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composition? or are extracts, made from the book reviewed, deducted?”—J. "No, Sir; it is a sheet, no matter of what."-B. " I think that is not reasonable."-J. "Yes, Sir, it is. A man will more easily write a sheet all his own, than read an octavo volume to get extracts." To one of Johnson's wonderful fertility of mind, perhaps writing was really easier than reading and extracting; but with ordinary men the case is very different. A great deal, indeed, will depend upon the care and judgment with which the extracts are made. We can (observes Mr. B.) suppose the operation to be tedious and difficult; but in many instances we must observe crude morsels cut out of books as if at random; and when a large extract is made from one place, it surely may be done with very little trouble, One might, I must acknowledge however, be led from the practice of Reviewers to suppose that they take a pleasure in original writing; for we often find, that instead of giving an accurate account of what has been done by the author whose work they are reviewing, which is surely the proper business of a literary journal, they produce some plausible and ingenious conceits of their own upon the topicks which have been, discussed.

Again talking of the Reviews, Johnson said, "I think them very impartial: I do not know

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an instance of partiality."-" The Monthly Re viewers (said he) are not Deists; but they are Christians with as little christianity as may be; and are for pulling down all establishments. The Critical Reviewers are for supporting the constitution both in Church and State. The Critical Reviewers, I believe, often review without reading the books through; but lay hold of a topick, and write chiefly from their own minds. The Monthly Reviewers are duller men, and are glad to read the books through." Sir Joshua Reynolds said, that he wondered to find so much good writing employed in them, when the authors were to remain unknown, and so could not have the motive of fame.-JOHNSON. "Nay, Sir, those who write in them write well in order to be paid well."

He praised Signior Baretti. "His account of Italy (said he) is a very entertaining book; and, Sir, I know no man who carries his head higher in conversation than Baretti. There are strong powers in his mind: he has not, indeed, many hooks; but with what hooks he has he grapples very forcibly."

Mr. B. censured a ludicrous fantastick dia logue between two coach-horses, and other such stuff, which Baretti had lately published. Johnson joined and said, "Nothing odd will do long. Tristram Shandy did not last."Mr. B. ex

pressed a desire to be acquainted with a lady who had been much talked of, and universally celebrated for extraordinary address and insinu. ation. Johnson said, "Never believe extraordinary characters which you hear of people. Depend upon it, Sir, they are exaggerated. You do not see one man shoot a great deal higher than another." Mr. Burke was mentioned. "Yes (said Johnson): Burke is an extraordinary man; his stream of mind is perpetual."-The Doctor's high estimation of the talents of this gentleman was uniform from their early acquaintance. When Mr. Burke was first elected a member of Parliament, and Sir John Hawkins expressed a wonder at his attaining a seat, Johnson said, "Now we who know Mr. Burke know that he will be one of the first men in this country." And once when Johnson was ill, and unable to exert himself as much as usual without fatigue, Mr. Burke having been mentioned, he said, "That fellow calls forth all my powers. Were I to see Burke now it would kill me." So much was he accustomed to consider conversation as a contest, and such was his notion of Burke as an opponent.

He used frequently to observe, that men might be very eminent in a profession without our perceiving any particular power of mind in them in conversation. "It seems strange (said he) that

a man should see so far to the right, who sees so short a way to the left. Burke is the only man whose common conversation corresponds with the general fame which he has in the world. Take up whatever topic you please, he is ready to meet you."

Talking of the wonderful concealment of the author of the letters signed Junius, he said, " I should have believed Burke to be Junius, because I know no man but Burke who is capable of writing these letters; but Burke spontaneously denied it to me. The case would have been dif ferent had I asked him if he was the author; a man so questioned, as to an anonymous publica, tion, may think he has a right to deny it*."

In a work lately published, the following account is given of this writer; who appears to have obtained much more celebrity than the temporary nature of his writings and his virulent acri mony entitled him to.

"The bold assertions and keen invectives with which the papers of Junius abounded throughout contributed greatly to their popularity and fame. They were occasionally attributed to Lord Sackville, to the Right Hon. W, G. Hamilton, to the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, to John Dunning, Esq. and many others; but without the least ground or foundation in truth. It is to be observed of them, that all parties are attacked in them, except the Grenvilles. During their original publication, the writer lived in Norfolk-street, in the Strand, not in affluent circumstances; but he did not write for pecuniary aid. He was a native of Ireland, of an honourable family, and of Trinity College, Dublin. He was at one time intended for the army, and at another for the bar; but private circumstances prevented either taking place. Perhaps

However Johnson may have casually talked ofYoung the poet, yet when he sat, as "an ardent judge zealous to his trust, giving sentence" upon the excellent works of Young, he allowed them the high praise to which they are justly entitled. "The Universal Passion (says he) is indeed a very great performance, his distichs have the weight of solid sentiment, and his points the sharpness of resistless truth. In his Night Thoughts' he has exhibited a very wide display of original poetry, variegated with deep reflec tions and striking allusions; a wilderness of thought, in which the fertility of fancy scatters flowers of every hue and of every odour. This is one of the few poems in which blank verse could not be changed for rhime but with disad

no man possessed a stronger memory. He frequently attended Parliament, and the Courts in Westminster Hall; and sometimes he committed to paper the speeches he had heard.-When the contest concerning the Middlesex election had abated, he ceased to write, which was about the close of the year 1771. However, towards the end of the year 1779, he resumed his pen, and wrote a number of political essays, or letters, which he entitled The Whig. They were printed in one of the public papers of that time; they were in number 18; but they died with the other papers of the day. In the year 1791, he went to Madras with Lord Macartney, to whom he had been known in Ireland, and there he died."

The above account, however, we have been assured from au thority is not to be relied on. The person alluded to was not the author of Junius.

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