If it be necessary to pay this in less time, I believe I can do it; but I take two months for certainty, and beg an answer whether you can allow me so much time. I think myself very much obliged to your forbearance, and shall "TO DR. MEAD. "SIR, "That the 'Medicinal Dictionary' is dedicated to you, is to be imputed only to your reputation for superior skill in those sciences which I have endeavoured to explain and facilitate; and you are, therefore, to consider this address, if it be agreeable to you, as one of the rewards of merit ; and if otherwise, as one of the inconveniences of eminence. "However you shall receive it, my design cannot be disappointed, because this public appeal to your judgment will show that I do not found my hopes of approba tion upon the ignorance of my readers, and that I fear his censure least whose knowledge is most extensive. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, "R. JAMES."-BOSWELL. esteem it a great happiness to be able to serve in "Your most obedient and most humble servant, CHAPTER V.—1744—1748. Ir does not appear that Johnson wrote anything 1744 for the "Gentleman's Magazine," but the Preface.[+] His "Life of Barretier' was now published in a pamphlet by itself. But he produced one work this year, fully sufficient to maintain the high reputation which he had acquired. This was the "Life of Richard Savage; "[*] a man, of whom it is difficult o speak impartially, without wondering that he was for some time the intimate companion of Johnson; for his character* was marked by profligacy, insolence, and ingratitude: yet, as he undoubtedly had a warm and vigorous, though unregulated mind, had seen life in all its varieties, and been much in the company of the statesmen and wits of his time, he could communicate to Johnson an abundant supply of such materials as his philosophical curiosity most eagerly desired; and as Savage's misfortunes and misconduct had reduced him to the lowest state of wretchedness as a writer for his bread, his visit to St. John's Gate naturally brought Johnson and him together.t *As a specimen of his temper, I insert the following letter from him to a noble Lord [Tyrconnel] to whom he was under great obligations, but who, on account of his bad conduct, was obliged to discard him. The original was in the hands of the late Francis Cockayne Čust, Esq., one of his Majesty's counsel, learned in the law:"Right Honourable BRUTE and BOOBY, "I find you want (as Mr. is pleased to hint) to swear away my life, that is, the life of your creditor, because he asks you for a debt.-The public shall soon be acquainted with this, to judge whether you are not fitter to be an Irish evidence, than to be an Irish peer.-I defy and despise you. I am "Your determined adversary, "R. S." BOSWELL. + Sir John Hawkins gives the world to understand, that Johnson, "being an admirer of genteel manners, was captivated by the address and demeanour of Savage, who, as to his exterior, was to a remarkable degree accomplished."-Hawkins's Life, p. 52. But Sir John's notions of gentility must appear somewhat ludicrous, from his stating the following circumstance as presumptive evidence that Savage was a good swordsman: That he understood the exercise of a gentleman's weapon, may be inferred from the use made of it in that rash encounter which is related in his life." The dexterity here alluded to was, that Savage, in a nocturnal fit of drunkenness, stabbed a man at a coffee-house, and killed him for which he was tried at the Old Bailey, and found guilty of murder. It is melancholy to reflect, that Johnson and Savage were sometimes in such extreme indigence,* that they could not pay for a lodging; so that they have wandered together whole nights Yet in these almost incredible in the streets.t scenes of distress, we may suppose that Savage mentioned many of the anecdotes with which Johnson afterwards enriched the life of his unhappy companion, and those of other poets. He told Sir Joshua Reynolds, that one night in particular, when Savage and he walked round St. James's-square for want of a lodging, they were not at all depressed by their situation, but in high spirits, and brim full of patriotism, traversed the square for several hours, inveighed against the minister, and "resolved they would stand by their country." I am afraid, however, that by associating with Savage, who was habituated to the dissipation and licentiousness of the town, Johnson, though his good principles remained steady, did not entirely preserve that conduct, for which, in days of greater simplicity, he was remarked by his friend Mr. Hector, but was imperceptibly led into some indulgences which occasioned much distress to his virtuous mind. That Johnson was anxious that an authentic and favourable account of his extraordinary friend should first get possession of the public attention, is evident from a letter which he wrote in the "Gentleman's Magazine" for August of the year preceding its publication. *The following striking proof of Johnson's extreme indigence, when he published the Life of Savage, was communicated to Mr. Bosweli, by Mr. Richard Stowe, of Aspley, in Bedfordshire, from the information of Mr. Walter Harte, author of the Life of Gustavus Adolphus : "Soen after Savage's Life was published, Mr. Harte dined with Edward Cave, and occasionally praised it. Soon after, meeting him, Cave said, 'You made a man very happy t'other day.'-' How could that be?' says Harte; nobody was there but ourselves.' Cave answered, by reminding him that a plate of victuals was sent behind a screen, which was to Johnson, dressed so shabbily, that he did not choose to appear; but on hearing the conversation, he was highly delighted with the encomiums on his book."-MALONE. + As Johnson was married before he settled in London, and must have always had a habitation for his wife, some readers have wondered how he ever could have been driven to stroll about with Savage, all night, for want of a lodging. But it should be remembered, that Johnson, at different periods, had lodgings in the vicinity of London; and his finances certainly would not admit of a double establishment. When, therefore, he spent a convivial day in London, and found it too late to return to any country residence he may occasionally have had, having no lodging in town, he was obliged Johnson, indeed, describes him as having "a grave to pass the night in the manner described above; for, and manly deportment, a solemn dignity of mien; but though at that period, it was not uncommon for two which, upon a nearer acquaintance, softened into an men to sleep together, Savage, it appears, could accomengaging easiness of manners." How highly Johnson modate him with nothing but his company in the open admired him for that knowledge which he himself so air. The Epigram given above, which doubtless was much cultivated, and what kindness he entertained for written by Johnson, shows, that their acquaintance com him, appears from the following lines in the "Gentlemenced before April, 1738.-MALONE. D% owed the ornaments of your poetical pages to the correspondence of the unfortunate and ingenious Mr. Savage, I doubt not but you have so much regard to his memory, as to encourage any design that may have a tendency to the preservation of it from insults or calumnies, and therefore with some degree of assurance, entreat you to inform the public, that his life will speedily be published by a person who was favoured with his confidence, and received from himself an account of most of the transactions which he proposes to mention, to the time of his retirement to Swansea, in Wales. "From that period, to his death in the prison of Bristol, the account will be continued from materials still less liable to objection: his own letters, and those of his friends, some of which will be inserted in the work, and abstracts of others subjoined in the margin. "It may be reasonably imagined, that others may have the same design; but as it is not credible that they can obtain the same materials, it must be expected they will supply from invention the want of intelligence; and that under the title of The Life of Savage,' they will publish only a novel, filled with romantic adventures and imaginary amours. You may therefore, perhaps, gratify the lovers of truth and wit, by giving me leave to inform them in your Magazine, that my account will be published in 8vo. by Mr. Roberts, in Warwick-lane." [No signature.] fancied superiority of one "stamped in Nature's mint with ecstasy," is contrasted with a regular lawful descendant of some great and ancient family: "No tenth transmitter of a foolish face." But the fact is, that this poem was published some years before Johnson and Savage were acquainted. It is remarkable, that in this biographical disquisition there appears a very strong symptom of Johnson's prejudice against players; a prejudice which may be attributed to the following causes: first, the imperfection of his organs, which were so defective that he was not susceptible of the fine impressions which theatrical excellence produces cold rejection of his tragedy; and, lastly, the upon the generality of mankind; secondly, the brilliant success of Garrick, who had been his pupil, who had come to London at the same time with him, not in a much more prosperous state than himself, and whose talents he undoubtedly rated low, compared with his own. His being outstripped by his pupil in the race of immediate fame, as well as of fortune, probably made him feel some indignation, as thinking that whatever might be Garrick's merits in his art, the reward was too great when compared with what the most successful efforts of literary labour could attain. At all periods of his life, Johnson used to talk contemptuously of players; but in this work he speaks of them with peculiar acrimony; for which, perhaps, there was formerly too much reason from the licentious and dissolute manners of those engaged in that profession. It is but justice to add, that in our own time such a change has taken place, that there is no longer room for such an unfavourable distinction. In February, 1744, it accordingly came forth from the shop of Roberts, between whom and Johnson I have not traced any connection, except the casual one of this publication. In Johnson's "Life of Savage," although it must be allowed that its moral is the reverse of "Respicere His schoolfellow and friend, Dr. Taylor, told exemplar vitæ morumque jubebo," a very useful me a pleasant anecdote of Johnson's triumphing lesson is inculcated, to guard men of warm pas-over his pupil, David Garrick. When that great sions from a too free indulgence of them; and the actor had played some little time at Goodman'svarious incidents are related in so clear and ani- fields, Johnson and Taylor went to see him permated a manner, and illuminated throughout form, and afterwards passed the evening at a with so much philosophy, that it is one of the tavern with him and old Giffard. Johnson, who most interesting narratives in the English lanwas ever depreciating stage-players, after cenguage. Sir Joshua Reynolds told me, that upon suring some mistakes in emphasis, which Garrick his return from Italy he met with it in Devon- had committed in the course of that night's actshire, knowing nothing of its author, and began ing, said, "The players, Sir, have got a kind of to read it while he was standing with his arm rant, with which they run on, without any regard leaning against a chimney-piece. It seized his either to accent or emphasis." Both Garrick and attention so strongly, that, not being able to lay Giffard were offended at this sarcasm, and en. down the book till he had finished it, when he deavoured to refute it; upon which Johnson attempted to move, he found his arm totally be- rejoined, "Well, now, I'll give you something to numbed. The rapidity with which this work was composed, is a wonderful circumstance. Johnson then we shall see how just my observation is. speak, with which you are little acquainted, and has been heard to say, "I wicte torty-eight of the That shall be the criterion. Let me hear you printed octavo pages of the Life of Savage' at a repeat the ninth Commandment, 'Thou shalt not all night." sitting; but then I sat up bear false witness against thy neighbour.' He exhibits the genius of Savage to the best tried at it, said Dr. Taylor, and both mistook the advantage, in the specimens of his poetry which emphasis, which should be upon not and false he has selected, some of which are of uncommon witness.* Johnson put them right, and enjoyed merit. We, indeed, occasionally find such vigour his victory with great glee. and such point, as might make us suppose that the generous aid of Johnson had been imparted to his friend. Mr. Thomas Warton made this remark to me; and, in support of it, quoted from the poem entitled The Bastard," a line in which the Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, 3rd edit. p. 35.— BOSWELL. "Both The emphasis should be equally upon shalt and not, as • I suspect Dr. Taylor was inaccurate in his statement. both concur to form the negative injunction; and false witness, like the other acts prohibited in the Decalogue, should not be marked by any peculiar emphasis, but only be distinctly enunciated.-BOSWELL. A moderate emphasis should be placed on false.KEARNEY. His "Life of Savage" was no sooner published, than the following liberal praise was given to it, in "The Champion," a periodical paper: "This pamphlet is, without flattery to its author, as just and well-written a piece of its kind as I ever saw; so that at the same time that it highly deserves, it certainly stands very little in need of this recommendation. As to the history of the unfortunate person whose memoirs compose this work, it is certainly penned with equal accuracy and spirit, of which I am so much the better judge, as I know many of the facts mentioned to be strictly true, and very fairly related. Besides, it is not only the story of Mr. Savage, but innumerable incidents relating to other persons and other affairs which renders this a very amusing, and, withal, a very instructive and valuable performance. The author's observations are short, significant, and just, as his narrative is remarkably smooth, and well-disposed. His reflections open to all the recesses of the human heart; and in a word, a more just or pleasant, a more engaging or a more improving treatise, on all the excellencies and defects of human nature, is scarce to be found in our own, or perhaps, any other language."* Johnson's partiality for Savage made him entertain no doubt of his story, however extraordinary and improbable. It never occurred to him to question his being the son of the Countess of Macclesfield, of whose unrelenting barbarity he so loudly complained, and the particulars of which are related in so strong and affecting a manner in Johnson's life of him. Johnson was certainly well warranted in publishing his narrative, however offensive it might be to the lady and her relations, because her alleged unnatural and cruel conduct to her son, and shameful avowal of guilt, were stated in a "Life of Savage" now lying before me, which came out so early as 1727, and no attempt had been made to confute it, or to punish the author or printer as a libeller: but for the honour of human nature, we should be glad to find the shocking tale not true; and from a respectable gentleman + connected with the lady's family, I have received such information and remarks, as, joined to my own inquiries, will, I think, render it at least somewhat doubtful, especially when we consider that it must have originated from the person himself who went by the name of Richard Savage. If the maxim, falsum in uno, falsum in omnibus, were to be received without qualification, the credit of Savage's narrative, as conveyed to us, would be annihilated; for it contains some assertions which, beyond a question, are not true. 1. In order to induce a belief that the Earl Rivers-on account of a criminal connection with whom, Lady Macclesfield is said to have been This character of the "Life of Savage" was not written by Fielding, as has been supposed, but most probably by Ralph, who, as appears from the minutes of the partners of "The Champion" in the possession of Mr. Reed, of Staple-inn, succeeded Fielding in his share of the paper, before the date of that eulogium.-BOS WELL. The late Francis Cockayne Cust, Esq., one of his Majesty's (George III.) Counsel.-BOSWELL divorced from her usband, by Act of Parliament [1697]-had a peculiar anxiety about the child which she bore to him, it is alleged that his lordship gave him his own name, and had it duly recorded in the register of St. Andrew's, Holborn. I have carefully inspected that register, but no such entry is to be found.* 2. It is stated, that "Lady Macclesfield, having lived for some time upon very uneasy terms with her husband, thought a public confession of adultery the most obvious and expeditious method of obtaining her liberty;" and Johnson, assuming this to be true, stigmatises her with indignation, as the wretch who had, without scruple, proclaimed herself an adulteress."+ But I have perused the Journals of both houses of Parlia ment at the period of her divorce, and there find it authentically ascertained, that, so far from voluntarily submitting to the ignominious charge of adultery, she made a strenuous defence by her counsel; the bill having been first moved the 15th of January, 1697-8, in the House of Lords, and proceeded on (with various applications for time to bring up witnesses at a distance, &c.,) at intervals, till the 3rd of March, when it passed. It was brought to the Commons, by a message from the Lords, the 5th of March, proceeded on the 7th, 10th, 11th, 14th and 15th, on which day, after a full examination of witnesses on both sides, and hearing of counsel, it was reported without * Mr. Cust's reasoning, with respect to the filiation of Richard Savage, always appeared to me extremely unsatisfactory, and is entirely overturned by the following decisive observations, for which the reader is indebted to the unwearied researches of Mr. Bindley. The story on which Mr. Cust so much relies, that Savage was a supposititious child, not the son of Lord Rivers and Lady Macclesfield, but the offspring of a shoemaker, introduced in consequence of her real son's death, was, without doubt, grounded on the circumstance of Lady Macclesfield's having, in 1696, previously to the birth of Savage, had a daughter by the Earl Rivers, who died in her infancy; a fact which, as the same gentleman obings on Lord Macclesfield's Bill of Divorce. serves to me, was proved in the course of the proceedfictions of this kind have some admixture of truth in them.-MALONE. Most From "the Earl of Macclesfield's Case," which, in 1697-8, was presented to the Lords, in order to procure an act of divorce, it appears that "Anne, Countess of Macclesfield, under the name of Madam Smith, was delivered of a male child in Fox-court, near Brook-street, Holborn, by Mrs. Wright, a midwife, on Saturday, the was baptised on the Monday following, and registered by the name of Richard, the son of John Smith, by Mr. Burbridge, assistant to Dr. Manningham's curate for St. Andrew's, Holborn; that the child was christened on Monday, the 18th of January, in Fox-court; and, from the privacy, was supposed by Mr. Burbridge to be 'a by-blow, or bastard.' It also appears, that during her delivery the lady wore a mask: and that Mary Pegler, on the next day after the baptism (Tuesday) took a male child, whose mother was called Madam Smith, from the Brook-street into Gray's-inn-lane), who went by the name house of Mrs. Pheasant, in Fox-court (running from of Mrs. Lee. 16th of January, 1696-7, at six o'clock in the morning, who Conformable to this statement is the entry in the register of St. Andrew's, Holborn, which is as follows, and which unquestionably records the baptism of Richard Savage, to whom Lord Rivers gave his own Christian name, prefixed to the assumed surname of his mother: Jan. 1696-7. "Richard, son of John Smith and Mary, in Fox-court, in Gray's-inn-lane, baptised the 18th."-BINDLEY. + No divorce can be obtained in the Courts on con fession of the party. There must be proofs.-KEARNEY. |